Bondathon Podcast Part 3

Podcast Powered By Podbean

So here we are Day Two and here's Podcast Part 3 - the first 4 Roger More films!!! Onwards we go......

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Investigating the disappearance of two nuclear submarines, Bond must team up with a Russian agent, Major Anya Amasova (also known as XXX), to prevent a nuclear strike from happening.

The idea of Anglo-Soviet co-operation in real life may have seemed unusual, given the Cold War. The scene with the microfilm where each agent attempts to outdo the other is amusing-the one-upmanship between Gogol and M is also good.

Moore often has a reputation for being a bit ineffective but here he’s quite the man of action: callously letting a man fall to his death from the roof of a building once Bond has the information required and effortlessly beating up two goons, not to mention his rather brutal dispatch of Stromberg. I also like the fact that Bond’s marriage is mentioned, thus providing some continuity for the character, and that Moore looks genuinely grieved to have it brought up. In his third outing as Bond, he’s started to find his own version of the role which is good to see.

Barbara Bach is brilliant as Anya. Far from being a damsel in distress, she matches Bond in wit and skill, even saving Bond from a falling rock at the Pyramids. She can even come out with a Bond-esque quip without it sounding forced. The chemistry between Bach and Moore is pretty good too; they spark off one another nicely. The scene where Anya asks Bond if he killed the man she loved is impressive.

Jaws makes his first appearance and is just great. Richard Kiel’s a physically imposing man (approximately seven feet tall) which just adds to the menace. He can rip a van to pieces with his bare hands and has no compunction about killing on orders.  He seems virtually indestructible, emerging unscathed from a crashed Ford Cortina and from being electrocuted and thrown off a train and even takes on a sharkand walks away from it.

It’s a shame that such a strong film is lumbered with a weak villain – Karl Stromberg, another megalomaniac with a shark fetish (like Largo and Blofeld before him). Stromberg is a web-handed recluse who wants to start a nuclear war to ensure that his plans for a civilisation under the sea can come to fruition. It’s often said that a Bond film is only as good as its villain which would rank this one just above Thunderball for me.

The sequence at the Pyramids, where Jaws takes out Fekkesh, is nicely done- director Lewis Gilbert once again showing a good eye for scope and scale. The scale of some of the sets is absolutely huge- the Liparus set is just immense as is the Atlantis set. There’s an absolutely rocking theme tune by Carly Simon (even if the campy showtune remix over the end credits leaves something to be desired), the underwater Lotus Esprit makes an appearance and is just as cool as I remember. The Union Jack parachute jump at the end of the pre-credits sequence is another iconic movie moment, a trifle overblown but still fun.

All said, The Spy Who Loved Me is one of the strongest Bond films in the franchise, transcending its flaws and coming up with a winner.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Tez

Countdown: The Watchers' 10 Worst Bond Villains

Sadly, just as not every Bond film can be a Goldfinger, not every Bond villain can be a Scaramanga. Several of the threats that Bond has faced during his illustrious career are about as threatening as a ride on the Teacups and instil about as much fear as a three month old kitten. Here, then, are The Watchers' 10 Worst Bond Villains.


1. GUSTAV GRAVES
(played by Toby Stephens in Die Another Day)

As written, Graves comes across as a bland posh boy whose utter arrogance comes across as deeply annoying. That's before you factor in the bizarre gene therapy and space laser stuff. Stephens sadly can't do much to redeem such a fundamentally unlikeable character.





2. KAMAL KHAN
(played by Louis Jourdan in Octopussy)

When we were coming up with this countdown, we were both unable to remember this character's name- so we called him 'the villain from Octopussy'. When the best you can come up with is a vague description of a character, it doesn't bode well.

3. CARL STROMBERG
(played by Curt Jurgens in The Spy Who Loved Me)

It's a shame that The Spy Who Loved Me- such a strong film- is cursed with such a weak villain. Stromberg's plan is standard nuclear apocalypse fare and the underwater lair seems ridiculous- even if we do get the underwater Lotus as a result.





4. DR. JULIUS NO
(played by Joseph Wiseman in Dr. No)

Whilst not as bad as some other portrayals in the 1960s (Mickey Rooney in Breakfast At Tiffany's, I'm looking at you) there's something slightly racist about the portrayal of No in the film- he is half-Chinese, half-German- which severely colours any attempts at making him a credible villain.





