Top Ten Tuesday – Favourite Films/Film Series Based on Books

On April 19, 2022 By The Unseen LibraryIn List11 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official topic for this week is Bookish Merchandise I’d love to Own, which does sound fun, although I have no idea what I would put up as my choices. As such, I thought I’d take this opportunity to finally post a list that I have been thinking about for a few weeks, looking at my top ten favourite films or film series that are based on books.

Adapting bestselling novels and books into movies is something Hollywood has been doing for decades, often with great success. While some adaptations that failed, either due to the original source material or general problems with production, many have turned out to be exceedingly epic films that I have deeply enjoyed. This is something I have been thinking of a lot lately, not only because some great books have film adaptations coming out soon (Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka and The Gray Man by Mark Greaney for examples), but also because I just saw the latest Fantastic Beasts film. So, as I tend to when my mind wanders along this track, I started researching and listing all the various films that are based on books and tried to work out what my absolute favourites were. This turned out to be such a fun list to pull together that I just had to share it up on the blog.

To appear on this list, the relevant film or series needs to be based on a book in some shape or form. In trying to work out what are my absolute favourites I am looking at a few things, general quality of the film, how much I enjoyed it as well as whether it is a good adaptation of the source material. In a few cases, I may not have read the books the films are adapted from, but I have still included them here due to the quality of the film. I decided to exclude films based off comics from this list as I already have a few lists for this (an MCU list, a DC Comics movie list, and an animated comic movie list). Despite this, I still ended up with a ton of potential entries for this list and I had to do a ton of cutting to get it down to 10 with my usual generous honourable mentions section. The end result is pretty interesting and I think that it does a good job reflecting which film adaptions are my favourite.

Honourable Mentions:

The Hobbit trilogy

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While this series does have some issues, and probably shouldn’t have been broken up into a trilogy, I had fun with it and there are some good moments throughout these movies. I think that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Desolation of Smaug were really well done, its just a shame that The Battle of Five Armies didn’t live up to its full potential and really dragged the whole trilogy down.

Hannibal Lector trilogy

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I had to mention these dark thrillers somewhere on this list as they are pretty damn iconic and cool. Based on the works of Thomas Harris, The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal and Red Dragon are pretty awesome films with some brilliant performances from Anthony Hopkins and others (Ralph Fiennes in Red Dragon is extremely good). Also, mad props to the Hannibal television show, if I do a list about television shows based on books, that will make the cut for sure.

James Bond films

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I have already mentioned in a previous list how much I loved the James Bond films, but I had to include them here as well. Based on the novels by Ian Flemming, this whole series is very fun, and there are some truly impressive and iconic films here.

A Beautiful Mind

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I have a lot of love for this excellent bio film, based on the book by Sylvia Nasar. Filled with a great cast, this Russell Crowe led film is moving and clever, and contains a fantastic twist halfway through, especially if you don’t know too much about the person it is based on.

Top Ten List:

The Lord of the Rings trilogy

The Return of the King Cover

I don’t need to do a lot of selling for this first entry. If you are reading this blog than you probably know that The Lord of the Rings trilogy is easily the best and most epic adaptation of a novel ether done. All three films are pretty damn incredible with a perfect cast and will leave you breathless at every turn. Also, do yourself a favour and check out the extended editions at some point, it may be long, but it is very much worth it.

Harry Potter series

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Who doesn’t love it when their favourite childhood series is turned into an impressive movie series? The Harry Potter films are extremely good films by themselves, and they also serve as outstanding adaptations of their source materials. Filled with a great combination of new actors and some of the best British actors of all time, these films were an absolute institution for very good reasons and are so much fun to watch.

The Hunger Games series

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Another young adult series I had to include, The Hunger Games films are some of my favourite dystopian movies to watch and they were done so perfectly. Serving as brilliant and powerful films with an excellent story of survival and revolution, The Hunger Games films are excellent adaptations of the original novels, while also adding some original touches and perspectives. All four films are unique in their own way (Catching Fire was my favourite), and I personally think that the creators made the right decision breaking Mockinjay into two separate movies. I have rewatched these films multiple times and with an adaptation of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes also on the way, this appears to be a series that will keep on giving.

The Princess Bride

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Not including The Princess Bride on this list, INCONCEIVABLE!!! Based on the novel of the same name by William Goldman, this was an incredible film, and I can still remember the first time I watched it. This was mainly because I was a stupid teenager who thought that a movie called The Princess Bride wasn’t going to be manly enough for me. Well just like the kid in the movie, I quickly got extremely attached to its brilliant and hilarious story, as well as the unique and powerful cast it contained. This film has some of the most iconic and impressive lines and moments in film history: “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die”. It also has in my opinion, one of the best swordfights in film history, which is just so damn epic. This is an incredible and distinctive film adaptation and is a much watch for pretty much everyone.

Jurassic Park

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I probably would have been eaten by vengeful dinosaurs (and their fans) if I hadn’t included Jurassic Park on this list, and for good reason. Based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton, this film is awesomeness personified thanks to its outstanding graphics and very clever story, both of which have more than stood the test of time. This film essentially ensured an entire generation and beyond fell in love with dinosaurs and is easily one of my favourite films of all times.

The Shawshank Redemption

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Get busy living or get busy dying, but make sure you watch this iconic film at least once in your life. Probably the best adaptation of a Stephen King book ever made (ok technically a novella, but who’s counting), The Shawshank Redemption is an insanely moving and powerful film about life in a prison. Easily one of the most recognisable films of the 1990s, this outstanding film has more than stood the test of time and is a brilliant and utterly addictive adaptation.

