Ranking Bond Movies by Era (not like other attempts)

edited October 2016 in Bond Movies Posts: 154
I've tried to rank all the Bond movies but find the task impossible because the movies are so different in tone form era to era. For example, how does one compare MR (a fun camp movie) to, say, CR (a much more serious and personal espionage movie)?

So, I've decided to group the movies by era. This is different than other groupings though, that are based solely upon actor and/or decade. This grouping takes actor and decade into consideration, but makes some significant adjustments based upon tone.

For example, I place FYEO & OP in the same era as the more serious Dalton Bonds, rather than in the era of the 70's Moore Bonds -- but I displace the 70's throwback, AVTAK, from the 80's & call it a 90s era Bond movie, while moving OHMSS from the tonally balanced Bonds of the Connery 60s to the more serious Bonds of the Craig 2000's. Similarly, I place DAF in the Moore camp era rather than the balanced Connery era.

I understand that this is subjective. Even serious Bond movies contain camp elements and vice versa. Also, while several eras start-out semi-serious, they tend to evolve into OTT camp. I'm not considering this natural evolution. I'm considering the point where a drastic change in tone occurs and, if there is a movie that is way out of tone from others of that era (think OHMSS and AVTAK), I move that movie to its proper era (a subjective move decided by me as the creator of this thread).

Others would no doubt divide the movies differently, and some movies fit into more than one era, but I've chosen what I believe to be the most applicable era for each movie. To play along, please don't debate the divisions (you can start another thread to change the divisions). For this thread, please rank within the eras I've created.

A couple notes: 1. I deliberately chose to place the exact same number of movies in each category, thus forcing hard dividing lines. The reason for this is force me to make tough decisions as to which era to place each movie. No movie could be placed in more than one era. 2. I included NSNA but did not include the 50s or 60s CR as I've never been able to sit through either of those CR interpretations.

Here are the full groupings I wish for us to use for this ranking exercise:

Era 1 -- The Tonally Balanced Bond movies (relatively speaking)
1. Dr. No (DN)
2. From Russia With Love (FRWL)
3. Goldfinger (GF)
4. Thunderball (TB)
5. You Only Live Twice (YOLT)

Era 2 -- The Camp Bond Movies (relatively speaking)
1. Diamonds Are Forever (DAF)
2. Live and Let Die (LALD)
3. The Man with the Golden Gun (TMWTGG)
4. The Spy Who Loved Me (TSWLM)
5. Moonraker (MR)

Era 3 -- The Serious Bond Movies (relatively speaking)
1. For Your Eyes Only (FYEO)
2. Octopussy (OP)
3. Never Say Never Again (NSNA)
4. The Living Daylights (TLD)
5. License to Kill (LTK)

Era 4 -- "The Integration of Past Eras" Bond Movies (each Bond movie trying to be a "best of Bond")
1. A View to A Kill (AVTAK)
2. Golden Eye (GE)
3. Tomorrow Never Dies (TND)
4. The World is Not Enough (TWINE)
5. Die Another Day (DAD)

Era 5 -- The "this time it's personal" Bond Movies (relatively speaking)
1. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (OHMSS)
2. Casino Royale 2006 (CR 06)
3. Quantum of Solace (QoS)
4. Skyfall (SF)
5. Spectre (SP)

Here are my rankings for each era (to get us started) from best to worst:

Era 1
1. FRWL
2. DN
3. TB
4. GF
5. YOLT

Era 2
1. TSWLM
2. LALD
3. MR
4. DAF
5. TMWTGG

Era 3
1. LTK
2. FYEO
3. TLD
4. OP
5. NSNA

Era 4
1. TWINE
2. GE
3. TND
4. DAD
5. AVTAK

Era 5
1. SP
2. QoS
3. CR
4. SF
5. OHMSS

Please rank from best to worst from each era. Thanks!
«13

Comments

  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    A very interesting take on things!

    Here are my rankings for each era from best to worst:

    Era 1
    1. FRWL
    2. DN
    3. GF
    4. TB
    5. YOLT

    Era 2
    1. TSWLM
    2. DAF
    3. LALD
    4. MR
    5. TMWTGG

    Era 3
    1. TLD
    2. FYEO
    3. LTK
    4. OP
    5. NSNA

    Era 4
    1. GE
    2. TND
    3. DAD
    4. AVTAK
    5. TWINE

    Era 5
    1. OHMSS
    2. SP
    3. QoS
    4. CR
    5. SF
  • Posts: 154
    Cool. Thanks for playing along!
  • Posts: 154
    thanks!
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    @birdleson

    do you really rank NSNA over TLD? I mean I like NSNA of course, a lot, just saying...
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    edited October 2016 Posts: 6,759
    Wouldn't LTK fit in that last era too?

