The things we want to return to the Bond movies.

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  • JeffreyJeffrey The Netherlands
    Posts: 308
    AVTAK features quite a bit of classical music. I always enjoy the party at Chantilly with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. I also don’t mind classical music being used again in the future. :)
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,138
    RC7 wrote:
    I got into Bond pre-Brosnan, so for me part of the appeal was the amazing array of cars over the years, from the icon that was the DB5, to the ludicrously brilliant 2CV, and everything in between. If there’s one thing I’ve really missed over the last 20 years it’s those idiosyncratic choices of vehicle that really add a distinct flavour.

    If I could choose to leave the DB5 in 1965, I would. But we are where we are. I reckon this chase could be a cracker, but my preference going forward would be to really mix it up.

    Following on from a post by @RC7 in the NTTD filming thread, minor spoilers. I too would enjoy seeing Bond behind the wheel of a 2CV, Renault 11 taxi, Alfa Romeo GTV6.
    All of which were used effectively in a chase sequence. Instead of Bond having a gadget laden car to get him out of trouble.
    Yes, he's been seen driving a Volvo S40, or a Range Rover and a Ford Mondeo amongst others, but these were merely fillers. They serve no function other than getting Bond from A to B.
    I'm talking about putting Bond in a Ford Transit van for example and using it in an action sequence. Something underpowered or out of the norm, to show off Bond's driving expertise. As much as we all (mostly) love the Aston Martin, it's fun to see Bond driving a 'normal' car recklessly from time to time.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,138
    "I'm feeling Italian and musical. Let's go to the Blue Mountain grill."

    "Breakfast for one at nine please. Green figs, yoghurt, coffee very black."

    "That gun, seems more fitting for a woman."
    "Do you know much about guns Mr.Bond?"
    "No. I know a little about women."

    "Isn't Le Bleu a little heady for that?"
    "So you know your perfumes. What else do you know?
    "A little about women."


    Those instances when Bond shows off his know it all side. Along with adding a little personality to the character. Such as feeling Italian and musical. Those minor nuances that add something to the overall effect.
    From the Brosnan era onwards such lines seem to have become non existent.
    I love it when Bond comments on a drink, food, or what have you as being inferior or low grade. Or shows off his knowledge for the finer things in life. Aside from being Britain's finest secret agent, Bond has always been something of a snob.
  • Max_The_ParrotMax_The_Parrot ATAC to St Cyril’s
    Posts: 2,426
    Benny wrote: »
    I love it when Bond comments on a drink, food, or what have you as being inferior or low grade. Or shows off his knowledge for the finer things in life.

    ”May I suggest a white wine from my home place?”
    ”If you'll forgive me, that's a little too scented for my palate. I prefer the Theotaki Aspro.”


    Agree, they always raise a smile. I love reading Roger’s Bond on Bond book for all the little instances where he drops his favourite wines, hotels or suits into the conversation, no doubt with a quiver of an eyebrow.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,183
    Excellent point. I think Bond ought to return to being a hard snob. In these times, when people comment on everything you're having unless it's macrobiotic, in a re-usable bottle, low in carbs, preferably veggie and home-grown, it would be great to have Bond accept nothing but the best of the best: the best caviar, best champagne and wine, buttered toast and so on.

    One of the last times we saw that was in QOS. Bond walks into the cheap hotel Fields had fixed, looks around, says "forget it", leaves and picks a five star establishment. Always makes me laugh.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited November 2019 Posts: 5,970
    I want to see the return of proper femme-fatales/henchwomen. I personally see those characters as staples of the franchise. Characters like Fiona Volpe, Helga Brandt, and obviously Xenia Onatopp...

    ...yet the closest we got to one in the Craig-era was Valenka in Casino Royale, but her character wasn't portrayed in the classic way. I want a femme-fatale whose a villain from start to finish, and doesn't become a sacrificial lamb or has a last minute change of heart. I always think of Fiona's little speech in Thunderball, which I'll always come back to...

