An All-Time High: James Bond in the '80s

This is the podcast I've been waiting my whole life to do: James Bond in the 1980s. That's right, not one but THREE different actors playing Bond, some of the best theme songs, great story lines, classic cameos and the last of the truly cute Bond girls.

For this week's podcast, we're bringing in tampabay.com's version of Q -- film critic Steve Persall, who requires zero preparation to talk about anything movie related. Surely you haven't forgotten his genius contributions to our Oscars in the '80s and Remakes/Sequels podcasts.

How can you help? Tell us your pick for Best Bond Movie of the '80s, and tell us your favorite Bond flick of all time. We'll tabulate the reader vote and read some comments before giving you our own special ranking. Here are your choices:

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY (1981): Roger Moore is 007, with Carole Bouquet ("Melina"), Lynn-Holly Johnson ("Bibi Dahl") and Julian Glover as the villain, "Kristatos." [Theme song]

OCTOPUSSY (1983): Moore as 007, Maud Adams as the awkwardly-named "Octopussy" and Louis Jourdan as the villainous "Kamal." Also co-starring pro tennis player Vijay Amritraj. [Theme song]

NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (1983): The rogue Bond flick brought the return of Sean Connery as 007. Also, starring Max von Sydow, Kim Basinger and ... Rowan Atkinson? [Theme song]

A VIEW TO A KILL (1985): Moore's final appearance as Bond, with Tanya Roberts ("Stacey"), Christopher Walken ("Zorin") and Grace Jones ("May Day.") [Theme song]

THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (1987): Timothy Dalton's debut as 007. Also, Maryam D'Abo ("Kara") and Joe Don Baker as the villain "Whitaker." [Theme song]

LICENSE TO KILL (1989): Dalton's second and final turn as James Bond, with Carey Lowell ("Pam Bouvier") and Robert Davi as the villain "Sanchez." But also featuring Wayne Newton and Benicio del Toro. [Theme song]

Hey, while you're thinking, what's the best Bond theme of the '80s?

[Photo from For Your Eyes Only]

Comments

[CaliforniaGirl]

I agree that Sean Connery is the only Bond. Love the rugged looks and that voice. Since "Live & Let Die" is out of the decade, I'll pick "For Your Eyes Only". And, whatever happened to Sheena Easton anyway?

[002]

Powerleveling service. You keep everything
because our business is 100% service based so we do not have any use for your gold or items.
wow power leveling
in our best interest to leave as much gold and items to make you happier so you come back for

more
http://www.iwowleveling.com

[Greg L]

I was just thinking the other day as I was salivating in anticipation of Quantum of Solace -- "I know what show Stuck in the 80s needs to do... Bond!" Glad to see you're one step ahead of me, Steve!

Now for my picks:

Best Bond Movie of the 80s: Two picks here, because it depends on my mood. For somewhat (it's all relative!) more serious moods, The Living Daylights. A little darker themed, a little more serious. For lighter moments, A View To A Kill for all its cheezy Roger-Moore-ish goodness.

Best Bond Theme of the 80s: A View To A Kill edges out The Living Daylights by a narrow margin. It's Duran Duran after all.

Best Bond Movie Ever: Another tough one. I like so many for different reasons. Might have to give the nod to Goldfinger though - in general, one of the best overall. It could top many lists for the "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!" line by itself.

[JamieLee]

Definately A View To A Kill!!! For Your eyes Only is a good runner up though!

[Hank]

Best Bond movie and theme song of the 80's was A View to a Kill. As for best Bond movie ever, I have to go with Thunderball.

[Mary]

A bit off topic perhaps...I don't remember much of the '80's ;-) but I do recall seeing Roger Moore on some talk show and he was SUCH a GEEK - and was wearing an awful pin-striped suit (the stripes were huge)! It was almost embarrassing just watching him. So, I guess his acting skills are pretty good. Sean Connery for sure, though, as THE Bond.

[Marissa]

Rays Renegade, I prefer a 007 sitting next to me.

[Rays Renegade]

I want to see "Live and Let Die" done again, and this time sue the St. Petersburg area like the bokk suggests.........sorry bad local plug.

"View to A Kill" by Duran Duran is a classic tune, and the movie was agreat too. I personally do not have a favorite of the ones listed..........I am going to be totally politically correct and say I love them all and wait with popcorm and soda for a TBS marathon weekend.

But you always want a "Bond" girl sitting next to you during the marathon.

[Cylon]

Although Sean Connery is the best Bond ever, Never Say Never Again is mainly a let down. It just doesn't have the same feeling as Goldfinger or Diamonds are Forever.

I digress, I would have to say For Your Eyes Only is the best movie of this bunch.

As for best theme song, I am torn between For Your Eyes Only by Sheena Easton and View to a Kill.

This blog has inspired me to listen to the Best of Bond on my iPod.

