The Quest - Ultimate James Bond Movie Marathon

8/11/2019 The Quest - Ultimate James Bond Movie Marathon

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The QuestThe Ultimate James Bond Movie MarathonFeaturing

Every Official and Unofficial James Bond Film Ever Made

The Ultimate Alternate Order of Viewing the Films

Overall Film Ratings

Ratings by Category


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This Endeavor is Dedicated to

The Impeccable

The Legendary

Most Iconic Symbol of

All Things James Bond!

BARRY NELSON


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Overview

When I wrote the first one in 1953, I wanted Bond to be an extremely dull, uninteresting man to whom things happened;

I wanted him to be a blunt instrument ... when I was casting around for a name for my protagonist, I thought by God,

[James Bond] is the dullest name I ever heard.

Ian Fleming, The New Yorker, 21 April 1962

The simple purpose of this quest is to watch the James Bond films (both official and unofficial) in an almost perfect alternate

order, rather than chronologically. In discovering the best way to approach this, it was decided upon that the order would be

based on the original timeline set forth by the novels and short stories of Ian Fleming. However, there are more films than

there are books, and many of the films have little or nothing to do with the Fleming material they draw their inspiration from.

Some of these discrepancies are accounted for in this alternate order, and films that feature similar plot elements or minor

adaptations from certain Fleming stories are placed in the viewing order in accordance with that particular book.

Explanations are provided that ties each film in with its source material, along with any additional annotations that help the

viewer understand why the placement of that particular film is appropriate.

Each film profile is accompanied by an in-depth score card, where the viewer rates each aspect listed on a scale of 1 to 10. The

final scorecard compiles the individual results and creates rankings of numerous aspects rated after viewing.

The full disclosure and discussion of thoughts and feelings are encouraged throughout the course of this emotional roller

coaster.

The following criterion is recommended of participants for a complete experience:

Has read all the books (like any real Bond fan)

Has a working knowledge and appreciation of the mythos behind each era of films (yesthat includes the worst of the

Pierce Brosnan and Roger Moore films)

The patience and long-suffering to sit through the excruciatingly stupid 1967 version of Casino Royale

A number 2 pencil

A clean eraser (Because sometimes, that Bond girl you gave a perfect 10 to may not look as hot at the end of the film

as she did at the beginning)


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The Order

Book Year Film Year

Casino Royale 1953 Casino Royale** 1954

Casino Royale** 1967

Casino Royale 2006

Live and Let Die 1954 Live and Let Die 1973

Moonraker 1955 Moonraker 1979

GoldenEye 1995

Die Another Day 2002

Diamonds Are Forever 1956 Diamonds Are Forever 1971

From Russia, with Love 1957 From Russia with Love 1963

Doctor No 1958 Dr. No 1962

Goldfinger 1959 Goldfinger 1964

For Your Eyes Only 1960 A View to a Kill 1985

Quantum of Solace 2008

For Your Eyes Only 1981

Licence to Kill 1989

Thunderball 1961 Thunderball 1965

Never Say Never Again** 1983

The Spy Who Loved Me 1962 The Spy Who Loved Me 1977

Tomorrow Never Dies 1997

On Her Majesty's Secret Service 1963 On Her Majesty's Secret Service 1969

You Only Live Twice 1964 You Only Live Twice 1967

The Man with the Golden Gun 1965 Skyfall 2012

The Man with the Golden Gun 1974

Octopussy & The Living Daylights 1966 The Living Daylights 1987

Octopussy 1983

Colonel Sun* 1968 The World is Not Enough 1999

*Written by one-time continuation author Kinglsey Amis (under the pseudonym Robert Markham)

**Non-canonical and not considered part of the official James Bond film series


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Casino RoyaleYear 1954

Directed by William H. Brown Jr.

Produced by Bretaigne Windhurst

Screenplay by Charles Bennett

Anthony Ellis

Music by Jerry Goldsmith

The original adaptation of Casino Royalewas a 50 minute live teleplay and part of CBS' Climax Mystery Theater series.

Featuring Barry Nelson as American agent Card Sense Jimmy Bond and his sidekick Clarence Leiter of British intelligence,

the film was a very loose and condensed adaptation of the source material. The girl, Valerie Mathis, is a combination of

Vesper Lynd, Bonds lover in the novel, and Rene Mathis, Bonds contact in the French deuxime bureau. A few scenes were

adapted from the novel, including the baccarat showdown with Le Chiffre, the gun hidden inside a walking cane, and the

torture scene, which is considerably altered and less violent than it is in the book.

Category Category

James Bond (Barry Nelson) Music

Badassery Theme Song

Humor Soundtrack

Seduction Methods Action

Charm/Sophistication Action Sequences

Overall Fight Scenes

The Girl (Linda Christian as Valerie Mathis) Gadgets

Hotness Coolness Factor

Personality/Charm Implementation

Overall Look/Design

The Villain (Peter Lorre as Le Chiffre) Locations

Look Set Design

Personality/Menace Costumes

Overall Plot

Supporting Villains Entertainment Value

Basil (Gene Roth) Plausibility

Zoltan (Kurt Katch) Overall

Zuroff (Unknown Actor) Overall Rating:

The Allies Better than the Book?