    "But of course, I forgot your ego, Mr. Bond. James Bond, the one where he has to make love to a woman, and she starts to hear heavenly choirs singing. She repents, and turns to the side of right and virtue... but not this one."

    Such a strong moment. I love it :)


  • Posts: 17,756
    Oh, how I love that scene from TB! I just dig that Fiona Volpe straightens Bond's tie while finishing that brilliant speech of hers.

    And I agree @Denbigh, it's time we get a proper femme-fatale/henchwoman again. That and the snobbish traits of Bond is something this series currently lacks.
  • ThunderballThunderball playing Chemin de Fer in a casino, downing Vespers
    Posts: 814
    I love the Craig era and don't have any big complaints, but I would like to see a return of the villains taking out or capturing a military vehicle or spacecraft or whatever a la YOLT, MR, FYEO and in a different wa, TB. Something like that hasn't been in a Bond movie since FYEO.
    I also miss Bond checking out his hotel room for bugs, as in DN, FRWL, TB, OHMSS, LALD, etc.
  • I agree @Denbigh , Fiona as a character was such a nice subversion of the typical Bond girl.
  • ProfJoeButcherProfJoeButcher Bless your heart
    Posts: 1,711
    I like Fiona, but that little speech annoys me. It's just the screenwriter talking to the audience. Unless of course Fiona has the Blu-ray collection or something.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited November 2019 Posts: 5,970
    I like Fiona, but that little speech annoys me. It's just the screenwriter talking to the audience. Unless of course Fiona has the Blu-ray collection or something.
    I think that was intentional. Even after only three films, I think the franchise was already receiving backlash for its treatment of female characters, if I remember rightly, so decided to address the issue with Fiona.
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,433
    I had read that the critics were mentioning that Bond only had to sleep with Pussy Galore and that she switched to a good girl. In TB they addressed it with Fiona and the fact that she wouldn't turn. I don't think it's a stretch for her to have the info. If you look at FRWL you'd see that SPECTRE already knew that Bond had a weakness for the ladies. SPECTRE probably had a great deal of intel on Bond. Now they may not have known much about the GF mission but they knew of his fondness for women.

    Who knows it could also be McClory talking to the audience and giving EON a middle finger salute.

    I for one love the whole sequence of Bond and Fiona in the movie. From when she picks him up in the car, to when he finds her in his bath tub. They have some great chemistry and deliver some terrific dialogue. "Aren't you in the wrong room Mr. Bond?" "Not from where I am standing." :)
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,188
    I do hope we get a return of a good ski sequence for Bond. In fact, with how cameras have evolved over the years, you can get some pretty dynamic shots now with these camera drones. Just imagine if the OHMSS crew had gotten their hands on these bad boys!


  • I guess this has been mentioned by others, but I would really like to see the return of a diverse world of espionage. If the CIA and Felix Leiter appeared two, and soon three, times in the Craig era, I find the latter lacks representatives of foreign secret services. Beyond a few local contacts, the last movies give the impression that MI6 and, to a lesser extent, the CIA, are the only intelligence services.

