This list took far too long to write. My bad.
You knew this was coming, and not just because I mentioned it in my review of No Time To Die. Way back in March/April 2016 I gave my personal rankings of all the official James Bond movies. That was six years ago and since then I've rewatched them all – yes, even Die Another Day – and there's been a new movie released. So have my opinions on these films changed in the past six years? Yes, obviously! But how exactly have they changed? Did they rise or fall? Which movies do I appreciate more? Which ones don't I like as much anymore? And where does NTTD fit into all this? Let's find out!
Die Another Day (position change from last time: -1)
Yep, six years later and I'm still unimpressed. You remember how silly superhero movies were in the 1990's? That's what Die Another Day reminds me of: a film that's trying so hard to be cool but is too silly to take seriously. The one good thing I can say about this film is that it is very reminiscent of the 007 video games that were released around that same time period, with the outlandish plots, fanciful gadgets, and improbable action scenes – not to mention the bad CGI. This might be an OK movie to watch when I'm feeling nostalgic for my bright-eyed preteen years – so I guess you could say that I don't hate it as much as I used to – but regardless Die Another Day isn't a movie I feel like watching often.
Quantum of Solace (-5)
The second Bond movie of the Daniel Craig era takes a steep fall in my rankings since last time for two reasons. The first is, as I've complained many times before, it isn't always a pleasant movie to watch because of the incomprehensible action scenes and the obnoxious editing. The second is that there simply isn't much to this movie story-wise. The development of Quantum of Solace's script may have been affected by the 2007 Writer's Guild strike and it shows in the lacklustre plot and the forgettable villains (although I did think the ending was alright). What we end up with is a 106 minute sequel to a 144 minute film that at the same time tries to be more than it is with an unsuitably artsy direction and a half-baked environmental message. The result is a messy flick that's just as confusing as its title suggests.
Moonraker (same)
The reason I don't like Moonraker much is because it has too much in common with Die Another Day: the outlandish plot, lousy humour, and overall campiness. Aside from that, Bond and Holly Goodhead have no chemistry, Jaws is an unimposing bore, and the whole thing lacks originality: the same tired 007 formula (and basically the same plot as The Spy Who Loved Me) trying to chase after that Star Wars popularity. The reason it's not last place is that Hugo Drax does make for an fine villain and the film boasts some impressive set design and special effects for its time.
The Man With the Golden Gun (-5)
TMWTGG is another movie that's taken a sharp dive in my personal rankings since 2016 which doesn't surprise me at all. Aside from Christopher Lee's coolness and the jaw-dropping corkscrew car jump there's really not much about this flick to draw me back since most of the rest is lame comedy, ripping off kung fu movies, and an uninspired performance by Roger Moore. There's not much The Man With the Golden Gun does better than any other Bond movie and as such it's a film I pretty much only watch if I'm doing some sort of marathon or watch-through.
A View to a Kill (+1)
Yeah, A View to a Kill still isn't great but I don't view it quite as unfavourably as I did before. My previous complaints haven't changed: the setup is boring at first, the Bond chick Stacey Sutton is kind of useless, and Moore is getting too old for this crap. But on the other hand I can't help but admire how bizarre the whole experience is. There's that weird genetic/steroid experimentation subplot, that over-the-top firetruck chase scene, the obvious stunt doubles, and of course Christopher Walken, who might just be the straight-up craziest Bond villain ever. When I'm in the right mood for it A View to a Kill can be an entertaining movie, but that doesn't make it a good movie.
Spectre (-9)
And here we have the movie that's fallen the furthest in my Bond film rankings: Spectre. In some ways this was inevitable; when I did the previous rankings list I had only seen Spectre once and it was five months prior to the writing of that article and thus I was mainly judging it based on my first impressions. But in the five years since then successive viewings have really put this film into perspective for me and now I think it's a pretty average, unremarkable 007 film. Making Blofeld Bond's adoptive brother – and then not going anywhere with it – was a boneheaded move. (Also how am I supposed to take Blofeld as a serious threat when he wears ankle-exposing pants, no socks, and shoes with no laces?) The romance wasn't all that convincing, the plot is pretty standard, and the action, while not bad, isn't very memorable. The one problem that I believe has plagued every Daniel Craig-era movie is that they focus on the continuity and world-building at the expense of making each film complete in their own right. Aside from some great cinematography, a dramatic theme song, and an expert performance from Craig there isn't much about Spectre that stands out to me.
