But over the years it's been a crap-shoot on quality. Some great ones... some not so great. Some seemed really cool at the time (i.e. when I was 10) but have not held up, while others age like a fine claret.
So I thought it would be fun to take a stab at ranking some of the Bonds -- Here are the three best Bond movies:
CRITERIA:
1. Plot: Does the premise simply taunt your suspension of disbelief? Or does it openly mock it?
2. Dialog: Does the dialog -- especially the one-liners -- hold up? Or does Bond sound like a douche?
3. Car & Gadgets: Relative to other Bond films -- Great, or simply good?
4. Bond Girl: Hot or not?
5. Villain: Bad ass?
6. Pre-title sequence interesting? Is the title track insufferable?
BEST
1. GOLD FINGER (1964)
For me, Gold Finger is the most balanced and classic of the films -- not too over the top at any point, but taut and engaging. There is a little bit of everything "Bond" present in this movie, and it holds up especially well for a film that is now over 40 years old.
1. Dialog: The most famous exchange in the franchise: "Do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!"
2. Plot: Nuking Fort Knox to corner the world's gold market is far-fetched but intriguing.
3. Gadgets: Totally bad-ass Aston Martin with ejector seat + machine guns.
4. Bond Girl: Not that hot, but the writers did name her "Pussy Galore".
5. Villain: Auric Goldfinger is a great megalomaniacal villain, but his henchman Odd-Job (with the decapitating bowler hat) is second to none.
6. Title track: Shirley Bassey is tough to beat.
Bonus Misogynist line: James Bond: [speaking to a woman when another spy arrives to talk business] Run along now, man talk...
2. GOLDEN EYE (1995)
Yes, I know - Pierce Brosnan in the #2 slot? But this movie is fantastic for the Bond fan. Great plot, good twists. The most amazing opening 10 minutes of any of the films. It's easily one of my faves.
1. Dialog: Probably some of the most overt sexual innuendo in all the films.
2. Plot: Stealing control of military satellites to release an EMP that wipes out the financial grid long enough to steal gobs of lucre is cool!
3. Gadgets: The car is a BMW Z3. Not bad, but I'd have preferred something more exotic.
4. Bond Girl: She's be the pretty-hot girl next door... if you lived in Minsk.
5. Villain: Best friend Sean Bean 006 twist is great, and Alan Cummings is well cast as the Russian computer nerd. I'm not into Russian women, but if I were, I'd put Xenia Onatopp of that list. Heh, get it? Ooof.
6. Pre-title sequence: My favorite of all time. When Bond runs out to the middle of the dam and then bungee jumps off the edge, I freaking stood in my chair and yelled. Unfortunately I was at matinee showing in Osaka Japan -- surrounded by house wives that couldn't quite understand my enthusiasm.
Bonus sexual innuendo exchange:
Bond: It appears we share the same passions: three, anyway.
Xenia Onatopp: I count two: motoring and, uh, baccarat. I hope the third is where your real talent lies.
Bond: One rises to meet a challenge. [OOF!]
3. CASINO ROYALE (2006)
Like I was saying, this film gives new life to a pretty old series. What I like most about the Daniel Craig choice is that he's a perfect fit for the movie's gritty realism. The fight scene in the stairwell of the casino is absolutely knock-down, drag-out brutal. And while there are definitely some questionable "coincidences" in the story (did someone say "heart defibralator"?) it holds together well, and is a great set-up for future films.
1. Dialog: Polar-opposite of the Roger Moore cheekiness from the 1970s. More like what you'd expect from Guy Ritchie flick.
2. Plot: Shorting stocks and then committing acts of terror to drive the price down? Almost too believable.
3. Gadgets: Aston Martin DB5... which he wins in a poker tournament. Now that's a player
4. Bond Girl: Vesper Lynde is smart and sassy. A more balanced character than any previous actress in this role.
5. Villain: Le Chiffre? C'mon the dude bleeds from his eye. Gross. The torture scene near the end still leaves me queasy.
6. Pre-title sequence: Bond's first and second kills, chronologically speaking. Nice way to get the refresh calibrated and booted-up
Bonus back-door-man exchange:
Vesper Lynd: Am I going to have a problem with you, Mr. Bond?
Bond: No, don't worry, you're not my type.
Vesper Lynd: Smart?
Bond: Single.
In our next post: The 3 WORST Bond films... (hint: they all have Roger Moore in them)
Meanwhile, I welcome your wrong differing opinions in the comments...