A new classification for James Bond movies
James Bond captured my fascination from an early and tender age. I would drink iced tea from a short glass pretending it was whisky. I would stealthily move around the house clearing each room. I would practice introducing myself in the classic format of “My name is Bond. James Bond.” (I never did that in the real world, by the way, I had some awareness of reality.)
If we share this interest, we also likely share the pain of watching an older James Bond movie again when we are a little older and a little more mature. Let’s face it, some of the older ones — and a couple of the more recent ones — are totally unwatchable. Whether it be the cringey science fiction and special effects, the misogyny or the unreal storyline, some Bonds simply don’t make the cut in the modern world.
Having said that, the franchise needed the bad ones to develop, change, improve and, in some cases, just to keep going and not die out. All movies are a part of the whole, each a necessary stepping stone that helped keep the dream alive to the present day. That doesn’t keep me from looking away from the aberrations but at the same time, I want to introduce James to a new audience without scaring them away. But how?
I am proposing a new way of classifying Bond movies. BC and AD. You may be wondering what Jesus has to do with it. Nothing at all. BC and AD in this context refer to something, or rather, someone, completely different, namely: BC for Before Craig and AD for After Daniel. Daniel Craig is the vehicle through which a new and modern vision of Bond has been propelled. Before him, Bond movies, for the most part, were formulaic. Some were a lot more exciting than others but you expected some things to happen. And they did. Daniel Craig Bond movies, although not stand-alone, are real movies, with real character development, and with real drama. Of course, they have mistakes, most notably the awful poker scenes in Casino Royale. But I finally feel like I can show Bond to the uninitiated and get a positive reaction.
In case I haven’t made it obvious already, I am a big fan of the After Daniel (AD) period. But what are we to do with the Before Craig (BC) period? Here is where subjectivity will inevitably play an even bigger role. I think, if you were to show a 007 to a newbie, and you chose a BC, Thunderball and Die Another Day wouldn’t even make it on the list. Many dislike Roger Moore but I was born in 87’ so I don’t mind him so much. I think the number one on the list of BC movies is Goldeneye, winning by a landslide. It basically took all the best elements from previous 007s and put it all together in a classic Bond fashion. It follows the formula, but it is the apotheosis of the format.
I think it’s time for a list, in order from Best to Worst (in my opinion).
- AD — all Daniel Craig films fall into number one. Best watched in order, but if you’re trying to convert someone, especially someone who knows poker, go for Skyfall.
- Goldeneye
- Timothy Dalton as 007 (the most realistic Bonds): Licence to Kill, The Living Daylights (even though the female lead character is a bit too dim)
- Pierce Brosnan as 007 (placing him above Sean Connery because Connery’s time hasn’t aged well): Tomorrow never dies, The World is Not Enough
- You don’t really need to watch the rest, to be honest, but if you were compelled to… Sean Connery as 007: Everything except Diamonds are Forever, You Only Live Twice & Never Say Never Again
- Roger Moore as 007 (I am in the minority who doesn’t mind him too much): The Man with the Golden Gun (watch for the car stunt), For Your Eyes Only (watch for the car chase), Octopussy (watch for the opening scene)
- The rest (really don’t watch)
