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Anyway, I think the near-empty, almost dusty Bond flat of SP suits the character more.
May identify as Male or Female ? Just an idea.
Then what's the point in showing his life as described in Fleming if you don't want to deal with what Fleming was trying to say with it?
I think plenty of people have cleaners! :)
But live-in maids, yeah, not so much. I don't want her in it, she would add nothing at all to it, and actually just make him look like a big baby who can't even cook his own eggs. We could see Bond's accountant as well, how about his dry cleaner? But these are supposed to be action films. A scene of him chatting to his cleaner is destined for the cutting room floor.
Yeah, agreed. I tend to think the Craig Bond isn't quite Fleming's Bond, he's actually more interesting than that.
=))
of watching Bond sitting in the back of a ford transit van, listening in
on phone calls and peeing in an old milk bottle., as he fills in some
forms. :D ( This is a joke, for anyone who doesn't realise it )
Sounds like you've been watching old episodes of The Sweeney.... ;)
One of the many points where changes in British culture and class structure in the last 60-70 years hamper a straight adaptation of the novels in a modern setting.
I have turned various options around in my head in the last 15 minutes (a nice neighbour who cooks for him, because he never has fresh eggs, after a long assignment? An MI6 dorm, where all the 00s share a floor? Bond living in a hotel?) I have come to the conclusion that the only viable way forward is to turn the Bond series into a multi-cam sitcom about a 00-agent and the Corbynista post-grad student he has to share a flat with, because he is out of the country so often and she can't afford a flat on her own. Every episode begins with Bond walking through the door with his suit in tatters saying something like "That Doctor just wouldn't take No for an answer!" (Cue studio audience laughs). It's called "The Spy who sublet to me".
But seriously, folks, I think the producers actually WOULD be up for a change in tone because:
They want the films to succeed financially as well as critically
Craig's turn was suited and tailored to him, and it surely had been time for a change
The pendulum swings over time, creatively speaking
There's no need to re-do the Craig arc, or something along those lines
I know I've said I don't see Tom Hardy coming on, because it would be another arc of intense-guy stories, dialed up even more feverishly. Then again, in Venom everyone making the film, including Hardy, manage to hit a fun-and-frivolity-with-a-lunatic-hero vibe. Still, regardless of that -- and perhaps he'd not merely wish to hit that same note ? -- he's still too short.
As for the Frenchly-named Englishman from Bridgerton - Rege-Jean Page - he's terribly handsome and charming -- a la Roger Moore, but seems to lack the cruelty aspect (as did Moore). Oh, I'm sure he can grimace for a fight scene, but just compare him with Idris Elba for the difference. Elba is tall, solid, credible for cruelty and action of all kinds, but also handsome and charming. Yes, he's older, but he's holding up quite well, perhaps peaking, and would be superb. As for his age -- get those scripts done and done well, and film two in a row, then another after a break. A trilogy would do it, set either in the present day or Retro. Retro, by the way, need not be 50s/60s, it could be 70s or even 80s, though the disappointing WW84 may have ruined the 80s for a while.
I fully know that stuff like that would be horrible in an actual movie and in my lucid moments I know there shouldn't be spin-offs, but the idea that Fleming has three 00s share an office and a secretary they constantly hit on with the rest of HQ having a pool on who will finally get her is something I would love to see for 5 seasons with 24 episodes each...
Absolutely.
Craig's highs are all time high (hehe) I won't ever deny that. But Spectre signaled that the tropes are getting too familiar. Of course I'm anticipating NTTD highly but these elements seem to be still there. A figure from the past. Resentment/revenge. Betrayals, even if quote on quote. Luckily there are other elements I'm more interested in such as Nomi, Paloma, the return of Felix, the grand finale at Safin's lair, etc.
Breaking out of MI6, and making Bond's mission high stakes but not emotionally charged is the way to go IMO. That doesn't have to mean a cartoon. But the tone would be possibly different, sure.
I also would like entries where most of the action takes place in one location, making it really stand out in different ways, instead of having Bond globetrotting.
Same here. It seems to be a crime around here, though.
But I'm really not keen on the focus on Bond's backstory in the last two films. CR and QoS were just right but Skyfall and Spectre went a bit too far. I think it's better to hint at Bond's past- it can suggest much more in the viewer's imagination than showing it. Bond saying "I always hated this place" as he leaves Skyfall burning reminded me of Harry Potter.
The ageing Bond aspect I dislike too. Bond's feats are impressive enough without him needing to prove his "you're past it/irrelevent/unfit" in-film accusations otherwise, to impress the audience.
I also hate the self-aware, self-celebratory moments where they reference past films. The films need to stand alone AS those past films did. They're becoming adverts for the franchise and money-making machines. Bond opening the garage in Skyfall, to find the Aston sat there, gleaming and perfectly lit, while the Bond theme plays. Terrible. The white dinner jacket in Spectre with the red carnation in the buttonhole.
Here's a beautiful example of a subtle connection to a previous film which does work-
In Dr No- "Bond hands on the wheel Mr Jones, I'm a very nervous passenger!"
Thunderball- "I've always been a nervous passenger"
As for Mission Impossible, while enjoying Fallout at the cinema I did think "I wish Bond was this good"...
Bond does trump MI in other ways though..
Good post. Eon needs to have more confidence in their villain's story so that they don't have to rely upon the now-well-worn tropes of MI6.
I agree. Although I am looking forward to seeing its chase scene in NTTD. I think its ok for Bond to drive it but it doesn't need to be a focus of attention. He should just drive it as if it were normal. Seeing it in Cambridge in Tomorrow never dies works for example.
Excellent post.
Great post!
The cinema audience I saw it with seemed to love it, the woman next to me actually did a little excited clap. And it was the 50th anniversary film, reason enough for a little wink. The same car in Casino Royale was probably a bit more indulgent than it needed to be though.
I think that's less of a nod than just recycling a gag!
It seems odd to me that some folk see it like we have to act like we're football supporters and only support one team. Nor, as you say, is it any more an endorsement of scientology than enjoying the Connery Bond films are an endorsement of wife-beating.
One hopes so, @jake24!
That was exactly the comparitive that popped into my head too, @mtm!
And lots of other Bond fans seem to think there shouldn't be emotional stuff in the Bond films, so they'd think that was a good thing anyway.
But they're now the go to films for Big stunt work. Yet have also managed
as @mtm points out, to keep some emotional connection between the characters.
I'm no Tom Cruise fan, but I do respect the amount of work, time and effort he
puts in. To Give the fans what they want. As I have posted before Competition
is a good thing it should make everyone raise their game.
You're not the only one, believe me.