ROTTEN TOMATOES: Total Recall: James Bond Countdown -- Find Out Where Quantum of Solace Fits In!

Total Recall: James Bond Countdown -- Find Out Where Quantum of Solace Fits In!

by Tim Ryan

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74% More info...	9. For Your Eyes Only (74%) The Roger Moore-era Bonds had an uneven history: when they went for laughs, they tended to be less successful. However, when they played things (relatively) straight, they were on firmer ground, as is the case with For Your Eyes Only. Bond is off to Greece to find a system that controls British submarines (and their missiles) after one of the fleet has mysteriously sunk. Along the way, he meets a beautiful Melina Havelock (Carole Bouquet), whose parents were killed after retrieving the system and is out for revenge. Sure, it's a formulaic outing, but the Bond films perfected the formula, and Moore is relaxed and droll throughout. "For Your Eyes Only keeps the James Bond tradition in good form," wrote Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat in Spirituality and Practice.

79% More info...	8. GoldenEye (79%) Six years removed from the solid-but-little-loved Timothy Dalton era, GoldenEye introduced Pierce Brosnan as 007. It was an inspired choice; Brosnan had the debonair look, the droll sense of humor, and right amount of urgency needed to play Bond. Better still, GoldenEye was an excellent update for the series -- high-tech, action-packed, modish, and urbane. The collapse of the Soviet Union has created new challenges for Bond, who is tasked with thwarting Russian mobsters (and a former MI6 ally of Bond's) in their attempt to control the globe's financial markets. GoldenEye may not the best-plotted Bond flick, but by placing the spy in a modern context, it made him relevant again, and skipped over some of the franchise's outdated mores. "Among the better of the [Bond movies] and, perhaps more important for today's audience, a dynamic action entry in its own right, this first 007 adventure in six years breathes fresh creative and commercial life into the [series]," wrote Todd McCarthy in Variety.

81% More info...	7. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (81%) By 1967, Sean Connery had tired of playing James Bond. He wanted to branch out, and starred in Alfred Hitchcock's underrated psychological thriller Marnie and Sidney Lumet's war drama The Hill. Producer Albert Broccoli needed a new 007, and after considering such future Bonds as Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton, settled on the unknown Australian actor George Lazenby for On Her Majesty's Secret Service. OHMSS finds bond battling Blofeld (Telly Savalas) once again, this time at the super-villain's lair in the Swiss Alps, where he's planning to ransom world governments with the threat of destroying the earth's agriculture. Lazenby's tenure may have been short-lived (and oft-maligned), but OHMSS is a fine entry in the series, featuring one of the most intriguing Bond girls in Tracy di Vincenzo (Diana Rigg), breathtaking visuals, some great ski chases, and a key piece of character development. "Ditching flash in favor of character development, this stylish and energetic entry is one of the best films in the series," wrote Channel Four Film. "Lazenby woz robbed."

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(1-20 of 48 posts) | Reply

troyman21 writes:
on Nov 12 2008 06:01 PM

The list seems just right. I really can't complain about how everything is arranged...

(Reply to this)

Speaker for the Films writes:
on Nov 12 2008 06:28 PM

If we were to include Solace now, it would be number #10. I think that's pretty good(but let's hope for better!)

(Reply to this)

J S. writes:
on Nov 12 2008 06:32 PM

Die another Day rated higher than The World is not Enough and Tomorrow Never Dies? WTF? Oh well..

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Maet writes:
on Nov 12 2008 07:00 PM

Die Another Day was terrible. Both Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough deserve to be above Die Another Day (even if it's as simple as thrusting it to the bottom of the list).

This list goes to show that Bond movies are evaluated through a different standard. Using my previous example, Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough are superior action movies, but not superior Bond movies.

Also, On Her Majesty's Secret Service would've easily been number one if Sean Connery were Bond.

(Reply to this)

dunross writes:
on Nov 12 2008 07:32 PM

Connery is the definitive Bond but some of the movies, Twice and Diamonds specifically, are way overrated. If anyone had starred in them, they would have been at the bottom. It is Connery bias if you will.

Brosnan's are broadly underrated. Tommorow is better than listed and Goldneye should be near the top.

Casino Royale will ultimately be seen as the best of this list with Russia closely on its heals.

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jason h. writes:
on Nov 12 2008 07:49 PM

die another day deserves to be at the bottom of this list, just awful. what were they thinking?

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Brett M. writes:
on Nov 12 2008 07:51 PM

Tomorrow Never Dies should be right beneath Goldeneye at #9. Diamonds are Forever should be at the bottom. Other than that, the list is fine.

