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-MR, the female Bond equal just became a thing and we know it's Bond who's going to become the alpha whose skills will save the day and she'll get captured, etc. Although Holly has more skills than Anya had, even if I don't buy she's a trained shuttle pilot on top of it all.
-SF, never bought the old agent thing. Of course he was shot and fell off a bridge, Bond isn't Wolverine, of course he's going to have some moments he's not his best. In NTTD, he's also been living off the grid for how long and his skills are never in question. In both films he's back to doing Bond things and we move on. NSNA also went that route.
-NTTD, well, they did it. I still like the idea they were bold enough to go for this opposed to the cheap double entendre with the girl at the end. Like or dislike, it got people talking about Bond.
The final two are vote are extremely tough as TWINE is my least favorite film and YOLT is one of the least-focused films that concentrates on everything but an effective story and throws in more than the kitchen sink, it throws in the kitchen as well.
With TWINE, I just couldn't believe they let Bond kind of play the fool, not seeing through her act and all that, playing the romantic protector and the whole junior high love triangle that came out of it. Well, Brosnan asked for this and here's what you get. I know a lot of fans who fall for that execution scene and I'm not saying it's not effective, it just doesn't make up for how it made Bond look from the beginning. TWINE seems like a dry run for the Craig era, like they had a lot of new and different ideas they weren't ready to take all the way in favor of keeping the formula in place.
So I go with YOLT Turning Japanese. While I give credit for actually using this bit of the book, when you consider everything else that was thrown out from it, it's just a big why bother? That operating theater thing is ridiculous with the all-female team clad in bikinis - what kind of budget does Tiger have for something like this? It's more fitting for a Matt Helm movie.
Then you consider the whole thing is for naught as there are 2 attempts on Bond by the ninja with the blade staff and the poison in the rafters guy anyway. Didn't anybody from SPECTRE get suspicious when neither of these guys reported back? In the book I believe they staged an elaborate crash for the one. So ultimately, one dive into the sea and the Japanese look is all gone anyway. Bring on the ninja gear, suction cups and explosive devices that must've been among the fishing gear for the oyster gathering they started out with that morning.
To the other academy members who have written in some other votes, thanks! It makes for a more interesting debate. :)
Bond is doubtfull from the start, but instead of discussing it with M he's just letting her come over to be taken to the tower. Nice little touch that, btw.
Because in my opinion, it's also a bad idea, it's not a missed opportunity to begin with and something that I know, we could all live without 😅
That's why I don't consider it in this list, the others have some potential in them (the female antagonist in TWINE, Bond's death in NTTD), I know that on paper, they're interesting, a good concept but poorly executed on screen, but I don't see any merits in Bond's Japanese disguise, it just serves no purpose, at least for me 😅, the only thing I'm seeing in it is, it's in the book, and even in the book, it doesn't makes sense either.
It's an implausible thing to think of putting a Caucasian (a Scottish/British one) in an Asian disguise a la Mickey Rooney in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'.
I think that's a good point! :)
Yellow face was a bad idea (thanks, Fleming), but I think that's why it appears in the movie, because it's outlandish.
It's the kind of thing you'd leave out in an adaptation but...
I think there is an opportunity for Bond to go deep undercover. Which we really haven't seen since OHMSS. Even then it was gimmicky by having another actor dubbing over Laz. I think having Bond in a deep undercover could bring some tension. I remember the book of OHMSS had this wonderful element of suspense as Bond was un-armed and without a way to contact help. Something like that would be nice to see in the future.
Please forgive me if it's been interpreted as I am condoning Bond going "yellow face". It was an awkward moment of the film for me.
You're forgetting ltk. One of the best films regarding actual spy-work.
I disagree btw that it was a bad idea in the novel, there it's wonderfully executed and it serves a purpose. Bond isn't an assassin at all. And in 1950ties Japan, a 6 ft Brit would stand out for miles and miles. That's why the fisherman story works, there.
I never liked the Japanese disguise but it's not because of political correctness. It was just silly.
Seconded. Also, a six-foot person looking like Sean Connery trying to look Japanese would also have stood out for miles and miles.
Reasonable 😅, but logically, it wouldn't work and it couldn't.