The Great Escape

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From one film about prison life to the greatest escape story ever, we have the classic 1963 film, The Great Escape. Based on the 1950 book of the same name by Paul Brickhill, The Great Escape is a stirring and outstanding World War II film that tells the tale of a mass escape from a German POW camp. Starring some truly brilliant actors, like Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson and so many more, this film quickly grabs your attention with its catchy music and entertaining plot. Inspiration and moving in equal measures, this film will keep you entertained right up to its dark end is a must watch for all fans of a classic war movie.

Forrest Gump

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If you’ve seen the Forrest Gump film, you already know why its on this list. The surprising and heart-warming tale of a remarkable man in 20^th century America, this is a film like no other that features Tom Hanks at his very best. While the plot does differentiate significantly from its source book by Winston Groom, this is such a brilliant film that gets a ton of love from me.

Die Hard

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Another film that wildly differed from its original source material but still turned out great is my favourite Christmas film, Die Hard. Loosely based on Roderick Thorp’s novel Nothing Lasts Forever, Die Hard is easily one of the greatest action films of all-time, launching the action career of Bruce Willis and introducing the world to Alan Rickman (before throwing him off a tower). There are so many awesome and cool moments throughout this film, many of which are taken in part from the novel, and I will automatically start watching Die Hard any time it is on.

Slumdog Millionaire

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The final book on this list is the fantastic, feel-good film Slumdog Millionaire. I have always really loved this touching film which is loosely based on the novel Q&A by Indian author Vikas Swarup. Combining a tragic life story with an iconic game show (the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? for the film version), this is a touching and very captivating character-driven film featuring an excellent cast of Indian actors. This is such an incredible film to watch, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Well, that is the end of this latest list. As you can see, there are some brilliant film adaptations of great books out there, and I think that the above does a great job of reflecting my personal favourites. This is probably a list I will come back to in the future, especially as there are more and more film adaptations of novels coming out every year. In the meantime, let me know what your favourite films based on books are in the comments below.

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite James Bond Films Ranked (December 2021)

On December 7, 2021 By The Unseen LibraryIn List2 Comments

Welcome to another addition of Top Ten Tuesday which I run in conjunction with The Artsy Reader Girl. This is actually my second Top Ten Tuesday of the week, but I only just saw the new James Bond movie, No Time to Die, and it kind of inspired me. To that end, I thought I would take this opportunity to rank all 25 of the official (Eon) James Bond films in order from my least favourite to absolute favourite. This is a bit of a continuation of some recent lists where I have ranked some of my other favourite film franchises (including Star Wars, MCU and DC Comics films), and I look forward to seeing how it turns out.

I have long been a major fan of the James Bond franchise of films as my brother and I really enjoyed them when we were young. Something about the awesome combination of action, over-the-top characters, incredible gadgets and elaborate scenarios really appealed to us (lets face it, we were teenage boys), and we had an absolute blast watching and re-watching them again and again. This love of the franchise has continued well into the present and they remain some of my absolute favourite movies. However, not all James Bond films are created equal.

After some major consideration (and multiple changes), I was eventually able to settle on a ranking, which I think reflects my opinions about this franchise. This list is based on my personal preferences, and I have taken several factors into consideration, including overall quality, impact, creativity, my personal nostalgia, and how well it has stood the test of time. I might put a little bit of preference towards some of the Pierce Brosnan films, as he was my favourite Bond growing up, but overall I think that this is a fair assessment of all 25 films. I have also excluded the two unofficial films, Never Say Never Again and the comedic Casino Royale, which are frankly terrible. Let us see where each of these brilliant spy masterpieces ended up.

List (ranked by descending order):

25. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

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There has to be a bottom to this list, and in this case it is the unfortunate On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Featuring the only Australian James Bond, George Lazenby (which makes this a little harder to say), On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is a pretty terrible film, especially compared to the rest of the franchise. Not only does Lazenby do a poor imitation of Connery’s Bond rather than doing his own thing, but the story is also extremely silly. I generally skip over it every time I do a big James Bond rewatch. Still, the impacts of this film are felt to this day, especially as it features the death of Bond’s first wife, and is the origin of the line “We have all the time in the world”, which was used to such great effect in No Time to Die. Also, my wife gives this one points for featuring Diana Rigg and Joanna Lumley.

24. A View to a Kill (1985)

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There is a pretty big gap in quality between On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and the rest of the entries on this list, but my next least favourite is probably the last Roger Moore film, A View to a Kill. While this film has some great elements, especially Christopher Walken as the villain, it was a bit of a low point in the franchise. While still giving a game performance, Moore was nearly 60 in this film, and it shows. I also think the viewers’ tolerance for the more zany aspects of the Moore films kind of wanes at this point, making it a bit harder to watch. As such, I have to chuck it towards the bottom of this list, although it is still a fun and compelling entry in this series.

23. Live and Let Die (1973)

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From the last Roger Moore film to the very first. Live and Let Die is an interesting entry in this franchise, although it really is not one of my favourite due to its mediocre storyline, the uninspired supporting cast, and the somewhat problematic portrayal of the antagonists. Still, this movie does have some high points, notably that banger of a title song by Paul and Linda McCartney, and the fun scene with the crocodiles (with subsequent boat chase). A great introduction to Moore as the character, but not one of his strongest films.

