OT: Worst James Bond movies

[Bruce K]

With time on our hands, it seems many of us have been watching James Bond films.

We talked about about the best ones in the Honor Blackman discussion, I got to thinking about which was the worst of the bunch.

For me it is “Live and Let Die”, not because of the racial implications but more because it feels disjointed and a bit silly.

The other one for me was Moonraker that just a bit too campy for me.

So, what’s your least watchable Bond film?

BK

[bthornt]

"You Only Live Twice" is my vote for the worst. Bond-san, are you kidding me?

[Elefantino]

My pick is here (https://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=2691097&postcount=40).

Made to counter "Star Wars," it truly sucked on so many levels.

[charliedid]

Fletch

[witcombusa]

Anything with Roger Moore... :eek:

Too bad George Lazenby didn't do more than the one Bond film.

[arcadian]

"Live and let die" gets my vote as well. The guy that wears the mask is pretty funny. When he tears it off his face it, was that supposed to be a surprise?

I like "you only live twice" although him infiltrating the scene as a Japanese guy is pretty funny.

Pierce Brosnan bonds besides Goldeneye are all pretty bad, but I i liked them at the time.

[Tony]

Die another day. The dude with the diamonds stuck to his face and Halle Berry saying "your mama" was all too much.

[Bruce K]

Lazenby only did one because he hated the role. He constantly fought with the producers and defiantly showed up at the premier with long hair and a beard (contrary to their instructions that he look like Bond).

Too bad, I thought he would have been decent as the next Bond.

It forced them to bring back (an aging?) Connery to do Diamonds Are Forever to meet the production schedule.

BK

[arcadian]

Lazenby only did one because he hated the role. He constantly fought with the producers and defiantly showed up at the premier with long hair and a beard (contrary to their instructions that he look like Bond).

Too bad, I thought he would have been decent as the next Bond.

It forced them to bring back (an aging?) Connery to do Diamonds Are Forever to meet the production schedule.

BK

"Her Majesty's Secret Service" is on my favorite list. I agree with your thoughts on Lazenby.

[oldpotatoe]

Lots of crappy ones, many mentioned here..shorter list may be, 'best'..I'll start

Goldfinger
From Russia with Love

Connery WAY better than anything with Roger Moore.
Daniel Craig pretty good too...

[bthornt]

Lots of crappy ones, many mentioned here..shorter list may be, 'best'..I'll start

Goldfinger
From Russia with Love

Connery WAY better than anything with Roger Moore.
Daniel Craig pretty good too...

Wholeheartedly agree with this. The list of good ones is actually pretty short (in my opinion), and certainly these 2 would top my list.

[1centaur]

Anything with Roger Moore... :eek:

Too bad George Lazenby didn't do more than the one Bond film.

Agree. Roger Moore just looked soft.

[Jeff N.]

Best: Goldfinger (Shocking....positively shocking...). Worst: Diamonds Are Forever...especially the theme song.

[Elefantino]

Every multiple-movie Bond had his worst movie.

For Connery, it was "Diamonds Are Forever" (if you don't count the horrid remake, "Never Say Never Again").

For Moore, it was "Moonraker."

For Dalton, it was "License To Kill."

For Brosnan, it was "Die Another Day."

For Craig, it was "Spectre" (although "Quantum Of Solace" is a close runner-up).

[verticaldoug]

With time on our hands, it seems many of us have been watching James Bond films.

We talked about about the best ones in the Honor Blackman discussion, I got to thinking about which was the worst of the bunch.

For me it is “Live and Let Die”, not because of the racial implications but more because it feels disjointed and a bit silly.

The other one for me was Moonraker that just a bit too campy for me.

So, what’s your least watchable Bond film?

BK

Yes, but the boat chase is the best.

I like Man with the Golden Gun.

The older bond films really are cringeworthy on their portrait of masculinity. I find many unwatchable.

George Lazenby as Bond is greatly under rated. I like that old Aston DBS. I also think His Majesty Secret Service has the been selection of cars overall. So many classics I want to own.

[fiamme red]

I'm not a fan of the Bond movies general, but in my opinion the worst is Casino Royale from 1967, with five or six Bonds. It's a complete mess. I think you need to be high on drugs to enjoy it (although I admit that Woody Allen as Bond made me laugh once or twice).

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061452/

[soulspinner]

From the moment I found out Brosnan was going to be Bond, I was never sold on him from his physique to his facial expressions.

