Not gonna lie, you had me in the first half there, I was waiting for Kara the whole video and Im not gonna lie I'm very pleasantly surprised. She is definitely deserving of #2 absolutely, bond goes back to see her after her concert which just builds on the chemistry they have the whole time, it's brilliant
That would be my ranking. 1. Diana Rigg (On Her Majesty's Secret Service) 2. Claudine Auger (Thunderball) 3. Daniela Bianchi (From Russia with love) 4. Carole Bouquet (For Your Eyes Only) 5. Honor Blackman (Goldfinger) 6. Ursula Andress (Dr. No) 7. Barbara Bach (The Spy who loved me)
Being an Indian I propose you to check out hindi film industry actress Zeenat Aman , Parveen Babi , Kimi Katkar , Aishwariya Rai , Deepika Padikone , Katrina Kaif , then decide whether these actresses fit in BOND girl crytiria or not . I think in 70s zeenat aman was very good with roger moore and I also think aishwariya rai would be great with daniel craig , what do think guys .
Two of my favorites Fiona and Domino from "Thunderball" I guess because the movie was one of the first Bond movie I saw in theaters as a teen. Also I would place "Thunderball" as one of my top picks for having the most number of beautiful women in any of the Bond movies.
Every person has his/her own favourites, of course, but yours are both inspired and justified with thoughtful reasons. I would certainly agree with your Top 3 pics but I also appreciated how women with smaller (but riveting) roles make your list. A very enjoyable episode, Joseph!
Sylvia Trench is still my fav Bond girl! Not only is she the first Bond girl, but in my view is the most realistic of all the Bond girls! As well, I rank her pairing with Bond in the casino as the #1 iconic scene in Bond movie history!
I really appreciate this video for multiple reasons. I like taking Tracy out of the equation right off the bat. Thanks for using the better Bond Women term and actually remaining a discussion instead of mere ranking-but I truly appreciate the promotion of the underrated and undervalued characters of the 80’s. Especially Kara and the greater character arc they give her. In many ways she is the culmination that all the lead female characters of the 80’s built up to and is a perfected refinement of the Stacey Sutton type.
Ursula Andress' Honey Ryder is without question THE number one most iconic Bond Girl, the one that all the rest are measured against. She created the mold that is "The Bond Girl". Ursula Andress made Bond Girls "Bond Girls" and created the expectation that every Bond movie must have a super sexy love interest for James Bond. All the other Bond girls pale in comparison to Honey Ryder.
Been a year, I'm just at the Top 5 point in your video and still watching... I'm rooting for my all-time favorite..not the most iconic or even a household name, the character or the actress probably, but she's a banger as the kids like to say. Hint: Thunderball. Edit: okay your criteria is a Bond girl, not Bond villain. My choice would definitely qualify as a henchwoman. So maybe another Top Ten. But, still...
kissy suzuki she (along with another Japanese actress) were sent to London for three months, to be tutored in English. Maybe thats why she didn't had too many dialog scene in the movie
I really liked the list I used to be a member of the bjb forum years ago and bought the bjb book when it was first released back then. So happy to see great content is still being made by yourself but I miss the forum.
Two of my favorites that you did not mention . Wai Lin from Tomorrow never Dies . She a skilled agent and can clearly fight as well as Bond if not better. It not a romance but it is a relation between two Highly skill agents who clearly respect each other. And the other that would be on my list, Camille from Quantum of Solace. Of all the Bond Girls and every time we heard talk about doing a spin off with a Bond Girl, Camille is the one I really would like to see. She a strong character that has her own goals . She using Bond as much as he is using her. She a professional agent with some personal flaws ,not all of which were dealt with in the Movie and she from South America , a area that we have not seen much in the Bond Films. She be a perfect choice for a spin off able to hold a film with out Bond .
Every bond actor goes off to sunset with one and we are all good :) Sean Connery: Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) George Lezenby: Tracy DiVicenzo (Diana Rigg) Roger. Moore: Octopussy (Maud Adams) Timothy Dalton: Kara Milovy (Maryam D'Abo) Pierce Brosnan: Natalya Simonova (Isabella Scorupco) Daniel Craig: Vesper Lynd (Eva Green)
Some interesting choices (Magda and Solange for instance). I get your thought process though. Love Kara. She is also a favorite of mine. Very interesting first choice. Not in my Top Ten but the film is. It's the first I saw at the cinema and I've always liked Maud Adams. Great video.
Excellent job here - where Joe removes our two most obvious choices and then proceeds to select all kinds of unexpected Bond girls - from the smallest of parts to one that has an entire film named after her! As for my personal choice It would be Vesper of course as my all time favorite - not only for her incredible beauty but also for her charm, elegance and intelligence! But besides those two top obvious choices- my gut instinct would probably go with Domino and Anya for the simplest and easiest of reasons! However….. if I’m selecting one for all the deeper reasons you spoke so eloquently on - most important - BELIEVING in her relationship with James Bond….. It would probably be KARA!
Great video again. Similar taste. My favorite is Kara. Without her you don’t have a story. I find that very important for a Bond girl. I see Elektra more as a female Bond villain.
