08/17/2025
Living Like 007: How James Bond Shaped My Life and the Films That Define Him
Not many people know this about me, but I’ve been obsessed with James Bond for as long as I can remember. It all started when I was a kid and sat down to watch GoldenEye. I didn’t just like it, I was hooked. The action, the style, the music… it was unlike anything I’d ever seen, and it instantly became one of my favorite movies of all time.
From that moment on, I went back in time and watched every Bond film I could get my hands on. Over the years, 007 has influenced me in more ways than I ever expected, my taste in music, the way I dress, even how I think about blending edge with elegance. Bond wasn’t just entertainment; he became a blueprint for style and presence.
That influence shows up in little details of my everyday life. If you’ve noticed my suits, you’ve probably seen a few of the ties actually worn in the films, four of them, to be exact. On my wrist, I wear the original Omega Seamaster from GoldenEye (minus the laser, unfortunately). I’ve borrowed Bond’s casual look too, with the brown leather touches from Daniel Craig’s era. I have 3 pair of Sunglasses from Persols to Raybans worn by Bond. And as for my wife, well, she could absolutely be mistaken for a Bond girl. 🙂
So, with all that in mind, I figured it was time to put this passion on paper and share my take on what I believe are the greatest Bond films ever made.
1. Casino Royale
When Daniel Craig debuted as Bond in Casino Royale, the franchise underwent a bold transformation. Gone were the invisible cars and camp excess of the late Brosnan years. In their place: a grounded, gritty, emotionally raw take on 007.
Martin Campbell’s direction gave us a Bond who bled, stumbled, and fell in love, for real. The high-stakes poker game with Le Chiffre crackled with tension, and the tragic romance with Vesper Lynd added emotional weight rarely seen in Bond films.
Fans gravitate toward Casino Royale because it feels both thrillingly modern and true to Ian Fleming’s original vision. It’s not just a great Bond film, it’s a great film, period.
2. Goldfinger
If one film defines “classic Bond,” it’s Goldfinger. Sean Connery’s third outing set the template that nearly every film since has followed: the larger-than-life villain, the henchman with a deadly gimmick (Oddjob’s steel-rimmed bowler hat), the Aston Martin DB5, and of course, the unforgettable theme song sung by Shirley Bassey.
The famous laser scene, “No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!” remains one of cinema’s most quoted lines. More than any other, Goldfinger turned Bond from a successful spy franchise into a cultural phenomenon.
3. From Russia With Love
While Goldfinger gave Bond its grand spectacle, From Russia With Love gave it grit and espionage authenticity. This Cold War thriller pits Bond against SPECTRE in a tense cat-and-mouse game across Istanbul and aboard the Orient Express.
It’s more grounded than many later entries, with fewer gadgets and more spycraft. Connery is at his sharpest here, facing off against Robert Shaw’s ruthless assassin, Red Grant, in one of the most brutal train fights in cinematic history.
For fans who love Bond at his most suspenseful and sophisticated, From Russia With Love remains unmatched.
4. GoldenEye
After a six-year hiatus following Licence to Kill, Bond returned in spectacular fashion with Pierce Brosnan’s debut in GoldenEye. Directed once again by Martin Campbell, the film updated Bond for a post-Cold War world without losing his trademark charm.
The film features a memorable villain in Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean), a former 00-agent turned traitor, and introduced Judi Dench as M, who famously calls Bond a “sexist, misogynist dinosaur.” Add in a tank chase through St. Petersburg and a sharp balance of humor and action, and you have a film that revitalized the franchise for a new generation.
Plus the first use of the Omega Seamaster watch.
5 (tie). The Spy Who Loved Me
Roger Moore’s Bond era was known for its lighter touch, but The Spy Who Loved Me struck the perfect balance between charm, spectacle, and seriousness.
Featuring the megalomaniacal villain Stromberg, the steel-toothed henchman Jaws, and the unforgettable Lotus Esprit that turns into a submarine, the film delivered some of the franchise’s most dazzling moments. The ski jump opening sequence remains one of the most iconic Bond stunts ever filmed.
Moore brought wit and charisma, while the story introduced a strong female counterpart in Agent Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach), proving that even in the 1970s, Bond could evolve.
5 (tie). Skyfall
Sam Mendes’ Skyfall is not just one of the most visually stunning Bond films, it’s one of the most visually stunning blockbusters of its era, shot by cinematography legend Roger Deakins.
The film dives into Bond’s psychology, explores his loyalty to M, and pits him against Javier Bardem’s chilling cyber-terrorist, Silva. The emotional stakes are as high as the action, culminating in M’s poignant death, which reshaped the franchise.
For fans, Skyfall is proof that Bond can embrace artistry and introspection while still delivering globe-trotting spectacle.
What’s striking about these top-ranked films is how they span Bond’s entire history:
- The 1960s classics (Goldfinger, From Russia With Love) that defined the formula.
- The 1990s revival with GoldenEye.
- The 21st-century reinvention of Casino Royale.
- And a tie between Moore’s best adventure (The Spy Who Loved Me) and Craig’s most ambitious story (Skyfall).
Together, they show Bond’s ability to reinvent himself without ever losing what makes 007 timeless: danger, style, and sheer cinematic spectacle.
If I had a say, Tom Hardy would be the next James Bond. What do you think?
