Poll Favourite/best Moore Bond movie
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Live and Let Die. It was funny, and scary, and had that great chase scene with the boat jump, and a great McCartney song, and Yaphet Kotto, and of course.. Jane Seymour..
I selected Octopussy, for a couple of personal reasons. First, it was the first Roger Moore Bond flick I ever saw. Second, the opening song by Rita Coolidge is my favorite Bond theme song.
I hate to say it, other than that, most of the Moore Bond films kind of blend in together in my memory, so I don't know which was which.
I hate to say it, other than that, most of the Moore Bond films kind of blend in together in my memory, so I don't know which was which.
FYEO is one that seems to shift each time I watch it. Used to be one of my least favourite Bond films but it has grown on me. People diss The Man with the Golden Gun but, though it's weak in places (and for god's sake I wish someone would remove the kazoo from the car spin) I always enjoy it when I watch it. Moore's great and Scaramanga and Nick-Nack are a great double act.
I have to vote For Your Eyes Only. It's my wife's favorite, and the one she used to introduce me to James Bond.
The Spy Who Loved Me is a close second, thanks to the glorious Barbara Bach.
The Spy Who Loved Me is a close second, thanks to the glorious Barbara Bach.
No bias in the poll! 
Not to mention, quintessential and favorite are two different things....
Anyway, For Your Eyes Only, here, as favorite Roger Moore Bond film. Not perfect, but some great sequences: getting dragged underwater, the mountain climb. I liked the overall down to Earth feel. Amidst the themes of double-dealing and revenge, Bond's hands weren't clean, but he did follow a moral compass, which he advised Havelock to follow too. The climax signified the frustration and stalemate of the Cold War.
Not to mention, quintessential and favorite are two different things....
Anyway, For Your Eyes Only, here, as favorite Roger Moore Bond film. Not perfect, but some great sequences: getting dragged underwater, the mountain climb. I liked the overall down to Earth feel. Amidst the themes of double-dealing and revenge, Bond's hands weren't clean, but he did follow a moral compass, which he advised Havelock to follow too. The climax signified the frustration and stalemate of the Cold War.
"You don't have it, and we don't have it... that's detente comrade."No bias in the poll!
Not to mention, quintessential and favorite are two different things....
Anyway, For Your Eyes Only, here, as favorite Roger Moore Bond film. Not perfect, but some great sequences: getting dragged underwater, the mountain climb. I liked the overall down to Earth feel. Amidst the themes of double-dealing and revenge, Bond's hands weren't clean, but he did follow a moral compass, which he advised Havelock to follow too. The climax signified the frustration and stalemate of the Cold War.
I go against the grain with Moonraker. I think the comedic tone was most in-tune with Moore's own sensibilities as an actor. While he could do a more hard-boiled Bond it always felt somewhat forced. I'm simply not a Bond purist and look at the films purely for their entertainment value and Moonraker is campy fun, which is why it was fodder for Austin Powers.
There are some great moments in the film. The pre credits sequence, where Bond is pushed out of an airplane without a parachute, and that wonderful droll moment where Bond shoots a would be assassin while pheasant hunting...
Drax: You missed Mr. Bond.
Bond: Did I?
I think all the Moore films (since that's what we're talking about here) had outstanding moments, even those that I wouldn't call my favorites.
Some very good points made above. I still think TSWLM is the strongest all-round package, plus it was my first theater Bond. When that car kept driving into the water I about flipped.
Best Moore Bond song: McCartney. Simon and Easton runners up, Duran Duran in 4th.
Best Moore Bond song: McCartney. Simon and Easton runners up, Duran Duran in 4th.
Switch 5&6 with 2&3 and I agree with that ranking!
Moonraker is a lot of fun.
I watched Live and Let Die tonight, I had forgotten just what a cracking Bond film that is. Anyway I'd probably go...
1. The Spy Who Loved Me
2. Live and Let Die.
3. Moonraker.
4. The Man With the Golden Gun.
Joint 5th. FYEO/Octopussy
7. AVTAK (great title track though)
I watched Live and Let Die tonight, I had forgotten just what a cracking Bond film that is. Anyway I'd probably go...
1. The Spy Who Loved Me
2. Live and Let Die.
3. Moonraker.
4. The Man With the Golden Gun.
Joint 5th. FYEO/Octopussy
7. AVTAK (great title track though)
FYEO and TSWLM both return to the classic formula while not feeling like "retread", especially FYEO. Indeed, FYEO would have come immediately after TSWLM had it not been for Star Wars, which prompted everyone to go into space - including Bond but Moonraker has a number of fantastic set-pieces despite the outer space stuff, which in retrospect may have helped FYEO be given that much more epic a script. These two show Moore's era at its finest. And FYEO, after Moonraker and Moore's first two outings - feels as much an apology as it does a mini-reboot. The music might be off in some scenes (it's almost too trendy in spots, but the production team was also looking for a new style instead of the risk of becoming stagnant), but works utterly great in others but the story's flow is incredibly good, and Bond's interest in the Countess, her murder (which harks back to OHMSS as much as the pre-credits bit does but only far better), and his revenge on Locque, is some of the cinema's gripping and all-time best. To say nothing of the plot, the excellent chase and suspense scenes (such as when the baddies follow Bond into the ski lift, it's handled with perfection and Moore's subtle nuances and facial expressions really nail the sense of threat and the audience is tuned in that much more), and the fate for the ATAC device that became the quest for both sides. Nobody does it better-- that is the truth. FYEO is easily Moore's finest, and one of Bond's all-time bests.
