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Here we go again: MGM Looking to Sell Entire Film Library and Studio


Jay

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2 hours ago, Chen G. said:

I don't like soap operas so much that I should sit through one for 3.6 hours

You'd hate to live in Brazil. Here broadcast TV airs soap operas (or, as we call them, "novelas") every day from Monday to Saturday during primetime. On our biggest TV channel there is a  teen soap opera at 5.30 pm, then another one at 6.30pm, then local news, then yet another soap opera at 7.30pm, then national news and finally the soap opera with the biggest ratings at 9.30pm.

 

15 minutes ago, Matt C said:

the mega merger could've been Disney buying Warner Bros. instead of 20th Century Fox.

Some cool crossovers could've happened: Justice League vs the Avengers, Harry Potter in Star Wars, etc.

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4 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

Some cool crossovers could've happened: Justice League vs the Avengers, Harry Potter in Star Wars, etc.

 

The novelty of such crossovers becoming reality would wear off quickly. Plus JKR would nix any Wizarding World/Star Wars crossover films.

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1 hour ago, Matt C said:

 

Had Jeff Bewkes annulled the AT&T/Warner deal, the mega merger could've been Disney buying Warner Bros. instead of 20th Century Fox.

 

Of course. Wonder how long it'll be until WB is bought by someone and Sony and Paramount are bought out as well.

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2 hours ago, Edmilson said:

Disney vs JK Rowling: that would've been an interesting fight.


They had a spat over the theme park rights. Disney originally signed a letter of intent in 2004 but didn’t want to spend the kind of money JKR and WB wanted for the park. Then Universal swooped in, offered up carte blanche and profited handsomely.

 

Say what you want about JKR, but she is one savvy and astute businesswoman.

2 hours ago, TSMefford said:

 

Of course. Wonder how long it'll be until WB is bought by someone and Sony and Paramount are bought out as well.


AT&T is spinning off WarnerMedia and merging it with Discovery.

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4 minutes ago, Matt C said:


They had a spat over the theme park rights. Disney originally signed a letter of intent in 2004 but didn’t want to spend the kind of money JKR and WB wanted for the park. Then Universal swooped in, offered up carte blanche and profited handsomely.

 

Say what you want about JKR, but she is one savvy and astute businesswoman.


AT&T is spinning off WarnerMedia and merging it with Discovery.

 

Yeah I heard about that. Werid.

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At first glance it looks like the dust-up with Rowling and losing the HP attraction would be a rare missed opportunity for Disney to be associated with yet another cultural phenomenon.

 

But Rowling's alleged "transphobic" comments would have put very woke Disney in a tough spot, and it's not as if they could fire her like Gina Carano. It also would have likely led to threats to boycott Disneyland, etc. Meanwhile, Rowling would almost certainly been unhappy with a major corporate partner who didn't have her back.

 

Probably worked out best for both parties in the end.

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19 hours ago, Yavar Moradi said:

(amazing that it hasn't been "canceled" yet, like Disney's Song of the South which frankly isn't even quite as bad as Gone With the Wind IMO

 

4 hours ago, Nick1066 said:

But Rowling's alleged "transphobic" comments would have put very woke Disney in a tough spot

 

Cancel culture and related talk is not allowed under the new rules.  Thanks for understanding.

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20 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

I love The Wizard of Oz, and couldn't possibly care less that it's not faithful to the tone of the novel.  Gone With the Wind is pretty good too!  These are both landmarks for film music as well.


I really need to see GWTW again, I don’t think I’ve seen it since I was 16. The only thing I remember clearly (other than the famous line) was that shot of Scarlet (and the score) right before intermission.

 

And when I did see it, it was at home, I’d really like to see it on the big screen.

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36 minutes ago, Jay said:

That's not true at all.

 

In 1986 Ted Turner bought MGM.  He later sold it off, but kept their entire pre-1986 library for himself under "Turner Entertainment".  He later sold Turner Entertainment to Time Warner in 1996.

 

So all pre-1986 MGM films have been controller by Warners since 1996

 

It's only 1986-presnt MGM films that Amazon just bought (along with the brand)

In that case, be afraid, be slightly afraid.

