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MR has some good moments, but it borders on parody.
This film is amazing. Totally mind-blowing. From the black and white pre-titles, to arguably the best titles sequence ever. From the African free-running chase to the beautiful interiors of London. From Judi Dench's harassed M, to the super cool Le Chiffre. From the stone-cold government killer, to the heart broken lover.
Style and sophistication are in abundance.
It's true to Fleming and I love it.
Mmm. Jaws in MR belongs in Austin Powers or CR 67, Bond dressed as a Cowboy was a nod to a westerns (including the music), lazer guns in space belong in Star wars and WTF is Dolly even doing in the film? It has good production values I agree, but it is far too comedic.....Fleming would not have approved (I would bet).
It wasn't necessary.
It is a reputation he didn't deserve, and it inflicted how he was perceived as Bond. He was known as a "replacement" for the people's Bond. Of course it was gonna be an uphill battle for him!
By contrast Brosnan was declared the "ideal choice" and "the best Bond to date" even before people saw him in the part! I think preconceived reputation played a part in how their respective performances were judged at the time...
Bond disguised as a Japanese fisherman makes sense as a cover in Japan and it's directly from the novel. Bond as a cowboy in MR is just a pointless pisstake and the chance to include a cheesy theme tune that has no place in the film other than to get a cheap laugh from a wider audience. MGW knew they had gone too far with MR, hence the far superior FYEO adaption that followed. Yes, MR made money but at the expense of quality.
Just because Bond was disguised as a Japanese fisherman in the YOLT novel doesn't make it instantly less laughable. The novel didn't make it extravagant. Didn't capitalize on the brilliance of it, whereas the film did, and with all women in bikinis doing the work for it, just like Our Man Flint. The cowboy disguise was no different. MR was influenced by sci-fi, and that's all there is to it. Too much sci-fi would drag the espionage out of the whole thing and Bond isn't always about it, so it was sensible to tone it down and go for a different kind of (realistic, in other words) Bond film with FYEO.
I'm always astonished how easy people use the phrase "true to Fleming".
Some of you may suffer a stroke but actually there's no actor that was less true to Fleming than Craig.
So how do you feel about the Lawrence from Arabia score in TSWLM?
I LIKE that. In fact when I first watched LOA and heard the theme it made me think of TSWLM.
In MR it is a bit of a piss take rathther than a homage. Maybe it's something to do with the silly costume Roger is wearing.
Interestingly what might have been amusing in 1979 wears off quick. When I see the Close Encounters bit in MR, it's no longer funny, it's just there.
The Lawrence of Arabia bit in TSWLM, on the other hand still brings a smile to my face. Even though I don't find it funny anymore, the music is so iconic, it feels more like a tipping of the hat rather to the 1962 film rather than a comedic bit. Kind of makes me want to watch Lawrence after TSWLM ends.
I think that's the problem. It's like, "Why aren't you embracing this? Is there a reason you aren't confident?" We pick this up on some level.
One critic at the time called MR a 'minor masterpiece.' I don't agree with him. But if the film had been made (a) with a certain sincerity and to a lesser but possibly still necessary extent (b) with the main character's name changed (no preconceptions), I might, and I think a lot more people would, because it's a tremendous bit of filmmaking.
Exactly the same,but at least the film was in a more serious vein...
In fact, as a child I had no clue that the famous tune in TSWLM belonged to LoA or that the MR tune belonged to MS (I had not seen those films at that point). I just loved them because they sounded melodic and infinitely iconic. The earlier one was romantic, which was perfect for the setting in the desert with Anya. The second one was adventurous, which also perfectly fit the mood of the 'lighter' 1979 blockbuster.
The one I didn't like was the Beach Boys in AVTAK. Why? Well because that stupid tune didn't fit the scene. Just because Bond is snowboarding doesn't mean one has to play California Girls. Barry blew it there imho.
Would you care to lay out for me where he resembles Flemings Bond? Maybe when he shoots down an embassy or eats with open mouth? Or when he blows his cover and reveals his own name at the hotel reception?
My controversial opinion: I like the latest Bond film. Always have. Usually if not always controversial.
There are plenty of moments, especially since a lot of CR is straight from the book, but here's one that's always stuck out to me: the bit after he kills Obanno where he goes to wash the blood off and stares at himself in the mirror wondering what he's doing with his life. Really reminiscent of Bond reflecting on killing the mexican in GF.
I'm not a Brosnan slammer, I actually thought he projected a tougher image than I though possible, but he didn't break any new ground either.
Conversely, Campbell and Forster (with more flaws), let the Bond character, via Craig, breathe and be who he was. DC's first two films are absolutely more honest portrayals of the character through the actor, than the final two, which make DC's Bond more as an avatar...
Mendes took blood n teeth away from the character, and worked the imagery... Craig still shows snarls, but it’s neutered under this type of direction (and perhaps why the actor and director had a falling out on the last project?).
Once again, all reports from Othello suggested his masculine and aggressive performance as being an elevation of Iago.
He still has the bite.
It takes the right director that has faith and let’s his leading man run....