The James Bond Questions Thread

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  • Posts: 6,396
    Probably barking up the wrong tree with a Bond continuity question, but this one comes from early in the series.

    In From Russia With Love, Bond famously mentions his adventure with M in Tokyo. But then in You Only Live Twice, he (and everyone else) acts like it's his first time in Japan.

    It's theoretically possible that Bond was making up the story about M, but M turns the radio off immediately, and Bond spent the rest of the conversation trying to keep Tania talking about the Lektor, so it's out of character for him to make up a diversion. What gives?

    I think it was a simply a script error. Roald Dahl perhaps needed to have watched the earlier films more than he apparently had.
  • Posts: 1,817
    Probably barking up the wrong tree with a Bond continuity question, but this one comes from early in the series.

    In From Russia With Love, Bond famously mentions his adventure with M in Tokyo. But then in You Only Live Twice, he (and everyone else) acts like it's his first time in Japan.

    It's theoretically possible that Bond was making up the story about M, but M turns the radio off immediately, and Bond spent the rest of the conversation trying to keep Tania talking about the Lektor, so it's out of character for him to make up a diversion. What gives?

    I think it was a simply a script error. Roald Dahl perhaps needed to have watched the earlier films more than he apparently had.

    Or maybe Bond didn't want Tanaka to know he was been previously in Japan. At least that's how I see it.
  • Posts: 6,396
    0013 wrote:
    Probably barking up the wrong tree with a Bond continuity question, but this one comes from early in the series.

    In From Russia With Love, Bond famously mentions his adventure with M in Tokyo. But then in You Only Live Twice, he (and everyone else) acts like it's his first time in Japan.

    It's theoretically possible that Bond was making up the story about M, but M turns the radio off immediately, and Bond spent the rest of the conversation trying to keep Tania talking about the Lektor, so it's out of character for him to make up a diversion. What gives?

    I think it was a simply a script error. Roald Dahl perhaps needed to have watched the earlier films more than he apparently had.

    Or maybe Bond didn't want Tanaka to know he was been previously in Japan. At least that's how I see it.

    But it wasn't Tanaka who asked Bond that question, it was Henderson.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    0013 wrote:
    Probably barking up the wrong tree with a Bond continuity question, but this one comes from early in the series.

    In From Russia With Love, Bond famously mentions his adventure with M in Tokyo. But then in You Only Live Twice, he (and everyone else) acts like it's his first time in Japan.

    It's theoretically possible that Bond was making up the story about M, but M turns the radio off immediately, and Bond spent the rest of the conversation trying to keep Tania talking about the Lektor, so it's out of character for him to make up a diversion. What gives?

    I think it was a simply a script error. Roald Dahl perhaps needed to have watched the earlier films more than he apparently had.

    Or maybe Bond didn't want Tanaka to know he was been previously in Japan. At least that's how I see it.

    I'd go with the Dahl theory. Plus it was Henderson, not Tanaka.
  • Posts: 1,817
    You are absolutely right. Either way, I seemed to me that Bond didn't trust Henderson. That's way he lied about the martini and being before in Japan.
  • 0013 wrote:
    You are absolutely right. Either way, I seemed to me that Bond didn't trust Henderson. That's way he lied about the martini and being before in Japan.

    I'd always assumed he was just being polite about the martini. That would seem like an odd thing to indicate distrust, wouldn't it?
  • Posts: 1,817
    0013 wrote:
    You are absolutely right. Either way, I seemed to me that Bond didn't trust Henderson. That's way he lied about the martini and being before in Japan.

    I'd always assumed he was just being polite about the martini. That would seem like an odd thing to indicate distrust, wouldn't it?

    He did learn to trust no-one, at least in the events of CR.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,183
    Wint wrote:
    Actually I think according to the making of documentary, Rog got off the Concorde, then changed clothes, had his make up done then climbed back up the steps in order to film the scene as Bond coming out of the plane.
    Yep I think you might be right actually.
    Thank you for this glimpse into the magic of filmmaking.

    @Wint, please avoid such pointless posts.