    Anyway, here we go:

    Era 1
    1. FRWL
    2. GF
    3. YOLT
    4. DN
    5. TB

    Era 2
    1. TMWTGG
    2. TSWLM
    3. MR
    4. LALD
    5. DAF

    Era 3
    1. TLD
    2. LTK
    3. NSNA
    4. OP
    5. FYEO

    Era 4
    1. GE
    2. TWINE
    3. TND
    4. AVTAK
    5. DAD

    Era 5
    1. OHMSS
    2. CR
    3. QOS
    4. SP
    5. SF

    Damn, I might have to change my bloody ranking again.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    Well this is certainly different! Here's mine.

    Era 1
    1. FRWL (firmly on top of this category)
    2. TB (far ahead of 3 - 5)
    3. DN
    4. GF
    5. YOLT

    Era 2
    1. TSWLM (firmly on top of this category)
    2. LALD
    3. TMWTGG
    4. MR
    5. DAF

    Era 3
    1. OP (close win)
    2. LTK (close second)
    3. FYEO (almost took 2nd - big gap to next film)
    4. TLD
    5. NSNA

    Era 4
    1. GE (firmly on top of this category)
    2. TND
    3. AVTAK
    4. DAD
    5. TWINE

    Era 5
    1. CR (close win)
    2. OHMSS (close 2nd)
    3. SF (close 3rd - big gap to 4)
    4. QoS
    5. SP

    PS: I believe TSWLM should really be in Era 1. It's more TB than MR or Hamilton. I also believe GE should be in Era 1. However, I'm playing along with the OP's era categorizations, as he has requested.
  • AVTAK is in the wrong era. The insulting stunt doubles, the rehashed GF plot, the snowboarding scene, the dumb humour and the idea of a 57 year old Bond... This movie is not trying to be the best Bond movie, it is just trying to be another Bond movie.
  • MooseWithFleasMooseWithFleas Philadelphia
    Posts: 3,332
    Era 1
    1. FRWL
    2. TB
    3. DN
    4. GF
    5. YOLT

    Era 2
    1. MR
    2. LALD
    3. TWSLM
    4. DAF
    5. TMWTGG

    Era 3
    1. TLD
    2. OP
    3. LTK
    4. FYEO
    5. NSNA

    Era 4
    1. GE
    2. AVTAK
    3. TND
    4. TWINE
    5. DAD

    Era 5
    1. CR
    2. OHMSS
    3. SF
    4. SP
    5. QoS
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    Posts: 10,586
    I see the Craig era hatred has begun before it even concluded!
  • Posts: 154
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    Wouldn't LTK fit in that last era too?

    Yes, it would. However, I gave myself the rule that each era must have an equal number of movies, and that each movie could only be placed into one era, then placed movies in the era I felt most appropriate. Thus, I felt LTK was a slightly better fit in era 3 than era 5. Thanks for going along with it!

  • Posts: 154
    AVTAK is in the wrong era. The insulting stunt doubles, the rehashed GF plot, the snowboarding scene, the dumb humour and the idea of a 57 year old Bond... This movie is not trying to be the best Bond movie, it is just trying to be another Bond movie.

    I kinda agree. It's really a throw-back to the 70s camp era. For the sake of balance though, I placed it in the 90s era, which did have an over-the-top element to it.

  • Posts: 154
    bondjames wrote: »
    Well this is certainly different! Here's mine.


    PS: I believe TSWLM should really be in Era 1. It's more TB than MR or Hamilton. I also believe GE should be in Era 1. However, I'm playing along with the OP's era categorizations, as he has requested.

    Thanks!

  • Posts: 154
    jake24 wrote: »
    I see the Craig era hatred has begun before it even concluded!

    ?

  • Posts: 154
    thanks!
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    Posts: 10,586
    No disrespect to your thread, @gklien. It's a great idea.
  • Posts: 154
    jake24 wrote: »
    No disrespect to your thread, @gklien. It's a great idea.

    Oh, no worries. I didn't take any disrespect. I was truly wondering what you meant by "Craig era hatred". Just curious, that's all.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,687


    Era 1
    1. DN
    2. GF
    3. FRWL
    4. YOLT
    5. TB

    Era 2
    1. TMWTGG
    2. TSWLM
    3. DAF
    4. LALD
    5. MR

    Era 3
    1. TLD
    2. LTK
    3. FYEO
    4. OP
    5. NSNA

    Era 4
    1. TND
    2. GE
    3. TWINE
    4. DAD
    5. AVTAK

    Era 5
    1. OHMSS
    2. SP
    3. QoS
    4. CR
    5. SF


  • Posts: 154
    Wow, Didn't know there were folks who ranked TMWTGG so high. Thanks!
  • gklein wrote: »
    AVTAK is in the wrong era. The insulting stunt doubles, the rehashed GF plot, the snowboarding scene, the dumb humour and the idea of a 57 year old Bond... This movie is not trying to be the best Bond movie, it is just trying to be another Bond movie.

