The latest James Bond film No Time To Die was set to be released in March of this year but has been potentially pushed back to November, which to be fair, has been the traditional month to release a Bond movie these last few decades. We currently have 58 years' worth of official 007 adventures to enjoy while we wait, though.
Today, we are going back and taking a look at the original Bond himself Sean Connery, and ranking his movies in order of greatness. We will be taking into consideration story, characters, action, and even toupee quality. So grab a vodka martini, put down your Walter PPK and join us for the countdown.
Never Say Never Again
Never Say Never Again was Connery's last outing as 007, and the first time he portrayed the role in almost 12 years following Diamonds Are For Ever. Kevin McClory, who wrote the original story of Thunderball alongside Ian Flemming and Jack Whittingham, actually maintained the shooting rights, meaning he could make a film outside of the official James Bond EON productions.
What could have been a different and interesting adaptation of the source material ending up feeling like Bond on a budget, with all of the tropes but with none of the familiarity. Sean had to be persuaded to don the tuxedo again especially after saying that he would never again in previous interviews, which became the inspiration for the title.
Diamonds Are Forever
Sean had already left the franchise for the first time at this point, with George Lazenby being brought in for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, but after EON offered Sean a record amount of money to return, he did just that. Turns out you can threaten Bond's genitalia with a laser beam and he won't flinch, but back up a truck of cash to his door and you can certainly expect him to talk. It is the first Bond film of the seventies, yet it feels more dated than its sixties predecessors.
At this point, the series started leaning towards the more outlandish, becoming almost a parody of itself with a cookie-cutter template that would remain during Moore’s run. You can almost feel Connery smirking through every scene. The story sees Bond headed to Las Vegas to take down a diamond-smuggling ring, who has bigger plans than simply profit. How big? Blowing up Washington with a giant freaking space laser, that's how big.
You Only Live Twice
You Only Live Twice was Connery’s first attempt at one final Bond outing, before returning to the role another two times. Apparently the atmosphere on set was rather awkward, with Connery reportedly refusing to go on set at the same time as the producers. This is also the first and only time in an EON Bond film that James does not get behind the wheel of a car.
At one point during the movie, Bond disguises himself as someone of Japanese descent, a plot point that is problematic, and that has obviously not aged well.
Thunderball
This is the original, and better, version of Never Say Never Again. After the villainous organization, S.P.E.C.T.R.E steals nuclear warheads, Agent 007 must travel to the Bahamas to put an end to their evil schemes. This is a maritime adventure, with Bond getting into a lot of underwater battles against henchmen with harpoon guns and sharks.
It’s also the movie where we see Connery don his crash helmet and take flight on a Jetpack, which was originally designed for real military use. The movie's budget was more than the budgets of the first three films combined, a gamble that paid off as it went on to become the most profitable Bond film (at the time).
Dr. No
This was the very first EON Bond film; it introduced us to 007 and wasted no time in establishing the character traits which would go on to define him for the next half of a century. Bond travels to Jamaica in order to investigate the murder of a fellow agent. Exotic locations, casino gambling, Ursula Andress, and her legendary ocean entrance as Honey Rider, and of course, the first utterance of 007’s immortal catchphrase “Bond, James Bond.”
Dr. No was an adventure film audiences have never seen before. Not only did it pave the way for future Bond films, but for action cinema in general.
From Russia With Love
From Russia With Love was the second outing for Bond, and added to the template of a 007 story. It was the first Bond film to feature the traditional opening, the gun barrel sequence followed by a prologue then the titles set to the film's main theme over scantily clad dancing women having a 007 rave-up.
It was more realistic and brutal than it’s predecessor Dr. No, perhaps best showcased in Bond’s battle against S.P.E.C.T.R.E agent Donald “Red” Grant, played by Robert Shaw. The two’s fistfight onboard The Orient Express is still regarded as one of the cinema’s finest.
Goldfinger
The final entry on the list, as if there were any doubts, is Goldfinger. Quite possibly the best Bond film ever made. It featured fan-favorite villains in Auric Goldfinger and his henchman Oddjob, one of the greatest Bond girls ever with the late great Honour Blackman as Pussy Galore, iconic imagery such as the gold-painted girl, and of course the introduction of the legendary Aston Martin, complete with rockets and ejector seats.
This is the greatest Bond film not only of the Connery era but arguably of all time.