Debut Bond films

[Skywalker]

In my honest opinion, I believe Casino Royale to be the weakest Bond entry for a new actor playing Bond. How do you rank the films?

1) LALD (BEST)
2) DN
3) GE
4) OHMSS
5) TLD
6) CR (WORST)

[Kristatos]

In my honest opinion, I believe Casino Royale to be the weakest Bond entry for a new actor playing Bond. How do you rank the films?

1) LALD (BEST)
2) DN
3) GE
4) OHMSS
5) TLD
6) CR (WORST)

It depends whether we're ranking them as films or purely judging the actors on their debuts. If it;'s the former, then my rankings stand in the order they appear on my personal Bond rankings in another thread. If we're judging the actors and the impact they made, then I rank them as follows:-

1) DN
2) LALD
3) TLD
4) GE
5) CR
6) OHMSS

Basically the same order I rank the Bond actors in, except LALD scores higher because, as I have said before, I consider it the most skillful "reboot" in the franchise's history, subtly signalling the new direction of the series without the viewer really noticing that's what they're doing (or at least not doing it in an intrusive way that pulls you out of the picture, like CR or, to a lesser extent, GE).

[Captain Nash]

1. Doctor No
2. The Living Daylights
3. Casino Royale
4. Live And Let Die
5. GoldenEye
6. On Her Majestys Secret Service

[Skywalker]

Quite interesting how we have all scored OHMSS so low. It's appreciation factor on MI6 is considerable. Criticising OHMSS on MI6 would get you blacklisted. I'd advise you to stay clear Kris, being as you obviously love OHMSS and CR so much.

[Kristatos]

Quite interesting how we have all scored OHMSS so low. It's appreciation factor on MI6 is considerable. Criticising OHMSS on MI6 would get you blacklisted. I'd advise you to stay clear Kris, being as you obviously love OHMSS and CR so much.

Well, as I said, I was judging it as a showcase for a new Bond, rather than on its overall merits as a film. On that basis it fails, since Lazenby's wooden performance is an albatross around the film's neck. I agree with the general consensus that if it had starred Connery instead of Lazerbeam, it would have been one of the best entries in the series. And no, Count Lippe, that doesn't mean I want to see another half-dozen fake "Sean Connery in OHMSS" posters, thank you very much

[Skywalker]

Quite interesting how we have all scored OHMSS so low. It's appreciation factor on MI6 is considerable. Criticising OHMSS on MI6 would get you blacklisted. I'd advise you to stay clear Kris, being as you obviously love OHMSS and CR so much.

Well, as I said, I was judging it as a showcase for a new Bond, rather than on its overall merits as a film. On that basis it fails, since Lazenby's wooden performance is an albatross around the film's neck. I agree with the general consensus that if it had starred Connery instead of Lazerbeam, it would have been one of the best entries in the series. And no, Count Lippe, that doesn't mean I want to see another half-dozen fake "Sean Connery in OHMSS" posters, thank you very much

GL is indeed an Oak. That said he did have some redeeming qualities that lift him above Craig.

Your Bond views are most definatly in the majority my friend, as are mine.

[Captain Nash]

Your Bond views are most definatly in the majority my friend, as are mine.

On this forum maybe, but I'm not so sure about the others.

[Necros]

As actor's showcase...

1) Dr. No
2) The Living Daylights
3) Live and let Die
4) Goldeneye
5) On her majesty secret service
6) Casino Royale

[Skywalker]

Your Bond views are most definatly in the majority my friend, as are mine.

On this forum maybe, but I'm not so sure about the others.

I meant to put minority (Honest).

[stockslivevan]

Dr No - Connery sealed the deal. 'Nuff said.
Casino Royale - Very impressive debut, Craig brings Bond back to being vicious.
The Living Daylights - Brought back the edge that was missing since Connery.
GoldenEye - A fine debut with good action, sadly Brosnan's best.
Live and Let Die - Moore is fine but didn't quite fit in yet.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Not a very good Bond, he's lucky the rest of the film is that great.

[Commander 0077]

Quite interesting how we have all scored OHMSS so low. It's appreciation factor on MI6 is considerable. Criticising OHMSS on MI6 would get you blacklisted. I'd advise you to stay clear Kris, being as you obviously love OHMSS and CR so much.

Well, as I said, I was judging it as a showcase for a new Bond, rather than on its overall merits as a film. On that basis it fails, since Lazenby's wooden performance is an albatross around the film's neck. I agree with the general consensus that if it had starred Connery instead of Lazerbeam, it would have been one of the best entries in the series. And no, Count Lippe, that doesn't mean I want to see another half-dozen fake "Sean Connery in OHMSS" posters, thank you very much

OHMSS is high on my list. Lazenby does a good job; while not a pro actor, I agree with director Peter Hunt. He saw a natural ability. He has a good physical presence. In better shape than Connery -- check the fight on the beach with the 'Wizard of Oz' type witchy music. The final scene with Tracy in his arms : I can't see Connery doing a better job. Bond has to be able to stand out from the crowd. Lazenby has this. Dalton has it. Brosnan has it. Moore had it in his earlier films. Don't have to mention Connery. Craig doesn't have it.

The guy playing Bond has to be able to walk into a mall, and without anyone knowing who he is, people notice him. Girls' pulses quicken. Guys look on in respect -- more so because they notice the girls' reaction.
This is the test that Lazenby passed in Cubby's office. Cubby said all the secretarys began fanning themselves (of course, Cubby may have jsut been doing PR )

If Connery had made it (OHMSS) in 1969, it's likely he would have put on a few more pounds after YOLT. He wasn't the fittest agent I've ever seen there nor in DAF, made just a few years later. Who knows, maybe he would've been outfitted with skis with jets or something. And a more serious DAF, with a revenge theme, would have made more sense with Lazenby.

On the minus side, Lazenby must have been extremely dumb in those days, to throw away Bond because he thought he would be receiving better offers I don't want a dummy playing Bond. To be fair, people make mistakes, and Lazenby admitted this in later years.

[James]

I think Lazenby and Dalton, who both struggle for respect, had the best two debut films.

[stockslivevan]

Are we going by performances of the actors or the films? If the latter:

1) OHMSS
2) DN
3) CR
4) TLD
5) GE
6) LALD