Controversial opinions about Bond films

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  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,571
    Hoping to see food consumption in NTTD, with a
    local kitty chowing down on some red snapper.

    Yum.
  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    Posts: 1,351
    mtm wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    We need more food porn in the films.

    The Food Programme on Radio 4 tomorrow will actually be all about the food of Bond :)

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000tm9f

    We don’t often see James Bond eating in the films, but in the novel food is almost as important as espionage, cocktails, sex, villains and travel. As many await the release of the new Bond film, we want to take your taste buds on a journey, to the flavours that were so unimaginably exotic when these books were written in the 1950s and 60s.

    Tom Jaine, former restaurateur and editor of The Good Food Guide, came of age when the Bond books were written. He remembers sneaking a copy of Casino Royale from his parents’ book group and being transported by it’s exoticism. The food was completely beyond the imagination for a post-war generation who were newly out of rationing.

    We meet Edward Biddulph, archaeologist by day, Bond enthusiast by night who has written Licence to Cook, in which he recreates the meals in the Bond books. Edward teaches Sheila how to make Bond’s most iconic dish - scrambled eggs.

    Biographer Andrew Lycett explains how the appetites of Ian Fleming made it into James Bond’s own tastes. And food journalist Clare Finney connect with the desire to be transported on a culinary adventure when the world around you is rather drab.



    Kind of amazing Mr Biddulph didn't call his book 'Licence To Grill', but maybe that's a bit too on the nose :D

    There might be a technical reason for seeing less food in the movies. Isn't it difficult to keep food looming good and piping hot after multiple takes?

    Probably, but is there less food in the Bond movies? They’re adventure films, he can’t be sitting down for dinner all the time :)

    Yeah, it is like so many things we see so often as things fans of the books want to see in the films, that aren't practical for what the film's are nowadays. May is the other example we talk about all the time.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,382
    Yes: 'put Bond's housemaid and Sir James Molony his psychotherapist in the films, but stop showing us his personal life!!' :D
  • edited March 2021 Posts: 1,469
    mtm wrote: »
    They’re adventure films, he can’t be sitting down for dinner all the time :)

    No Time To Diet
    Quantum of Soy Sauce
    The Waffle Is Not Enough
    Never Say Noodles Again
  • Posts: 1,708
    "didnt see 4th wall on volcano"

    Its called using your imagination , like i couldnt move the legs of my Battle Cat toy but still pretended i could
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,115
    Thrasos wrote: »

    No Time To Diet
    Quantum of Soy Sauce
    The Waffle Is Not Enough
    Never Say Noodles Again

    Diet Another Day ;)
    mtm wrote: »
    They’re adventure films, he can’t be sitting down for dinner all the time :)

    True, but one scene would be very welcome for me. Like the one in FYEO when he has dinner with Kristatos.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited March 2021 Posts: 16,382
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    Thrasos wrote: »

    No Time To Diet
    Quantum of Soy Sauce
    The Waffle Is Not Enough
    Never Say Noodles Again

    Diet Another Day ;)
    mtm wrote: »
    They’re adventure films, he can’t be sitting down for dinner all the time :)

    True, but one scene would be very welcome for me. Like the one in FYEO when he has dinner with Kristatos.

    Sure, that is quite nice; I'd be happy with something like that. Bond being fussy about the wine choice is fun.
    It's quite brief of course, and Bond leaves before his plate is even taken away! :)
  • Posts: 15,116
    Ludovico wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    We need more food porn in the films.

    The Food Programme on Radio 4 tomorrow will actually be all about the food of Bond :)

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000tm9f

    We don’t often see James Bond eating in the films, but in the novel food is almost as important as espionage, cocktails, sex, villains and travel. As many await the release of the new Bond film, we want to take your taste buds on a journey, to the flavours that were so unimaginably exotic when these books were written in the 1950s and 60s.

    Tom Jaine, former restaurateur and editor of The Good Food Guide, came of age when the Bond books were written. He remembers sneaking a copy of Casino Royale from his parents’ book group and being transported by it’s exoticism. The food was completely beyond the imagination for a post-war generation who were newly out of rationing.

    We meet Edward Biddulph, archaeologist by day, Bond enthusiast by night who has written Licence to Cook, in which he recreates the meals in the Bond books. Edward teaches Sheila how to make Bond’s most iconic dish - scrambled eggs.

    Biographer Andrew Lycett explains how the appetites of Ian Fleming made it into James Bond’s own tastes. And food journalist Clare Finney connect with the desire to be transported on a culinary adventure when the world around you is rather drab.



