[Closed] Introducing Bond films - which film for my 8 year old?

Moore. Diamonds are forever.

I'd say that the Connery era needs context. I'm not sure I'd want the casual sexism (and worse) that is on display in those to be the basis for much in 2020. Films of their time and all that. I can't remember the film but there's one scene where Connery basically forces himself on a female and she instantly melts in his arms and off they go to bed. Not an approach I hope my son attempts too often.....

Moore is certainly better from that perspective although the plots are perhaps a bit lacking in modern context.

I like the Dalton Bonds and the violence is reasonably tame. It certainly ramps up a bit in the Brosnan era.

So I'd say late Moore or Dalton. The spy who loved me seems like a good choice.

austin powers

Daltons licence to kill is pretty gruesome so I’d avoid that.

i have a feeling of deja vu that this came up very recently on the forum. I think I teased everyone by posting Alan Partridge videos where he tells everyone to stop getting bond wrong.  I can do that again?

No-one should be subjected to Brosnan. I watch the Moore films with my 11 year old so that's where I would suggest starting. They are pretty daft which is what she enjoys about them.

She also enjoys The A-Team and Dukes Of Hazzard when they are on. I've also introduced her to the original Star Trek. She loves the terrible acting, especially when the ship gets hit and everyone falls about.

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/which-bond-film-to-start-the-lad-on/

Seems like it’s becoming an STW rite of passage for offspring.

Thanks @p7eaven I thought I was experiencing deja vu.

not sure what the consensus was from the last thread. I watched all the ‘official’ Bond films, 24 of them, over the holiday period with my SO. Neither of our old teenagers wanted to watch them with us.

I would not bother showing any of them to a child except as some kind of ‘look old movies aren’t all good’ film history exercise.

I was surprised at how weak most of them are. Also  surprised at the Timothy Dalton ones being fairly tough stuff.

Even the new ones don’t measure up action or intrigue-wise to Mission Impossible and the like. And that’s before you look at Bourne.

Don’t bother, let your child discover them when they want to.

Bond is a nice trope, but I’m not sure the reality measures up to the mythic status.

Disagree about Brosnan - He's a good actor and worked with what he had - Goldeneye is a great film and that's probably where I'd start with my kid. Brosnan's other Bond films were bad because they were bad films, not because he was a bad Bond.

As you will be able to tel from this post I am not a Huge Bond fan, but i do watch most of them.

For an 8 year old, the one with Moore in it where he drives the white car (Lotus?) under the sea. For me as an eight yr old that was the coolest thing i had ever seen.

Either Moonraker, The Spy Who Loved Me (submarine car) or The Man with the Golden Gun, Diamonds are Forever I'd say. Maybe Octopussy. But although I didn't like the Brosnan films myself, for kids they are probably pretty good. But the Roger Moore films are less serious and more fun so great for kids to get into before moving onto the more serious stuff, if Bond has ever been serious.

Taken my daughters through most of the Bond films and they love them. They love most of the films from my childhood. They didn't pick up on the casual sexism or anything. I don't think films have changed that much over the years..the style and language has changed, but the fundamental behaviours are just as alive in today's films as were then.

She loves the terrible acting

We loved the terrible acting too. And the terrible special effects. It didn't even bother me when the General Lee on Dukes of Hazard was smashed into several pieces after every jump then in the next shot was perfect. The sort of continuity error that would cause me to stop watching today. Kept us entertained back in the day. Given what passes as music with the latest generation I'm not sure that quality of performance is top of their list of requirements.

Live and Let Die
Car jumps, speedboats, crocodiles and a double decker chopping it's roof off - and kinda funny.
It's the only one I will always watch if it's on.

A View to a kill.

Chris Walken as Max Zorin.
Grace Jones as the only woman in the lore who doesnt fall in love with bond.
The golden gate bridge
A blimp
a velocipede

So good.

That or you only live twice, for Little nellie and the Volcano.

Other points of clarification:

Brosnan’s other Bond films were bad because they were bad films, not because he was a bad Bond.

Absolutely. Goldeneye has to be the best bond film, PB and Sean Bean were the dream team. The follow ups were embarrassing, and basically forced Pierce into Mama Mia.

Dalton was a solid and under rated bond, and should've had more films

Im pleased no one has mentioned "the Australian incident", and hope it stays that way.

Im pleased no one has mentioned “the Australian incident”, and hope it stays that way.