You know what? Two things here. First, I am very happy to see Aki and Kara in your top 10. They are certainly in mine. Even though Aki is underwritten, WOW, what an impact she makes in You Only Live Twice. The actress is wonderful! She seems much more mature and believable than Kissy.. Her death is a shocking moment that still resonates. I LOVE how Kara affects James Bond in The Living Daylights. For heaven’s sake, she gets Bond onto a roller coaster and it is delightful. Maryam D’Abo carries a lot of weight on her shoulders as basically being the only Bond woman in the film, save for the implied classic tryst he has in the Pre-Titles sequence. She evolves as vulnerable and gullible to strong willed, fighting in the last third of the film. The character is presented in a real, genuine way. Totally see Octopussy as #1 on your list. She is a badass in action and attitude. She runs her own empire, helping women to empower themselves . She is mature, wise and has great chemistry with Moore’s Bond that you believe they could have a longtime relationship well after the movie ends.
They only needed one Japanese Bond girl in You Only Live Twice, but if you asked me to choose between Akiko Wakabayashi and Mie Hama, I couldn't do it.
great video! if there is one thing i don't like about your top two... it's that you keep apologizing for placing them so high up in your rankings. both kara and octopussy are also in my top five (my list includes vesper and tracy), and everything you said about those two characters is also why i love them. they are some of the best characters of the franchise!
Why I love to have seen Aki survive and go with Bond into the Volcano , Her death is a important moment in the movie . Also the second actress playing Kitty in YOLT barely spoke English. Which is why so little of her dialog was left in the film.
I very much like the perspectives you offer about the roles played by the characters in the stories - your pairing of characters according to their contributions to their respective films (Jill/Tilly, Severine/Lucia) is spot on, I think. Also, your assessment of the relative success of each character and how you apportion praise and criticism among the actors, writers, directors is also very thoughtful. Jill St. John, for example, does a great job with rather poor material from the writer and director. For my part, I'd have included Natalya Simonova in the list and also Anya Amasova. The former checks all the boxes from an objective standpoint, the latter is my sentimental choice. A VERY enjoyable video - thanks for bringing some fun to an otherwise humdrum Wednesday!
By looks is one thing, by character another.... Ursula is iconic, domino the sexiest, vesper the closest to being bond's equal....my choice....his one and only wife...
Great video as always. Good to see Octopussy and Kara in the list. Personally, I'd have included Melina in the top 10 - and Pam Bouvier too (an often overlooked and underrated character)
I LOVE your top 2 so much! Both ladsies are very high in my list too. My most favorite Bond girls are also a bit controversial: Lois Chiles (Moonraker), Kim Basinger (Never Say Never Again), Tanya Roberts (A View to a Kill)
I would have liked to see Fiona on the list as well. Her character adds a lot of value to TB. I can see myself watching TB for Fiona. Additionally, just because Bond falls in love with Tracy (marries her too) and Vesper should not automatically make them top Bond girl characters. I do not think I have ever watched OHMSS and CR for Tracy (like her interaction with Blofeld) and Vesper respectively. I have read the books, in films, I am not sure if these two characters make a similar impact. They are good characters but I am hesitant to automatically put them as top two.
The challenge with the Maga character (Kristina Wayborn) in "Octopussy," as pointed out in the book, "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," is that she starts off as Kamal Khan's escort, but toward the end of the movie seems to just be another one of Octopussy's circus performers. The viewer is not quite sure what her relationship to either Khan or Octopussy is supposed to be, though she ends up loyal to the latter.
When she realises that Khan was going to let her get blown up by a nuclear bomb she becomes full team Octopussy. They just didn't have a line of dialogue that would have made her motivations clear. It is a bit ambiguous and something that might been done a bit better these days.
My ranking from Worst to Best: 24: Jinx (DAD). 23: Stacey (AVTAK). 22: Tiffany (DAF). 21: Christmas Jones (TWINE). 20: Mary Goodnight (TMWTGG). 19: Aki and Kissy (YOLT). 18: Lucia and Madeline (SP). 17: Severine (SF). 16: Tatiana (FRWL). 15: Honey (DN). (I know I am going to get crucified for putting her this low but I personally find her to be underdeveloped and overrated). 14: Wai Lin (TND). (Another girl I personally find to be overrated). 13: Domino (TB). (Like the TB film, I wasn't really a big fan of this character but she has grown on me considerably recently). 12: Camille (QOS). 11: Kara (TLD). 10: Solitaire (LALD). 9: Holly (MR). 8: Anya (TSWLM). 7: Melina (FYEO). 6: Pussy (GF). 5: Octopussy (OP). 4: Pam (LTK). 3: Natalya (GE). 2: Tracy (OHMSS). 1: Vesper (CR).
I always enjoy your videos, even though I often disagree with the ratings. Vesper would never have made my top 10 list, but my number 1 would have been Fiona from Thunderball for the character and certainly for her presence. Second would be Domino from the same movie (my number 1 favorite James Bond movie, by the way). My third ranking would be Pussy Galore. And number 4 would be a tie, two different characters portrayed by the same actress, Maud Adams in The Man With the Golden Gun and Octopussy. As you said, these are personal choices. It's always fun too see varying opinions.