    Kind of amazing Mr Biddulph didn't call his book 'Licence To Grill', but maybe that's a bit too on the nose :D

    There might be a technical reason for seeing less food in the movies. Isn't it difficult to keep food looming good and piping hot after multiple takes?

    Difficult, but not impossible. I think the bigger problem is keeping the shots consistent, when you have multiple angles and the plate is at various stages of being eaten in the different takes. I think filmmakers are more apprehensive of stuff like that now than they were 20 years ago because there will immediately be entries in the IMDb "goofs" section and YouTube videos and all of that stuff. But it's something a top crew should be able to navigate.
    I also remember hearing that many actors hate having to eat on screen, because depending on the director you might do dozens of takes and then maybe even the pick-up from the other side and you have to shovel food into you face every single time. That is why you will often see people gesticulating with food on their fork without actually putting it in their mouths.
    A more egregious one that I find fun to track after hearing about it is whether there actually is any liquid in cups actors are carrying around. Especially on TV you can see quite clearly that they are empty most of the time.

    Yes these are the issues with food on screen. It's difficult to keep continuity and it's hard on the actors. A solution: do like sex and show before and after the meal. A bit like in CR, but let's actually see the food.
  • Posts: 7,507
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    We need more food porn in the films.

    The Food Programme on Radio 4 tomorrow will actually be all about the food of Bond :)

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000tm9f

    We don’t often see James Bond eating in the films, but in the novel food is almost as important as espionage, cocktails, sex, villains and travel. As many await the release of the new Bond film, we want to take your taste buds on a journey, to the flavours that were so unimaginably exotic when these books were written in the 1950s and 60s.

    Tom Jaine, former restaurateur and editor of The Good Food Guide, came of age when the Bond books were written. He remembers sneaking a copy of Casino Royale from his parents’ book group and being transported by it’s exoticism. The food was completely beyond the imagination for a post-war generation who were newly out of rationing.

    We meet Edward Biddulph, archaeologist by day, Bond enthusiast by night who has written Licence to Cook, in which he recreates the meals in the Bond books. Edward teaches Sheila how to make Bond’s most iconic dish - scrambled eggs.

    Biographer Andrew Lycett explains how the appetites of Ian Fleming made it into James Bond’s own tastes. And food journalist Clare Finney connect with the desire to be transported on a culinary adventure when the world around you is rather drab.



    Kind of amazing Mr Biddulph didn't call his book 'Licence To Grill', but maybe that's a bit too on the nose :D

    There might be a technical reason for seeing less food in the movies. Isn't it difficult to keep food looming good and piping hot after multiple takes?

    Difficult, but not impossible. I think the bigger problem is keeping the shots consistent, when you have multiple angles and the plate is at various stages of being eaten in the different takes. I think filmmakers are more apprehensive of stuff like that now than they were 20 years ago because there will immediately be entries in the IMDb "goofs" section and YouTube videos and all of that stuff. But it's something a top crew should be able to navigate.
    I also remember hearing that many actors hate having to eat on screen, because depending on the director you might do dozens of takes and then maybe even the pick-up from the other side and you have to shovel food into you face every single time. That is why you will often see people gesticulating with food on their fork without actually putting it in their mouths.
    A more egregious one that I find fun to track after hearing about it is whether there actually is any liquid in cups actors are carrying around. Especially on TV you can see quite clearly that they are empty most of the time.

    Yes these are the issues with food on screen. It's difficult to keep continuity and it's hard on the actors. A solution: do like sex and show before and after the meal. A bit like in CR, but let's actually see the food.

    Come on! It can obviously not be "food porn" unless we see them in the act... ;) :P
  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    Posts: 1,351
    jobo wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    We need more food porn in the films.

    The Food Programme on Radio 4 tomorrow will actually be all about the food of Bond :)

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000tm9f

    We don’t often see James Bond eating in the films, but in the novel food is almost as important as espionage, cocktails, sex, villains and travel. As many await the release of the new Bond film, we want to take your taste buds on a journey, to the flavours that were so unimaginably exotic when these books were written in the 1950s and 60s.

    Tom Jaine, former restaurateur and editor of The Good Food Guide, came of age when the Bond books were written. He remembers sneaking a copy of Casino Royale from his parents’ book group and being transported by it’s exoticism. The food was completely beyond the imagination for a post-war generation who were newly out of rationing.

