Best James Bond Movie - poll

[RGA]

I can only poll 10 so hopefully I don't leave your favorite off the list.

I actually liked all the actors in their own way who played Bond - Connery is my favorite but I liked the goofball tongue in cheek Moore, and Daniel Craig's intense interpretation. Lazenby only had the one film but critically it has always been deemed one of the very best of the lot. I think Timothy Dalton didn't get a fair shake - he is a fine actor but The Living Daylights was terrible - fortunately License to Kill was one of the best. Brosnan was for me the least interesting - still good but a bit flat for me.

I left off Thunderball and to ensure I got every Bond actor into the poll. Though for me these were the ten best Bong movies. I chose Casino Royale as the best film of the lot. Goldfinger would be second.

[Jack in Wilmington]

Neither of my favorites are on the poll.

You Only Live Twice is my favorite Sean Connery film. I have a weekness for Asian woman.

Live and Let Die is my favorite Roger Moore film. The speed boat race through the bayoos is great and the local cop who is chasing him is wonderful comic relief.

[RGA]

Jack

I knew it - I knew someone would say You Only Live Twice. And I agree with you on Live and Let Die.

I've been watching a bunch of the Bond movies and last night watched A View to a Kill which is also better than I remembered - I love Christopher Walken playing a psychopath.

Unfortunately the poll limits to 10 and I wanted to get every Bond actor in the list. Dr. No is often one of the critic's choices - but I also preferred You Only Live Twice as an entertainment. Diamonds are Forever I always felt was underrated as well. Bond being chased in a moon buggy in Vegas - and the car chase sequence through the parking lot I found hilarious. And I liked Bambi and Thumper and the the two Gay bad guys. My least favorite of Connery was Thunderball but many feel that was the best one.

My favorite Moore one The Spy Who Loved Me and the ridiculous Lotus turns submarine vehicle - and the unstoppable Jaws.

Casino Royale though for me was the most realistic and intense - it works as a movie apart from the James Bond lore. License to Kill also has elements of that intensity and Dalton's Bond in some ways is similar to Craig's - different decade different attitudes of audiences perhaps.

[Jack in Wilmington]

I agree Daniel Craig is intense. I've been watching some 007 movies over the holidays. I'd like to pick up a couple of my favorites on Blu-Ray. How's TV in Hong Kong? Do they have English subtitles?

[Enochrome]

By Her Majesty's for me, or maybe the early Connery.

My friend and I were bored at his house one day watching tv many years ago and Her Majesty's came on. We were like " who is this schmuck playing Bond"? We continued to watch, cause we had nothing else to do, and after 30 minutes we looked at each other and declared it a kick ass flick. We still agree it is the best.

I do not like the new ones. I feel it forgoes all the style that is half of the Bond formula.

[RGA]

Casino Royale however is closer to the original intention of the character and in a lot of ways closer to Dr. No or From Russia with Love than the others.

Before Daniel Craig and around the time of Pierce Brosnan, Ralph Fiennes was asked to do the role but he wanted it to be closer to the originals - less silly gadgets and more character driven and about what it would be to be a true agent with a killer instinct.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service also plays into that with some actual depth of feeling and arguably the best written Bond Girl with Diana Rigg who growing up I had a huge crush on. She was also a female Bond like character as Emma Peel in The Avengers. She would have made a great Cat Woman.

I don't know why Lazenby only did the one movie - although for me he wasn't the best thing about the movie.

I think the worst Bond movie is Quantum of Solace - what a P.O.S. this was - it was so disappointing to come off Casino Royale. Moonraker was pretty lousy as well - but at least it had some goofy humour.

[Smokey]

Since Roger Moore is my favorite Bond, I go with The Spy Who Loved Me as my favorite bond film. This was Moore's third film as the Bond and he strike a nice balance between being humorous and charming, and acton adventure hero. And jumping off the snow cliff with ski on is probably one of the best stunt in movie history.

I also have few bond films with Connery, but they look kind of dated.

[RGA]

I just re-viewed "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and I think this might be tied with Casino Royale for me. Those two films IMO had the best written female lead characters and a genuine romance. Lazenby probably should have been given another crack at it - not sure why they only made the one film with him - he wasn't bad and the role really doesn't need great acting chops.

[Enochrome]

Yeah Quantum of Solace was a big disappointment; it was just boring. I thought why it was seriously lacking and then I read Ebert's review and I agree they took all the style with substance and charm out of the film to appeal to boys who play Call of Duty.

[JoeE SP9]

Roger Moore never worked for me. He always seemed to be smirking at the audience. I guess that was his approach to the character.
Daniel Craig, two thumbs up. Quantum Of Solace, one thumb down.

[Smokey]

Lazenby probably should have been given another crack at it - not sure why they only made the one film with him - he wasn't bad and the role really doesn't need great acting chops.

According to his "unofficial" autobiography, he was given contract to do seven bond films including Diamonds Are Forever in which his wife die at beginning of movie. With On Her Majesty's Secret Service director Peter Hunt returning to direct.

But Lazenby agent adviced him against type casting with bond films, so he turned down Diamonds Are Forever and the seven-film contract. George has since admitted to regretting his decision and listening to the advice that was offered.

George Lazenby (http://www.bondstars.com/georgelazenby/index.htm)

[LeRoy]

I got on the 007 bandwagon when Roger Moore was playing the J.B. role so The Spy Who Love Me was the J.B. movie for me...

[RGA]

According to his "unofficial" autobiography, he was given contract to do seven bond films including Diamonds Are Forever in which his wife die at beginning of movie. With On Her Majesty's Secret Service director Peter Hunt returning to direct.

But Lazenby agent adviced him against type casting with bond films, so he turned down Diamonds Are Forever and the seven-film contract. George has since admitted to regretting his decision and listening to the advice that was offered.

George Lazenby (http://www.bondstars.com/georgelazenby/index.htm)

Terrible advice - typecasting isn't such a big deal but I guess back then it was something to be feared. If you're a good actor you can escape typecasting. Connery was fine after Bond - maybe got more roles because he was Bond. Although it didn't help Roger Moore much.

[JoeE SP9]

Connery was the first Bond and that's what stuck with me. He always seemed a little too gentlemanly and full of British "fair play" for the rolle. Danlel Craig imakes me believe he could have and use a license to kill.

[blackraven]

The Daniel Craig movies were the best but I really like the 2 first Bond Movies and Her Majesty's Secret Service. Most of the others were too hokey, especially the Roger Moore movies which pretty much ruined the Bond series for me till Daniel Craig came along.

You have to take all this movies in the context of the era that they were made. The early Bond films of the 60's were reflective of the time period. The Roger Moore films were especially so with all the campy films that were being produced at the time. But he seemed to be totally miscast in the role and looked out of place. I guess you had to grow up in those periods to appreciate them.