[Lolly]

Best Bond theme of the 80s - View to a Kill - Best Bond theme ever still goes to Live & Let Die - sorry, I know it's not from the 80s....

Best Bond will always be Sean Connery

[Roy, UK]

This is very off topic, but important to the SIT80s Nation nonetheless.

We have just seen the result of a vote with a record turnout and a winner that twenty years ago i wouldn't have thought possible. I cried as i saw his name revealed as winner, and i knew that Change was really here.

I am of course talking about Rick Astley, who has just won the MTV Europe Award for "Best Act Ever" over Green Day, U2, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Change has come to Pop music, and i am full of optimism for our future as a nation Stuck In The 80s :D

[Depeche Modem]

Hey all kidding aside there was something about Moore. He was so debonair, so very Brittish. He brough a certain coolness and class to the role that I haven't seen since. I did really like Casino Royale however. It's a new breed of Bond. But, till the day I die, Roger Moore will always be my number one Bond!

[Depeche Modem]

I've always been partial to Roger Moore as James Bond. And though I won't debate what was the best James Bond movie, I just have to say the alltime best name for a James Bond Movie-Octopussy! I can't remember anything about the movie, but I can't forget the name! That and Pussy_Galore! Oh where are Beavis and Butthead when you really need them?

-Depeche Modem

[atomic99]

Best Bond Film of the 1980s?
THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS for me since it was the first I saw in the theaters.
Best Bond Film of All Time?
ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
The only thing missing was Connery.
Best Bond Theme of the 1980s?
Duran Duran-"A View to a Kill"

And, by a nice co-inky-dink, I'm doing my own James Bond Music by 80s Artists on my show THE FA THEMEPARK on November 11th, 2008. Just in time for the new film. The show airs at 5pm PST and 11pm PST. Find it at www.FlashbackAlternatives.com and on iTunes in the 70s,80s, 90s (All Flashback Alternatives). Sorry for the plug but, hey, it is 80s and Bond!!

[Alan]

Wow! Shame on me, A View to a Kill was sing by Duran Duran, not a-Ha. How could I forget. Still, it is the best song of the 80s.

[Alan]

I've always been a Bond fan. I would say that my favorite 80s Bond flick was Octopussy, with For Your Eyes Only being a close second. The best song was "A View to a Kill" by a-Ha. Finally, the best Bond movie of ALL time is still Goldfinger.

[CHAD]

i'm not a bond fan, per se. i think i've seen, maybe, two of the older movies without brosnan. the brosnan movies i've seen each, once. a view to a kill is easily the best bond song of the 80s, with for your eyes only running a close second. just was never a fan.

[specialkness]

Marissa when A View To a Kill came out on video I remember RUNNING home from school for the world premier on MTV because you know you'd have to wait all weekend to see it again (no overkill in the 80s). I had to go to my best friends house (no cable at my house) and we recorded it and watched it over and over and over again. Pausing each time when JT raised his eyebrows... LOVE IT!

[surfdog]

this was the BEST CASINO ROYALE!

but I guess you young-uns wouldnt remember thishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEnoKqiGJFI

[Eric S]

I honestly never saw either of the Dalton Bond flicks. For Your Eyes Only was the best Bond flick of the 80s I have seen. Octopussy was pretty good. View to a Kill has to rate among the worst Bond flicks of all time. That was awful. I can't believe some people liked that. And Grace Jones as a Bond babe?? What??

I loved Casino Royale. Daniel Craig is very good as Bond. Quantum of Solace isn't quite as good as Casino. A lot of action. I believe it is the first sequel in the Bond series. It does help if you have seen Casino. Quantum is one of the shorter Bond flicks.

[Chad T.]

Easy one, it has to be Octopussy. This was the first Bond movie I ever say as a youth (on a rented VCR from the local Mom & Pop video shop). What teenage boy wouldn't love to visit Octopussy's compound of scantly dressed circus performers?

Sure Roger isn't Sean, but I think he carries the Bond baton well for his duration of films.

[Ray]

I also thought Timothy Dalton made an excellent Bond. Unfortunately, the two movies he was involved with were some of the worst of the Bond series due to horrible plots and dialog.

[Petey in Montreal]

I have to say that in the 80s, Octopussy had to have been the best Bond of the bunch. Awesome story, great cast, and Moore had hit his prime.

[Miguel]

I really love Casino Royale.The best Bond movie in decades for me.It`s top 5 all time Bond,with Goldfinger,From Russia with Love and Dr. No.

[Brad]

Interesting thing about Casino Royale (the Daniel Craig one, not the Peter Sellers one) is that it actually followed the plotline of the Ian Fleming book of the same title - well, more or less.

Most of the Bond flicks have used the book and short story titles but have had little resemblance to the corresponding story.

Anyway, I for one enjoyed the grittier Bond of Daniel Craig and am looking forward to seeing the new one.