22. Diamonds are Forever (1971)

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Sean Connery’s movies are rightly lauded as classics, but out of all of them, Diamonds are Forever is probably my least favourite. Forced to bring back Connery after Lazenby’s sudden departure, the film faced some major issues, namely a resentful lead actor. Still, this ended up being a fun and clever film that harkened back to the original classics. Charles Gray plays a great Blofeld, and you have to love the fun tandem of Mr Wint and Mr Kidd. While I did dislike the way that Bond pretty much got over his dear, departed wife in five seconds flat, this film ends the initial SPECTRE storyline rather well. Not the best film, but pretty watchable, and it lives on in the original Austin Powers film which parodied many elements from it.

21. Spectre (2015)

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The first Daniel Craig film to feature on this list is the very disappointing Spectre. While an okay film, Spectre was unable to live up to its highly regarded predecessor, Skyfall, and proved to be a bit of a let-down. While Craig was amazing and the film had its excellent recurring cast firmly in place (Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris), the rest of the characters were not great. I was severely disappointed by Christoph Waltz as Blofeld, Dave Bautista’s Mr Hinx was killed too early and Léa Seydoux was only an okay Bond Girl here. I also rather disliked its ending that saw Blofeld captured and Bond run off with a girl for a happy future. Still, it had some great scenes, especially that opening sequence with the continuous shot, as well as that fun car chase that was very reminiscent of the classic films. I just wish it had lived up to some of the other Craig films.

20. Octopussy (1983)

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Next on this list, we have peak Roger Moore with the classic Octopussy. This fun film takes the audience on a great adventure throughout India as Bond attempts to stop a nuclear attack. This film has many enjoyable elements, from the tense bomb defusing scene, the interesting supporting cast, that cool opening scene with the mini-jet plan, and the final battle that sees Bond assist a group of female circus performers assault a fortress. While not my favourite Moore film, it is a great addition to the franchise that I have enjoyed multiple times.

19. You Only Live Twice (1967)

You Only Live Twice Poster

Another classic film from Connery’s era, You Only Live Twice is interesting entry in the franchise that has its ups and downs. I quite like the fun story, the over-the-top action, the inclusion of some fun gadgets (that helicopter), the first encounter with Blofeld, and the massive attack on the volcano lair. However, it is very hard to look past the extremely inappropriate portrayals of Japanese people in this film, as the creators succeed in hitting every stereotype they could. Add in that terrible “disguise” for Connery, and it makes You Only Live Twice one of the most problematic James Bond films out there. Still, it is an exciting classic; just try not to think too hard about it.

18. Moonraker (1979)

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To me, nothing better represents the absurdity of the Roger Moore era than Moonraker. This film is an absolute masterpiece in over-the-top spy stuff, with larger-than-life characters, complex plots, and futuristic space travel. The entire space eugenics storyline is just bonkers, especially as it leads up to an elaborate battle in space between laser-wielding bad guys and US Marines. Add in the return of Richard Kiel’s Jaws, and you have yourself an absolutely insane film that should not work at all, but, it does! Moonraker is easily one of the most entertaining James Bond films of all time, as long as you can overlook its many quirks and just have fun with it.

17. From Russia with Love (1963)

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Hot off the success of the first film From Russia with Love sends Bond on a covert action to Istanbul. What follows is a brilliant old-school spy film that experiments with some classic Bond elements, such as gadgets and the recurring villains SPECTRE. While nominally a Cold War thriller, the creators throw in the machinations of the villainous organisation to see Bond surrounded by enemies on all fronts while forced to protect a valuable asset. This has a lot of great elements to it, including some impressive villains and a clever story. One of the more underrated James Bond films; it is a brilliant classic that I have a lot of fun watching.

16. Die Another Day (2002)

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As I mentioned above, the Pierce Brosnan films are some of my absolute favourite entries in the James Bond franchise. However, Die Another Day is probably the worst of them, despite its all-star cast and great use of nostalgia. While the film has a very promising start, with Bond captured by North Korea and tortured for years, the plot starts to get more and more ridiculous the further you get in, with face-changing technology, giant sun-wielding satellites, and cybernetic suits. The creative team really focused more on action and CGI than substance, and it results in some stupid sequences, including Bond wind-surfing a tidal wave. However, I also love many elements about this film, from the two amazing Bond Girls, Halle Berry and Rosamund Pike, the multiple homages to the previous films (Die Another Day was the 20^th overall entry in the franchise), Madonna’s theme song, and that brilliant car chase sequence on the ice that saw two gadget-laden cars face off. While this was an explosive way to end Brosnan’s tenure, it could have been better. Still, it is extremely watchable and jammed full of exciting scenes that still mostly hold up.

15. Quantum of Solace (2008)

Next, we have the second Daniel Craig James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. Quantum of Solace is a solid James Bond movie that maintains the gritty feel established in Casino Royale while also continuing several great storylines from it. Craig, Judi Dench, Giancarlo Giannini and Jeffrey Wright continue to shine, and there are some other impressive performances, including Olga Kurylenko and a slimy David Harbour. I also deeply appreciated the continuation from Casino Royale, especially when it comes to Bond’s unresolved grief for Vesper. However, Quantum of Solace is a somewhat unmemorable film, mainly because it sits between two of the best James Bond movies of all time. While some story elements do come up in later entries like Spectre, you can easily skip this film and still enjoy the rest of the interconnected Daniel Craig movies without missing anything. I also found the villains to be pretty underwhelming, except Jesper Christensen’s Mr White, who barely appears after his initial appearance. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great moments, including the opening sequence, the interrogation in Spain, and the opera sequence, but it really could have been so much more.