  • Posts: 1,970
    Do you all think John Cleese got the shaft when it came to playing Q? I mean the guy really only got to play Q in 1 Bond film then boom Casino Royale comes along and no Q. Yea he played Qs assistant in TWINE but he really wasn't Q then. I feel like the guy got the raw end of the stick and didn't really have a chance to become Q. What do you all think?
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    I'm not sure what went down between DAD and CR - I was younger and didn't care what was happening, I just wanted my Bond, albeit with Brosnan along for a fifth film, until Craig surprised me.

    I mean, who really returned? Judi Dench as M, that's it. Robinson didn't come back, MP, Q, none of them did.
  • Posts: 6,396
    fjdinardo wrote:
    Do you all think John Cleese got the shaft when it came to playing Q? I mean the guy really only got to play Q in 1 Bond film then boom Casino Royale comes along and no Q. Yea he played Qs assistant in TWINE but he really wasn't Q then. I feel like the guy got the raw end of the stick and didn't really have a chance to become Q. What do you all think?

    He was badly miscast as Q. One of the many things wrong with DAD.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,351
    I thought Cleese was a fine replacement. And like Pierce, he got a decent sendoff in Everything or Nothing.
  • Posts: 1,970
    Heres another question. I asked this question many times and never got a clear answer. Out of the 4 Bond Films Pierce Brosnan did which one was his favorite? Which one did he enjoy making the most?
  • MrBondMrBond Station S
    edited November 2013 Posts: 2,044
    MrBond wrote:
    One thing that has always buggered me is why the actor who plays M the only one who is credited as their characther in the trailers, the title sequence and on the posters?
    This goes way back to Dr. No when Bernard Lee played M, but why is it like this?

    Does anyone know the answer?

    fjdinardo wrote:
    Do you all think John Cleese got the shaft when it came to playing Q? I mean the guy really only got to play Q in 1 Bond film then boom Casino Royale comes along and no Q. Yea he played Qs assistant in TWINE but he really wasn't Q then. I feel like the guy got the raw end of the stick and didn't really have a chance to become Q. What do you all think?

    If i recall correctly, he had a contract to continue play Q in Bond 21 and Bond 22. But as we all know, the reboot came along and everyone made a concious decision to scrap all of the recurring characthers except M.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,351
    fjdinardo wrote:
    Heres another question. I asked this question many times and never got a clear answer. Out of the 4 Bond Films Pierce Brosnan did which one was his favorite? Which one did he enjoy making the most?
    In the EoN documentary he said he enjoyed working on GoldenEye the most. He doesn't even remember the order of the other films he made, so I'd say GoldenEye.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    MrBond wrote:
    One thing that has always buggered me is why the actor who plays M the only one who is credited as their characther in the trailers, the title sequence and on the posters?
    This goes way back to Dr. No when Bernard Lee played M, but why is it like this?

    Does anyone know the answer?
    [/quote]

    I don't think I'm understanding the question well enough, @MrBond. Do you mean to ask "Why are the actors/actresses playing M always the only people credited in trailers, the title sequence and the posters?" If so, the actor playing Bond is also always credited. To answer the question though, M often has an important role in the films, and when you have people like Dame Judi cast in the film they have more than earned a credit on anything promoting the films.
    Murdock wrote:
    fjdinardo wrote:
    Heres another question. I asked this question many times and never got a clear answer. Out of the 4 Bond Films Pierce Brosnan did which one was his favorite? Which one did he enjoy making the most?
    In the EoN documentary he said he enjoyed working on GoldenEye the most. He doesn't even remember the order of the other films he made, so I'd say GoldenEye.

