The Wager

I am in the middle of a new book I got for Christmas and it is a very riveting story about a British group of sailors who are shipwrecked, mutiny, and murder one another off the coast of South America. The book is called The Wager and it is written by David Grann, who authored the recent Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon.

Something that really jumped out at me was the description of a captain in the British navy. His position required, "command of temper, integrity of purpose, vigour of mind, and abnegation of self." Abnegation of self means rejection of one's self and tending to the needs of your crew. I think that is a very astounding description of what all people should strive for. If only we could all control our tempers, have the highest commitment to a goal, a healthy mind, and put others before ourselves.

Bond Film Category Rankings

I haven't done an update of my James Bond rankings in several years and with the release of No Time to Die in 2021 I need to get these categories down on paper. Starting this year I began showing the kids all the James Bond movies, watching them from the very beginning with Dr. No and we have gone through the first 19 films so far. I expect we will finish all 25 in early 2024. After watching all the films again I haven't really thought about shuffling these categories again, but this is how I felt about each of the films, music, characters, pre-title sequences, etc. since watching No Time to Die a few times.

Films

25. A View to a Kill

24. The Man with the Golden Gun

23. Diamonds are Forever

22. Moonraker

21. Die Another Day

20. Octopussy

19. Quantum of Solace

18. For Your Eyes Only

17. Spectre

16. Tomorrow Never Dies

15. Thunderball

14. The Spy Who Loved Me

13. You Only Live Twice

12. No Time to Die

11. The World is not Enough

10. Licence to Kill

9. Live and Let Die

8. Dr. No

7. Goldeneye

6. The Living Daylights

5. Skyfall

4. Goldfinger

3. On Her Majesty's Secret Service

2. Casino Royale

1. From Russia with Love

Theme Songs

25. Moonraker

24. All Time High (from Octopussy)

23. Licence to Kill

22. For Your Eyes Only

21. Die Another Day

20. Diamonds are Forever

19. Another Way to Die (from Quantum of Solace)

18. Writing’s on the Wall (from Spectre)

17. The Man with the Golden Gun

16. No Time to Die

15. A View to a Kill

14. The Living Daylights

13. Thunderball

12. Tomorrow Never Dies

11. From Russia with Love

10. You Know My Name (from Casino Royale)

9. You Only Live Twice

8. The World is not Enough

7. Skyfall

6. Live and Let Die

5. Goldfinger

4. Goldeneye

3. Nobody Does it Better (from The Spy Who Loved Me)

2. On Her Majesty's Secret Service

1. James Bond Theme (from Dr. No)

Soundtracks

25. Goldeneye

24. The Man with the Golden Gun

23. Spectre

22. Die Another Day

21. No Time to Die

20. For Your Eyes Only

19. Licence to Kill

18. Diamonds are Forever

17. Dr. No

16. Casino Royale

15. Moonraker

14. Octopussy

13. A View to a Kill

12. You Only Live Twice

11. The World is not Enough

10. The Spy Who Loved Me

9. Tomorrow Never Dies

8. Quantum of Solace

7. The Living Daylights

6. Goldfinger

5. Live and Let Die

4. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

3. Skyfall

2. Thunderball

1. From Russia with Love

Girls - Beauty

25. Pussy Galore (from Goldfinger)

24. Melina Havelock (from For Your Eyes Only)

