An immaculate tuxedo, an Aston Martin, and a martini — shaken, not stirred. Since 1962, the James Bond franchise has forged a myth and defined the language of the spy thriller for decades to come — spectacular, glamorous and sophisticated. Twenty-five films later, some have stood the test of time better than others. Here are five that remain indispensable.
Every decade has had its Bond, every generation its favourite. Macho and self-assured in the 1960s, witty and laid-back in the 1970s, darker and more complex after 9/11. Britain's most famous secret agent has always reflected the spirit of his age. Purists swear by Sean Connery, nostalgics champion Roger Moore, while a newer generation is devoted to Daniel Craig. Yet beyond the endless debates, these five films command near-universal admiration.
Goldfinger (1964)
The third instalment is the one that established the Bond formula. It is 1964, at the height of the Cold War. Sean Connery embodies a triumphant, irresistible secret agent. The film introduced everything that would become synonymous with Bond: the Aston Martin DB5, Shirley Bassey's iconic title song, and some of the franchise's most memorable one-liners.
Yet it is Ken Adam's production design that remains truly astonishing. No one had ever seen the interior of Fort Knox, so Adam imagined it as a vast cathedral of gold, with stacks of bullion rising towards the ceiling. The result was entirely fictional yet somehow more convincing than reality itself. The famous laser sequence, achieved using an oxy-acetylene torch, made Connery so nervous that he insisted it should never be attempted again. Sixty years on, the film has lost none of its brilliance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA65V-oLKa8
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
The year is 1977. The Cold War is thawing, disco is in full swing, and James Bond adapts accordingly. Roger Moore delivers a lighter, more ironic and less ruthless agent than Connery. After the mixed reception of The Man with the Golden Gun, the franchise's future seemed uncertain. Producer Albert R. Broccoli decided to go all in: Ken Adam built the largest soundstage ever constructed at Pinewood Studios to house Stromberg's giant supertanker.
The white Lotus Esprit transforms into a submarine, Barbara Bach plays a Soviet agent whom Bond romances during a period of East-West détente, and Richard Kiel terrifies audiences as the steel-toothed Jaws. Broccoli always said this was his favourite Bond film. It is easy to see why.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBxG_TJvYTg
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Once considered the black sheep of the series, it has become a cult favourite over time. George Lazenby, an inexperienced Australian model, replaced Connery for a single outing, delivering one of the most emotional Bond films ever made. There are fewer gadgets and more romance. Diana Rigg plays Tracy, the only woman Bond ever marries, while Telly Savalas portrays a chilling Blofeld from Piz Gloria, a futuristic glass-and-aluminium fortress perched 2,970 metres above sea level overlooking the Bernese Oberland.
John Barry's score has endured across the decades, elevated by the sublime We Have All the Time in the World, Louis Armstrong's final studio recording. The film dared to end on a tragic note that audiences never saw coming, and Christopher Nolan has cited it as his favourite Bond film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOLq5Rg9N-c
GoldenEye (1995)
Bond had been absent from cinema screens for six years. The Berlin Wall had fallen, the Cold War was over, and many wondered whether 007 still had a place in the modern world. Pierce Brosnan proved that he did. He refreshed the character, making him more vulnerable and more humorous without losing his edge. Tina Turner performed the title song, based on a demo by Bono and The Edge that she reportedly described as 'horrible' when she first heard it.
Famke Janssen stars as Xenia Onatopp, a deadly femme fatale who kills her victims with her thighs. Sean Bean plays a former ally turned adversary. Director Martin Campbell delivers a slick, energetic film that successfully introduced Bond to a new generation. The Nintendo 64 video game adaptation became legendary in its own right. Thirty years later, GoldenEye has barely aged.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PMD6YenOEg
Casino Royale (2006)
After 9/11, the world had changed. Bond changed with it. Daniel Craig portrays a newly promoted 00-agent who is brutal, vulnerable and deeply human. Gone are the perfectly tailored tuxedos and effortless quips. This Bond bleeds, doubts and suffers. There is no Q, no Miss Moneypenny and virtually no gadgetry. Eva Green's Vesper Lynd breaks his heart, while Mads Mikkelsen's terrorist financier Le Chiffre breaks his body.
Martin Campbell, returning after GoldenEye, directed one of the most hard-hitting entries in the franchise. The torture scene remains unforgettable. When Craig was first cast, many fans were sceptical — too blond, too cold, they said. They soon changed their minds. For many, Casino Royale remains the finest Bond film of the 21st century.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhXpiXVB-rc
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