For some reason, a while back I decided to watch all of the James Bond movies. I’ve seen all of the Pierce Brosnan movies and the two new Daniel Craig films, but I was pretty sure I’d only seen bits and pieces of the older ones. Well, after watching the first seven (5 with Sean Connery, 1 with George Lazenby, and then one more with Connery), very few scenes looked familiar.

But I’m glad I watched them – they’re some damn fun movies. It’s funny to see how sexist those movies could be without the slightest bit of irony. And of course all that drinking and smoking the guy did! But you can’t deny, Bond was one smooth character.

It’s also interesting how many of the plots involve space: Dr. No wants to mess with a rocket launch, Blofeld hijacks astronauts in You Only Live Twice, and then he launches a laser made out of diamonds into space. I guess back in those days space was all the rage, so it sort of makes sense.

But what doesn’t make sense is the constant recasting of Blofeld – especially in Diamonds are Forever, when the previously bald villain now has a full head of hair! And why doesn’t he recognize Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, having come face to face with him in You Only Live Twice? Oh, maybe because it’s Bond was also recast? Its a given that Lazenby wasn’t as good of a Bond as Connery, but OHMSS had bigger problems than just him. Like the fact that the plot didn’t make even the smallest amount of sense, for example.

But all in all, these are really enjoyable films, more so the first few before they started parodying themselves. I mean really – Plenty O’Toole? Really? Who the hell is named Plenty??

Up next, the Roger Moore era…