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Jimbo93 writes:
on Nov 12 2008 08:01 PM

I feel bad that I haven't seen any of the Connery Bond films (I know, I know), but I enjoy Brosnan a lot, and Goldeneye and World are 2 of my favorites. Casino Royale is also very good. I really want to see Dr. No, Secret Service, Russia, Goldfinger and the Dalton films.

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idratherbe8587 writes:
on Nov 12 2008 08:19 PM

I think it's strange to put Dr. No as #1. I think its good... but I don't think the franchise had evolved into its full potential yet. I would prefer Goldfinger in the top spot.

Also, Die Another Day and DIamonds Are Forever should be lower. Tomorrow Never Dies and On Her Majesty's Secret Service, higher.

But overall, its pretty accurate.

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sean k. writes:
on Nov 12 2008 08:20 PM

Honestly, Casino Royale is one of the three best Bond movies. It's significance to the series is on par with any other Bond film (if it wasn't a success, the series may have been done), it is an excellent film in its own right, and it seamlessly incorporates the rich Bond history with relevant personal and contemporary themes. Many of the other Bond films, though they may have higher ratings, simply do not hold up to re-examination. Casino should be higher.

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ledawg1138 writes:
on Nov 12 2008 09:00 PM

My favorite is Casino Royale. And I like From Russia with Love, but it's a little overated. Okay list.

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Paul C. writes:
on Nov 13 2008 12:29 AM

Live and Let Die below Diamonds? Moonraker so high? Goldeneye so low? Die Another Day so high? There are a few strange positions. It shows how reviews and opinions develop and change with time. If this list was redone now it would look very different. We need Ryan's list from Bonding with Bond!!!!!

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Max R. writes:
on Nov 13 2008 12:59 AM

Wat the hell is this list??!! Some kind of homage to Sean Connery? Don't get me wrong I think that Sean was 1 of the best to play 007 but lets be a lil more objective please!
How could they rate License to kill so highly? I slept everytime I tried to watch the movie for heaven's sake! Dalton in Living Daylights was much better License should be somewhere at the bottom.
And to yall who think Die Another Day aint so good. Please tell me which other Bond movie had Bond in such a tight corner? Die for me had the best of all that is Bond.
Bond movies are not just about the possible or even the plausible Bond movies are supposed to be so fantastic u hold breath throughout the movie.

(Reply to this)

Max R. writes:
on Nov 13 2008 01:00 AM

Wat the hell is this list??!! Some kind of homage to Sean Connery? Don't get me wrong I think that Sean was 1 of the best to play 007 but lets be a lil more objective please!
How could they rate License to kill so highly? I slept everytime I tried to watch the movie for heaven's sake! Dalton in Living Daylights was much better License should be somewhere at the bottom.
And to yall who think Die Another Day aint so good. Please tell me which other Bond movie had Bond in such a tight corner? Die for me had the best of all that is Bond.
Bond movies are not just about the possible or even the plausible Bond movies are supposed to be so fantastic u hold breath throughout the movie.

(Reply to this)

martinscorsese25 writes:
on Nov 13 2008 06:23 AM

3 of Moore's bond films is all at the bottom 4! HA!

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Shatter24 writes:
on Nov 13 2008 08:10 AM

A straight rotten tomato-meter isn't particularly fair. The Bond films of yesteryear had little competition, whereas today they have to compete with everything else. Connery's Bond films may have been great at their time according to critics, but to have the first four Connery films in the top 5 feels disengenious.

Also, there hasn't been enough time for Casino Royale's impact to fully sink in. Whether it will fall out of the top 5 or closer to number one will be determined after closer examination and after a few more years.

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Dark Knight jr. writes:
on Nov 13 2008 09:35 AM

Wow... I'm intrigued.

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tgibfo writes:
on Nov 13 2008 11:08 AM

Good list. And though I know it's all by Tomatometer, I'm appalled that DIE ANOTHER DAY wasn't LAST on the list. I enjoyed the original CASINO ROYALE more.

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John N. writes:
on Nov 13 2008 11:39 AM

In reply to this comment (#2126607)
I sincerely expected Die Another Day to be way down on the list but I guess having a villain with Diamonds in his face is bad *** enough to keep the film afloat.

(Reply to this)

Nielsen700 kostreet writes:
on Nov 13 2008 12:09 PM

GoldenEye was a little too high. BTW, I actually thought Die Another Day was the best Pierce Brosnan Bond.

(Reply to this)

9. For Your Eyes Only (74%)

8. GoldenEye (79%)

7. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (81%)

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