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I do feel for the producers. They have to keep things fresh while also still maintaining that Bond formula/deference to the novels. MR’s a tricky book to adapt faithfully today in that sense.
Casino Royale had less.
Exactly. And look how much work went into making it work for the screen. The first half of that film is original and has essentially nothing to do with the book. When we do get to adapting the novel much is changed in order to make it more visual (the sinking house sequence replacing Vesper’s ‘off page’ death is a big example). Only a chunk of that film is technically speaking the book.
I mean, it’s also worth saying that even with this in mind, CR is a very unique Bond novel, and in 2006 seeing things like Vesper’s death, Bond getting tortured/winding up in hospital etc. felt very fresh. Most of MR’s similar mould breaking draws - Bond and the girl parting ways at the end being an example - are things that have already been seen in the Craig era. I don’t think a MR adaptation would have the same impact in this way. It wouldn’t feel as fresh.
I mean, if they want to adapt chunks of the novel - M inviting Bond to thwart a cheat at Blades, Bond investigating that man etc. then that’s fine, but it’s going to be in the context of a much grander story and won’t be quite the faithful adaptation I think people expect.
I guess that's the problem really: wanting a supposedly 'faithful' adaptation of any of these just isn't really going to cut it anymore because Bond has outgrown the novels- 007 is something different to most people now and they expect a bit more.
Yeah that's my overall feeling about it too: it doesn't really have the freshness of when it came out now- we've seen too many villains like Drax and with plans which are very similar. Sure, a lot of those got ripped off from MR directly (Horowitz's own Stormbreaker is a case in point) but that just means that a baddie with a rocket is perhaps not the most gripping concept. Creasy points out some great stuff in there, but maybe it's best to cherry pick those.
Yes, CR is a very unconventional Bond story, and I do wonder if they even would have adapted it earlier if they could have; it also has the advantage of a totally bonkers central premise of Bond gambling a man to death, which pretty much holds up through any adaptation and feels startling fresh. Moonraker was fresh at the time, but it's pretty much the template for most Bond stories which came after, and that's more of a problem. A seemingly benevolent wealthy industrialist who turns out to secretly be a diabolical mastermind with a superweapon plotting the downfall of England: well we've that've done that story countless times. And it's been done with a spin each time to make it fresh; MR didn't need that spin as it was the first, but compared to what came later it feels a little anaemic.
Anyway, James Bond in the 50's is fresh enough.
Casino Royale also added/updated elements for its film adaptation, whereas I think some people want to literally see the book on screen word for word, page for page.
All movies have more girls, more action... nothing new here.
I don't see a lot in, say, DAF, that there is left to adapt. The train. And Wint and Kidd kicking Bond. Same with LALD.
TMWTGG has a bit more left, and I expect they'll slot those scenes in when the time comes.
I think if Nolan is in charge it will be an original story. He is almost too much of a fan to adapt a full novel. He'll definitely take a few references from Fleming's books. With Blofeld, it would be shocking to me (in particular if he writes and directs more than one), if Nolan didn't use him as a villain in some way or another. Considering his love for OHMSS and TSWLM, which has a Blofeld-like villain. Thanks, Kevin McClory.
I keep saying that's one novel that should be adapted for Bond 26 or a Bond reboot in general. Anthony Horowitz could help write it, as long as it's set in modern day, ironically. Nolan hasn't really dealt with villains dealing drugs, aside to a minor degree in Batman Begins.
The continuation novel I'd like to see Nolan adapt is Carte Blanche. It's a Bond origin story. A doomsday machine is the villain('s) main goal. Doomsday machines are a recurring theme in Nolan movies. Lastly, it has an ensemble cast. That could have bigger roles in sequels. Nolan always has a great cast of ensemble greats. I'd like to see Mary Goodnight get a cinematic redemption. Felix Leiter can get a true action scene for the first time since LTK. It's time for another female villain, in Felicity Willing. Lastly, I'd like to see Severan Hydt his curly beard and hair, and his long fingernails.
I'd support her as Q, also as Charmian Bond or May. Maybe even in the future as M.
I like it, it would need an original title though. Thanks Star Wars. Solo would make for an older Bond's later film(s). As long as we have the train set, I support your idea.
Sorry, folks, this is coming from someone who's not a fan of the film version.
And anyways, Fleming's dead long time ago, I think they could do it now.
Not saying the PTS has to take place in a Canadian motel, but the broad concept is interesting. TSWLM’s a weird novel for me anyway. It actually has a lot going for it, and Fleming does a broadly good job writing through a female character. The end is sort of bungled though. Fleming seems to be trying to hammer home the point that Bond is not a typical hero, that he’s a man involved in a dangerous profession and is one step away from some of the villains he faces. He shouldn’t be idolised and certainly Viv, a woman known for easily falling in love with men who toss her aside, shouldn’t fall for him. A policeman at the end even outright says this. One would expect her to realise this by the end and come to terms with it, but instead she sort of dismisses the policeman’s words that she has any such ‘scars’ and that she loves Bond. So in that way there’s room to do a lot with a Viv type character that the book didn’t quite do.
It's a lame title anyway.
Excellent points.
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I really don't like the flower-dying exchange that recurs and ends MR. It makes the "little finger" dialogue in CR look like Shakespeare by comparison.
I think they'd have to update it somehow, and as others have said, they already did the MR ending in QoS.
It would be nice (the low budget of Dr. No forbade it) but I'm sure that the vocal animal rights lobby would have a field day with that were it ever filmed! It'd be just another straw on the back of the overburdened James Bond donkey. That said, Dr No's whole assault course could be filmed as the film version didn't really feature anything from it at all - it was just hot water in a tunnel and nothing more premeditated or sinister.
I would be up for that, actually. It would at least be something quite fresh.
The assault course is pretty strong too, yes Dragonpol. I'd be quite happy to see a version of that in a film, that'd be good. Higson did a spin of that in one of his (Double or Die maybe?) and it did feel very Fleming.
He'd be good for David Dragonpol perhaps. :)
Probably for Bond they need someone in his 30s.
I could see him as a Charles Gray style Bond villain, very upper class and toffish and rather camp to boot.