Worst Bond films? - A View to a Kill (1985) Discussion

[–] Cristianos 12 years ago

The usual candidates I usually see for the worst Bond movies are Die Another Day, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is not Enough, The Man with the Golden Gun, Moonraker, A View to a Kill, Octopussy, Diamonds are Forever, and Quantum of Solace.

I think Die Another Day is the worst of the worst.

Tomorrow Never Dies and The World is not Enough were formulaic, but they make up for it with the action sequences. Not to mention the poorly received Dr. Christmas Jones in TWINE.

Moonraker, A View to a Kill, and Octopussy had silly, campy moments and an aging Roger Moore, but the action sequences and set pieces never disappoint.

Never understood the mixed reception for The Man with the Golden Gun.

Diamonds are Forever began the campy trend we see in the Roger Moore films, and Connery's stale performance didn't help either.

Quantum of Solace was a disappointment in comparison to Casino Royale due in large to the hectic editing, Dominic Green being a weak villain, and mediocre theme song sequence, but it's far from the worst! Craig's performance and the action scenes help the film slightly.

When TDKR comes out on Blu-Ray/DVD, you have my permission to buy.

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[–] M_Exchange 12 years ago

My top five worst:
1- Diamonds Are Forever - just a god awful joke- especially Lana Wood's tiny role. She couldn't even seem to act dead in a pool. Jill St. John isn't much better, and even Sean Connery is even off in it. It probably has the all-time worst acting in any Bond film ever.
2- A View to a Kill - the only thing that anyone remembers from it are Walken and Grace Jones. Roger Moore, who was probably too old to play the role even during the '70s, now looks like he is 600 years old.
3- Moonraker - Farcical, irreverent, stupid... adjectives that best describe Roger Moore as Bond.
4- Die Another Day- I re-watched this disaster a few weeks ago. It's just as confusing, poorly-written and idiotic as I remember when I watched it in a theater. Halle Berry in a swimsuit is its only redeeming feature.
5- I'm going to go with yet another Roger Moore crap fest one this one: For Your Eyes Only. Although I like Lynn-Holly Johnson in it and it's well-written, the creepiness factor alone is enough to earn this ranking. I'm the biggest proponent of "age is just a number," but not when you look like you're your girlfriend's grandfather... 30 year difference (violent shudder)

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[–] danmj2 12 years ago

To me a view to a kill was the worst one. Grace Jones, i have notthing more to say to that lol.

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[–] psychocosmic-1 12 years ago

I am not so impressed by your post, M eXchange. You write exactly like all those who comments on those films´errors or faults. It seems you let a few problems "Bibi Dahl" let you screw a whole film (For Your Eyes Only). I mean, Bond never went there with Bibi Dahl? She´s just young and silly, and now the whole film stinks?

You are just copying your opinions from others, I suspect, and become totally blinded by it when you watch Bondfilms. A Bond film MUST look and act in a certain way, I suspect you believe. I petty you, because you have not yet discover the magical qualities of the films you just dissed, and the rest of the franchise as well. Wait a, ten or so years and you will have the experience to fill in the rest of my post here!

All Bondfilms are different and varied, and they are soo full of fun and excitement. Why shall I and thousand others love the Bondfilms soo much, and you, poor you, are not with us? Sad! :(

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[–] BoSoxRule 11 years ago

You liked the atrocious Lynn-Holly Johnson in FYEO?

I'm happiest...in the saddle.

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[–] Wuchak (8858) 6 years ago

I'm going to go with yet another Roger Moore crap fest one this one: For Your Eyes Only. Although I like Lynn-Holly Johnson in it and it's well-written, the creepiness factor alone is enough to earn this ranking. I'm the biggest proponent of "age is just a number," but not when you look like you're your girlfriend's grandfather... 30 year difference (violent shudder)

Teen girls often have crushes on older men and even more so if they're (1.) handsome, (2.) wealthy, (3.) intelligent & witty, (4.) suave and (5.) can kick total axx when necessary. So it makes sense that Bibi would have the hots for James. How exactly is that "creepy"?

And it's definitely not creepy on Bond's end since he never came on to Bibi nor gave-in to her outright advances. There wasn't the slightest sign that he wanted to have sex with her, although he said he'd take her for ice cream (lol).

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[–] ActionJunkie007 12 years ago

Maybe its just me, but my top 5 "worst" are typically known as the "best":

1.From Russia With Love
2.On Her Majesty's Secret Service
3.Skyfall
4.Dr. No
5.For Your Eyes Only

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[–] danmj2 12 years ago

Really, From Russia With Love, I thought that one was one of the best.

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[–] TheSolarSailor 12 years ago

Really, From Russia With Love, I thought that one was one of the best. >>> Keep in mind that one of his favorites is Die Another Day. And no, I am not joking.

- - - - - - -
Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

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[–] danmj2 12 years ago

got you.

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[–] ActionJunkie007 12 years ago

"And no, I am not joking."