14. For Your Eyes Only (1981)

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At number 14 we have the underrated Roger Moore classic, For Your Eyes Only. This fun entry in the franchise contains a taught and clever story that harkens back to the classic spy elements of its predecessors, rather than the over-the-top elements of the rest of Moore’s run. This film is brilliant, with a fantastic espionage storyline that sees Bond try and recover a stolen piece of military hardware. Set throughout Europe, this film makes great use of multiple settings, including that awesome mountaintop monastery, and has one of the more inventive car chases. For Your Eyes Only doesn’t always get the love and attention it deserves.

13. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

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Next up we have The Spy Who Loved Me, the exciting and slightly crazy James Bond film that really helped to set the tone for all of Moore’s subsequent entries. Featuring an over-the-top villain, an underwater base, and Bond’s female Russian counterpart, The Spy Who Loved Me is an absolute classic, with some of the most iconic Bond moments and characters. Not only do you have the brilliant underwater car sequence, but this film also sees the introduction of Jaws, one of the best henchmen ever. This film has so much fun stuff going on within it, and is an absolute must-watch for all James Bond fans.

12. The World is Not Enough (1999)

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Another great Pierce Brosnan Bond film, The World is Not Enough is an awesome entry and it was actually the first James Bond film I ever saw at the cinemas. Brosnan continues to shine as the suavest Bond, with some fantastic and defining moments, including an impressive opening sequence in the Thames. While I love Brosnan here, he is let down by some of his co-stars, especially Denise Richards, who is easily the worst Bond Girl of all time (oh the Christmas puns). That being said, Judi Dench is once again brilliant, and Robbie Coltrane has some great moments reprising Valentine Zukovsky. This film also notable for containing the last appearance of Desmond Llewwlyn’s Q, whose retirement has some extreme emotional potency after the actor’s premature death. While not one of Brosnan’s best efforts, this is still an amazing film, and there is a lot to love about it

11. No Time to Die (2021)

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The latest James Bond film and the final one to feature Daniel Craig in the titular role, No Time to Die was a long time coming. This film has a brilliant story that seeks to bring together all the preceding films and wrap them up properly after the disappointing outing that was Spectre. I found myself getting really drawn into the very clever story of No Time to Die, which made use of some outstanding action sequences and interesting call-backs to Craig’s prior films. While the antagonist is nothing to write home about, the rest of the cast is brilliant, especially Craig, whose brooding veteran spy is perfectly portrayed. Léa Seydoux is a vastly better character in her second outing, Jeffrey Wright gets a fitting final outing as Felix Leiter, Lashana Lynch is an interesting new 007, and I found Ana de Armas’s Paloma to be a lot of fun. This film all leads up to a surprising and memorable conclusion, which I rather liked, although I understand some established fans were less keen. An exceptional film that redeems the franchise after Spectre, the next Bond has some big shoes to fill after Craig’s final performance.

10. Thunderball (1965)

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One of the all-time classic Connery performances, this fourth James Bond film is a compelling and exciting tale of espionage and villainy in the Bahamas. Featuring some outstanding sequences, including a massive underwater battle between henchmen and the Navy, this is a brilliant film and one of the better Connery performances. A favourite of all James Bond fans, it is a shame its legacy has been tarnished by the infamous Never Say Never Again.

9. Dr. No (1962)

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The original James Bond film Dr. No is a masterpiece that expertly introduces the character and the villainous figures he fights. Connery shines here as Bond, playing the character perfectly and giving the spy all the dignity and intensity it required. While it does get more outrageous towards the end, especially with its no-handed villain, for the most part Dr. No comes across as a hard-nosed spy thriller, and I think they got the right blend of classic espionage and fun Bond elements. An excellent film that perfectly started this entire franchise.

8. Licence to Kill (1989)

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I have always believed that the two Timothy Dalton films are some of the most underappreciated entries in the entire franchise. This is particularly true for his first film, Licence to Kill, which was way ahead of its time. Licence to Kill is a clever and intense film that sees Bond go rogue and engage on a revenge mission after his best friend is fed to a shark on his wedding day. This fantastic film has the sort of intense grittiness which would not become common in the James Bond films until the Daniel Craig era. Not only are several villains killed in some incredibly brutal ways, but the horrifying fates of Felix and his wife are surprisingly dark for this period of the franchise. While the audience of the time disliked this intense violence, I think it works from a more contemporary perspective and I really appreciated the way in which the creative team tried to modernise the franchise. This film has a brilliant cast to it, and I loved Dalton’s take on the titular character. Robert Davi serves as a sinister South American drug lord with a love of bloody revenge, and it was very satisfying to see him taken down. I also enjoyed Carey Lowell as a badass Bond Girl, especially after that fantastic introduction in the bar. Throw in a brilliant turn from Desmond Llewelyn’s Q, who shows up on vacation to help his wayward “nephew”, and a young Benicio del Toro as a deadly henchman, and this turned out to be a powerful and memorable entry in the franchise.

7. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

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Out of all of Roger Moore’s Bond films, my favourite has to be The Man with the Golden Gun. The Man with the Golden Gun is a brilliant outing that sees Bond take on the ruthless and talented assassin Francisco Scaramanga. Scaramanga is easily one of the best and most iconic antagonists ever featured in a Bond film, due to the charismatic portrayal by the late, great Christopher Lee. Lee, who was one of Fleming’s inspirations for James Bond thanks to his time in the Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, brings some real style and depth to this villainous role, and he definitely comes across as a villain even more skilled than Bond. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast really cannot stand up in comparison. I am not a fan of Britt Ekland’s Mary Goodnight, Nick Nack is a problematic henchman, and why did they bring back Clifton Jame’s racist J. W. Pepper? A fun and exciting entry in the franchise, I loved this film and Lee remains as one of the best James Bond villains out there.

