Recommend a 1st Bond film to a Newbie to the Series

124

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  • SuperheroSithSuperheroSith SE London
    Posts: 578
    1. Goldfinger
    2. The Spy Who Loved Me
    3. GoldenEye
    4. Casino Royale
    5. The Living Daylights
    6. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    7. From Russia With Love
    8. Dr. No
    9. Licence To Kill
    10. Live And Let Die

  • SuperheroSithSuperheroSith SE London
    Posts: 578
    It seems like many who aren't Bond fans in the slightest have been drawn to theaters for Skyfall. Who knows how many new fans it has made.
    That's exactly how my mate got into Bond. He loved Skyfall, so I showed him all of them in order.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    edited October 2014 Posts: 17,687
    Birdleson wrote: »
    GOLDFINGER, no question. It hooked me (and many others) for life.
    I was 12 when I first saw GF on TV, and I was even more hooked than when I saw DAF (my first theatrical Bond) a year earlier.
    But kids today will find it excruciatingly slow IMO. I regretfully say, start them with CR...
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,328
    GoldenEye
    Casino Royale
    Skyfall
    Licence To Kill
    The Spy Who Loved Me
  • Posts: 7,653
    FRWL
    OHMSS
    FYEO
    GE
    CR
    He/she should watch these and decide which tone suits her/him best.
  • Goldfinger is the obvious choice.
    Personally, my first time there was a marathon on tv that showed the biggest film from each actor, bringing you through the evolution of the series:
    1. Goldfinger
    2. OHMSS
    3. TSWLM
    4. License to kill
    5. Goldeneye
    6. Casino Royale

    I'm a "the less campy the better" kind of fan, and this list pretty much skips over any of the crap thrown in the 70s and early 80s.
  • Posts: 2,400
    You know, really, I think I would actually recommend The Living Daylights. It's A: got Dalton, B: has all the elements of the first two Connery films, and C: got a more modern flair: it's aged extremely well and there's little in the film that would cause me to automatically go "this is definitely from the 80s". The action is all spectacular, too.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,687
    You know, really, I think I would actually recommend The Living Daylights.
    Can't argue with that!
    ;)
  • You know, really, I think I would actually recommend The Living Daylights. It's A: got Dalton, B: has all the elements of the first two Connery films, and C: got a more modern flair: it's aged extremely well and there's little in the film that would cause me to automatically go "this is definitely from the 80s". The action is all spectacular, too.

    Perhaps the best action in the series honestly. Up there with CR, GoldenEye, and a couple others.

  • Posts: 1,146
    I'd have them watch a Craig, then one of the Connerys and alternate so they learn to enjoy both.
  • Posts: 2,341
    Newbie should see two or three films as an intro. My nominations:
    DN
    TLD
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,328
    GoldenEye and Casino Royale
  • Posts: 3,336
    Goldfinger
    The spy who loved me
    Goldeneye
    Casino Royale
  • AceHoleAceHole Belgium, via Britain
    Posts: 1,727
    FRWL. Best script & screenplay in the series.
  • SzonanaSzonana Mexico
    Posts: 1,130
    I'd first start by showing them the most mainstream accesible film of each actor

    1 Dr No which is Bond's first adventure on the big screen and the iconic moment where Bond introduces himself for the very first time.

    2 On her Majesty's secret service which is the first change of actor and show them the only time Bond Married someone and the last time he officially loved a Bond girl.

    3 The spy who loved me which is the best film by Roger Moore very easy to understand and very enjoyable adventure

    4 The living daylights where we see a more edgy Bond but still keeping a few touches from the past.

    5 Goldeneye which is very fun,pretty hot Bond girls, some romance, an easy to get story and good action to keep him/ her entretained

    6 Casino Royale which is the true change of tone and has our most recent actor.

    Last I'd id fill the Blanks by going in chronological order
    From Russia with love - diamonds are forever
    From Live and let die- a view to kill( skeeping the spy who loved me )
    License to kill
    From Tomorrow never dies- die another day
    Quantum of Solace and skyfall
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    My ex wife's first film was DAD ..and she was hooked. Then she loved CR. She was going to take the kids and me to the opening night of SF but I was out of town.

    I don't remember my first film but whatever first film you see seems to define your vision and expectation of Bond.

    Personal note QoS was my last Bond film to see in the cinema with my dad. He was too sick to see SF. We had seen every film in the theatre since TSWLM.

  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    There is no simple answer:

    It depends on how old this newbie is.

    If it's someone young, say 25 or even younger, I'd go for Casino Royale
    If it's someone between 25 and 45, I'd go for Goldeneye
    If it's someone older I'd go for The Spy Who Loved Me
    If it's someone I know has a liking for old movies from the 60's or earlier I'd go for From Russia With Love

    If it was a crowd of newbies with different ages I'd go for The Living Daylights
  • Posts: 14,797
    My wife's first Bond movie was DAD before we met. She hated it. Then we saw CR together and she loved it. She did not enjoy the next two and could never watch the ones I watched at home. So I guess not only CR appeals to newbies but to people who don't like James Bond otherwise.
  • I'd first show them GE or CR and then any of the Connery ones.
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    TSWLM.
  • Last_Rat_StandingLast_Rat_Standing Long Neck Ice Cold Beer Never Broke My Heart
    Posts: 4,377
    Outside of SF, my wife has never watched a Bond film with me until two nights ago when I popped in TMWTGG. She actually got into it and enjoyed it.
  • AceHoleAceHole Belgium, via Britain
    Posts: 1,727
    From Russia With Love. Simply because it encapsulates everything the films should be.

  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    edited August 2015 Posts: 5,080
    The film's shouldn't "be" anything. If the film's maintained the same tone and scope as From Russia With Love, the series would have died out long ago.

    That goes for any other entry.
  • My picks:
    -FRWL
    -OHMSS
    -GE
    -CR

  • eddychaputeddychaput Montreal, Canada
    Posts: 364
    TSWLM, while not my personal favourite (though I like it a lot) seems like the ultimate first Bond film. If not that then GF.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    eddychaput wrote: »
    TSWLM, while not my personal favourite (though I like it a lot) seems like the ultimate first Bond film. If not that then GF.

    +1
  • BennyBenny In the shadowsAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 14,811
    eddychaput wrote: »
    TSWLM, while not my personal favourite (though I like it a lot) seems like the ultimate first Bond film. If not that then GF.

    Yep I'll agree with that. It's the film that pulled me in. Got a bit of everything and is a darn fine film.
    Other films I'd add would be GF and GE.

  • Posts: 3,333
    I think @timmer is right about the age introduction, though I was far younger and my first was OHMSS and it didn't do me any harm. However, if you've passed 10-12 and still haven't seen or fallen in love with Bond, then maybe stick with Harry Potter instead.

    Though OHMSS did the trick for me, I'd recommend FRWL for the sophisticated newbie who can appreciate the classics, or CR for the "can't watch anything before 2000" brigade.
  • Posts: 3,336
    GF, TSWLM, GE, or CR
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,328
    I introduced a good friend of mine to the series starting with Casino Royale. He was a big Bourne fan but I managed to hook him into the Bond fandom and he likes Bond more now. Mission Accomplished. ;)
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