Let's also agree to never mention Never Say Never Again. That is a stinking pile of poo. Apart from the baddies.

Dalton was a solid and under rated bond, and should’ve had more films

Agreed - for my money The Living Daylights makes a damn good standalone action film even outside of the 007 "series".

Goldeneye was good; certainly the best Brosnan Bond, one of the top 3 or 4 within the series.

Live and Let Die
Car jumps, speedboats, crocodiles and a double decker chopping it’s roof off – and kinda funny.
It’s the only one I will always watch if it’s on.

And the best bond song

Grace Jones as the only woman in the lore who doesnt fall in love with bond.

Olga Kurylenko in Quantum of Solace also avoided his bed.

"Moore. Diamonds are forever."

Good choice of film but that's Connery not Moore.

Let’s also agree to never mention Never Say Never Again. That is a stinking pile of poo. Apart from the baddies.

"Sean"
"Hello"
"Listen"
"Yes"
"I've got this Bond film"
"Look, I've told you, I'm not doing Bond again"
"Yeah, I know, but"
"I'm not. Doing. Bond. Again."
"They offering a million."
<silence>
"I'm not doing Bond again. Did you say a million? It's not enough."
"Two million?"
"I'm not doing Bond for two million"
"Three?"
"I could... No. Although now you mention it, I think I could do Bond again. But not for three."
"What about a percentage"
"I like a percentage. Fifty is good."
"Come on!"
"Thirty"
"I can't get you thirty. What about Twenty?"
"And my three million"
"...!"
"Done. Thanks. Bye"

Olga Kurylenko in Quantum of Solace also avoided his bed.

whereas Grace Jones didn't...

Hopefully the kid will be switched on enough to say "What's this dated, sexist shite dad? Can we watch some Disney?"

They didn’t pick up on the casual sexism or anything. I don’t think films have changed that much over the years..the style and language has changed, but the fundamental behaviours are just as alive in today’s films as were then.

You say that like it's a good thing?

Why are people so happy to teach their daughters this is how to behave?

the only woman in the lore who doesnt fall in love with bond.

Moneypenny? Twice. Actually, Thrice (although Samantha Bond imagines it).

M.

(Oh, for love I presume you mean rumpy pumpy.)

Im pleased no one has mentioned “the Australian incident”, and hope it stays that way.

Best Bond ever, fact.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks that the old Bond films are full of so many racist and misogynist tropes that I'd be hesitant before showing them to an 8 year old.

Given what passes as music with the latest generation I’m not sure that quality of performance is top of their list of requirements.

Said every middle-aged man, ever.

I'd start with the Daniel Craig ones and then see if they like the better old ones. OHMSS is decent, a damn sight better than others - like Octopussy which is quite probably the worst of them all.

If nothing else, aren't the Daniel Craig ones a bit violent for an eight year old? Like the bit where he's strapped naked to a chair, covered in blood, getting his knackers whipped?

I for one am quite excited at the prospect of someone like Phoebe Waller-Bridge having input into No Time to Die. TBH the tropes of 1970s Bond humping his way around the world leaving a trail of bemused women half his age behind him is a little stale and most definitely of their time.

Why would you even bother with this?

The bond films were shit at the time and they're shit now. The only ones worth watching are Roger Moore's and that's only because he's hamming it up and smirking knowingly at the camera half the time.

Crikey - right barrel of laughs in here isn't it?

whereas Grace Jones didn’t…

Yeah, but she didnt fall for him. She was using him as much as he was using her (or at least thats how i read it)

Moneypenny? Twice. Actually, Thrice (although Samantha Bond imagines it).

Moneypenny loves Bond, shes just more professional, and can see through him for the toddler he is. She still loves him though.

I dont think the venn diagram of "M" and "bond girl" overlap, not even for Dame Jude.

Best Bond ever, fact.

Yep. And one of the best films aswell.

And the worst... Easily sean connery.

Crikey – right barrel of laughs in here isn’t it?

"Stop getting Bond wrong!"

(sorry, couldn't resist).

Goldfinger.... Pussy Galore....

You may have to answer some difficult questions.

As per the other thread start with Daniel Craig in Home Alone 6 then stop watching. I think that’s the only Bond film I’ve ever watched all the way through. The one with the fella with the lethal hat was good and kids love Jaws. At least I did

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/which-bond-film-to-start-the-lad-on/ <