James Bond is better than everything

[Tallguy 5,388]

No. No I don't remember her having braces. It's that a thing?

[Sweeping Strings 2,804]

Goldeneye - 007 enters the post-Cold War 90s in mostly fine style. Delicately balanced between the sensibilities of the era (a female M berates Bond for being 'a sexist misogynist dinosaur') and Bond of old (the 'What's that, dear?' to the MI6 assessor (who he promptly seduces) and a female character with an innuendo for a surname (Onatopp) ).

Not every Bond's first film is his best, but I think it's the case with Brosnan ... he's 'across' the action, deathless quips and sharp-suited suavity with ease and also manages 'deeper' character moments with aplomb (the 'beach brooding' scene and his reaction to Trevelyan's 'I might as well ask you if ... ' taunting, for example).

[Naïve Old Fart 11,390]

Not only my favourite Brosnan Bond, but my all-time favourite Bond, narrowly edging out THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

 

"Who's strangling the cat?"

 

"'Strangling the c-'? That is Irina, my mistress!!!".

 

(shoots sofa)

 

"Very talented girl."

 

"Irina! Take a hike!"

[Schilkeman 1,420]

That movie showed such promise, only to be squandered for the next three films, and dumping a clearly unengaged Brosnan at the end of it. He deserved better.

[Naïve Old Fart 11,390]

Brosnan might have looked "unengaged" at the end of DIE ANOTHER DAY (how could you look unengaged when you've got Halle Berry in tightie whiteties, underneath you ), but at least he didn't look desperate, and depressed, like Craig did, at the beginning of NO TIME TO DIE.

[Schilkeman 1,420]

17 minutes ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

but at least he didn't look desperate, and depressed, like Craig did, at the beginning of NO TIME TO DIE.

I wouldn't know. I fell off of Craig's Bond after Skyfall, the most overrated of all Bond films. I'll be off now, watching reruns of Remington Steele.

[Naïve Old Fart 11,390]

SPECTRE is decent, NO TIME TO DIE... isn't.

[Tallguy 5,388]

5 hours ago, Sweeping Strings said:

Goldeneye - 007 enters the post-Cold War 90s in mostly fine style. Delicately balanced between the sensibilities of the era (a female M berates Bond for being 'a sexist misogynist dinosaur') and Bond of old (the 'What's that, dear?' to the MI6 assessor (who he promptly seduces) and a female character with an innuendo for a surname (Onatopp) ).

Not every Bond's first film is his best, but I think it's the case with Brosnan ... he's 'across' the action, deathless quips and sharp-suited suavity with ease and also manages 'deeper' character moments with aplomb (the 'beach brooding' scene and his reaction to Trevelyan's 'I might as well ask you if ... ' taunting, for example).

 

Imagine the outcry of making M a woman today. With the explicit intention of taking Bond down a peg? On the other hand if you're going to gender swap a character this is how you do it. And freaking JUDI DENCH is the way to go.

 

Everyone remembers "sexist, misogynist dinosaur". That's not even the best part of the speech. Also "Thank you. If I wanted sarcasm I'd talk to my grandchildren." Win!

 

I loved Sean Bean, but the character was clearly meant to be older. (Because, World War II, right?)

 

5 hours ago, Schilkeman said:

That movie showed such promise, only to be squandered for the next three films, and dumping a clearly unengaged Brosnan at the end of it. He deserved better.

 

The only PB film that really did him dirty was Die Another Day. (IMHO) And even then the first half was pretty terrific.

 

5 hours ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

Not only my favourite Brosnan Bond, but my all-time favourite Bond, narrowly edging out THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

 

I know there are other films I'm SUPPOSED to like more. But arguably, I don't. (Thunderball and From Russia With Love come close. And however much I might complain Goldfinger is almost the textbook perfect film.)

[Schilkeman 1,420]

1 hour ago, Tallguy said:

And however much I might complain Goldfinger is almost the textbook perfect film.

Yes, it's great. It's "balanced." It might be the perfect Bond movie. I love watching it.

 

But I also kind of fucking hate it.

[Naïve Old Fart 11,390]

The best Bond film if FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE.

It's not my favourite, but it is the best.

[Schilkeman 1,420]

3 minutes ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

The best Bond film if FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE.

It's not my favourite, but it is the best.

It's the best, and my favorite. Top 3:

 

From Russia with Love

Casino Royale

Goldeneye

[Naïve Old Fart 11,390]

Just now, Schilkeman said:

Goldeye

 

Never heard of that one 

[Schilkeman 1,420]

On 11/7/2024 at 11:45 AM, Naïve Old Fart said:

 

Never heard of that one 

Ha! You saw it before I fixed it.

[Tallguy 5,388]

53 minutes ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

 

Never heard of that one 

 

It's a couple of films before Die Another Die (that I also fixed).