I knew it was kara right away when u were describing her. And she is great. I like that she goes from fool to capable rather than the opposite(ie tiffany case)
Melinda Havelock is definitely better than your No.10, because I don't even count Daniel Craig movies as James Bond movies anymore. The last good Bond move was with Pierce Brosnan "Die another Day". everything afterwards sucks and isn't Bond. Your No.1 is wrong as well. the BEST and most beautiful Bond girl is 100% DIANA RIGG.
You might have missed the opening where I said Tracy and Vesper are already tied for number one. And Die Another Day is the last ‘good’ Bond movie and Casino Royale sucks? That’s certainly a novel take, but to each their own.
@@Beingjamesbond I fell asleep watching the 1st Daniel Craig Bond movie several times. It doesn't have the same charme, the actor is a dwarf and has no humor, and the writing was bad. It's just an action movie, not a Bond movie. So I didn't even bother with the rest of Craig's Bond movies. I think they are all victim of what happens when a Studio decides to change things for "modern audiences" - it all goes to suck, like the new Star Wars, new Star Trek, new Arielle, new Indiana Jones... The time of good Cinema and TV is over and will never come back (very few exceptions).
Interesting choices. I agree w/you pick of Octopussy. Maud Adams was definitely age appropriate and chemistry plays a big role in how a story plays on screen. It probably didn't hurt that she was also in Man with a Golden Gun. I think some of your other choices were also interesting. In fact, not many people would've picked your choices for #10. I see the similarities so, it makes sense. Again, the choices were very interesting because these picks for Bond girls aren't your standard choices. Good thinking outside the box.
I like the Octopussy pick . I don't get Melina on the runner up list while a few girls in the top 10 were only in the movies for a few minutes. Also , suprised Christmas Jones and Stacy Sutton didn't make your worst list ahead of Kissy
4:58 As you say it does seem odd in hindsight that Bond technically has a 'girlfriend' who he has an open relationship with [she slips off a wedding ring in Dr No] in the earlier Connery films. Allegedly the plan was for what occurred in From Russia With Love [Bond is reintroduced with her before going off to the customary briefing scene] to be the pattern for every film but Guy Hamilton had no interest in doing it for Goldfinger and it got forgotten about. Given like the MI6 regulars at the time there didn't seem to be much desire to do something else with the character [it's said that the plan was for her to be the main Bond girl a few films down the line but that's doubtful given they then were adapting Fleming pretty faithful] they were probably right to drop her but it does flesh out Bond's world a bit and what he's up to between missions.
Loved the video as well as just taking vesper and tracy off the table. Interesting to include some of the smaller parts in here as well. I’m surprised I didn’t see Tatiana on this list. Also surprised we didn’t see Stacy Sutton on the dishonorable mentions list.
Great video Joe but shocked that Daniela "I think my mouth is too big" Bianchi didn't get a mention, not even as a runner-up. Certainly ticks the "integral to the plot" box. And somehow I just knew you would have Octopussy at number 1 😉
I think Maud Adams(in Octopussy!) is the most dignified woman in Bond franchise!!! I also love-love-love Domino Derval, Akiko Wakabayashi, Anya Amasova, Kara Milovy and so on..........
i agree with your list, perfectly written and said, and alot that i haavent thinked about, like your right about goldfinger that she is the one who gets bond out, so that is kind of fascinating in a way, so that rape scene has more stakes to it, since maybe the character last luck in winning, i wouldnt go by doing, that and also bond has the power of changing a lesbian to a straight female that quick i dont buy, i mean give me a movie, where bond can change orientation of a character sex, i really want to see that, Luccia and Sciarra is pretty much the same the girl from skyfall and spectre, they could be lost twins in my opinion. But I have some seperate ones of my own, we know that tracy and vesper, and rider are queens of the bond womans, so lets see what a diamond or a clover would be in my opinion talking card jingo, I would say xenia ontopp is great, and the theory goes that her sister appears in living daylights, when bond tries to get the guy out in the pipe, theres a woman there helping them smothers the guy with her breasts, but Q later says that she kills with her thighs, so maybe there is something there, just a theory. But she was great as a bad ass, and holds her own. I also loved the one and only natalya simonova smart and gets bond out of alot of situations, and can hold her own, and i can see brosnan settle down with her or king, they are both in the same boat of great and powerful bond woman, and then wai lin i loved alot she does hold her own, as a action female, doesnt even need bond sometimes. Teri Hatcher i dont like, but to be honest i wish Eunice Gayson daugther who made a cameo as a background extra in the casino of goldeneye, should have played psychiatrist caroline or mrs carver role, but yeah that would have been great to have the first bond girl namesake come back. Pam Bouvier i liked as well can hold her own, the other one i forgot her name i didnt need, but she was okay not the best, Olga kureylanko has the look, and my drama teacher in college did work with her, but she doesnt do much in the movie, i wish she could have faught more, as well as strawberry fields, i wish we got some great action from her, i mean she is a agent of MI6, also the first bettle song i heard, so that is kind of crazy to think about. i do like gemma arterton as an actress but if she held her own would put her on my top. We have to see how madeline swan comes on the list, you know what would be a great bond girl an alternative octopussy would be Jaclyn Smith, who played in the charlies angel original show, see her in 1983 Colorfast Wild Orchids by Max Factor "Jaclyn Smith" TV Commercial to see what she looks like back then, she would have been great, and can see her in that role, but adams is great in this role then her role in TMWTGG, even though its different, but i like both i guess, but hopefully you can do a part two of a bond girl with someones elses pick maybe someones else can way in with their pick, also how M got vesper into Mi6 was similar to Miranda Frost getting the position in DAD.
