Today is the birthday of Ian Fleming! You Don't know who Ian Fleming is? Then your dead to me.
Okay, not really. He is the author of the 007 James Bond Spy Novel Series that was then made into what is probably the best film trilogy there ever was. I am a huge bond nerd. I mean, who isn't? James Bond films are the best. True cinematic classics. I decided to take this time to show my appreciation for bond today in this post.
So who are the actors that portrayed James Bond?
From L to R:
Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig
Who is the best?
Connery hands down. Suave, Smooth, British, and Bad Ass.
I also made a list of my top 10 favorite bond films. Many people say its a matter of opinion, but its not. because I'm right.
#10 GOLDENEYE- 1995
Bond- Pierce Brosnan
Number 10 of my list is the 17th bond film Goldeneye. This was Pierce Brosnan's first spin at playing the man of the hour and Judi Dench's first crack at playing his boss, M (both were marvelous successes). The first adventure not based on the writings of Ian Fleming, It revolved around Bond preventing a former double O agent from using a satellite weapon to create a global financial meltdown. It is tense, thrilling, and has an action packed ending.
#9 FOR YOUR EYES ONLY- 1981
Bond- Roger Moore
The 5th film Roger Moore stars in as James Bond, It had the secret agent seek a lost mission command computer with a love interest accompanying him to avenge the murder of her parents. After Moores 4th film "Moonraker" which was flat out cartoonish and hard to take seriously, this film grounded Bond in a much more terrestrial, gritty and realistic adventure. This film has more of an emphasis on romance rather then action, but overall an entertaining film.
Bond- Roger Moore
Roger Moore in top form in what many consider to be the strongest of his bond films. Here is the story of a megalomaniac who plans on obliterating the world and creating a new civilization under the sea. Bond joins forces with a Russian spy and they run into one of the most iconic bond villains, Jaws, a 6 foot 7 mass of muscle with metal teeth who kills with his bite.
#7 THUNDERBALL- 1965
Bond- Sean Connery
One of the most iconic bond battles ever debuted in this Connery classic. Emilio Largo, one of SPRECTRE's elite members, leads a plot and hijacks two warheads from a NATO plane and theatens widespread nuclear destruction to extort 100 million pounds. The movie is often criticized for often being too long and at times too slow. But if anything, watch for the incredible underwater battle scene.
#6 YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE- 1967
Bond- Sean Connery
Finally Bond meets face to face the villian of all villains, Blofeld. Shot in the beautiful mountains of Japan, Bond goes to Japan to investigate missing American and Russian aircrafts that go missing during the Cold War (they found one landed in the Sea of Japan). Bond gets transformed into a Japanese man, gets trained as a ninja and discovers Blofelds secret volcanic layer where SPECTRE has been hijacking planes in order to provoke a nuclear war.
#5 DR. NO- 1962
Bond- Sean Connery
The first ever film appearance of 007. No, it might no be as thrilling or intense as all the others, but theres no denying a classic such as this. There is a great story line, the start of all the funny bond humor and some fine acting on display.
#4 CASINO ROYALE- 2006
Bond- Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig's first try as being the big man. Casino Royale was the first bond adventure that Ian Fleming wrote and, in my opinion, the most interesting read. High tensions rise when risk takers bet it all in a very expensive card game, the villain expects to win and take home the loot that he owes, but things don't turn out as planned. I also thought it showed Bond with emotion. After his love is killed he hands in his resignation to his boss, showing a little human in him. But, to no prevail, at the end of the movie bond goes back in action and seeks revenge for the death of his lover. A very entertaining 007 flick.
#3 SKYFALL- 2012
Bond- Daniel Craig
Next is what I would consider one the more darker bond films. Created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the James Bond franchise, Skyfall is beautifully shot and has some incredible action scenes. Elements of the film were borrowed from previous films (such as the iconic Astro Martin BD5) but did so intelligently, with unexpected twists and beautiful cinematography. It also dove in the past and childhood of James Bond and featured some phenomenal performances, particularly Javier Bardrem's psychopathic maniac of a villain.
#2 FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE- 1963
Bond- Sean Connery
The second film of the series, it introduced many of the refined elements of the bond we know and love, including the post-intro music video. A cold war thriller, it has bond travel through rendezvous with a Russian turn coat to seek a decoding device and being targeted for assassination by SPECTRE. The whole thing is brilliant. With the latter part of the film being confined to the Orient Express it kept the action and suspense unusually intimate.
#1 GOLDFINGER- 1964
Bond- Sean Connery
This is the time capsule Bond movie, the one that explains to future generations why we've been obsessed for 50 years and counting with British agent 007. In his third go-round in the role, Sean Connery is danger and sexual swagger incarnate, wearing a tux under his wetsuit and ordering a martini "shaken, not stirred." Indelible images include Shirley Eaton's death by gilded body paint, Honor Blackman's innuendo as flygirl Pussy Galore, Harold Sakata's lethal aim as the hat-throwing Oddjob and Gert Frobe's master villainy as Auric Goldfinger (he's out to rob Fort Knox). "Do you expect me to talk?" an anxious Bond asks after Goldfinger straps him to a table with a laser heading right to his crotch. "No, Mr. Bond," comes the classic reply. "I expect you die." And how about the gadget-loaded Aston-Martin, the Shirley Bassey title song, and the stylish way director Guy Hamilton delivers the whole Bond package? Its bloody brilliant.
Enjoy Bond Day fellow reader!
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