Rating the Bond Films

The Main character.  Each actor who plays James Bond has to make the character his own, and make it work within the Bond universe.  They aren't all the same, nor should they be, but do they manage to capture the balance between charisma, intelligence, athleticism, and deadliness?

The Journey.  Each Bond film takes the audience on a journey across multiple locations and dimensions, with the best films drawing the viewer into an increasingly complicated web of development.  The final climactic scene unfolds in a showstopping confrontation that is an emotional catharsis that releases all the pent up tension and complication into a final victory.  The perfect Bond film carries the audience through that journey, while lesser movies lose momentum halfway through, or fail to deliver the final climax that brings everything home.

The Locations.  Bond films are filmed in a series of exotic locations and cultures, and go out of their way to create that sense of international espionage.  They don't just take you to somewhere new, they give you a sense of actually being there and experiencing the bright spots that the culture has to offer.  Lesser films rely on generic locations and non-descript hotel rooms.

The Technology.  Bond is always enhanced by the latest gadgets provided by Q and his beautiful and expensive cars, guns, and explosives.  

The Femme Fatale.  Every Bond comes up against his female adversary, someone who matches his wit and charm and striking good looks.  Often the Femme Fatale plays a dangerous game, with changing loyalties between Bond and the Villain.  She frequently has a final role to play as the story nears its conclusion.   

The Villain.  In the end, it always comes down to a challenge of wits between Bond and the deadly villain he's up against.  Some of these foes are brilliant in their charm and cruelty, while others are unremarkable.  The villain has to be the one to come up with the fabulous schemes to take over the world, and the outsized evil bases from which to strike at the world.

The Supporting Cast.  While Bond is customarily a loner, he is always surrounded by a cast of characters that provide invaluable assistance both in the office and in the field.  This includes the obligatory scenes with M, and Q.  It also might include Moneypenny, and Felix Leiter, as well as a variety of other local contacts like Tiger Tanaka.  These supporting characters give Bond his best opportunity for witty repartee, and to show the emotional and physical pressure he is under.

 

So these are the 7 criteria that we judge the films on.  And each gets a rating between 0 and 7, as befits Bond's double-O Seven status.  With a possible top score of 49.