    We meet Edward Biddulph, archaeologist by day, Bond enthusiast by night who has written Licence to Cook, in which he recreates the meals in the Bond books. Edward teaches Sheila how to make Bond’s most iconic dish - scrambled eggs.

    Biographer Andrew Lycett explains how the appetites of Ian Fleming made it into James Bond’s own tastes. And food journalist Clare Finney connect with the desire to be transported on a culinary adventure when the world around you is rather drab.



    Kind of amazing Mr Biddulph didn't call his book 'Licence To Grill', but maybe that's a bit too on the nose :D

    There might be a technical reason for seeing less food in the movies. Isn't it difficult to keep food looming good and piping hot after multiple takes?

    Difficult, but not impossible. I think the bigger problem is keeping the shots consistent, when you have multiple angles and the plate is at various stages of being eaten in the different takes. I think filmmakers are more apprehensive of stuff like that now than they were 20 years ago because there will immediately be entries in the IMDb "goofs" section and YouTube videos and all of that stuff. But it's something a top crew should be able to navigate.
    I also remember hearing that many actors hate having to eat on screen, because depending on the director you might do dozens of takes and then maybe even the pick-up from the other side and you have to shovel food into you face every single time. That is why you will often see people gesticulating with food on their fork without actually putting it in their mouths.
    A more egregious one that I find fun to track after hearing about it is whether there actually is any liquid in cups actors are carrying around. Especially on TV you can see quite clearly that they are empty most of the time.

    Yes these are the issues with food on screen. It's difficult to keep continuity and it's hard on the actors. A solution: do like sex and show before and after the meal. A bit like in CR, but let's actually see the food.

    Come on! It can obviously not be "food porn" unless we see them in the act... ;) :P

    This is one of those instances where the chimp part of my brain wants both MGM and EON to be sold to either Apple or Netflix and they blow out the franchise even more than Disney do. Fucking "The Wine Show - Bond Edition" with like Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green and Giancarlo Giannini visiting London, Montenegro (or Prague), Lake Como and Venice? "The Trip" with all living Bond actors visiting shooting locations from their films, eating in local restaurants and talking shit? "The IT Crowd - MI6", Skyfall from the perspective of the IT department? Just give all of it to me!!
  • Posts: 7,507
    jobo wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    We need more food porn in the films.

    The Food Programme on Radio 4 tomorrow will actually be all about the food of Bond :)

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000tm9f

    We don’t often see James Bond eating in the films, but in the novel food is almost as important as espionage, cocktails, sex, villains and travel. As many await the release of the new Bond film, we want to take your taste buds on a journey, to the flavours that were so unimaginably exotic when these books were written in the 1950s and 60s.

    Tom Jaine, former restaurateur and editor of The Good Food Guide, came of age when the Bond books were written. He remembers sneaking a copy of Casino Royale from his parents’ book group and being transported by it’s exoticism. The food was completely beyond the imagination for a post-war generation who were newly out of rationing.

    We meet Edward Biddulph, archaeologist by day, Bond enthusiast by night who has written Licence to Cook, in which he recreates the meals in the Bond books. Edward teaches Sheila how to make Bond’s most iconic dish - scrambled eggs.

    Biographer Andrew Lycett explains how the appetites of Ian Fleming made it into James Bond’s own tastes. And food journalist Clare Finney connect with the desire to be transported on a culinary adventure when the world around you is rather drab.



    Kind of amazing Mr Biddulph didn't call his book 'Licence To Grill', but maybe that's a bit too on the nose :D

    There might be a technical reason for seeing less food in the movies. Isn't it difficult to keep food looming good and piping hot after multiple takes?

    Difficult, but not impossible. I think the bigger problem is keeping the shots consistent, when you have multiple angles and the plate is at various stages of being eaten in the different takes. I think filmmakers are more apprehensive of stuff like that now than they were 20 years ago because there will immediately be entries in the IMDb "goofs" section and YouTube videos and all of that stuff. But it's something a top crew should be able to navigate.
    I also remember hearing that many actors hate having to eat on screen, because depending on the director you might do dozens of takes and then maybe even the pick-up from the other side and you have to shovel food into you face every single time. That is why you will often see people gesticulating with food on their fork without actually putting it in their mouths.
    A more egregious one that I find fun to track after hearing about it is whether there actually is any liquid in cups actors are carrying around. Especially on TV you can see quite clearly that they are empty most of the time.