23. Domino Derval (from Thunderball)

22. Pam Bouvier (from Licence to Kill)

21. Kissy Suzuki (from You Only Live Twice)

20. Dr. Holly Goodhead (from Moonraker)

19. Natalya Simonova (from Goldeneye)

18. Mary Goodnight (from The Man with the Golden Gun)

17. Wai Lin (from Tomorrow Never Dies)

16. Dr. Madeleine Swann (from No Time to Die)

15. Dr. Madeleine Swann (from Spectre)

14. Vesper Lynd (from Casino Royale)

13. Anya Amasova (from The Spy Who Loved Me)

12. Tiffany Case (from Diamonds are Forever)

11. Kara Milovy (from The Living Daylights)

10. Dr. Christmas Jones (from The World is not Enough)

9. Camille Montes Rivera (from Quantum of Solace)

8. Octopussy (from Octopussy)

7. Jinx (from Die Another Day)

6. Tracy Di Vicenzo (from On Her Majesty's Secret Service)

5. Severine (from Skyfall)

4. Stacey Sutton (from A View to a Kill)

3. Honey Rider (from Dr. No)

2. Solitaire (from Live and Let Die)

1. Tatiana Romanova (from From Russia with Love)

Girls - Character

25. Stacey Sutton (from A View to a Kill)

24. Dr. Christmas Jones (from The World is not Enough)

23. Tiffany Case (from Diamonds are Forever)

22. Jinx (from Die Another Day)

21. Mary Goodnight (from The Man with the Golden Gun)

20. Kissy Suzuki (from You Only Live Twice)

19. Severine (from Skyfall)

18. Melina Havelock (from For Your Eyes Only)

17. Dr. Holly Goodhead (from Moonraker)

16. Domino Derval (from Thunderball)

15. Kara Milovy (from The Living Daylights)

14. Camille Montes Rivera (from Quantum of Solace)

13. Natalya Simonova (from Goldeneye)

12. Wai Lin (from Tomorrow Never Dies)

11. Solitaire (from Live and Let Die)

10. Anya Amasova (from The Spy Who Loved Me)

9. Octopussy (from Octopussy)

8. Pam Bouvier (from Licence to Kill)

7. Tatiana Romanova (from From Russia with Love)

6. Honey Rider (from Dr. No)

5. Pussy Galore (from Goldfinger)

4. Dr. Madeleine Swann (from Spectre)

3. Dr. Madeleine Swann (from No Time to Die)

2. Vesper Lynd (from Casino Royale)

1. Tracy Di Vicenzo (from On Her Majesty's Secret Service)

Girls - Overall

25. Melina Havelock (from For Your Eyes Only)

24. Kissy Suzuki (from You Only Live Twice)

23. Domino Derval (from Thunderball)

22. Mary Goodnight (from The Man with the Golden Gun)

21. Dr. Holly Goodhead (from Moonraker)

20. Tiffany Case (from Diamonds are Forever)

19. Dr. Christmas Jones (from The World is not Enough)

18. Natalya Simonova (from Goldeneye)

17. Stacey Sutton (from A View to a Kill)

16. Pam Bouvier (from Licence to Kill)

15. Jinx (from Die Another Day)

14. Pussy Galore (from Goldfinger)

13. Wai Lin (from Tomorrow Never Dies)

12. Kara Milovy (from The Living Daylights)

11. Severine (from Skyfall)

10. Camille Montes Rivera (from Quantum of Solace)

9. Anya Amasova (from The Spy Who Loved Me)

8. Dr. Madeleine Swann (from Spectre)

7. Dr. Madeleine Swann (from No Time to Die)

6. Octopussy (from Octopussy)

5. Vesper Lynd (from Casino Royale)

4. Solitaire (from Live and Let Die)

3. Honey Rider (from Dr. No)

2. Tatiana Romanova (from From Russia with Love)

1. Tracy Di Vicenzo (from On Her Majesty's Secret Service)

Girls – Films’ Most Attractive

Dr. No – Honey Rider

From Russia with Love – Tatiana Romanova

Goldfinger – Jill Masterson

Thunderball – Fiona Volpe

You Only Live Twice – Kissy Suzuki

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service – Tracy Di Vicenzo