[Bassnote]

I hate to say it, but I didn't like any of the Bond flicks from the 80s. I guess I'll have to vote for "Eyes". I'll give "Eyes" the song nod too because it's a very sexy tune.

[Spears]

Other than the theme song, I don't remember a ton from Octopussy. It's one of the few Bond movies from the 80s that I don't own. (That, and Never Say Never Again.)

[Spears]

Maybe it's only me, but I really did NOT enjoy Casino Royale.

I loved License to Kill, especially for the Wayne Newton scenes.

[Miguel]

I forgot.Best 80s Bond movies i go with:
1-License To Kill
2-For Your Eyes Only
3-Octopussy

[Miguel]

I don`t know if i can say the best Bond movie from the 80s was License To Kill by i do prefer Timothy Dalton than Roger Moore.
We can say Moore films had tones of irony and sense of humor.They are the lighter Bond movies,which are in sintony with the decade actually.But watching Roger Moore in A View To a KIll is just painful.With almost 60 years old,the poor guy strugles in vain.And Grace Jones,good Lord!
Best scene from an 80s Bond film is probably from a Moore movie,thow.The fake horse rear scene from Octopussy i believe.

The best Bond movie ever,maybe Casino Royale or Goldfinger.The best Bond ever Sean Connery,but Daniel Craig only made couple of movies yet,and he`s brilliant as Bond.

[Jeff in Cuba]

It's sort of a "least worst" choice, but put "Eyes" down as my favorite Bond flick of the 80's. And "View" gets my vote for best 80's Bond song (and worst 80's Bond movie).

My all-time choice would have to be "You Only Live Twice".

[Spears]

For what it's worth, I love Timothy Dalton as Bond. But we'll see how we end up ranking the flicks for the show.

[surfdog]

spearsy
i think this song was in Living daylights wasnt it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuSrsGzhD9U

[Greg]

Gotta be "For Your Eyes Only". Not that AVTAK wasn't great, and a hit, but the Sheena Easton song was huge, both for her and the movie. And 1981 was a different time.

[Brad]

I'm going to have to go with For Your Eyes Only as the "most 80s" Bond movie.

In general I don't think the Roger Moore stuff holds up as well - all the "seems to have lost his head" pun lines wear - but FYEO is my favorite.

Of course this may have something to do with the constant screenings of said film on HBO back in the day. Ah, Bibi...

[Douglas Arthur]

Another vote for Dalton. I think he is unfairly criticized because he was only in 2 movies, and he wasn't Pierce Brosnan. A lot of folks wanted Brosnan at the time, but he was still tied to Remington Steele on NBC, so the producers wound up with relative unknown Dalton. He may not have been typical Bondian material, but I thought he was quite good. Moore's Bond was a bit goofy and View To A Kill remains the worst Bond movie ever. Even Walken could not save it. I am not sure I can even count Never Say Never as it is essentially a remake of an earlier Bond film, and Connery at that point was a bit long in the tooth.

[John Hays]

For best 80's film of THAT less than stellar list, I'd have to choose For Your Eyes Only, followed by Living Daylights.

For best song of the 80's, easily View to a Kill. Unfortunately that was the best thing about that movie.

All time? Dr. No's the best. Can't beat the first.

Go read the Ian Fleming novels, they're great!

Let me also do a plug for a great podcast: http://beingjamesbond.com/
It's all about living the James Bond lifestyle!

[Roy, UK]

I have to say as an englishman that Timothy Dalton was THE most 80s Bond of the lot, and his best film was undoubtedly 'The Living Daylights'. Cold War tension, Eastern European cityscapes and one of those 'actors you see pop up all the time but never know their name' as the defecting russian general.

And don't get me started on a-Ha. Not one of their best songs (they rowed with Bond composer John Williams over how the song should sound, and it does feel a bit out of place with the rest of a-Ha's music) but certainly up there.

Surely Bond should have been included in the Red Scare podcast...just saying.

[Marissa]

As for songs, I have to go with DURAN DURAN's "View to a Kill" I loved their video for the song. John Taylor anyone? Yes, please.

For THE WALKEN alone I'll go with "A View to a Kill." I'm not a huge Moore fan, but I liked him far more than Dalton.

[Ray]

1. View To A Kill
2. All Time High
3. For Your Eyes Only
4. Never say never again
5. Meh
6. Meh

Sorry A-ha fans. I know that you guys are strong here at the 80s nation, but it doesn't sway me.

[Walter Cox]

I saw an article about the bonds when the last flick came out. Connery was Classic Bond, Moore was Geezer Bond, and Dalton was Ersatz Bond, which I believe sums it all up perfectly.

[A-Rad]

Connery is the ONLY Bond!

Everyone else is James Bond Lite.

[Walter Cox]

Best song? Definitely "View to a Kill", but props to Sheena Easton nonetheless.