007 in Action: Ranking the Bond Films
Bond... James Bond. This is how I (a mega-fan since 1973) rank the 007 flicks. NOTE: The comedy spoof Casino Royale (1967) is not considered a "legitimate" James Bond film for the purposes of this list.
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- DirectorMartin CampbellStarsDaniel CraigEva GreenJudi DenchAfter earning a licence to kill, secret agent James Bond sets out on his first mission as 007. Bond must defeat a private banker funding terrorists in a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royale, in Montenegro.The once-moribund franchise gets a fantastic reboot for the 21st Century. A smashing debut by Daniel Craig.
- DirectorTerence YoungStarsSean ConneryRobert ShawLotte LenyaJames Bond willingly falls into an assassination plot involving a naive Russian beauty in order to retrieve a Soviet encryption device that was stolen by the organization Spectre.More espionage than action in this one, but that's a good thing... a Fleming thing. The fight to the death between Sean Connery and Robert Shaw in the Orient Express car is a series highlight.
- DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsSean ConneryGert FröbeHonor BlackmanWhile investigating a gold magnate's smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.Classic Bond. The Template.
- DirectorJohn GlenStarsTimothy DaltonMaryam d'AboJeroen KrabbéJames Bond is sent to investigate a KGB policy to kill all enemy spies, and uncovers an arms deal that potentially has major global ramifications.Timothy Dalton is the 007 of Ian Fleming's original novels in this, Bond's final adventure of the Cold War. Great action and locations, with more emphasis on romance. Dalton was the "Craig-Bond" nearly 20 years before CASINO ROYALE.
- DirectorCary Joji FukunagaStarsDaniel CraigAna de ArmasRami MalekJames Bond has left active service. His peace is short-lived when Felix Leiter, an old friend from the CIA, turns up asking for help, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.An epic, satisfying conclusion to the "Craig-Bond Saga", offering snappy, gritty action. Loved the use of elements from John Barry's OHMSS score by composer Hans Zimmer.
- DirectorSam MendesStarsDaniel CraigJavier BardemNaomie HarrisJames Bond's loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. When MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.Easily the most character-driven Bond film, action takes a back seat to the drama here. Craig is superb; Bardem's psychotic, sexually ambiguous villain is one of the series' strangest. Loved the reversal of a classic Bond trope during the climax... Instead of 007 assaulting the villain's secret fortress/lair, it's the bad guys who must storm Bond's hideout.
- DirectorTerence YoungStarsSean ConneryClaudine AugerAdolfo CeliJames Bond heads to the Bahamas to recover two nuclear warheads stolen by S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Agent Emilio Largo in an international extortion scheme.In the 1960s every guy wanted to be Sean Connery's James Bond. This film and GOLDFINGER are the reasons why. Should be watched via Blu-ray on the largest hi-def TV possible. Features the biggest frogman battle ever filmed, and possibly the hottest bevy of Bond Girls.
- DirectorPeter R. HuntStarsGeorge LazenbyDiana RiggTelly SavalasBritish agent James Bond goes undercover to pursue the villainous Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who is planning to hold the world to ransom.The "One-Shot" Bond. Aussie George Lazenby definitely has the action chops for the part but just seems awkward in some of the dialog scenes... Despite this, it's a pretty good performance for a novice actor in a lead role. Telly Savalas makes a great Blofeld, too, and Diana Rigg a superlative Bond Girl. Probably the best music score of the entire franchise, courtesy of maestro John Barry.
- DirectorLewis GilbertStarsRoger MooreBarbara BachCurd JürgensJames Bond investigates the hijacking of British and Russian submarines carrying nuclear warheads, with the help of a K.G.B. agent whose lover he killed.Best of the epic-scale "comic book" Bonds. Roger Moore's light comedy approach to 007 is just right for the material. Graced by some of the hottest Bond Girls ever.
- DirectorMartin CampbellStarsPierce BrosnanSean BeanIzabella ScorupcoWhen a powerful secret defense system is stolen, James Bond is assigned to stop a Russian crime syndicate from using it.In his debut, Pierce Brosnan easily holds his own. He might be a "stiff-assed Brit" some of the time, perhaps still not fully comfortable in the part, but he's able to play humor better than Dalton could and is certainly more believable in the action scenes than Moore. Famke Janssen is a sizzlin' hot villainess; Sean Bean's traitorous 006 a worthy opponent.