TSWLM is Moore's first rock solid great, after a great era opener (LALD) and a turkey that tries to be well-meaning (TMWTGG). Back to basics, Jaws gets a great introduction and use - not overused, not comedic, but downright terrifying. The music is sometimes trendy, sometimes classic, but even the trendy disco stuff doesn't feel as dated as it otherwise might do.
Live & Let Die may be "Blaxploitation" but the acting from all involved just makes the movie feel like a Bond movie that is a bit more realistic, plausible, and - indeed - truly epic than the outings from the 1960s. Roger's first, he does bring in a freshness to Bond, into a story that feels refreshing and exciting all around. Yaphet Kotto, Julius Harris, David Hedison, Lon Satton, Geoffrey Holder, and Jane Seymour all make this movie genuinely riveting from start to finish, with Harris and Kotto vying to steal the show at every turn - there's nary a scene I don't like when either of them in it, they are a joy to watch with their styles. Made in an era of "Blaxploitation", it still comes across as a solid Bond movie first and foremost. FYEO and TSWKM are a bit more well-rounded but LALD is also well above average,
Octopussy too goes back to the basics, even Bond going in disguise. But going in as a clown almost upsets the movie. John Glen, whose directing style rightly dominates the Bond franchise, never put out a clunker. I like it a lot but it's not as much of a thrill as LALD, TSWLM, and FYEO are.
AVTAK feels like a reboot of "Goldfinger" but played straight. Moore still works as Bond despite his age, though it was obvious at the time he wouldn't be returning. Christopher Walken is underused, but given the fantastic performance of Grace Jones as May Day it's understandable. The only problems as such involve setting up the premise with the microchip that promptly gets ignored... and, of course, the use of Beach Boys music.
Moonraker is a bit of an oddball. The movie starts out pretty solid. Moore gets a great bit where he's skeet shooting and kills a would-be assassin then quips a joke. The G-force scene was a great trap. Only when the focus of the movie shifts into outerspace, taking TSWLM and applying it to orbit instead of under water, do things become silly. Wile E. Jaws making a second appearance also drags down the story, but along with everything else in the story it's also kinda nice that Jaws survives and gets a girl as well. But the more outlandish films, regardless if it's Moore or Brosnan or Connery, none of them has held up over time.
The Man with the Golden Gun tries way too much to outdo LALD's comedic style, and flops. Especially with Christopher Lee, expectations were high for a thriller. What we got ended up as being the reason the franchise came back down to Earth with TSWLM. Even Lee is poorly used. This one, IMHO, is the worst of the bunch.
TSWLM is Moore's first rock solid great, after a great era opener (LALD) and a turkey that tries to be well-meaning (TMWTGG). Back to basics, Jaws gets a great introduction and use - not overused, not comedic, but downright terrifying. The music is sometimes trendy, sometimes classic, but even the trendy disco stuff doesn't feel as dated as it otherwise might do.
Live & Let Die may be "Blaxploitation" but the acting from all involved just makes the movie feel like a Bond movie that is a bit more realistic, plausible, and - indeed - truly epic than the outings from the 1960s. Roger's first, he does bring in a freshness to Bond, into a story that feels refreshing and exciting all around. Yaphet Kotto, Julius Harris, David Hedison, Lon Satton, Geoffrey Holder, and Jane Seymour all make this movie genuinely riveting from start to finish, with Harris and Kotto vying to steal the show at every turn - there's nary a scene I don't like when either of them in it, they are a joy to watch with their styles. Made in an era of "Blaxploitation", it still comes across as a solid Bond movie first and foremost. FYEO and TSWKM are a bit more well-rounded but LALD is also well above average,
Octopussy too goes back to the basics, even Bond going in disguise. But going in as a clown almost upsets the movie. John Glen, whose directing style rightly dominates the Bond franchise, never put out a clunker. I like it a lot but it's not as much of a thrill as LALD, TSWLM, and FYEO are.
AVTAK feels like a reboot of "Goldfinger" but played straight. Moore still works as Bond despite his age, though it was obvious at the time he wouldn't be returning. Christopher Walken is underused, but given the fantastic performance of Grace Jones as May Day it's understandable. The only problems as such involve setting up the premise with the microchip that promptly gets ignored... and, of course, the use of Beach Boys music.
Moonraker is a bit of an oddball. The movie starts out pretty solid. Moore gets a great bit where he's skeet shooting and kills a would-be assassin then quips a joke. The G-force scene was a great trap. Only when the focus of the movie shifts into outerspace, taking TSWLM and applying it to orbit instead of under water, do things become silly. Wile E. Jaws making a second appearance also drags down the story, but along with everything else in the story it's also kinda nice that Jaws survives and gets a girl as well. But the more outlandish films, regardless if it's Moore or Brosnan or Connery, none of them has held up over time.
The Man with the Golden Gun tries way too much to outdo LALD's comedic style, and flops. Especially with Christopher Lee, expectations were high for a thriller. What we got ended up as being the reason the franchise came back down to Earth with TSWLM. Even Lee is poorly used. This one, IMHO, is the worst of the bunch.
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