A playlist for introducing a newbie to the series is something I’m not qualified to present, on account of my essentials being everything from 1965 - 77, plus a few others that seem to be getting overlooked here:
Thunderball (LOVE the underwater action)
You Only Live Twice (Japanese girls & Ken Adam - 'nuff said)
OHMSS (the perfect Bond movie - period)
Diamonds Are Forever (my first)
Live and Let Die (what a romp!)
TMWTGG (Christmas '74 in 2 hrs)
The Spy Who Loved Me (along with TB, perhaps the most thoroughly iconic)
Octopussy (“easy come, easy go!”)
The Living Daylights (back to literary basics)
Die Another Day (the beginning of my second life)
Casino Royale (see TLD)
Very happy to see som TB love: it seems to really get dragged badly here. But much as I love it (and definitely prefer it to it’s predecessor) would you really say it is more iconic than GF?
Thunderball is one of those iconic Bond movies from the sixties and I’m one of the view who don’t think the underwaterbattle is overlong and boring, no I love it!
I think I’m gonna watch this movie this Sunday afternoon.
I’ve said it before, Connery looks his best in Thunderball, he gives his most relaxed performance ( DAF he is a different Bond, and I think is sending up his own earlier performances) looks genuinely, the most in danger during the Nassau sequence than he had since the train in FRWL. It has aged better than Goldfinger so for me is essential. So my personal essentials would be
OHMSS
Thunderball
Skyfall
Casino Royale
Moonraker
LALD
FRWL
Seven for 007
Sean Connery – GOLDFINGER
George Lazenby – ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE
Roger Moore – THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
Timothy Dalton – LICENCE TO KILL
Pierce Brosnan – GOLDENEYE
Daniel Craig – CASINO ROYALE
I think these are the gold standard for each of the actors. They are their most famous and popular films. Dalton’s Licence To Kill might be the exception, but the film probably suits his style better and is certainly more distinctive in all its various parts compared to the rest of the series than The Living Daylights is. And when people talk about the Dalton era, the things they mention have more in line with LTK than TLD.
If I were to round out a top 10, I would add these four:
Sean Connery – From Russia With Love
Sean Connery – Thunderball
Roger Moore – For Your Eyes Only
Roger Moore – Octopussy
They epitomize the character of Bond and style of Bond movies–as well as being highly entertaining–better than the rest.
But if I had to pick just ONE film to introduce someone to the cinematic James Bond 007 and I couldn’t use Dr. No, I would go with Moore’s The Spy Who Loved Me. That has EVERYTHING in it that defines a Bond film–exotic locales, wonderful score, terrific quips, outlandish sets, beautiful women, dastardly villains, indestructible henchmen, fantastic stunts, world endangering plot, great gadgets, spectacular car, memorable iconography, and a cool and confident 007 himself. In short, nobody does it better.
I have neglected TSWLM in recent years due to my fascination with all things Moonraker, which I do think is the superior Moore experience. But you’re right. TSWLM is a fine film and one I’d show someone new to the franchise. Like Goldeneye or Goldfinger it’s a greatest hits type package. I caught the Lotus Esprit underwater scene on TV yesterday and couldn’t help but smile, even after all these years. Pure escapist magic. I must add Bond firing the missile at Naomi’s helicopter is so satisfying!