[bthornt]

Best: Goldfinger (Shocking....positively shocking...). Worst: Diamonds Are Forever...especially the theme song.

I had previously posted that I thought the worst Bond film was "You Only Live Twice." Somehow, I had forgotten about "Diamonds Are Forever." I agree with you, my friend, this is the worst Bond film.

[fiamme red]

The older bond films really are cringeworthy on their portrait of masculinity. I find many unwatchable.Portrait of masculinity? I think you're taking Bond movies too seriously. They're meant as mindless, escapist entertainment, with a good dose of tongue-in-cheek self-parody, not as a portrait of real men and women.

If you want a movie from the 1960's that shows spies as real human beings, watch the The Spy Who Came In from the Cold.

[dgauthier]

There is *no such thing* as a bad James Bond movie!

[dsimon]

For me it was Skyfall. I like Daniel Craig but for me it was the young Q and the lack of gadgets as growing up with that being the Bond thing to do I thought it was just a fizzle

[saab2000]

For me it was Skyfall. I like Daniel Craig but for me it was the young Q and the lack of gadgets as growing up with that being the Bond thing to do I thought it was just a fizzle

Interesting. I thought Skyfall was one of the better in recent times. The best of all of them is Casino Royale. But there are others that are close.

There is *no such thing* as a bad James Bond movie!

In principle I agree, but I thought Quantum of Solace tried pretty hard at being bad. Made no sense and the plot parts that were discernible were outrageous even by Bond standards. That said, I too think there are no bad Bond films.

I've even heard some folks didn't like Thunderball, which I liked a lot.

BTW, the Ian Fleming books are fantastic fun and portray Bond as a much more complex character than the actors can convey. Only Daniel Craig comes close to Fleming's Bond IMHO and his best portrayal is his first one in Casino Royale.

[sg8357]

"You Only Live Twice" is my vote for the worst. Bond-san, are you kidding me?

But the final battle, Ninjas with rocket rifles and swords vs. the baddies
is great.

[72gmc]

I disregard the whole Timothy Dalton as Bond catalog just as I disregard the fourth Alien movie. It didn’t happen.

[XXtwindad]

Yes, but the boat chase is the best.

I like Man with the Golden Gun.

The older bond films really are cringeworthy on their portrait of masculinity. I find many unwatchable.

George Lazenby as Bond is greatly under rated. I like that old Aston DBS. I also think His Majesty Secret Service has the been selection of cars overall. So many classics I want to own.

I really like reading your opinions. They’re usually pretty erudite and reasonable. I’m not saying this one isn’t , just that I disagree. Completely. Sean Connery was a straight up stud. Cast the 1964 era Connery in a movie about 2020 tech geeks, and he’d still be a stud. I want my Bond to project an effortless masculinity. None of them had that, save for Connery. (I never saw Lazenby) That’s why I thought a younger Clive Owen would’ve made a great Bond. Or Idris Elba now. I want the old school swagger. I want Bond to “get the girl” after a little verbal foreplay. I want my 007 free of the cultural zeitgeist.

Sean Connery forever. Unless this guy is available...

[saab2000]

I disregard the whole Timothy Dalton as Bond catalog just as I disregard the fourth Alien movie. It didn’t happen.

They're not great and mostly forgettable movies but can be worthwhile in the context of a Bond marathon. I find him and Pierce Brosnan to be curious choices for the role but their films aren't all bad either.

They're all fun in an over-the-top manner.

[charliedid]

They're not great and mostly forgettable movies but can be worthwhile in the context of a Bond marathon. I find him and Pierce Brosnan to be curious choices for the role but their films aren't all bad either.

They're all fun in an over-the-top manner.

My thoughts as well

[yinzerniner]

They're not great and mostly forgettable movies but can be worthwhile in the context of a Bond marathon. I find him and Pierce Brosnan to be curious choices for the role but their films aren't all bad either.

They're all fun in an over-the-top manner.

Dalton and Craig were much closer to Fleming’s written character than the other bonds. Dalton could be charming and campy but he was written terribly. Craig’s been given little to work with as well, although the production quality of his films have generally been enough to push them to the realm of watchabiiity.

But my favorite Bond movies are still the OSS-117 flicks.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSS_117:_Lost_in_Rio#/media/File%3AOSS_117Rio.jpg

[tuxbailey]

I disregard the whole Timothy Dalton as Bond catalog just as I disregard the fourth Alien movie. It didn’t happen.

