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Ranking the Bond films from least to most sexist.

M16_CartM16_Cart Craig fanboy?
in Bond Movies Posts: 538
Being a long-running series, I want to note how it has evolved over time as societal standards have changed. It has overall made some progress, with some downward dips here and there, but despite criticisms of it objectifying women, I don't think most Bond films were any worse than their contemporaries.

Bond should never be a politically correct feminist, but he should always remain an old-fashioned traditional man, but some things should just plain be off limits. Promiscuity is fine, so long as women are more than just conquests. Bikinis are fine for the beach, but not well suited for disarming a nuclear reactor. Female characters shouldn't be given special treatment, but they should be characters with their own motivations and purposes.

Portraying women in traditionally feminine roles is not inherently misogynistic, and there should be a variety of both girly female leads and androgynous ones. It's a spectrum. Female leads don't have to be Bond's equal in every respect, but they shouldn't be his toys either.

Onto the tentative ranking:

Goldeneye
Judi Dench as M. A change in character for Moneypenny. Overall criticism for Bond's misogyny.

License to Kill
Pam Bouvier is tough as nails just like Bond. Bond, initially skeptical, treats her well.

Spectre
An old school romance done right. Casting Monica Belucci was a good choice as well. No problems.

The Spy Who Loved Me
Amasova is good overall, equally treated. No complaints.

Casino Royale
Dead mistress scene, but Vesper is an example of traditional femininity done right.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Tracy was well written and unique. Bond sleeping with mental patients is kinda awkward.

Octopussy
A female lead that's near Bond's age and isn't submissive. Not bad, but do Octopussy's clan of women need to be in bikinis in order to take down bad guys?

From Russia With Love
Tania is treated like crap by men, which does happen in the real world, but at least she's legit character.

Quantum of Solace
Camille as a non-sexualized female lead is great, but there was also Strawberry Fields.

Moonraker
Goodhead was a good character, but the name is crude even for Bond standards.

The World Is Not Enough
Elektra King is a well-written character with depth, strong and independent. But her backstory, because she's a woman, does involve submission toward men. Also, Denise Richards.

Tomorrow Never Dies
Wai Lin is a strong kick-ass companion. Dead mistress trope again though.

Die Another Day
Whatever.

For Your Eyes Only
About average, but the advertising poster for it was lame.

[/b]Skyfall[/b]
M has a big role. But Bond pursues a sex slave and Moneypenny gets demoted.

Goldfinger
Began the dead mistress trope of using dead women to fuel plots. Pussy Galore was fine, except the name.

The Living Daylights
Doesn't objectify women for the most part, but the scene where Bond takes off a woman's clothes to distract a guard was kind of disturbing.

Dr. No
Honey Ryder began the trend of the dumb blonde bikini girl. She's a 25 year old woman with the personality of a 4 year old. Not sexy

Thunderball
Bond blackmailing a woman for sex. Not good. Otherwise, average in this regard.

Diamonds Are Forever
Tiffany Case was a sex object, and the most shallowly written female lead in Connery's films.

A View to a Kill
Bond treats Stacey well, but she's still half his age and a dumb blonde.

You Only Live Twice
Aki was a good, but mostly women in this movie are sex objects.

Man with the Golden Gun
Another dumb blonde and a dead mistress.

Live and Let Die
Slops: Solitaire's value and purpose is dependent on her virginity, and she was tricked into losing it. Rosie Carver is supposed to be a CIA agent for god sakes!


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