The idea was simple. Watch every single James Bond movie in the month before Skyfall is released Nov 9. There was good reason to do it in 2012, beginning with the fact that Bond on film turned 50 last Friday, Oct 5. On that date in 1962, Sean Connery appeared in Dr. No, Ursula Andress came out of the water in that white bikini, and the world of cinema would never be the same. Second, Skyfall is the last Bond film Daniel Craig is contracted to star in, though he states he wants to continue on. If he were to stop, and given the money troubles at the studio that could be possible since he’d likely cost them a lot more than they’re currently paying him, this would be an appropriate bookend.
With the 50th anniversary, we also have, for the first time ever, all of the Bond movies available in hi def in Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection. Amazingly, the box actually has space to hold 23 films. They can say it’s holding a place for your Skyfall Blu-ray, but don’t you just want to fill that hole with a rogue Bond movie like Never Say Never Again? You can pick up this puppy for about $150, which means 
Over 50 years, Bond was, until just the last few years, the most successful film franchise of all time with just over $5 trillion in ticket sales worldwide. It wasn’t until the last two Harry Potter films that it surpassed Bond. And, in case you’re wondering, Star Wars is just barely behind Bond. Now, I’m sure you’re saying “Yeah, but that’s over 23 films, compared to 8 Harry Potters and 6 Star Wars.” You’re right. And to which I reply, “Yes. 23 films. Most of them worth watching, several classics. And I daresay that in 2027 (the 50th anniversary of Star Wars) or 2051, it is unlikely we will be making more Star Wars or Potter movies. Then again, maybe. (perchance to dream?)
Through those 50 years, the Bond intellectual property has been produced in its best and purest form possible in great films like Goldeneye, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Casino Royale, and Goldfinger. And it has been abused in trainwrecks like Die Another Day, movies that were so bad they made them reboot the franchise.
Everyone’s got their favorites, everyone’s got their opinions, so let’s pop some popcorn, get your vodka martinis, watch a bunch of Bond, and argue about them. Tomorrow I’ll start things off with Dr. No, followed by Swankmotron writing up From Russia With Love, after which we’re going to do a roundtable on Goldfinger since everybody’s gotta have their say about Goldfinger… and so on. We’ll also hash out our favorite Bond Girls, who is the Best Bond (go Team Lazenby!), best Bond theme songs (and FYI, Adele’s new Skyfall theme is currently #1 on iTunes. Not surprising since it’s easily the best Bond theme in over a decade, maybe two. And that’s coming from someone with an unhealthy love of Garbage.) We’ll also talk James Bond Jr, and, who could pass up talking about the Goldeneye video game for the N64? And we’ll end with a review of Skyfall, a film which I think easily has the potential to be the undisputed greatest film of the franchise. Not that I’m setting expectations too high.
What about the rest of you Bots? Anyone have any thoughts? Love Bond? HATE Bond? Have a favorite? Let us know in the comments below.