James Bond turns 50 - a half-century of 007 films

[knapplc]

Fifty years ago James Bond burst onto the scene with Sean Connery playing the title role in Dr. No. It is the longest-running film series and has encompassed many of the greatest scenes, villains and plot twists in movie history.

The polls above are just what I could come up with, and what I had room for. There are so many other villains/henchmen to choose from, so many other Bond Girls to pick. What's your favorite Bond Gadget? What's your favorite chase/fight? What's your favorite stunt? Favorite overall movie?

So much to choose from. So much greatness, so many campy, silly - but awesome - movies, most of them iconic.

Which actor should NOT have been Bond? Which actress should have been a Bond Girl but never was?

 

[rawhide]

The ejection seat is my top gadget. I could have used it numerous times

 

[GSG]

The rocket pack.

Also, Odd Job's hat was dope too.

 

[knapplc]

I should have chosen Plenty O'Toole as my favorite Bond Girl. Guess I got sentimental about Miss Moneypenny.

Favorite Bond gadget... Maybe the laser wristwatch. That was kinda fun.

Favorite Bond stunt - has to be the car jump in Man with the Golden Gun where Bond jumps the river on the twisted/broken bridge, performing a barrel roll in the sequence of the jump. My understanding is this was a live-action, one-time stunt they did for the movie. If it didn't work they weren't going to reset and try it again - they had one shot, and one shot only at the jump.

My favorite Bond chase scene is probably the boat chase in Live and Let Die - but then, there are several pretty good speedboat chases, in several movies.

 

[bshirt]

The spraying of oil on the pavement to wreck the chasing car was cool. I can't remember which one that was though....

 

[GSG]

Also, I probably would have voted for Halle Barry's character as my fave Bond girl, but that's probably due to her being the one I can remember most clearly. I haven't watched a Bond movie in a while.

 

[knapplc]

Did I put Halle Berry in there? What was her character name?

EDIT - Also, aside from choosing your favorite Bond, I'd be interested in seeing how everyone ranks them. Mine would be:

1 - Sean Connery; Far and away the best.

(huge gap here)

2 - Daniel Craig; I like the grittiness of his Bond. I like the edge they put on the series with him, and he pulls it off well.

3 - Roger Moore; Most of his movies were pretty campy, but that was part of the fun. You knew it was just male-oriented sexy silliness.

4 - Pierce Brosnan; I wanted him to play Bond for a long time. I felt he was a natural for the role. He was OK, but he never hit the highs like I thought he would.

(Tremendously large gap here)

5 - Timothy Dalton; Not much to say about him. I think I maybe saw his films once each. May not have seen all of them.

6 - George Lazenby; Just... no. He didn't fit the role to me at all.

 

[GSG]

Did I put Halle Berry in there? What was her character name?

Giacinta "Jinx" Johnson

She was in Die Another Day

 

[knapplc]

She's in there now. Sorry for overlooking her. Isn't she an Oscar winner? Probably should have been an obvious one.

 

[GSG]

She's in there now. Sorry for overlooking her. Isn't she an Oscar winner? Probably should have been an obvious one.

Yeah, she won it in 2001 for Monster's Ball

 

[NUinID]

Did I put Halle Berry in there? What was her character name?

EDIT - Also, aside from choosing your favorite Bond, I'd be interested in seeing how everyone ranks them. Mine would be:

1 - Sean Connery; Far and away the best.

(huge gap here)

2 - Daniel Craig; I like the grittiness of his Bond. I like the edge they put on the series with him, and he pulls it off well.

3 - Roger Moore; Most of his movies were pretty campy, but that was part of the fun. You knew it was just male-oriented sexy silliness.

4 - Pierce Brosnan; I wanted him to play Bond for a long time. I felt he was a natural for the role. He was OK, but he never hit the highs like I thought he would.

(Tremendously large gap here)

5 - Timothy Dalton; Not much to say about him. I think I maybe saw his films once each. May not have seen all of them.

6 - George Lazenby; Just... no. He didn't fit the role to me at all.

I actually like Lazenby as Bond. The one movie he was in IMO was one of the best. It actually showed bond have a little emotion for someone. You really don't see that until Daniel Craig in Casino Royal.

I thought Brosnan was good as Bond, he was just a little old to play him. Roger Moore wasn't bad he just should have quit playing Bond about 3 movies before he did. He was like 55 when he did a View to a Kill.

 

[knapplc]

There's another Bond Girl/henchwoman that I'm thinking of, whose name escapes me. She was played by a French actress (Sophie Marceau?) and she was killed by Bond. I want to say it was Pierce Brosnan who offed her. Any idea? I know I could google it, but it's more fun to discuss. I could have included her, but it took a long time to make those polls and I got bored.

 

[GSG]

There's another Bond Girl/henchwoman that I'm thinking of, whose name escapes me. She was played by a French actress (Sophie Marceau?) and she was killed by Bond. I want to say it was Pierce Brosnan who offed her. Any idea? I know I could google it, but it's more fun to discuss. I could have included her, but it took a long time to make those polls and I got bored.

Elektra Vavra King - Sophie Marceau

1999 - The World is Not Enough

He does kill her. Your mind is still pretty sharp, for a old guy

 

[GSG]

1. Connery

2. Moore

3. Craig (I've only seen parts of one Bond movie he's done though)

4. Brosnan

5. Dalton

6. Lazenby (I don't think I've seen his film)

 

[NUance]

Fiona. She get bonus points for the bike. :thumbs :

It's difficult to pick out just one Bond girl. I used this as an excuse to review a top-40 list of Bond girls: LINK