    I kinda agree. It's really a throw-back to the 70s camp era. For the sake of balance though, I placed it in the 90s era, which did have an over-the-top element to it.

    Ah. Fair enough.
  • JohnHammond73JohnHammond73 Lancashire, UK
    Posts: 4,151
    Era 1

    FRWL
    GF
    DN
    TB
    YOLT

    Era 2

    TSWLM
    LALD
    MR
    DAF
    TMWTGG

    Era 3

    OP
    TLD
    LTK
    FYEO
    NSNA

    Era 4

    GE
    AVTAK
    TND
    DAD
    TWINE

    Era 5

    OHMSS
    CR
    SF
    SP
    QOS
  • Posts: 154
    your era 2 is exactly like mine. thank you!
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    1

    GF
    DN
    FRWL
    TB
    YOLT

    2

    TSWLM
    DAF
    TMWTGG
    LALD
    MR

    3

    FYEO
    TLD
    LTK
    NSNA
    OP

    4

    AVTAK
    TND
    GE
    TWINE
    DAD

    5

    OHMSS
    CR
    SF
    SP
    QOS
  • royale65royale65 Caustic misanthrope reporting for duty.
    Posts: 4,418
    A funky new way to rank the Bonds? Sure, I’m in!

    Era 1
    1. FRWL
    2. GF
    3. DN
    4. TB
    5. YOLT

    Era 2
    1. TSWLM
    2. LALD
    3. MR
    4. DAF
    5. TMWTGG

    Era 3
    1. LTK
    2. TLD
    3. OP
    4. FYEO
    5. NSNA *The most difficult era to rank

    Era 4
    1. TWINE
    2. TND
    3. GE
    4. AVTAK
    5. DAD

    Era 5
    1. OHMSS
    2. CR
    3. QOS
    4. SP
    5. SF
  • zebrafishzebrafish <°)))< in Octopussy's garden in the shade
    Posts: 4,311
    Today my ranking would be this:

    Era 1 (Balanced)
    1. DN
    2. GF
    3. FRWL
    4. TB
    5. YOLT

    Era 2 (Campy)
    1. TSWLM
    2. LALD
    3. MR
    4. TMWTGG
    5. DAF

    Era 3 (Serious)
    1. TLD
    2. OP
    3. NSNA (somehow underrated)
    4. FYEO
    5. LTK (sorry, I really don't appreciate of this one)

    Era 4 (Best of the past)
    1. GE
    2. TND
    3. TWINE
    4. AVTAK
    5. DAD

    Era 5 (Taking it personal)
    1. OHMSS
    2. CR
    3. SF
    4. SP
    5. QOS
  • Posts: 154
    royale65 wrote: »
    A funky new way to rank the Bonds? Sure, I’m in!



    Era 3
    1. LTK
    2. TLD
    3. OP
    4. FYEO
    5. NSNA *The most difficult era to rank

    Era 4
    1. TWINE
    2. TND
    3. GE
    4. AVTAK
    5. DAD

    Glad to see another LTK & TWINE fan.
  • Posts: 154
    zebrafish wrote: »
    Today my ranking would be this:

    Era 1 (Balanced)
    1. DN
    2. GF
    3. FRWL
    4. TB
    5. YOLT

    Era 2 (Campy)
    1. TSWLM
    2. LALD
    3. MR
    4. TMWTGG
    5. DAF

    Era 3 (Serious)
    1. TLD
    2. OP
    3. NSNA (somehow underrated)
    4. FYEO
    5. LTK (sorry, I really don't appreciate of this one)

    Era 4 (Best of the past)
    1. GE
    2. TND
    3. TWINE
    4. AVTAK
    5. DAD

    Era 5 (Taking it personal)
    1. OHMSS
    2. CR
    3. SF
    4. SP
    5. QOS

    I like your short re-title of the eras! Your era 2 is the same as mine.
  • Posts: 154
    1



    4

    AVTAK
    TND
    GE
    TWINE
    DAD

    Thanks for playing! Wow an AVTAK fan! You just never know!

  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    1. FRWL
    2. GF
    3. TB
    4. YOLT
    5. DN

    1. TSWLM
    2. DAF
    3. LALD
    4. MR
    5. TMWTGG

    1. FYEO
    2. OP
    3. TLD
    4. LTK
    5. NSNA

    1. AVTAK
    2. TND
    3. GE
    4. TWINE
    5. DAD

    1. OHMSS
    2. CR
    3. SF
    4. QOS
    5. SP
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    gklein wrote: »
    1



    4

    AVTAK
    TND
    GE
    TWINE
    DAD

    Thanks for playing! Wow an AVTAK fan! You just never know!

    It really says more about the other films.
  • Posts: 154
    thanks
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