Live and Let Die (1973)
Overall Rank- 11th
Though not ranked in the overall top 10, this Bond film holds a special place with me. Next to Goldeneye it is the Bond film I have seen the most. This was also the second Bond film that I saw. This Bond film seems to fit more action and excitement into it than many of its predecessors, and many of Moore’s later efforts.
The two faces of the main villain create a much more rounded character. Mr. Big/Kananga is truly a worthy adversary for Bond. Though many of the themes within this movie could be considered offensive to African Americans, the film simply represents the view of its era.
Solitaire is one of my favorite Bond girls. Her innocent beginnings, followed by Bond’s clever (if not tricky) method for wooing her, provide an interesting relationship.
The boat scenes were very exciting, though they could have been slightly shorter in my opinion. David Hedison is also my favorite actor to portray Bond’s ally, Felix Lighter.
Sheriff J.W. Pepper, while somewhat annoying, does provide some laughs between the action. The idea of a “good old boy” running into a suave British secret agent makes me laugh just at the thought of it. Taking two very opposite individuals and putting them together usually has comedic results.
Roger Moore is at his freshest here. Not yet a slave to the cheesy one-liners that would follow in his Bond films, he manages to portray a well balanced Bond here.
Baron Samedi is a good villain concept, but I felt he wasn’t played out and never presented much of a serious threat to Bond (though I won’t say he doesn’t have a few surprises up his sleeve).
TeeHee is a villain that I enjoy watching as his presence (and method of killing) are very interesting.
Being a Beatles fan, I find this theme song one of the best.
Overall, the only reason this Bond does not rank in the top 10 is because so many of the Bond films are great and I ran out of space. Still, it’s overall rank of 11 is nothing to be ashamed of. Live and Let Die remains one of my favorite Bond films to this day.