I’m just gonna be out with it….I LOVE James Bond movies. I mean…as proof….on my 21st birthday I embarrassingly made a Dry Martini (shaken of course…not stirred) my first alcoholic beverage ever.
Yeah…and I didn’t like it.
So I don’t like Bond’s drink of choice, but I DO love the character, the world he inhabits, the gadgets, and the endlessly quotable one-liners that he seems to always have on stand-by for EVERY situation.
The character was first introduced in Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royale but he didn’t make make his cinematic debut until 1962’s Dr. No, which was financed under Eon Productions. Eon Productions, headed by Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli, is responsible for all theatrical Bond adaptations with the exceptions of 1967’s Casino Royale and 1983’s Never Say Never Again.
Ever since Connery charmingly introduced the character by uttering “My name is Bond…James Bond” back in 1962, Agent 007 has been cinema’s quintessential action hero. Woman love him and men want to be him.
In light of the ultra-violent James Bond-esque action flick Kingsman: The Golden Circle (which was born out of director Matthew Vaughn’s love of the Bond franchise) and the announcement of Bond 25 set to be released in 2019, I feel now would be a good time if any to deliver a quick rundown of my favorite entries in the long-running storied franchise.
Maybe one day I will be able to discuss these movies more in-depth but for now, here are my top 11 favorite James Bond movies.
Now why 11? Because with a “Top 5” list I feel I would be leaving too many good ones out.
So why not “Top 10” you may ask? Well, a lot of critics only go up to 10….but to paraphrase Spinal Tap….this critic goes up to 11!!
What are your favorite Bond flicks?
11. Octopussy (1983)
Coming out the same year as the non-Eon produced Never Say Never Again, this sixth entry to star the always reliably entertaining Roger Moore (who sadly passed away this year) is a movie I can’t help but enjoy. It is a prime example of the silly action-comedy tone that dominated most of Moore’s tenure as 007.
There tends to be two camps when it comes to the James Bond fandom, those who prefer their Bond to be serious and down-to-earth like the Daniel Craig entries or those who like their Bond fantastical and light-hearted like with Moore and the later Connery entries.
I am personally partial to both approaches and Octopussy takes the campy tone up to 11. This is a movie where James Bond disguises himself as a clown, swings on vines while yelling like Tarzan and there is even a moment of meta-comedy when a snake charmer plays the Bond theme on a flute. It is all very much an action-comedy with Moore’s comic delivery always on-point and the action sequences electrifying (Ex. The train scene).
10. For Your Eyes Only (1981)
After the fantastical gadgets and space spectacle of Moonraker, FYEO goes for a much more gritty and back-to-basics approach in the vein of From Russia with Love where the plot is about Bond and the villains chasing after a MacGuffin.
Moore was always great with the comedy, but I feel he tends to be underrated in terms of how versatile he can be. Moore more than delivers the darker and edgy gravitas, especially during this scene where Bond avenges the death of a friend by kicking a car down the cliff with the assassin still inside.
Where the film may lack in gadgets, it more than makes up for in action. There is a great car chase in a very non-typical Bond vehicle, a ski chase, an intense underwater brawl and a heart-stopping sequence where Bond tries to climb the side of a tall cliff.
Now…even though I said this movie is more “serious”, some camp still remains like this hilarious scene where Bond fights a hockey team. I also really like the funky score provided by Bill Conti (Rocky, The Right Stuff).
9. Goldeneye (1995)
aka. The only GOOD Bond film to star Pierce Brosnan
I will always have a soft spot for this particular entry because it is the first 007 film I ever saw and there is also the added nostalgia of the then revolutionary N64 video game.
While the script is far from the greatest, it’s the tight glossy direction provided by Martin Campell (Casino Royale, The Mask of Zorro) and abundance of great action sequences (Ex. Bond bungie-jumping off a dam, the tank chase) more than make up for it.
This particular entry also has arguably the best group of villains out of all the Bond films that includes the S&M-obssessed Xenia Onatopp (greatest…name….ever), the hilariously over-confident computer hacker Boris Grishenko and the always awesome “dies in almost every movie” Sean Bean as the treacherous 006.
Although the video game admittedly had a WAY better soundtrack than the one provided by Eric Serra (The Fifth Element, Leon: The Professional) for the film.
8. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
After two mediocre debut entries (Live and Let Die, The Man With The Golden Gun), TSWLM is where the Moore 007 tenure finally found it’s footing.
Features the iconic Lotus Esprit that changes into a submarine, the fantastic pre-title sequence in which Bond skies off a cliff (done for real) and arguably Bond’s most famous 7’2” henchman with metal teeth…Jaws.
The movie also benefits from great set designs (Ex. Stromberg’s supertanker) provided by Ken Adams, whose work on the Connery and Moore films defined the 007 aesthetic.
I also would argue that the theme song Nobody Does It Better performed by Carly Simon is the absolute best of the franchise. TSWLM remains not only the best of the Moore Bond films but one of the best in the franchise in general.
7. Dr. No (1962)
While it may seem a bit lacking now compared to later larger-than-life adventures, there is something charming about this more lean and gritty affair that made then-unknown Scottish actor and King of Cool Sean Connery into an international celebrity. The whole affair moves at a nice leisurely pace and the plot is more character-driven compared to other entries.
