47 replies to this topic

[00Twelve]

After GF, I have to say TSWLM.

The parachute jump remains one of the most recognizable images from any film series.

And does any henchman other than Oddjob come close to being as instantly recognizable as Jaws? I mean, he's named Jaws!

For my money, the Egyptian locations are as memorable as any image of Kentucky Fried Chicken Fort Knox. In terms of epic locations in the series, it's right up there with Japan, Venice, and the Swiss Alps.

[DaveBond21]

I'm going to make a case for YOLT. Coming out at the height of the spy-film-tv craze, it's Bond as other people see it rather than how it was originally envisioned. Ken Adams' volcano is a defining image in the series, bigger than anything ever seen up on-screen. And never mind that Mike Myers has lived off it, but how often do you read that Donald Pleasance's Blofeld is one of 007 greatest and most threatening villains (not that I agree).

While I don't think that YOLT is that great a film, it contains images and sounds (YOLT is probably the most sampled of Barry's scores) that define what the casual film-goer thinks a Bond-film is.

I find it hard to decide, but I would agree with YOLT, simply for the hollowed-out volcano lair. It's one of the most famous villain bases in cinema history.

Notable mentions would include TSWLM (the PTS and the underwater car), and Casino Royale.

[DR76]

It's obvious Goldfinger is the most iconic the world over of the series.

It is? Why? Is this supposed to be a fact, or just an opinion?

[Safari Suit]

*Sigh*

[Barry the Saint]

GF is so over-rated and is drummed into peoples heads whenever they show an interest in Bond that it is the best one...!!

Edited by Barry the Saint, 19 June 2009 - 02:57 PM.

[double o ego]

Gotta say Thunderball to this one. Reasons? Still have the Aston Martin, reasonably close script to the Fleming novel, Sean, Terence Young. It's formula (without being formulaic) plus icon, so it wins.

Agreed! Villain with eye patch, secret board meeting rooms, blofeld stroking cat...again, under water scenes, Bond making love to 3 women and of course what is in my opinion, TB has the wittiest dialogue of the series. It even has fiona briefly psycho-analyse Bond's character for the first time before Dench's M and vesper have a stab at it.

[sthgilyadgnivileht]

I'm going to make a case for YOLT. Coming out at the height of the spy-film-tv craze, it's Bond as other people see it rather than how it was originally envisioned. Ken Adams' volcano is a defining image in the series, bigger than anything ever seen up on-screen. And never mind that Mike Myers has lived off it, but how often do you read that Donald Pleasance's Blofeld is one of 007 greatest and most threatening villains (not that I agree).

While I don't think that YOLT is that great a film, it contains images and sounds (YOLT is probably the most sampled of Barry's scores) that define what the casual film-goer thinks a Bond-film is.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Agreed.

[DamnCoffee]

It's obvious Goldfinger is the most iconic the world over of the series.

It is? Why? Is this supposed to be a fact, or just an opinion?

It's around a billion people's opinions tbh.
Goldfinger is the film that set off Bond Mania, it's known all around the world.
When someone says James Bond, you think Goldfinger.
When someone thinks Bond villian, you think Goldfinger.
When someone thinks James Bond car, you think the Aston Martin DB5, from Goldfinger.
When someone says James Bond Girl, you think Pussy Galore.
When someone says James Bond Henchman, you think OddJob.


So yeah, I think you're in the minority if you don't think Goldfinger is the most popular James Bond movie.

[CJB]

Dr. No, hands down, for all the reasons stated already. Honey Ryder emerging from the sea alone puts in on par with Goldfinger as far as iconic Bond moments go.

[Tybre]

I'm going to make a case for YOLT. Coming out at the height of the spy-film-tv craze, it's Bond as other people see it rather than how it was originally envisioned. Ken Adams' volcano is a defining image in the series, bigger than anything ever seen up on-screen. And never mind that Mike Myers has lived off it, but how often do you read that Donald Pleasance's Blofeld is one of 007 greatest and most threatening villains (not that I agree).