    Yes these are the issues with food on screen. It's difficult to keep continuity and it's hard on the actors. A solution: do like sex and show before and after the meal. A bit like in CR, but let's actually see the food.

    Come on! It can obviously not be "food porn" unless we see them in the act... ;) :P

    This is one of those instances where the chimp part of my brain wants both MGM and EON to be sold to either Apple or Netflix and they blow out the franchise even more than Disney do. Fucking "The Wine Show - Bond Edition" with like Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green and Giancarlo Giannini visiting London, Montenegro (or Prague), Lake Como and Venice? "The Trip" with all living Bond actors visiting shooting locations from their films, eating in local restaurants and talking shit? "The IT Crowd - MI6", Skyfall from the perspective of the IT department? Just give all of it to me!!

    I'd watch that show, no doubt! ;))
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,216
    "The Wine Show - Bond Edition" with like Mads Mikkelsen

    I think NBC made that show a few years back! ;)

    hannibal_nbc.jpg?w=670
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,291
    As terrible as the film is, and as especially appalling as it is as a follow-up to OHMSS, I still can't bring myself to hate DAF. It is not the tone I would have chosen, but it is consistent. I mean, even Connery is mincing it up in the PTS.
  • Posts: 1,630
    As for me, I cannot separate DAF from the time. It was a great thing to have Sean C back, even though we all already understood it would be for one film. Las Vegas was a fun setting, Jill St. John a red-headed character suitable to Vegas -- though Tiffany Case in the book was much tougher and more feisty. Vegas was much more interesting than Kentucky, which looked nice at Goldfinger's ranch and at Fort Knox, but not so much in the scenes on the local roads and at the auto parts pit. The references to Howard Hughes were very much on point for Vegas and for the 70s. DAF was the beginning, really, of the R Moore silly and humorous era -- and even started the "stupefied local police responses to Bond wreaking havoc" tradition. Brilliantly, they brought back a theme song with lyrics, with Shirley Bassey singing a lush, romantic song over sexy, luxurious images with the film having a great John Barry score. At any rate -- it was great to have Sean back and it was great fun and audiences were happy. As for the silliness, well, as Roger M later said, paraphrasing: this is all absurd and silly entertainment, so let's have fun and wink at it, too, along with the audience. What am I getting at ? "You had to be there"
  • Posts: 16,162
    I love DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER.
  • Posts: 15,116
    Here's a new one, but for future Bond movies: it'll become increasingly difficult to cast a new actor for Bond. I also think we might have in the future a new Bond actor almost universally disliked in the role.
  • Posts: 7,507
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Here's a new one, but for future Bond movies: it'll become increasingly difficult to cast a new actor for Bond. I also think we might have in the future a new Bond actor almost universally disliked in the role.

    Care to elaborate on why you think this?
  • Posts: 15,116
    jobo wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Here's a new one, but for future Bond movies: it'll become increasingly difficult to cast a new actor for Bond. I also think we might have in the future a new Bond actor almost universally disliked in the role.

    Care to elaborate on why you think this?

    Because there's an ever increasing number of points of comparison with any new Bond actor cast and it becomes increasingly difficult to bring new perspective to the role.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,382
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Here's a new one, but for future Bond movies: it'll become increasingly difficult to cast a new actor for Bond. I also think we might have in the future a new Bond actor almost universally disliked in the role.

    I don't think so: no matter how bad something is there's always someone who likes it/them. We've already had a guy who isn't even an actor play Bond, and even he has his fans.
  • Posts: 7,507
    Ludovico wrote: »
    jobo wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Here's a new one, but for future Bond movies: it'll become increasingly difficult to cast a new actor for Bond. I also think we might have in the future a new Bond actor almost universally disliked in the role.

    Care to elaborate on why you think this?

    Because there's an ever increasing number of points of comparison with any new Bond actor cast and it becomes increasingly difficult to bring new perspective to the role.

    That is assuming the general audience would expect new actors to bring original perspectives to the role. I am not sure that is the case. Brosnan didn't do anything highly original with the character but was still quite universaly liked by the general audience. One could easily argue that Craig hasn't done anything particularly new with the character either, as his take is more or less a continuation of the direction Dalton had taken decades earlier.
  • edited April 2021 Posts: 15,116
    mtm wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Here's a new one, but for future Bond movies: it'll become increasingly difficult to cast a new actor for Bond. I also think we might have in the future a new Bond actor almost universally disliked in the role.

    I don't think so: no matter how bad something is there's always someone who likes it/them. We've already had a guy who isn't even an actor play Bond, and even he has his fans.