A great list,,,how could it not be,,,but my own top 2 don’t even get a mention! Tatiana from FRWL is my all time number one,,,what a woman! And number 2 is Natalya from Goldeneye, they try to make her look a bit frumpy but she is just stunning! But hey I do get Octopussy, it would have been the perfect end to Rogers time to sail off with her at the end .
I was with you with Kara Milovy. I think she is often a very undervalued character. She does indeed have a story arc and it is a totally believable one but you lost me with Octopussy. I think she and Bond are far too independent, with their lifestyles and goals pulling them in different directions. I really can't see that relationship lasting. James Bond and Anya Amasova however. I can actually see those two as a perfect match. Shared lifestyle, perspectives, experiences, military backgrounds, same disciplines and understanding of inhabiting the same kind of world. I could actually see Anya considering defection just so they could be together.
You nailed it, The chemistry is great in The Living Daylights. They’re adorable through the whole thing, he wins her a stuffed animal for Christ’s sake. Sure she almost crashes the plane into the mountain but she’s a fuckin cello player what does she know about planes. Still she was ride or die. Michelle Yeoh shoulda got a nod tho
Great choice for #1!!! However,Anya Amasova,Natalia Simonova,and Elektra King should have been on the list.To me they were better/more memorable than Severine/Lucia,Solange,Kara,Aki,and probably even Jill/Tilly.
I'm honestly surprised Wei Lin, Domino, Anya Amasova (XXX), and Camille didn't make the list
Where the HELL is Domino?
Not gonna lie, you had me in the first half there, I was waiting for Kara the whole video and Im not gonna lie I'm very pleasantly surprised. She is definitely deserving of #2 absolutely, bond goes back to see her after her concert which just builds on the chemistry they have the whole time, it's brilliant
That would be my ranking.
1. Diana Rigg (On Her Majesty's Secret Service)
2. Claudine Auger (Thunderball)
3. Daniela Bianchi (From Russia with love)
4. Carole Bouquet (For Your Eyes Only)
5. Honor Blackman (Goldfinger)
6. Ursula Andress (Dr. No)
7. Barbara Bach (The Spy who loved me)
Phenomenal stuff....this is what you do BEST! Has to be in my top ten of YOUR videos that I have enjoyed!
What an interesting and surprising choice. No Tatjana Romanova, no Anya Amasova, no Pam Bouvier?
Also for me was very strange
This is what we've all been waiting for, never mind No time to die.
Being an Indian I propose you to check out hindi film industry actress Zeenat Aman , Parveen Babi , Kimi Katkar , Aishwariya Rai , Deepika Padikone , Katrina Kaif , then decide whether these actresses fit in BOND girl crytiria or not . I think in 70s zeenat aman was very good with roger moore and I also think aishwariya rai would be great with daniel craig , what do think guys .
5. Domino 4. Electra King 3. Anya Amasova 2. Tatiana Romanova 1. Tracy Bond
Glad you showed some love for Kara Milovy.
The go to channel for Bond Info
Two of my favorites Fiona and Domino from "Thunderball" I guess because the movie was one of the first Bond movie I saw in theaters as a teen. Also I would place "Thunderball" as one of my top picks for having the most number of beautiful women in any of the Bond movies.
Fiona is an unrepentant crook so doesn't qualify as a Bond girl. Absolutely gorgeous though.
@@vordman I just go with the idea if she's a female and she's in a Bond Movie that makes her a Bond Girl.
@@keithbrown8490And Bond banged her.
My top 5:
1. Kara Milovy
2. Octopussy
3. Wai Lin
4. Melina Havelock
5. Holly Goodhead
I am shattered to not see Pam Bouvier.
Versper (Eva Green, Casino Royale) and Tracy (Diana Rigg, OHMSS) are my favourite
Very good presentation Joseph. I was surprised, though, not to see any mention of Major Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) from The Spy Who Loved Me.
Cool list. But you missed 2 of the best... Michelle Yeoh as Wai Lin (Tomorrow Never Dies) & Barbara Bach as Major Anya Amasova (The Spy Who Loved Me).
One more for Kara.
Every person has his/her own favourites, of course, but yours are both inspired and justified with thoughtful reasons. I would certainly agree with your Top 3 pics but I also appreciated how women with smaller (but riveting) roles make your list. A very enjoyable episode, Joseph!
Sylvia Trench is still my fav Bond girl! Not only is she the first Bond girl, but in my view is the most realistic of all the Bond girls! As well, I rank her pairing with Bond in the casino as the #1 iconic scene in Bond movie history!
"Trench."
