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Happy to read these comments and I'll read all of them more thoroughly when I have time later. Carry on!
Spy ski jump
TLD plane fight
GE bunjee jump
FYEO cliff fall
CR crane fight
I wonder if the passage of time has robbed that particular sequence of some of its power? I remember being blown away by that sequence the first time I saw it...but since then, I wonder if other, similar sequences such as the big battle inside the supertanker in TSWLM may have stolen some of the thunder that YOLT held in its first go round?
Additionally, re: the crocodile jumping sequence in LALD ... for me, this was when the Bond series nearly "jumped the shark" and this was actually before Fonzie had ever met the original shark that led to the coining of that phrase! In the context of that time, the humor of the Bond series was being taken to a new level in the first of Roger Moore's portrayals of 007. I personally was not pleased with the direction of the series at that time, and this particular move impressed me as being too cartoonish. Given the "stiffness" of the crocs' performances, and their obliging natures in all lining up for Bond's convenience, I harbored the notion that these were all actually manufactured props. Watching the "behind the scenes" footage today, I realize that they were all real crocs chained in place for the scene, and that stuntman Ross Kananaga is indeed risking life & limb with every take...and that the scene is actually much more impressive than I originally gave it credit for.
I guess what I am essentially asking is this: are there some sequences, such as the fight between Bond and Grant in FRWL or the cargo net sequence in TLD, that you feel have become timeless classics...while others (like the ninja crater attack in YOLT) that were more impressive in the context of their time than they are today? Are there some sequences that impress you more now than they did when you first saw them, like the crocodile rock of LALD for me?
Nowadays, they would CGI the reptiles (like SF).
I think it's made slightly more macabre by the fact that the stuntman's father was apparently eaten by crocodile's too.
You just don't hear attention grabbing stories like that anymore :(
I do agree with you on the crocodile scene. I've never really liked it as the crocs lining up in a row is far too conspicuously staged and the whole thing is a bit over the top. However what cannot be denied is that is a phenomenal feat of agility and courage.
I think the ninja attack on the crater loses a lot not being on the big screen. I think it would still be pretty impressive in a cinema.
I do worry that its been a long time since we had a really jaw dropping stunt. The crane jump in CR is the closest but compared to the 70's and 80's when there was one (often more) unbelievable stunt done for real per film its thin gruel these days. Theres not really much in QOS or SF (and to a lesser extent CR) you havent really seen before.
I just listened to that Reunion thing on Radio 4 which was Richard Kiel's last interview and John Glen made the point that these days they simply would do the TSWLM ski jump for real. He said they'd film a guy jumping off something onto an airbag and then CGI on the massive chasm on afterwards. Babs and MGW were both sat there and didnt utter a word to the contrary.
The thing thats so perfect about the ski jump is that its just one camera and one take and your eye simply knows its real. It doesnt matter how good your CGI is the human eye can always tell the difference.
Perfectly understandable…and yet…aren’t there a few stunts that actually benefit from the humor in them (especially during Moore’s tenure as 007?) I’m thinking specifically of Bond’s battle with Gobinda from OP as both cling to the roof of an airplane in flight. When Kamal Khan instructs Gobinda to “go outside” and remove Bond from the plane, the expression on Gobinda’s face is just hilarious to my mind! “Come on, Boss!” he seems to be thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding!” Here he’s been a first class henchman all through the film…and now Kamal Khan is practically ordering him to commit suicide! Or the final moment of the submersible Lotus in TSWLM, with Moore rolling down the car’s window as it wheels back onto dry land and fastidiously removing a dead fish from the vehicle. Surely there must be some moments in the franchise in which a stunt actually benefits from a moment of humor at some point in the proceedings. Does anyone out there have any other nominations in this regard?
Too bad then that there was a need for editing the chase to dead that is where it lost its strength, as well as editing out another vehicle in the chase.
The car chases in Ronin were far more impressive and had a similar energy without the stupid editing. I still feel the editing was so rigorous to hide the fact that the whole was a bit pedestrian so it needed some spice.
