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

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  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,368
    Murdock wrote: »
    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. ;)

    I can only assume that he'll really enjoy QoS like I did, then. :)
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,328
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    Murdock wrote: »
    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. ;)

    I can only assume that he'll really enjoy QoS like I did, then. :)
    He enjoyed them greatly. His ranking is CR, SP, QOS and SF. I'm trying to warm him to the idea of watching the original films too but the idea of the Bond being recast as time went on bothers him a bit. Which is understandable but I can confirm that Craig is his Bond.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,368
    Atta boy, sounds like your friend and I would get along nicely. Since you started the introduction at the newer end of the spectrum, I'd have him jump right into the classics with Connery and see how he feels about those.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,328
    I'm trying to, I think the number of films in the series overwhelms him so I'm easing him into them showing him clips from the older films and giving him some Bond history lessons. It's really fun. He's younger and more into modern films so I may go with Brosnan's run next then have him go straight to Connery's era and so forth.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,368
    That could be smart. I was going to suggest that if he's a younger and possibly not into the older films to actually save Brosnan's for last, for if he gets into those and loves them, he may be expecting more movies along the lines of Brosnan and Craig's era, which will leave him rather disappointed.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,328
    He doesn't really have a preference for tone. As long as the movies entertain he's happy to watch them. With the release of Spectre I'm giving him a history lesson on the organization and Blofeld himself. I think after showing him Blofeld's death in FYEO he's more interested in the older films. :P
  • Posts: 1,009
    Nowadays? Spectre: new movie, old formula.
  • eddychaputeddychaput Montreal, Canada
    Posts: 364
    Benny wrote: »
    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.

    I just went through that experience not so long ago. Someone who knew my fandom came to me wanting to watch a Bond film for the first time. That person wasn't so much into hard, gritty action movies (LTK and QOS were thus out of the question). They were hoping for something a little on the fluffy side since they were somewhat aware that Bond had gone camp at some point in the past. TSWLM immediately came to mind. They came back to me and said they absolutely loved it.
  • RemingtonRemington I'll do anything for a woman with a knife.
    Posts: 1,532
    In the past two days, I've taken two close friends and turned them into two Bond fans. Lol I'm very proud of myself.

    The first friend is into newer action flicks. Therefore, we had a few drinks and had a CR/QOS double feature. He loved em both but QOS slightly more due to the "badassery". We'd watched SF back in 2013. He liked it but much prefers the previous two. Only problem is that now we'll have to watch SP. I guess we all gotta make some sacrifices lol.

    The second friend decided it was time to watch a Bond when I posted a short clip on Snapchat, which I barely use. It was the scene of Bond jumping onto the train and straightening his cuffs in SF. He decided that he wanted to watch the series from the beginning. Jusy got done watching DN, FRWL, and GF. We'll probably check out TB tomorrow. He's turning into a fanatic before my very eyes.

    Cheers.
  • Andi1996RueggAndi1996Ruegg Hello. It's me, Evelyn Tremble.
    Posts: 2,005
    Interesting choices here.

    The order I saw the first 6: DAF, TSWLM, MR, YOLT, AVTAK, TB

    I loved Diamonds Are Forever, totally. By Moonraker I was thinking the Bond series is a action-comedy series and I was hooked.
    YOLT changed my perception of the series overall and by Thunderball, the 6th I saw, I knew I will love these movies, all of them. And I do. Except QoS maybe ha ha...
  • Major_BoothroydMajor_Boothroyd Republic of Isthmus
    Posts: 2,721
    Interesting choices here.

    The order I saw the first 6: DAF, TSWLM, MR, YOLT, AVTAK, TB

    I loved Diamonds Are Forever, totally. By Moonraker I was thinking the Bond series is a action-comedy series and I was hooked.
    YOLT changed my perception of the series overall and by Thunderball, the 6th I saw, I knew I will love these movies, all of them. And I do. Except QoS maybe ha ha...

    That's a great viewing order and would definitely skew your impression of Bond - especially with those first three. I think TSWLM in particular is a good one for bond newbies - it has jaws, underwater lotus, ski jump, battle of the Cold War agents and an army vs army battle in an impressive ken Adam designed location. Good work from @BondJasonBond006 ordering them!
  • Posts: 15,785
    Interesting choices here.

    The order I saw the first 6: DAF, TSWLM, MR, YOLT, AVTAK, TB

    I loved Diamonds Are Forever, totally. By Moonraker I was thinking the Bond series is a action-comedy series and I was hooked.
    YOLT changed my perception of the series overall and by Thunderball, the 6th I saw, I knew I will love these movies, all of them. And I do. Except QoS maybe ha ha...

    I saw MR in the cinema shortly followed by TSWLM on HBO, then DAF, DN, TB and FRWL.
  • Posts: 12,242
    GF is the best choice for a first Bond film if you want to know what the series is all about. Other than that, some good places to start are DN, FRWL, TB, TSWLM, GE, and SF. Worst to start with IMO would be OHMSS, LTK, QOS, and SP.
  • RemingtonRemington I'll do anything for a woman with a knife.
    Posts: 1,532
    I showed a friend of mine LTK as his first Bond film and he's a big fan of Connery and Dalton. I agree on the other three though.
    FoxRox wrote: »
    GF is the best choice for a first Bond film if you want to know what the series is all about. Other than that, some good places to start are DN, FRWL, TB, TSWLM, GE, and SF. Worst to start with IMO would be OHMSS, LTK, QOS, and SP.

  • Posts: 12,242
    I think LTK is really good; I just think it’s not the best choice for a first since it’s one of the least traditional of the series.
  • Posts: 12,242
    TB was my first so I’m biased there. I found it to be a fairly decent intro; maybe the water theme not as much but still pretty good. LTK was like my fifth I think.
  • Posts: 12,242
    My first ones included TB, GF, DAF, LTK, TWINE, TMWTGG, and TSWLM.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 6,757
    My first one was TWINE on VHS, as it was in 2000 or so.

    After that my dad bought the whole series on VHS and I watched them more or less in chronological order from DN-TND.
  • Posts: 1,031
    DAD, and then every Bond film you watch after that will be better than the first one.
  • Posts: 235
    My personal favorite Bond movies are You Only Live Twice and Spectre so I would recommended those.
  • Andi1996RueggAndi1996Ruegg Hello. It's me, Evelyn Tremble.
    Posts: 2,005
    Should be Casino Royale in my opinion.
    It's the first Bond story and one of the very best films. It combines the old with the new perfectly too. It's timeless really.
  • QsAssistantQsAssistant All those moments lost in time... like tears in rain
    Posts: 1,812
    I'd say go with From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, The Spy Who Loved Me, GoldenEye, and/or Casino Royale. Then when they enjoy all of those, show them On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,914
    Should be Casino Royale in my opinion.
    It's the first Bond story and one of the very best films. It combines the old with the new perfectly too. It's timeless really.
    Agree. It's the story that establishes the Bond character for all time across all timelines.

    If a new viewer likes CASINO ROYALE, the classic Bond of the Connery era and the rest of films 1-20 will be irrisistable.
  • Posts: 1,165
    Great question.
    As much as I adore CR, I think GE is a better one for a newbie as it incoprorates all the classic elements of Bond (Moneypenny, Q, Gadgets, a secret villain HQ) and puts a fresh and extremely entertaining spin on it all. Perfect for a newcomer to the franchise.
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