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Soap Opera Moments in the James Bond Films?

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  • SaintMarkSaintMark
    Posts: 7,653
    The whole Effing Mendes era is rather soapy but to be honest their plots are perhaps better written, I mean the average soap opera, Mendes movies are generally awfully plotted.
    For the next 007 movie, if Craig comes back he should shut up and act the script, Mendes should be banned to some remote uninhabited island, get a tight little thriller written and a workman director.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    The end scene in AVTAK.
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    Thunderfinger wrote: »
    The end scene in AVTAK.

    It was the equivalent of Ken Barlow and Michelle Keagan frolicking in the shower.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    Thunderfinger wrote: »
    The end scene in AVTAK.
    @Thunderfinger, that was only soap. No opera.

    I just remembered another cheese bag scene from LTK. Bouvier and Bond in the boat post-bar fight. Ugh.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    bondjames wrote: »
    Thunderfinger wrote: »
    The end scene in AVTAK.
    @Thunderfinger, that was only soap. No opera.

    I just remembered another cheese bag scene from LTK. Bouvier and Bond in the boat post-bar fight. Ugh.

    Yes, but it worked back in the 80's where soap was at its height of popularity.
    But in 2012 (SF) it does not work one bit.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    Scaramanga12 wrote: »
    HASEROT wrote: »
    Bond and Natalya on the beach in Cuba - pretty much the whole conversation drips of soap.

    I thought that was ok myself. A rare attempt (and it should stay so) to see inside Bond. Worked better than the terrible CR scene ('you've stripped me of my armour').
    As I said somewhere else recently, those are my 2 least favourite sudsy moments.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited February 2016 Posts: 23,883
    The beach scenes in CR & GE (Campbell seems to have a predilection for them) were a little cheesy no doubt, but Natalya & Vesper (and Scorupco & Green respectively) in both cases were quite tough (personality wise) outside of these uncharacteristic displays of emotion, so I was able to accept & forgive it more readily.

    The one who really grates me, and knocks the film down quite a few pegs as a result, is Kara (D'abo) in TLD. Nearly every scene with her is a soap fest. I've always felt that was a problem during Dalton's time. The female characters were surprisingly 'weak' imho, in relation to what had come before, and some of the scenes were a little cringeworthy. Moore's girls were generally far more modern (Soliataire, Goodnight and Stacy notwithstanding).
  • Scaramanga12Scaramanga12
    Posts: 562
    bondjames wrote: »
    The beach scenes in CR & GE (Campbell seems to have a predilection for them) were a little cheesy no doubt, but Natalya & Vesper (and Scorupco & Green respectively) in both cases were quite tough (personality wise) outside of these uncharacteristic displays of emotion, so I was able to accept & forgive it more readily.

    The one who really grates me, and knocks the film down quite a few pegs as a result, is Kara (D'abo) in TLD. Nearly every scene with her is a soap fest. I've always felt that was a problem during Dalton's time. The female characters were surprisingly 'weak' imho, in relation to what had come before, and some of the scenes were a little cringeworthy. Moore's girls were generally far more modern (Soliataire, Goodnight and Stacy notwithstanding).

    How are we defining 'soap' here?

    Is it just mawkish, sentimental etc?
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited February 2016 Posts: 23,883
    Scaramanga12 wrote: »
    bondjames wrote: »
    The beach scenes in CR & GE (Campbell seems to have a predilection for them) were a little cheesy no doubt, but Natalya & Vesper (and Scorupco & Green respectively) in both cases were quite tough (personality wise) outside of these uncharacteristic displays of emotion, so I was able to accept & forgive it more readily.

    The one who really grates me, and knocks the film down quite a few pegs as a result, is Kara (D'abo) in TLD. Nearly every scene with her is a soap fest. I've always felt that was a problem during Dalton's time. The female characters were surprisingly 'weak' imho, in relation to what had come before, and some of the scenes were a little cringeworthy. Moore's girls were generally far more modern (Soliataire, Goodnight and Stacy notwithstanding).

    How are we defining 'soap' here?

    Is it just mawkish, sentimental etc?
    For me, yes. Melodrama and emotions on sleeve. Lack of reserve or stiff upper lip. Ugh.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    edited February 2016 Posts: 15,423
    Brosnan's TWINE and Three out of four of Craig's films are full of soap operas.

    In fact, the soap opera element made its debut in the Bond films with Licence To Kill. Especially the character of Lupe Lamora. She behaves very much in the vein of what we'd see in soap operas and Mexican telenovellas. :))
  • Scaramanga12Scaramanga12
    Posts: 562
    Yes her acting (Lupe) takes me out of the film, it is truly awful. It's not just the oft quoted declaration of love. Definite contender for worst acting in the series, particularly from a main character.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    edited February 2016 Posts: 15,423
    I couldn't agree more. That said, even though not in the soap opera type, Lois Chiles wasn't the greatest actress the Bond franchise had either. But, she's an absolute beauty. A highlight from Miss Goodhead's lines, if I must pass forward, is the "Where's Drax?" bit in near end of the film. And another... "Hang on, James." Why yes, darling, I don't mind your sleepwalking, either! :))
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    Scaramanga12 wrote: »
    Yes her acting (Lupe) takes me out of the film, it is truly awful. It's not just the oft quoted declaration of love. Definite contender for worst acting in the series, particularly from a main character.
    As I've said before, Ms. Soto played 'airhead' to utter perfection there.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited February 2016 Posts: 23,883
    She was good to look at for sure. Gave the film some glamour.

