{"id":411,"date":"2014-09-27T13:08:40","date_gmt":"2014-09-27T13:08:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cinemacocoa.com\/?p=411"},"modified":"2014-09-27T13:08:40","modified_gmt":"2014-09-27T13:08:40","slug":"saga-review-james-bond-no-8-no-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemacocoa.com\/?p=411","title":{"rendered":"Saga Review: James Bond (No.8 – No.14)"},"content":{"rendered":"

That’s right, with\u00a0Skyfall\u00a0<\/em>releasing later this year I am opting to give you my thoughts on all of the Bond films! There’s twenty-two films, and when I started this challenge there were twenty-two weeks before\u00a0Skyfall<\/em>, sounds good to me!
\nI grew up in the six year drought of Bond films, between the Dalton and Brosnen Eras, so my definition of Bond is Timothy Dalton in\u00a0The Living Daylights<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0License to Kill<\/em>, while\u00a0Goldeneye\u00a0<\/em>is one of my top favourites. It took me a little while to watch all of the other James Bond films, but they were regularly shown on television, and while the Brosnen films quickly worsened I would never grow to like the Roger Moore era. At least not yet.<\/p>\n

Because there are twenty-two films I am breaking my reviews down into eras as best I can.<\/p>\n

Today’s post is one of torment, a torturous month and a half of hammed up comedy and glaringly bad storytelling. There is little salvation for me here, people have said I am a fool for doing this, but I will endure… I will.<\/p>\n

So let’s see what nonsense we are mercilessly subjected to, the dimwitted Texas Sheriffs, the hovercraft gondolas, the brainless bimbos and of course… the skiing.<\/p>\n

Live and Let Die<\/strong> (1973)<\/p>\n

\"\"
\nThe first instalment of the Roger Moore era is actually one of my favourites (you have to like the poster with the tarot card theme) despite my general dislike of the other Moore films.<\/p>\n

Bond is back with a confident new face as he tracks down a heroin merchant who relies on voodoo witchcraft and fortune telling mysticism. Can Bond survive on his wits alone when surrounded by enemies? By now we know the answer to that!<\/p>\n

It is an unusual turn for the Bond character; the film starts out awkwardly and clustered with multiple locations and scenes, while Bond himself seems a little too oblivious to being followed and walking into traps. I found myself wondering how he got to be a secret agent!<\/p>\n

But then the bad guys are numerous, they all have gadgets and spy equipment, and last but not least, a seer of the future! I think I enjoy Live and Let Die because of its unique themes and villains; Solitaire is a good Bond Girl, Baron Samedi is visually striking and unforgettable, and<\/em> there\u2019s a big guy with a metal claw! But despite all of this, it goes along at a reasonable pace (it doesn\u2019t blaze along like Diamonds<\/em> for example) the villains are composed and devious.<\/p>\n

There are some detour chase sequences, and while they are fun, the airplane chase felt unnecessary and the boat chase was extended with a weird local Sherriff joining in. I think I understood the gag of having local police finally<\/em> questioning Bond tearing stuff up, but it didn\u2019t work so well in this instance; you could have edited him out, shortened the chase, and it would have been just as good.
\nBut despite these criticisms, I enjoy this one. The themes used, the villains, it feels packed. Not to mention a great theme song.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n