[Yavar Moradi 3,462]

It’s interesting that for the last three Bonds, their first film was definitely their best. I’d rank GoldenEye behind Casino Royale (my favorite) and The Living Daylights (my favorite until Casino Royale came out. Not the least because of the score, which has its moments but overall is just too weird. Casino Royale and TLD have incredible scores (TLD is my favorite Barry Bond score even though I can recognize OHMSS is “greater” and more important).

 

Yavar

[Edmilson 10,218]

I'm not sure if CR is Arnold's best Bond score... But it sure contains some of his best Bondian action cues ever:

 

 

 

[Meredith McKay 7,696]

Video unavailable

[Gabriel Bezerra 593]

David Arnold is the only good thing out of Quantum of Solace's action scenes.

[Tallguy 5,388]

QoS is Arnold's best Bond score. And he had several very good Bond scores.

 

Also the score for Goldeneye is great.

[Edmilson 10,218]

2 hours ago, The Great Gonzales said:

Video unavailable

African Rundown and Miami International from Casino Royale

[Naïve Old Fart 11,390]

1 hour ago, Tallguy said:

QoS is Arnold's best Bond score. 

 

 

1 hour ago, Tallguy said:

Also the score for Goldeneye is great.

 

... and also 

 

 

QOS is not only my favourite Arnold score for Bond, it's my second favourite Arnold score.

[Meredith McKay 7,696]

Speaking of Goldeneye....

 

 

[Tallguy 5,388]

4 hours ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

QOS is not only my favourite Arnold score for Bond, it's my second favourite Arnold score.

 

This is not to say that Casino Royale is not sublime. And also that as indulgent as it is Tomorrow Never Dies will kick your ass. (I like The World is Not Enough quite a lot. Submarine! Pipeline! Come in 007, Your Time is Up!)

 

Going back to Goldeneye, the scene were Bond arrives at the casino? (We Share the Same Passions.) Heart breakingly beautiful. It gave us all the nostalgia we needed without hitting the Barry button and even making it wistful.

[TolkienSS 485]

On 11/07/2024 at 3:59 PM, Tallguy said:

 

Imagine the outcry of making M a woman today. With the explicit intention of taking Bond down a peg? 

 

That - wasn't the intention? Judy Dench as M was never intended as to "take Bond down a notch" lol

 

To quote a Bond historian:

 

"The decision to cast a woman as M in 'GoldenEye' was partly inspired by the real-life appointment of Stella Rimington as the head of MI5, making it a timely and relevant choice."

 

At most, it was a way to freshen up the formula and create a moment of interesting tension.

 

Me, you, we all know the reason of casting a woman in a prominent role today is different from 1995.

 

And we both know having a character on screen putting down Bond in one scene as related to their characters is a crass difference from setting out to create a whole Script to put Bond down.

[Schilkeman 1,420]

On 12/07/2024 at 2:54 PM, TolkienSS said:

Me, you, we all know the reason of casting a woman in a prominent role today is different from 1995

I love when women, who make up 50% of the world's population, getting work has a "reason," and men, who make up the other 50%, does not.

[Nick1Ø66 6,640]

Apparently, the delay in the next 007 film is more financial and logistical, rather than creative, due to Amazon's acquisition of MGM. Apparently hey're planning what will essentially be a 007 "universe", with projects every couple years, including faithful adaptations of the Fleming novels (on Amazon) alongside more traditional, Bond films on the big screen. The article makes pretty clear that the era of Bond as we've known it ended with NTTD.

 

Where’s James Bond gone?

As the hiatus between films reaches three years this month, there is still said to be no script, no director and no actor to succeed Daniel Craig

[Mr. Lovejoy 7,897]

45 minutes ago, Nick1Ø66 said:

The article makes pretty clear that the era of Bond as we've known it ended with NTTD.

 

Thank God the article cleared that up.

[Yavar Moradi 3,462]

1 hour ago, Nick1Ø66 said:

including faithful adaptations of the Fleming novels (on Amazon)

Whoa… does this mean proper 1950s period adaptations of the novels? Sign me up for that, if true.

 

Yavar

[Tom Guernsey 3,101]

9 minutes ago, Yavar Moradi said:

Whoa… does this mean proper 1950s period adaptations of the novels? Sign me up for that, if true.

 

Yavar

I’d be up for that too. Bond just doesn’t really work in the modern era. The world is too messy, the possibilities for gadgets too preposterous and the sensibilities aren’t compatible any more. A 50s/60s Bond setting just makes more sense. 

[Nick1Ø66 6,640]

19 hours ago, John Dutton said:

Thank God the article cleared that up.

