If it wasn't for the villains he's sent to tackle every few years, Bond would be a middle grade British civil servant adept at filing reports, gambling, drinking and womanising. At least that's the impression one gets from the Ian Fleming novels. In short Bond's only as good as his next adversary.
I don't know if there's another thread covering this, but I wondered if members have favourite film scenes involving 007 and his opponent of the day. Here's mine.
Doctor No - "One million dollars, Mr Bond." - it sets the pattern for future Bond/Villain encounters. A dangerous adversary. A thin veneer of civilised behaviour. A sinister organisation or scheme, conveniently revealed. The threat of physical peril ahead for Bond.
From Russia With Love - "The first one won't kill you.... not til you crawl on your knees and kiss my foot!" We know he's a villain, but Bond doesn't until well into the film's second half. And when the mask slips and the real Red Grant is revealed, it is one of the most chilling moments in the series' history, in my view.
Goldfinger - "Choose your next witticism carefully, Mr Bond, it may be your last" A scene many casual cinema-goers remember. How will Bond get out of being cut in half by a laser beam? Tense, the tension emphasised by John Barry's score. Many of these Bond/Villain encounters are made more memorable for me by the background music, particularly that of the late Mr Barry.
You Only Live Twice - "I am Ernst Stavro Blofeld" A key moment in the series. We finally see the face of Bond's most infamous nemesis.
Diamonds Are Forever - "Double Jeopardy, Mr Bond" Two Blofelds for the price of one. Which is real and which is the economy pack?
The Man With The Golden Gun - "There's a useful four letter word, and you're full of it" - Light luncheon conversation turns nasty as Scaramanga seeks to equate himself with Bond. Roger Moore's 007 is having none of it.
The Living Daylights - "You've had your eight. I'll have my eighty!" Dalton Bond's only encounter with Brad Whitaker - a lecture on the American Civil War soon turns into a shootout.
GoldenEye - "No glib remark? No pithy comeback?" 007 meets "the late" 006 in a park full of statues. Two men who feel betrayed, but for different reasons.
Casino Royale - two scenes here - "Wow. You've taken good care of your body." One of the best performed scenes in the series, in my view. Two desperate men, a harrowing torture, but with Bond gradually taking command of the situation, even turning humour against Le Chiffre. And scene two - Lake Como, beautiful scenery, a gunshot, a villain, Mr White, struck down, that theme in the background and that line "The name's Bond, James Bond"
Skyfall- "The two survivors. This is what she made us" One of the most extraordinary introductions of a Bond villain in the series, the manipulative Silva trying to turn Bond against M. One line in it for me stands out - "You still cling to your faith in that old woman, when all she ever does is lie to you." Sums up part of the Bond/M relationship in this film.
Anyway, there's my most memorable Bond/baddie encounters. Any other suggestions?