Clarence Leiter (Michael Pate) COMMENTS:

Pre-Title Sequence

Introduction by William Lundigan

Visual Effects

Title Sequence


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Directed by Ken Hughes

John Huston

Joseph McGrath

Robert Parrish

Val GuestProduced by Charles K. Feldman

Screenplay by Wolf Mankowitz

John Law

Michael Sayers

Music by Burt Bacharach

This 'spoof' was a reaction to the spy mania of the 60's, choosing to lampoon the Bond films rather than replicate them.

There is almost no consistency with the tone and storyline of the original novel. The middle of the film contains a surprising

amount of material from Fleming's version, albeit with very little connection to the material on either side of it. It is also

presented in a much different, more slapstick context.

Category Category

James Bond (David Niven) Visual Effects

Badassery Title Sequence

Humor Special Effects

Seduction Methods Music

Charm/Sophistication Theme Song

Overall Soundtrack

The Girl (Ursula Andress as Vesper Lynd) Action

Hotness Action Sequences

Personality/Charm Fight Scenes

Overall Stunts

The Villain (Orson Welles as Le Chiffre) Gadgets

Look Coolness Factor

Personality/Menace Implementation

Overall Look/Design

Supporting Villains Locations

Dr. Noah/Jimmy Bond (Woody Allen) Set Design

Supporting Girls Costumes

Agent Mimi (Deborah Kerr) Plot

Miss Goodthighs (Jacky Bisset) Entertainment Value

The Allies Plausibility

Evelyn Tremble (Peter Sellers) Overall

Mata Bond (Joanna Pettet) Overall Rating:

Coop (Terence Cooper) Better than the Book?

MI6 Personnel COMMENTS:

M/McTarry (John Huston)

Miss Moneypenny (Barbara Bouchet)

Pre-Title Sequence

Rene Mathis Meets Evelyn Tremble


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Directed by Martin Campbell

Produced by Michael G. Wilson

Barbara Broccoli

Screenplay by Neal Purvis

Robert WadePaul Haggis

Music by David Arnold

The third film adaptation of Ian Fleming's original James Bond novel is the most faithful, retaining the major plot

points and dark, cynical nature of the story. However, the plot and setting are updated and expanded upon in order

to augment the short length and simplicity of the book.

Category CategoryJames Bond (Daniel Craig) Visual Effects





Overall Soundtrack

The Girl (Eva Green as Vesper Lynd) Action



Overall Stunts

The Villain (Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre) Gadgets



Overall Look/Design


Dimitrios (Simon Abkarian) Set Design

Obanno (Isaac de Bankole) Costumes

Mr. White (Jesper Christensen) Plot

Mollaka (Sebastien Foucan) Entertainment Value

Supporting Girls Plausibility

Solange (Caterina Murino) Overall

The Allies Overall Rating:

Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) Better than the Book?

Rene Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini) COMMENTS:

MI6 Personnel

M (Judi Dench)

Villiers (Tobias Menzies)

Pre-Title Sequence

Bond Earns His Double-0 Status


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Live and Let DieYear 1973

Directed by Guy Hamilton

Produced by Albert R. Broccoli

Harry Saltzman

Screenplay by Tom Mankiewicz

Music by George Martin

Few major plot elements remain in the film adaptation of Ian Fleming's second novel, which was originally a continuation of the

story arc established in Casino Royale. The violence and darkness of the source material was omitted in order to cater toward

Roger Moore's light-hearted take on the character. Many of the book's characters are featured. However, the literary Mr. Big is a

ruthlessly violent Harlem gangster, rather than the prime minister of a fictional Caribbean island wearing a rubber mask.

Category Category

James Bond (Roger Moore) Pre-Title Sequence

Badassery Killing of British Agents

Humor Visual Effects

Seduction Methods Title Sequence

Charm/Sophistication Special Effects

Overall Music

The Girl (Jane Seymour as Solitaire) Theme Song

Hotness Soundtrack

Personality/Charm Action

Overall Action SequencesThe Villain (Yaphet Kotto as Mr. Big/Dr. Kananga) Fight Scenes

Look Stunts

Personality/Menace Gadgets

Overall Coolness Factor

Supporting Villains Implementation

Tee Hee (Julius Harris) Look/Design

Baron Samedi (Geoffrey Holder) Locations

Whisper (Earl Jolly Brown) Set Design

Adam (Tommy Lane) Costumes

Supporting Girls PlotRosie Carver (Gloria Hendry) Entertainment Value

Miss Caruso (Madeline Smith) Plausibility

The Allies Overall

Felix Leiter (David Hedison) Overall Rating:

Sheriff J.W. Pepper (Clifton James) Better than the Book?

Quarrel Jr. (Roy Stewart) COMMENTS:

MI6 Personnel

M (Bernard Lee)

Miss Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell)


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MoonrakerYear 1979

Directed by Lewis Gilbert


Screenplay by Christopher WoodMusic by John Barry

This film uses Ian Fleming's title as well as the name and a few characteristics of the book's main villain, and places them in

a completely original story featuring virtually no other Fleming elements contained therein, other than a similar scene in

both versions where Bond and the girl are imprisoned below the exhausts of a rocket. The film is filled with fantastical sci-fi

elements, whereas the plot of the novel merely revolves around the construction of a hi-tech missile in England.

