Overrated Bond movie?

Sun May 27, 2007 12:38 pm

what is the most overrated Bond movie. I think you have to look no further than Casino Royale, that tedious, pretentious melodrama with dull action scenes tacked on which highbrow critics seemed to bizarrely enjoy.

Captain Nash · Post by **Captain Nash** » Sun May 27, 2007 3:10 pm

I'd go for YOLT myself. A boring performance from Connery, an over the top villains lair. Come on a hollowed out volcano. Okay.

Then we have a Bond girl with no name and no real function in the movie and a final reveal of Blofeld, and it turns out his a feeble looking little man, with a crazy scar on his face.
Nahh it's not the real deal for me as it appears to be for many others. Save for a cracking title track from Nancy Sinartra and a beautiful score from John Barry and this would be an almost write off for me.

Post by **James** » Sun May 27, 2007 3:54 pm

I'd go for the Campbell double whammy of GoldenEye and Casino Royale. Two films that got much more hysterical reviews than they deserved.

Post by **Skywalker** » Sun May 27, 2007 5:01 pm

OHMSS - Is overrated IMO. I do consider the film to be good. The score is one of the best and the story is top notch. However, the chemistry between Bond and Tracy is feeble and GL's acting (If you can call it that) is wooden.

Pros

Lazenby looks like Bond
Has the right balance between physical and humour.
Good supporting cast
The musical score

Cons

Diana Rigg is overrated and overpraised
Lazenby's lack of emotion
Beach fight scene
The audio dubbing

Post by **Skywalker** » Sun May 27, 2007 5:04 pm

James wrote:I'd go for the Campbell double whammy of GoldenEye and Casino Royale. Two films that got much more hysterical reviews than they deserved.

I think we should leave out Casino Royale. There are plenty of other threads where we can vent our spline.

Count_Lippe · Post by **Count_Lippe** » Sun May 27, 2007 6:47 pm

I don't think you could call YOLT overrated, simply because it isn't exactly held in very high regard by many fans

I think both GF and TSWLM are a little overrated, two very popular Bonds.

GF is a classic film and very good in many respects, but it isn't the quintessential Bond of the 60s, lacking the mood and atmosphere of Terence Young's Bonds. It also feels slightly outdated today and has some scenes that just don't make sence, such as the gangsters being gassed for no apparent reason or the stupid scenes when the soldiers fall over. Still one of the best Bonds though!

TSWLM is really well made, has brilliant production values and some terrific stunts! But still it sometimes feels a bit hollow and dull. This is a Bond film that looks really great but doesn't have much content. Just a lot of updated ideas from earlier Bonds.

And of course OHMSS the most overrated Bond ever! Apart from the things Skywalkwer has mentioned I would add the tasteless joke about slight stiffness, not appropriate in a Bond film. The stupid costume design, they should've gone for a more timeless look. Some over-the-top action scenes like the avalanche and the bobsleigh fight. An overall lack of Bondian atmosphere and romance, and the fact that this Bond film has no class. Lazenby really comes across as an expence account man!

Captain Nash · Post by **Captain Nash** » Sun May 27, 2007 6:52 pm

Count_Lippe wrote:I don't think you could call YOLT overrated, simply because it isn't exactly held in very high regard by many fans

I think YOLT is overrated.

ID · Post by ID » Sun May 27, 2007 9:53 pm

I don't think OHMSS is overrated but you could make a case for Thunderball being overrated.

Post by **Kristatos** » Sun May 27, 2007 11:14 pm

ID wrote:I don't think OHMSS is overrated but you could make a case for Thunderball being overrated.

Yeah, a toss up between Thunderball and Goldeneye for me. I'll leave CR out of this because it is still on release and posterity may not be as kind to it as current reviews. LTK got the same sort of positive reviews when it was first released and is now routinely slagged off (though not by me).

stockslivevan · Post by **stockslivevan** » Sun May 27, 2007 11:52 pm

Goldfinger. It is a good film but it falls short after viewing its more mature predecessors.

Moore · Post by **Moore** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:09 am

I think it won't be surprise - CR is totally overrated

Post by **The Sweeney** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:16 am

I think TSWLM is very overrated.

I also think FYEO is overrated too for different reasosn. It was the film that was supposed to bring Bond back down to earth, and back to Fleming, yet there were still many silly Moore bits in it that stopped it from becoming as serious as OHMSS or FRWL. Yet critics often say this is Moore's best because of the serious attempt to return to the novels. Maybe I have to view it again to get another opinion. It's been a while since I've seen it.

stockslivevan · Post by **stockslivevan** » Mon May 28, 2007 11:21 am

The Sweeney wrote:I think TSWLM is very overrated.

