The American Film Institute once named James Bond as the third greatest hero in motion picture history. Coupled with the fact that EON-produced Bond films have grossed close to $7 billion, worldwide (Box Office Mojo), it’s no wonder that the film franchise generates much intrigue and debate. And it’s also no wonder that fans, critics, and scholars all tend to dissect the films for more than just their entertainment value. The films have much to offer. So let us present our own Guide to the best of Bond. But with 24 films, there is much to sift through. So where to begin? In this first installment, we’ll look at the best of the franchise, across the boards.
The Best of Bond: The Franchise
Best Film…
Nobody will ever agree on rankings,. So why bother, right? But such a ranking is not meant to stifle debate; it’s meant to start it. And there’s no better way to do that than offer up a discussion on the best of the 24 films, overall.
In actuality, this is impossible to do, given that the world (and film making techniques) have changed quite a bit over the 53-year span between Dr. No and Spectre. After all, when Dr. No premiered, John F. Kennedy was President of the United States.
So we’ll offer up that the best film is the one that is most iconic, most noteworthy, most often thought of when the name “James Bond” comes up:
…Goldfinger
The first film to feature a “bond song” over the titles? The first feature multiple gadgets? The first
Winter is Coming
to include the Aston Martin DB5? It’s this one.
While Goldfinger, like many Bond films, is built upon an preposterous plot (Goldfinger wants to gas Fort Knox and blow up all the gold), it has a cool factor that would resonate for years (and decades to come)
Honorable Mention: From Russia with Love, Thunderball, Casino Royale (2006), Skyfall
Best Villain: Ernst Stavro Blofeld (as portrayed by Donald Pleasence), You Only Live Twice
Blofeld is the ultimate Bond villain; but whose portrayal was best? In terms of pure menace, Telly Savalas and Christoph Waltz would rank high. But it’s the Blofeld portrayed by Donald Pleasence that has resonated, maybe because of (rather than in spite of) Mike Myers’ parody. That parody actually adds weight to Pleasence’s iconic portrayal — the head, the eye, the cat. And though Blofeld only appears in the final act of You Only Live Twice, his presence is felt throughout. Sinister, like a rat, this Blofeld is more brains than brawn (as seen with Savalas’ portrayal a film later).
Honorable Mention: Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman), Goldfinger (Gert Frobbe), Blofeld (as portrayed by Telly Savalas), Max Zorin (Christopher Walken), Silva (Javier Bardem)
Best Bond Girl: Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), Casino Royale
Yes, Honey Ryder was the first Bond Girl on the silver screen. But the first true Bond Girl was the one Ian Fleming wrote about in Casino Royale. Hence, Vesper’s place at the top, cemented by Eva Green’s flawless performance. Vesper is witty, polished, confident…and though Bond fell for and married Tracy, Vesper was the “big one,” as Blofeld describes her in Spectre. Even though she betrays Bond, her death nonetheless rocks him to the core…and was still felt three films later.
Honorable Mention: Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress), Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman), Solitaire (Jane Seymour).
Best Gadget: Lotus Esprit Submarine, The Spy Who Loved Me
For the sake of our column here, the cars will function as gadgets. And with that in mind, is there no other car “gadget” that’s struck the imagination like the Lotus Esprit? Bond drives it off a dock on Sardinia, and then, with the push of a button, magically (and quite impossibly, but who cares?) turns the machine into mini-sub.
Honorable Mention: Briefcase, From Russia With Love; DB5 ejection seat, Goldfinger; jetpack, Thunderball; do-it-all Ericsson cell phone, Tomorrow Never Dies
Best Bond Song: “Live and Let Die” (Paul McCartney and Wings)
Great song? Yes. Great act? Of course. Still resonates? Absolutely. The song has been covered by everyone from Guns n Roses to Duffy to Chrissie Hynde. But like most Bond categories, few can agree on this one, as colleagues have shown: Every Bond Song: The Definitive Ranking
Honorable Mention: “Goldfinger,” “You Only Live Twice,” “A View to a Kill,” “Skyfall”
Best Title Sequence: Skyfall
Coupled with Adele’s classic theme song, Daniel Kleinman’s breathtaking titles take us into Bond’s state of mind, following a near fatal gunshot wound to the chest. But they also serve as a preview of things to come: look closely and you’ll even find the deer from the Skyfall estate. The titles effortlessly change from glorious color to black-and-white and then back again, serving up a visual buffet that is hard to forget.
Honorable Mention: The Spy Who Loved Me, Goldeneye, Casino Royale
Best Opening Sequence: Spectre
In an otherwise uneven film, Spectre scores points for the best overall pre-title sequence, a dazzling (or is it dizzying) spectacle that opens with a wide, tracking shot during Dia de los Muertos, in Mexico City, and ends with a well-coordinated helicopter fight.
Honorable Mention: Goldfinger; The Spy Who Loved Me; Goldeneye
Best Fight: Bond vs Grant, From Russia with Love
Two assassins in a fight to the death on board the Orient Express: does it get any better than this? No. And ever since, the Bond franchise has made the “train fight” a common fixture.
Honorable Mention: Bond vs Odd Job, Goldfinger; Bond vs Che Che, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service; Bond vs. Slate, Quantum of Solace; Bond vs Hinx, Spectre
Best Line: “I know a little about women.” Thunderball
Upon meeting Largo at his estate, Palmyra, Bond takes hold of Largo’s rifle.
Bond: “It seems more fitting for a woman.”
Largo: “You know much about guns, Mr. Bond?”
Bond: “No. I know a little about women.”
Ouch. The cut down questions Largo’s masculinity on two fronts.
Honorable mention: “I’m just looking.” (Dr. No); “Some men don’t like being taken for a ride.” (Thunderball); “As long as the collars and cuffs match.” (Diamonds Are Forever); “No more foreplay.” (Goldeneye)
Best Location: Piz Gloria, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
This revolving, mountaintop restaurant, near Murren, Switzerland, was built, in part, to be featured in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. It is no wonder: the views of the mountains around the Schilthorn are breathtaking. Today, the restaurant is still in operation, serving food items stamped with the 007 logo.
Honorable Mention: Oco Rios, Jamaica (Dr. No); Phang Nga Bay (The Man with the Golden Gun); Taj Lake Palace (Octopussy)
As always, thank you for reading. Check eyeonbond.com and @eyeonbond for the next volume in our” guide” to the Best of Bond.