"Sylvia Trench."
I really appreciate this video for multiple reasons. I like taking Tracy out of the equation right off the bat. Thanks for using the better Bond Women term and actually remaining a discussion instead of mere ranking-but I truly appreciate the promotion of the underrated and undervalued characters of the 80’s. Especially Kara and the greater character arc they give her. In many ways she is the culmination that all the lead female characters of the 80’s built up to and is a perfected refinement of the Stacey Sutton type.
Ursula Andress' Honey Ryder is without question THE number one most iconic Bond Girl, the one that all the rest are measured against. She created the mold that is "The Bond Girl". Ursula Andress made Bond Girls "Bond Girls" and created the expectation that every Bond movie must have a super sexy love interest for James Bond. All the other Bond girls pale in comparison to Honey Ryder.
Been a year, I'm just at the Top 5 point in your video and still watching... I'm rooting for my all-time favorite..not the most iconic or even a household name, the character or the actress probably, but she's a banger as the kids like to say. Hint: Thunderball.
Edit: okay your criteria is a Bond girl, not Bond villain. My choice would definitely qualify as a henchwoman. So maybe another Top Ten. But, still...
Am I the only one who has Madeleine as one of my favorites?
I, too. Lea Seydoux ( doctor Madeleine Swan)
I like her too.. I think she is going to get into top tier in no time to die
Top 5 for me
1. Tracy Bond
2. Vesper Lynd
3. Pussy Galore
4. Melina Havelock
5. Pam Bouvier
Honorable mentions: Anya Amasova, Tatiana Romanova, Octopussy
Almost perfect. I’d swap Galore and Melina and bump Bouvier for Kara.
i like pam bouvier too..
Where is barbara Bach, natalia simonova , Daniela bianchi .
kissy suzuki she (along with another Japanese actress) were sent to London for three months, to be tutored in English. Maybe thats why she didn't had too many dialog scene in the movie
Sylvia Trench is utterly adorable.
I really liked the list
I used to be a member of the bjb forum years ago and bought the bjb book when it was first released back then.
So happy to see great content is still being made by yourself but I miss the forum.
Same here Matt! What a great little community we had pre- social media. Thanks for always being there my friend!
Two of my favorites that you did not mention .
Wai Lin from Tomorrow never Dies . She a skilled agent and can clearly fight as well as Bond if not better.
It not a romance but it is a relation between two Highly skill agents who clearly respect each other.
And the other that would be on my list, Camille from Quantum of Solace. Of all the Bond Girls and every time we heard talk about doing a spin off with a Bond Girl, Camille is the one I really would like to see. She a strong character that has her own goals . She using Bond as much as he is using her. She a professional agent with some personal flaws ,not all of which were dealt with in the Movie and she from South America , a area that we have not seen much in the Bond Films.
She be a perfect choice for a spin off able to hold a film with out Bond .
Excellent points made, love this list. Made me rethink a lot of the characters and their archetypes
You disappointed me with your Love for BLOODY Daniel Craig on your Bond top 25
I hope you recover quickly. Did you also notice that 2 of Craig's were in my bottom 5, and that EVERY Bond actor has films in my top 10?
@@Beingjamesbond YEAH YOU ARE MORE FORGIVEN THAN BOND EXPERIENCE
Can't believe Claudine Auger's Domino is not on this list.
Honor Blackman, Daniela Bianchi and Claudine Auger were so classy.
Every bond actor goes off to sunset with one and we are all good :)
Sean Connery: Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman)
George Lezenby: Tracy DiVicenzo (Diana Rigg)
Roger. Moore: Octopussy (Maud Adams)
Timothy Dalton: Kara Milovy (Maryam D'Abo)
Pierce Brosnan: Natalya Simonova (Isabella Scorupco)
Daniel Craig: Vesper Lynd (Eva Green)
Some interesting choices (Magda and Solange for instance). I get your thought process though. Love Kara. She is also a favorite of mine. Very interesting first choice. Not in my Top Ten but the film is. It's the first I saw at the cinema and I've always liked Maud Adams. Great video.
Love to see Kara rank high, she’s easily in my top 5. Great chemistry with Dalton and a great character.
My favorites, Mei Linn, Solitaire, Kara (she's so pretty) and Anya. My favorite ever is Tracy of course, she just can't be beat.
Easily the best and most thoughtful ranking of Bond women I've come across. Well done!!
Excellent job here -
where Joe removes our two most obvious choices
and then proceeds to select all kinds of unexpected Bond girls - from the smallest of parts to one that has an entire film named after her!
As for my personal choice
It would be Vesper of course as my all time favorite - not only for her incredible beauty but also for her charm, elegance and intelligence!
But besides those two top obvious choices-
my gut instinct would probably go with Domino and Anya for the simplest and easiest of reasons!
However….. if I’m selecting one for all the deeper reasons you spoke so eloquently on - most important -
BELIEVING in her relationship with James Bond…..
It would probably be KARA!
Exactly what I said to Dutch Bond Fan. Tracy and Vesper are on their own list of two.
Well said!
Great video again. Similar taste. My favorite is Kara. Without her you don’t have a story. I find that very important for a Bond girl. I see Elektra more as a female Bond villain.