Diamonds are Forever – Tiffany Case

Live and Let Die – Solitaire

The Man with the Golden Gun – Mary Goodnight

The Spy Who Loved Me – Anya Amasova

Moonraker – Manuela

For Your Eyes Only – Bibi Dahl

Octopussy – Octopussy

A View to a Kill – Jenny Flex

The Living Daylights – Kara Milovy

Licence to Kill – Lupe Lamora

Goldeneye – Xenia Onatopp

Tomorrow Never Dies – Professor Inga Bergstrom

The World is not Enough – Elektra King

Die Another Day – Miranda Frost

Casino Royale – Solange Dimitrios

Quantum of Solace – Camille Montes Rivera

Skyfall – Severine

Spectre – Estrella

No Time to Die – Paloma

Villains

25. Brad Whitaker (from The Living Daylights)

24. Ernst Stavro Blofeld (from Diamonds are Forever)

23. Aris Kristatos (from For Your Eyes Only)

22. Gustav Graves (from Die Another Day)

21. Kamal Khan (from Octopussy)

20. Lyutsifer Safin (from No Time to Die)

19. Karl Stromberg (from The Spy Who Loved Me)

18. Elliot Carver (from Tomorrow Never Dies)

17. Max Zorin (from A View to a Kill)

16. Dominic Greene (from Quantum of Solace)

15. Franz Oberhauser (from Spectre)

14. Dr. Kananga (from Live and Let Die)

13. Rosa Klebb (from From Russia with Love)

12. Emilio Largo (from Thunderball)

11. Ernst Stavro Blofeld (from You Only Live Twice)

10. Elektra King (The World is not Enough)

9. Franz Sanchez (from Licence to Kill)

8. Le Chiffre (from Casino Royale)

7. Rauol Silva (from Skyfall)

6. Alec Trevelyan (from Goldeneye)

5. Francisco Scaramanga (from The Man with the Golden Gun)

4. Dr. Julius No (from Dr. No)

3. Hugo Drax (from Moonraker)

2. Ernst Stavro Blofeld (from On Her Majesty's Secret Service)

1. Auric Goldfinger (from Goldfinger)

Villain Deaths

25. Ernst Stavro Blofeld (from Diamonds are Forever)

24. Franz Oberhauser (from Spectre)

23. Ernst Stavro Blofeld (from You Only Live Twice)

22. Ernst Stavro Blofeld (from On Her Majesty's Secret Service)

21. Gustav Graves (from Die Another Day)

20. Karl Stromberg (from The Spy Who Loved Me)

19. Kamal Khan (from Octopussy)

18. Brad Whitaker (from The Living Daylights)

17. Francisco Scaramanga (from The Man with the Golden Gun)

16. Aris Kristatos (from For Your Eyes Only)

15. Rauol Silva (from Skyfall)

14. Auric Goldfinger (from Goldfinger)

13. Elliot Carver (from Tomorrow Never Dies)

12. Lyutsifer Safin (from No Time to Die)

11. Dr. Kananga (from Live and Let Die)

10. Hugo Drax (from Moonraker)

9. Rosa Klebb (from From Russia with Love)

8. Dr. Julius No (from Dr. No)

7. Le Chiffre (from Casino Royale)

6. Emilio Largo (from Thunderball)

5. Dominic Greene (from Quantum of Solace)

4. Alec Trevelyan (from Goldeneye)

3. Franz Sanchez (from Licence to Kill)

2. Elektra King (The World is not Enough)

1. Max Zorin (from A View to a Kill)

Henchmen

25. Professor Dent (from Dr. No)

24. Elvis (from Quantum of Solace)

23. Gobinda (from Octopussy)

22. Alex Dimitrios (from Casino Royale)

21. Primo (Cyclops) (from No Time to Die)

20. Emile Leopold Locque (from For Your Eyes Only)

19. Jaws (from Moonraker)

18. Helga Brandt (from You Only Live Twice)

17. Patrice (from Skyfall)

16. Stamper (from Tomorrow Never Dies)

15. Necros (from The Living Daylights)

14. Nick Nack (from The Man with the Golden Gun)

13. Zao (from Die Another Day)

12. Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd (from Diamonds are Forever)