Category Category


Badassery Theft of Moonraker/Freefall Fight




Overall Music

The Girl (Lois Chiles as Dr. Holly Goodhead) Theme Song

Hotness Soundtrack

Personality/Charm ActionOverall Action Sequences

The Villain (Michael Lonsdale as Hugo Drax) Fight Scenes

Look Stunts




Jaws (Richard Kiel) Look/Design

Chang (Toshiro Suga) Locations

Supporting Girls Set Design

Corrine Dufour (Corinne Clery) Costumes

Manuela (Emily Bolton) Plot

The Allies Entertainment ValueDolly (Blanche Ravalec) Plausibility

General Gogol (Walter Gotell) Overall

MI6 Personnel Overall Rating:

M (Bernard Lee) Better than the Book?

Miss Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell) COMMENTS:

Q (Desmond Llewelyn)

Frederick Gray (Geoffrey Keen)


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GoldenEyeYear 1995

Directed by Martin Campbell


Barbara Broccoli

Screenplay by Michael France

Jeffrey CaineBruce Fierstein

Music by Eric Serra

This is a completely original story with no basis found in any Ian Fleming material. However, the Alec Trevelyan character

shares a large number of similarities with Hugo Drax from Fleming's Moonraker. Both were scarred in an explosion and left

for dead. Both hate Britain, despite appearing to be British. And both construct a diabolical scheme that utilizes a hi-tech

weapon to destroy London.

NOTE:Goldeneye is the name of Ian Fleming's Jamaican estate where he wrote all the Bond books on a golden typewriter

(which now belongs to Pierce Brosnan)

Category Category

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) Pre-Title Sequence

Badassery Chemical Weapons Facility




Overall Music

The Girl (Izabella Scorupco as Natalya Simonova) Theme Song

Hotness Soundtrack


Overall Action SequencesThe Villain (Sean Bean as Alec Trevelyan) Fight Scenes

Look Stunts




Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen) Look/Design

General Ourumov (Gottfried John) Locations

Boris Grishenko (Alan Cumming) Set Design


Caroline (Serena Gordon) Plot

The Allies Entertainment ValueJack Wade (Joe Don Baker) Plausibility

Valentin Zukovsky (Robbie Coltrane) Overall

Dimitri Mishkin (Tcheky Karyo) Overall Rating:

MI6 Personnel Better than the Book (Moonraker)?

M (Judi Dench) COMMENTS:

Miss Moneypenny (Samantha Bond)


Bill Tanner (Michael Kitchen)


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Die Another DayYear 2002

Directed by Lee Tamahori


Barbara Broccoli


Robert WadeMusic by David Arnold

Original outlines and ideas for the film were rooted in unused material from Ian Fleming's Moonraker. However, the finished

product bears almost no resemblance to said novel. The only remaining similarities between the two include the villains of both

posing as prominent members of the British establishment who secretly plan to use their seemingly benevolent schemes to cause

mass destruction. Additionally, both stories feature Bond working alongside a female British agent, but similarities between the

two characters ends there.

NOTE:Watching the first and last Bond films of the Brosnan era consecutively allows the viewer to witness just how over-

indulgent and over-the-top the Bond films got during his tenure.

Category Category

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) Visual Effects





Overall Soundtrack

The Girl (Halle Berry as Jinx) Action


Personality/Charm Fight ScenesOverall Stunts

The Villain (Toby Stephens as Gustav Graves) Gadgets



Overall Look/Design


Zao (Rick Yune) Set Design

Colonel Moon (Will Yun Lee) Costumes

Mr. Kil (Lawrence Makoare) Plot

Supporting Girls Entertainment Value

Miranda Frost (Rosamund Pike) Plausibility

The Allies Overall

Damian Falco (Michael Madsen) Overall Rating:

MI6 Personnel Better than the Book (Moonraker)?

M (Judi Dench) COMMENTS:


Q (John Cleese)

Charles Robinson (Colin Salmon)

Pre-Title Sequence

Bonds Capture in North Korea


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Diamonds Are ForeverYear 1971



Harry Saltzman

Screenplay by Richard Maibaum

Tom MankiewiczMusic by John Barry

This establishes a trend that would be followed throughout the 70's by only using minimal amounts of Fleming material. This fi lm

uses the novel as a starting point (Bond infiltrating a diamond smuggling pipeline using the identity of Peter Franks), before

departing on its own flights of fantasy and humor. Some character names and settings are also taken from the novel. The final

sequence (Bond fighting Wint and Kidd on a luxury liner) is similar to the final part of the book, although the literary version is

much more badass. NOTE:This is the third film in a row that features a destructive satellite as a major plot point.

Category Category

James Bond (Sean Connery) Pre-Title Sequence

Badassery Bonds Vengeful Pursuit of Blofeld




Overall Music

The Girl (Jill St. John as Tiffany Case) Theme Song

Hotness Soundtrack


Overall Action Sequences

The Villain (Charles Gray as Ernst Stavro Blofeld) Fight Scenes

Look Stunts




Wint & Kidd (Bruce Glover/Putter Smith Look/Design

Prof. Dr. Metz (Joseph Furst) Locations

Bert Saxby (Bruce Cabot) Set Design

Peter Franks (Joe Robinson) Costumes

Bambi & Thumper (Lola Larson/Trina Parks) Plot


Plenty OToole (Lana Wood) Plausibility

The Allies Overall

Felix Leiter (Norman Burton) Overall Rating:

Willard Whyte (Jimmy Dean) Better than the Book?


M (Bernard Lee)




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From Russia with LoveYear 1963

Directed by Terence Young


Harry SaltzmanScreenplay by Richard Maibaum

Music by John Barry

This is one of the most faithful adaptations in the entire series. The film retains its roots as a realistic cold war thriller.