Tomorrow Never Dies (+1)
Tomorrow Never Dies moves up one spot mostly because other films moved lower on this list. My opinion hasn't changed much. With mostly bland settings, a lame-ass villain, and an overemphasis on all-out action over intrigue and stealth, TND remains an average Bond film for me. However there are still things about this movie that are enjoyable. I like how Elliot Carver, as unimposing as he is, has a sense of humour. While the film is very action-heavy the action scenes are done rather well – my favourites are the car chase in the parkade and the motorcycle chase in Ho Chi Minh City. While lacking in chemistry with Bond, Wei Lin is still a kickass Bond girl. And while it didn't amount to much I do like how the film tried something different with Bond returning to a past lover. All in all, Tomorrow Never Dies is a mixed bag that could've been better.
Octopussy (+3)
Probably the biggest surprise as I made up this list is how much more I like Octopussy than I did before. Repeat viewings have led me to conclude that this one may not be as average as I once thought. First off, India makes for a pretty unique and interesting setting – it makes one wish more movies took place there! The assortment of villains is excellent with the intimidating Gobinda, the slimy yet smooth Kamal Khan, and the slightly unhinged General Orlov. The title character is a splendid addition, arguably the best bond girl of the Roger Moore films with their decent chemistry, and she's no slouch either: with her henchmen, secluded lair, and self-defence skills she could easily have qualified for a bond villain herself. Top it all off with some cool stunt work, like with the fight scenes atop a moving train or even atop a flying airplane! I was wrong before; this movie ain't half-bad!
Dr. No (-1)
Coming in at almost the same spot is the one that started it all: Dr. No. When you compare it to the almost sixty years' worth of action movies since it's easy to see this film as quaint and kind of campy. While I must admit that there isn't much Dr. No does better than any other Bond film it still has an undeniable charm to it, and the the coolness of its main character – and especially his introductory scene – still makes for a decent watch.
Diamonds Are Forever (+2)
I never thought I'd say this but I think I like Diamonds Are Forever more than Dr. No. It probably just took me a little bit to get over the campiness of it all. I can now appreciate the film's (at times) bizarre sense of tongue-in-cheek humour, this devious and arrogant version of Blofeld (played by Charles Gray) has really grown on me, and the assortment of villains is quite entertaining. Sean Connery still manages to give one more magnetic performance as agent 007 and Jill St. John is a fun addition as Tiffany Case. All in all Diamonds Are Forever is more enjoyable than I originally thought and is serviceable entertainment. It's basically Austin Powers but without the stupidity.
No Time To Die
Coming in at 15th is the most recent Bond flick, No Time To Die, and as you can see I'm a lot more reserved in my ranking of the new film this time around. I think it's just because I'm a little more cautious with how I've compared this against all the other twenty-four movies. But that doesn't mean that I'm any less enthusiastic about how I view No Time To Die. With some great action scenes, dazzling cinematography, and fine characters NTTD is a pretty good addition to the series and a suitable end to the Daniel Craig era. If it weren't for Bond's out-of-character dialogue, the villain's unclear goals, and the over-the-top premise this film would have ranked even higher. For more detail, check out my full review from October.
The Spy Who Loved Me (+1)
Not much has changed with my opinions of The Spy Who Loved Me, probably the most popular of the Roger Moore 007 films. As such I really don't have much to say in addition to what I wrote back in 2016. It's a fine movie with good heroes, exhilarating action, a fun story, decent theme song, but lacklustre villains. Good enough to take it almost to the halfway point of this list.