    That's why I said "almost". Even if Robbie Williams or Kevin Costner had been cast, they would have been the favourite Bonds of some people. But it's a possibility that there's one casting decision that will displease both fans and casual viewers AND that this will be confirmed upon watching the film.
  • Posts: 15,116
    jobo wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    jobo wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Here's a new one, but for future Bond movies: it'll become increasingly difficult to cast a new actor for Bond. I also think we might have in the future a new Bond actor almost universally disliked in the role.

    Care to elaborate on why you think this?

    Because there's an ever increasing number of points of comparison with any new Bond actor cast and it becomes increasingly difficult to bring new perspective to the role.

    That is assuming the general audience would expect new actors to bring original perspectives to the role. I am not sure that is the case. Brosnan didn't do anything highly original with the character but was still quite universaly liked by the general audience. One could easily argue that Craig hasn't done anything particularly new with the character either, as his take is more or less a continuation of the direction Dalton had taken decades earlier.

    I think Craig brought what Dalton offered, with what Dalton lacked, a certain ease to take Bond's legacy . Brosnan didn't bring much if anything new, but he was plebiscited into the role, something no new actor, not even Moore, ever got. I doubt any new Bond actor will have it so easy upon casting.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,382
    Ludovico wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Here's a new one, but for future Bond movies: it'll become increasingly difficult to cast a new actor for Bond. I also think we might have in the future a new Bond actor almost universally disliked in the role.

    I don't think so: no matter how bad something is there's always someone who likes it/them. We've already had a guy who isn't even an actor play Bond, and even he has his fans.

    That's why I said "almost". Even if Robbie Williams or Kevin Costner had been cast, they would have been the favourite Bonds of some people. But it's a possibility that there's one casting decision that will displease both fans and casual viewers AND that this will be confirmed upon watching the film.

    Well, you could cast a stuffed toy I guess and pretty much everyone would think it's a bad choice, but honestly I think if you look at realistic choices then you're pretty much never going to find one that almost everyone dislikes. You said you think this might happen, not just that it's a possibility- but I don't really see why you think that.

    jobo wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    jobo wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Here's a new one, but for future Bond movies: it'll become increasingly difficult to cast a new actor for Bond. I also think we might have in the future a new Bond actor almost universally disliked in the role.

    Care to elaborate on why you think this?

    Because there's an ever increasing number of points of comparison with any new Bond actor cast and it becomes increasingly difficult to bring new perspective to the role.

    That is assuming the general audience would expect new actors to bring original perspectives to the role. I am not sure that is the case. Brosnan didn't do anything highly original with the character but was still quite universaly liked by the general audience. One could easily argue that Craig hasn't done anything particularly new with the character either, as his take is more or less a continuation of the direction Dalton had taken decades earlier.

    It's an interesting thought: Brosnan has even said himself that he basically mixed Roger and Sean to make his Bond, but I guess you could well say that Craig mixed Dalton's version with Connery's confidence and sex appeal.
  • edited April 2021 Posts: 1,469
    Yes members of the public will have their opinions about a Bond actor. But I think, more importantly, as long as Broccoli-Wilson is in charge, we (or at least I) can trust their judgment. I think when Craig was chosen, not knowing his talent, I watched Layer Cake and gave him a thumbs-up, though I disapproved of his blond hair. But I like his Bond films and for the most part what he brought to them, and more than Brosnan's. And I believe Craig's films combined surpassed Brosnan's in terms of grosses adjusted for inflation. So I think this is part of Eon's track record. I also really want to see new writers take over. Incidentally I would've hated it if Kevin Costner or any American was chosen.
  • Posts: 7,507
    Ludovico wrote: »
    jobo wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    jobo wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Here's a new one, but for future Bond movies: it'll become increasingly difficult to cast a new actor for Bond. I also think we might have in the future a new Bond actor almost universally disliked in the role.

    Care to elaborate on why you think this?

    Because there's an ever increasing number of points of comparison with any new Bond actor cast and it becomes increasingly difficult to bring new perspective to the role.

    That is assuming the general audience would expect new actors to bring original perspectives to the role. I am not sure that is the case. Brosnan didn't do anything highly original with the character but was still quite universaly liked by the general audience. One could easily argue that Craig hasn't done anything particularly new with the character either, as his take is more or less a continuation of the direction Dalton had taken decades earlier.