11. Mayday (from A View to a Kill)

10. Renard (from The World is not Enough)

9. Irma Bunt (from On Her Majesty's Secret Service)

8. Dario (from Licence to Kill)

7. Mr. Hinx (from Spectre)

6. Tee-Hee (from Live and Let Die)

5. Xenia Onatopp (from Goldeneye)

4. Jaws (from The Spy Who Loved Me)

3. Fiona Volpe (from Thunderball)

2. Donald "Red" Grant (from From Russia with Love)

1. Oddjob (from Goldfinger)

Allies

25. Sheikh Hosein (from The Spy Who Loved Me)

24. Estrella (from Spectre)

23. Felix Leiter (from Diamonds are Forever)

22. Felix Leiter (from Goldfinger)

21. Saunders (from The Living Daylights)

20. Jack Wade (from Tomorrow Never Dies)

19. Lieutenant Hip (from The Man with the Golden Gun)

18. Luigi Ferrara (from For Your Eyes Only)

17. Felix Leiter (from Live and Let Die)

16. Manuela (from Moonraker)

15. Kincade (from Skyfall)

14. Vijay (from Octopussy)

13. Sir Godfrey Tibbett (from A View to a Kill)

12. Raoul (from Die Another Day)

11. Rene Mathis (from Quantum of Solace)

10. Jack Wade (from Goldeneye)

9. Felix Leiter (from Thunderball)

8. Nomi (from No Time to Die)

7. Q (from Licence to Kill)

6. Quarrel (from Dr. No)

5. Marc-Ange Draco (from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service)

4. Tiger Tanaka (from You Only Live Twice)

3. Valentin Dimitrovich Zukovsky (from The World is not Enough)

2. Rene Mathis (from Casino Royale)

1. Kerim Bey (from From Russia with Love)

Title Sequences

25. Licence to Kill

24. Moonraker

23. On Her Majesty's Secret Service

22. Octopussy

21. The Living Daylights

20. The Man with the Golden Gun

19. Quantum of Solace

18. You Only Live Twice

17. Spectre

16. Diamonds are Forever

15. Skyfall

14. No Time to Die

13. Dr. No

12. Tomorrow Never Dies

11. A View to a Kill

10. Die Another Day

9. Goldfinger

8. Goldeneye

7. For Your Eyes Only

6. The World is not Enough

5. Casino Royale

4. Live and Let Die

3. The Spy Who Loved Me

2. From Russia with Love

1. Thunderball

Pre-title Sequence

25. Dr. No (none)

24. Live and Let Die

23. For Your Eyes Only

22. Diamonds are Forever

21. The Man with the Golden Gun

20. You Only Live Twice

19. A View to a Kill

18. Licence to Kill

17. Moonraker

16. Die Another Day

15. Octopussy

14. Skyfall

13. Tomorrow Never Dies

12. On Her Majesty's Secret Service

11. No Time to Die

10. Casino Royale

9. From Russia with Love

8. Thunderball

7. The World is not Enough

6. Quantum of Solace

5. Goldfinger

4. Goldeneye

3. The Spy Who Loved Me

2. The Living Daylights

1. Spectre

Gun Barrel Sequence

25. Goldeneye

24. Quantum of Solace

23. Die Another Day

22. Octopussy

21. From Russia with Love

20. Moonraker

19. Goldfinger

18. The Spy who Loved Me

17. Spectre

16. Skyfall

15. Licence to Kill

14. The Man with the Golden Gun

13. A View to a Kill

12. Diamonds are Forever

11. Tomorrow Never Dies

10. For Your Eyes Only

9. You Only Live Twice

8. No Time to Die

7. Casino Royale

6. The World is not Enough

5. The Living Daylights

4. Live and Let Die

3. Thunderball

2. Dr. No

1. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Favorite Scene

Dr. No – dinner with Dr. No

From Russia with Love – train fight

Goldfinger – laser torture

Thunderball – jet pack escape

You Only Live Twice – meeting Blofeld

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service – ski escape from Piz Gloria