For Your Eyes Only (+1)
Since 2016 I've rewatched For Your Eyes Only multiple times and I've decided that this movie is awesome – dumbass opening scene notwithstanding. The outlandish plots of previous films were reigned in to tell a more down-to-earth story with more believable action scenes and a compelling bond girl in Melina Havelock. But what I've really grown to appreciate are this film's locations: Greece and the Italian Alps are fascinating places to set a spy film, and seeing Bond partake in winter sports never gets old. All in all, FYEO is an excellent entry in the 007 series, one that you oughtta watch!
Live and Let Die (same)
Six years later and here I am still convinced that Live and Let Die is the best of the Roger Moore era 007 films. It remains the most different of the Bond movies and if the whole British-secret-agent-in-a-blaxploitation-movie thing isn't your cup of tea then I understand but for me this is a welcome change of pace and it serves as an enjoyable first outing for Roger Moore in this series. In spite of – or possibly because of – its uniqueness Live and Let Die proved that the 007 series was capable of going on post-Connery and it continues to entertain to this day.
The Living Daylights (-3)
The Living Daylights is unfortunately one of those films that's noticeably dropped in my rankings since last time. I say unfortunately because this is a film that I still very much like. Timothy Dalton's ruthless performance as Bond is a welcome change of pace, the settings (Cold War Central Europe, Afghanistan) are awesome and appropriate for the movie's period (1987), and I appreciate the (mostly) more serious tone. The only downside is that I've become more aware of the lack of a strong villain character; Whitaker and Koskov aren't all that intimidating or threatening. It's true that there are a few more 007 films that I've grown to appreciate more, but nevertheless The Living Daylights still manages to capture my attention every time.
The World Is Not Enough (+3)
Starting off the Top 10 of my list is The World Is Not Enough, a movie that gets better every time I see it. This one has all the things that were great about the Pierce Brosnan era: the one-liners, the over-the-top gadgets that verge on being silly, the henchman with a gimmick, Bond's personal drama, and some tongue-in-cheek self-awareness (Denise Richards is a nuclear physicist – just go with it). You've also got some memorable side characters – M, the new Q, Zukovsky, Robinson, Bullion – some exciting action scenes, and even a female villain, a rarity in this series. I'll admit that sometimes it seems that the over-the-top nature of the action and plot can sometimes conflict with the seriousness that the film tries to go for – something that the later Craig-era films did better – but The World Is Not Enough is still a great underrated Brosnan-era Bond film.
Thunderball (same)
Remaining at number nine is the 1965 classic Thunderball. Please excuse this brief description but there's not much I can say about it that I haven't already. It was a good movie then and it's a good movie now. 'Nuff said.
License to Kill (+2)
In a move that surprises me, License to Kill has replaced The Living Daylights as my preferred Timothy Dalton Bond film. As was the case with the latter film this one continues acknowledging the trends of its time period – the War on Drugs, hyper-violent action films, explosions, televangelists – and plays them off of Dalton's intense and cynical portrayal of Bond and it works so much better this time around, even if it does every so often seem like the film is grasping at the coattails of Scarface. The story of Bond's revenge for what happened to the Leiters is a welcome deviation from the typical 007 plot. It also helps that it has a compelling pair of Bond girls as well as some of the series' best action scenes ever (how could one forget that tanker truck chase scene?). License to Kill is a Bond film for the ages.
You Only Live Twice (-1)
This is the movie you go to when you want some all-out, high stakes action from the classic 007 entries. You Only Live Twice has it all: exotic locations, threatening villains, ninjas, exciting action, and dazzling set design: you know, all the things that Austin Powers copied. Really the only thing YOLT is missing is some memorable Bond girls and a little more vitality to Sean Connery's performance; these things could have elevated it to #4. But as it is You Only Live Twice is still makes for an excellent spy adventure.