    Yeah, in the documentary Pierce said after Goldeneye everything was a blur. Not to say that's a bad thing, I think he was just commenting on how wild the ride can be when you are James Bond for years on end and are shouldering a franchise with a decades long legacy. That said, I'd wager that Goldeneye is his favorite, as it was no doubt nerve-inducing yet exciting at the same time, with such a stellar cast and crew on board for the ride.
  • Sure i've seen it mentioned that TND is Brosnan's favorite of the four he did. Maybe after Goldeneye and becoming a little more established as Bond, he went into things with a little more vigor than before, or simply enjoyed himself more ?
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,351
    If I got to film at arecibo observatory then that would also be my favorite movie. ;)
  • Posts: 1,970
    I always thought TWINE was his favorite. IDK where I heard that.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited November 2013 Posts: 13,355
    Sure i've seen it mentioned that TND is Brosnan's favorite of the four he did. Maybe after Goldeneye and becoming a little more established as Bond, he went into things with a little more vigor than before, or simply enjoyed himself more ?

    In the past Brosnan has said he knew Tomorrow Never Dies "wasn't up to speed, it wasn't as good as GoldenEye."

    I too think he sees GoldenEye as his best.
  • Posts: 1,970
    yea no way TND was his favorite. I even think he liked making DAD more then TND
  • Posts: 1,970
    Do you all think Skyfall would have been as successfull as it was had there been another Bond film in 2010? or did the 4 year gap help with the success of Skyfall since we didnt have a Bond film in 4 years?
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    I just feel that the overall quality of the film made SF so successful. I remember hearing murmurings after almost all of the showings I went to from casual fans who were talking about how great it was, what would happen next, who they thought MP was, etc. It brought in a whole lot of new fans, that's for sure.
  • MrBondMrBond Station S
    Posts: 2,044
    fjdinardo wrote:
    Do you all think Skyfall would have been as successfull as it was had there been another Bond film in 2010? or did the 4 year gap help with the success of Skyfall since we didnt have a Bond film in 4 years?

    SF had the huge advantage of the 50's anniversary and the Olympic segment with Craig which created a lot of buzz.
    But the main factor was the quality of the film, with the script, the acting, the music etc which created a great word of mouth. Something that may not have happened back in 2010.
  • Why did Goldfinger stop the laser?

    I've never quite understood why Bond was worth more to him alive.

    Is it because if Bond failed to report Mi6 would have known that he was likely killed by Goldfinger and therefore further spark their curiosity in him?

    Seems pretty contrived to me.
  • edited November 2013 Posts: 3,236
    Bond told Goldfinger that he knew what Operation: Grandslam was. He was bluffing, of course, and Goldfinger suspected it, but he knew that if Bond were telling the truth and if he were to be killed, MI6 would panic and set every agent on them. Even if Bond were telling the truth about Operation: Grandslam, MI6 would assume he was on the case if he didn't fail to report.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    Bond told Goldfinger that he knew what Operation: Grandslam was. He was bluffing, of course, and Goldfinger suspected it, but he knew that if Bond were telling the truth and if he were to be killed, MI6 would panic and set every agent on them. Even if Bond were telling the truth about Operation: Grandslam, MI6 would assume he was on the case if he didn't fail to report.

    I was in the midst of typing this up. But yes, it's because Bond knew about 'Operation: Glandslam,' and whether he was bluffing or not, he was worth more to Goldfinger alive.
  • MrBondMrBond Station S
    Posts: 2,044
    It's much better in the film than it is in the book, where Goldfinger saves Bond by the single purpose to keep Bond as a secretary of the Operation.
  • Posts: 4,762
    In DAF, what happens to Professor Dr. Metz? We never see him flee the control room with the other technicians as the rig is going up in flames, so are we supposed to assume that he bought it? Not that he matters, really, but it would have been nice to see a little closure to his character.
  • Bond told Goldfinger that he knew what Operation: Grandslam was. He was bluffing, of course, and Goldfinger suspected it, but he knew that if Bond were telling the truth and if he were to be killed, MI6 would panic and set every agent on them. Even if Bond were telling the truth about Operation: Grandslam, MI6 would assume he was on the case if he didn't fail to report.

    It still doesn't make much sense to me.

    Goldfinger doesn't make Bond fake a report to Mi6 saying that Goldfinger is clean. Instead he keeps Bond prisoner making it impossible for him to report, he may have well just killed him when he had the chance.

    I still think the reason Goldfinger didn't kill Bond with the laser is yet to be explained. Either that or I'm being mega thick.


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