Right! Well to continue my list of James Bond posts I thought I would do a slightly different one than usual, so this one will cover my top 5 Bond films that I consider to be underrated.
So without further delay let's take a look and see what they are, and before anyone disagrees with them, these choices are just my own opinion, so let's suit up, load the Walther PPK and take a look...
5. Quantum of Solace (2008)
Right so at No.5 is Quantum of Solace, which remains one of the most maligned Bond films by the fans and also met with very mixed reviews by the critics. However I personally think that Solace is actually quite underrated as a Bond film and does some things pretty well and doesn't get enough credit.
And some of the things that Solace does well includes it taut running time as it clocks in at 1 hour and 42 minutes, its the shortest James Bond film of all time. And I could lay criticism at many a Bond film for over running or outstaying its welcome but Solace doesn't, its fast and tautly paced and it never lags any time. Another thing the film does that no other Bond film did was have Bond not sleep with its leading lady, this time played Olga Kurylenko and that in itself was a bold move given that it is always obligatory that Bond shag the main girl but here he doesn't. The film also features an underrated and creepy villain in Dominic Green, who OK is no physical match for Bond but he still makes for a slimey and devious baddie for Bond to take down.
And yes OK the film still has its problems in that Bond here is probably nearly at his most unlikeable in certain moments, particularly when he dumps the dead body of his ally, Mathis in a skip, it shows he has no respect for the dead whatosever and Bond also coldly kills his way through the movie like some sort of Terminator. The film's action scenes, while they are mostly good, are shot quite frantically in places and the whole style of the film is quite like a Jason Bourne film (except with humour) which also saw the film kind of lose its identity and its way from the Bond series.
But if you can forgive all this then Solace is definitely worth a second look and it deserves more credit than it usually doesn't get from audiences.
4. Diamonds are forever (1971)
At No.4 is Diamonds are forever, which is often considered as Sean Connery's weakest Bond film of all given that it makes for an uncomfortable mix of camp humour and violent action. But I myself, think that Diamonds are forever is an underrated film and it is just alot of good fun, even if it doesn't stand out as one of the best Bond films.
And Diamonds are forever features some good action scenes, especially Bond's fistfight with the assassin, Peter Franks, in the lift and also Bond's car chase in Vegas not to mention the film's opening sequence where Bond tracks down Blofeld. It also features two of the creepiest and most memorable Bond villains in Mr Wint and Mr Kidd, who are clearly a gay couple who are employed as assassins by Blofeld, who also enjoy making puns after their kills. Its also great to see Connery back in the role, even if he does look quite a bit older (and wrinklier!) in the part. The film also features a great score by John Barry and the unforgettable theme song, sung by Shirley Bassey, which stands as one of the best in the series.
And yes OK the film does suffer from its campish tone and its far from menacing performance of Charles Gray as Blofeld, where the supervillain is reduce to wearing a dress, high heels and make-up at one point! And yep the film's climax onboard Blofeld's oil rig is also something of a letdown and a bit of an anti-climax. And of course the film also features one of the weakest Bond girls in Tiffany Case, played rather woodenly by Jill St. John.
However all that aside, Diamonds are forever is still alot of fun and has enough good moments in it to make it very enjoyable and one of the more underrated Bond films out there.
3. The World Is Not Enough (1999)
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!
Next up at No.3 is Pierce Brosnan's third film, The World is Not Enough, which for me is his second best film (with Goldeneye being his best I think) and its one that often get's overlooked but its a worthy one because its action is pretty good and it features a very good villain played by Sophie Marceau.
And yeah OK the film does take a bit of time to get going and its opening 14 minute sequence is a bit slow and boring but after this the film really picks up the pace as the main story unravels with Bond getting involved in protecting an oil heiress, Elektra King (Sophie Marceau) only for him to find she isn't all she seems. And the twist of King (SPOILER) being the villain is a pretty good one as it isn't immediately obvious and it only becomes apparent when Elektra says something similar to what the film's secondary villain, Renard (Robert Carlyle) says, that Bond picks up on it.
And one of the film's main highlights is of course the scene where Elektra tortures Bond by putting him on a garrote and turning the wheel which pushes out a piece of wood pressing against Bond's neck. Its a unique moment in the series where Bond really is put in serious danger although he is ultimately rescued by the interruption of Zukovsky (Robbie Coltraine) who shoots off one of the garrote's restraints during a struggle with Elektra.
The film does have some problems with its inconsistent pacing, most notably at the start and also the inclusion of Denise Richards as Christmas Jones, who must rank as one of the weakest Bond girls in the series (although let's face it, she is pretty hot!) and you can't really buy her as a nuclear physicist! The film's main theme sung by Shirley Manson of Garbage, isn't one of the best either and its pretty bland overall.
