See here's the thing...when I was younger I thought DAF was the worst in the series. Never have I thought MR is a bad film, though it really does lose itself in places.
DAF is a product of its time. It is designed to be an audience pleaser for 1971 with a great deal of wink-wink nudging at the audience with the return of Sean. What makes it work is this quality combined with Mankewicz's brilliant knack for black humor. Then it has a very real down to earth quality which stems partially from the lack of big sets, uninspiring locations and realistic budget. So it has its downsides, and though there are heaps of wasted potential, it isn't a bad film and is one of the classics warts and all.
The Peter Hunt-Lazenby version that would have opened with the climax of OHMSS is my no.1 all time lost film.
Thought: Imagine if EON/UA had really done something worthwhile instead of a Goldfinger knockoff. What if they had made a movie that meant something like the other groundbreaking films of the same year? What if they had made a Connery Bond with Sidney Lumet? Now there's a thought.
Skyfall finally succeeds in turning 007 into a mindless, unmotivated, pointless blunt instrument which is what Purvis and Wade were trying to do for 13 years. It could be any film, ultimately it has no identity.
Diamonds are Forever despite being problem-ridden, dated and many other things at least has an identity and a heart. It is a thousand times the film that Skyfail is.
LMS:
Casablanca
If there is a perfect film, this is it. If there is one film to represent Hollywood, this is it. This is an old friend that gains new significance with every single repeated viewing. There is always some new element revealed and the story gains such significance over time. This is the supreme example of the studio system, and what cinematic storytelling is.
Ultimate balls.
Action in the North Atlantic
Surprisingly effective wartime propaganda piece about the Merchant Marines. Literally nonstop sea action with some well photographed miniatures interposed with real battle footage. Some overbearing silliness is felt over the unyielding pro-Allies message, but this is a rather well done 2 hours.
3 balls out of 4 torpedoes.