Personally, I'd be happy for there to be no CGI in films, but I understand why at times the decision may be made to use it. I'd like it to be done quite sparingly and not when a stunt can be performed for real. Although I still hesitate to risk a stunt person's life. I think there is a point where a stunt can be too risky, even for a Bond film. But from what we have had in the past, and realizing that this is their area of expertise, I say let's have stunts done for real as much as is truly reasonable. I don't mind some humor being involved in a tiny way in a stunt; it just has to be well done, and that is a tricky balance. As for the car flip in TMWTGG, I think Bond fans in general (and on this forum) appreciate the stunt for the spectacular stunt it actually is, and only deride the slide whistle (which, as has been said, Barry regretted). That stunt is genuinely amazing.
And good point for bringing up editing - it is crucial, as evidenced by the lack of good editing in QOS.
Okay, off to check a few other things. Do carry on, everybody! :-bd
I largely agree with your points.
The thing is there's a difference between laughing with the film and laughing at the film.
Gobinda being told to go outside and Moore throwing the fish are the former.
The slide whistle and the pigeon are the latter.
I am so old.....
:))
Well I'd add the "He got the boot." Line from TLD after Bond has disposed of Necros. It's perfectly said by Dalton, as he notices the huge cliff face fast approaching, leaping into action yet again after his experience on the outside of the plane moments before.
I recall seeing this in the cinema, and it getting a big laugh.
Another instance I can think of, would be the PTS of TND, after all the mayhem and explosions, and the co-pilot and other fighter trying to kill Bond, OO7 ejects the rear co-pilot into the other plane above him, with the line "Back seat driver." Not quite as good as the boot line, but it still got a laugh.
Not sure if "See you back at the lodge." should get a mention. I don't know about this one. It's a bit of an oddity. Nothing wrong with it, but I hate Brosnan's delivery and smugness as the para-hawk shoots off the edge. Actually I'm not a big fan of the whole scene, so that probably doesn't help.
@chrisisall, I am older than you - Re TMWTGG, I remember the slide whistle being accepted by the audience just fine and, honestly, it did not bug me at the time so much as take me out of the sense of seriousness awe of the stunt a bit. It did do that. I became more thoroughly annoyed with it with further viewings.
Okay, folks, any more favorite Bond film stunts to discuss and show via links? I still love the climbing of St. Cyril's in FYEO even though that was not a massively difficult stunt.
Let's take one more day for stunts, then we shall move on.
Cheers! :-bd
Perhaps not the most difficult stunt, but definately one of the most breathtaking. All stunts with hights give me goosebumbs. The crane jumps, the climbing, the ski jump.
anyway, I think we're quite spoilt these days with so many great stunts in Bond history.
oh and I must say I found the fight on the train in SF very cool as well. and the rooftop chase with bikes. However the CGI-face of Craig does take away a bit of the excitement, just like the slidewhistle does.
Today, let's think about a different category of characters, one that is discussed from time to time, especially when thinking of Bond girls (but not always a female). Thanks to @OHMSS69 for suggesting this topic. Today we begin discussing a character in Bond films sometimes called a:
Sacrificial Lamb
That character who i is inevitably killed, often early on, as part of the story's emotional arc or plot point. Recently, with Skyfall, Severine has been talked about in that way. As much as many of us would have enjoyed her character living a lot longer (or not dying at all), she was killed - and is a good example of a "sacrificial lamb."
How do you feel about these kind of characters? And can you name other characters that would fit this category? There are quite a few in Bond films!
I'll be leaving in about an hour, but will check back much later on.
Do carry on! B-)
There are lots of others in Bond films, too. (Waiting for @OHMSS69 to chime in as soon as he gets back, as he has an entire long list he can share with us!) :)
Fields was a bit gross...
The hat toss to Tilly nearly made me hate the film as a kid.
Andrea's off screen expulsion and Bond's acceptance of it was a bit cold.
Severine's death still grates...
Kerim's the best primarily because he's just a great character, but Jill does the most in terms of being a sacrificial lamb. Her mode of death is certainly memorable, and it's as effective as anybody's role.
@chrisisall, Paris's death would have been much better/worse if it had been a returning Natalya, rather than a blatantly shoehorned in Teri Hatcher.
Kerim was in the game big time, and he paid for it- I can deal.
Jill was logical (given the givens).
It would have been much sadder for sure, but that's what I meant by better and worse. More effective, but...under no circumstances do I want Natalya to die.
B-)