SPECTRE, aka, Bond 24

[Major Focker]

of course it's the DB5 at #1.

but my personal fave is the Volante.

still sore that a 1/18 of that was never produced while stuff like Halle Berry's Ford Thunderbird got licensed.

[myk]

Quantum was boring; what I'm reading about SPECTRE is that it's heavy on spectacle and light on character and depth (which is the opposite of what Craig's Bond has been). I'm torn on whether to see this in the theater or wait to get it from Netflix.

Not too heavy on spectacle, I concur with the statement about character and depth. But see it anyway...

[areaseven]

This list completely fails because of #8.

[Mommar]

This list completely fails because of #8.

Yup, #8 is absolutely the worst Bond theme ever. I remember when it came on in the theater. You could feel the disgust in the room.

[areaseven]

So severely disappointed that they chose that and excluded "You Know My Name".

Mark my word: WatchMojo will revise this list to include that Sam Smith song...

[Mommar]

So severely disappointed that they chose that and excluded "You Know My Name".

Mark my word: WatchMojo will revise this list to include that Sam Smith song...

Sam Smith is like Adele to me, someone with a great voice who has never sung a song I actually want to hear.

[renegadeleader1]

Sam Smith is like Adele to me, someone with a great voice who has never sung a song I actually want to hear.

I disagree about Sam Smith. After watching Spectre I still maintain that if you get any decent singer with some halfway decent bass in his voice Writing on the Wall becomes an instant all time classic Bond theme.

[areaseven]

'It's almost certain he will do one more outing as 007': James Bond bosses 'confident Daniel Craig WILL do fifth film'

[myk]

So severely disappointed that they chose that and excluded "You Know My Name".

Mark my word: WatchMojo will revise this list to include that Sam Smith song...

I love Cornell's song, but it was so unlike your typical Bond song that I can see why they excluded it...

[Dynaman]

Just read a rant on another site (CNN if anyone cares). In a nutshell the guy was upset that he went to see a James Bond movie and ended up seeing a James Bond movie... WHY do they allow such idiots to post things I do not know.

[Duke Togo]

Just read a rant on another site (CNN if anyone cares). In a nutshell the guy was upset that he went to see a James Bond movie and ended up seeing a James Bond movie... WHY do they allow such idiots to post things I do not know.

Define: a James Bond movie

[areaseven]

I love Cornell's song, but it was so unlike your typical Bond song that I can see why they excluded it...

And the Madonna song is?

[myk]

And the Madonna song is?

Refresh my memory, which one was that one?

[areaseven]

Refresh my memory, which one was that one?

[myk]

Oh...lol yeah that one. Well......again I'm a big fan of Cornell's work and the movie that followed it, but Madonna's song and accompanying video seem more like the traditional Bond introduction than Casino Royale's. Casino royale's introduction seemed like a great departure from all other Bond films, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is plainly different. Just my opinion....

[areaseven]

How many people has Bond killed over the past five decades? Here's a scoreboard by Auralnauts.

[Dynaman]

Define: a James Bond movie

My definition, take an Austin Powers movie and replace the jokes - you have a Bond film.

[areaseven]

Finally got to watch this tonight and this is what I have to say:

The cinematography is undeniably the best since Skyfall, with the single-camera opening gambit being the icing on the cake. The set locations are absolutely breathtaking. Thomas Newman once again hits a home run with an excellent musical score.

And now for the serious parts...

It's not as bad as the critics say, but SPECTRE tries too hard to outdo its predecessor. There are too many subplots that either remain unresolved or are completely unnecessary altogether. At the same time, it tries too hard to blend the edginess of a Daniel Craig film with every past James Bond 007 formula, from the slapstick side-comedy to the overly elaborate set designs.

We all wanted Christoph Waltz to be in the record books as one of the best Bond Villains of all time, but sadly, he ends up being the weakest portrayal of Ernst Stavro Blofeld (including that wheelchair-bound body double in For Your Eyes Only). There's also a lot of wasted potential with the Bond Girls. You expect Monica Bellucci to die like the past Bond Girls, but nothing happens after her 10 minutes of screen time. Léa Seydoux's character starts out strong, but quickly becomes the typical damsel in distress in the end for no logical reason.