Bond Elitists are, without a doubt, the most snobbish, pretentious, and arrogant "fans" , probably of any series out there. They really turn discussing EVERY film in the series into a bad experience, but hey, as long as they get to prove their superiority, I guess it works out in the end...

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[–] psychocosmic-1 12 years ago

its fun to see how different our opinions are. Its not enough how different the films are...
:)

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[–] ActionJunkie007 12 years ago

What did you like most about it? IMO, its just really drawn out, slow moving, and never really has any peaks of excitement or intensity. I do like a few scenes in it, but Connery has better films that easily rank higher and offer much more than FRWL.

Also, are your "worst" bond films ranked according to least enjoyable or simply ones you feel are lower quality? I see many "best" of lists that simply rank them according to how good a "film" they are, but when you actually talk to the poster about their favorites and the ones they watch the most, for some crazy reason, they seem to sit well below their "best" list. Does that make any sense to you? I just dont get that.

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[–] danmj2 12 years ago

I like FRWL because Connery's acting was really good in it. Also the filming and scenery were excellent. I really enjoyed seeing the Turkey secenes. It also has my favorite Bond girl (Daniela Bianchi) in it. And above all the fight scene with the two chicks. That was a classic.

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[–] Falconeer 12 years ago

Wow, are you kidding? You think THOSE are the WORST Bond Films? You really must have bad taste...

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] pkryder-1 10 years ago

From Russia With Love is universally regarded as one of the three or four BEST Bond films, along with Goldfinger, The Spy Who Loved Me, and Goldeneye. In my opinion, FRWL is the best Bond film ever.

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[–] CuriousCase007 9 years ago

I thought we had a lot in common with us backing the Brosnan films, but FRWL, OHMSS, SF, DN and FYEO are far from being the worst Bond films… Quite the opposite...

www.bondandbeyond.forummotion.com

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[–] ActionJunkie007 9 years ago

Well, Curious, that was 3 years ago, and I will say, my opinion has changed a bit!!! Like OHMSS and Skyfall are far from the worst, and Dr No is actually pretty enjoyable but still, it's just not one that gets a lot of replay value.

But sorry to say, FRWL and FYEO, they are still bottom of the list for me. They have great aspects to them but I would pretty much watch any Moore/Connery movie OVER those two, and definitely Dalton, Brosnan and Craig, which naturally makes them "the worst". But since all bond movies are pretty awesome, it's not a bad thing, but someone's gotta be on the bottom, ya know??

What are your bottom 5??

Oh I travel, a sort of licenced troubleshooter.

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[–] CuriousCase007 9 years ago

Ah should have checked the date. Still FYEO and FRWL near the bottom of anyone's ranking is blasphemy! ;)

My bottom five:

23. Diamonds Are Forever
22. Moonraker
21. Die Another Day
20. Live and Let Die
21. The Man With The Golden Gun

www.bondandbeyond.forummotion.com

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[–] ActionJunkie007 9 years ago

See, what I find most rewarding with fellow Broz supporters such as yourself is that it really falls in line with why I truly feel his films are the best! I believe his films straddle a perfect balance of fun, camp and serious espionage, that still falls in line with anyone who enjoys what I consider the more
grounded films in the franchise. I tend to lean a lil more on the other side of the spectrum , with your bottom 5 which all fall in my top ten, with two in the top five, die another day and diamonds are forever! Like diamonds, all time favorite Connery and the film of his I watch the most! And of course, die another day which is number 1! :)

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[–] CuriousCase007 9 years ago

Interestingly, FYEO is in my top 8 and FRWL is my top 2 Bond film.

But I agree about GE, TND and TWINE being a perfect balance of fun, camp and serious espionage. All those three are in my top 10.

While DAD is in my bottom 3, I still find plenty to enjoy in it - it's just a little disappointing for me because of what it could have been. But it has lots of colour and a sense of fun which is why I never skip out on it.

www.bondandbeyond.forummotion.com

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[–] ActionJunkie007 9 years ago

The thing that kills FYEO for me the most is the score. I really like Conti too as a composer and his "softer" melodies in the movie are fantastic, but that disco hangover stuff in the chase sequence and opening trailer just kill the excitement for me.

YES!!! Back in agreement as those three are also in my top 10. :)

DAD came at the height of my bond fandom, just being introduced to the series a year or two before, and it became a bonding experience for my brother and I. When DAD was being released, my brother took me to Downtown San Diego to see it in the big theater there, and the whole theater was dressed up like it was BOND MANIA! Icicles were on the ceiling, posters of all the characters huge and on every wall and every corridor!! It was surreal as the theater we saw it in was on the top floor, so seeing all that coming up as we rode the escalator made me giddy!! And lets face it, its an in your face, huge spectacle kind of bond so the theater was clapping, cheering, laughing as was I and finally,once the credits rolled, and DAD's remix theme plays, everyone was singing and dancing walking out of the theater and talking about what an amazing film it was. And of course, I agreed. And the most awesome thing? I still get all those great feelings when I watch it today so on top of it just being the most ridiculously entertaining film in the series, it also has such great nostalgia!!

