9. The Circus Train Fight – Octopussy
Octopussy isn’t just a lesser James Bond movie; it’s one of those Bond movies that is so dreadfully dull and irredeemably outdated that people often struggle to remember it. Sadly, that means that this incredible train fight sequence often gets lost in discussions about the best James Bond stunts.
This scene that sees Bond navigate a moving train filled with circus attractions is conceptually fantastic. Watching someone confidentially stroll atop a barreling locomotive while occasionally punching some overly confident goon is a guaranteed good time. What makes this scene special, though, are those shots of Bond hanging off the side of the train and dodging incoming obstacles. That’s stuntman Martin Grace putting his body on the line during those practically shot sequences. Grace was seriously injured during one of those shots when a miscommunication between the coordinators sent him crashing into a concrete post. The timing required to eventually get this scene on film is nothing short of incredible.
8. The Crocodile Run – Live and Let Die
This is one of those stunts that is certainly fun to watch but elevated by the realization that someone actually did it. Yes, that’s stuntman Ross Kananga running across that bridge of crocodiles like he’s Pitfall Harry. Granted, this probably wasn’t a great experience for the crocodiles, but the results speak volumes. The only thing more impressive than the final shot is the outtake footage which shows Kananga’s failed early attempts at pulling this scene off. You can’t fully appreciate how dangerous this was until you’ve seen a man sink into the water and find himself suddenly surrounded by the perturbed and uncooperative crocodiles he just tried to step on.
7. The Truck Chase – Licence to Kill
Even if you’re not a fan of the Timothy Dalton Bond movies (a blasphemous take), it’s hard to deny that Licence to Kill and The Living Daylights include some of the most impressive stunts in the entire Bond franchise. License to Kill‘s existence is arguably justified by the audacity and spectacle of this semi-truck chase sequence.
This chase scene along a cliffside road features all the close calls, explosions, and expert maneuvering any Wages of Fear-loving film fan could ever want. However, it is highlighted by the moment stunt driver Rémy Julienne manages to get an 18-wheeler on nine of its wheels and effectively drive it sideways to avoid an incoming rocket. While there is still some debate about how, exactly, this stunt was pulled off, it has been noted that Julienne was able to pull off this seemingly impossible bit of driving with little (or no) external assistance required.
6. The Cable Car Brawl – Moonraker
How good is this cable car sequence in Moonraker? It’s the arguable highlight of a movie that also features an incredible skydiving scene, a laser gun battle in space, and a pigeon doing a Looney Tunes-style double take. Whatever buried fears you may have had about riding in a cable car are likely brought to life in this stunning scene that sees Bond battle notorious henchman Jaws across two cable cars. Reportedly, stuntman Richard Graydon lost his footing during this scene and was forced to hold on for dear life without the support of any immersion compromising support cables. Having to fist-fight Jaws sounds preferable to enduring that nightmare.
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