Diamonds are Forever – Las Vegas car chase

Live and Let Die – bus chase

The Man with the Golden Gun – bridge jump

The Spy Who Loved Me – ski jump

Moonraker – fight with Chang in glass museum

For Your Eyes Only – Bond climbing St. Cyrios

Octopussy – Mischka and Grischka chase 009

A View to a Kill – Golden Gate Bridge fight

The Living Daylights – Gibraltar exercise

Licence to Kill – skiing behind airplane

Goldeneye – tank chase

Tomorrow Never Dies – skyscraper banner jump

The World is not Enough – boat chase on the Thames

Die Another Day – sword fight

Casino Royale – free-running chase

Quantum of Solace – pre-title car chase

Skyfall – Patrice gunfight in Shanghai

Spectre – pre-title longshot and helicopter battle

No Time to Die – Bond tells Madeleine she has “all the time in the world.”

Actors

6. George Lazenby

5. Roger Moore

4. Pierce Brosnan

3. Timothy Dalton

2. Daniel Craig

1. Sean Connery

Ian Fleming Novels

14. Diamonds are Forever

13. Live and Let Die

12. You Only Live Twice

11. The Spy Who Loved Me

10. The Man with the Golden Gun

9. Octopussy and The Living Daylights

8. Thunderball

7. Moonraker

6. Dr. No

5. Goldfinger

4. For Your Eyes Only

3. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

2. From Russia, with Love

1. Casino Royale

John Gardner Novels

14. The Man from Barbarossa

13. Death is Forever

12. For Special Services

11. Win, Lose, or Die

10. Brokenclaw

9. Scorpius

8. Cold Fall

7. License Renewed

6. Seafire

5. Role of Honor

4. Nobody Lives Forever

3. Never Send Flowers

2. Icebreaker

1. No Deals, Mr. Bond

Raymond Benson Novels

6. Never Dream of Dying

5. DoubleShot

4. The Man with the Red Tattoo

3. High Time to Kill

2. The Facts of Death

1. Zero Minus Ten

Anthony Horowitz Novels

3. With a Mind to Kill

2. Forever and a Day

1. Trigger Mortis

One-Off Continuation Novels

5. Double or Nothing – Kim Sherwood

4. Solo – William Boyd

3. Devil May Cry – Sebastian Faulks

2. Carte Blanche – Jeffery Deaver

1. Colonel Sun – Kingsley Amis

Pointless Rant Of The Day

There is a new trend for drive-thru restaurants to send vehicles to designated parking spots if the food isn't prepared and ready to serve after paying at the first window. I understand it is to keep the line moving and keep the drive-thru lanes short so people think it will be quick and easy to get food at their establishment.

However, it is really obnoxious when I then get bamboozled into waiting at the parking spot for an extra four minutes because you don't want your line to get long. I already don't like the two lanes that merge into one that restaurants have adopted, and this is the latest annoyance about the fast-food dining experience.

If I didn't like sitting in my car to eat and listening to a podcast I might stop partaking in these types of dining establishments, but unfortunately I'm old and stuck in my ways. So instead I am just going to put up with it and be bothered by the world around me.

Marvel Cinematic Universe Rankings

Last night while driving to baseball practice with the boys, Jack and I got into a debate about Earth-level threats in the movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In his mind he thinks every movie was a world-destroying threat (with several of his arguments going to, "What if you gave Hitler that weapon? He would have destroyed the world."). We never landed on how many of the 29 films were actually deemed world-threatening, but it did get me in the mood to rank them in order of my least to most favorite.

