10. License to a Kill (1989)
James Bond gets a darker edge in this 1989 update featuring Timothy Dalton in the title role. CIA Agent Felix Leiter (David Henison) and his newlywed-ed wife are tortured at the hands of drug lords and James Bond works outside of MI6 to avenge them. Though much different from the rest of the series (22 films and counting), License to Kill still has all the exotic locals and beautiful female leads as the other films.
9. You Only Live Twice (1967)
This movie nearly has everything a James Bond movie needs. Picturesque locations, pulse pounding action, macabre humor and a larger than life villain. When both American and Russian spacecrafts disappear the Cold War heats up and James Bond (Sean Connery) is brought in to investigate. Traveling to Japan on the heals of a UFO the plot thickens when it is revealed that Ernst Bloefeld (Donald Pleasance) is manipulating the two superpowers to the brink of war; in his secret lair inside a dormant volcano of course.
8. GoldenEye (1995)
James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) must stop the GoldenEye computer key that operates a powerful satellite weapons system from getting into the wrong hands. Featuring Brosnan as the martini sipping playboy, GoldenEye is the perfect mix of thrills and kills featuring over the top performances by Sean Bean, Famke Janssen and Alan Cumming.
7. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
Famous international assassin Scaramanga seeks to make 007 (Roger Moore) his next victim. Though a little campy at times (Featuring the henchman Nick Nack), The Man with the Golden Gun still manages to entertain in only the way Roger Moore could.
6. Casino Royale (2006)
After failing to keep his distance from a mark, James Bond's investigation into a terrorist cell leads to a high-stakes card game which fronts as a payment to illusive arms dealer Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelson). Introducing Daniel Craig as the famed 007, this film brought back some of the sophisticated atmosphere lacking in the dismal Brosnan movies. Despite moments of ennui Casino Royale more than makes up for it with state of the art special effects and breathtaking stunts.
5. Thunderball (1965)
When a classified bomber holding two nuclear warheads is taken by SPECTRE it is up to James Bond to save the day. With all the things necessary for a James Bond film, what sets it apart are the seductive female leads Claudine Auger, Martine Beswick and Luciana Paluzzi. Not to mention the shark tank, oh the shark tank!
4. From Russia with Love (1963)
From Russia with Love is accredited by many as the first "real" James Bond movie. Second in the 22 part series, From Russia with Love was the first to feature SPECTRE as a major plot point and the first to use the now famous stylized intros complete with the camera through the barrel of a gun. Though the film has a relatively low-key plot as 007 tries to get a hold of Soviet cipher, From Russia with Love makes the list for raising the bar from the subdued Dr. No and cleared the way for all to follow.
3. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
When nuclear submarines start to disappear from both sides of the iron curtain, its is up to James Bond (Roger Moore) and Russian super spy Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) to reveal shipping millionaire Karl Stromberg's dastardly plan. James and the lovely Anya however must first settle a score or two before saving the world. One of the few James Bond movies that works on an emotional scale as well as sheer spectacle, The Spy Who Loved Me is definitely Roger Moore's best.
2. Goldfinger (1964)
If From Russia with Love raised the bar then Goldfinger is the golden standard. Goldfinger peeled away the levels of intrigue from the earlier installments and replaced them with the over the top theatrics and special effects we all know in love. Auric Goldfinger and his organization plan to steal the gold from Fort Knox placing the world's economy into chaos. James Bond (Sean Connery) must once again save the world from certain doom.
1. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Featuring George Lazenby as 007 (for the first and last time) On Her Majesty's Secret Service gives you everything you want from a James Bond film and more. Tracking down Bloefeld to his secret hideout in the Alps (thanks to Tracy played by Diana Rigg), James Bond uncovers his plot to once again blackmail the world. Does it have death defying stunts? yes; state of the art special effects? yes; over the top villains and beautiful women? of course; but what sets this movie apart is Bond actually falls in love!
Bottom 3:
3. Die Another Day (2002)
Though most of Pierce Brosnan's movies fail to win much adoration, this one takes the cake. James Bond makes an escape in an invisible car, destroys a mansion in a "friendly" fencing match and escapes from a satellite laser by...surfing on and ice flow. Finally a cameo by Madonna sinks it for me.
2. Moonraker (1979)
James Bond in space! Moonraker raises the camp levels as Roger Moore returns as James Bond to investigates a mid-air robbery of a space shuttle. Richard Kiel also returns as SPECTRE goon Jaws who falls from an airplane, breaks gondola cables with his teeth, and in the end sees the error of his ways. Yikes.
1. Diamonds are Forever (1971)
Considered the best James Bond ever, Sean Connery falls from grace, phoning it in to catch the illustrious Bloefeld in this mess of a movie. Featuring two very annoying gay henchmen wielding groan inspiring puns this movie has the peculiarity of a Las Vegas hooker. What else could you possibly add to make it any more disappointing you ask? How about if it co-stared Jimmy Dean.
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