6. The Living Daylights (1987)

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The other Dalton film that is extremely underrated is the 1987 action-packed thriller, The Living Daylights, which dials back the intense violence of Licence to Kill and attempts a more classic outing. This film sees Bond forced into a battle with the KGB by villainous forces, which eventually leads to a massive battle in Afghanistan. This awesome film never slows down and features an impressive supporting cast of characters. I love several of the fun sequences in this movie, from the fantastic car chase sequence in Russia, to the continuous adventures in Afghanistan, whose historical inclusion as the good guys is very interesting in light of contemporary events. I am also a big fan of that whistle-activated key finder gadget, which opened up many fun moments. I really wish that Dalton had been given more films to work with, although that would have affected the next entry on this list.

5. GoldenEye (1995)

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Pierce Brosnan’s initial outing as Bond sets him against a dangerous foe, a rogue former 00 agent with a vendetta against England who manages to obtain a dangerous EMP space weapon. I have a lot of love for GoldenEye, and it is probably the entry I have watched the most over the years. Its plot is pretty perfect, making full use of being the first Bond film produced after the fall of the Soviet Union, and featuring a hacker-based story with some impressive scenes and great characters. Not only is Brosnan perfect as a smooth and exciting Bond, but Sean Bean is one of my favourite villains as Alec Trevelyan (006). Throw in great performances from Robbie Coltrane, Alan Cumming (“I am invincible!”), and Judi Dench as the new M, and you have one of the strongest casts out there. I love so much about this film, especially that fun tank chase through Moscow, and it perfectly revitalised the series after a long hiatus.

4. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

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To my mind, Tomorrow Never Dies is easily one of the best and most entertaining James Bond films out there, and if this list were based purely on my nostalgic joy, it would easily be number one. Tomorrow Never Dies was the first Bond film I ever saw, and it sparked a lifetime of love and enjoyment that lasts until this day. This cool film features an intriguing tale of a crazed media baron who attempts to start a war between Britain and China in order to boost his ratings and get television access into China (it sounds silly, but we all know Rupert Murdoch has done worse). There is so much awesome things about this film, especially as it has one of the best opening sequences of all time: “What the hell is he doing?”, “His job!” The film takes a bit of a darker turn with the attack on the British frigate (that drill torpedo gave me nightmares), which forces Bond right into the middle of a deadly situation. The subsequent massive scenes, such as the hilarious remote control car chase, the motorcycle scene in Ho Chi Minh City, and the final assault on the stealth boat, are all well paced out and perfectly choreographed, and you are not short of action or fun here. Michelle Yeoh and Teri Hatcher shine as the Bond Girls (especially Yeoh), while Jonathan Pryce is a pretty funny and crazed villain. There is honestly not a single thing that I dislike about this film, and I will watch this without hesitation anytime it shows up on the TV.

3. Casino Royale (2006)

While many people had their doubts about Casino Royale before it was released, thanks to the combination of a blonde Bond and the film serving as a reboot of the franchise, it ended up being an absolute masterpiece that perfectly adapted the classic James Bond novel of the same name into an official Eon production. I deeply enjoyed the fresh new take, with a modern and dark look at espionage, with Bond a new agent who is already a little disturbed and a tad psychotic. Craig is incredible here, and I loved his brooding take on the character, which was so different from the classic portrayals. At the same time, Mads Mikkelsen is an outstanding villain as always, bringing a real sinisterness to the role, while not being too over-the-top. I also enjoyed Eva Green’s Vesper Lynd, who proves to a real match to Bond in the female lead, while also leaving a lasting impression on the protagonist. Throw in excellent supporting performances from Giancarlo Giannini, Judi Dench and Jeffrey Wright, and this film perfectly introduced viewers to a new era of the franchise and easily silenced all doubters. Easily the best first-Bond film of all time, it set Craig up perfectly, and I loved how story elements from here would be reutilised in the rest of Craig’s outings.

2. Skyfall (2012)

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In the penultimate spot, we have the 2012 epic, Skyfall. This epic Craig film sees Judi Dench’s M face the consequences of her past mistakes when a dangerous villain reappears. There are so many exceptional elements to Skyfall, including the amazing title song by Adele, the dark and clever story, and some exceptionally crafted sequences. Craig plays an even more damaged Bond in this film, forced to come out of a self-imposed retirement to save the day, while Javier Bardem shines as Rauol Silva, a terrifying villain. Judi Dench’s final outing is one of her best, and you really get a feel for the relationship she has formed with both Bond and the franchise. There are also some outstanding introductions to the new recurring cast of Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw, whose performances helped to round this film out extremely well. I loved everything about this film, from the perfect opening sequence, to the fantastic siege of Bond’s childhood home, and I get a gut-punch every time I see that powerful final sequence with M. Pure excellence and the best of the modern James Bond films.

1. Goldfinger (1964)

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While some of the more recent films are exceptional in a modern sense, I had to include the absolute classic Goldfinger in top position. The third film in the franchise, Goldfinger, is peak James Bond which still holds up to this day, introducing iconic elements that would be used for years to come (even in the latest film), and engaging audiences like never before. Featuring a brilliant plot that evolves from a simple investigation into gold smuggling to an assault on Fort Knox, this is a clever and perfectly paced narrative which has some extremely fun and clever highs, while also adding in gadgets and the outrageous characters we would all come to know and love. There are so many iconic elements to this film, including Harold Sakata’s incredible turn as Oddjob, the hilariously named Pussy Galore, the iconic Aston Martin DB5 car (with an ejector seat), to the massive action sequence at the end. It also features one of the best and most memorable exchanges in film history: “Do you expect me to talk?” “No, Mr Bond. I expect you to die”, which remains one of my all-time favourite quotes. An outstanding and epic film that perfectly captures everything great about the James Bond franchise. I think any future James Bond films will need to do something extremely special to have a hope of dislodging Goldfinger from the top of this list, although I really hope they try.