    I think Craig brought what Dalton offered, with what Dalton lacked, a certain ease to take Bond's legacy . Brosnan didn't bring much if anything new, but he was plebiscited into the role, something no new actor, not even Moore, ever got. I doubt any new Bond actor will have it so easy upon casting.

    I agree that Craig has the more classic "movie star" presence, but in a way that just emphasizes my point: The general audience primarily love him for his powerful charisma and presence. The fact that his take on Bond felt new and fresh compared to Brosnan's was not irrelevant, but of secondary importance. Every new Bond actor will always be compared to his predecessors and no actor will be approved by everyone, but that's how it's always been. I don't share your pessimistic view that this will get worse in the future. On the contrary it could be that the more Bond actors we get, the less unique and personal the reputation of the previous actors become and that this will ease the burden of living up to them or being compared to them. What is most important at the end of the day is that the new actor, whatever tone he chooses, does so with conviction and is supported in his vision by the studio and crew.
  • Posts: 12,837
    jobo wrote: »
    On the contrary it could be that the more Bond actors we get, the less unique and personal the reputation of the previous actors become and that this will ease the burden of living up to them or being compared to them.

    Yeah, my money’s on this. I know Brosnan, and even Craig to a much lesser extent, have got stick from some fans for not being original enough, but to be honest, I think there’s only so many different ways you can play Bond. And by the time we got to Dalton, most of it had been done. Connery set the standard, Lazenby bought more vulnerability to it, Moore emphasised the lighter side, Dalton the darker side.

    It’s no surprise that Brosnan and Craig have stuff in common with earlier Bonds, because it’s not like Doctor Who where you can completely reinvent it every time. There’s source material, which means there’s always a general template the actors have to stick to. So, as time goes on, and we have more actors, I think we’ll see less and less criticism that negatively compares the actors to those who came first.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,382
    And even the Doctor Whos have started to fall into patterns of playing it. The current one basically pays it like David Tennant did.
  • Posts: 16,162
    This may be controversial or not, but it doesn't bother me too much if a new Bond actor doesn't consciously try to bring something new or reinvent the role.
    I personally don't want to see Bond reinvented. For me the actor bringing his own charisma and personality to the part is enough to differentiate and infuse Bond with his own flair. Both Pierce and Daniel have buckets of charm , yet are completely different personalities. Both are equally Bondian, IMO.
    I remember an interview where Tim said that just by being a different man to Roger Moore or Connery his Bond would inevitably be different. He simply chose to base his interpretation on Fleming.
  • Posts: 15,116
    jobo wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    jobo wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    jobo wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Here's a new one, but for future Bond movies: it'll become increasingly difficult to cast a new actor for Bond. I also think we might have in the future a new Bond actor almost universally disliked in the role.

    Care to elaborate on why you think this?

    Because there's an ever increasing number of points of comparison with any new Bond actor cast and it becomes increasingly difficult to bring new perspective to the role.

    That is assuming the general audience would expect new actors to bring original perspectives to the role. I am not sure that is the case. Brosnan didn't do anything highly original with the character but was still quite universaly liked by the general audience. One could easily argue that Craig hasn't done anything particularly new with the character either, as his take is more or less a continuation of the direction Dalton had taken decades earlier.

    I think Craig brought what Dalton offered, with what Dalton lacked, a certain ease to take Bond's legacy . Brosnan didn't bring much if anything new, but he was plebiscited into the role, something no new actor, not even Moore, ever got. I doubt any new Bond actor will have it so easy upon casting.

    I agree that Craig has the more classic "movie star" presence, but in a way that just emphasizes my point: The general audience primarily love him for his powerful charisma and presence. The fact that his take on Bond felt new and fresh compared to Brosnan's was not irrelevant, but of secondary importance. Every new Bond actor will always be compared to his predecessors and no actor will be approved by everyone, but that's how it's always been. I don't share your pessimistic view that this will get worse in the future. On the contrary it could be that the more Bond actors we get, the less unique and personal the reputation of the previous actors become and that this will ease the burden of living up to them or being compared to them. What is most important at the end of the day is that the new actor, whatever tone he chooses, does so with conviction and is supported in his vision by the studio and crew.

    I'm not really pessimistic, I actually think the franchise will give us a lot of good moments in the future. I'm saying that casting will be increasingly difficult and that it's possible that in the future a Bond actor who will be disliked more than Dalton or Lazenby upon casting and that this first impression will last (unlike Lazenby and Dalton whose legacy have been reassessed).
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,291
    Craig will be almost as difficult to replace as Connery. I don't envy Eon.
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