Oh I travel, a sort of licenced troubleshooter.

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[–] Aeropacker 8 years ago

When I was a kid, Roger Moore was Bond and that was the first Bond I was introduced to - in A View To A Kill. So for me, I really like Moore's films. His approach to Bond is pretty campy, but it seems to stay consistent throughout his entire run. Moonraker and A View To A Kill are among my favorites Bonds, though they typically rank as the bottom of others' lists. Are they silly and over the top? Of course. Do they have bad acting from some of the supporting players? Check, though Moore is always good. Is Moore a bit too old to play Bond? For sure. But that seems to add to his charm for some reason. A View To A Kill also features some of the best music in the series - the theme song for sure, but also the score itself is outstanding and edgy. Love the wailing guitar action sequences! Plus, Tanya Roberts is a dreadful actress, but I can forgive her because she's just so damned beautiful in that role.

My two least favorite Bonds are Never Say Never Again and Diamonds Are Forever. Besides being really bland and featuring some of the worst performances in the entire series, the most disappointing aspect to me is how off Sean Connery is in both. To me, it appears that he is there for the paycheck and could care less about anything else - including his performance. That is so disappointing to me since I think his performances in at least the first four films are spectacular. He IS James Bond. What a shame he went out that way.

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[–] philwhite-411-828978 12 years ago

I am a huge bond fan and seen them all several times over, im stunned that ohmss and for your eyes only are in your top 5 worst! but i do kind of agree about from russia with love, the only thing i like about it is the face off and fight with robert shaw(a legend imo) but the rest of the film is overrated in my view. Now on the main topic i dont think there are 5 'bad' bond movies. There some average(octopussy) or bizzare(die another day) ones, but the only truly bad one is diamonds are forever, the setting, the girls, the plot,the villians and connerys performance are utter *beep* imo, the only good thing about was another flawless score and theme song by john barry...

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] psychocosmic-1 12 years ago

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER - classy, witty, surreal, non-serious, soft, mysterious, great dialogue, unique...

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[–] FridayOnElmStreet 12 years ago

1.Quantum of Solace
2.Diamonds Are Forever

The rest are great.

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[–] AudioQuest 12 years ago

1. Live And Let Die - Horrible, horrible, horrible.
2. Die Another Day
3. The World Is Not Enough
4. Tomorrow Never Dies
5. Goldeneye

Brosnan nearly destroyed the franchise, but Moore's first outing is a stinker of epic proportions.

What's a knockout like you doing in a computer-generated gin joint like this?

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[–] psychocosmic-1 12 years ago

1. Quantum - unwatchable
2. LIVE AND LET DIE - shameful, embarrassing, waist of good opportunities
3 TOMORROW - Great action nevertheless, NO charm, no soul, no love, characters with no inside..

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[–] FullLoader 12 years ago

1. Moonraker - Bond in space, really?
2. Diamonds Are Forever - Didn't find it interesting, weak Bond girl
3. Thunderball - Too many underwater scenes
4. Die Another Day - Too many gadgets
5. Quantum of Solace - Lacked excitement

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[–] Jarvio 12 years ago

The 5 worst IMO:
1 - Moonraker (6/10)
2 - Die Another Day (6/10)
3 - Thunderball (7/10)
4 - Tomorrow Never Dies (7/10)
5 - The World Is Not Enough (7/10)

And my 5 favourites:
1 - Live And Let Die (10/10)
2 - A View To A Kill (10/10)
3 - Octopussy (10/10)
4 - For Your Eyes Only (10/10)
5 - Skyfall (10/10)

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[–] OldGrayMare 12 years ago

1. Die Another Day
2. Moonraker
3. A View to a Kill
4. Tomorrow Never Dies
5. The Man with the Golden Gun

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[–] richard6 12 years ago

My five worst Bond films in no particular order would have to be; 1) Diamonds Are Forever, Connery appears uninterested, camp and starting to express his later career episodes of over the top self-importance. Apart from his early appearance as 007, I don`t even rate him as a actor. 2) Moonraker, apart from being an entertaining film, Bond in outer-space; really. Leave that to Star wars not a British spy film. 3) Die another day, the later Bond films went from bad to worse! Not Brosnan`s fault, bad casting and unexecuted potential scripts.4) Tomorrow Never Dies, another late 1990`s trash fair. 5) The Man With The Golden Gun, a load of babble from start to end.

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[–] vazic 12 years ago

Bottom five for me would be:

1. A View To A Kill
2. The Man With The Golden Gun
3. Moonraker
4. Die Another Day
5. Diamonds Are Forever

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[–] gza385 12 years ago

For me, same movies, but a different order:

The Man With The Golden Gun
Moonraker
Die Another Day
Diamonds Are Forever
A View To A Kill

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[–] LordBAElish (2015) 6 years ago

Die Another Day
Quantum of Solace
A View to a Kill
The Man With The Golden Gun
Diamonds are Forever

Close calls: Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, Octopussy

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