I haven't read every post down here cause I was a bit disappointed. U see I won't pick any Bond film here cause they all are great in different ways though I have to say that Pierce Brosnan was the greatest Bond ever! look at the image he created for Bond! Elegant, sexy, smart assassin. When Craig's Bond, though I like the actor very much, sadly I have to admit that, his MI6 agent is not Bond but some kind of Die Hard + Jackie Chan moves. He bets too much on his brutal force. Yeah I like action movies but Bond was not renowned only for that. Maybe it is fault of directors I don't know but Pierce is an icon for Bond. Even the way he used to say Bond, James Bond is so much better than Craig's.

1 - Never Say Never Again

Of all the Connery films, I find NSNA to be by far the most underrated and unappreciated. It was a wonderful re-working of the Thunderball story-line with poignancy. The use of then modern graphics (during the computer game) was admirable and daring for it's time - the same should also be said for the showcase of fashion and general style. On top of this it had Basinger in it - 'The' hottest Bond Girl!

2 - Octopussy

This film was original based on the depth and relevance the story had to the real-life stalemate with the USSR. The idea of a mad-man within the Soviet structure hit frighteningly delicate strings with a lot of people who at the time watched on the Cold War with concern. …someone mentioned the clown suit as absurd I think, I actually think it gave another facet to the Bond performance where even dressed as a circus act he could dish out the lethality of his profession. Do I even need mention how cool those Twi Assassins were??

3 - Die Another Day

This has to be at number three due mainly because of the quality of the 2 I've just mentioned but beating the rest because of the sheer number of doors Pierce Brosnan single-handedly opened with this outing of Bond. The modern and complex portrayal of a 21C man is all here. He's apt with all tech. and still maintains the traditional sportsmanship every Fencer we hope has. I will say that there wasn't any need for Madonna to cameo but even her character seemed to have something about her that lended itself to the scene she was in. It comes once again that the story was hitting all the right notes on what was on the menu regarding the world stage and where we all are at the moment with North Korea. The car chases across the ice are probably the best and I wish they'd gone ahead and followed through with the Jynx franchise - this would have made for a very powerful counterpoint to Bond and I would have liked to see the two criss-crossing eachothers films. The exit of Brosnan was a great shame and he was badly treated for sure, I hope Craig gets out before he is pushed. Perhaps Brosnan may yet return (???) in at least one interview on the BBC he showed clear enthusiasm to do more and if Connery hasn't lead the way with his return for Diamonds are forever then I don't see why Brosnan shouldn't pick up the baton once again!

1. From Russia With Love

I'm a little Goldfinger-ed out. Yeah, yeah I know it's the text book greatest bond but who gives a shit about text books these days. Up until the boat sequence this is everything a bond movie should be -- Connery, facing down vis a vis with the red menace of Capt. Quinn from Jaws.

2. Casino Royale

Like From Russia, this movie decided to say "fuck the villain with the secret base trying to take over the world bit...let's make a spy movie the way Ian Flemming wanted it" and that's exactly what the Bond series needed.

3. GoldenEye.

I'm 21 years old, I'm well aware Sean Connery is the best bond ever but I grew up with Brosnan. Let the naysayers bitch and yes Craig is certainly better, but Brosnan's highlight GoldenEye is a bond-geek's masterpiece by any standard. The tank sequence may be the best car chase sequence out of all the Bond movies (it sure beats the hell out of Guy Hamiltons' hey-look-at-the-cool-Aston-Martin-pass-the-camera-forty-nine-freakin-times cinematography from Goldfinger).

PS Octopussy is by far the worst Bond movies (quite possibly one of the worst overall films) ever made. Seriously, James Bond in a clown suit? Really?... no, Really?

I've loved them all from the beginning when I started watching at about 12 or 13 yrs. of age. As I grew older I realized you need to accept them for what they are. Connery is tops w/ Brosnan & Craig tied for 2&3. A favorite quote, Bond to Xenia Anatopp, "I said no more FOREPLAY!!!!". If I gotta pick, Goldfinger
Goldeneye
Casino Royale
It's like trying to pick your favorite child, impossible.

1. Goldfinger

2. Casino Royale

3. Goldeneye

my favorite bond villian girl by far is ms. pussy galore!
ursula andress was by far the sexiest bond girl ever!
best bond movie: by far from russia with love because bond kicks arse all the way thru unlike goldfinger where he has to electrocute the villian because he's getting his butt beat!

1. On Her Majesty Secret Service
2. License To Kill
3. Goldfinger

James Bond has always been good popcorn flicks. Sometimes fans try to elevate these movies to more than what they really are. I'm sure "Quantum Of Solace" is a solid movie worth watching. Yet, I'm not in a hurry to watch it. Maybe, one day when I feel like turning my brain off for a couple of hours I'll buy a ticket or watch it on DVD.

1. Goldeneye

2. Goldfinger

3. Casino Royale

these are my picks
1. Live and Let Die
2. Casino Royale
3. Goldfinger

I totally agree that QOS sucks. I wanted to love it, I am sad it sucks. Why did they change the director? sigh.