Iron Man 2

Thor: The Dark World

Eternals

The Incredible Hulk

Iron Man 3

Black Widow

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Thor: Love and Thunder

Captain Marvel

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Captain America: The First Avenger

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Thor

Doctor Strange

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

The Avengers

Ant-Man

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Avengers: Endgame

Thor: Ragnarok

Iron Man

Avengers: Infinity War

Black Panther

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Captain America: Civil War

Guardians of the Galaxy

Spider-Man: No Way Home

25 Days of Bond (Day 25)

Well, it has been a little more than one day since my last post in this series on the latest James Bond film, No Time to Die. If you have seen the movie, I think you may know why it took this long to post something about the movie. If you haven't watched it yet, I recommend you stop reading here and find a streaming service or the nearest Best Buy that will sell you a copy so you can view and make your life whole.

At this point I have given the spoiler warning and can go into my official review of No Time to Die.

1. This is hands down the most emotional Bond film since On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The ending of Casino Royale is certainly poignant, but from start to finish the latest entry in the series will emotionally wreck you.

2. I like a pre-title sequence to be its own stand-alone adventure like the early films did, but boy is this one exciting. It is a little long and combines two story elements, which I normally don't like as I want it to be a few minutes long with Bond working on some unrelated mission, but the action and intensity in both plotlines is amazing.

3. The reference to Dr. No with the dots in the title sequence was a great touch and isn't an Easter egg that feels forced. True fans get it. Others probably don't even notice them.

4. From day one I have said that Billie Eilish's lyrics were the best of the entire series. They let the listener know exactly what the mood of the film is going to be and sum up Daniel Craig's entire time in the series. I'm not a huge fan of the song as I don't care for the seeming laziness in the vocals, but the lyrics themselves are a real highlight.

5. I'm not the only one to say this as she was a big hit for a lot of moviegoers, but Ana de Armas' character, Paloma, was outstanding. I really wish we had gotten more than just the Cuba sequence with her, but the time we do spend with her is excellent.

6. Welcome back Felix! And no, they killed Felix! This was the second moment that had me really worried in the movie (the first being when Bond says, "We have all the time in the world" during the pre-title sequence, which I then know was a sign of death for somebody). I have loved Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter. I really struggle in each viewing with this scene because it is hard to see him killed off. Maiming Felix is normal as it has happened in the books and films, but death was not an expected outcome. In my first watch I think my mouth was agape for about 7 minutes straight as I didn't know how to process it.

7. I've never been a fan of the MI6 crew being the Scooby gang during Craig's tenure. I like them making brief appearances and helping where they need to, but the last three movies have overutilized M, Moneypenny, Q, and Tanner. However, with that being said, the folks playing these characters are incredible actors and give phenomenal performances. When Ralph Fiennes came on board as the new M and had that final scene in Skyfall I went crazy because it was alluding to the type of relationship Sean Connery had with Bernard Lee. This ended up being a little more adversarial than I thought it would be, but it was still a great iteration of the character. Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris were excellent in their roles of Q and Moneypenny. We haven't seen much of Bill Tanner previously (with the exception of Pierce Brosnan's tenure and a no-named appearance in For Your Eyes Only), but Rory Kinnear's realization of the character has been the best so far in the series.

8. The reveal that Bond had a kid was ... interesting. Even after a year I am still on the fence about whether it was a good idea or not. However, that kid is freaking cute!

9. So let's talk about the elephant in the room. They killed off our hero. For nearly 60 years James Bond has gone to the brink of death saving the world. Audiences knew what they were going to get when they went to see the latest James Bond adventure: girls, guns, action, cars, gadgets, and James Bond living at the end to have one last bit of romantic time (normally in a sea transport of some kind). This one didn't live up to that expectation. Like the introduction of the child, killing off Bond is not something I thought would ever happen and I'm not sure how I feel about it. However, the music that goes along with that scene is some of the best in the entire series. I love John Barry's music, but what Hans Zimmer did to pull on my unemotional heart strings was a thing of beauty.

