Live and let Die (1973)

Three killings in the opening, one of which the legendary New Orleans jazz funeral-murder. A most fine entrance for Roger Moore. If not for the voodoo-scene, that has not survived the test of time. No Roger Moore, though

When he does appear, it's with a beautiful woman, fine coffee (probably a homage to Len Deighton's Harry Palmer) and trying hard not show M the former. The brilliant Bernard Lee is perfect at his most surly, and that he certainly is over Bond's shenanigans.

Moore doesn't have the raw machismo as Connery, and could never shoot an unarmed man in the back. Hence this instalment is played rather light. The problem with the mood in general is that when you spice it up with 2 henchmen that giggle incessantly, generally overact and prance around like maniacs, topped with Pepper, there really isn't much seriousness left.

That Bond drives and double-decker and races around a small airport in an even smaller aircraft, just adds injury to insult. There is a rather lengthy boat-chase with some decent stunts, though littered with aforementioned Pepper.

The characters are mostly props in this rather shallow flick, so it's refreshing that Seymour makes the most of her part, showing silent and dignified desperation and fear, as well as stoic strength and stubbornness in the face of danger. One of the best Bond-girls.

Barry has been better, but he does have a nice new theme for us. Most considerate.

The film does have the exotic locations, a shark tank and gives a thorough insight, though somewhat racist in today's world, into New Orleans and jazz-clubs. Tee Hee's little speech amongst the crocodiles is quite good, and the tension is at times well above average. But at this point, it seems like the franchise is struggling to settle with what it wants to be, and very much like the poster, this film is rather chaotic.

5/10

Best car used: 1972 Chevrolet Impala Sport
Most memorable drink served: Bollinger, vintage not given
Henchmen: Julius Harris as Tee Hee. Most gleefully evil.
Villain: Yaphet Kotto as Mr. Big. Very forgettable.
Best one-liner: "He always did have an inflated opinion of himself"
Song: Wings - Live and Let Die. A most dramatic and cool tune.
Bond-girl: Jane Seymour. Hard to be more beautiful. Perhaps a bit demure, but undoubtedly a good actress.

Diamonds are forever (1971)

Though George Lazenby probably was underrated, he was certainly no Sean Connery. So the studio threw a pile of money at Connery and persuaded him to don the 00-digit one last time. Was it worth the splash?

Well the introduction is fine as he punches his way towards Blofeld, including strangling a pretty girl with her on bikini. Most determined man. He even kills Blofeld before the vignette (we're led to believe).

The henchmen are quite delectable this time around as Putter Smith and Bruce Glover kill with indiscriminately with a sly smile and more puns than Bond by a mile. Glover speaks slow and meticulously, with exaggerated facial motions, whereas Smith has a rather daft grin on his face. Most worthy opponents.

The action is all right, but as with most things, less is often more, as the best scene is a two-man brawl in an elevator. And there are quite a few attempts at killing here (mostly successful as Mr. Kidd and Mr. Wint are most efficient and love their jobs). No real set-pieces apart from the end-game, just a very cool stunt with the Mustang. As this is mostly set in Las Vegas in the early seventies, there is no shortage of big, beautiful American cars.

Blofeld is played by Charles Grey (he actually had a small role in YOLT, most unusual). His British arrogance impeccable, but the menace of Donald Pleasance is most missed. Particularly when he's losing. He has plenty of swagger, but not any real threat. That is probably the reason why there is no real fight between him and Bond, only tinkering with toys of threat, whoever is in charge.

The tone of the film is mostly light. There are some great expressions from Connery as he struggles to fathom the stupidity of human kind, St. John plays it very light and the name Plenty O'Toole also sets a bar.

Barry's score is good, and the theme for the henchmen is spot on. Sneaky and a bit strange but with a steady beat.

This flick never gets the feeling of a true Bond. There is much murdering and sneakyness, the car and the women are there, but the suspense and grandeur not so much.

6/10

Best car used: Ford Mustang Mach 1 (1971) (though the moon-buggy is great fun)
Most memorable drink served: Sherry Solera, 1851.
Henchmen: Mr. Kidd & Mr Wint. A gay couple. Most peculiar pair (particularly Putter Smith who was specifically cast for his appearance)
Villain: Ernest Stavro Blofeld.
Best one-liner: "Provided the collars and cuffs match"
Song: Diamonds are forever, Shirley Bassey. Dramatic, but the dull synth-riff does it no good. Bassey tries her hardest, though.
Bond-girl: Jill St. John. Nowhere near the most memorable apart from the fact that she wears about 5 different sets of lingerie in the first half of the film.