When Sean Connery returned as James Bond for Diamonds Are Forever, he was stepping again into the position after sitting out On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. But by 1973’s Live and Let Die, Connery was not inquisitive about enjoying 007, prompting long-time Bond producers Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman to discover a new actor to tackle the position – enter Roger Moore.
Taking over from Connery was no straightforward feat. Rather than copying his predecessor’s iconic, tough-as-nails strategy, Moore introduced his personal spin to Ian Fleming’s undercover agent. Known for his suave demeanor, easy attraction, and witty one-liners, Moore made the position his personal. So a lot in order that many followers nonetheless contemplate him the very best James Bond to this present day. Not to say, he starred in additional official Bond movies than anybody else.
However, whereas Roger Moore’s Bond motion pictures characteristic a number of the franchise’s most memorable motion sequences, they’ve had combined reception. There’s a minimum of one true traditional (The Spy Who Loved Me), but in addition just a few not-so-great entries. Read on to see how we have ranked all seven Roger Moore Bond movies. Plus, take a look at our information to watching all 25 James Bond motion pictures so as.
7. A View to a Kill
Where to stream: Apple TV Plus/Prime Video (US); Prime Video (UK); Prime Video/Stan (Australia)
RT (Rotten Tomatoes) critics rating: 37%
It was a case of 1 film too far for Roger Moore in 1985’s A View to a Kill, his closing outing as 007.
Moore was kind of the identical age David Niven had been when he performed an ageing Bond in 1967 spoof Casino Royale, so it’s not potential to faux – because the film steadily does – that he’s nonetheless a undercover agent in his prime. Alas, the main man’s advancing years are one of many much less important points with a movie so dangerous it’s typically unintentionally humorous.
A View to a Kill has two saving graces. The first is Duran Duran’s theme track, which is up there with the franchise’s greatest. The different is Christopher Walken, who hams it up spectacularly as Max Zorin, a mad industrialist plotting to wipe out California’s Silicon Valley – his unconventional supply could make even probably the most mundane strains of dialogue value listening to. Nonetheless, it’s a must to query the knowledge of a villain who tries to flee the scene of the crime in a very sluggish airship along with his identify emblazoned throughout the facet. Did he actually assume he was going to get away with it?
6. Moonraker
Where to stream: Apple TV Plus/Prime Video (US); Prime Video (UK); Prime Video/Stan (Australia)
RT critics rating: 60%
At the climax of Moonraker’s predecessor, The Spy Who Loved Me, the acquainted end-of-credits message says “James Bond will return in For Your Eyes Only“. And that was certainly the plan till Star Wars (learn how to look at the Star Wars motion pictures so as) kickstarted a Hollywood-wide obsession with outer house. Even 007 booked himself an unlikely ticket into orbit.
In reality, Moonraker is a really strange cowl model of The Spy Who Loved Me (identical director, one of many identical writers) that introduces lacking house shuttles rather than AWOL submarines. Unfortunately, the tone is foolish somewhat than humorous – the double-taking pigeon in Venice is a low-point for the franchise – with Roger Moore’s well-known raised eyebrow getting extra of a exercise than ever. Returning muscle Jaws (Richard Kiel) can be completely defanged when he finds romance, which is a waste of such an iconic character. The largest disappointment, nevertheless, is the particular results – though the movie got here out two years after Star Wars, the visuals aren’t in the identical league.
5. The Man with the Golden Gun
Where to stream: Apple TV Plus/Prime Video (US); Prime Video (UK); Prime Video/Stan (Australia)
RT critics rating: 42%
This film is called after its villain and rightly so – Christopher Lee’s elite murderer Francisco Scaramanga is well the very best factor about this middling Bond outing. The Dracula star was famously the step-cousin of 007’s creator, Ian Fleming, and he delivers a efficiency of charming menace as knowledgeable killer who simply occurs to have a golden bullet with Bond’s identify on it.
Otherwise, The Man with the Golden Gun is a messy affair. Britt Ekland’s British subject agent Mary Goodnight is two-dimensional and embarrassingly written (even by the requirements of the Nineteen Seventies and ladies in 007 motion pictures), whereas Bond’s second encounter with Sheriff JW Pepper (in Thailand?!) defies rationalization.
On the plus facet, the movie does characteristic one of many sequence’ best ever stunts, when a automotive barrel rolls over a river – although somebody thought it was a good suggestion to soundtrack the spectacular set-piece with a swanee whistle. Who is aware of why?
4. Octopussy
Where to stream: Apple TV Plus/Prime Video (US); Prime Video (UK); Prime Video/Stan (Australia)
RT critics rating: 42%
By the time Octopussy was launched in 1983, journey had a brand new identify and it wasn’t James Bond. But 007 didn’t simply need to stay as much as the Steven Spielberg-powered motion of Indiana Jones (learn our Steven Spielberg motion pictures ranked article) – he was additionally competing towards himself following Sean Connery’s return to the position in unofficial quasi-Thunderball remake Never Say Never Again.