    Without going so far as to ask that Bond 26 come up with a story inspired by what could be found in Gardner's novels, which I would not be against either, with Bond being part of an international team composed of foreign agents, it will be good that the next installments populate this universe of operatives from other services.
  • Posts: 7,507
    The only thing I have been missing from the Craig era is sophistication. I want Bond to be a food and wine connoisseur with endless depths of knowledge again.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,188
    True we haven’t really gotten that aspect since Roger Moore. Maybe a bit of snobbery every now and then like Craig walking in and out of a cheap hotel or Dalton revising the gift basket for Koskov on the government’s dime.
  • RoadphillRoadphill United Kingdom
    Posts: 984
    A good dose of snobbery is needed.
    Also, would kind of like to see a 'Bond leads the troops' style finale again. Like in YOLT or TSWLM..
  • Posts: 7,507
    I don't think snobbery is the right word. The term snobbery has more to do with money expenditure and wanting to showcase an expensive life style. I want Bond to have a reffined knowledge and sophistication. He should be more of an intellectual.
  • GadgetManGadgetMan Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 4,247
    Mission briefings, Complex Plots, Megalomaniac/Unique villains, Colourful Henchmen, Enigmatic femme fatales, Gadgets, Grounded and Tech-Action scenes, Consistent lush scores, Intricate Villian lairs and Romantic final scenes.
  • Posts: 4,617
    I wonder if the DC Bond has been a victim of a general "dumbing down" of culture where having knowledge and expertise in any specific field is regarded as either sobbery or being a geek. DC Bond has had an earthy, realistic quality but, with that, they have lost his love of the finer things in life . I agree with many comments that the writers have missed this area of his charater and it's a great shame. Would DC Bond recognise a "Nymphalis polychloris?" I'm sure the RM Bond would.
  • ThunderballThunderball playing Chemin de Fer in a casino, downing Vespers
    Posts: 814
    As the Bond film series has gone on, it's almost always reflected society in some fashion. And society in general has seemingly gotten more casual, less preoccupied with finery than previously.
    Anyway, it never bothered me that much. I'm more concerned with having a great film than making sure each Bond ticks all the usual boxed that others before have.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,807
    Theaters.
  • goldenswissroyalegoldenswissroyale Switzerland
    Posts: 4,483
    GadgetMan wrote: »
    Mission briefings, Complex Plots, Megalomaniac/Unique villains, Colourful Henchmen, Enigmatic femme fatales, Gadgets, Grounded and Tech-Action scenes, Consistent lush scores, Intricate Villian lairs and Romantic final scenes.

    Sounds good! Especially colourful (and therefore memorable) henchmen.
    jobo wrote: »
    The only thing I have been missing from the Craig era is sophistication. I want Bond to be a food and wine connoisseur with endless depths of knowledge again.

    Yes,please!
    Theaters.

    Haha, indeed. Oh this bloody virus...
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,188
    patb wrote: »
    I wonder if the DC Bond has been a victim of a general "dumbing down" of culture where having knowledge and expertise in any specific field is regarded as either sobbery or being a geek. DC Bond has had an earthy, realistic quality but, with that, they have lost his love of the finer things in life . I agree with many comments that the writers have missed this area of his charater and it's a great shame. Would DC Bond recognise a "Nymphalis polychloris?" I'm sure the RM Bond would.

    I think bits like Bond being able to recognize a specific breed of moth was rather over the top when it comes to showing off Bond's knowledge. Fleming's Bond was knowledgeable, but I can't imagine him having the interest or patience to learn something like lepidopterology. Knowing his cars, wine, and food? Absolutely. We saw Craig able to show that off such knowledge by being able to recognize the make and year production of a Rolls Royce approaching from a long distance.
  • patb wrote: »
    I wonder if the DC Bond has been a victim of a general "dumbing down" of culture where having knowledge and expertise in any specific field is regarded as either sobbery or being a geek. DC Bond has had an earthy, realistic quality but, with that, they have lost his love of the finer things in life . I agree with many comments that the writers have missed this area of his charater and it's a great shame. Would DC Bond recognise a "Nymphalis polychloris?" I'm sure the RM Bond would.

    I think bits like Bond being able to recognize a specific breed of moth was rather over the top when it comes to showing off Bond's knowledge. Fleming's Bond was knowledgeable, but I can't imagine him having the interest or patience to learn something like lepidopterology. Knowing his cars, wine, and food? Absolutely. We saw Craig able to show that off such knowledge by being able to recognize the make and year production of a Rolls Royce approaching from a long distance.

    I agree, I think it has to be the sort of expertise which makes sense with Bond’s character.

    So it’s understandable if he knows a lot about cars, or guns, or sherry, or champagne, or gambling.

    Where I don’t think it works (and I’m looking at you, Moonraker) is knowledge about things like rare orchids.
  • edited September 2020 Posts: 3,327
    I want to see the following return to Bond films -

    1) Unused Fleming scenes or entire novels adapted (to fit modern times, obviously). I don't care if its several scenes taken from various novels and woven into a new script, 80's Maibaum style, or a full length novel adapted.