However, political correctness was required and SMERSH, the evil KGB execution squad featured in most of the early

Fleming novels, was replaced in the film with SPECTRE, the rogue terrorist organization that was only featured in a few of

the later books. Other minor changes were made throughout, and the helicopter and boat sequences were added to theend of the film to increase the action.

Category Category

James Bond (Sean Connery) Pre-Title Sequence

Badassery Red Grants Training Exercise




Overall Music

The Girl (Daniela Bianchi as Tatiana Romanova) Theme Song

Hotness Soundtrack



The Villain (Lotte Lenya as Rosa Klebb) Fight Scenes

Look Stunts




Red Grant (Robert Shaw) Look/Design

Morzeny (Walter Gotell) Locations

Kronsteen (Vladek Sheybal) Set Design

Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Anthony Dawson) Costumes

Krilencu (Fred Haggerty) PlotSupporting Girls Entertainment Value

Sylvia Trench (Eunice Gayson) Plausibility

The Allies Overall

Kerim Bey (Pedro Armendariz) Overall Rating:

MI6 Personnel Better than the Book?

M (Bernard Lee) COMMENTS:


Major Boothroyd (Desmond Llewelyn)


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Dr. NoYear 1962



Harry Saltzman


Johanna HarwoodBerkely Mather

Music by Monty Norman

Being the first official James Bond film, it is generally faithful to the source material. A few additions are made such as the Felix

Leiter character, who was absent from the book, as well as Dr. No's explanation that he works for SPECTRE. In the novel he works

for the Russians under freelance terms. Other noteworthy, but slightly unrealistic, sequences that were omitted or changed from

the book include Bond's fight with a giant squid and Dr. No's death by being suffocated underneath a pile of guano.

Category Category

James Bond (Sean Connery) Visual Effects





Overall Soundtrack

The Girl (Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder) Action



Overall Stunts

The Villain (Joseph Wiseman as Dr. No) GadgetsLook Coolness Factor


Overall Look/Design


Professor Dent (Anthony Dawson) Set Design


Sylvia Trench (Eunice Gayson) Plot

Miss Taro (Zena Marshall) Entertainment Value


Felix Leiter (Jack Lord) Overall

Quarrel (John Kitzmiller) Overall Rating:MI6 Personnel Better than the Book?



Major Boothroyd (Peter Burton)

Opening Sequence

Death of Strangways


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GoldfingerYear 1964



Harry Saltzman


Paul DehnMusic by John Barry

This was the first Bond film to take major liberties with the source material, although the overall plot structure more or less

remains the same. The literary Goldfinger intends to steal the gold from Fort Knox (compared with the more ingenious scheme of

the film), and in the novel the character of Tilly Masterson features far more heavily. The lesbian undertones of her character, as

well as those of Pussy Galore, are directly addressed in the novel, whereas the film merely hints at it. This is also the first Bond

film to be much more gadget-laden than the original novels, although Bond drives an Aston Martin DB3 in the book, albeit with

far less ostentatious extra features.

Category Category






Overall Soundtrack

The Girl (Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore) Action


Personality/Charm Fight ScenesOverall Stunts

The Villain (Gert Frobe as Auric Goldfinger) Gadgets



Overall Look/Design


Oddjob (Harold Sakata) Set Design


Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton) Plot

Tilly Masterson (Tania Mallet) Entertainment Value


Felix Leiter (Cec Linder) Overall


M (Bernard Lee) Better than the Book?

Miss Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell) COMMENTS:


Pre-Title Sequence

Bonds Mission in Central America


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A View to a KillYear 1985

Directed by John Glen


Michael G. Wilson


Michael G. WilsonMusic by John Barry

From a View to a Killwas the first of five short stories contained in the For Your Eyes Onlyanthology. There is no connection

between the film and story other than the fact that both contain scenes set in and around Paris. There are no elements taken

from other Fleming novels/stories either. It is worth noting that the plot of the film, which focuses on the impending destruction

of Silicon Valley in order to corrupt the microchip industry and therefore make Max Zorin's supply more valuable, is almost

identical to the plot of the preceding film on the alternate order list (Goldfinger), which focuses on the impending destruction of

Fort Knox in order to corrupt the gold industry and therefore make Auric Goldfinger's supply more valuable.

Category Category


Badassery Bonds Escape from Siberia




Overall Music

The Girl (Tanya Roberts as Stacey Sutton) Theme Song

Hotness Soundtrack

Personality/Charm ActionOverall Action Sequences

The Villain (Christopher Walken as Max Zorin) Fight Scenes

Look Stunts




May Day (Grace Jones) Look/Design

Scarpine (Patrick Bauchau) Locations

Dr. Carl Mortner (Willoughby Gray) Set Design


Pola Ivanova (Fiona Fullerton) Plot

The Allies Entertainment Value

Sir Godfrey Tibbett (Patrick Macnee) Plausibility

Chuck Lee (David Yip) Overall

General Gogol (Walter Gotell) Overall Rating:

MI6 Personnel Better than the Story?

M (Robert Brown) COMMENTS:





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Quantum of SolaceYear 2008

Directed by Marc Forster


Barbara Broccoli


Robert WadePaul Haggis


Quantum of Solaceis the third short story in the For Your Eyes Onlyanthology, and has no similarity to the film. In the story, Bond

listens to a tale recanted to him by his dinner host, the governor of the Bahamas. The meaning of the title is the same in each

version as they both refer to the small amount of peace and satisfaction required in moving through and on from a relationship.

