2003CC: James Bond
- From Russia with Love (63): *****
- Goldfinger (64): **** 1/2
- Dr. No (62): **** 1/2
- Diamonds Are Forever (71): ****
- GoldenEye (95): *** 1/2
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service (69): *** 1/2
- You Only Live Twice (67): *** 1/2
- The Living Daylights (87): ***
- For Your Eyes Only (81): ***
- License to Kill (89): ***
- Thunderball (65): ***
- The Man with the Golden Gun (74): ***
- Never Say Never Again (83): ***
- The Spy Who Loved Me (77): ***
- Tomorrow Never Dies (97): ***
- The World is Not Enough (99): ** 1/2
- Live and Let Die (73): ** 1/2
- Moonraker (79): ** 1/2
- Octopussy (83): ** 1/2
- A View to a Kill (85): ** 1/2
- Casino Royale (67): **
This is a new entry in an up-dated series I'm calling the New Critical Consensus. Several people have requested updates of the older series, and since critical opinions shift, I am revamping the entire system. I am averaging the opinions of several excellent film critics to produce a list of each director's movies. Rather than using a number system, which was perhaps a bit clunky, I will now be using a five-star system. The films will be listed in a recommended viewing order, so new fans will have an idea of where the best place to start watching a director's work is.
These are not my opinions, although, since I have chosen the critics used (and I'm using many), my taste will perhaps seep through a bit.
Terribly nerdy, I know, but maybe this will help people only now beginning to dabble into certain artists' bodies of work.
Scale:
***** - Masterpiece
**** 1/2 - Classic
**** - Great
*** 1/2 - Good
*** - Above Average
** 1/2 - Average
** - Below Average
* 1/2 - Bad
* - Terrible
1/2 - One of the worst films ever
Really! Well, that's surprising. I always thought that "Goldfinger" was the most critically acclaimed Bond movie.
I really should brush up on my James Bond. I've only seen "Dr. No", the latest two Bonds (TWINE and DAD), and of course, the comedic Bond, "Casino Royale." How cool would it be to watch all of these in order? I've already got "Dr. No" under my belt...
I think the tide is turning here. Last time I constructed a list like this, From Russia with Love and Goldfinger tied with **** 1/2. So perhaps it is the appreciation for Russia that is increasing and not the esteem for Goldfinger that is deflating. Or, maybe, both.
I still don't think any critic would argue with the fact that Goldfinger set the mold. I think what is subtly shifting somewhat is how excited critics are with the mold. The top four films all were before the formula set or broke with the formula to some degree. To a point, that is also somewhat true of the *** 1/2 ranked films.
Me, I think Moonraker is still over-rated (I hate that 'film') and Never Say Never Again and License to Kill are under-rated, but hey, I have another list for all that... :)
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs