The Best of Bond

Happy Birthday, James Bond! Or belated birthday, anyway. 2012 marked the 50th anniversary of James Bond movies. The first movie, Dr. No, debuted in 1962. MGM celebrated the anniversary by releasing the 23rd Bond film, Skyfall, and promoting a Blu-ray collection featuring the first 22 Bond movies. There will also be a celebration of James Bond at this year's Oscar ceremony. Rumor has it that all six James Bond actors will appear onstage together for the first time.

Although it's not nearly as spectacular as all that, the contributors here at DBtC want to pay tribute to the legend of James Bond in our own small way. Four of us have weighed in on our favorites from the franchise, including movies, Bond girls, theme songs, and villains. Enjoy!

Best Bond Movie

Evan's pick: From Russia With Love (1963)

More slowly paced and deliberate than the movies that followed, From Russia With Love is one of the most understated and realistic Bond movies. The story is credible, the characters are relatable, and the special effects are used sparingly until the climax. From Russia With Love introduced many elements to the James Bond formula, among them the pre-credit sequence and theme song. It also marked the first appearance of Q and Bond's nemesis Blofeld. Finally, From Russia With Love features of the most brutal and brilliantly choreographed fight scenes in the history of cinema.

Eyes Only.

Beth's pick: For Your Eyes Only (1981)

For Your Eyes Only is a classic James Bond movie. Featuring spectacular scenery, tense action sequences, and a believable romance, this film is the most memorable of the series. Additionally, though Roger Moore is not the top Bond, he seems the right fit for 007 in this story. Carole Bouquet is the heroine of this film, and though she could not speak English, she plays a believable daughter seeking revenge for her parents. From scuba diving to cliff scaling and more, this film has all the hallmarks of a good Bond movie and has stood the test of time.

Lizzie's pick: Casino Royale (2006)

Casino Royale leaves me feeling charmed, devastated and in love, every time. This may not be the traditional purpose of a Bond movie, but as you can see from my unconventional picks below, I am not that concerned with tradition. I am much more interested in how the Bond tradition is evolving - playing down the gadgets and sexism in favor of complex characters that appeal to a broader audience. Casino Royale was the first Bond movie I genuinely loved as a young woman. In explaining the genesis of Bond, it takes us on a journey of a super spy who turns out to be very much a human, with all of the beauty and flaws that entails.

Rob's pick: On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Lazenby stars in OHMSS.

Nobody does it better than . . . George Lazenby? Movie-wise, it's true. OHMSS gets my pick because unlike the rest of my picks which show the quintessential Bond, this film was the first to break the mold that had been so successful since Goldfinger. At its heart, it's a personal story. There is no world domination plot, no sexually suggestive names, no henchmen to be endlessly parodied in the future. James Bond falls in love. He doesn't go after Blofeld (Telly Savalas) because he's threatening the world. His demands are actually pretty low-key. He goes after Blofeld because Teresa di Vincenzo (Diana Rigg) isn't just the damsel in distress who Bond needs to end the film with near a body of water. She's the love of his life and he risks it all to save her, even Blofeld's reprisal against Great Britain. Directed by Peter Hunt, the editor on earlier Bond films, the film moves along at a brisk and engaging pace. Until Casino Royale (2006), it was the longest Bond film at 142 minutes. But unlike the bloated, overlong action films of today, you are never checking your watch to see how much time is left. Lazenby usually receives a bad reputation from Bond fans, however his grounded, emotional potrayal of Bond wasn't just Connery-lite. In fact I would argue elements of his portrayal still resonate in the later performances of Dalton, Bronsnan and Craig. Bond did have feelings, and the biggest problem I have with the rebooted franchise is that this tragic chapter is no longer an essential part of Bond's core. Even years later it still resonates in the character. Case in point, my buddy Evan's mention of that nightclub scene in The Spy Who Loved Me, owes its noteworthiness to this film. 


Best Bond Girl

Evan's pick: Barbara Bach (Anya Amasova)

I'm going to defy conventional wisdom and pick Barbara Bach, who plays James Bond's foil in The Spy Who Loved Me. Let's get the nasty business out of the way: Bach is gorgeous. But that's not what makes her so good. Her portrayal of KGB agent Triple-X is layered, nuanced, and genuine. This is a character torn in three directions, by her loyalty to her murdered lover, by her duty to her country, and by her physical attraction to Bond. The scene between Bach and Roger Moore in Max Kalba's club is a highlight.