    However, there was something terribly inexpressive about her performance. She moved her head a lot in lieu of actual acting - like Clooney in his early days.

    I have always wondered whether, even with the cringe worthy lines and delivery, if she had moved her facial muscles just a little more convincingly if it would have improved things immeasurably.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Then, there's the bit where Raoul Silva presses his own teeth against each other in anger pointing the gun at M. And then, the "Kill us both" line comes off melodramatically. Another soap opera element.

    But, Lupe Lamora will always be the winner of that throne.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    ClarkDevlin wrote: »
    Then, there's the bit where Raoul Silva presses his own teeth against each other in anger pointing the gun at M. And then, the "Kill us both" line comes off melodramatically. Another soap opera element.
    @ClarkDevlin I have to shamefully admit that I love that moment. Bardem at his best imho. So OTT in and old school Bond way. The real melodrama was to follow shortly thereafter in the infamous on one knee tearjerker scene imho.
  • Scaramanga12Scaramanga12
    Posts: 562
    ClarkDevlin wrote: »
    I couldn't agree more. That said, even though not in the soap opera type, Lois Chiles wasn't the greatest actress the Bond franchise had either. But, she's an absolute beauty. A highlight from Miss Goodhead's lines, if I must pass forward, is the "Where's Drax?" bit in near end of the film. And another... "Hang on, James." Why yes, darling, I don't mind your sleepwalking, either! :))

    :)) Hey, that wasn't bad acting. Staying relaxed in extremely trying circumstances is necessary training for astronauts.

  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    bondjames wrote: »
    ClarkDevlin wrote: »
    Then, there's the bit where Raoul Silva presses his own teeth against each other in anger pointing the gun at M. And then, the "Kill us both" line comes off melodramatically. Another soap opera element.
    @ClarkDevlin I have to shamefully admit that I love that moment. Bardem at his best imho. So OTT in and old school Bond way. The real melodrama was to follow shortly thereafter in the infamous on one knee tearjerker scene imho.
    You mean... that raging shout at Bond after he throws the knife at Silva's back? :))
    Scaramanga12 wrote: »
    ClarkDevlin wrote: »
    I couldn't agree more. That said, even though not in the soap opera type, Lois Chiles wasn't the greatest actress the Bond franchise had either. But, she's an absolute beauty. A highlight from Miss Goodhead's lines, if I must pass forward, is the "Where's Drax?" bit in near end of the film. And another... "Hang on, James." Why yes, darling, I don't mind your sleepwalking, either! :))

    :)) Hey, that wasn't bad acting. Staying relaxed in extremely trying circumstances is necessary training for astronauts.
    Your powers of observation do you credit, old chap! :))
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    Speaking of MR, how can one forget the cheese fest that is Jaws finding true love at the base of the cable car ride at Sugar Loaf Mountain, complete with Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture in full effect.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    bondjames wrote: »
    Speaking of MR, how can one forget the cheese fest that is Jaws finding true love at the base of the cable car ride at Sugar Loaf Mountain, complete with Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture in full effect.
    Kid Fan service for you.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    Bond movies of the 80's are allowed to have soap elements.
    The 80's were one big soap opera anyway.

    But 90's (TWINE) or especially 00's (none luckily) /10's (SF all of it) Bond movies with soap elements, that is unforgivable!
  • Scaramanga12Scaramanga12
    Posts: 562
    bondjames wrote: »
    Speaking of MR, how can one forget the cheese fest that is Jaws finding true love at the base of the cable car ride at Sugar Loaf Mountain, complete with Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture in full effect.

    The nadir of the series for me, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. It's a pity because the first half of MR right up until the stupid gondola sequence is mainly free of camp and looks like it's shaping up to be a great film. It probably has the darkest scenes in the Moore era with the Corrine death and the death of the scientists which I used to find really creepy as a kid.

  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    BondJasonBond006 wrote: »
    Bond movies of the 80's are allowed to have soap elements.
    The 80's were one big soap opera anyway.

    But 90's (TWINE) or especially 00's (none luckily) /10's (SF all of it) Bond movies with soap elements, that is unforgivable!
    I couldn't help but heartily agree with you.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    You find kids really creepy?
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Thunderfinger wrote: »
    You find kids really creepy?
    I'm totally a kid-friendly person. Isn't it obvious?
  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,124
    ClarkDevlin wrote: »
    Brosnan's TWINE and Three out of four of Craig's films are full of soap operas.

    In fact, the soap opera element made its debut in the Bond films with Licence To Kill. Especially the character of Lupe Lamora. She behaves very much in the vein of what we'd see in soap operas and Mexican telenovellas. :))

    Am I the only one in these here forums who does not like LTK much BUT likes Lupe Lamora and find her one of the best elements of the movie? And I know Talisa Soto is not exactly a great actress. Anyway, back on the OP, I felt that LTK has more a big budget 80s TV series feel than a soap opera feel.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    Yes, Lupe Lamora is certainly a highlight of LTK.
  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,124
    If only for her beauty... But yes, maybe she is acting-wise at the level of telenovelas stars.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    edited February 2016 Posts: 15,423
    I like Talisa Soto more than Carey Lowell beauty-wise. A lot more. But, her acting performance isn't a highlight the Bond franchise might have experienced.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    Ludovico wrote: »
    If only for her beauty... But yes, maybe she is acting-wise at the level of telenovelas stars.
    Not even a standard porn actress could have breathed such vacuous life into that character.
    :D
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