....at the original time of its release? People seem to have perceptions about what the big Bond films were/are but what did people think at the time? I would assume the post-GF Connery films were crazy hyped, but aside from that I could see a lot of them going either way.
shareThe only one I can recall that really had to work to stir up much excitement when it came out was A View to A Kill: even the casting of Christopher Walken wasn't enough to hide the feeling that the franchise was getting a bit tired before it opened, especially without a new Bond or the urgency of a competing Bond film to catch people's imagination. It's the only one that seemed to open with a 'business as usual/just another movie' feeling.
"Security - release the badgers."
Highlights are...
Anticipation for a new Bond actor.
1969 ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
1973 LIVE AND LET DIE
1987 THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
1995 GOLDENEYE
2006 CASINO ROYALE
Verdict: casting of Daniel Craig and the plan to film Fleming's first Bond novel probably made it the most anticipated. And once released, the excellent word of mouth didn't hurt.
Delays between films.
1977 THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
1995 GOLDENEYE
2006 CASINO ROYALE
2012 SKYFALL
2015 SPECTRE
2018 BOND 25
Almost direct competition between Moore and Connery.
1983 OCTOPUSSY
1983 NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN
Verdict: more anticipation for Connery's return, Moore had the better film.
Films following the best film of a Bond actor.
1965 THUNDERBALL
1979 MOONRAKER
2008 QUANTUM OF SOLACE
Verdict: THUNDERBALL, for all time, likely.
The anniversary films.
25th THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
40th DIE ANOTHER DAY
50th SKYFALL
What no man Can give ya. And none Can take away.
I would assume the post-GF Connery films were crazy hypedYes, after GF Bond was an international phenomenon, and every sentient being on earth was eagerly awaiting Thunderball. Until Skyfall, TB was the Bond (inflation adjusted) box office champ.
TB was something of a let down for audiences, and Bondmania began to cool off.
Bondmania has arguably never cooled off.
shareInterest in Bond has never gone cold, but the level of white heat that burned around 1965 has never been equaled.
shareAside from a few pairs of films (TSWLM and MR and SF and SP) the Bond movies just don't make the same bank as they did in the 60's.
shareI would argue that there was a period where pop-culture anticipation was actually quite tepid, even given the casting tricks they resorted to for AVTAK and TLD; that era. This differs from what would interest/excite the anticipation of a devoted Bond fan.
Now, this is a signature gun, and that is an optical palm reader.