"MayDay" (Grace Jones) receives an honorable mention from me...
Excellent first choice.
Your defense completely won me over.
You know what? Two things here. First, I am very happy to see Aki and Kara in your top 10. They are certainly in mine. Even though Aki is underwritten, WOW, what an impact she makes in You Only Live Twice. The actress is wonderful! She seems much more mature and believable than Kissy.. Her death is a shocking moment that still resonates. I LOVE how Kara affects James Bond in The Living Daylights. For heaven’s sake, she gets Bond onto a roller coaster and it is delightful. Maryam D’Abo carries a lot of weight on her shoulders as basically being the only Bond woman in the film, save for the implied classic tryst he has in the Pre-Titles sequence. She evolves as vulnerable and gullible to strong willed, fighting in the last third of the film. The character is presented in a real, genuine way. Totally see Octopussy as #1 on your list. She is a badass in action and attitude. She runs her own empire, helping women to empower themselves . She is mature, wise and has great chemistry with Moore’s Bond that you believe they could have a longtime relationship well after the movie ends.
Excellent video, HoS!!!!!
They only needed one Japanese Bond girl in You Only Live Twice, but if you asked me to choose between Akiko Wakabayashi and Mie Hama, I couldn't do it.
Great video! 👍👍
So much kudos for featuring Magda and Kara Milovy in your top 10 - my No.2 and No.1 respectively. Sadly, my No.3, Fiona Volpe, didn't make the list.
Great job, Joseph! Love it! Just put a link to it in our Wolrdwide Community of Spy Movie Fans group!
Great ranking! Excellent choices!
great video! if there is one thing i don't like about your top two... it's that you keep apologizing for placing them so high up in your rankings. both kara and octopussy are also in my top five (my list includes vesper and tracy), and everything you said about those two characters is also why i love them. they are some of the best characters of the franchise!
Why I love to have seen Aki survive and go with Bond into the Volcano , Her death is a important moment in the movie .
Also the second actress playing Kitty in YOLT barely spoke English. Which is why so little of her dialog was left in the film.
I very much like the perspectives you offer about the roles played by the characters in the stories - your pairing of characters according to their contributions to their respective films (Jill/Tilly, Severine/Lucia) is spot on, I think. Also, your assessment of the relative success of each character and how you apportion praise and criticism among the actors, writers, directors is also very thoughtful. Jill St. John, for example, does a great job with rather poor material from the writer and director.
For my part, I'd have included Natalya Simonova in the list and also Anya Amasova. The former checks all the boxes from an objective standpoint, the latter is my sentimental choice.
A VERY enjoyable video - thanks for bringing some fun to an otherwise humdrum Wednesday!
By looks is one thing, by character another.... Ursula is iconic, domino the sexiest, vesper the closest to being bond's equal....my choice....his one and only wife...
Don't forget the hot little tart, Bibi Dahl! She's the yummiest dish of them all! No way I'm kicking that peach cobbler out of my room!
Great list Joe but I would've added Fiona Volpe to that list, for me one of the sexiest women in the Bond Films.
absolutely although this list is for good girls
@@nihits I prefer bad girls, much more fun ;-)
Fun list. Love the personal picks at the top, rather than just going with the most obvious choices.
Great video as always. Good to see Octopussy and Kara in the list. Personally, I'd have included Melina in the top 10 - and Pam Bouvier too (an often overlooked and underrated character)
Great list and great #1 !
I LOVE your top 2 so much! Both ladsies are very high in my list too. My most favorite Bond girls are also a bit controversial: Lois Chiles (Moonraker), Kim Basinger (Never Say Never Again), Tanya Roberts (A View to a Kill)
I would have liked to see Fiona on the list as well. Her character adds a lot of value to TB. I can see myself watching TB for Fiona. Additionally, just because Bond falls in love with Tracy (marries her too) and Vesper should not automatically make them top Bond girl characters. I do not think I have ever watched OHMSS and CR for Tracy (like her interaction with Blofeld) and Vesper respectively. I have read the books, in films, I am not sure if these two characters make a similar impact. They are good characters but I am hesitant to automatically put them as top two.
Fiona was more Bond villainous than Bond girl, but very able ,capable , and deadly.
Dude, this video is perfect!!! MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY 🙌🏻
The challenge with the Maga character (Kristina Wayborn) in "Octopussy," as pointed out in the book, "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," is that she starts off as Kamal Khan's escort, but toward the end of the movie seems to just be another one of Octopussy's circus performers. The viewer is not quite sure what her relationship to either Khan or Octopussy is supposed to be, though she ends up loyal to the latter.
When she realises that Khan was going to let her get blown up by a nuclear bomb she becomes full team Octopussy. They just didn't have a line of dialogue that would have made her motivations clear. It is a bit ambiguous and something that might been done a bit better these days.
"MAGA character" *shudder*. Magda lol
My ranking from Worst to Best:
24: Jinx (DAD).
23: Stacey (AVTAK).
22: Tiffany (DAF).
21: Christmas Jones (TWINE).
20: Mary Goodnight (TMWTGG).
