During this down time, I've been thinking about my favorite 007 movies and I decided to rank them. I am including the bootleg Bond movie Never Say Never Again, but I'm not including the 1967 Casino Royale spoof movie or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which is technically a Bond film.
I didn't really start watching Bond films until the late 70's so I grew up with Roger Moore as Bond, but I have seen every movie multiple times. I appreciate what each of the actors who have taken the role have brought to the table. I love Connery's charisma and power. Lazenby did better than he is given credit for in his one installment. Moore and Brosnan were both good but usually kept their hands clean and relied heavily on gadgets and technology. Dalton was an angrier more brooding version of 007. Daniel Craig revitalized the character by showing a very inexperienced and unpolished Bond who has grown and matured over each installment.
I know many of you will scoff at some of the rankings on my list but it's just how I feel. Several years ago I wrote that I liked Die Another Day but after several viewings it has plummeted due to the invisible car and the windsurfing scene. I know that some of these are not the greatest films but many still have memorable stunts and action scenes so I can kind of turn a blind eye to their weaknesses.
| Casino Royale | 2006 |
| Golden Eye | 1995 |
| Skyfall | 2012 |
| Goldfinger | 1964 |
| From Russia with Love | 1963 |
| The Spy Who Loved Me | 1977 |
| Thunderball | 1965 |
| Dr. No | 1962 |
| For Your Eyes Only | 1981 |
| Man With The Golden Gun | 1974 |
| On Her Majesty's Secret Service | 1969 |
| The Living Daylights | 1987 |
| Live and Let Die | 1973 |
| Octopussy | 1983 |
| Licensed to Kill | 1989 |
| Moonraker | 1979 |
| Spectre | 2015 |
| Quantum of Solace | 2008 |
| Tomorrow Never Dies | 1997 |
| Diamonds Are Forever | 1971 |
| A View to A Kill | 1985 |
| You Only Live Twice | 1967 |
| The World is Not Enough | 1999 |
| Die Another Day | 2002 |
| Never Say Never Again* | 1983 |
There you have it. I look forward to November and hope the theaters are able to safely open soon. I also hope No Time to Die ends up with a ranking near the top of this list after I finally get to see it.