And the plot - it's basically Captain America: The Winter Soldier without the superheroes. At the same time, it even rips off Austin Powers with the "brother" subplot.

The tragic part about this film is its true purpose: It's not to bring SPECTRE back into the James Bond 007 lore, but to bury it once and for all.

That being said, Kingsman: The Secret Service ends up being a better spy film, but SPECTRE is still an enjoyable James Bond 007 film - moreso than Quantum of Solace and Pierce Brosnan's last two Bond films. As for how it stacks up, here's my current ranking:

1. Goldfinger (1964)
2. Casino Royale (2006)
3. Skyfall (2012)
4. From Russia with Love (1963)
5. Dr. No (1962)
6. GoldenEye (1995)
7. The Spy who Loved Me (1977)
8. For Your Eyes Only (1981)
9. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
10. Thunderball (1965)
11. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
12. You Only Live Twice (1967)
13. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
14. Live and Let Die (1973)

15. SPECTRE (2015)
16. Octopussy (1983)
17. The Living Daylights (1987)
18. Licence to Kill (1989)
19. Quantum of Solace (2008)
20. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
21. Moonraker (1979)
22. A View to a Kill (1985)
23. Die Another Day (2002)
24. The World Is Not Enough (1999)

[Mommar]

Finally got to watch this tonight and this is what I have to say:

The cinematography is undeniably the best since Skyfall, with the single-camera opening gambit being the icing on the cake. The set locations are absolutely breathtaking. Thomas Newman once again hits a home run with an excellent musical score.

And now for the serious parts...

It's not as bad as the critics say, but SPECTRE tries too hard to outdo its predecessor. There are too many subplots that either remain unresolved or are completely unnecessary altogether. At the same time, it tries too hard to blend the edginess of a Daniel Craig film with every past James Bond 007 formula, from the slapstick side-comedy to the overly elaborate set designs.

We all wanted Christoph Waltz to be in the record books as one of the best Bond Villains of all time, but sadly, he ends up being the weakest portrayal of Ernst Stavro Blofeld (including that wheelchair-bound body double in For Your Eyes Only). There's also a lot of wasted potential with the Bond Girls. You expect Monica Bellucci to die like the past Bond Girls, but nothing happens after her 10 minutes of screen time. Léa Seydoux's character starts out strong, but quickly becomes the typical damsel in distress in the end for no logical reason.

And the plot - it's basically Captain America: The Winter Soldier without the superheroes. At the same time, it even rips off Austin Powers with the "brother" subplot.

The tragic part about this film is its true purpose: It's not to bring SPECTRE back into the James Bond 007 lore, but to bury it once and for all.

That being said, Kingsman: The Secret Service ends up being a better spy film, but SPECTRE is still an enjoyable James Bond 007 film - moreso than Quantum of Solace and Pierce Brosnan's last two Bond films. As for how it stacks up, here's my current ranking:

1. Goldfinger (1964)

2. Casino Royale (2006)

3. Skyfall (2012)

4. From Russia with Love (1963)

5. Dr. No (1962)

6. GoldenEye (1995)

7. The Spy who Loved Me (1977)

8. For Your Eyes Only (1981)

9. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

10. Thunderball (1965)

11. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

12. You Only Live Twice (1967)

13. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

14. Live and Let Die (1973)

15. SPECTRE (2015)

16. Octopussy (1983)

17. The Living Daylights (1987)

18. Licence to Kill (1989)

19. Quantum of Solace (2008)

20. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

21. Moonraker (1979)

22. A View to a Kill (1985)

23. Die Another Day (2002)

24. The World Is Not Enough (1999)

I completely disagree with this list, Die Another Day and The World Is Not Enough should be ranked 29 and 30 because they're guaranteed to be worse than some stuff that hasn't been made yet.

[mog_kupo]

Lol I always thought that The world is not enough was way better than Tomorrow never dies

And Skyfall was great, till the last act, the house with the traps was so lame

Edited November 9, 2015 by mog_kupo

[Dangard Ace]

Spectre was okay. Belluci was pointless, chemistry between Seydoux and Craig was imo not where it needed to be, and some of those fight scenes seemed like they were lifted straight out of a CoD game. At least no ones was scratching Bonds balls this time.

The fluffy white cat was great.

