My Top 10 Favorite James Bond Films

I've always loved James Bond. I'm not British, and didn't grow up in a culture of 007 lovers. But through my own search, I found the character and almost instantly grew a strong affection for him. Since then, I've watched every one of the films, read some of Ian Fleming's novels, and can honestly say I will be a Bond fan for life. Of course, being the movie buff that I am, the films are what are most profound to me. And, of course I like some better than others. So, here is my rankings of my ten favorite 007 movies, and a very brief review for each. Hope you enjoy, and please leave some of your favorite James Bond films in the comments. I'd love to hear some other thoughts.






#10 - Moonraker (1979)

Yes, it's cheesy. Yes, it's over-the-top. And yes, it's just plain absurd at times. But, Moonkraker has that irresistible James Bond charm that makes any movie, however bad it should be, enjoyable. Roger Moore gives a good performance as 007, and Richard Kiel plays the iconic villain Jaws. The film boasts some thrilling stunts, including a breathtaking opening skydive sequence. It also features some of the franchise's coolest gadgets and some impressive special effects. All of this adds up to make a very entertaining, if completely silly Bond movie.






#9 - The Living Daylights (1987)

Unlike a lot of people, I really enjoyed the Timothy Dalton Bond films. Dalton certainly isn't the best of the Bond actors, but he brings a serious note to the character while still keeping much of the charm intact. The Living Daylights was the first of two 007 movies starring Timothy Dalton, and it is a good one. It put the franchise back on track after the utter absurdity that had taken over in the late Roger Moore era. The story is interesting enough to keep you invested, and the movie has some fine action scenes. It's thrilling, entertaining, and a darn good Bond film.

#8 - From Russia with Love (1963)

The second Bond movie, many regard From Russia with Love as one of the best, if not the best 007 film. I wouldn't quite say that, but it is a very good one nonetheless. It has the eminently charming Sean Connery in the role of Agent 007, and he gives a typically great performance. The film is able to capture a lot of tension and suspense from its Cold War setting, and the story is one of the franchise's strongest. I feel the slow bits are dull, though, and From Russia with Love occasionally drags its feet. But overall, it's very enjoyable, and one of the better Bonds.





#7 - The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

In my opinion, this is the clear best of the Moore era. Not only does it feature his most confident performance as Bond, it also has some of the series' best villains, witty dialogue, thrilling action, and style to spare. Additionally, The Spy Who Loved Me boasts one of the best and most beautiful Bond girls in Anya Amasova, played by Barbara Bach. You could argue that it sparked the ludicrousness that plagued later Moore installments. However, on its own, it's highly entertaining and wholly
satisfying.





#6 - Licence to Kill (1989) 

I believe this, Timothy Dalton's second and final Bond film, to be the franchise's most underrated entry. It has what I believe is one of the best and most riveting stories of all the 007 movies. Licence to Kill also features some exciting action sequences and great performances. It is definitely darker than most other Bond movies, and its edgy tone is one of the things I love about it. People praise Daniel Craig for bringing in more edge and sophistication to the character, and rightly so. However, I feel Dalton is not given the credit he deserves for doing something similar back in the '80s. Granted, Craig's portrayal is more effective than Dalton's. But still, Dalton should be commended for what he did with 007.






#5 - Thunderball (1965)

This pick may come as a surprise to many. Thunderball is not generally regarded as this good, but to me, it's one of the franchise's most purely fun installments. It came right after Goldfinger, so I think people may have been expecting more from it. However, I love it. It had what I think was the series' first real blockbuster aura. It feels like a big movie. The action and stunts are exhilarating, the performances are confident and charismatic - particularly Sean Connery as Bond - and there's something charmingly stylish about it that captivates me every time. May not be one of the more popular Bond movies, but it's certainly one of my personal favorites.








#4 - GoldenEye (1995)

Undoubtedly, GoldenEye is my favorite of the Pierce Brosnan era, and the only one that I actually think is great. Brosnan is coolly suave as James Bond, giving his best performance in the role. Sean Bean is predictably great as Agent 006. It's fast-paced, and quite frequently very exciting. It has an energetic feel that is often able to provide genuine thrills. It also ushered the franchise into a more modern context. Come on, what's not to love about GoldenEye?

#3 - Skyfall (2012)

This is the latest installment in the James Bond franchise, and it's one of the best. Daniel Craig gives an excellent performance as 007, and the film contains spectacular stunts, thrilling action sequences, a sharp script, and a fantastic Bond villain. It feels like the classic Sean Connery Bonds of the 1960's, while still feeling fresh and original on its own. There are also a number of touching scenes and some genuine character development. I don't think there's much to gripe about Skyfall. It came out only two years ago, but it's already shaping up to be a classic 007 movie for years to come. It's all just really refreshing and extremely entertaining.






#2 - Goldfinger (1964)

You knew this was going to be on here. To me, Goldfinger is the definitive Bond movie. It was the third entry in the franchise, but it was the beginning of the series as we know it today. It has all the gadgets and catchphrases that have become a trademark for the character, but it's also incredibly entertaining as its own piece of escapism. Sean Connery gives his best performance as 007, and arguably the one that has become a model for all other Bond actors. Auric Goldfinger and Oddjob are two of the very best Bond villains. Honor Blackman plays the precariously named Bond girl, and is arguably still the best today. If you're looking to get into the franchise for the first time, there's no better place to start than Goldfinger.







#1 - Casino Royale (2006)

After Pierce Brosnan finished his run as James Bond, Daniel Craig was cast in the role. Many were skeptical that he was capable of doing the character justice. Those skeptics were proven oh so wrong when Casino Royale hit theaters. Not only is Craig right up there with Connery as the best Bonds, the movie itself was absolutely magnificent. Not only is it tremendously entertaining with thrilling action scenes, a witty script, and some breathtaking poker sequences, it does it all so confidently. To me, it is the best of all the Bonds, and most likely will be for years to come. It has also become one of my favorite movies of all-time. I absolutely love it, and can't think of any critiques for it.