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007: What would you have done differently?
As most of us here are quite dedicated fans of the franchise, and I'm sure could say that it is one of or even the best franchise out there. For me personally, it definitely is despite the problems some of the films have. A while ago, I created a discussion for 'SPECTRE: What would you have done differently?' I thought I'd create a new discussion where we can go through each James Bond film and say what we would have differently.
First up, is the first ever James Bond, DR. NO. This is your chance to say whatever you would have differently wit the film, so things like; plot change, character additions or subtractions. Anything you like. People will be given the chance to give their responses within 7 DAYS from today (this may change so let me know if you want me to extend the time for longer) until the discussion moves on to the next James Bond film. This will run until we reach SKYFALL as a discussion for SPECTRE already exists.
Hope you guys enjoy hearing everyone's responses!
First up, is the first ever James Bond, DR. NO. This is your chance to say whatever you would have differently wit the film, so things like; plot change, character additions or subtractions. Anything you like. People will be given the chance to give their responses within 7 DAYS from today (this may change so let me know if you want me to extend the time for longer) until the discussion moves on to the next James Bond film. This will run until we reach SKYFALL as a discussion for SPECTRE already exists.
Hope you guys enjoy hearing everyone's responses!
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Comments
I can understand that :D
What do you think it could have done to be exactly perfect?
1. Make sure Jack Lord got in a couple of days before filming started at the Kingston airport. He didn't arrive until the first day and they fell behind schedule by a half-day out of the box.
2. Be a little more honest with Film Finances, the company that provided the completion bond. If they had, Film Finances probably wouldn't have taken control of the movie during post-production.
Ken Adam sent a memo to Harry Saltzman that the interior sets were going to cost more than budgeted. Saltzman didn't inform Film Finances. Eventually, Film Finances saw the Adam memo. The executives were not happy.
I would have hewed closer to the novel in having Bond put through the "obstacle course" and Honey confronted with the black crabs. And the giant squid? Would that have been possible to film in '62? If so, do it. If not, perhaps he has to fend off a swarm of barracudas.
And I'm a bit iffy on Dr. No's death. Not that it was poor, but to quote Elliot Carver, "it lacked...punch." Bond hurls him into the barracuda pool?
And again, with the benefit of hindsight, a Barry score wouldn't have gone amiss.
Agreed. The score doesn't affect the film in a negative way, but thinking of what Barry brought with FRWL, one could only imagine what the film would be like with a Barry score.
Other than that, I can't really think of much. It doesn't feel as big scale as the films to come, but as with the score, it isn't really a negative thing. Some of the better films are not the "biggest" in that sense.
Now, if there's one little thing - and that's very little; I do feel that Anthony Dawson as Professor Dent look more menacing than Joseph Wiseman as Dr. No. Not that Professor Dent as a character is any more threatening than Dr. No, it's just that Dr.No in the film is somewhat controlled, and Professor Dent isn't, really.
Also I like the idea of having the obstacle course closer to the novel's, with the giant squid at the end.
But really, as far as I'm concerned, it's pretty much a perfect film.
https://www.mi6community.com/discussion/16973/things-i-would-have-changed-in-thunderball/p1
Into thin air.
However, Wiseman is the spit and image of Fleming's Dr. No. Perfect casting choice, IMO.
1.) Get rid of the nuclear angle and that wretched bathing scene. Utter lunacy and it really bogs down the pacing as Bond and Honey enter No's lair. They should've just been taken from capture and been sent to their rooms to continue building the tension.
2.) Give Felix something to do. I mean, anything. (I could say this for literally every 60s film with Felix, unfortunately)
3.) John Barry on the score? Couldn't hurt.
4.) Expand Bond's fight with Dr. No, or give him more enemies to battle. In comparison to the finales like we'd get in later 60s films, this one feels in the prototype stages. It was the prototype though, so it's understandable.
Still, it's amazing that even with a very meager budget the team were able to pull off a film that still holds up and embarrasses a lot of the later films with exponentially larger funds.
And at least try the krakon. So we could see the deleted scene on Bluray.
Again, this is your chance to say whatever you would have differently wit the film, so things like; plot change, character additions or subtractions. Anything you like. People will be given the chance to give their responses within 7 DAYS from today (this may change so let me know if you want me to extend the time for longer) until the discussion moves on to the next James Bond film. This will run until we reach SKYFALL as a discussion for SPECTRE already exists.
Looking forward to hearing what you guys think.
Now I understand sensibilities were somewhat different in '63 than they are now, but it would have been marvelous to see Rosa Klebb in her "finery" in which she attempted to seduce Tatiana in the novel, and to see Tatiana flee Klebb's flat in horror rather than to submit to her advances. Such would have heightened Klebb's psychotic derangement and made her even more malevolent.
More of Red Grant's backstory would have been nice, too. Fleming sets up the novel beautifully by describing Grant's serial murdering and his control by lunar cycles. Grisly by '63 standards, of course, but again, would have further elevated the villain's heinousness.
A few other things bother (bombastic Bond theme while Bond checks for bugs in hotel room, Bond's wave on the boat at end), but they're not a big deal.
As for Dr. No (I know I'm late, and I said this already on the other thread): my main problem is that it's too easy for Bond to escape the obstacle course. If they had the budget, the squid fight would have been marvelous to see here. (No, I don't buy arguments that such a thing would be too silly. If it worked for Fleming, it can work in the films.)
Changes to FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE? There is the chance to use the cliffhanger ending with OO7's life in question. I guess the film needs the cheery ending, but something to think about.