The Dude’s High 5s: Bond Movies
There’s a new Bond movie coming out at the week. You have no idea how much that tickles me. When I was a kid, TNT used to have the occasional “15 days of 007” and play them non stop for a fortnight. It was glorious. I’d watch them all over and over. To coincide with the release of Skyfall, I present to you all my favorite Bond Films. Please let me know what films in the series you all like. Of course if you’re not a fan of 007, please say why so I can Internet fight you in the most juvenile of fashions.
5. The Living Daylights (1987)
Timothy Dalton was not a great Bond. He was barely passable. However, something about the Living Daylights works for me. When I was a kid, I liked the European East vs. West chess game. Even now, I love Cold War stories. The story is pretty simple. Bond is assigned to protect a defecting Russian general. The general has information that the head of the KGB is killing off British agents. When the general is seemingly snatched back by the Russians, Bond must follow the trail to get him back.
4. Casino Royale (2006)
Casino Royale was Daniel Craig’s introduction to the Bond franchise. I like him as a Bond, but his resume is still pretty light. As a Bond film, Casino Royal feels out of place to me. The action scenes, particularly the fight scene are not traditional to the Bond persona. That’s not to say I want to stand in the way of progress. Bond was always able to foil his enemies with a subtle action or a quip. This is what set him apart from the Jason Bournes or the Jack Bauers. I suppose the argument can be made that chronologically Casino Royal is the first Bond movie, so he’s not refined or polished yet.
3. Goldfinger (1964)
Goldfinger might be one of the most iconic Bond movies ever. You have the most famous Bond girl’s name, Pussy Galore. You have the most famous henchman in Odd Job. There is the ‘girl killed by being covered in Gold’ (which was copied ans changed to oil in Quantum of Solace.) And of course, it involves a heist at Fort Knox.
2. Goldeneye (1995)
Goldeneye brought Bond back. The six years between films is the longest hiatus in the series since it started in 1962. Also, it inspired one of the greatest video games in a generation. Pierce Brosnan could have been the best Bond ever. He had the look, he had the acting chops, and he that primal sexiness missing since Connery. His problems come from something he could not control, writing. His first foray into the franchise was a smashing success. Subsequent chapters however fall flat and are nearly forgotten.
1. From Russia with Love (1963)
From Russia With Love is widely considered the best Bond movie. Obviously by its placement here, I agree with that sentiment. Its Connery at his best, playing the spy game in an East vs. West showdown during that actual Cold War as opposed to romanticizing about it. Today the plot about finding a device used to break codes wouldn’t be as thrilling or engrossing as it was 50 years ago. Back then however, there were no super computers to run complex algorithms. Nope, we just had good ol’ fashion hard work. One of the things that I love about this movie is Robert Shaw. His portrayal of Red Grant, a SPECTRE agent, is a far cry from his best role ever (Quint from Jaws), showing just how great an actor he was.
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So what is your favorite Bond movie?