I was having an argument at work today with a guy about the Bond movies. I made a list a while back of my top 100 science fiction movies of all time (ever) and I included the Bond movies as one choice (just as I had with the STAR WARS trilogy). I showed this list to a guy at work and he said including a series as one choice was fine, but the Bond movies are not all sci-fi and therefore don't count. But most of the films feature some sort of sci fi element and almost all of Q's gadgets have a sci fi feel to them (I've left out a discussion of Q's gadgets in the following run through).
DR. NO - Dr No plans to use an atomic powered radio beam to disrupt a space shot.
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE - not many sci fi elements in this film, granted. Maybe the Lecktor counts as a sci fi device, but probably not.
GOLDFINGER - the scene with the laser.
THUNDERBALL - jetpacks!
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE - Blofeld's space ship eating space ship.
ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE - Blofeld's mind control scheme is more than a little sci fi.
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER - lookalikes and voice changers and satellites, oh my!
LIVE AND LET DIE - more voodoo horror/blakploitation than sci fi.
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN - Scaramanga's flying car and the Solex Agitator.
THE SPY WHO LOVED ME - shades of YOLT with the ship eating ship. Also, missles!
MOONRAKER - probably the least sci fi of the series. Nah, not really, I just said that to see if anyone's paying attention.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY - like FRWL there's not much sci fi, but the ATAC MacGuffin maybe counts.
OCTOPUSSY - not much sci fi here either, other than the (very real) nuclear warheard.
A VIEW TO A KILL - Zorin plans the destroy the technology capital of the world, Silicon Valley.
THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS - not much in the way of sci fi on display here.
LICENCE TO KILL - and even less on display here.
GOLDENEYE - satellites ahoy!
TOMORROW NEVER DIES - Bond drives his car via remote control.
THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH - nukes, GPS and helicopters with saws attatched are as close to sci fi as we get in this movie.
DIE ANOTHER DAY - invisible car. 'Nuff said.
CASINO ROYALE - a return to the gritty style of early Connery and Dalton mean there's not much sci fi stuff here.
QUANTUM OF SOLACE - again, despite a very sci fi sounding title, there's not much.
So, what do you think, CHFB? Can the Bond series be classed as "sci fi" as well as the more obvious "spy thriller" genre classification?
DR. NO - Dr No plans to use an atomic powered radio beam to disrupt a space shot.
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE - not many sci fi elements in this film, granted. Maybe the Lecktor counts as a sci fi device, but probably not.
GOLDFINGER - the scene with the laser.
THUNDERBALL - jetpacks!
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE - Blofeld's space ship eating space ship.
ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE - Blofeld's mind control scheme is more than a little sci fi.
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER - lookalikes and voice changers and satellites, oh my!
LIVE AND LET DIE - more voodoo horror/blakploitation than sci fi.
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN - Scaramanga's flying car and the Solex Agitator.
THE SPY WHO LOVED ME - shades of YOLT with the ship eating ship. Also, missles!
MOONRAKER - probably the least sci fi of the series. Nah, not really, I just said that to see if anyone's paying attention.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY - like FRWL there's not much sci fi, but the ATAC MacGuffin maybe counts.
OCTOPUSSY - not much sci fi here either, other than the (very real) nuclear warheard.
A VIEW TO A KILL - Zorin plans the destroy the technology capital of the world, Silicon Valley.
THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS - not much in the way of sci fi on display here.
LICENCE TO KILL - and even less on display here.
GOLDENEYE - satellites ahoy!
TOMORROW NEVER DIES - Bond drives his car via remote control.
THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH - nukes, GPS and helicopters with saws attatched are as close to sci fi as we get in this movie.
DIE ANOTHER DAY - invisible car. 'Nuff said.
CASINO ROYALE - a return to the gritty style of early Connery and Dalton mean there's not much sci fi stuff here.
QUANTUM OF SOLACE - again, despite a very sci fi sounding title, there's not much.
So, what do you think, CHFB? Can the Bond series be classed as "sci fi" as well as the more obvious "spy thriller" genre classification?