25 Days of Bond (Day 24)

You know when a movie trailer looks so good you think it will be the greatest thing to hit theaters that year, but then you see the full film and it disappoints. That's what Spectre did. It looked phenomenal in the previews and had fans going crazy with expectations, but ultimately it made a few too many mistakes and just didn't deliver on what was promised in the trailer.

1. The opening long take (with some disguised cuts hidden in the right places) in the pre-title sequence is a thing of beauty, not only because of the unique filmmaking technique, but also the countless extras in amazing costumes, a recreation of Mexico's Day of the Dead festival, and the impressive stunt flying.

2. Speaking of that stunt helicopter, it is incredible what they do with that machine and watching Bond fight off two opponents at the same time while keeping the helicopter from crashing makes for a fun watch. It is the combination of the opening long take, production design, and stunt work that helped seal this as my favorite pre-title sequence of the entire franchise. Although, after many viewings and the newness of the thing has worn off it might drop to number two on my list. We will see where it lands after I re-rank the franchise once I've seen No Time to Die.

3. This is the third time we've seen Bond's apartment, and a new one at that. I don't need to see where he lives in every movie, but it is always delightful when it happens.

4. Many fans hate the part when Bond escapes the villainous organizations meeting in Rome and subsequent car chase through empty streets. Considering it is essentially an information dump done in an interesting way, I don't mind it at all. I also think that when the music hits its zenith and Bond's Aston Martin DB10 and Mr. Hinx's Jaguar C-X75 are cruising through the square it is a magnificent moment.

5. When Bond meets with Mr. White it is a reunion I've been wanting for since Quantum of Solace. The brief scene in Quantum of Solace between the two of them left fans wanting more and this is a great follow up to that moment. How can you not love it when Mr. White says, "You're a kite dancing in a hurricane, Mr. Bond."

6. "A license to kill is also a license NOT to kill."

7. Meeting Dr. Madeleine Swann shows that Daniel Craig's Bond can be playful and fun. It isn't all doom and gloom in his films. She is also a well-written, fleshed out character for a Bond girl. I recognize the complaints about how quickly she and Bond fall in love, but it does also make sense that she would understand a man like him and find comfort in that kind of relationship. I don't mind at all how the writers handled the two of them and am happy to see her return for No Time to Die.

8. This is the best train fight since From Russia with Love. Mr. Hinx is a bull in a china shop as he manhandles Bond from car to car. By the end of it you can truly believe how exhausted and beaten 007 is.

9. Another argument I don't agree with other fans about is the escape from Blofeld's crater hideout. Most complain it feels like a sequence from a video game. My takeaway from the sequence is how awesome Bond is in taking out the unnamed goons. As each target gets farther and farther away 007 has to change his shooting stance in order to better aim. I get that he just went through torture and is supposed to be half-beaten, but I also just don't care and like watching him be the superior marksman.

10. There are very subtle nods to Ian Fleming's short story "The Hildebrand Rarity" and Kingsley Amis's continuation novel Colonel Sun. The best Easter eggs are the ones that aren't obvious, and these definitely fly under the radar for people who aren't familiar with the literary character.

11. How this movie ends with Bond and Madeleine driving off into the overcast London sunset is actually a great way to end Craig's tenure. It wasn't known if he would return for another movie, so finishing things up in an ambiguous way as to make the viewer question if he has left the service entirely or is just going on holiday with his new love is fine. I had always been under the assumption that he left MI6 completely behind because it was a more final way of ending things for this Bond and the way Q says, "Bond, I thought you had left." This version of Q nearly always calls him 007, not Bond. So by calling him Bond instead of his code name it made me believe he had quit. I feel justified in this line of thinking with how No Time to Die is expected to start.

