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Nothing beats the original, and this is still the case, the only exception so far has been that the newer True Grit beats the classic True Grit.
Up until the Antonov climax, I really, really enjoyed it, well not the ice dragster bit, but anyway. During the Antonov climax…meh. (Have any of you seen James and the Giant Peach? When the ice dragster goes off the glacier, that’s what it reminds me of. Anyway, I digress). ((They just have well used a carrot, attached to a bit of string for that sequence!))
Where was I? Ah yes… It’s still rooted at No 20 in my rankings, but like Moonraker before it, it’s gone up in my expectations.
The Bad
• Corny dialogue “psychedelic light mask!”
• Zao is an appalling henchman. There have been weak henchman, Scarpine springs to mind, but not this bad, plus he’s in an awful lot of the movie.
• Bad CGI (CGI should not be in a Bond movie, period. Even if it’s done well)
• Bad puns
• Speed up editing. I think they called it speed ramping; stop it!
• Halle Berry degenerates into one of the most disappointing Bond girls.
• Invisible Cars
• The plot is circa 1971
The Good
• Berry starts up with an intriguing character.
• The Pikelet
• The first half an hour is up there with the best of the series, and the first half is up there with the rest of the Brosnan tenure,
• The production values
• The music. I know its techno driven, but it gives a certain chutzpah to the film. (I used to listen to “Hovercraft Chase” before 5-a-side football, at school, to get me in the mood).
• Bond going rouge in a novel fashion, trying to redeem himself.
• Main titles given us a glimpse of Bond torture.
• Raoul is a great little ally, and General Moon gives some presence to his character.
• The action is kick ass.
• Especially the sword fight, which isn’t ruined by some bud puns. Classic 007
• Sentimental scene with the Quartermaster.
• The scenes with Bond and M crackle with tension.
• Graves’ sneering villainy. Previously I’d have said this was a pastiche, a parody on Bond villainy, but as Graves’ comments Bond made a lasting impression on him, so really it was Moon/Graves imitation of Bond persona.
• The Moonraker novel provided inspiration for the screenplay.
• “I’m just here for the birds”. Love Brosnan’s delivery of this line. (I always used to say the dialogue between Jinx and Bond was a poor attempt of the flirtatious banter, a’la the 1960’s. But lets take it in context; Bond has just gotten out of prison, he’s desperate for some, um, female companionship, should we say. He implies his chats up lines were too strong, but Jinx says she could like it.
• Last, but not least, Pierce Brosnan, who at his fourth attempt, seemed to have nailed his performance. He’s got a swagger in this film; he seems much more comfortable in the role. I felt he had one more film in him, so it’s a shame to end his tenure of such a bad line; “Especially when you’re bad”. Oh Pierce…
Die Another Day has a great first half, and sub-par second half, symptomatic with the rest of Brosnan’s era. The first half of his movies had so much potential, but played it safe with loud bangs and not very good boner gags.
Off topic, but it True Grit good? I've been meaning to see it.
Also, as much as I hate some films being remade, there's actually been a few times when the remake has been better. EG, newer Piranha beats classic Piranha.
Both are great, one John Wayne, another Jeff Bridges. The Bridges is superior, because it sticks to the Charles Portis novel it is based on, while the Wayne version takes too many liberties.
Thanks. I'll put the Bridges version on my love film list (not sure the Wayne version is on there).
I agree with almost everything you've said. Although I did quite like one use of the sped up editing effect - the sequence where Bond drives towards the Ice Palace for the first time. I thought that was quite cool, but it was overused throughout the rest of the film. Even John Woo doesn't use it as much as Tamahori did in Die Another Day. The CGI was ridiculous. You could cut out that entire cliff/tsunami sequence and it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference to the plot. In fact, it helps the pacing very much!
Harsh. I'd say 25%. The Iceland bits with all the CGI and the plane finale. Other than that I think it's a fine Bond film.
Actually I disagree. I don't think Cleese would have fitted in well in the Craig era. To me he is just John Cleese, not Q.
Hopefully they have cast right, but we won't know till the end of October.
