23 - Die Another Day
I don't dislike this film. Hell, I even enjoy certain aspects of it. But as a bond film, it's the worst. Too much to say that's already been mentioned before, but to summarise, the CGI and slow-mo matrix-esque bits really take away from the film for me. Also I hate Jinx. I don't mind Gustav Graves, and actually think the scene where he kills his father is pretty strong. Good first half, but the film just gets too over-the-top overall.
22 - Moonraker
Always been a low-ranker for me. What does it is the whole bond in space concept, and the super-race story. I actually like space - but bond in space? A bit too far. Add in laser fights and you get a pretty ridiculous bond film. Oh and there's the Jaws love scenes. On the plus side though, we have the amazing centrifuge scene. The cable cars scene is pretty good too, and the amazon temple hq is pretty damn cool.
21 - Thunderball
Another film that has always ranked low for me. I have nothing really against it - other than I just find it a bit boring. Too much underwater stuff. Fiona Volpe however is a redeeming feature, and I really like the whole Angelo plastic surgery hijacking plane malarky.
20 - Quantum Of Solace
I enjoy watching the film but I have to admit the story telling and editing wasn't executed greatly. Mystery is one thing, but I think they made it a step too vague. Most people I've spoken to don't fully understand what the film is about and I'm not surprised. On the other hand though, it has some cool scenes (particularly the burning building), isn't too long, and has Camille who's a pretty decent bond girl.
19 - Tomorrow Never Dies
I used to hate Elliot Carver. But now I quite like him. I've grown to appreciate him as a homage to those over-the-top villains. This film has some great moments (I particularly like the free-fall, and especially like the scene where the giant Carver poster/banner is ripped). When it comes to comparing this to other bond films though, I just don't enjoy it as much as many of the others and it ends up being average really.
18 - The World Is Not Enough
Always ranked close with TND. I just think it has a slight edge, mainly because of the greatness of Elektra King. Maiden's tower scenes were good, as was the pipeline scene. Overall, an average entry.
17 - Casino Royale
This film is very different, thus hard for me to rank among the others. In terms of bond it wasn't fully my cup of tea, however, I can appreciate how cleverly made the film was. Highlights were the poison scene and the torture scene.
16 - Goldfinger
I know what you're all thinking.... but I like Goldfinger. Honestly I do. It's just that I prefer 15 others over it!
15 - From Russia With Love
It may be a bit slower, but I appreciate the story in this one. The train fight with Red Grant is the absolute pinnacle of the film. A good entry, although I still prefer many others.
14 - The Man With The Golden Gun
I'm of two minds with this one - On one hand it has an amazing villain, beautiful locations, a funhhouse, and I have lots of nostalgia with it. On the other hand, at times I feel that the film is uneventful - not much happening. And the slide whistle ruined one of the series' best stunts. J W Pepper shouldn't have returned either. With all that in mind, it ranks about here.
13 - The Living Daylights
Another film I'm of two minds with - I love the whole Afghanistan section of the film, and the climatic fight with Necros on the net of the plane is just amazing. The main villains though are weak (although I've grown to appreciate Koskov as a 'weasel'), and I can't stand Kara Milovy. Overall a good film but a little forgettable.
12 - The Spy Who Loved Me
Moore's most overrated. Although it still has it's merits. I love the Egypt scenes. The Liparus and Atlantis scenes drag a bit though. But the model of Atalantis looks amazing. Stromberg is a weak villain, but he has one of the best villain introductions ever - where he kills the girl to classical music, then kills the two professors. Brilliant stuff. Also, the PTS is possibly the best in the series.
11 - Diamonds Are Forever
This film is a bit underrated. The plot may be confusing, but I find the film to be fun, and overall very enjoyable to watch. Wint and Kidd are two of the best henchmen. I love the scene where bond is climbing atop the whytehouse. And I also love the moon buggy chase. The oil rig is a decent-enough climax, and Charles Grey's Blofeld is not as bad as I previously thought.
10 - On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Strong film, and very memorable. The locations are what do it for me the most, and the great skiing scenes too. Lazenby is my least favourite bond, but at the same time he's not exactly bad. I find Draco however to be an extremely dated character with his chauvinistic attitude. Overall a great bond film, though Lazenby is the weak link.
9 - You Only Live Twice
One of Connery's best for me. It has lots to love. Great locations in Japan, Tiger is a good ally, the little nellie stuff is cool, and it has a volcano lair. It may be a little comic book-esque but I don't find it TOO over-the-top. The story is good and easy to follow. A very memorable film.
8 - Goldeneye
This film pretty much has it all - great action, great villains, great girls (love Xenia), great locations. Not much else to say other than it was a great comeback film, and by far Brosnan's best.
7 - Dr No
Ends up as my favourite Connery film. I'm not surprised - this film was a sound introduction to the series. It may have been low in action, but I think it flows perfectly and works well. It's simple, yet effective. Honey Rider is the best bond girl of all. And the locations are very nice. The introduction of Dr Julius No is built up perfectly.
6 - Licence To Kill
My favourite of the two Dalton films. It may be different, and very gritty, but I think it worked really well. Sanchez is one of the series' best main villains. I really like Lupe (she should've been the main girl!), and there is lots of great action in the film, particularly the tanker chase. A lot more memorable than TLD.
5 - Skyfall
Over a year on and this film is still as great as I previously thought. By far Daniel Craig's best, and Silva is the best villain in years. There was a lack of a bond girl, but the greatness of the Skyfall Lodge scenes make up for that. An amazing bond film, although, as it's quite epic, I have to be in the mood for it. Bond 24 will have to do well to top this.
4 - For Your Eyes Only
I'm sorry everyone, but my top 4 bond films are all Roger Moore films. I thought hard about it - but I just could not place anything above these top 4. So coming in at number 4, FYEO has pretty much everything. It's a dark horse of a film really, because it's rarely talked about either way, but whenever I watch it I always have a great time. Locque is such a cool henchman. The skiing scenes are great. The ice hockey fight was cool. The sharks scene is sadistic and effective. And the mountain-climbing at the monastery is excellent, and also beautiful locations-wise. Columbo is a brilliant character, and Melina is a decent-enough bond girl. Three films beat it though, because I thought some of the underwater stuff was a tad slow.
3 - Octopussy
Yes it may be full of comedy - but it's just really fun and entertaining to watch. I almost see this film as an adventure film as well as just action - it reminds me of things like Indiana Jones. The locations are beautiful. And the circus stuff, with bond dressed as a clown trying to disarm a bomb, is ironic and brilliant. Very tense. Also, gotta love the knife-throwing twins.
2 - A View To A Kill
Most underrated of the series. The first half of the film may be a tad slow, but the film really picks up in action from the city hall fire onwards. The fire, followed by the fire-engine chase, followed by the mine sequence, followed by the blimp and golden-gate bridge fight, is the single greatest consecutive sequence of events to ever grace a bond film for me - it's just so damn entertaining. I don't care what anyone says - AVTAK will always rank high for me, and every time I watch it I enjoy it so damn much. Oh, and Max Zorin is the best villain in the series.
1 - Live And Let Die
I actually don't talk about this film that often to say it's my favourite. But that's because a lot of it is to do with nostalgia I admit. LALD was the first bond film I ever saw - so it holds great memories for me. I love Baron Samedi and the whole Voodoo theme (gave the film another adventure-esque feel). Solitaire is one of my favourite bond girls. This is just a film that I find extremely fun to watch.