The film spends a significant amount of effort dwelling on Bond's struggle to overcome what happened to Vesper in Casino

Royale, and his quest to bring vengeance to her tormentors. However, the literary Bond was much less inclined to let his emotions

get the better of him, coldly explaining to M at the end of the Casino Royalenovel that "the bitch is dead now." This line made it

into the film of the same name, although it isn't Bond's final conclusion to the situation, as he continues to search for his quantum

of solace.

Category Category

James Bond (Daniel Craig) Visual Effects





Overall Soundtrack

The Girl (Olga Kurylenko as Camille Montes) ActionHotness Action Sequences


Overall Stunts

The Villain (Mathieu Amalric as Dominic Greene) Gadgets



Overall Look/Design


Elvis (Anatole Taubman) Set Design

General Medrano (Joaquin Cosio) Costumes

Mr. White (Jesper Christensen) Plot


Strawberry Fields (Gemma Arterton) Plausibility

The Allies Overall

Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) Overall Rating:

Rene Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini) Better than the Story?


M (Judi Dench)

Bill Tanner (Rory Kinnear)

Pre-Title Sequence

Escaping with Mr. White


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For Your Eyes OnlyYear 1981




Michael G. Wilson

Music by Bill Conti

This film is largely adapted from the second and fourth short stories in the For Your Eyes Onlyanthology. Fleming's For Your Eyes

Onlyshort story concerns Bond undertaking a personal mission for M to assassinate Gonzales, a hit man who murdered the

Havelocks, a middle aged couple who were friends of M. Later parts of the film are influenced by Risico, which concerns Bond's

involvement with a feud between two Italian smugglers, Kristatos and Colombo. It should also be noted that the film adapts the

keelhauling sequence from Flemings Live and Let Die.

Category Category

James Bond (Roger Moore) Q (Desmond Llewelyn)

Badassery Bill Tanner (James Villiers)

Humor Pre-Title Sequence

Seduction Methods Bonds Final Fight with Blofeld

Charm/Sophistication Visual Effects

Overall Title Sequence

The Girl (Carole Bouquet as Melina Havelock) Special Effects

Hotness Music

Personality/Charm Theme SongOverall Soundtrack

The Villain (Julian Glover as Kristatos) Action

Look Action Sequences

Personality/Menace Fight Scenes

Overall Stunts

Supporting Villains Gadgets

Locque (Michael Gothard) Coolness Factor

Kriegler (John Wyman) Implementation

Gonzalez (Stefan Kalipha) Look/Design

Ernst Stavro Blofeld (John Hollis) Locations

Supporting Girls Set Design

Countess Lisl (Cassandra Harris) Costumes

The Allies Plot

Columbo (Topol) Entertainment Value

Bibi Dahl (Lynn-Holly Johnson) Plausibility

Jacoba Brink (Jill Bennett) Overall

Luigi Ferrara (John Moreno) Overall Rating:

General Gogol (Walter Gotell) Better than the Stories (FYEO/R)?





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Licence to KillYear 1989



Michael G. Wilson


Michael G. Wilson

Music by Michael Kamen

This film contains a large portion of unused Fleming material, one of the most notable being the character of Milton Krest from

The Hildebrand Rarity, the fifth and final short story in the For Your Eyes Onlyanthology. Both versions of the character are

marine biologists who travel in a boat called The Wavekrest. The literary Milton Krest liked to beat his wife with a stingray tail, a

tendency transferred to Franz Sanchez in the film. Arguably, this film can also be viewed immediately following Live and Let Die,as the entire portion featuring Felix Leiter's shark attack and Bond's subsequent investigation is adapted from the novel.

Additionally, his travels to Central America to unravel a drug ring are inspired by the mission he is said to be returning from at the

beginning of Fleming's Goldfinger.

Category Category

James Bond (Timothy Dalton) Q (Desmond Llewelyn)

Badassery Pre-Title Sequence

Humor Bond and Leiter Capture Sanchez

Seduction Methods Visual Effects

Charm/Sophistication Title Sequence

Overall Special Effects

The Girl (Carey Lowell as Pam Bouvier) MusicHotness Theme Song

Personality/Charm Soundtrack

Overall Action

The Villain (Robert Davi as Franz Sanchez) Action Sequences

Look Fight Scenes

Personality/Menace Stunts

Overall Gadgets

Supporting Villains Coolness Factor

Milton Krest (Anthony Zerbe) Implementation

Prof. Joe Butcher (Wayne Newton) Look/Design

Dario (Benicio del Toro) Locations

Truman-Lodge (Anthony Starke) Set Design

Col. Heller (Don Stroud) Costumes

Supporting Girls Plot

Lupe Lamora (Talisa Soto) Entertainment Value


Felix Leiter (David Hedison) Overall

Sharkey (Frank McRae) Overall Rating:

MI6 Personnel Better than the Story (THR)?

M (Robert Brown) COMMENTS:

Miss Moneypenny (Caroline Bliss)


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ThunderballYear 1965


Produced by Kevin McClory

Albert R. Broccoli

Harry Saltzman


John Hopkins

Music by John Barry

This film is, for the most part, extremely faithful to the original novel. The addition of Fiona Volpe and the alteration of SPECTRE's

execution of stealing the nuclear warheads set it apart from its source material, but overall it is an accurate depiction of the menace

and adventure contained in Fleming's version.