As you can see, I have put a lot of thought into this list, and I think this captures my feelings and opinions about this incredible franchise. I will plan come back to this list at some point in the future once some new James Bond films are released, although I may end up revaluating a few rankings. I cannot wait to see what the future of this awesome film series will hold, and I look forward to finding out who the new Bond will be (I would personally love Idris Elba). Let me know what you think about my choices in the comments below, and I will be interested to find out which James Bond film is your absolute favourite.

Film Review – Batman: Soul of the Dragon

On January 30, 2021 By The Unseen LibraryIn Animation, Comics/Manga, Superhero1 Comment

Studio: Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment

Series: DC Universe Animated Original Movies – Film 40

Director: Sam Liu

Producer: Bruce Timm

Writer: Jeremy Adams

Length: 82 minutes

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Prepare to dive into an intense and addictive DC Comics martial arts adventure with the latest entry in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies range, Batman: Soul of the Dragon, an outstanding and deeply enjoyable film that explores several amazing DC characters in a very unique way.

While The Unseen Library is primarily dedicated to providing book and comic reviews, I have in the last year been experimenting with reviews and articles about another great passion of mine, animated superhero films. I have always had a lot of fondness for this genre and I started focusing on it more last year when I reviewed Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, and even further when I did an extended Top Ten Tuesday article listing my favourite superhero animated films, which primarily featured DC Universe Animated Original Movies. DC continues their domination of the animation market with the very awesome Soul of the Dragon film, which serves as the 40^th entry in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies range. I had an outstanding time watching this latest animated offering and it is definitely a new favourite film of mine.

Bruce Wayne, Richard Dragon, Shiva and Ben Turner are four of the best martial artists on the planet, utilising their skills and training to become truly elite fighters. While each of these renowned warriors are now on their own different paths, they shared a similar start on their journey as students at the secret monastery of Nanda Parbat. Training under the legendary O-Sensei, these four, along with other notable students, not only learned the martial techniques that allowed them to become the fighters they are today but also became a close-knit family, until one terrible night changed everything for them.

Now their paths are about to cross again when Richard Dragon discovers that a fanatical organisation, the Cult of the Kobra, have stolen an ancient and dangerous artefact that Dragon and his fellow former students are intimately and tragically familiar with. Travelling to Gotham City, Dragon recruits Bruce Wayne, who now fights criminals as the vigilante Batman, to help him stop Kobra and save the entire world. Attempting to recover another artefact guarded by Shiva, now a feared Gotham crime boss, they soon discover just how long and deadly Kobra’s reach is.

With Shiva and Ben in tow, the four former disciples of O-Sensei prepare for the battle of their lives as they attempt to infiltrate Kobra’s island base. However, nothing will prepare them for the dangers they will encounter, nor the horrors unleashed from their past. Can these four dangerous fighters work together to save the world or will an ancient and deadly force be unleashed?

Batman: Soul of the Dragon is an excellent and amazing animated comic book film that proved to be an absolute treat to watch. This is a standalone film which is directed by Sam Liu, written by Jeremy Adams and featuring Bruce Timm as an executive producer, and together these talented people have produced a fantastic and powerful feature. Liu and Timm are the genius behind some of the best animated comic films that are out there, including Justice League vs. Teen Titans, Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay and the incredible The Death of Superman, and they have once again done an outstanding job with Soul of the Dragon, creating a unique and entertaining comic book tale. Making excellent use of an exceptional narrative, a great group of characters and a very distinctive vibe, Soul of the Dragon is an outstanding and wonderful film that is really worth watching.

Soul of the Dragon has a particularly awesome and captivating narrative that follows its four iconic central protagonists on an epic quest to right the wrongs of their collective past. This movie contains an original tale set in the 1970s that draws heavily from classic DC martial arts comics to create a fantastic film that not only dives into the origins of some amazing DC characters but which also presents an exciting character-driven adventure. This movie starts off with a captivating bang with Richard Dragon discovering a sinister plot with ties to his time as a student. The story then quickly starts to reunite the four major characters, with several impressive action set-pieces dominating the early part of this movie, all of which were a real treat to watch. The story than takes the protagonists to an island fortress where they must face their enemy before he can unleash a terrible force of destruction.

Interspersed with the main story are a series of compelling flashbacks that follow the protagonists’ training under O-Sensei, which provide some excellent context to the main story. I thought that the flashbacks were a particularly impressive part of the movie and I liked they expertly tied together main narrative with the past, creating a richer overall story. I also felt that the narrative did an excellent job of introducing each of the characters while also highlighting the differences between their modern appearances and their former lives as students. I did think that the main story was a little rushed and could have potentially used a little more plot in between the protagonists’ reunion and their arrival at the antagonists’ island. Still, this did not impact my enjoyment of the movie too much, and the last third of the film is so damn epic and emotionally charged that you forget about this slight misstep of pacing. All of this wraps up with a memorable and interesting ultimate conclusion, which will leave you wondering about what, if anything, is going to happen next.

