[sub]The results of CBn survey of its members
to find the 50 greatest moments of
James Bond movies, books, and videogames[/sub]
Over the past couple of weeks, CBn has been running an online survey to try to establish what its members consider to be the "Best of Bond". Members were encouraged to PM me with their choice of top 3 Bond moments from the books, the films, the videogames - moments that typify Bond for them, or perhaps moments personal to them and standing out in their memories.
Thank you to everyone who voted: as it turns out, 49 suggestions had at least 2 votes, with a handful gathering one vote each. Where moments received an equal number of votes, the eventual order was achieved via a highly sophisticated flip of a coin.
I hope I've transcribed everyone's comments accurately into this run-through; I have not identified the voters but you're welcome to if you recognise yourself.
On a personal level, there's nothing here I can disagree with and, for purely selfish reasons, many of these selections remind me why I am a Bond fan in the first place.
Again, many thanks for taking part to those who did; for those who did not, enjoy anyway!
Anyway, on with places 10, 9, 8, 7, 6...
Jim
10
(7 votes)
“We have all the time in the world…”
Shotgun marriage. Bond analyses the Tracy/bullet interface “poorly”: OHMSS
“Tragic; humane. Moving. Brave to end like this but it had to.”
“Lazenby was a good Bond, whatever the reputation. Brings out Bond’s humanity more than any of the rest of them”
“You know it will happen each time you see it but they’ve been so good together that it’s still heartbreaking: anyone who says the Bond films are just soulless money machines has only seen the Brosnans – they haven’t see this.”
“Perhaps the most wasted opportunity of the whole series that they didn’t follow this up properly: as it stands, a really outstanding ending to a great film. What a downer!”
“Really sad. You don’t usually get emotion in a Bond film but when it happens it hits you. *Sniff*.”
“This will get loads of votes I’m sure so it’s not that original a choice but why try to be wacky and pick something from A View to a Kill or The World is not Enough when you have scenes like this to choose?”
“Best Bond film ever, ‘nuff said.”
9
(7 votes)
“You left this with Ferrara, I believe.”
Bond cures Locque’s vertigo: For Your Eyes Only
“You get these people who say Roger Moore was crap as Bond. You don’t have to listen to them.”
“Who says Roger Moore cannot be ruthless?”
“Definitive. Why is Moore at his best when throwing people from great heights?”
“Oh YES! The music sting is perfect and Moore is really cold.”
“Apparently Moore had doubts about doing this. But it’s a fantastic little scene: that “right” sort of instant justice the book Bond always went for.”
“Totally changed my view of Moore as Bond. Great stuff.”
“If you were wondering how they could recover from Moonraker, this shows you. Loads of CBners remind everyone that this film involves a talking parrot and sure, that is real dumb, but this is a standout moment for me.”
8
(7 votes)
“Red wine with fish…”
Bond and Grant swap recipes and fall out “a bit”: From Russia with Love
“One of those rare moments when Bond really is at a villain’s mercy, and the dialogue is great.”
“Even before the fight begins, we're treated to one of the most expertly scripted, directed, and acted scenes in the series, with Bond and Grant exchanging witticisms and insults before the fists (and teeth) fly. The fight itself is unrivaled, even today.”
“Doesn't get more "gritty" or "suspenseful" or "Fleming" than this - and BTW, I'm disregarding the fight that tops it all off (for me, this "moment" begins with the infamous "red wine with fish" dinner and ends with the explosive opening of the briefcase). Extra points for the now unintentionally hilarious classic line about a pretty sick collection of minds, which Connery delivers in a rather priceless way, doubtless without meaning to.”
“The exchange between Bond and Grant is just as stinging – if not as fatal – as the punch-up later. Really exciting scene, definitely a best moment.”
“Great fight aside, the film version is a splendid example of how to properly build suspense in a scene with a very satisfying payoff. It's also adapted and modified quite nicely from the book version which is equally suspenseful and satisfying. Overall, a nearly perfect job of adapting a novel to film.”
“Better than the book – the gun in the copy of War and Peace – I mean wtf? This is more complex too – the involvement of S.P.E.C.T.R.E double-crossing everyone. And the moment of revelation, the look on Connery’s face, the glee in Grant’s grin… ooh.”
“Because they bothered to write this one. And Bond exposes the villain because of his lack of etiquette - perfect.”
7
(7 votes)
“Can you swim…?”
The Lotus reveals its optional extras: The Spy who Loved Me
“I bet The Spy … is getting loads of votes for moments – it’s one of those films. My dad, who has probably seen all the Bond films now, wouldn’t be able to tell you all their names and no way any of their plots but he knows the moments and when I asked him for three, all three came from Spy. He didn’t know that, but it’s true!”
"Everything they knew about making James Bond films went into this chase and it shows."
“Mad car chase that just keeps cranking up the volume – bike then car then chopper – and you think they can’t go further – but being Bond, they do.”
“Bond has already dived off a precipice into nothing at the start of the film: here he does it again and (in my view) it’s the wilder stunt.”
"After the ordinary The Man with the Golden Gun, Eon went out of their way to show crazy stuff - metal toothed giants, huge spider bases, evil supertankers and then this car - total entertainment."
“The Lotus rising from the water and the fish joke – it’s classic Bond film Bond.”
“Pretty girl, prettier man, pretty locations, pretty car, pretty good.”
6
(8 votes)
“...No, Mr Bond. I expect you to die!”
But you can’t always get what you want: Goldfinger
“Iconic and terrifying while still funny. "Talk?" "Die!" etc. is also classic Bond, and shows the cocky (har har) Secret-Agent-Man somewhat out of his depths.”
“Dr No and From Russia with Love are good films but this is the first OTT standout moment. Blueprint and even though everyone knows it off by heart, still entertaining.”
“Hilarious. And given that all Goldfinger wants Bond to do is die, why he has him rigged up like this is anyone’s guess – but I think that’s the funniest bit of it.”
“Only in a Bond would a villain bother such an over-elaborate death. But this is why we watch and they know it.”
“You really think it’s going to happen. But it can’t happen. But it’s getting closer. And then it doesn’t happen. And then someone pops up and shoots him just when the audience and Bond are relaxing – fantastic direction and editing.”
“The best Bond villain, the best Bond film, the Best Bond. The Best.”
“…a classic… I prefer the German version with Gert Fröbe's original voice "Nein, Mister Bond, ich erwarte dass Sie sterben!" I think it was Michael Collins who did the dubbing - he never even came close. The voice was one of Fröbe's greatest features, and it's a shame that his English was insufficient in the producers eyes (ears, that is) - it worked pretty well in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (etc.)”
“Goldfinger’s an irritating film – lots of it is slow and it gets somewhat dull towards the end but there’s the Aston Martin chase and – even better – this scene, which I know everyone who isn’t a Bond fan remembers. Maybe that’s why Goldfinger is so popular after all.”
The Bond 50 - as voted for by you!, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6...
2 August 2006 - 19:50
8 August 2006 - 06:44
