The James Bond Films Hurt/Heal Game

[The Old Mixer]

OHMSS is highly regarded by many for being the most naturalistic of Bond films (at least until CR) and the closest to Fleming's original novel. Lazenby isn't my ideal Bond, but he's serviceable in the role, and he brings an emotional vulnerability that is key to this film, which Connery would have totally lacked.

But you like my favorite movie starring the actor who played Bond closest to what Fleming wrote, so I can't fault you for that.

 

[IJD GAF]

I would place Dr No and From Russia with Love in the same naturalistic category, honestly.

Lazenby aside, my primary beef is with the ending. I really appreciate what it tried to do, but there really wasn't enough chemistry between Tracy and Bond for me to really buy into it. I think Casino Royale handled a similar situation much, much better.

That, and Blofeld. Telly Savalas isn't bad, but the character is just so far removed from his previous roles that it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Blofeld should not be getting his hands dirty. Chasing Bond on skis. Driving his assassins personally. He should be a behind-the-scenes player. Not on the frontlines with his goons.

It's hardly the worst Bond movie, don't get me wrong. I just find it a bit unremarkable.

And yeah, Dalton was fantastic, and The Living Daylights is almost certainly in my top three (so hard to pick a favorite). It seems very strange to me the similarity between the Craig and Dalton performances, and how easily the public bought into the former but not the latter. The only factor I can think of is Moore fatigue. Perhaps Dalton would've been better served by a longer break post- A View to a Kill.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Even the more naturalistic of the Connery films have a certain stylized, "heightened reality" look and feel to them that was discarded from OHMSS as a deliberate production choice. Except for the stuff on Piz Gloria with the brainwashing and Blofeld's lab, the rest of the movie looks and feels like a more naturalistic thriller/drama than the Bond films surrounding it.

I don't recall OTTOMH if Blofeld was a participant in the shorter ski chase in Fleming's novel, but he was pretty hands-on in two of his three appearances in the books. The final confrontation between Blofeld and Bond comes down to a personal melee. Blofeld was a physical challenge for Bond as well as a mastermind. While Savalas was too American for the role, he's the only fully-shown Blofeld onscreen who comes close to looking like he could go HTH with Bond.

As for why Dalton wasn't well-received....As with the poor reception of OHMSS, I just have to think that times change. There was also a misconception in the public consciousness at the time that his was supposed to be a more PC Bond. (The movies invented the multiple-girl formula; Fleming's novels usually only featured one love interest each; Bond sticking with Kara for most of TLD served the story; and I counted Bond laying two girls in each of the Dalton films.) Also, Lapis Exilis once made a convincing argument about Dalton not having that "it" factor that attracted the female audience. Onscreen, Bond has to be someone that men want to be, and women want to be with.

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

Probably the reason that nobody has touched YOLT yet is becuase it's so middle of the road. It's not good or bad enough to elicit any strong feelings from anyone. When it gets down to only the great ones, people will realize it's there.

 

[TheArsenal]

Dr. No 12
From Russia With Love 16 +
Goldfinger 22
You Only Live Twice 10
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 11
The Spy Who Loved Me 1 -
The Living Daylights 9
GoldenEye 10
Casino Royale (2006) 14

Eliminated:
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: Licence to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker

 

[nx1701g]

Dr. No 12
From Russia With Love 16
Goldfinger 22
You Only Live Twice 10
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 12 +
The Living Daylights 9
GoldenEye 10
Casino Royale (2006) 14

Eliminated:
09th: The Spy Who Loved Me
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: Licence to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker

 

[Skywalker]

Okay, time to focus on my favorite one, rather than worry about the ones I like less. I actually considered going after YOLT last time, but then I noticed there was still one Roger Moore movie left.