 

Well, yeah. But what I think more they're saying is that the pattern since Connery...i.e. a new Bond film every few years, with a new actor taking on the role periodically. From the sounds of it, they're looking at it from a long term, strategic perspective, encompassing different shows, movies, etc. Not saying I like the idea, but that's the way of media franchises now.

 

Quote

 

The best way to understand the delay is to compare Amazon’s purchase to Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm and the rights to Star Wars. “When Disney bought Lucasfilm there wasn’t a film for three years. Tonnes of work is being done, it’s just not sexy things like scripts.”

 

Although Amazon has inherited a messier system of rights, it will be hoping to exploit them by funding a set of feature films to be released every two years alongside spin-offs such as the reality TV show 007: Road to a Million and possibly faithful adaptations of Ian Fleming’s novels.

 

“The Bond franchise is like a plot of land and Amazon are building the utilities...Casting is like hanging the curtains.”

 

“When Barbara Broccoli says they have no script, I think that’s technically true. They’ve got a concept and a plan to reinvent the franchise. They’re not going to make a one-off film and see how it does at the cinema like they did in the past.”

 

 

19 hours ago, Yavar Moradi said:

Whoa… does this mean proper 1950s period adaptations of the novels? Sign me up for that, if true.

 

Agreed, I'd love to see this. My only concern would be, how "faithful" would Amazon be to the original books, given some of, let's say, Bond's habits and proclivities, along with certain social attitudes prevalent in the 1960's, that might not fly (in Amazon's view) with modern audiences. 

 

In other words, they'd have to delete everything that made 007, who would certainly be cancelled today, popular in the first place. 

[Naïve Old Fart 11,390]

The JBU.

Angels and ministers of grace defend us.

[Mr. Lovejoy 7,897]

Sounds fucken stupid to me

[Edmilson 10,218]

10 minutes ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

The JBU.

Angels and ministers of grace defend us.

Which for now on will be referred to on the internet as "The Jay-Boo" 

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,632]

These movies should be made for people like me anyway.

[Mr. Lovejoy 7,897]

They made an Amazon game show for you 

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,632]

I might as well just watch that.

[Naïve Old Fart 11,390]

5 hours ago, Unlucky Bastard said:

These movies should be made for people like me anyway.

 

Drax, there is no-one like you 

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,632]

No two either.

[Edmilson 10,218]

3 hours ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

 

Drax, there is no-one like you 

I think Drax is the only JWFan that you can't say that of... Not when Justin exists 

[Tom Guernsey 3,101]

The other perk of a 60s Bond setting is that they might re-embrace the era musically. I mostly enjoy the Thomas Newman scores (but honestly can’t remember a thing about them) and didn’t hate NTTD but getting in someone competent who could go full retro with the music would be marvellous. Maybe that young David Arnold fella. I hear he’s good. 

[Nick1Ø66 6,640]

12 hours ago, Unlucky Bastard said:

These movies should be made for people like me anyway.

 

Sadly, nothing is made for people like you any more.

 

 

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,632]

Just now, Nick1Ø66 said:

 

Sadly, nothing is made for people like you any more.

 

 

 

Except Yellowstone.

[Nick1Ø66 6,640]

 

6 minutes ago, Unlucky Bastard said:

 

Except Yellowstone.

 

Funny, I never took you as a soap opera lover!

[Mr. Lovejoy 7,897]

It's not a soap opera, it's a modern American western about a family protecting their ranch from various land grab attempts and dumping their enemies off a cliff on a highway in an unincorporated area. This is serious stuff.

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,632]

Nick doesn't understand it.

[Nick1Ø66 6,640]

I really wanted to like it, and did watch the first season. I did appreciate the themes, the pretty cinematography and Costner's larger than life (operatic?) performance. It was entertaining enough, but yeah, I thought it played like a western soap opera, and I just wasn't in a mood for season after season of that kind of plotty melodrama. I think the last thing I saw was some guy trying to bury a body and his sister filming it to blackmail him, and I was like, yeah, I'm out.

 

I was expecting something more like Hell or High Water.  I mean, even Costner called it a soap opera.

 

22 minutes ago, Unlucky Bastard said:

Nick doesn't understand it.

 

I am a slow learner.

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,632]

I was a regular viewer of The Bold and the Beautiful between 2006 to 2023.

[Naïve Old Fart 11,390]

4 hours ago, Unlucky Bastard said:

I was a regular viewer of The Bold and the Beautiful between 2006 to 2023.

 

Ooh. Was Susan Flannery in that one? In the '70s, I fancied her something rotten 

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,632]

6 hours ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

 

Ooh. Was Susan Flannery in that one? In the '70s, I fancied her something rotten 

 

She'd aged like milk by the time she started on the Bold in '87, and it was downhill from there.

[Stark 655]

Am inexperienced when it comes to Bond music… are any of the earlier expansions (by EMI, I believe) definitive?