The Jamaican local is always gorgeous to look at as well as the first Bond girl ever…Honey Rider. Plus, it also gave us one of the most iconic theme tunes in cinematic history courtesy of one of my favorite film composers of all time…John Barry.
6. From Russia With Love (1963)
An improved sequel to Dr. No, FRWL plays out much more like a Hitchcockian thriller with some brief moments of big-budget action (Ex. Boat chase, the helicopter chase), especially during the slow-burn scene where Bond tricks Red Grant (played wonderfully by Robert Shaw) into opening a booby-trapped brief case. I also always loved the exotic locale of Istanbul and Karen Bay is probably one of my favorite Bond supporting characters.
5. Thunderball (1965)
I don’t know what it means to “strike like thunderball” but when it comes from the pipes of someone like Tom Jones…it sure sound badass!!
My personal favorite of the Connery flicks due to it’s gorgeous underwater sequences and Fiona is probably my favorite villainous Bond girl (also has one hell of a death scene). I also think this movie contains John Barry’s finest score for the series.
Even though the previous year’s Goldfinger set the standard for the “Bond formula”, this one and the sequel You Only Live Twice are the entries that are often the source of parody for the Austin Powers series.
4. The Living Daylights (1987)
I have an unusual confession….Timothy Dalton is my favorite actor to have played James Bond.
I don’t quite know why but this and License to Kill strike that right balance for me between the gritty nature of the Craig films while still adhering to the “Bond Formula”. I personally love the intensity Dalton brought to the role and he was prime ready for a movie such as TLD, which dials the camp back in order deliver a sincerely good spy thriller.
The plot is intricate and intelligent, the romance between Bond and Kara Milvoy feels refreshingly credible for once, and the ensemble of villains is great. The fight between Bond and the token henchman Necros on a cargo plane is one of the franchises best action sequences.
It was also the last to feature a score from the great John Barry and boy is it stellar!!
3. License to Kill (1989)
I know this tends to be the most divisive entry in the series but it is my personal favorite of the classic series because it’s James Bond out for REVENGE!!!
Darker and more violent than previous entries, the stakes are smaller than by the franchises’ usual (Bond going all Narcos attempting to take down a drug lords empire) but it arguably feels more like a James Bond films than ever before.
It’s such a shame that this ended up being Dalton’s second and last stint as the character because it really felt like he was really nailing down his own unique interpretation of the character. He delivers every line in this movie with the right amount of gravitas with dashes of dark humor (Ex. letting a traitorous friend “keep” the bribe money).
I am also gonna say it right now….Robert Davi’s Franz Sanchez is the second best Bond villain ever!! Not only is the climactic tanker truck sequence probably my favorite action sequence in the whole franchise with countless great moments, the way Sanchez is finally defeated has to rank up there as one of the greatest villain deaths of all time.
2. Casino Royale (2006)
After the embarrassing fiasco of Brosnan’s final entry Die Another Day, Bond was thankfully given a much deserved reboot that went back to the Ian Fleming source material. In this case, it was adapting the first novel to feature the character, Casino Royale.
Moving the character into the post-9/11 era and taking notes from the Bourne franchise, CR follows a younger, more vulnerable, and less experienced Bond as we see him develop into the badass spy we know and love. Previous unknown and blonde Daniel Craig proved to be the right person to portray a much more gritty and hitman-like interpretation of the character.
It also helps that the narrative adds unique twists and subversions to the typical “Bond formula” (having most of the second act be taken up by a slow-burn poker game was a gutsy move on the part of the filmmakers) while also having some refreshing emotional weight.
It should also be mentioned how great the cinematography and action are, provided by none other than Goldeneye’s Martin Campell. From the parkour chase in Africa to the chase sequence in Venice, Italy, the action has just the right amount of over-the-top escapism and realism. The fact that Bond sweats and gets hurt multiple times throughout was also a much needed change of pace after Brosnan’s Bond was made out to be too much of an untouchable Superman.
And for my number 1 favorite Bond film, it is…..
Skyfall (2012)
For a filmmaker known for art films such as American Beauty and Road to Perdition, Sam Mendes directs his first full-blown action picture like a seasoned pro.
Marking the 50th anniversary of the characters cinematic debut, Skyfall takes on a much more contemplative approach to it’s story by examining the question of what place does a character like Bond have in the modern era. It’s a question that was brought up before in Goldeneye but personally, I feel this movie’s execution of that theme was much more satisfying.
From the great opening motor bike chase on the rooftops of Istanbul followed by the visually arresting title sequence, I knew sitting in the theater that I was in for something special.
Everything about this movie was lighting captured in a bottle. It’s by far the most gorgeous-looking of the Bond films, there is sincere thematic depth, and the acting is spot on with Judi Dench giving her best performance as M.
Javier Bardem’s turn as the devious Raoul Silva is literally one of the best villains in cinematic history.
Not much more to say except….it is the crowning jewel that perfectly encapsulates everything I love about this franchise.
If you are a fan of these movies like me and want to collect them, then follow the links provided to Amazon:
* Dr. No
* Skyfall
Natural Born Film Critic 