Goodbye, Mr Bond

"It is never difficult," said P.G. Wodehouse, "to tell the difference between a Scotsman with a grievance and a ray of sunshine," but over at Shakespeare's Sister, it's a thoroughly unagrieved Scot, Mr Shakes himself, putting on his happy face to spread sunshine all over the place with this question of the day:

What's the best movie series ever? Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, Bond - anything. Heck, anything that even has a sequel. What gets your vote?

Lord of the Rings didn't get my vote, despite the greatness of all three installments, because I think of it as one long movie. But here's what did.

3. Tarzan! The longest running series, I believe, and it's produced the most movies. The heart of the franchise, of course, are the ones starring Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan, and Cheetah, and it's hard to say who's sexier.

I also like the Disney cartoon. Sue me.

2. Star Trek, Movies II-VI, with the original cast. The first doesn't count as part of the series because it's not really a Star Trek movie. Of the films with the Next Generation cast, only First Contact is up to snuff.

1. Bond.

Connery was tops, no arguing with that, but each of his successors added at least one good movie to the franchise, and I'm counting George Lazenby. Moore's Bond starred in at least three. Live and Let Die, The Spy Who Loved Me, and Moonraker. I know people who would add The Man With the Golden Gun, if only because Christopher Lee plays the villain.

I am still doubtful of new Bond Daniel Craig, and having seen Clive Owen's self-spoofing in The Pink Panther I feel even more robbed that Owen won't be 007, at least not soon. But Jaquandor is looking forward to Casino Royale which he thinks, hopefully, will restart and revamp the franchise.

Plus he has some thoughts on SPECTRE and there's a quiz!

Comment thread on Mr Shakes' post has grown rather long, so if you want to put your votes here, feel free. But I've got a couple of follow up questions.

Your favorite Bond movie?

Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, or Brosnan?

Worst movie series? After the Bad News Bears movies, which have to take Worst of Show.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006 in Now Playing at Cine 1-1000 | Permalink | Comments (21) | TrackBack (0)