by Orrin Konheim

Created on: November 12, 2008   Last Updated: March 28, 2011

Coming to a consensus with others on the best and worst James Bond films is something I’ve found to be difficult to do. I generally treat James Bond as a genre film and look for how they use the same elements including how over-the-top the megalomaniacal the villain is, how elaborate the villain’s lair is, how sexy the bond girls, and how great the theme song is. I also like a good chase scene or two.

The best:

1. Goldfinger

This film is so solid on all of the basic Bond elements: the Aston Martin as a Bond gadget never seen before, a great henchman in Oddjob, and the addition of the beautiful Masterson sisters. The shots of Miami , Bluegrass Kentucky , and locations. What also is great about the film is the iconic moments: Mr. Solo being crushed in a car, Oddjob's bowler hat and Jill Masterson painted gold. Goldfinger was the third film in the series, the last film Ian Flemming saw before he died and a point where the film series had solidified its place in culture. The most memorable theme song in the series as well.

2. Live and Let Die-

More than any other film, James Bond really felt like a fish out of water here and the juxtaposition of Bond juxtaposed against the very vivid settings of New Orleans , New York , and the fictional San Monique had a palpable sense of danger to it. Live and Let Die capitalized heavily on blaxploitation elements and I loved the incorporation of voodoo and tarot cards into the mix. You can go to New Orleans and people in tarot card shops still talk about that film.  

Yaphet Kotto was a great villain and Solitaire might just be my favorite of the Bond girls.  Kananga had such a powerful presence as an empowered adversary to Bond. The staying power of Tee Hee's laugh and Baron Samedi's even more distinct laugh are things I always remember. It was an excellent outing for Roger Moore, and clearly filmed when he was in his best shape (Roger Moore was 45 years old when he filmed Live and Let Die) 

 3. You Only Live Twice-First off, as someone who thinks Bond gets away with things too easily I enjoy watching him die and I really like to think he does actually die and a new Bond replaces him at that point. Although Bond dressing as a Ninja is kind of silly, I like this film because Bond isn't as obtrusive here. He's not saving the world by himself and is merely part of a larger plan orchestrated by the ninja with Tiger Tanaka. The theme song by Nancy Sinatra is my favorite, I

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