Octopussy comfortably received the Bond v Bond field workplace battle, and this run-of-the-mill but entertaining entry within the sequence would have been a way more becoming sign-off for Moore than the risible A View to a Kill. Less grounded than predecessor For Your Eyes Only, it sees the star in his aspect because the tone veers again in direction of the tongue-in-cheek territory Moore’s 007 historically calls residence. Unfortunately meaning the movie’s portrayal of India – probably an exciting backdrop for the film – leans approach too closely on lazy stereotypes. Ironically, the Indiana Jones franchise that had stolen a few of Bond’s thunder slipped up in related methods only a 12 months later, with The Temple of Doom.
3. For Your Eyes Only
Where to stream: Apple TV Plus/Prime Video (US); Prime Video (UK); Prime Video/Stan (Australia)
RT critics rating: 69%
When Casino Royale kicked off the Daniel Craig period, the way in which it introduced the long-running sequence back-to-basics after the invisible vehicles and big house lasers of Die Another Day was a serious speaking level. However, it wasn’t the primary course correction in 007’s historical past as a result of For Your Eyes Only had already introduced the franchise again right down to earth after the excesses of Moonraker.
While Craig’s “blunt instrument” was the right match for Casino Royale, it is a case of (virtually) the correct film with the improper Bond. Moore was not at all a cert to make a fifth outing as 007, so the film may simply have served as a reintroduction to a grittier new tackle the character.
That might clarify why the movie – helmed by former editor/second unit director John Glen, who’d go on to direct all 5 ’80s Bond motion pictures – is an odd mish-mash of seriousness and outlandishly foolish, Moore-friendly moments. The revenge-driven plot is an efficient match for the character and most of the stunts – significantly an outstanding free-climbing sequence – have stood the check of time. But on the identical time, that is the one the place Bond drops a Blofeld lookalike down a chimney and misses a telephone name from then-British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Go determine.
For Your Eyes Only can be notable as the one Bond movie with out an M, after unique actor Bernard Lee died early on in manufacturing.
2. Live and Let Die
Where to stream: Apple TV Plus/Prime Video (US); Prime Video (UK); Prime Video/Stan (Australia)
RT critics rating: 67%
After Sean Connery selected to completely revoke his licence to kill (till his “unofficial” comeback in 1983’s Never Say Never Again, a minimum of), Roger Moore was anointed the large display screen’s third 007. The producers had been initially hoping for Connery’s return, nevertheless, and that’s clear in a script that’s edgier and fewer self-consciously comedic than Moore’s subsequent outings within the position. In truth, that is arguably the one Bond film the place Moore comes near convincing as a ruthless authorities murderer.
Viewed by way of trendy eyes, many components of Live and Let Die really feel like a clunky, generally insensitive try and money in on the success of the Blaxploitation style of the early ’70s. Clifton James’ Louisiana cop JW Pepper additionally veers dangerously near caricature territory. In the positives column, returning Goldfinger director Guy Hamilton retains issues pacey, whereas Paul McCartney’s theme tune subverts the normal system spectacularly, and is arguably the franchise’s greatest.
And this is one for the trivia buffs… Live and Let Die is the one movie between 1963’s From Russia With Love and 1999’s The World is Not Enough to not characteristic a scene with Desmond Llewelyn’s ubiquitous gadget specialist Q.
1. The Spy Who Loved Me
Where to stream: Apple TV Plus/Prime Video (US); Prime Video (UK); Prime Video/Stan (Australia)
RT critics rating: 82%
A Bond journey so huge it prompted the development of the huge 007 Stage at London’s Pinewood Studios, The Spy Who Loved Me is our best choice on this Roger Moore Bond film rating.
In some ways, it’s a retread of Sean Connery’s You Only Live Twice (each movies had been directed by Lewis Gilbert) but it surely’s additionally the one flick the place Moore’s trademark tongue-in-cheek supply gels completely with the blockbuster spectacle. That’s clear from a spectacular pre-credits sequence the place 007 skis off a cliff and interrupts his freefall by unfurling a union jack parachute – Carly Simon’s traditional “Nobody Does it Better” theme track couldn’t be higher positioned.
While Bond movies are sometimes accused of being formulaic, The Spy Who Loved Me proves that – when it’s on track – it’s a system that works. Main villain Karl Stromberg’s scheme to construct a brand new underwater civilisation chimes completely with the film’s over-the-top vibe, whereas Richard Kiel’s silent Jaws is without doubt one of the franchise’s greatest henchmen. KGB agent Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) is a wonderful foil for Bond. And, with the potential exception of Goldfinger’s Aston Martin DB5, the submersible Lotus Espirit S1 is arguably 007’s best ever automotive.
For extra James Bond protection, take a look at our rankings of greatest Sean Connery James Bond motion pictures, greatest Peirce Brosnan James Bond motion pictures and greatest Daniel Craig James Bond motion pictures. We additionally give our verdict on the very best James Bond devices ever, from exploding pens to full-scale remote-controlled vehicles.
