James Bond on Netflix (Update: Removed 10/1/11)

Edit 6/4/2011: While I had originally posted that these would be available through June 17, traffic to this post helped me realize that they have already been taken down.  A shame, since this was my most often viewed post.

Edit 9/30/2011: All of these James Bond films were removed on October 1, 2011.  Also scheduled for removal are Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and Diamonds are Forever.


This will be my last dispatch from the 2011 Wisconsin Film Festival, where I was invited to be a juror for the Wisconsin's Own competition (for filmmakers and films with ties to Wisconsin).  I will resume the normal schedule on Monday.

The Festival is in full swing now, leaving me little time to spare, so here is a Quick Picks entry inspired by the news that several Bond films (from the Connery, Lazenby, Moore, and Dalton eras) have been added to Netflix Watch Instantly as of April 1.  According to InstantWatcher, many of these will remain on Watch Instantly only until June 17, so you have 77 days to catch up on the Bond films you haven't seen, or re-visit the ones you haven't seen in a while.

 Favorites?  Least favorites?  Let me know in the comments section below.

 

Thunderball (1965) Sean Connery's third Bond film.  More or less remade as Never Say Never Again (see below).

You Only Live Twice (1967) Connery's first last Bond film.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) George Lazenby's only entry in the series.  This has the best Bond theme and music, by John Barry.

Diamonds Are Forever (1971) Connery's second last Bond film.

Live and Let Die (1973) Roger Moore's first Bond film.  I think this started the "First Sex Partner Gets Killed" Bond convention.

The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) First appearance by Maud Adams as a Bond Girl.

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) First appearance of Richard Kiel as Jaws.

Moonraker (1979)  A candidate for worst film in the series.

For Your Eyes Only (1981)  First Bond film I had a chance to see in the theater.

Octopussy (1983)  First of two Bond films to be released in 1983, this is one of the best Moore Bonds, despite the fact he's getting long in the tooth. Second appearance of Maud Adams as a Bond Girl.

Never Say Never Again (1983) Not an official entry in the series, but hey, it's streaming.  Connery's third and final last Bond film.

A View to a Kill (1985)
Roger Moore's last Bond film.  Possibly the weakest film in the series.

The Living Daylights (1987) Timothy Dalton's first of two Bond films.


Licence to Kill (1989) Timothy Dalton's second of two Bond films.