Wednesday, 28 October 2015

James Bond Series Highs and Lows

So Spectre, the 24th official James Bond film, premiered in the UK two days ago and since I'm a huge 007 fan I am psyched! (Expect a review soon, once it reaches Canada.) And to celebrate, here’s my personal thoughts on the best, worst, and most noteworthy elements of this momentous 53-years-long film series. Enjoy!

Best Movie: Goldfinger (1964)
Worst Movie: Die Another Day (2002)
Most Underrated Movie: The Living Daylights (1987)
Most Overrated Movie: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Most Undeservedly-Hated Movie: On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Most Realistic Movie: From Russia With Love (1963)
Least Realistic Movie: Tie: Moonraker (1979) or Die Another Day (2002)
Most Violent Movie: License to Kill (1989)
Most Unremarkable Movie: Octopussy (1983)
Most Atrocious Editing: Quantum of Solace (2008)
Best Bond Actor: Sean Connery
Least-Good Bond Actor: Roger Moore, I guess. I like them all, really.
Most Eligible Bond Replacement Actors: Tom Hardy, Colin Farrell
Best Non-Bond Actor: Tie: Judi Dench as M (7 films) and Desmond Llewelyn as Q (17 films)
Best Villain: Ernst Blofeld (from You Only Live Twice, 1967)
Best Villain Besides Blofeld: Alec Trevelyan (from GoldenEye, 1995)
Best Ensemble of Villains: GoldenEye (1995)
Lamest Villain: Elliot Carver (from Tomorrow Never Dies, 1997)
Best Henchman: Oddjob (from Goldfinger, 1964)
Worst Henchman: Mr. Wint, Mr. Kidd, Bambi, and Thumper (from Diamonds Are Forever, 1971)
Best Villain's Plot: Alec Trevelyan (from GoldenEye, 1995)
Worst Villain's Plot: Elliot Carver (from Tomorrow Never Dies, 1997)
Best Romance: Casino Royale (2006)
Best Bond Girl: Pussy Galore (from Goldfinger, 1964)
Worst Bond Girl: Stacey Sutton (from A View to a Kill, 1985)
Best Ensemble of Bond Girls: Tie: Thunderball (1965) and License to Kill (1989)
Worst Ensemble of Bond Girls: A View to a Kill (1985)
Best Theme Song: “Thunderball” by Tom Jones (1965)
Worst Theme Song: “Die Another Day” by Madonna (2002)
Best Opening Scene: Casino Royale (2006)
Worst Opening Scene: For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Best Credits Sequence: Casino Royale (2006)
Worst Credits Sequence: Quantum of Solace (2008)
Best Gun Barrel Sequence: GoldenEye (1995)
Worst Gun Barrel Sequence: Die Another Day (2002)
Dumbest Moment: Jaws falls in love (from Moonraker, 1979)
Funniest Moment: Blofeld's cat freaks out (from You Only Live Twice, 1967)
Most Brutal Death: Milton Krest (from License to Kill, 1989)
Most Intense Fight: Bond vs. Alec Trevelyan (from GoldenEye, 1995)
Most Awkward Fight: Bond vs. Jaws atop the cable car (from Moonraker, 1979)
Best Shootout: You Only Live Twice (1967)
Best Musical Score: The Living Daylights (1987)
Best Stunt: Corkscrew car jump (from The Man With the Golden Gun, 1974)
Worst Special Effects: Die Another Day (2002)
Best Gadget: Garrotte-wristwatch from From Russia With Love (1963)
Dumbest Gadget: Venetian gondola/hovercraft from Moonraker (1979)