    2) Bond traditions firmly back in place - gunbarrel, briefing with M in his office, flirt with Moneypenny, pop down to see Q, and then that's the last we see of them for another movie. No more ridiculous Scooby gang in on the action.

    3) Unused Fleming scenes or novels adapted.

    4) Bond getting bloodied, bruised, torn, injured and battered, LTK/CR/QOS style.

    5) Unused Fleming scenes or novels adapted.

    6) Decent upbeat songs again (AVTAK, TLD, LALD, CR), instead of depressing dreary crap, composed by the person who is also doing the soundtrack, which leads me to....

    7) David Arnold. He's the only person who gets John Barry and Bond.

    8) Unused Fleming scenes or novels adapted.

    9) No more personal angst crap for Bond. He's just a spy on a mission to get a bad guy.

    10) Did I mention unused Fleming scenes to be adapted...?

  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    Posts: 5,970
    Proper femme-fatales.

    vlcsnap-2014-05-12-12h50m42s144_DAP_Glamour-e1496025223790.jpg?fit=2048%2C865&ssl=1
    latest?cb=20170101163918
  • Posts: 12,473
    Denbigh wrote: »
    Proper femme-fatales.

    vlcsnap-2014-05-12-12h50m42s144_DAP_Glamour-e1496025223790.jpg?fit=2048%2C865&ssl=1
    latest?cb=20170101163918

    Yes. Or even a main female villain or two, like Elektra.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,188
    patb wrote: »
    I wonder if the DC Bond has been a victim of a general "dumbing down" of culture where having knowledge and expertise in any specific field is regarded as either sobbery or being a geek. DC Bond has had an earthy, realistic quality but, with that, they have lost his love of the finer things in life . I agree with many comments that the writers have missed this area of his charater and it's a great shame. Would DC Bond recognise a "Nymphalis polychloris?" I'm sure the RM Bond would.

    I think bits like Bond being able to recognize a specific breed of moth was rather over the top when it comes to showing off Bond's knowledge. Fleming's Bond was knowledgeable, but I can't imagine him having the interest or patience to learn something like lepidopterology. Knowing his cars, wine, and food? Absolutely. We saw Craig able to show that off such knowledge by being able to recognize the make and year production of a Rolls Royce approaching from a long distance.

    I agree, I think it has to be the sort of expertise which makes sense with Bond’s character.

    So it’s understandable if he knows a lot about cars, or guns, or sherry, or champagne, or gambling.

    Where I don’t think it works (and I’m looking at you, Moonraker) is knowledge about things like rare orchids.

    I do like the bit in MR because it plays off as a joke with Q’s facial expression showing annoyance. MR is mostly a joke anyway so I can let that one pass whereas I wouldn’t for others.
  • edited September 2020 Posts: 9,847
    I want to see the following return to Bond films -

    1) Unused Fleming scenes or entire novels adapted (to fit modern times, obviously). I don't care if its several scenes taken from various novels and woven into a new script, 80's Maibaum style, or a full length novel adapted.

    2) Bond traditions firmly back in place - gunbarrel, briefing with M in his office, flirt with Moneypenny, pop down to see Q, and then that's the last we see of them for another movie. No more ridiculous Scooby gang in on the action.

    3) Unused Fleming scenes or novels adapted.

    4) Bond getting bloodied, bruised, torn, injured and battered, LTK/CR/QOS style.

    5) Unused Fleming scenes or novels adapted.

    6) Decent upbeat songs again (AVTAK, TLD, LALD, CR), instead of depressing dreary crap, composed by the person who is also doing the soundtrack, which leads me to....

    7) David Arnold. He's the only person who gets John Barry and Bond.

    8) Unused Fleming scenes or novels adapted.

    9) No more personal angst crap for Bond. He's just a spy on a mission to get a bad guy.

    10) Did I mention unused Fleming scenes to be adapted...?

    THANK you Jet are you and i brothers or have some sort of mental connection cause this is my list

    the only thing missing is a tie in novel and ti in video game but beyond that.
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