007 Movie Tournament Game Match 11

[HenriDeadMort]

(How to play)
On her majesty's Secret service VS The Living Daylights

[HenriDeadMort]

OHMSS is really good, and beats any Connery.
but TLD is the best bond film

[CreasyBear]

OHMSS.

Because it's the best. I love TLD, though.

[HenriDeadMort]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

OHMSS.

Because it's the best. I love TLD, though.

i mean it's in my top 5 for sure.
but you just can't do a better spy film than TLD

[DR Herbert West]

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

[MJD64]

I have a lot of affection for Roger Moore, but after seeing him wheeze his way through his last couple of Bond films back in the day, it was bracing to watch Timothy Dalton make his debut as James Bond in 1987. Darkly handsome and intense, Dalton makes for a smashing 007, and THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS is easily my favorite '80s Bond film. There was a renewed excitement in the action scenes with a younger and more vigorous Bond, and though the villains are a bit disappointing, this is a solidly entertaining entry in the series...and somewhat bittersweet in that it's the last film scored by the great John Barry (which has some really lovely cues in the romantic scenes).

Still, THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS is up against ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE here, and it's no contest. Diana Rigg - best Bond heroine ever - is wonderful as the strong-willed Tracy, Telly Savalas remains the best Blofeld in the series and George Lazenby's more human Bond has grown on me over the years - though he lacks Connery's effortless charisma, and I can't help but lament not seeing what likely would've been dynamic chemistry between Connery and Rigg. John Barry's magnificent score is arguably his greatest, and I love the cinematography and visceral, violent qualities of the quick-cut editing in the action scenes. That nighttime ski chase is terrific, and has a real spectral (no pun intended) beauty as well. The film has the good luck to be based on - and is quite faithful to - one of Fleming's finest Bond novels, and that ending...OHMSS caps off the greatest decade of the series, and does it superbly.

[Bugg]

The Living Daylights

[scifisuperfan]

OHMSS, one of the best old bond movies with the worst bond ever...

That means something!!!

[EvaDK]

OHMSS
- Lazenby's performance is unfortunately quite wooden. Only in select scenes with the wonderful Diana Rigg, does he tap into something worthwhile. The plot isn't particularly good or memorable, it seems the only elements plot-wise that keeps the film afloat, is the romance part and Telly Savalas' being entertaining. On the plus side, it has one of the best scores, some really good individual set pieces and the tragic ending that made the film an instant classic.

TLD
- also Dalton's first outing (but not also his last) and it is evident he's the better actor and much better suited for the part of Bond. The humor from the Moore era is toned down and Dalton adds the more dangerous edge found in the Fleming books to his performance. Maryam d'Abo performance is just ok, she comes across as rather helpless during most of the storyline; she's no Diana Rigg.

The plot of the film deals with the Afghan war of the 80s and illegal arms sales. Andreas Wisniewski (who also got killed by the protagonist in Die Hard the following year) imo makes the best impression as the henchman, whereas John Don Baker and Jeroen Krabbe are serviceable as sleazy schemers. But I don't know how memorable they are to most people. Beautiful cinematography and score, but not top tier.

I'm giving my vote to The Living Daylights for primarily two reasons: having a much better actor as your James Bond is a considerable advantage and I like the storyline of TLD slightly better than its OHMSS counterpart.

[Cherokee Jack]

Put a motivated Connery in OHMSS and this would be no contest. As is I'm going with TLD largely for the same reasons laid out by EvaDK.

[RCRochester]

Motherf*cker, one day I'm stuck trying to pick between a couple mediocre films like Skyfall and Quantum of Solace, the next day I have to decide between these two. I went with OHMSS by the slimmest of margins though I love both in equal measures.

[CreasyBear]

I actually don't think Connery would have fit in OHMSS at all. He's too much testosterone. Too much machismo. I can't see Connery's Bond actually falling in love and being heartbroken. I could see Dalton doing that, easily. In fact I believe he auditioned for the role in OHMSS, but even Dalton agreed he was too young at that point. I think Lazenby fits the film extremely well and pulls it off nicely. It's also somewhat appropriate that for the one film where Bond is more emotionally vulnerable and gets married, it's a different actor who only starred in one film.

[AKORIS]

I can't believe this is even close..... OHMSS!!

[Cherokee Jack]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

I actually don't think Connery would have fit in OHMSS at all. He's too much testosterone. Too much machismo. I can't see Connery's Bond actually falling in love and being heartbroken. I could see Dalton doing that, easily. In fact I believe he auditioned for the role in OHMSS, but even Dalton agreed he was too young at that point. I think Lazenby fits the film extremely well and pulls it off nicely. It's also somewhat appropriate that for the one film where Bond is more emotionally vulnerable and gets married, it's a different actor who only starred in one film.

Agree that Dalton would have been ideal for OHMSS were it not for his age. Disagree about Connery however. His subtle but effective performance after finding Jill Masterson dead shows the emotional range he had as Bond when necessary; most of his entries didn't go in that direction of course. His verbal sparring with Masterson's sister later in Goldfinger also shows how he might have worked with Rigg's Tracy in OHMSS.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by Cherokee Jack

Agree that Dalton would have been ideal for OHMSS were it not for his age. Disagree about Connery however. His subtle but effective performance after finding Jill Masterson dead shows the emotional range he had as Bond when necessary; most of his entries didn't go in that direction of course. His verbal sparring with Masterson's sister later in Goldfinger also shows how he might have worked with Rigg's Tracy in OHMSS.

Oh he could have handled the banter with Rigg just fine, but that little snippet in Goldfinger doesn't really translate to buying into his Bond falling in love and marrying Tracy. Connery is not an actor that plays emotional vulnerability that well. He's got buckets of charisma and presence though and that works for his Bond adventures.

[Winslow Leach]

This one is tough.

I love OHMSS, and think Lazenby is an excellent Bond. He's especially good in the fight scenes. It's a shame he only made one 007 film...but what a film! Definitely in my top five.

I voted for The Living Daylights, because I think Dalton is the second best Bond (after Connery).

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

I actually don't think Connery would have fit in OHMSS at all. He's too much testosterone. Too much machismo. I can't see Connery's Bond actually falling in love and being heartbroken. I could see Dalton doing that, easily. In fact I believe he auditioned for the role in OHMSS, but even Dalton agreed he was too young at that point. I think Lazenby fits the film extremely well and pulls it off nicely. It's also somewhat appropriate that for the one film where Bond is more emotionally vulnerable and gets married, it's a different actor who only starred in one film.

I completely agree about Connery, and that's been an assertion I've made a lot over the years. Connery's skillset as an actor doesn't extend well to scenes with heartfelt emotion. I've seen him attempt it in other films and it comes across as forced (the Presidio being one that I recall). What I enjoy about OHMSS is that many of its elements are offbeat compared to the rest of the series and having the obscure Lazenby in a one-off performance adds to that mystique.

Originally Posted by Cherokee Jack

Agree that Dalton would have been ideal for OHMSS were it not for his age.

I don't think Dalton would have worked even if he was the right age. For the same reason I don't think Connery would have worked.

[EvaDK]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

I completely agree about Connery, and that's been an assertion I've made a lot over the years. Connery's skillset as an actor doesn't extend well to scenes with heartfelt emotion.

Really?

The Name Of The Rose
Robin & Marian
The Untouchables
The Russia House
Highlander?

I think Connery is perfectly capable of showing his softer side, his insecurities and deep felt melancholia.

[scifisuperfan]

Zardoz is his best heartfelt performance!!

[VenomGA]

The Living Daylights