However if you are willing to overlook these issues then The World Is Not Enough is still definitely worth a gander and for me its definitely one of Brosnan's better Bond films.
2. The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)
At No.2 is Roger Moore's second film, The Man with The Golden Gun, which is also considered one of Moore's worst films, however I really think TMWTGG has alot going for it as it has plenty of good action and it even features one of the series most memorable villains in Scaramanga.
The film also makes great use of its exotic locations and also has some pretty impressive sets and Roger Moore is just starting to get a bit more comfortable in his role as Bond. Christopher Lee is also excellent as Scaramanga, the man with the golden gun, who is a reclusive assassin who kills for a million dollars a hit (as the theme sung by Lulu tell us!). The film also features plenty of fun action especially the scene where Bond is taken to a Karate dojo where he is forced to fight some students there. It also features an amazing barrel roll stunt scene where Bond flips his car over an unfinished bridge (although it is accompanied by that infuriating penny whistle on the soundtrack!). The film's climactic sequence which is a showdown between Bond and Scaramanga is also another highlight too.
However yes the film does have some flaws and issues such as Moore's Bond being pushed into the direction of being more like Sean Connery's, which doesn't sit right with Moore as in one scene Bond hits Scaramanga's mistress, Andrea (Maud Adams) and twists her arm in order to get information form her. It also features a rather useless Bond girl in Mary Goodnight (Britt Ekland) who does nothing but cause trouble for Bond in the film, although she does momentarliy have the sass to resist Bond's advances (but it doesn't last long!). And yes the film's main theme song, sung by Lulu, isn't that great either and it features some pretty cheesy lyrics although John Barry's own score is pretty good.
But regardless of all that I still think The Man With The Golden Gun is one of Roger Moore's stronger Bond films and its still well worth a look and as such remains one of the most underrated films in the series.
And at No.1 is........ (DRUM ROLL!)
1. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!
Yes, at the top spot is On Her Majesty's Secret Service, which was the Australian actor, George Lazenby's only foray into the role. And Lazenby's performance as Bond has always been one that split the fans and the critics, which is often the reason why this film can be considered the black sheep of the series.
However OHMSS has alot going for it and as a Bond film it really is pretty good and it features a fairly elaborate plot too and it takes Bond's character a bit more seriously than in other Bond films and relies far less on gadgets than the other films did and more on Bond using his wits. And I personally think that Lazenby was pretty good in the role as Bond even though he never had any prior acting experience before making the film as he was in fact a model before who was spotted by Cubby Broccoli in a TV advert. But Lazenby really does manage to nail Bond's charm, humour as well as show his vulnerable side as he falls in love with the main Bond girl, Tracy (Diana Rigg).
The film also features two really strong performances in the cast from Diana Rigg as Tracey, the love of Bond's life although sadly their relationship ends very badly. But Rigg makes the part very interesting as Tracy is a troubled woman who Bond has to save at the start of the film from herself and its only later they remeet through her father and they begin to fall for one another.
And the other performance that stands out is of course Telly Savalas as Blofeld and here Blofeld is a man of action and no longer just a villain that sits behind his desk, stroking his cat. And Savalas really adds a whole lot of credibility to the role of Blofeld and for me he still remains the best onscreen portrayal of Blofeld to this day.
The film also has a great soundtrack by John Barry and it features some terrific tracks especially the film's instrumental theme "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" which is simply brilliant and one of Barry's very best pieces of music. Then of course there is the Bond song, sung by Louis Armstrong "We have all the time in the world" which is wonderful track and one of the best in the series.
And yes the film still has some issues, mainly that is a pretty long Bond film and up to this point, the longest Bond film in the series. So there are certain scenes that suffer as a result of its length and that are a bit slow and boring such as Bond chatting up the girls at Blofeld's institute, posing as Sir Hilary Bray, which is very drawn out. Its plot is also maybe a bit too elaborate at times and it doesn't make a great deal of sense at times and its also funny how the government will bow to Blofeld's demands this time around but they didn't when SPECTRE tried to blackmail NATO in Thunderball!
But all this aside OHMSS is very much the most underrated Bond film of them all especially as it has so much going for it with its cast, its action and fairly involved story. Its also the only Bond film to end on such a downer (SPOILER!) with Bond's wife being killed by Blofeld's henchwoman, Irma Brunt. It was a gutsy move by the film makers to go with such a dramatic ending and it also let show Bond's vulnerable side.
And so OHMSS sits right at the top of this list and deservedly so too.
Right! So that's it for this list and I will be back with another post in the not so distant future.
Till then its bye for now!
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