- DirectorJohn GlenStarsTimothy DaltonRobert DaviCarey LowellA vengeful James Bond goes rogue to infiltrate and take down the organization of a drug lord who has murdered his friend's new wife and left him near death.The "Die Hard" Bond. Dalton's 007 is pissed off and grimly determined, on a quest for revenge against a South American drug lord (Robert Davi, essaying one of the strongest main villains in years). Audiences accustomed to the campier Moore films were turned off by this darker entry — it's the most violent Bond pic — but it has since grown to be appreciated. Dalton should've gotten a third Bond film.
- DirectorSam MendesStarsDaniel CraigChristoph WaltzLéa SeydouxA cryptic message from James Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover the existence of a sinister organisation named SPECTRE. With a new threat dawning, Bond learns the terrible truth about the author of all his pain in his most recent missions.Craig's 4th turn at bat successfully pulls off a very tricky feat -- maintaining the grittier feel of 21st Century Bond while at the same time injecting a bit of Roger Moore-style humor. The pre-titles sequence in Mexico City is dynamite. And Blofeld is back!
- DirectorTerence YoungStarsSean ConneryUrsula AndressBernard LeeA resourceful British government agent seeks answers in a case involving the disappearance of a colleague and the disruption of the American space program.The one that started it all. Yes, it's a very dated film, but Connery gets one of the most memorable introductions ("Bond... James Bond") in cinema history — not to mention Ursula Andress.
- DirectorJohn GlenStarsRoger MooreCarole BouquetTopolSecret service agent James Bond is assigned to find a missing British vessel equipped with a weapons encryption device and prevent it from falling into enemy hands.Chapter 1 of the Grandpa Bond Trilogy. A welcome return to earth for 007, nonetheless, after the outer space silliness of MOONRAKER. The aging Moore gives a good performance in this more serious espionage/action yarn; this should've been his last turn at bat. Unfortunately marred by goofy comic "bookend" sequences and a terrible score by Bill Conti (which already sounded dated when the film premiered). Sheena Easton's title song was a big radio hit but it's still schmaltzy pop poo.
- DirectorMarc ForsterStarsDaniel CraigOlga KurylenkoMathieu AmalricJames Bond descends into mystery as he tries to stop an organisation from eliminating a country's most valuable resource.The first direct sequel in the franchise's history. If you haven't seen CASINO ROYALE a lot of it won't make any sense or resonate in the slightest. The rooftop chase/scaffold battle is ruined by much too frantic editing. Otherwise this is a tight, lightning-paced action flick with an art-house sensibility. In terms of visuals this is one of the best looking of the Bonds. Love the quick, brutal car chase that opens the film.
- DirectorRoger SpottiswoodeStarsPierce BrosnanJonathan PryceMichelle YeohJames Bond sets out to stop a media mogul's plan to induce a war between China and the United Kingdom.Bond as brainless action flick... but it at least succeeds as such. Nearly wall-to-wall gunplay, vehicle chases and explosions, some of it quite thrilling, paper over a very thin plot — although the idea of a Rupert Murdoch-like media mogul becoming a criminal supervillain (willing to start a war for profits) is kind of intriguing.
- DirectorLewis GilbertStarsSean ConneryAkiko WakabayashiMie HamaJames Bond and the Japanese Secret Service must find and stop the true culprit of a series of space hijackings, before war is provoked between Russia and the United States.Yes, the plot is ridiculous. Connery looks bored half the time. Donald Pleasence's Blofeld comes off like some sort of malevolent gnome. But the sets are absolutely incredible; Barry's lush score is one of the series' all-time best. And it's got ninjas.
- DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsRoger MooreYaphet KottoJane SeymourJames Bond is sent to stop a diabolically brilliant heroin magnate armed with a complex organisation and a reliable psychic tarot card reader.Bond films just don't get any more "Seventies" than this. Moore's debut is a nearly plotless chase caper flavored with Blaxploitation elements, including a groovy, funkadelic score. The very young Jane Seymour is stunningly beautiful.
- DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsRoger MooreChristopher LeeBritt EklandJames Bond is targeted by the world's most expensive assassin, while he attempts to recover sensitive solar cell technology that is being sold to the highest bidder.Christopher Lee's portrayal of Scaramanga, the title villain, totally makes this movie. He's the "dark side" of Bond, a sort of anti-007, with even cooler gadgets than Bond has! This guy isn't plotting to take over the world or destroy London; he just enjoys the good life... and killing people for fun and profit. Too bad the rest of the movie isn't as good as Lee is. (Although Brit Ekland and Maud Adams make for some delicious eye candy, it must be said.) The reappearance of Sheriff Pepper (from LIVE AND LET DIE) is especially stupid, one of the most boneheaded decisions of the entire franchise.
- DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsSean ConneryJill St. JohnCharles GrayA diamond smuggling investigation leads James Bond to Las Vegas where he uncovers an evil plot involving a rich business tycoon.Bond in Vegas, baby! The serious tone of OHMSS is tossed out the window as Connery returns to go through the motions — and pick up a hefty check. The world-threatening Blofeld is reduced to a fey quipster (although he is pretty funny) who even appears in drag during one scene. Feels a lot like the Moore films that followed instead of the Connery pics that preceded it. Another nice John Barry score.
- DirectorMichael AptedStarsPierce BrosnanSophie MarceauRobert CarlyleJames Bond uncovers a nuclear plot while protecting an oil heiress from her former kidnapper, an international terrorist who can't feel pain.Tries to play things a bit more seriously while simultaneously undermining itself with fumbling attempts at Roger Moore-style humor. Some of the action scenes are curiously flat or feel like pure padding. And while she does, indeed, have a glorious posterior, Denise Richards is disastrously miscast as a nuclear physicist.
- DirectorJohn GlenStarsRoger MooreMaud AdamsLouis JourdanA fake Fabergé egg recovered from the body of a fellow agent leads James Bond to uncover a jewel smuggling operation led by the mysterious Octopussy, and a plot to blow up a NATO air base.Chapter 2 of the Grandpa Bond Trilogy. Setting a 007 adventure in India is pretty cool (locations don't get more "exotic" than that) but Moore is really looking long-in-the-tooth here... His (obvious) stuntman gets almost as much screen time as he does. Louis Jourdan makes a fine villain, balancing Steven Berkoff's over the top scenery chewing as the power-mad Soviet general. Unfortunately things just get too campy and a tad convoluted.
- DirectorJohn GlenStarsRoger MooreChristopher WalkenTanya RobertsThe recovery of a microchip from the body of a fellow British secret agent leads James Bond to a mad industrialist scheming to cause massive destruction.Chapter 3 of the Grandpa Bond Trilogy. The nearly 60-year old Roger Moore is totally unbelievable as an action hero in this flabby GOLDFINGER retread. The love scene between him and "amazon" Grace Jones is more horrifying than anything in CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. The Good Stuff: John Barry's score, a cackling, psychotic Christopher Walken and the thrilling old school combat atop the Golden Gate Bridge.
- DirectorLewis GilbertStarsRoger MooreLois ChilesMichael LonsdaleJames Bond investigates the mid-air theft of a space shuttle, and discovers a plot to commit global genocide.What seemed like good, silly fun some four decades ago now just comes off as ludicrous cheese. Riddled with humongous plot holes, it alternately plays like a Dean Martin/Matt Helm movie (albeit one with vastly superior production values) and a Roadrunner cartoon. Bond in... space? Really?
- DirectorLee TamahoriStarsPierce BrosnanHalle BerryRosamund PikeJames Bond is sent to investigate the connection between a North Korean terrorist and a diamond mogul, who is funding the development of an international space weapon.The "Video Game" Bond... A bitter disappointment for the franchise's 40th anniversary. Poorest dialog of the entire series. Weak and/or silly villains. Halle Berry is absolutely gorgeous but just not a very good actress in this. The unnecessary Madonna cameo is positively cringeworthy. (My least-watched Bond.)