I also think FYEO is overrated too for different reasosn. It was the film that was supposed to bring Bond back down to earth, and back to Fleming, yet there were still many silly Moore bits in it that stopped it from becoming as serious as OHMSS or FRWL. Yet critics often say this is Moore's best because of the serious attempt to return to the novels. Maybe I have to view it again to get another opinion. It's been a while since I've seen it.

As far as the Moore Bond standards go, FYEO is the most refreshing of the bunch. There are silly bits in it, which every Moore film is guilty of, but there is enough IMO that makes it his best. Not a top 5 quality Bond flick, but should be given a mention.

Post by **Skywalker** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:06 pm

ID wrote:I don't think OHMSS is overrated but you could make a case for Thunderball being overrated.

I guess it all depends on what forums you visit.

OHMSS is almost revered as high as CR on MI6. If Lazenby is considered the best Bond, then in my humble opinion, it is a slap in the face to '19' other Bond performances.

I've never felt Thunderball to be overrated. Perhaps it is on other sites or it's just your own personal opinion.

Post by **Skywalker** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:12 pm

The Sweeney wrote:I think TSWLM is very overrated.

I also think FYEO is overrated too for different reasosn. It was the film that was supposed to bring Bond back down to earth, and back to Fleming, yet there were still many silly Moore bits in it that stopped it from becoming as serious as OHMSS or FRWL. Yet critics often say this is Moore's best because of the serious attempt to return to the novels. Maybe I have to view it again to get another opinion. It's been a while since I've seen it.

FYEO is overrated IMO. The second half of the film is enjoyable, but as a whole I find it weak in comparison to Moore's other Bond performances. The film does not play to his strengths and he seems uncomfortable in the role.

Count_Lippe · Post by **Count_Lippe** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:42 pm

FYEO was an attempt at making a more serious Bond after the over-the-top Bonds of the late 70s.

It has some nice genuine Fleming material, but too many silly bits, the awful score and Moore's discomfort in the role ruins the overall impression of this film I think.

This would otherwise have been a great film to introduce a new Bond actor to the series in the early 80s, just a bit more hard edged and a better score and it would have been perfect.

As for Thunderball being overrated I think not. It's not a flawless Bond film, it could have been edited a little better and more tightly.

But other than that it has a great cast, one of the best scores, beautiful locations and underwater photography, a top notch pre-credits sequence, lovely 60s atmosphere, beautiful women, smart looking fashion and Terence Young's direction and true Bondian touches!

What more do you want from a James Bond movie?

Post by **Skywalker** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:46 pm

Count_Lippe wrote:FYEO was an attempt at making a more serious Bond after the over-the-top Bonds of the late 70s.

It has some nice genuine Fleming material, but too many silly bits, the awful score and Moore's discomfort in the role ruins the overall impression of this film I think.

This would otherwise have been a great film to introduce a new Bond actor to the series in the early 80s, just a bit more hard edged and a better score and it would have been perfect.

As for Thunderball being overrated I think not. It's not a flawless Bond film, it could have been edited a little better and more tightly.

But other than that it has a great cast, one of the best scores, beautiful locations and underwater photography, a top notch pre-credits sequence, lovely 60s atmosphere, beautiful women, smart looking fashion and Terence Young's direction and true Bondian touches!

What more do you want from a James Bond movie?

Great post Count.

Post by **The Sweeney** » Mon May 28, 2007 1:17 pm

Skywalker wrote: OHMSS is almost revered as high as CR on MI6. If Lazenby is considered the best Bond, then in my humble opinion, it is a slap in the face to '19' other Bond performances.

I don't think in general people rave about Lazenby being the best Bond. It's usually praise given to the film itself, and saying OHMSS works in spite of Lazenby. I've read many reviews with `if only Connery was in it' type statements.

Post by **Skywalker** » Mon May 28, 2007 1:36 pm

The Sweeney wrote:
Skywalker wrote: OHMSS is almost revered as high as CR on MI6. If Lazenby is considered the best Bond, then in my humble opinion, it is a slap in the face to '19' other Bond performances.
I don't think in general people rave about Lazenby being the best Bond. It's usually praise given to the film itself, and saying OHMSS works in spite of Lazenby. I've read many reviews with `if only Connery was in it' type statements.

I've read countless others that say they are glad Connery did not play Bond in OHMSS. Joe public have certainly never taken to him, but you will find many Bond fans do.

Post by **Kristatos** » Mon May 28, 2007 4:08 pm

The Sweeney wrote:I also think FYEO is overrated too for different reasosn. It was the film that was supposed to bring Bond back down to earth, and back to Fleming, yet there were still many silly Moore bits in it that stopped it from becoming as serious as OHMSS or FRWL.

Yes, but they were mostly at the beginning (the PCS) and the end (the Maggie Thatcher bit). The bits in between were mostly fairly low-key in tone.