5. ERNST STAVRO BLOFELD
(played by Charles Gray in Diamonds Are Forever)

Gray is an exceptional character actor, but sadly his performance as Blofeld is flawed. He just doesn't have the menace of Pleasance or the charm of Savalas. He isn't even bald. Plus, the whole scene in drag (whilst funny) is utterly unnecessary.





6. DOMINIC GREENE
(played by Mathieu Amalric in Quantum Of Solace)

Whilst having an environmentalist as a villain is a neat trick, Greene- like Le Chiffre- is never really a major threat due to the Quantum connection. Amalric's performance is entirely underwhelming as well.





7. ARIS CHRISTATOS
(played by Julian Glover in For Your Eyes Only)

Another example of a strong film being landed with a weak villain. Christatos is a standard Russian double agent, which we've seen in the Bond franchise previously and done much better








8. GENERAL BRAD WHITTAKER
(played by Joe Don Baker in The Living Daylights)

Whittaker's as mad as a box of frogs with a Napoleon complex which should make for an interesting character. Sadly he just seems like a tinpot crackpot wannabe-dictator which is difficult to take seriously.






9. LE CHIFFRE
(played by Mads Mikkelsen in Casino Royale)

Crying blood is interesting but it doesn't do an awful lot to differentiate Le Chiffre from many of the other identikit 'sinister businessmen' that Bond has confronted over the years. Plus, Le Chiffre isn't as big a threat as he first seems as he's having his strings pulled by Quantum.

10. LARGO
(played by Adolfo Celi in Thunderball)

Just dull. A dull villain in a dull film (It should be pointed out that this is only Tez's opinion of the film and the villain and not a unilateral one).








So who would you put in this Rogues' Gallery of underwhelming threats to 007? Telly Savalas' Blofeld? Whittaker's compatriot General Koskov, or perhaps Kamal's partner-in-crime Orlov? Let us know in the comments below.

Next week, we countdown the Ten Worst Bond Henchmen.

Countdown: The Watchers' Top 10 Bond Henchmen

As we said last week, even the best Bond villain can't try to take 007 down him (or her)self; they usually need some form of help in the form of a henchman or henchwoman. They're as integral to Bond villainy as the outlandish base and delusions of grandeur. So after some deliberation, here we present The Watchers' Top 10 Bond Henchmen


1. ODDJOB
(played by Harold Sakata in Goldfinger)

A dab hand with a razor-sharp bowler hat, Oddjob has become- like Pleasence's Blofeld with the villains- a shorthand for what a 'Bond henchman' is. It's a solid performance by former Olympic gold medal winning wrestler Sakata, full of silent menace.






2. DONALD 'RED' GRANT
(played by Robert Shaw in From Russia With Love)

A solid man-mountain, Grant is one of the most dangerous men Bond has been up against. Trained by SPECTRE to revenge the death of Dr. No, his only mission is to kill Bond. Shaw's performance is excellent as the stone-cold killer

3. JAWS
(played by Richard Kiel in The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker)

When you mention Bond films to most people, it doesn't take them long to get round to Jaws. A towering giant with large metal teeth, first an out-and-out bad guy in The Spy Who Loved Me then moving into a slightly more neutral position in Moonraker, Jaws is an iconic a part of the Bond franchise.

4. XENIA ONATOPP
(played by Famke Janssen in GoldenEye)

The most fatale of femmes, Xenia's ample charms and killer thighs make for an entertaining and very sensual combination; Janssen plays the role to the hilt, making a real impact on screen in one of her first film roles.

5. MR KIDD & MR WINT
(played by Putter Smith and Bruce Glover in Diamonds Are Forever)

Are Mr Kidd and Mr Wint a gay couple? Maybe. There are certainly a couple of subtle and not-so-subtle hints that they may be, but the performances of Smith and Glover mean they are an entertaining double-act and very much in fitting with the campy tone of the film.



6. NICK-NACK
(played by Herve Villechaize in The Man With The Golden Gun)

Scaramanga's manservant, aiding his master in his schemes, even going so far as smuggling himself aboard the train at the end of the film to take Bond out. His slightly perverse relationship with Scaramanga- trying to use others to take his employer out- is an interesting take on the usual villain/henchman dynamic.