And I agree with most of what you both have said. I watched DAD about 4 days ago. Really good opening, still loved the swordfight. So much of it is promising or really good, but the bad parts are pretty negative (which tends to blot out the good in remembering it). I especially want to say that Brosnan was very good in this film. So a big yes to this comment by Royale65 : Pierce Brosnan, who at his fourth attempt, seemed to have nailed his performance. He’s got a swagger in this film; he seems much more comfortable in the role. I so wish DAD had fulfilled its promise and that Pierce had done one more Bond film.
I agree with pretty much what all you guys have said.
The things which bug me the most about DAD are the dodgy CGI and bad dialouge. Like writing a part for someone called Mr Kil just so you can have a rubbish gag.
But something i have always thought the writers and Lee tamahori did well (IMO) is come up with intresting ways to kill the villians, Mr Kil with the laser through his head, Zao with the diamond chandalier spiking him and Graves getting sucked into the planes engine. I dont think any of their deaths were boring even if you didn't think they were done particuarly well or think they were necessary, i think they were trying to be inventive and i applaud them for that. DAD is a guilty pleasure for me.
Nothing beats the original, and this is still the case, the only exception so far has been that the newer True Grit beats the classic True Grit.
I found nothing exceptional about Ursula Andress' first appearance in DR. NO. I can say the same about Halle Berry's first appearance in DIE ANOTHER DAY. But at least Berry had a character that did more than be the damsel-in-distress.
I'm sorry, but Honey wasn't ever in distress until the end. She was a tough cookie and could defend herself damn fine. Jinx on the other hand jinxed (PUN INTENDED) everything she touched and had to be saved more times than Ursula, and put Bond in danger while he tried to save her hide more than once. AND SHE WASN'T EVEN WORTH SAVING!
It's in my top 10.
While I didn't care for the 'virtual reality' take on it, Bond's training mission as he cleans out his P99 was good. I didn't care for some of the lines - "Saved by the bell.", Jinx's lines as she is being tortured, and the 'psychedelic mask' bit, along with all of the Icarus scenes, Graves' electrical suit, and all of the incredibly horrid CGI.
Overall, I try to take the good over the bad and let myself watch it when I'm slightly in the mood. As bad as some people find it, it is still part of the Bond timeline and series, and everyone should appreciate at least something from it.
Christ - theres a reason hes called Murdock!
Is there anyone out there willing to go even higher than Howling Mad's ranking of DAD in the top 10?
Wheres old ChanandlerBong when you need him?
Was he the urban legend who had it as his favourite Bond film?
Indeed. Obviously got the piss ripped out of him but he gave good banter back.
Well said O'Brady. I never thought a Bond film could be worse than MR, but this one certainly qualifies. It has a few good scenes, but not nearly enough to qualify it as a good film. It's certainly utter s**t compared to the Connery films short of DAF, and even DAF is far more entertaining.
Keep an eye in the rearview mirror. The trolls are everywhere ;)
Come on, let's leave @Murdock out of this. I asked the question for heavens' sake, no need to jump all over him when he answered my qestion in the first place. Sheesh, sometimes I think you look for an argument.
Actually Wizard, I'm called Murdock because of a story I wrote about a character named Bruce Murdock.
Anyway, You'll really think I'm howling mad when you see my top 10.
1. GoldenEye.
2. Casino Royale.
3. Quantum of Solace.
4. Tomorrow Never Dies
5. The World is Not Enough
6. Die Another Day.
7. You Only Live Twice.
8. The Spy Who Loved Me.
9. Moonraker.
10. Octopussy.
@00Beast, It's quite alright. :)
Murdock is very much a 90's man. I think it's good we have someone to stick up for the era, where it seems to be in fashion to bash it at every given moment. Respect.
Yes, Brosnan Bond fan since 1995! but I love every James Bond film too. I don't have a reason to bash any of them. I just tend to critique some of them every now and then.
My thoughts exactly. I don't hate any of them, nor do I wish for any of them to be deleted from the history of Bond. As you say, I do have little nitpicks here and there, but I have plenty of reasons to watch all of them and still have a good time.