Eva Green shines as Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale.

Beth's pick: Eva Green (Vesper Lynd)

Most of you know that Ian Fleming liked to give his female characters provocative, clever names (Pussy Galore, anyone?) At first glance most people might not notice that Vesper Lynd is meant to read like West Berlin-- a little joke from Fleming about the Cold War. Played by Eva Green, Lynd is a rare Bond girl. She is a strong woman, dedicated to her work, and an equal to Bond's ego and wit. Green's beauty is unparalleled, and she plays Lynd as an unforgettable character. The train scene between her and Bond is one of the all-time greats.

Lizzie's pick: Eva Green (Vesper Lynd)

As Beth mentions, Eva Green plays a rare Bond girl in Casino Royale, and one that feminists can truly embrace. Vesper Lynd is strong, beautiful, witty and vulnerable - a complex woman like most real women. The train scene is also one of my favorites, as Vesper demonstrates a wit and intuition equal to that of Bond, but there are so many others that evoke both pain and delight. If the train scene shows Vesper at her most sassy and arrogant, the shower scene reveals her innocence and vulnerability, and her quips throughout the movie make it a real treat. If I were James Bond, I would fall in love with her, too.

Bond attempts to seduce Pussy Galore.

Rob's pick: Honor Blackman (Pussy Galore)

No it's not just because of the name. Well that's certainly an essential part of it. Unlike the name, Ms. Galore is never a charicature. She never needs to be rescued by Bond. She didn't even like him for first couple of encounters. Bond's success in the film owes everything to Ms. Galore's timely intervention. She's an expert in judo, a crack pilot and one of the most beautfiul of all Bond girls (considering she's the second oldest in the history of the franchise, that's a bold statement). I watched The Avengers largely to see Honor Blackman as she made such an impression on me when I first saw Goldfinger. Could there have been more character development? Sure. Did Bond win her over pretty easily despite her earlier iciness? Most definitely. But for me Pussy Galore remains the best Bond girl if for nothing else than no one in my opinion has come close to matching her winning combination of beauty, physicality and attitude.


Best Bond Song

"Goldfinger" made Bassey famous.

Evan's pick: "Goldfinger" by Shirley Bassey

This is the signature Bond theme for a reason. It's sultry, it's poetic, and it's actually germane to the movie to which it belongs. Bassey's voice hits all the right notes, and the horns section fills in the blanks.

Beth's pick: "You Only Live Twice" by Nancy Sinatra

Nancy Sinatra, most famous for "These Boots Are Made for Walking" which is hardly an epic masterpiece of song, delivers a rare, stunning performance in You Only Live Twice. Iconic of the period, this song is still featured today (recently heard on an episode of Mad Men), and has an unforgettable melody.

Lizzie's pick: "Skyfall" by Adele

In "Skyfall," Adele has created a haunting song that matches a movie laced with fear, tragedy and nostalgia. Days after watching Skyfall for the first time, I found myself playing back Adele's lovely voice in my head as I recalled Bond's melancholy and defiance, his childhood home going up in flames: "I never liked this place anyway."

Rob's pick: "Goldfinger" by Shirley Bassey

It's not easy turning the title of a Bond film into a memorable (for quality and not for being laughable) theme. Goldfinger is what they all aspire to. Not only does it serve to introduce the character before he appears on the screen, the catchy lyrics work as a song in their own right. There's a reason Bassey is the only artist to record more than one (three total) Bond theme. Her powerful high notes and sultry voice are the microcosm of Bond at its best: powerful, seductive and a bit dangerous.


Best Bond Villain

Evan: Telly Savalas (Ernst Stavro Blofeld)

The ultimate portrayal of the ultimate Bond villain. Unlike other actors, Savalas makes his Blofeld truly menacing, a man of stature and grace who could become murderous at the drop of a hat. Blofeld is a worthy enemy to a super spy like James Bond -- he's resourceful, intelligent, egomaniacal, and ruthless.

The latest Bond villain, Raoul Silva.