While I don't think that YOLT is that great a film, it contains images and sounds (YOLT is probably the most sampled of Barry's scores) that define what the casual film-goer thinks a Bond-film is.

^Agree^

Mharkin, while what you say is true, I think in a decade or two CR might give Goldfinger a run for its money, what with this new generation of kids.

Edited by Tybre, 20 June 2009 - 03:59 AM.

[RJJB]

The only movies that qualify as being iconic are the first three in the series. After those, every movie following, is just a permutation of the original three. Not that there's anything worng with that--to a degree. The series still had freshness with TB, but after that, the cookie cutter approach took hold, especially in YOLT, and except for a brief respite for OHMSS, maintained its grasp until CR.

There is nothing iconic about the Moore movies. They are nothing but silly derivatives of the classics. If nothing else, the Moore movies indicted how badly the creative process was skewed. A henchman named Jaws is a lousy tip of the hat to the popularity of the shark movie. Bond in space is just a nod to the Star Wars craze. Bond movies are supposed to be trend setters, not followers of the current fads.The much ballyhooed ski jump is an indication that the stunt was more important than the character of James Bond.

And even though I like the Daniel Craig movies, James Bond will always be remembered primarily as the character that Sean Connery portrayed. Anyone who followed him is just a replacement. Not knocking the actors nor putting Connery on a pedestal, but it's the fact. The closest situation that I can imagine is the role of the cinematic Frankenstein monster. He has been portrayed many times since his debut in the 1930s. The classic image of the monster will always be the Boris Karloff version. There have been attempts to film a version more faithful to the source novel, but people expect the basic Karloff flathead look.

[Safari Suit]

But iconicism isn't defined by the artistic merits of something, it is defined by whether or not the thing in question has become a large part of popular consciousness. The parachute jump and the character of Jaws have done, and would be among the first things many members of the public would think of when they hear the name Bond, regardless of whether they were any good or not.

[Double-Oh Agent]

I would go with either Dr. No or The Spy Who Loved Me. Forced to choose, I guess I would lean toward Dr. No because it was not just first but THE first. First "Bond...James Bond" line, first sexy Bond girl (Honey Ryder), first evil villain (Julius No), first use of the James Bond Theme, first use of the gun barrel opening, and first time Bond kills cold-bloodedly (Prof. R.J. Dent) just to name a few.

[RJJB]

But iconicism isn't defined by the artistic merits of something, it is defined by whether or not the thing in question has become a large part of popular consciousness. The parachute jump and the character of Jaws have done, and would be among the first things many members of the public would think of when they hear the name Bond, regardless of whether they were any good or not.

I understand the distinction, but I still think general public would not recall the two things you mentioned all that much.

[Safari Suit]

Not compared to some scenes/moments from the early Connery movies no, or even Casino Royale and perhaps Goldeneye, but I would certainly say at least the parachute jump is fairly synonymous with Bond, it's an obligatory scene for any Bond parody for a start.

[Colossus]

Agreed! Villain with eye patch, secret board meeting rooms, blofeld stroking cat...

That actually began in FRWL. I've seen some even misatribute it starting in YOLT! The secret board meeting room is the one thing that's been taken most out of Thunderball in many of the 60s Bond copycats.

The only movies that qualify as being iconic are the first three in the series. After those, every movie following, is just a permutation of the original three.

I agree, in a book i read it said every movie after Goldfinger was just recycling. But i'd say the latter three 60s Bonds still had some iconistry. TB had the SPECTRE meeting, jet pack, YOLT had the bald Blofeld, Volcano lair, OHMSS had the ski chase which has been redone a lot in the rest of the Bond series.

[avl]

Definitely TSWLM

[Safari Suit]

In a book i read it said every movie after Goldfinger was just recycling.

Well if a book said it...