A question to those who care not for Brosnan's Bond

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  • I must admit on repeat viewing of TWINE recently, I hadn't realised how ****ing cheesy the dialogue is. Haven't seen TND in years, and won't watch DAD again on principle. GE, however is pure class.

    I think it was totally down to the direction the films were going in at the time. I could totally see the Brozza in TLD, I mean, the film was written for him, so he could have done the serious Bond thing, had he been allowed by the source material.
  • edited December 2013 Posts: 11,189
    I must admit on repeat viewing of TWINE recently, I hadn't realised how ****ing cheesy the dialogue is . Haven't seen TND in years, and won't watch DAD again on principle. GE, however is pure class.

    I think it was totally down to the direction the films were going in at the time. I could totally see the Brozza in TLD, I mean, the film was written for him, so he could have done the serious Bond thing, had he been allowed by the source material.

    Do you want to put that in English for those of us who don't speak Spy? :p

    The dialogue could be cheesy in the Brosnan films. The worst lines (IMO) are:

    -The first exchange with Bond and Mr Kil
    -"Now...you said something about...going down together?

    Sickening :-& :-& :-& I say that as someone that doesn't mind the Madonna cameo
  • QuantumOrganizationQuantumOrganization We have people everywhere
    Posts: 1,187
    "He knew all about my shoooulder, he knew exactly where to huuurt me."
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    "He knew all about my shoooulder, he knew exactly where to huuurt me."
    Not exactly his finest hour. Quite the contrary, sadly.
  • Posts: 6,432
    tumblr_nfzfxalo0J1r1ult6o1_400.gif

    That repeated line of dialogue irritated me
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    tumblr_nfzfxalo0J1r1ult6o1_400.gif

    That repeated line of dialogue irritated me
    Same here. Horrid. Wasn't that originally from OHMSS? I seem to recall Tracy saying that after the casino encounter.
  • Posts: 6,432
    bondjames wrote: »
    tumblr_nfzfxalo0J1r1ult6o1_400.gif

    That repeated line of dialogue irritated me
    Same here. Horrid. Wasn't that originally from OHMSS? I seem to recall Tracy saying that after the casino encounter.

    If I recall Tracy says something similar can't remember off the top of my head, though the repeated line as a plot reveal was lazy in TWINE I thought.

  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,187
    That line may very well be what drops TWINE in the lowest place on my Bond film ranking. It's not just the repetition and terrible delivery of it by the three lead actors in the film, it's above all the fact that P&W actually thought it a smart 'device' to make Bond suss out Electra's betrayal. The scene in which he confronts her right after he takes out Gabor (off-screen, another mistake) is perhaps the most cringe-worthy in the entire series. "He knew where to huuuuurt me", says an emo-Bond, auditioning for a part in a teen soap series. And Electra even comments on it, explaining to our master spy that Renard probably saw Bond at her father's funeral and that she didn't have to sleep with him to figure out the wounded shoulder. When putting together this scene, no doubt a 5 minute affair, P&W were thinking, "The people who pay to see a Bond film have a single digit IQ at best--we'll get away with this sloppy writing." I remember sitting in the theatre in '99 thinking, no way, I did not just hear these things, did I?
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    bondjames wrote: »
    tumblr_nfzfxalo0J1r1ult6o1_400.gif

    That repeated line of dialogue irritated me
    Same here. Horrid. Wasn't that originally from OHMSS? I seem to recall Tracy saying that after the casino encounter.

    If I recall Tracy says something similar can't remember off the top of my head, though the repeated line as a plot reveal was lazy in TWINE I thought.

    Tracy says, "People who want to stay alive play it safe." So basically while Elektra advocates living and acting freely, Tracy is tragically signaling her self-destructive and suicidal streak.
  • Posts: 6,432
    bondjames wrote: »
    tumblr_nfzfxalo0J1r1ult6o1_400.gif



    That repeated line of dialogue irritated me
    Same here. Horrid. Wasn't that originally from OHMSS? I seem to recall Tracy saying that after the casino encounter.

    If I recall Tracy says something similar can't remember off the top of my head, though the repeated line as a plot reveal was lazy in TWINE I thought.

    Tracy says, "People who want to stay alive play it safe." So basically while Elektra advocates living and acting freely, Tracy is tragically signaling her self-destructive and suicidal streak.

    Remember the line now cheers was on a waking night shift when I posted and brain dead, so P and W just flipped what Tracy said it's literally the binary opposite not sure whether it was intentional.

  • Posts: 676
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    That line may very well be what drops TWINE in the lowest place on my Bond film ranking. It's not just the repetition and terrible delivery of it by the three lead actors in the film, it's above all the fact that P&W actually thought it a smart 'device' to make Bond suss out Electra's betrayal. The scene in which he confronts her right after he takes out Gabor (off-screen, another mistake) is perhaps the most cringe-worthy in the entire series. "He knew where to huuuuurt me", says an emo-Bond, auditioning for a part in a teen soap series. And Electra even comments on it, explaining to our master spy that Renard probably saw Bond at her father's funeral and that she didn't have to sleep with him to figure out the wounded shoulder. When putting together this scene, no doubt a 5 minute affair, P&W were thinking, "The people who pay to see a Bond film have a single digit IQ at best--we'll get away with this sloppy writing." I remember sitting in the theatre in '99 thinking, no way, I did not just hear these things, did I?
    You make a good case for this being one of the worst scenes in any Bond film.
    Getafix wrote: »
    chrisisall wrote:
    Was it an instant dislike based on a perceived tonal change from Dalton's movies?
    Was it a reconsideration later after his movies had been around a while?
    Is it that you just don't like Brosnan as an actor?