[The Shade]

I completely disagree with this list, Die Another Day and The World Is Not Enough should be ranked 29 and 30 because they're guaranteed to be worse than some stuff that hasn't been made yet.

I completely agree with you 100% on this comment.

[areaseven]

I completely disagree with this list, Die Another Day and The World Is Not Enough should be ranked 29 and 30 because they're guaranteed to be worse than some stuff that hasn't been made yet.

My bad. They should be ranked 99 and 100 instead.

Lol I always thought that The world is not enough was way better than Tomorrow never dies

And Skyfall was great, till the last act, the house with the traps was so lame

The World Is Not Enough is worse solely because of Denise Richards as a scientist.

[Mommar]

My bad. They should be ranked 99 and 100 instead.

The World Is Not Enough is worse solely because of Denise Richards as a scientist.

Are you saying that because she's a terrible actress and can't pull it off or because you don't think attractive women can be scientists?

[Black Valkyrie]

The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day are worst Bond movies in history. OHMSS is best bond movie, to bad about the actor though and second is Casino Royal.

[wm cheng]

I'd have to disagree, the Timothy Dalton movies have absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever and should be placed 99th and 100 with License to Kill at the bottom - I can't think of any worst Bond movie than that, even Never Say Never again isn't worst!

Back to Spectre, I was a bit disappointed, but Mendes can't film a decent ending! Just like how Skyfall derailed when they got to the ancestral home, Spectre falls apart in the 3rd Act. They should write the endings first and then work there way back other than "oh crap, we're running long, better end this thing..."

[Kelsain]

I still have a soft spot for The World is Not Enough - just cuz the theme song.

Shirley Manson...

Come to think of it, I think that was the last Bond movie I ever saw...

Edited November 10, 2015 by Kelsain

[myk]

Expand your horizons. Casino Royale is waiting for you...

[Dynaman]

Are you saying that because she's a terrible actress and can't pull it off or because you don't think attractive women can be scientists?

Just answering for myself, she CAN'T act.

[areaseven]

Just answering for myself, she CAN'T act.

THIS.

[jenius]

All of Charlie Sheen''s girls can act, Denise just chose the wrong genre.

[sketchley]

Just answering for myself, she CAN'T act.

Ditto.

[Kelsain]

Scientists can definitely be attractive! I know several and married one!

But Richards is cute, though.

[wm cheng]

But Richards is cute, though.

YES!

[areaseven]

Back to the topic of discussion:

Reasons why the SPECTRE organization failed in this film:

1. Poor buildup. Traditionally, the hero picks up all the little clues that lead him to the evil organization in the end of the film. Here, it's the other way around. Bond discovers SPECTRE from just a couple of clues shortly after the beginning of the film, then he has to pick up all the small clues to figure out their ulterior motives.

2. Blofeld and his motives. The mystique around Blofeld is what made him an iconic villain in the Connery & Lazenby eras. In From Russia with Love and Thunderball, we never saw his face; only his equally iconic white Persian cat. Regardless of who portrayed him from You Only Live Twice to Diamonds Are Forever, Blofeld still maintained a threatening and diabolical presence. Christoph Waltz, on the other hand, falls flat on these expectations right at the beginning. Having his version be the long-lost adoptive brother of Bond is simply a rip-off of the Austin Powers trilogy. And this subplot of him being the mastermind of the last three films just to target Bond makes no sense at all (maybe the first two, but Skyfall? I can understand if Blofeld bankrolled Silva's activities, but Silva always maintained that his target was the previous M, not Bond.). Oh yeah, now that he's captured, what next?

3. The Henchman. In front of every great villain was his trusty henchman - whether it's Oddjob from Goldfinger or Jaws from The Spy Who Loved Me. Batista as Mr. Hinx feels extremely forced, as if he was just shoehorned into the script for the sake of having a henchman. And his fight with Bond is the single most disappointing train fight on film.

4. The Secret Base. In the past, SPECTRE's bases (and those of other Bond villains) were completely hidden from satellites and almost completely impenetrable. A classic example is the volcano base in You Only Live Twice. SPECTRE's base in this film is hard to find, but not invisible to satellites. And while it took entire commando teams or carefully placed bombs to take down those other bases, all Bond needed for this one was his watch bomb and a couple of bullets to the gas mains.

I'll watch this again this week. to pick up on anything I missed.