19: Aki and Kissy (YOLT).
18: Lucia and Madeline (SP).
17: Severine (SF).
16: Tatiana (FRWL).
15: Honey (DN). (I know I am going to get crucified for putting her this low but I personally find her to be underdeveloped and overrated).
14: Wai Lin (TND). (Another girl I personally find to be overrated).
13: Domino (TB). (Like the TB film, I wasn't really a big fan of this character but she has grown on me considerably recently).
12: Camille (QOS).
11: Kara (TLD).
10: Solitaire (LALD).
9: Holly (MR).
8: Anya (TSWLM).
7: Melina (FYEO).
6: Pussy (GF).
5: Octopussy (OP).
4: Pam (LTK).
3: Natalya (GE).
2: Tracy (OHMSS).
1: Vesper (CR).
Can these ladies be ranked? They're all fantastic in their own way. They're all proof that Aphrodite existed & had offspring.
I always enjoy your videos, even though I often disagree with the ratings. Vesper would never have made my top 10 list, but my number 1 would have been Fiona from Thunderball for the character and certainly for her presence. Second would be Domino from the same movie (my number 1 favorite James Bond movie, by the way). My third ranking would be Pussy Galore. And number 4 would be a tie, two different characters portrayed by the same actress, Maud Adams in The Man With the Golden Gun and Octopussy. As you said, these are personal choices. It's always fun too see varying opinions.
Excellent list except for #9. Should have been Barbara Bach as Anya Amasova. As for Tracy & Vesper ? Well, what can I say. Cheers Bond fans 🍸🍸7
Tania has always been my favorite
Very unique list. Fun to listen too and nice to see a few different opinions.
I do appreciate your perspective, but of course have several disagreements.
Where's Anya? Or Wai Lin?
I knew it was kara right away when u were describing her. And she is great. I like that she goes from fool to capable rather than the opposite(ie tiffany case)
Nice to see so many women who don't normally appear regularly in top 10 lists make the cut here.
Melinda Havelock is definitely better than your No.10, because I don't even count Daniel Craig movies as James Bond movies anymore.
The last good Bond move was with Pierce Brosnan "Die another Day". everything afterwards sucks and isn't Bond.
Your No.1 is wrong as well. the BEST and most beautiful Bond girl is 100% DIANA RIGG.
You might have missed the opening where I said Tracy and Vesper are already tied for number one. And Die Another Day is the last ‘good’ Bond movie and Casino Royale sucks? That’s certainly a novel take, but to each their own.
@@Beingjamesbond I fell asleep watching the 1st Daniel Craig Bond movie several times. It doesn't have the same charme, the actor is a dwarf and has no humor, and the writing was bad. It's just an action movie, not a Bond movie. So I didn't even bother with the rest of Craig's Bond movies. I think they are all victim of what happens when a Studio decides to change things for "modern audiences" - it all goes to suck, like the new Star Wars, new Star Trek, new Arielle, new Indiana Jones... The time of good Cinema and TV is over and will never come back (very few exceptions).
The ladies
Good list. Well done!
Interesting choices. I agree w/you pick of Octopussy. Maud Adams was definitely age appropriate and chemistry plays a big role in how a story plays on screen. It probably didn't hurt that she was also in Man with a Golden Gun. I think some of your other choices were also interesting. In fact, not many people would've picked your choices for #10. I see the similarities so, it makes sense. Again, the choices were very interesting because these picks for Bond girls aren't your standard choices. Good thinking outside the box.
I like the Octopussy pick . I don't get Melina on the runner up list while a few girls in the top 10 were only in the movies for a few minutes. Also , suprised Christmas Jones and Stacy Sutton didn't make your worst list ahead of Kissy
Thx for the vid. Love Tiffany Case throughout the movie 😃
4:58 As you say it does seem odd in hindsight that Bond technically has a 'girlfriend' who he has an open relationship with [she slips off a wedding ring in Dr No] in the earlier Connery films. Allegedly the plan was for what occurred in From Russia With Love [Bond is reintroduced with her before going off to the customary briefing scene] to be the pattern for every film but Guy Hamilton had no interest in doing it for Goldfinger and it got forgotten about. Given like the MI6 regulars at the time there didn't seem to be much desire to do something else with the character [it's said that the plan was for her to be the main Bond girl a few films down the line but that's doubtful given they then were adapting Fleming pretty faithful] they were probably right to drop her but it does flesh out Bond's world a bit and what he's up to between missions.
Kara is great. She is in my top 5 as well
Love your list. Definitely agree on kara
Won't say the name of who came top, for those who've not seen the video yet....But a very worthy winner indeed. 👍
Thank you!
Did I miss Natalya/Isobella Scorupco?
Loved the video as well as just taking vesper and tracy off the table. Interesting to include some of the smaller parts in here as well. I’m surprised I didn’t see Tatiana on this list. Also surprised we didn’t see Stacy Sutton on the dishonorable mentions list.
Very concise episode with great narration and clips. I personally choose the girl poisoned by the ninja. Too bad her life was 'hanging by a thread'.
Definitely some surprises in there, but a solid, well thought-out list. I would've added Carey Lowell's Pam Bouvier though.