GoldenEye (-1)
After six years of no 007 films this one comes along and totally breathes new life into the series. GoldenEye has it all: a pulse-pounding opening scene that brilliantly introduces us to the new Bond actor, an expertly-crafted tone throughout, a riveting ensemble of villains, a proficient Bond girl in Natalya Simonova, some intense fight scenes, a high stakes villain plot, and a cool, confident debut performance from Pierce Brosnan. In addition we're treated to likeable new supporting characters who would turn up in successive films, such as Valentin Zukovsky, Jack Wade, and Judi Dench's M. I don't even mind the much-maligned scoring. GoldenEye was the near-perfect start of a new era for 007 and for many filmgoers it made the series matter again.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (-1)
I still think On Her Majesty's Secret Service is an upper-tier Bond film and I watch it frequently enough – after all, it's the closest the series has to a Christmas movie. The action is intense by 1960's standards, the locations are dazzling, the score sets the tone excellently, and the performances are all great... except I find that my appreciation of George Lazenby has diminished slightly. “Same ball park as Connery?” Yeah right. Lazenby wasn't terrible – especially for a first-time actor – but he didn't exactly have the nuance and attention to detail we'd see with other 007 actors. It also didn't help that his lone 007 film demanded a lot from him as far as emotional displays goes. Despite this OHMSS can be enjoyed by just about any action movie fan.
From Russia With Love (+3)
Much like with The World Is Not Enough, From Russia With Love is a film that only gets better every time I watch it. FRWL is twice as thrilling as its predecessor, with a lot more tension – assassin Red Grant posing as Bond's associate on the Orient Express – but still some neat action scenes like the fight at the gypsy camp and the speed boat chase. Sean Connery is on fire in this film building upon the coolness established in Dr. No – and with a surprising amount of intensity too. Casting is also on point with the ensemble of villains we get to see, as well as Daniela Bianchi playing Tatiana Romanova. In many ways From Russia With Love is the film that really established the 007 series' look and method going forward, the one against which all successive films would be compared. And with a movie like this I'd say they set the bar pretty high.
Skyfall (same)
I'd say that Skyfall is easily the most popular Bond film of my lifetime: the one that plays on TV all the time, the one that everybody saw when it was in theatres, the only film of the series to have grossed over a billion dollars at the box office. For a lot of my friends this is the only Bond film they've ever seen. And if you're only ever going to watch just one 007 movie (what the hell is wrong with you?) then Skyfall is a very good candidate. Not only does it have the exciting edge-of-your-seat action moments, a fine story, a outstanding villain, gorgeous cinematography, and top notch performances from Judi Dench and Daniel Craig, but it also has the advantage of not being bogged down by continuity; unlike the other Craig-era films you can watch this one on its own and not miss anything important. But for those of you who do pay close attention, you'll be pleased at the multitude of subtle references to the past Bond films in this 50 year anniversary adventure. All in all, Skyfall is a fitting tribute to one of action cinema's greatest franchises and is one of the very best this series has to offer. My appreciation for it has only grown, but alas not enough to put it past the next film on this list.
Goldfinger (same)
Five years later and I'm still trying to come up with something unique to say about Goldfinger. It's regarded by many to be the best in the series and for good reason. Connery's performance as James Bond is spot on and cool and you can tell he's having a blast playing this character. The cocky but clever Auric Goldfinger, the domineering Oddjob, and the graceful, no-nonsense Pussy Galore make up what's arguably the series' most memorable supporting cast. The action and stunts are spectacular and give us just the right amounts of suspense balanced against just the right amount of levity. Top it all off with an unforgettable theme song, eye-catching sets, and brilliant villain scheme and you've got one hell of a 007 movie. With this third entry the series had now fully hit its stride, making Goldfinger the (gold) standard that all subsequent Bond films would be measured against.
Casino Royale (same)
That's right, my top three movies didn't change at all from last time. Coming in at number one is that Bond film that I can't stop talking about on this blog: Casino Royale. You're probably sick of me gushing about how gripping the opening scene is, how cool the credits sequence is, how riveting the action is, and how pitch-perfect the acting is. Since 2016 I've come to appreciate other aspects of Casino Royale like its beautiful photography and the character progression of Bond. It also has unquestionably the best romance of the series (yes, even better than Spectre & No Time To Die). In the mid-2000's people were unsure of whether the 007 series needed a reboot, but looking back I believe it was the correct choice – for better or worse – and Casino Royale was a great start to a new era of Bond. I eagerly await the day another film in this franchise can approach this one's excellence. (I mean I know there was Skyfall but... you know what I'm saying.)