The Japanese makeup just couldn't work, I don't know why Fleming thought of that? Cashing in more to the Japanese culture or what? Even Bond's dubbing in OHMSS, if applied with logic, could be reasonable, especially given that Bond done a lot of research prior to disguising as Hillary Bray and he could use some voice impersonation training, but the Japanese disguise just doesn't serve any purpose.
If that works, then Colonel Tan-Sun Moon should've done it in DAD to be a Caucasian (Gustav Graves) instead of some DNA, genetic scientific replacement nonsense 😅, and here comes EON, simply debunking themselves.
Yeah, I think that's why the Peter Franks thing worked better. If they had put a fake beard on him they would have ruined the whole thing.
Gosh, I don't.
Three, if you count DAF. Okay, he only assumes a different identity, but still.
+1. I understand Bond needed to infiltrate the village but sheesh it makes no practical sense in the novel.
If it were something like: Bond needed to hide out at Kissy's like a safe house until he could get to Blofeld, and kill whoever saw him (friend or foe) to maintain his cover, that would be more spy-like, and believable.
I always find the part in the book where Bunt immediately recognises Bond quite funny. It’s played up a bit as surprise, but effectively she says that’s clearly Bond.
Same for some fans trying to justify Blofeld in OHMSS not recognising Bond by saying he was in Japanese make up in YOLT. Even if that were true (it’s not) it’s not exactly a deceptive disguise.
Thanks, I enjoy these threads as they get me thinking about the movies in fresh ways.
Well, I'm one of these fans. It's not well executed in the previous movie, but obviously it's a Watsonian explanation: in universe the disguise worked, even though out of universe, for the viewers it did not.
First bit of business to those who are new here, we will have a category and the academy will get five nominees. You will then select who deserves the Bondy (good trophy) or a Klebbie (bad trophy). You can take it seriously write in detail why you chose your vote or merely state your selection. After a bit of time I will tally up our results and voila an award to be handed out.
Now to finish off our year of voting! LOL!
The Klebbie for "good idea, bad execution" the award goes to....turning Japanese from YOLT this nomination received 8 votes from the academy.
Other nominees included 4 votes for killing off Bond in NTTD, female antagonist received 1 vote and a couple of write in votes for the character of Sacramanga from TMWTGG.
On to our next award and for this one we are turning to a Bondy! As Bond is known as a fashion plate, so too have the evil villains looking to end him. So lets celebrate the best dressed Bond villain.
The nominees are:
Signature Look: Pristine, ivory‑white dinner jacket with black bow tie.
Style Notes: Every element is razor‑sharp—just like his marksmanship. The white suit sets him apart as a meticulous professional who moves in the world like a ghost, while the gold accents (cufflinks, pistol grip, even his tie pin) signal both his lethal precision and obsession with luxury.
Signature Look: Dark three‑piece suits with subtle pinstripes or micro‑checks, perfectly pressed shirts, and slim ties.
Style Notes: A high‑stakes gambler needs clothing that conveys quiet power and control. His muted palettes speak to a man who hides pain behind a mask of elegance, while impeccably tailored shoulders and narrow lapels echo his poker‑faced precision at the table.
Signature Look: Sharp, timeless cuts echo his obsession with gold and perfection, while golf attire ties directly to his most iconic scenes.
Style Notes: Tailored brown flannel suits, crisp white shirts, and slender black ties—plus his trademark golf ensembles: argyle sweaters over slacks and flat caps. Classic 1960s “corporate tycoon” style conveys both wealth and authority.
Signature Look: Sleek, charcoal wool overcoat worn over black tactical knitwear. gloves.
Style Notes: Silva’s wardrobe fuses high‑fashion minimalism with avant‑garde edge. The overcoat’s clean lines and dark shades underscore his controlled menace, a perfect mirror of his tech‑terrorist persona.
Signature Look: Simple, tailored turtleneck or Nehru‑collar jacket—often in muted tones like charcoal or slate.
Style Notes: Understated but unmistakable, Blofeld’s minimalist silhouettes convey supreme authority and unflappable composure. The high collars cocoon his character in secrecy, while the monochrome palette echoes his monolithic, single‑minded pursuit of power.
Who are you awarding best dressed to, feel free to write in votes for your favourite if they aren't here with the top five.
Can’t believe it’s been a year since we last were giving out a Bondie! Great to have the game back.