Dr. No 12
From Russia With Love 17 +
Goldfinger 22
You Only Live Twice 8 -
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 12
The Living Daylights 9
GoldenEye 10
Casino Royale (2006) 14

Eliminated:
09th: The Spy Who Loved Me
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: Licence to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker

 

[Duncan MacLeod]

Dr. No 13 +
From Russia With Love 17
Goldfinger 22
You Only Live Twice 8
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 12
The Living Daylights 9
GoldenEye 10
Casino Royale (2006) 12 -

Eliminated:
09th: The Spy Who Loved Me
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: Licence to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker

 

[BigFoot]

Dr. No 13
From Russia With Love 17
Goldfinger 22
You Only Live Twice 8
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 12
The Living Daylights 9
GoldenEye 8 -
Casino Royale (2006) 13 +

Eliminated:
09th: The Spy Who Loved Me
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: Licence to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Dr. No 13
From Russia With Love 17
Goldfinger 22
You Only Live Twice 6 -
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 12
The Living Daylights 9
GoldenEye 9 +
Casino Royale (2006) 13

Eliminated:
9th: The Spy Who Loved Me
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: Licence to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

Dr. No 13
From Russia With Love 17
Goldfinger 22
You Only Live Twice 4 -
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 12
The Living Daylights 10 +
GoldenEye 9
Casino Royale (2006) 13

Eliminated:
9th: The Spy Who Loved Me
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: Licence to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker

 

[nx1701g]

Dr. No 13
From Russia With Love 17
Goldfinger 22
You Only Live Twice 5 +
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 12
The Living Daylights 10
GoldenEye 9
Casino Royale (2006) 11 -

Eliminated:
9th: The Spy Who Loved Me
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: Licence to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker

 

[AJBryant]

Dr. No 13
From Russia With Love 17
Goldfinger 22
You Only Live Twice 5
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 13 +
The Living Daylights 10
GoldenEye 7 -
Casino Royale (2006) 11

Eliminated:
9th: The Spy Who Loved Me
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: Licence to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker

 

[The Old Mixer]

Dr. No 13
From Russia With Love 17
Goldfinger 22
You Only Live Twice 5
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 14 +
The Living Daylights 10
GoldenEye 5 -
Casino Royale (2006) 11

Eliminated:
9th: The Spy Who Loved Me
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: Licence to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Like Skywalker, I'm going to focus on saving the ones I like, rather than eliminating the ones I dislike (since all the ones left are good). I'm really only attacking the ones with insanely high scores, trying to even things out.

Dr. No 13
From Russia With Love 17
Goldfinger 20 -
You Only Live Twice 5
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 14
The Living Daylights 10
GoldenEye 6 +
Casino Royale (2006) 11

Eliminated:
9th: The Spy Who Loved Me
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: Licence to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker

 

[TheArsenal]

Dr. No 13
From Russia With Love 17
Goldfinger 21 +
You Only Live Twice 3 -
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 14
The Living Daylights 10
GoldenEye 6
Casino Royale (2006) 11

Eliminated:
9th: The Spy Who Loved Me
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: Licence to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker

 

[IJD GAF]

I don't mean to be predictable. I just find OHMSS the least of the movies listed. On the list of those eliminated, I'd probably slot it between License to Kill and Thunderball.

And like some others, I've been focusing on the films I like. Casino Royale, From Russia with Love, The Living Daylights, Goldfinger are certainly the top four Bond films in my estimation. Of those four, TLD has the lowest score. Thus:

Dr. No 13
From Russia With Love 17
Goldfinger 21
You Only Live Twice 3
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 12 -
The Living Daylights 11 +
GoldenEye 6
Casino Royale (2006) 11

Eliminated:
9th: The Spy Who Loved Me
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: License to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker

 

[Broccoli]

Dr. No 13
From Russia With Love 15-
Goldfinger 21
You Only Live Twice 3
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 12
The Living Daylights 11
GoldenEye 7+
Casino Royale (2006) 11

Eliminated:
9th: The Spy Who Loved Me
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: License to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker

 

[nx1701g]

Dr. No 13
From Russia With Love 15
Goldfinger 21
You Only Live Twice 3
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 13 +
The Living Daylights 11
GoldenEye 7
Casino Royale (2006) 9 -

Eliminated:
9th: The Spy Who Loved Me
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: License to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker

 

[BigFoot]

Dr. No 13
From Russia With Love 15
Goldfinger 21
You Only Live Twice 3
On Her Majesty's Secret Service 13
The Living Daylights 11
GoldenEye 5 -
Casino Royale (2006) 10 +

Eliminated:
9th: The Spy Who Loved Me
10th: Tomorrow Never Dies
11th: License to Kill
12th: Thunderball
13th: For Your Eyes Only
14th: Live and Let Die
15th: The Man With the Golden Gun
16th: The World is Not Enough
17th: Octopussy
18th: Die Another Day
19th: Diamonds Are Forever
20th: A View to a Kill
21st: Moonraker