The Sean Connery Bond films hold a special place in the world of Bond as they helped build a the foundation for a film franchise of twenty-four movies and growing. However, despite their vaunted status, I feel they do not hold up well over time.
Sean Connery Bond Films Rankings
- Dr. No
- From Russia With Love
- Thunderball
- Goldfinger
- You Only Live Twice
- Diamonds Are Forever
Goldfinger encapsulates how Sean Connery’s films do not hold up over time. While you can chalk it up to the way it was back then, it’s hard to watch James Bond rape Pussy Galore in Goldfinger’s barn about halfway through the movie. Goldfinger also personifies the basest misogynistic tendencies of James Bond. There’s even a point where he almost ditches his mission because a pretty woman passes him on the road.
It’s for that reason I chose Dr. No as the best Sean Connery Bond film. It’s hard to argue against the original. It lays out the Bond formula pitting the suave, sexy secret agent against a maniacal villain bent on world domination.
From Russia With Love is a classic Bond movie. It introduces the infamous Bond nemesis, Ernst Blofeld, sports a ridiculously campy gypsy woman fight scene, and introduces the train as an iconic Bond fight scene backdrop.
Thunderball is, possibly, the first Bond film to introduce exotic locations as part of the Bond canon. This is nothing to say about the names of the villain, Largo, and his yacht, the Disco Volante.
You Only Live Twice suffers from a racist concept of trying to place James Bond undercover as a Japanese fisherman. The ludicrousness of the idea is only surpassed by its execution.
Diamonds Are Forever is the least unwatchable film from the Sean Connery era. It is mostly a footnote as Connery was brought back (in desperation?) after George Lazenby elected not to do another Bond film. It lacks any substance, but does claim the title of the best Bond Girl names in the entire franchise; Tiffany Case, Plenty O’Toole and Bambi and Thumper.
For my part, Tiffany Case is the most exquisite name of all Bond Girls. It’s a shame her character and the movie were so forgettable.
Daniel Craig Bond Films
- Skyfall
- Casino Royale
- Spectre
- Quantum of Solace
Top 007 Bond Films
- Skyfall
- Casino Royale
- Dr. No
- Spectre
- Goldeneye
- The Man With the Golden Gun
- Tomorrow Never Dies
Top 007 Bond Villains
- Blofeld (Multiple Films)
- Mr. Silver (Skyfall)
- Auric Goldfinger (Goldfinger)
- Scaramanga (The Man with the Golden Gun)
- Elektra King (The World is Not Enough)
- Dr. No
- Elliot Carver
Top 007 Bond Girls
- M (Multiple Films)
- Vesper Lynd (Casino Royale)
- Tracy (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service)
- Money Penny (Multiple Films)
- Pussy Galore (Goldfinger)
- Wai Lin (Tomorrow Never Dies)
- May Day (View to a Kill)
Top 007 Bond Songs
- Skyfall
- Writing’s On the Wall
- Diamonds Are Forever
- Nobody Does It Better
- View to a Kill
- Goldeneye
- Live and Let Die
Top 007 Bond Cars
- Aston Martin (Multiple Films)
- Lotus
- Scaramanga’s Flying Car (Man With the Golden Gun)
Top 007 Bond Gadgets
- Watch
- Pen (Goldeneye)
- Briefcase (From Russia with Love)
- Radio Transmitter
- BMW Remote (Tomorrow Never Dies)
Q Branch
M-sights