Great video Joe but shocked that Daniela "I think my mouth is too big" Bianchi didn't get a mention, not even as a runner-up. Certainly ticks the "integral to the plot" box. And somehow I just knew you would have Octopussy at number 1 😉
So happy you love the women of Octopussy! A great underrated Moore Bond film. Joseph, your opinions so often line up with mine. Love your videos!!!!
Holly good head was the best for me, brilliant portrayal by lois Chile’s
I think Maud Adams(in Octopussy!) is the most dignified woman in Bond franchise!!! I also love-love-love Domino Derval, Akiko Wakabayashi, Anya Amasova, Kara Milovy and so on..........
i agree with your list, perfectly written and said, and alot that i haavent thinked about, like your right about goldfinger that she is the one who gets bond out, so that is kind of fascinating in a way, so that rape scene has more stakes to it, since maybe the character last luck in winning, i wouldnt go by doing, that and also bond has the power of changing a lesbian to a straight female that quick i dont buy, i mean give me a movie, where bond can change orientation of a character sex, i really want to see that, Luccia and Sciarra is pretty much the same the girl from skyfall and spectre, they could be lost twins in my opinion. But I have some seperate ones of my own, we know that tracy and vesper, and rider are queens of the bond womans, so lets see what a diamond or a clover would be in my opinion talking card jingo, I would say xenia ontopp is great, and the theory goes that her sister appears in living daylights, when bond tries to get the guy out in the pipe, theres a woman there helping them smothers the guy with her breasts, but Q later says that she kills with her thighs, so maybe there is something there, just a theory. But she was great as a bad ass, and holds her own. I also loved the one and only natalya simonova smart and gets bond out of alot of situations, and can hold her own, and i can see brosnan settle down with her or king, they are both in the same boat of great and powerful bond woman, and then wai lin i loved alot she does hold her own, as a action female, doesnt even need bond sometimes. Teri Hatcher i dont like, but to be honest i wish Eunice Gayson daugther who made a cameo as a background extra in the casino of goldeneye, should have played psychiatrist caroline or mrs carver role, but yeah that would have been great to have the first bond girl namesake come back. Pam Bouvier i liked as well can hold her own, the other one i forgot her name i didnt need, but she was okay not the best, Olga kureylanko has the look, and my drama teacher in college did work with her, but she doesnt do much in the movie, i wish she could have faught more, as well as strawberry fields, i wish we got some great action from her, i mean she is a agent of MI6, also the first bettle song i heard, so that is kind of crazy to think about. i do like gemma arterton as an actress but if she held her own would put her on my top. We have to see how madeline swan comes on the list, you know what would be a great bond girl an alternative octopussy would be Jaclyn Smith, who played in the charlies angel original show, see her in 1983 Colorfast Wild Orchids by Max Factor "Jaclyn Smith" TV Commercial to see what she looks like back then, she would have been great, and can see her in that role, but adams is great in this role then her role in TMWTGG, even though its different, but i like both i guess, but hopefully you can do a part two of a bond girl with someones elses pick maybe someones else can way in with their pick, also how M got vesper into Mi6 was similar to Miranda Frost getting the position in DAD.
One is Una Yakov (xenia onatopp precursor) other is Rosika Miklos (operator). they are different people
My Top 5 would be:
1 Fiona Volpe
2 Anya Amasova
3 Electra King
4 Honey Ryder
5 Vesper Lynd
No mention of Natalia, Wei Lin, and Pam Bovie???
A great list,,,how could it not be,,,but my own top 2 don’t even get a mention! Tatiana from FRWL is my all time number one,,,what a woman! And number 2 is Natalya from Goldeneye, they try to make her look a bit frumpy but she is just stunning! But hey I do get Octopussy, it would have been the perfect end to Rogers time to sail off with her at the end .
1 through 10 - Solitaire.
The end.
Take a drink every time Joe says "stunning" 🤪👍
Guilty as charged! 🤣
@@Beingjamesbond Miss your content, Joe! Good work on the Goldfinger editing though. Hope all is well!
I was with you with Kara Milovy. I think she is often a very undervalued character. She does indeed have a story arc and it is a totally believable one but you lost me with Octopussy. I think she and Bond are far too independent, with their lifestyles and goals pulling them in different directions. I really can't see that relationship lasting. James Bond and Anya Amasova however. I can actually see those two as a perfect match. Shared lifestyle, perspectives, experiences, military backgrounds, same disciplines and understanding of inhabiting the same kind of world. I could actually see Anya considering defection just so they could be together.
Most of the ladies in your Top 10 without Vesper & Tracy made little impression on me at all.
You nailed it, The chemistry is great in The Living Daylights. They’re adorable through the whole thing, he wins her a stuffed animal for Christ’s sake. Sure she almost crashes the plane into the mountain but she’s a fuckin cello player what does she know about planes. Still she was ride or die.
Michelle Yeoh shoulda got a nod tho
Great choice for #1!!! However,Anya Amasova,Natalia Simonova,and Elektra King should have been on the list.To me they were better/more memorable than Severine/Lucia,Solange,Kara,Aki,and probably even Jill/Tilly.