Thanks to the standalone nature of this movie, potential viewers do not need to have watched any prior DC animated features to enjoy Soul of the Dragon, and indeed minimal knowledge of the various characters and comic elements is needed to follow along, as the narrative provides a fantastic and detailed introduction to all the relevant parts of the plot. All of this makes for an epic and just plain awesome story that honours some classic DC characters and comics while also introducing them to a new generation of DC fans with this fantastic adventure.

In addition to the first-rate story, I was also impressed with how well this cool movie was put together. It contains some outstanding animation, especially when it comes to the impressively exciting action scenes, with a particularly well-put-together car chase halfway through the film being an amazing example. This proves to be a very action-heavy film, with a huge number of fluid combat sequences that perfectly captures the skill of the combatants and which successfully translates the style of the original martial arts comic. Parents should be warned that this is not an animated feature for younger children, thanks to some of its over-the-top content, but everyone else is going to love seeing all the exciting fast-paced scenes unfold. I particularly liked how this animated movie had such a distinctive and entertaining style to it, which really enhanced my enjoyment of the film. As the story is set in to the 1970s, the creators attempted to replicate the feel and tone of the era in a number of different ways, such as the technology, locations and the animated appearances of the characters. The creative team also made sure to include a ton of appropriate slang (you haven’t seen anything till you’ve seen Batman say: “Let’s get it on”) and an excellent instrumental musical score that is not only very 70s in its sound but which perfectly fits the movie’s distinctive narrative and tone. Soul of the Dragon draws a lot of inspiration from classic kung fu films, especially those featuring Bruce Lee, and you can really feel the creators’ love of the genre with all the little details they chuck in. There are also a number of fantastic allusions to classic James Bond films, including several very familiar musical themes, some entertaining lines from certain characters and even a dangerous car chase with a gadget-laden car that ends with a vehicle getting whisked away on an electromagnet attached to a helicopter (a very fun call-back to You Only Live Twice). I absolutely loved how well this film came together, and all the exceptional animation and clever tonal shifts combine perfectly with the great story to produce an enthralling and memorable viewing experience.

In addition to have an amazing and entertaining narrative, Soul of the Dragon is backed up by a fantastic roster of characters from across the DC Comics canon, voiced by an exceptional and talented collection of actors. While this movie contains several great supporting characters, the story is mostly set around Bruce Wayne, Richard Dragon, Shiva and Ben Turner, each of whom are heavily featured in both the main narrative and the flashbacks. While all four of these main characters are great in their own right, a lot of their appeal lies in fantastic connection they have with each other and with their master, O-Sensei. These great protagonists have an excellent rapport, and it proved to be really great to see them interact with each other throughout the film.

The lead of the film is probably Batman, who is voiced by David Giuntoli of Grimm fame, who provides a fantastic take on the character with his voice work. I liked how there were two versions of Batman: the vigilante who featured in the main story and the younger student in Nanda Parbat. This proved to be an interesting portrayal of this iconic character, as the writers attempt to explore Bruce’s determination, even as a young man, to do the impossible and fight evil no matter the cost. It was also great to see him evolve from the student in the flashbacks to the vigilante in the main story, and there are some fun scenes that showcase him becoming a more focused and terrifying fighter when he puts on the mask.

While Soul of the Dragon is nominally a Batman movie, Bruce is somewhat overshadowed by some of the other main protagonists. This is no fault of the character’s portrayal or characterisation; it is just because the other protagonists are just a little more exciting and enjoyable. Part of the reason why this is the case is that Batman is the least skilled martial artist in what is essentially a kung fu movie, as it is established that his fellow students are better fighters than him (this is true in both the film and in the comics). While this does mean that some of the other characters’ action sequences are a little more visually impressive, you instead get to see Batman fight in different ways. There is a great focus on how Batman utilises trickery and fear to supplement his weaker fighting abilities, and there are some excellent scenes around this, including a key one towards the end of the film where he uses a combination of his gadgets, cunning, and even his own cape to defeat a superior foe. I did think that the version of the character was a bit blasé about keeping his identity secret with his friends, and he didn’t seemed as opposed to people using lethal force as you would expect, but this was an outstanding take on Batman and I really enjoyed his appearance in this film.

One major character who was a true highlight of this movie was Richard Dragon, an iconic character who is widely regarded as one of the best fighters in the DC canon. Despite his popularity in DC’s martial arts comics, this is the character’s first appearance outside of the comics (the Richard Dragon featured in Arrow is a different character altogether) and he voiced by The Chairman himself, Mark Dacascos. Depicted as Asian in the film (the comic character is traditionally a red-haired Caucasian), this character looks a lot like Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon and is portrayed as an international super spy. Despite this being a Batman film, in many ways Richard is just as much the main character of this movie, with much of the story revolving around him. Richard grabs focus right from the start, where he engages in some amusing spy antics, which include outwitting a James Bond-esque character in a fancy casino, effortlessly and stylishly fighting off some goons, and parachuting onto a boat filled with beautiful women (a scene very reminiscent of The Living Daylights, Bond music included), before identifying himself as “Dragon, Richard Dragon”. Each of Dragon’s subsequent scenes are really fantastic, from the fluid and exceptional action sequences to the fun interactions he has with other characters, including an entertaining scene with a pompous bouncer. Dacascos does an exceptional job voicing this character and he provides Richard with a confident, intelligent and generally calm air that proves to be extremely easy to enjoy, while also including some vulnerability in several amazing scenes. All of this helps to produce an exceptional character and I am extremely glad that the introduction of Richard Dragon to a wider media went so well.