Category Category






Overall Soundtrack

The Girl (Claudine Auger as Domino Derval) Action



Overall Stunts

The Villain (Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo) Gadgets



Overall Look/Design


Fiona Volpe (Lucianna Paluzzi) Set Design

Count Lippe (Guy Doleman) Costumes

Vargas (Philip Locke) Plot

Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Anthony Dawson) Entertainment Value

Supporting Girls Plausibility

Patricia Fearing (Molly Peters) Overall

The Allies Overall Rating:Felix Leiter (Rik Van Nutter) Better than the Book?

Paula Caplan (Martine Beswick) COMMENTS:

Pinder (Earl Cameron)

MI6 Personnel

M (Bernard Lee)



Pre-Title Sequence

Bond Exposes & Kills Jacques Bouvier


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Never Say Never AgainYear 1983

Directed by Irvin Kershner

Produced by Kevin McClory

Jack Schwartzman

Screenplay by Lorenzo Semple Jr.

Music by Michel Legrand

The second film adaptation of Ian Fleming's Thunderball is much looser than the first, although the basic plot outline remains the

same. Many of the elements of this film seem to be adapted more from the original 1965 version rather than the novel itself. Extra

locales and name changes are also apparent. What sets it apart from previous versions of the story, especially the book, is its much

more humorous and light-hearted approach. This could possibly be a reaction to the official Bond films of the time, which had

reached new heights of campiness thanks to Roger Moore's take on the character.

Category Category






Overall Soundtrack

The Girl (Kim Basinger as Domino Petachi) Action



Overall Stunts

The Villain (Klaus Maria Brandauer as Max Largo) GadgetsLook Coolness Factor


Overall Look/Design


Fatima Blush (Barbara Carrera) Set Design

Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Max von Sydow) Costumes

Lippe (Pat Roach) Plot


Patricia Fearing (Prunella Gee) Plausibility

Lady in Bahamas (Valerie Leon) Overall


Felix Leiter (Bernie Casey) Better than the Book (Thunderball)?

Nigel Small-Fawcett (Rowan Atkinson) COMMENTS:

MI6 Personnel

M (Edward Fox)

Miss Moneypenny (Pamela Salem)

Q/Algy (Alec McCowen)

Opening Sequence

Bonds Failed Training Exercise


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The Spy Who Loved MeYear 1977




Christopher Wood

Music by Marvin Hamlisch

This is the first film to have contained virtually no trace of Ian Fleming material. The book itself is an oddity in that it tells the story

from the point of view of the heroine, as she spends the first part of the book lamenting over her tumultuous life of heartbreak

and suffering, before Bond appears and saves her from a duo of gangsters who are trying to destroy the motel she is acting as

caretaker for. Ian Fleming requested that no material be adapted from this novel, but the characters of Jaws and Sandor are

reminiscent of Horror and Sluggsy, the vile gangsters featured in the book.

Category Category

James Bond (Roger Moore) Visual Effects





Overall Soundtrack

The Girl (Barbara Bach as Major Anya Amasova) Action

Hotness Action SequencesPersonality/Charm Fight Scenes

Overall Stunts

The Villain (Kurt Jurgens as Karl Stromberg) Gadgets



Overall Look/Design


Jaws (Richard Kiel) Set Design

Naomi (Caroline Munro) Costumes

Sandor (Milton Reid) Plot


General Gogol (Walter Gotell) Plausibility

MI6 Personnel Overall

M (Bernard Lee) Overall Rating:

Miss Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell) Better than the Book?

Q (Desmond Llewelyn) COMMENTS:


Admiral Hargreaves (Robert Brown)

Pre-Title Sequence

Theft of Submarine/Bonds Ski Escape


23/37

Tomorrow Never DiesYear 1997

Directed by Roger Spottiswoode


Barbara Broccoli

Screenplay by Bruce Fierstein


In creating an alternate order of viewing the Bond films based on the outline of the books, this film is difficult to place in that it

contains no Ian Fleming material whatsoever beyond recurring characters. That being said, it is placed within The Spy Who Loved

Mesection due to both films being almost completely original. The two films also share common ground in that they both contain

large stealth boats that capture or destroy Naval vessels.

Category Category

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) Visual Effects





Overall Soundtrack

The Girl (Michelle Yeoh as Wai Lin) Action



Overall StuntsThe Villain (Jonathan Pryce as Elliot Carver) Gadgets



Overall Look/Design


Stamper (Gotz Otto) Set Design

Gupta (Ricky Jay) Costumes

Dr. Kaufman (Vincent Schiavelli) Plot


Paris Carver (Teri Hatcher) Plausibility

Inga Bergstrom (Cecilie Thomsen) OverallThe Allies Overall Rating:

Jack Wade (Joe Don Baker) Better than the Book (TSWLM)?


M (Judi Dench)



Charles Robinson (Colin Salmon)

Pre-Title Sequence

Bonds Jet Fighter Escape


24/37

On Her Majestys Secret

ServiceYear 1969

Directed by Peter Hunt


Harry Saltzman


Music by John Barry

This film is by far the most faithful to its source novel in both tone and plotline. The only major difference is that the film

combines the two subplots by having Blofeld capture Tracy. The darkness and tragedy of the book are both effectively captured,

although the emotional tie between Vesper Lynd and Tracy is absent from the film due to the fact that the official series had yet

to adapt Casino Royale.