7. ROSA KLEBB
(played by Lotte Lenya in From Russia With Love)

Klebb is a former SMERSH agent defected to SPECTRE. Strict and slightly terrifying, Klebb is miles away from the real Lenya who was, by all accounts, a gentle and friendly person. We count her as a henchman rather than a villain as the true villain of From Russia With Love is the unidentified Blofeld.

8. MR WHITE

(played by Jesper Christensen in Casino Royale and Quantum Of Solace)

The mysterious Mr. White acts as Le Chiffre's superior in Casino Royale but is actually an underling in a much larger criminal organization- Quantum. He is trying to regain money lost by Le Chiffre and maintain Quantum's integrity- and will go to any lengths to do that.

9. DR. KAUFMANN
(played by Vincent Schiavelli in Tomorrow Never Dies)

A fun little cameo from superlative character actor Schiavelli as Paris Carver's assassin, also sent to finish Bond off in his hotel room in Hamburg. Deadly, sinister yet impeccably polite, there's a lot of humour in his short but very memorable scene.





10. BORIS GRISHENKO
(played by Alan Cumming in GoldenEye)

Boris is a cunning little runt, a software programmer at the Severnaya site allied with Trevelyan and Ouromov, helping to capture Natalya. Cumming gives a very fun performance of nerdy charm, coupled with his 'I'm invincible' catchphrase.






So those are our favourites - how about yours? Let us know in the comments below.

For every yin, there must be a yang - so for each of our favourites, there is a least favourite. Next week, we will reveal our choices for the worst/most ineffectual/weakest Bond villains.

Video Countdown: Top Ten Bond Stunts

When you think about Bond films, there are certain elements which spring to mind. One we'd like to focus on today is the action sequences and stunts. There have been some truly amazing stunts throughout the Bond franchise and we've put together our Top Ten. Click the video below to find out what we rated as the best stunt in a Bond movie:

Bond At The Oscars: Part Two - The Movies

Yesterday, we looked at the various Oscar-winning (and Oscar-nominated) actors and actresses that have appeared in the Bond films. Today, we look at which Bond films have been nominated for an Academy Award- and which ones have actually won.

It may surprise you to learn that seven official EON Productions Bond films have been nominated for at least one Academy Award, often giving the lie to the assumption that the Oscars are elitist and only go for worthy dramas. True, none of the films have been nominated for Best Picture but there has been recognition of the technical and musical achievements of the following films:

Goldfinger

Widely seen as the best Bond film, it is entirely fitting that Goldfinger is not only the first Bond film to be nominated for an Oscar, but the first to win: Norman Wanstall picked up the Oscar for Best Sound Effects.

Thunderball

Yep, you read that right. Thunderball was nominated for an Oscar. Not only was it nominated; it also won! John Stears picked up the award for Best Visual Effects.

Diamonds Are Forever

Gordon K. McCallum, John W. Mitchell and Al Overton were nominated for Best Sound for their work on Diamonds Are Forever; McCallum did walk away with a Golden Baldy on the night, however, as he shared Best Sound with David Hildyard for Fiddler On The Roof

Live And Let Die

This was the first time a Bond theme was nominated for Best Original Song but ‘Live And Let Die’ didn't win; that honour went to 'The Way We Were' (I personally think 'Live And Let Die' is twenty times the some 'The Way We Were' is, but there's no accounting for taste)

The Spy Who Loved Me

To date, this is the Bond film with the most Oscar nominations: three nods, for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (for Ken Adam, Peter Lamont and Hugh Scaife). Best Original Song (the epic ‘Nobody Does It Better’) and Best Original Score (Marvin Hamlisch). Unfortunately, nominations would have to be enough- the Oscars were won by Star Wars Episode IV (Best Art Direction-Set Decoration and Best Original Score) and You Light Up My Life (Best Original Song)

Moonraker

This film was recognised for Best Visual Effects (the team of Derek Meddings, Paul Wilson and John Evans) but lost out to Alien. 

For Your Eyes Only

The last Bond film to be nominated for an Oscar so far, and another nomination for Best Original Song (‘For Your Eyes Only’) but another loss: the Academy Award went to Arthur

Incidentally, the unofficial 1967 version of Casino Royale was nominated for Best Original Song for 'The Look Of Love' but lost to 'Talk To The Animals' from Doctor Dolittle. As you can see, Bond has had an interesting relationship with the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Could Skyfall break a thirty-one year hiatus and get an Oscar nod? We'll have to wait til next January to find out.