The next major character in the movie is the dangerous and delightful Shiva, who was voiced by the talented Kelly Hu. Lady Shiva, as she is better known, is one of the deadliest assassins and martial artists in the DC canon. I felt the creative team did an outstanding job showcasing Shiva in Soul of the Dragon, as she is portrayed as a merciless killing machine and living weapon able to destroy her opponents with minimal effort and nothing but her bare hands. The character has some of the most brutal combat sequences, which were not only beautifully animated but which proved to be extremely entertaining to watch. I felt that Shiva went through some fantastic character development throughout the film as she transforms from a dedicated student to a ruthless crime lord who even Batman is afraid to deal with: “I’m working up to it…” I also really loved the choice of voice actor for this character as Kelly Hu does a sensational job bringing Shiva to life. Hu, who is known for her comic book roles in both animation (as Cheshire in Young Justice and Karai in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and live action (as Lady Deathstrike in X-Men 2 and China White in Arrow), has previously voiced Lady Shiva in the Batman: Arkham Origins video game, and it was great to see her return to this fantastic character. She gives this version of Shiva a particularly deadly air; you can tell with every sentence just how confident she is in her own ability and lethal potential. Not only does Shiva have some of the best fight scenes in the movie but she also has some of the best lines, such as when she chooses her opponent in one of the big boss fights: “I’ll take the girl, her look offends me!” I also absolutely loved one scene which saw the voice of Karai from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles face off against three green-clad ninjas respectfully wielding sai, nunchaku and a bo staff. The character’s casual comment of “You know how to use those?” followed by her effortlessly taking all three out was just perfect and it has me laughing pretty heavily. I think that Shiva was probably my favourite character in the entire movie and I am really impressed with how she was written and portrayed.

The final member of the main four characters is Ben Turner, the angry and dangerous African-American fighter better known as Bronze Tiger. Bronze Tiger is a major martial artist in the DC canon who is probably best known for his run in the Suicide Squad comics. Bronze Tiger is voiced by Michael Jai White, who recently portrayed the live-action version of the character in Arrow. I really liked Bronze Tiger throughout Soul of the Dragon, as the film captures a lot of his essence from his original comic appearances and subsequently turn him into a fantastic character in this movie. Part of the reason why is that he goes through the most development out of all the main characters, especially as several flashbacks bridge the gap between his student days and his current character, showing several pivotal events in his life. I absolutely loved his look in this movie, as they made the decision to model him on African-American actor and martial artist, Jim Kelly, with some elements of other 70s African-American characters like Shaft and Luke Cage thrown in. There is a particularly fun joke around this character when Richard misremembers the character’s codename as Black Samurai, a reference to the Jim Kelly movie of the same name, and the subsequent approval of the team at his actual codename of Bronze Tiger was very entertaining. White does some excellent voice work for Bronze Tiger in this film and he successfully showcases the character’s intense anger at the start of the story before evolving it into a more zen-like persona towards the end. I would say that Bronze Tiger was a little overshadowed by the three other protagonists, but he was still a great addition to the movie and is a fun character to follow.

Aside from the main four characters, there is a particular focus on the mentor character of O-Sensei, who is voiced in this film by the legendary James Hong. O-Sensei is a fantastic character with an intriguing history in DC Comics, being a major figure in the lives of Richard Dragon, Shiva and Bronze Tiger. This is actually O-Sensei’s first named appearance outside of the comics, and he proves to be a fantastic and fun addition to the movie’s narrative. Hong portrays the character as a wise but humorous kung fu master, offering deep insights and amusing jokes in equal measure to the younger characters, while also forming them into a close family. O-Sensei proves to be an extremely likeable character, with some deep and powerful moments that ensure that the viewer appreciates and enjoys him. I particularly loved Hong’s voice work throughout the movie and I felt that he really dived into the character and made him stand out, especially in some later scenes in the movie where there are some intriguing twists around him. An overall outstanding and exceptional part of the cast, I am extremely glad they got Hong for this movie.

No comic book movie will be complete without some villains, and to my mind this is where Soul of the Dragon falls a little flat. The antagonists of this film are the members of the Cult of the Kobra (essentially DC’s version of Hydra, both of which were created by Jack Kirby). Kobra are led by their prophet, Jeffrey Burr (voiced by Josh Keaton), backed up by his henchmen Schlangenfaust (Robin Atkin Downes), Lady Eve (Grey Griffin) and King Snake (Patrick Seitz). While all of these characters are voiced perfectly and have some cool moments throughout the movie, such as Burr’s creepy introduction, his belief in his prophesised destiny and Schlangenfaust’s hidden abilities, I honestly found each of these villains to be a little underwhelming. None of them (with the possible exception of Schlangenfaust) really stood out to me and they were all very generic sort of villains to the story. That being said, Soul of the Dragon did feature two hidden antagonists at different points of film who add some major twists to the tale. Both of these villains were rather good and moved the story along in some intriguing and entertaining directions. I particularly loved the appearance of one antagonistic character towards the end of the movie, and while his appearance was slightly predictable, it proved to be a major highlight of the film, resulting in some outstanding scenes. As a result, it was rather easy for me to forgive some of the downsides of the Kobra villains as the overall antagonists of this film turned out to be extremely good.

Overall, I think that Batman: Soul of the Dragon was an exceptional animated film that was a heck of a lot of fun to watch. Thanks to its combination of an epic story, captivating and well-written characters and a tone that is a fun nod to classic and campy kung fu movies, this movie gets a full five stars from me. This is definitely a movie I will watch multiple times in the future, and it comes highly recommended. I very much looking forward to seeing the next entries in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies range (there is a Justice Society movie and an adaption of Batman: The Long Halloween coming out later this year), and I will have to have a go at reviewing them when they come out.