 

 

 

33 minutes ago, Nick1066 said:


I really need to see GWTW again, I don’t think I’ve seen it since I was 16. The only thing I remember clearly (other than the famous line) was that shot of Scarlet (and the score) right before intermission.

 

And when I did see it, it was at home, I’d really like to see it on the big screen.

It's an epic, in every sense of the word.

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‘Skyfall’ Writer Worries Amazon Will Destroy 007 Franchise After MGM Buy: ‘Bond Is Not Content’

 

Quote

John Logan, a three-time Oscar-nominated screenwriter whose credits include the Daniel Craig-starring James Bond tentpoles “Skyfall” and “Spectre,” penned an essay for The New York Times expressing concern for the future of the 007 franchise in the wake of Amazon’s purchasing of MGM. As Logan writes, “With the acquisition of MGM and its movie catalogue, the online retail giant bought into the James Bond franchise. When I heard this news, a chill went through me…Bond isn’t just another franchise, not a Marvel or a DC; it is a family business that has been carefully nurtured and shepherded through the changing times by the Broccoli/Wilson family.”

 

While Amazon now has a stake in Bond, Eon Productions chiefs Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are keeping their “ironclad assurances of continued artistic control,” Logan writes. What this means is that Eon still calls the shots when it comes to who becomes the next James Bond, when a new 007 gets released, and how a new 007 movie gets released (Eon has already come out with a statement saying Bond is for theaters, not streaming). However, Logan can’t help but wonder and worry if this will always be the case.

 

“What happens if a bruising corporation like Amazon begins to demand a voice in the process?” Logan asks. “What happens to the comradeship and quality control if there’s an Amazonian overlord with analytics parsing every decision? What happens when focus groups report they don’t like Bond drinking martinis? Or killing quite so many people? And that English accent’s a bit alienating, so could we have more Americans in the story for marketability?”

 

Logan later writes that Amazon is “not necessarily a champion or guardian of artistic creativity or original entertainment. In the context of the larger company, Amazon Prime Video is not chiefly about artists. It’s about attracting and retaining customers. And when bigger companies start having a say in iconic characters or franchises, the companies tend to want more, not better, and the quality differential can vary wildly, project to project. (See: the rapidly expanding ‘Star Wars’ franchise at Disney and the DC Comics franchises of Superman, Batman and others at Warner Bros.)”

 

“Bond’s not ‘content,’ and he’s not a mere commodity,” Logan concludes. “He has been a part of our lives for decades now. From Sean Connery to George Lazenby to Roger Moore to Timothy Dalton to Pierce Brosnan to Daniel Craig, we all grew up with our version of 007, so we care deeply about him. Please let 007 drink his martinis in peace. Don’t shake him, don’t stir him.”

 

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4 minutes ago, Nick1066 said:

What do you mean?


It’s kinda funny to worry about Bond following in the path of the “rapidly expanding ‘Star Wars’ franchise at Disney” when Bond had had so many entries.

 

I do agree however in that Bond does not lend itself to spinoff movies (just think, a Young M spinoff!) and TV offshoots.

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You mean continuity in terms of the changing the faces of the characters, or in terms of having story threads continuing from film to film?

 

Because the latter is something Bond had dabbled into since Quantum of Solace, as did some of the early Connerys. It’s certainly not Bond’s strong suit, though.

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I only really see a loose continuity in 007 within each Bond's films. Even then, it's just not worth thinking about, that's not what Bond's about. But I don't think it would impact a TV series one way or the other.

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Yeah Bond has dabbled in continuity in the past and it's always dumb.  Like, my favorite Bond film is FYEO, and while that one begins with the laying of the flowers on his wife's grave, I only really like that because it's a good excuse for there to be a priest to do the sign of the cross as the helicopter takes off, which always makes me chuckle.

 

Bond should always pretend like each movie is its own universe.

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Spy Who Loved Me is my #3, behind FYEO and Tomorrow Never Dies.  I make no attempt to defend my wackadoo Bond opinions.  Connery is behind Moore, Dalton, and Brosnan for me, and Craig has never been a good Bond (though he was in a couple of decent Bond movies).

