 |
| All of the James Bonds. |
Ah, yes, the classic response to a card dealer's question of who he is in a perfect first impression of the iconic character he is today. How about that? We have one of the longest franchises going, and, at times, we were getting tired of suave humor and innuendos and puns from the man in the tuxedo. However, we almost have fun in each of the 24 movies that we have had the pleasure of watching going on the adventure with him, seducing women and drinking martinis: shaken, not stirred. But, there were great Bond flicks, good ones, bad ones and a few awful ones. However, I have taken the liberty to assemble my favorite 10 flicks. One or two are a bit crazy to put on the list, but no matter, here we go.
10. Tomorrow Never Dies
I'm probably the only person ever to put this underrated movie in my top 10 but there are two reasons I put this in the #10 slot, beating Live and Let Die and Dr. No is because of the main Bond girl, a fierce and ass-kicking agent played well by Michelle Yeoh, and Jonathan Pryce as the media mogul trying to start a war. They never bored me and there is a cool garage sequence that is memorable to watch.
9. Thunderball
Even though it does not have the tightest plot and the final battle goes long, this movie is another solid adventure in the canon of Sean Connery's films. I'm not going to say much more, but there are other Connery films in the list. Don't worry.
8. Licence to Kill
This has the standard plot of a drug lord being the villain and the dry and dark slyness from Timothy Dalton but this movie provides a rawness we have never seen before from a James Bond movie. I think Benicio Del Toro was previewing himself to become some good villains later in his career.
7. The Spy Who Loved Me
Best Roger Moore movie? Check by a mile. A hot Bond girl? Check. One of the best henchmen in the series: Jaws.? Check. A car turning into a little sub? Check. That's primarily why I liked this movie: Jaws and Roger Moore fighting and going head-to-head. Better than Moonraker.
6. Goldeneye
It was hard leaving this movie out of the top 5 but it is a hell of a good movie with a tricky plot involving one of the agents. Pierce Brosnan, in his best Bond performance, goes head to head with Sean Bean and Famke Janssen (my God...Xenia Onatopp, one of the best evil Bond women ever.) Even though it has a corny plot, the film itself is suspenseful basically the villain pushing all of his buttons because he knows Bond's style. Also, we get a great debut performance from Judi Dench as M.
5. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
This is an impressive Bond film clocking at 142 minutes and never boring as he goes against Blofeld. The action sequences are well-executed and well-done and George Lazenby has sly charm and romantic charm especially with the main Bond girl, Tracy. However, we all know what happens in the end...
4. Skyfall
Sam Mendes' explosive and intriguing movie was hair-raising and tense throughout the quiet suspense and its action sequences. We also see Daniel Craig vulnerable in his version of the main character for the first time in quite a long time. But, the cinematography from Roger Deakins takes the movie to a whole other level and Javier Bardem gives a great performance as one of the best villains in the franchise as his task is mostly personal than dominating like taking over the world.
3. From Russia with Love
A well-thought and well executed espionage thriller in another rousting adventure from Sean Connery's James Bond and features a great fight sequence on a train, has a great villain from the late Robert Shaw and a sexy Bond girl. It's one of the few perfect and complicated Bond films.
2. Goldfinger
"Do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr. Bond., I expect you to die." A great exchange between spy and villain. Another great Bond girl, Pussy Galore (yeah, haha, real mature, moving on), most arguably my favorite villain of the franchise, Goldfinger, the best car and gadgets and the best performance from Sean Connery. It is another harrowing adventure that nobody else today can remake. It is simply too good from the casting itself.
1. Casino Royale (2006)
The reason I selected this movie as my favorite is because I have watched this movie more than the others and the more I process how many times I watch it, the more times I think how great of a James Bond flick it is. Daniel Craig is witty and unpredictable in its delivery of lines and in his performance (especially that disturbing torture scene). I think Eva Green's character is one of the best Bond girls ever because she is a smart, sexy and elegant woman who is in the game long enough that you might not know who she really is. Mads Mikkelsen as La Chiffre looks one-dimensional but is definitely one of the most complex villains. Craig takes the spirit of the character and almost resembles and matches the nature and quality of the earlier James Bond movies. Plus, the opening chase and action sequence regarding a parkour chase is the best one of the series. It's awesome.
Comments
Post a Comment