Sunday, August 31, 2008

22 Worst James Bond Movies

Like srsly, this week erry time I turn on the teev I swear theres a Bond Movie on. And an off the cuff remark to Amy about The World is Not Enough only being the 16th worst Bond flick made me actually flesh out my list. I figure I'm gonna have to do this in a few parts, because I'm working on a film this week and my schedule's all effed up. Here's the first seven though, more to come in a few days! (Ed, I expect feedback)

22. Goldfinger
Sean Connery really hits his stride in Goldfinger, which is packed with iconic scenes, witty repartee and lots and lots of Pussy Galore. Also, this is the first Bond film to use the convention of the non-plot cold open (From Russian with Love's teaser ties in with the plot, so I discount that as a technicality). By far the least sucky Bond film.

21. Live and Let Die
The first vehicle for the star turn of Roger Moore as 007 takes James Bond across the pond in this voodoo-tastic, Jane Seymour-packed exemplary 70s Bond flick. Sucks way less than the 20 others.

20. Casino Royale
Daniel Craig inherently doesn't suck. And rebooting a faltering franchise is always a good idea and it serves James Bond well here. With most of the decadence and ridiculousness of the latter Brosnan films stripped away, Bond is humanized without any proselytizing about female empowerment screwing up the action set pieces, which is another welcome relief.

19. Dr. No
Firsties=Besties, right? Not necessarily, but Dr. No is certainly good. Sets the tone of flamboyant action mixed with the right amount of humor, gravity and scantily clad women. Everything Bond should be. Superior to its also Caribbean counterpart, Thunderball.

18. Thunderball
Ends up losing control of itself because of how fucking long it is. The plot meanders around for a bit, there a sharks and few sexy 60s chicks, but by the time the 20 minute underwater battle royale ensues you're definitely checking ur watch. Still, a lot less to complain about than almost anything lower on the list. And lots of Sean Connery in semi-bikini briefs.

17. Goldeneye
Following suit with the post-Connery Bonds, Pierce Brosnan's first outing is by far the most memorable, if only for the countless hours of my life I wasted playing the eponymous videogame. One of the best plot related cold opens of the series.

16. Moonraker
Ok, I know what you're saying. "Moonraker sucks. There are way better Bond films." And this statement is quite true. The Bond movies that are better than Moonraker are listed above. Keep in mind that there a lot of the eff-ing things, and that at least Moonraker keeps its sense of humor. Not at any given point is the plot or anything that happens is meant to be taken seriously. There's a lot more suck to come, trust me.

15. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
This is the least interesting Bond film from the standpoint of what would normally classify a Bond film as being good (see: Moonraker). But every now and then, Jimmy needs to remind his audience that there's more to being a super-spy than hot bitches, little guns and quippy sexual innuendo--there are wives and kilts and shit too.

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