Beth's pick: Javier Bardem (Raoul Silva)

In an effort not to pick Blofeld as the best Bond villain (though he probably is), I have opted for a more modern choice. The recent performance by Bardem as Mr. Silva, the broken, flamboyant and twisted former-MI6 agent, left me wondering if it might not be one of the best Bond villain performances ever. The interplay between Bond, M, and Silva is unique and the concept of a former-agent-turned-villain gives an interesting look into the character of MI6 agents and asks the obvious questions about Bond's own stability. Bardem's performance makes your skin crawl-- something every good villain should have.

Lizzie's pick: Javier Bardem (Raoul Silva) 

Javier Bardem has a knack for playing  villains, and he does not disappoint as Raoul Silva in Skyfall. While Silva's seemingly insurmountable shrewdness is  terrifying, he also manages to introduce welcome comic relief into the story. I found myself laughing out loud more than once during the movie, even as I felt darkness creeping into London and my own heart pounding. Silva also serves as a contrast to Bond, showing the evil Bond could succumb to if he had just a little bit less loyalty, humility or strength of character. 

Goldfinger taunts Bond.

Rob's pick: Gert Frobe (Auric Goldfinger)

Telly Savalas as Ernst Stavro Blofeld in OHMSS was a close second but this is the Bond villain to beat. Of course, James Bond will always win in the end. He's never going to be killed halfway through the film. But when Goldfinger has Bond strapped to a table and is ready to slice him in two with his handy laser, I still to this day can't help but feel the tension as Bond scrambles to find a way to save himself. He expected Bond to die, and I'm sure audiences back then may have thought it was a possibility. It's a testament to how Connery plays the scene, but Frobe's quiet intensity and seething vileness make Goldfinger a truly lethal Bond villain. Not that he's can't be charming entertaining his guests on his Kentucky stud farm or calmly relating his scheme to our hero over a mint julip. (That's a drink, Bond fans.) All this and he would have succeeded if not for the best Bond girl stepping in (see above).

Best Bond

Evan's pick: Sean Connery

The man who started it all, Sean Connery IS James Bond. He created the onscreen version of Bond, and mastered it long before anyone else attempted the same. Unlike other actors who played the role, Connery embraced everything that made Bond so attractive and so immoral. He was sexy, he was smooth, and he was deadly. But he was also aloof, unsympathetic, even cruel. And he killed in cold blood. Yet his violence was always under control. He could focus it against his enemies, his friends, even himself. From his very first scene in that casino in Dr. No, Connery disappeared into the persona of James Bond -- steely, seductive, and smugly self-confident. Nobody does it better.

Sean Connery in Dr. No.

Beth's pick: Sean Connery

This is one of those times where I have to really parce out my "favorite" Bond, from the "best" Bond. There's no question that Sean Connery is the greatest Bond. As Evan said, he "is" James Bond. Not only does Connery have the presence and gravitas that makes James Bond, but his accent, his charm, and his looks are quintessential. Without doubt, Craig is the second-best Bond, and in time I may switch my choice over to him, but I'm not prepared to say that Connery isn't still the greatest for the sole reason that I can't imagine James Bond having never been played by him.

Lizzie's pick: Daniel Craig

If Sean Connery IS Bond, then Daniel Craig is the new Bond, who far surpasses his predecessor in depth and humanity. I would argue that the two are completely different creatures - Connery, a cool but ultimately unsympathetic assassin- Craig, a raw but tender man who convincingly plays murderer and lover alike. Although I can understand how a traditionalist Bond fan might find my choice incomprehensible, I prefer the latter by leaps and bounds. It's not just Craig's "perfectly formed" you-know-what that makes his version of Bond unbearably alluring. It's also the way he kills, survives, loves and grieves - with all of his rough edges dressed up in a tux.

Daniel Craig in Skyfall.

Rob's pick: Sean Connery

There's no nostalgia creeping in here. Sean Connery is, and always will be, James Bond. He's how we measure every actor who has come after him. If other actors do develop different facets of the Bond character or "do more" with the character, we're still either directly or indirectly stating Connery is the definitive portrayal of Agent 007. It has become innate to characterize James Bond with Sean Connery's portrayal. He can be cold or charming. He can be intense or playful (usually with the women, or Q!) To the day whenever I hear the introduction of Bond, I always hear it as "Bond. (click) James Bond" and he casually closes his lighter halfway through. Not just the best introduction of Bond, but one of the best character introductions in the history of film. From that moment, Connery was imprinted on me as James Bond, and I don't see anyone unseating him no matter how many actors take on the role in the future.