 

1. FYEO

2. TND

3. TSWLM

4. The Living Daylights

5. Goldeneye

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FYEO is excellent. I put it #2 among the Moore films, and certainly in the Top 10 overall.

 

Bottom three Bond films:

 

22. Quantum of Solace

23. Die Another Day

24. Licence to Kill

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Bond film rankings are kind of fun because they're so wildly divergent among fans, more so than just about any other franchise. Unlike Star Wars for example there's really not even widespread agreement on what the very best films are. I think of a lot of it has to do with what you grew up with. There's no Bond quite like your first Bond.

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2 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

Bond should always pretend like each movie is its own universe.

 

Agreed.

 

1 hour ago, Holko said:

What a strange way to spell Goldfinger!

 

Goldfinger is the quintessential Bond film (i.e. Bond at his Bond-iest), not the best Bond film: there's a difference.

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Americans and their Austin Powers.

2 hours ago, Chen G. said:

 

Goldfinger is the quintessential Bond film (i.e. Bond at his Bond-iest), not the best Bond film: there's a difference.

 

OK, so what's the best Bond film?

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25 minutes ago, Nick1066 said:

OK, so what's the best Bond film?

 

For me ,its a toss-up between Casino Royale and Skyfall...

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1 minute ago, Chen G. said:

 

For me ,its a toss-up between Casino Royale and Skyfall...

 

Those are two great films, and respectable choices. While there are several Bond films I'd put above those, if I were to choose a film for someone new to Bond, I'd probably recommend they watch Casino Royale.

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15 hours ago, Chen G. said:

 

For me ,its a toss-up between Casino Royale and Skyfall...

 

Yep, sums it up for me too. Top-shelf filmmaking from both directors.

 

Movies that stand apart from the franchise they belong and are simply excellent films in their own right. Very similar to Cuaron's Prisoner of Azkaban in that respect.

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Ooh, Bond movie lists.

 

Here's mine:

 

1. On Her Majesty's Secret Service

2. Casino Royale

3. Goldfinger

4. License To Kill

5. The Living Daylights

6. From Russia With Love

7. Skyfall

8. Goldeneye
9. Thunderball

10. The Spy Who Loved Me

 

10 is really a toss up between TSWLM and FYEO, but then TSWLM wins because it doesn't have Bibi Dahl in it.

 

Looking at my list, it seems I like the Bond films which I feel best represent the books whether that be in how well they were adapted for screen or just in spirit.

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The first time I saw it.

 

8 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

Mediocre but endearing Bonds are better

 

There's something to be said for this.

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I guess I'm alone in thinking Skyfall is not very good and that while Craig is great and all the action scenes and general look feel pace and tone of all his movies are good, Casino Royale is the only one that has a good enough script to actually elevate above the sum of its parts to be a good movie

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1 hour ago, Jay said:

I guess I'm alone in thinking Skyfall is not very good and that while Craig is great and all the action scenes and general look feel pace and tone of all his movies are good, Casino Royale is the only one that has a good enough script to actually elevate above the sum of its parts to be a good movie

 

To a certain extent Skyfall is definitely style over substance, and I agree Casino Royale has more meat to it. And for my taste Skyfall delved a little more into Bond's past, and psyche, than I really think we need (something common for the Craig Bond). And of course it has big enough plot holes to drive a London Tube Train through.

 

That said, I still think Skyfall is pretty widely regarded as a "great" Bond film, and I agree with that sentiment. It hit all quadrants...critical and audience acclaim, huge box office and regularly ranks high among Bond fans (in most of the rankings I've seen at least).

 

And if I recall, Steef loved it. Didn't he say he saw it like a dozen times or something like that? What more do you need!

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1 hour ago, Jay said:

I guess I'm alone in thinking Skyfall is not very good

You're not alone.  It's just too much, too obviously trying to be a great film.

The five best Bonds are, chronologically,

 

From Russia With Love

Thunderball (or Goldfinger, I can't decide)

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

The Spy Who Loved Me

GoldenEye

 

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