25 Days of Bond (Day 23)

We are so close. Only two days to go and we will have a new Bond movie in the franchise. After seeing the first trailer for No Time to Die I was expecting it to be the best film in the series since From Russia with Love. I've since decided to temper my expectations and then I started believing it to be the best since Casino Royale. If it turns out to be anything as good as Skyfall I will be a happy fan (but in reality it could be the worst in the series and I'll still just be glad to have a new entry in the series).

1. We haven't had a pre-title sequence that tries to make the viewer believe Bond has died in a long time. I think the last one was You Only Live Twice.

2. The title song from Adele is exactly what you would expect. It has the classic bombastic musical tones of a Shirley Bassey/John Barry style from the Goldfinger days, but modernized for a 21st century audience. It is incredible and absolutely deserved the Academy Award for Best Original Song, a first for the Bond franchise to win.

3. "Then why do you need me?" "Every now and then a trigger has to be pulled." "Or not pulled. It's hard to know which in your pajamas."

4. Sam Mendes is one of the more famous directors to ever helm a Bond movie and his aesthetic traits can be seen in certain shots throughout the movie. One of these that is a real standout is the footage of the city of Shanghai as it combines with the music to make a great union of sight and sound.

5. My favorite sequence is the silhouette fight between Bond and Patrice in the skyscraper office. Even the buildup to the fight is great as Bond is trying to sneak up on the assassin by staying in the shadows and reflections of the glowing neon outside the building. Even though you cannot really tell which character is which since it just two black figures in hand-to-hand combat, you still can't help but be impressed with what is on the screen.

6. And another beautiful combination of visual and artistic style is when Bond is floating into the entrance of the Macau casino. The fireworks going off above, the floating lanterns, and the illuminated dragon make for a compelling location that I wish existed in real life. Unfortunately, the Golden Dragon Casino is only a creation of the production team at Pinewood Studios.

7. Berenice Marlohe is just stunning. I don't know if there are any other half French, half Cambodian and Chinese women in the world, but if there are I can't imagine they are as gorgeous as Miss Marlohe. Her character Severine doesn't last long in the film, but while she is onscreen your gaze is likely fixated on her.

8. What an entrance Silva makes. His opening monologue, and even the one later when he is imprisoned and explaining why he has done the things he's done, is compelling and one of the most memorable introductions to a Bond villain we've ever had.

9. Although a lot of people have complained about the convoluted plot and story conveniences when it comes to Silva's escape, it still gives us a great sequence of Bond chasing him through the London underground as Q helps. This scene is particularly useful as it not only is a fun action/chase moment, but it gives us some interplay and team building for Bond and the new Q. It sets up the development of a relationship that viewers had enjoyed where Q was always annoyed by Bond and Bond just kept at annoying him. Now we've seen the first hints at how this interrelation began.

10. While the silhouette fight between Bond and Patrice is my favorite scene, the shootout at the government inquest is Joanna's favorite, and honestly I can't say I blame her. The tension mounts, the music builds, Judi Dench reads poetry, and Bond comes in to save the day with some help from a few allies. Even the ingenuity of how he frees the hostages is quite original.

11. The return of the Aston Martin DB5! I don't care that it's featured too much in the Brosnan and Craig eras. I love that car and all of its magnificent toys.

12. Another complaint for some critics of this film is the Home Alone climax. I don't care that it feels like a ripoff of the Macaulay Culkin holiday classic. It shows 007's ingenuity and resourcefulness as he outwits Silva when outmanned and outgunned. Plus, who doesn't love watching Albert Finney blast away some faceless henchmen as he quips, "Welcome to Scotland."

13. This is a really small moment, but I have always enjoyed it. When Bond is running across the field of his ancestral home and he jump kicks a henchman in stride, it always makes me smile.

14. Javier Bardem's death scene is so freaking great.

15. The final scene of the new M and Bond in an office harkens back to the classic films where Bond is given an assignment as he sits across from his boss. Once Craig retires and we do another reboot of the franchise, I want to get back to Bond being given an assignment in M's office and we start off on our adventure.