I thought the "Living Daylights" was very entertaining.

[johnmdesigner]

Moneypenny can knock on my door anytime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA3LPt83QAc

[OtayBW]

Lots of crappy ones, many mentioned here..shorter list may be, 'best'..I'll start

Goldfinger
From Russia with Love

Connery WAY better than anything with Roger Moore.
Daniel Craig pretty good too...
Haha! Flip the movie list and I'm right there with you. Something about traipsing around Istanbul and then on the Orient Express - oh and then Tatiana Romanova wasn't too shabby.....:rolleyes:

[Buzz]

A View to a Kill is the worst. Hands down. Aged Roger Moore (who was pushing 60) is bad enough but the film devolves into a hot mess of bad acting, sets, filming and story line akin to a tv episode of the Six Million Dollar Man. Embarrassing.

[Gummee]

There is *no such thing* as a good James Bond movie!
fixed that for you.

As movies, they pretty much all suck. As ENTERTAINMENT they are awesome and echo the times in which they were made.

The books? Completely different story. They also have very little in common (if anything) with the movies. Too bad they didn't stick to the books when making the movies. Ditto with Starship Troopers, etc

M

[steamer]

Timely thread.

Generally, I enjoy Bond films. Two nights ago I watched 'Moonraker'. I couldn't remember ever having seen it, so I thought why not. Boy, was it bad. Worst Bond film I have ever seen. So corny. The icing on the crap cake was the fact that the laser guns didn't make a proper "pew..pew" noise. Theirs made more of a static-like sound. Everyone knows lasers go pew pew.

[Hindmost]

Always loved the James Bond theme music, the twangy guitar and that suspenseful orchestra stuff. The special guest pop star-songs, not too much. Well, maybe Shirley Bassey was pretty cool.

[Coffee Rider]

Has anyone mentioned Never Say Never Again just on the principle that it’s just a remake of Thunderball? I still find them all worthwhile and I try to find amusement in the campiness, sexism and other things of which I disapprove.


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[Bob Ross]

I find all of them supremely unwatchable...beyond the opening pre-credit action sequences.

Daniel Craig is probably my favorite actor in the lead role, but so much of the writing in those versions is cringe-worthy, especially the whole "let's try to show his sensitive/vulnerable side" material. Seriously? You think if I wanted Sensitive/Vulnerable Guy material I'd even turn on an action-adventure movie about a secret agent who's licensed to kill? Hell, two clicks in either direction on the cable remote there's a Matthew McConaughey movie that hits that note in spades.

I enjoy Sean Connery the older he gets ...which means not as James Bond.

Roger Moore makes me vomit.

Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan look like they modeled their character entirely on the Roger Moore blueprint.

Seriously, just stop making these crappy movies.

[tbike4]

As movies, they pretty much all suck. As ENTERTAINMENT they are awesome and echo the times in which they were made.

This sums it up for me. I recall watching some of the older films when they were first released and always looked forward to the opening scenes and what kind of evil villain would appear.

[AngryScientist]

As movies, they pretty much all suck. As ENTERTAINMENT they are awesome

wait, so movies are not supposed to be entertainment? i dont get the comment?

[gbcoupe]

They have all been good for entertainment... at least in their time. Some have aged better than others. Moonraker for one... not so much. I remember watching it when it was 1st out at a drive-in with my Uncle and Cousins. Liked it very much then.

[Polyglot]

Nobody has mentioned Octopussy. Does this mean that people actually like it or it was so terrible that everybody has completely forgotten it.

[Coffee Rider]

Nobody has mentioned Octopussy. Does this mean that people actually like it or it was so terrible that everybody has completely forgotten it.


FWIW, I thought it was within the bell curve of Bomd movies. My standards are probably not particularly high.


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[kytyree]

I'm working my way through them again, I'm generally not a fan of the Roger Moore movies but they're ok. I've liked the recent ones and I love the ones from the 60's. Those that fall in between I'm not so sure about.

[DeBike]

I never saw a Bond movie that I liked, so it's a toss up.

[saab2000]

Nobody has mentioned Octopussy. Does this mean that people actually like it or it was so terrible that everybody has completely forgotten it.

I just finished Octopussy. It is pretty sorry. Bad writing, huge plot holes, weak acting, etc. Maybe they’re all like this. I sort of enjoyed it but was also glad when it was finished.

The best part may have been the Rita Coolidge theme song.