Another week, another James Bond ranking thread. 
This time, we’re ranking the fights involving James Bond. What constitutes a fight is one where fisticuffs or martial arts are involved. Additionally, those using bladed weapons such as swords and knives are also eligible to be included. Gun fights, however, are NOT usable. This is close quarters combat rankings. And again, Never Say Never Again is eligible to be used.
One more thing, only one fight per film please.
So, how would you rank the James Bond fights? Here’s mine:
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James Bond vs. Donald “Red” Grant – FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE – The best, most visceral fight in the series is also arguably still the best ever put on film. Regardless, an all-time classic. The fight against which all others are judged.
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Bond vs. Tan-Sun Moon aka Gustav Graves sword fight – DIE ANOTHER DAY – A highly entertaining fight that shows you don’t have to have a fist fight to be compelling.
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Bond vs. Alec Trevelyan 006 – GOLDENEYE – Arguably the most personal fight in the series is also one of the most brutal–perhaps topped only by Bond vs. Grant and Bond vs. Obanno. Great job by Pierce Brosnan and Sean Bean.
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Bond vs. Peter Franks – DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER – Great fight that takes place between two big men in the confined space of an elevator. Bonus points for creative use of the old school elevator’s eccentricities.
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Bond vs. Steven Obanno – CASINO ROYALE – Another great, intense, and brutal fight that makes the most of its stairwell setting. Arguably the most realistic fight in the series. Great job by Daniel Craig and Isaac De Bankole.
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Bond vs. Patrice on train – SKYFALL – Unusual setting makes a great fight at high speed. Tunnels having little room for maneuverability above the train increases the tension.
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Bond vs. Jacques Bouvard – THUNDERBALL – Unexpected start with Bond punching the “widow” that turns into a physically exciting fight. For my money, the best pre-titles sequence of the Sean Connery era.
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Bond vs. Max Zorin – A VIEW TO A KILL – A unique setting of the Golden Gate Bridge adds a lot of suspense and enjoyment to this fight that is capped off with Christopher Walken’s insane laugh before falling to his death.
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Bond vs. Ché-Ché – ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE – Another hard-hitting brawl, which helps establish George Lazenby in the 007 role.
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Bond vs. Hinx – SPECTRE – Bond meets his match here as Dave Bautista bulldozes his way through the train carriages AND 007. Bond is left spent and all but doomed before fate (Madeleine Swann’s arrival) and his quick thinking save the day.
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Bond vs. Bald Beirut Thug & Rahman & Achmed – THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN – The first Bond vs. multiple opponents entry on this list. One on three–no problem. Bond more than holds his own. Probably the “grittiest” Roger Moore fight.
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Bond vs. Capungo – GOLDFINGER – Solid fight that kicks off what many consider the best Bond film. Entertaining with a shocker of an ending.
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Bond vs. 4 Carver’s Hamburg CMGN Security Guards – TOMORROW NEVER DIES – Another team-up against Bond. This one done with a touch more humor than usual but still a very effective fight. I like the shots of the fight going on in the next room which is visible through the window but is going on silently due to the window being soundproofed so the guard in the closer room is unaware of what’s going on until the fight tumbles through the glass and virtually into his lap. Funny and yet still a good fight.
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Bond vs. Sandor – THE SPY WHO LOVED ME – Entertaining fight that isn’t quite on par with those above it, but the finale lifts it up significantly. What a helpful chap.
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Bond vs. Lippe – NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN – Another Bond vs. indestructible force. But again done entertainingly. Bonus points for Lippe wielding an unusual whip baton that slices through most anything.
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Bond vs. Tee-Hee Johnson – LIVE AND LET DIE – Another good train fight, which seems to be a Bond staple. (I don’t think they’ve had a bad one.) Creative points for how Bond comes out on top.
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Bond vs. Ash – NO TIME TO DIE – Good fight that is over all too soon and without a real decision.
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Bond vs. Dominic Greene – QUANTUM OF SOLACE – Bond squares off against an unskilled, ax-wielding opponent. The fight probably lasts longer than it really should have, but the fiery setting and bladed weapon add to the enjoyment.
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Bond vs. Chang – MOONRAKER – Long, destructive fight with both opponents using either a shinai (bamboo) sword, a glass sword, or a metal chain. Enjoyable, but not as good as those above it.
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Bond vs. SPECTRE Sumo Driver – YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE – A good fight that is over before you know it. Nice touch with the samurai sword.
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Bond vs. Necros – THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS – The setting makes the fight. A great concept of hanging onto a cargo net outside a plane. More suspenseful than action packed, but Timothy Dalton, unfortunately, didn’t get many great fights. Well done nonetheless.
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Bond vs. Julius No – DR. NO – Brief fight that ends on a descending elevator into an atomic reactor. Good, but short, with a fitting conclusion.
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Bond vs. Yo-Yo Thug & 2 Yo-Yo Thug’s Pals – OCTOPUSSY – Some interesting bits but not overly intense. Still better than those below it.
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Bond vs. Viktor “Renard” Zokas – THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH – Nothing too special in this one. Okay, but unspectacular. Could have–and probably should have–been better considering Renard’s condition.
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Bond vs. Sanchez’s Tanker Truck Driver 1 – LICENCE TO KILL – Another brief fight that is fairly intense under the circumstances, but there’s just not enough of it.
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Bond vs. Erich Kriegler – FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Ho-hum fight where Bond doesn’t really do anything (i.e. landing punches or much of anything else) and only “wins” the fight when Kriegler gets distracted. Only the ending makes it memorable. One of my least favorite Bond fights of the series, but still the best from this film.
So what are your James Bond fight rankings?
