19 Comments
User's avatar
Baye McNeil's avatar

Excellent post, man! Learned so much!! Been a Bond fan forever and always loved this one and you've filled in a lot of holes in my knowledge. Thank you!

Gianni Simone's avatar

Thanks, Baye. I'm sure you know more about 007 than me. Do you have a Bond movie Top Three?

Baye McNeil's avatar

Casino Royale, Skyfall, The spy who loved me

runner-ups: For your eyes only, goldfinger

Baye McNeil's avatar

Oh and damn! License to Kill...the darkest bond, dalton was great!!

Gianni Simone's avatar

Agreed. Great underrated film.

Jack Krown's avatar

Brilliant subject! I saw this film once—rented the videotape from my little shop in Bunkyo ku about 1988 or so. What I love the most is the on-location shooting in the 60s. What a time capsule, particularly for people who live here.

Another old color movie to watch for the same nostalgia is Love Is a Many Splendored Thing with William Holden. Filmed in HK in the late 1950s. What a gem.

Gianni Simone's avatar

Yeah, not my favorite Bond but I love the locations.

1988?! Do you mean you have been in Japan longer than me???

Jack Krown's avatar

Yes. It seems so.

A misspent youth.

Tony's avatar

Great post Gianni! For all its flaws still my favourite Bond film.

Gianni Simone's avatar

Thanks, Tony. Yes, it's not bad though I must say I still prefer Goldfinger.

Jann's avatar

I remembered it was AppleTV, not Netflix, that I watched Janes Bond on. We had a bit of a movie binge after not owning a TV for several years!

Gianni Simone's avatar

We have a TV but I rarely watch it. I prefer the internet's endless offer of interesting films, docs, etc. I'm currently watching Father Ted!

Jann's avatar

The benefit of watching YouTube, the internet etc on the TV we found was having a bigger screen. In terms of actual TV shows, we hardly watch any. 🙂

Jann's avatar

A fabulous post Gianni. Very well researched and presented. It’s only recently that I’ve watched this movie, when we finally subscribed to Netflix. I had written about in the context of ninja but hadn’t had the opportunity to see the movie. The link to the post follows if you’re interested. 😊

https://elementaljapan.com/2017/12/02/ninja-go-the-elements-in-action/

Gianni Simone's avatar

Thanks for the link, Jann. I'm currently trying to beat a deadline, but I'll sure to read your piece. Your essays are always interesting and thought-provoking. I didn't know you were into Lego movies!

Jann's avatar

I’m into anything that has a connection to the elements. That includes Lego movies. 😄

Margaret River's avatar

Great stuff, Gianni. An enjoyable read. I could never take the Bond franchise seriously but believe that Sean Connery was/is the best James Bond of all time - even with dodgy Japanese garb. Interesting insights into the making of 'You Only Live Twice'.

Gianni Simone's avatar

Thanks, Astrogirl. Sean Connery was excellent, of course, and I also like Daniel Craig. Timothy Dalton only lasted two films because his dark, gritty stories were ahead of their time, but they are not half bad.