Category Category

James Bond (George Lazenby) Visual Effects





Overall Soundtrack

The Girl (Diana Rigg as Tracy di Vicenzo) Action



Overall Stunts

The Villain (Telly Savalas as Ernst Stavro Blofeld) Gadgets



Overall Look/Design


Irma Bunt (Ilse Steppat) Set Design

Grunther (Yuri Borienko) Costumes


Ruby Bartlett (Angela Scoular) Entertainment Value

Nancy (Catherina von Schell) Plausibility

The Allies OverallMarc-Ange Draco (Gabriele Ferzetti) Overall Rating:

Campbell (Bernard Horsfall) Better than the Book?

Sir Hilary Bray (George Baker) COMMENTS:

MI6 Personnel

M (Bernard Lee)



Pre-Title Sequence

Bond Rescues Tracy


25/37

You Only Live TwiceYear 1967



Harry Saltzman

Screenplay by Roald Dahl

Music by John Barry

This was the first official Bond film to radically depart from the original novel, both in terms of tone and plotline. Few things

remain such as the Japanese setting, Bond's "transformation" into a Japanese fisherman and staged marriage to Kissy, and a few

of the book's main characters. The book mostly focused on the aftermath of Tracy's death in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but

because this had yet to happen in the film series, the film's plot goes in a very different (and much more farfetched) direction.

Category Category






Overall Soundtrack

The Girl (Mie Hama as Kissy Suzuki) Action



Overall Stunts

The Villain (Donald Pleasence as Ernst Stavro Blofeld) GadgetsLook Coolness Factor


Overall Look/Design


Helga Brandt (Karin Dor) Set Design

Mr. Osato (Teru Shimada) Costumes

Hans (Ronald Rich) Plot


Aki (Akiko Wakabayashi) Plausibility

Ling (Tsai Chin) Overall


Tiger Tanaka (Tetsuro Tamba) Better than the Book?

Mr. Henderson (Charles Gray) COMMENTS:

MI6 Personnel

M (Bernard Lee)



Pre-Title Sequence

Theft of Space Shuttle/Bonds Death


26/37

SkyfallYear 2012

Directed by Sam Mendes


Barbara Broccoli


Robert WadeJohn Logan

Music by Thomas Newman

Although the film is an original story, a surprising amount of Fleming material is present. Mostly unused plot elements from

You Only Live Twice. Bond's apparent "death" and disappearance is reminiscent of the end of the novel, as is M writing his

obituary. Bond's Scottish upbringing and the death of his parents is touched upon, which was first mentioned in the novel

as well. Fleming's final two novels (You Only Live Twice and The Man with the Golden Gun) serve as a story arc in which, at

the beginning of the latter, Bond is in a physical and psychological mess as he returns to duty. This aspect, although altered

dramatically, is also adapted in the film. The villain Raoul Silva is reminiscent of Fleming's Scaramanga, who in The Man with

the Golden Gun shows homosexual tendencies toward Bond. M's decision to send Bond on a dangerously difficult mission

to assassinate the villain before he is ready to do so is also similar to The Man with the Golden Gun.

Category Category

James Bond (Daniel Craig) Visual Effects





Overall Soundtrack

The Girl (Berenice Marlohe as Severine) ActionHotness Action Sequences


Overall Stunts

The Villain (Javier Bardem as Raoul Silva) Gadgets



Overall Look/Design


Patrice (Ola Rapace) Set Design

The Allies Costumes

Kincade (Albert Finney) Plot

MI6 Personnel Entertainment Value

M (Judi Dench) Plausibility

Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) Overall

Q (Ben Whishaw) Overall Rating:

Gareth Mallory/M (Ralph Fiennes) Better than the Book (YOLT)?

Bill Tanner (Rory Kinnear) COMMENTS:

Pre-Title Sequence

City Chase/Bonds Death


27/37

The Man with the

Golden GunYear 1974



Harry Saltzman


Tom Mankiewicz

Music by John Barry

The Man With The GoldenGun was the last of Fleming's novels; indeed he actually died before completing it properly. Very few

elements of the book survive to the screen, mainly the names of the villain and girl; with even the location changed (the novel is

set in Jamaica). Fleming's Scaramanga was a second rate thug in contrast with the film version. However, the story that the film

Scaramanga tells Bond about his relationship with a circus elephant is taken from the novel. In part of the literary series, MaryGoodnight was Bond's secretary who first appeared in On Her Majesty's Secret Servicebefore being promoted to a Bond girl

proper.

Category Category

James Bond (Roger Moore) Visual Effects





Overall Soundtrack

The Girl (Britt Ekland as Mary Goodnight) Action



Overall Stunts

The Villain (Christopher Lee as Francisco Scaramanga) Gadgets



Overall Look/Design


Nick Nack (Herve Villechaize) Set Design

Hai Fat (Richard Loo) Costumes


Andrea Anders (Maud Adams) Entertainment ValueThe Allies Plausibility

Lt. Hip (Soon-Tek Oh) Overall

Sheriff J.W. Pepper (Clifton James) Overall Rating:

MI6 Personnel Better than the Book?




Bill Tanner (Michael Goodliffe)

Pre-Title Sequence

Scaramangas Fun House


28/37

The Living DaylightsYear 1987



Michael G. Wilson


Michael G. Wilson

Music by John Barry

The plot of the short story, which is the second in the Octopussy and The Living Daylightsanthology, is incorporated into the openin

section of the film (concerning Koskov's defection), but with the original location of East Berlin changed to Bratislava. Even Bond's

line concerning the sniper having enough time to make strawberry jam of Koskov is taken directly from the story. The rest of the

film's plot is original, although the resurgence of Smiert Spionam, the KGB execution squad, is a direct reference to the villainousSMERSH organization featured in most of the early Fleming novels. NOTE:Watching this film immediately following the previous fiv

on the alternate order list allows the viewer to watch 6 Bond films in a row with all 6 official actors (a different one in each).