From Russia with Love
Casino Royale
On her Majesty's secret service
Tomorrow never dies

Why all the ragging on Roger Moore? If he wasn't such a good Bond, they wouldn't have kept him for all those films, even the sort of crappy ones like "Moonraker". And why the contempt for "Live and Let Die"? It was a terrific film all the way through, great song, cool Caribbean villains and a tremendous stereotyped Southern sheriff amidst an endlessly fascinating speedboat sequence. Can't argue with the Connery classics, who would even try?

1) Casino Royale
Very close to a brilliant book, great story and a great restart to a series that died for me after Goldeneye.

2) Thunderball
Again, close to the book, epic set-pieces/charactors, locations and vision. Connery was comfortable in the role and it ticks all the boxes required for an action film.

3) Quantum of Solace
I don't care that the critics didn't like it, or couldn't remember Casino Royale enough to understand it. This film delivered. It is different and better than the every terrible Brosnan effort and a set up the series nicely.

Basically, the series had turned cartoon-like after Goldeneye. Hackneyed, cliched and over-reliant on poor CGI. Craig has rescued the series.

I would have to rank in no specific order other than by actors...

Craig-Casino Royale
Brosnan- Golden Eye
Dalton-The Living Daylights
Moore-The Spy Who Loved Me
Connery-Goldfinger

Quote:
But God, is it just me, or do almost all Bond movies of the pre-Connery era draaag oooon at one point? LIVE AND LET DIE made me literally snooze.end quote.

I think you meant POST-Connery era, since there were no PRE-Connery movies.

Roger Moore was most likely selected to be Bond, due to his having played "The Saint"...a character that was somewhat close to being a spy.

I WILL NEVER FORGET THE CLASSIC BOND MOMENT IN "THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH"> WHEN THE VILLAIN TOLD BOND" IF YOU HELPED ME,I COULD HAVE GIVEN YOU THE WORLD",THEN BOND REPLIED"THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH"!!NOW THAT WAS SUPER COOL!

I watched casino royal and
i loved the movie...

I thought they would take some
time off to make a new one but still not going to see quantum of solace. reasons:
1. I dont like the title

2. girl is little dirty looking

3. not enough action

4. storyboard sucks!

still maybe people were gone retarded to actually see this movie...

o h well, CYA.

Has no one remembered Diamonds Are Forever? Maybe I'm just not as well versed in the Bond nuances, but to me, Diamonds seems to fit right below Goldfinger, which is undoubtedly the greatest.

1. Goldfinger- I agree with Connery and the timeless villain, but you are forgetting Pussy Galore and the immortally over-the-top plot.

2. Casino Royale- Craig revitalized Bond. Brosnan was great in Goldeneye, but Die Another Day was pretty terrible.

3. Dr. No- The first Connery Bond, so he's not at the top of his form. But he's still Connery and he's still playing James Bond and he could still kick your American ass.

Not including the three films Travers has listed the best three bond films are:
1) Goldeneye
2)Never Say Never Again/Thunderball
3) Live and Let Die

Juan Carlo: Pre-Connery? When would that have been?

1. Casino Royale
2. Golden Eye
3. Goldfinger

Goldfinger is great, but the action sequences are made lame to today's standards, and I love the action in Casino Royale and Golden Eye (going with a gigantic tank after the villains in an old car, that's a time capsule sequence), Casino Royale on the other hand has everything perfect I can think of. And it's funny that both my favorite Bonds were directed by the same man. His only two Bonds, I hope for more!

1. Casino Royale
2. You Only Live Twice
3. For Your Eyes Only
4. Quantum of Solace
5. From Russia With Love

Connery may be the best Bond, but Craig has saved the franchise!

I have not seen "Quantum of Solace" yet, but my picks for the three best Bond films are:

3. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
2. Casino Royale
1. Goldfinger

Roger Moore was not bad; he just wasn't Bond. I think George Lazenby's work is underrated -- OHMSS is a terrific movie -- and I think the same goes for Timothy Dalton's take on Bond, which was emotionally like Connery but nowhere near Daniel Craig's Bond physically. Pierce Brosnan was a great Bond, but he had the misfortune of being handed some of the weakest scripts in the series. Not to take anything away from Sean Connery, but he really did get the pick of the litter in terms of screenplays. I am glad that Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli decided to re-boot Bond and not re-make any of the films, but it would be interesting to see how different some of the films would be if you could mix-and-match the actors. It's kind of like wondering how your favorite sports stars would do if they played in different eras. We'll never know, but it makes for a fun conversation. Here's hoping Daniel Craig continues to get scripts that match his talent.

while definetely not top 3, i think goldeneye should be number 5 or 6 on the list. it's pierce brosnan's best and resurrected the franchise after its longest hiatus. kudos.

I'm not entirely sure of the order, but I'd go along with those three. I'd probably put "Russia" first, then "Casino", and "Goldfinger" third. I liked the new one a little better than you did, but truly, no one can do that quick-cut action editing other than Greengrass, certainly not Forster. The opening car chase was a waste, and the rooftop parkour chase was a disaster when compared with the rooftop parkour chase of the "Bourne Ultimatum". Anytime you're going to do something that is that obvious, it's gotta not suck. Also, the airplane fight... Ugh. Hold the damned camera still. The hand-to-hand scenes were up to par though, and Craig completely rocks the haunted grieving Bond.