Category Category

James Bond (Timothy Dalton) Pre-Title Sequence

Badassery Attack on Training Exercise




Overall Music

The Girl (Maryam dAbo as Kara Milovy) Theme Song

Hotness Soundtrack



The Villain (Jeroen Krabbe as General Koskov) Fight Scenes

Look Stunts




Brad Whitaker (Joe Don Baker) Look/Design

Necros (Andreas Wisniewski) Locations

The Allies Set Design

Felix Leiter (John Terry) CostumesGeneral Pushkin (Jonathan Rhys-Davies) Plot

Kamran Shah (Art Malik) Entertainment Value

Saunders (Thomas Wheatley) Plausibility

General Gogol (Walter Gotell) Overall


M (Robert Brown) Better than the Story?

Miss Moneypenny (Caroline Bliss) COMMENTS:




29/37


30/37

The World is Not EnoughYear 1999

Directed by Michael Apted


Barbara Broccoli


Robert WadeBruce Fierstein


Unfortunately, this alternate order of viewing the Bond films ends on one of the lowest notes of the series. But it is difficult to place

this film in accordance with the original novels. 'The world is not enough' is revealed to be a family motto which Bond adopts in bot

the literary and cinematic versions of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, however this film has nothing more to do with any Fleming

material other than its title. The subplot featuring the kidnapping of M, however, is long rumored to have been inspired by Colonel

Sun, the first non-Fleming Bond novel. In Colonel Sun, Bond is forced to travel to Greece to recover a kidnapped M from a tyrannica

Chinese colonel intent on starting a war between Britain and the Soviet Union.

Category Category

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) Bill Tanner (Michael Kitchen)

Badassery Charles Robinson (Colin Salmon)

Humor Pre-Title Sequence

Seduction Methods Money Retrieval/Chase on the Thames

Charm/Sophistication Visual Effects

Overall Title Sequence

The Girl (Denise Richards as Dr. Christmas Jones) Special Effects

Hotness Music

Personality/Charm Theme Song

Overall SoundtrackThe Villain (Sophie Marceau as Elektra King) Action

Look Action Sequences

Personality/Menace Fight Scenes

Overall Stunts

Supporting Villains Gadgets

Renard (Robert Carlyle) Coolness Factor

Gabor (John Seru) Implementation

Cigar Girl (Maria Grazia Cucinotta) Look/Design

Davidov (Ulrich Thomsen) Locations

Bullion (Goldie) Set Design


Molly Warmflash (Serena Scott Thomas) Plot


Valentin Zukovsky (Robbie Coltrane) Plausibility

MI6 Personnel Overall

M (Judi Dench) Overall Rating:

Miss Moneypenny (Samantha Bond) Better than the Book (CS)?

Q (Desmond Llewelyn) COMMENTS:

R (John Cleese)


31/37

The Final Rankings

James Bond Overall

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

JB - Badassery JB Humor

Rank Rank

1 1

2 2

3 34 4

5 5

6 6

7 7

8 8

JB Seduction Methods JBCharm/Sophistication

Rank Rank

1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5

6 6

7 7

8 8

Top 5 Hottest Girls

Rank

1

2

34

5

The Girls - Overall

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

Top 5 Most Charming Girls

Rank

1

2

34

5


32/37

The Villains - Overall

Rank Miguel Peter

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

1415

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

2425

26

Top 5 Supporting Villains

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

Bottom 5 Supporting Villains (1=Worst)

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

Top 5 Supporting Girls

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

Bottom 5 Supporting Girls (1=Worst)

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

Top 5 Allies

Rank Peter

1

2

3

4

5

Bottom 5 Allies (1=Worst)

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

Felix Leiter

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9


33/37

M

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

6

Miss Moneypenny

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

6

Q

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

*NOTE: Q from the 1967 spoof of Casino Royaledoesnt

count because we dont remember him

Other MI6 Personnel

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Pre-Title/Opening Sequences

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

1415

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

2425

26

Top 5 Special Effects

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

Bottom 5 Special Effects

Rank

1

2

3

4

5


34/37

Title Sequences

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

2021

22

23

24

25

26

Soundtracks

Rank

1

2

3

45

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

1718

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

Theme Songs

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

2021

22

23

24

25

26

Action (Avg. of sequences, fight scenes, and stunts)

Rank

1

2

3

45

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

1718

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26


35/37

Gadgets (Avg. of coolness factor and implementation)

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

2021

22

23

24

25

26

Set Design

Rank

1

2

3

45

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

1718

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

Locations

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

2021

22

23

24

25

26

Costumes

Rank

1

2

3

45

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

1718

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26


36/37

Plot

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

1415

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

2425

26

Overall Ranking

Rank

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

1415

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

2425

26


37/37

The Perfect Bond Film (According to The Quest)

Category Description

James Bond

The Girl

The Villain

Supporting Villains

Supporting Girls

Ally

Felix Leiter

M

Miss Moneypenny

Q

Additional MI6 Official

Title Sequence by

Music by

Theme Song by

Written by

Directed by

Documents

The Quest - Ultimate James Bond Movie Marathon