    I'm sincerely curious, because he used to be my favourite Bond actor, however since I've read the Fleming novels & re-discovered Dalton's work, Brosnan has moved down a notch for me, but he's still in 3 of my top 10 Bond movies...

    Was it Die Another Day? Is that what did it? ;)
    However, my dislike for his Bond was almost immediate. There was something slimy about him.
    Slimy. That's a good word for Brosnan's Bond.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    bondjames wrote: »
    tumblr_nfzfxalo0J1r1ult6o1_400.gif



    That repeated line of dialogue irritated me
    Same here. Horrid. Wasn't that originally from OHMSS? I seem to recall Tracy saying that after the casino encounter.

    If I recall Tracy says something similar can't remember off the top of my head, though the repeated line as a plot reveal was lazy in TWINE I thought.

    Tracy says, "People who want to stay alive play it safe." So basically while Elektra advocates living and acting freely, Tracy is tragically signaling her self-destructive and suicidal streak.

    Remember the line now cheers was on a waking night shift when I posted and brain dead, so P and W just flipped what Tracy said it's literally the binary opposite not sure whether it was intentional.

    @fire0and_ice, it's been a while since I've seen Brosnan's films, but isn't it in TWINE that Elektra asks Bond if he's had/lost another woman or something like that, and he downplays it? It could've been a purposeful, yet lame attempt to remind viewers of Tracy, like the line Elektra repeats ad nauseam.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    I have always felt that Brosnan is the kind of actor you find in day time soap operas, and anyone from those shows would have been just as good. Or bad according to me.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    I have always felt that Brosnan is the kind of actor you find in day time soap operas, and anyone from those shows would have been just as good. Or bad according to me.
    Well he did cradle Liz Taylor's bosom in one of his earliest scenes, and his character had his heart cut out in a Hammer House episode (Carpathian Eagle) about a prostitute killer.
    mirrorcrackd02.jpg
  • Posts: 463
    Growing up with Brosnan as Bond, I loved him in the role - he was easily my favorite. TWINE was probably one of my most watched VHS tapes when I was younger.

    At some point in 2005, though, my opinion changed - Connery became my favorite (hasn't been dethroned). The problem was definitely the scripts he was given. All of his films are littered with cool moments but they don't add up.

    I remember not being happy when Craig was announced (or at the apparent F YOU the producers gave Brosnan) but in hindsight, I do think it was needed - the series definitely needed some sort of shakeup and Casino Royale delivered. I think it's such a shame, too, because I love a lot of Brosnan's work outside of Bond. The Matador, Tailor of Panama, After The Sunset...even The November Man seemed more impressive than some of his Bond stuff.

    All in all, I'll always have a fondness for him but it's sad that his Bond era starts to fall apart when examined.

    I'd like to add that for all purposes, the game Everything or Nothing could be considered canon and his last performance as Bond - definitely a much better way for him to leave the role.
  • RareJamesBondFanRareJamesBondFan Touch it. You can touch it if you want.
    Posts: 132
    All in all, I'll always have a fondness for him but it's sad that his Bond era starts to fall apart when examined.
    its a shame how his movies dont work when you actually wtch them
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    "He knew all about my shoooulder, he knew exactly where to huuurt me."

    I have had a bad shoulder the last few months, so I am starting to sympathize.

    Besides, my feelings on Brosnan and at least two of his films have mellowed considerably lately. I know some others feel differently still.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,804
    "He knew all about my shoooulder, he knew exactly where to huuurt me."

    I have had a bad shoulder the last few months, so I am starting to sympathize.

    Besides, my feelings on Brosnan and at least two of his films have mellowed considerably lately. I know some others feel differently still.
    Cool, as long as one of them is TND. ;)
  • edited February 2022 Posts: 2,270
    I think Brosnan is the only other actor apart from Connery to nail down every element of the character of Bond. He was handsome, sophisticated, physical, swaggering, believable, humorous, you could buy how dangerous his Bond was. I think he’s right up there with Connery, if not slightly lower.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,804
    I think Brosnan is the only other actor apart from Connery to nail down every element of the character of Bond. He was handsome, sophisticated, physical, swaggering, believable, humorous, you could buy how dangerous his Bond was. I think he’s right up there with Connery, if not slightly lower.
    I feel Dalton did as well as they did. Craig & Moore are right behind. We fans have been so damn lucky with the casting....
  • slide_99slide_99 USA
    edited February 2022 Posts: 693
    When Brosnan was Bond I was lukewarm on him, and when Craig replaced him I was glad. But after the insipidness of the latter half of the Craig era, I appreciate Brosnan much more and consider him #3 after Connery and Dalton. You don't know what you've got until it's gone, and all that.
  • chrisisall wrote: »
    I think Brosnan is the only other actor apart from Connery to nail down every element of the character of Bond. He was handsome, sophisticated, physical, swaggering, believable, humorous, you could buy how dangerous his Bond was. I think he’s right up there with Connery, if not slightly lower.
    I feel Dalton did as well as they did. Craig & Moore are right behind. We fans have been so damn lucky with the casting....

    Oh absolutely, every Bond is great in my eyes. It’s all really just down to preference. Brosnan was my 1st Bond, but Connery was the one that got me hooked on the series. Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, and Craig are all equally wonderful in my eyes, but whenever I think of Bond, it’s either Connery or Brosnan that immediately jump to mind.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    chrisisall wrote: »
    "He knew all about my shoooulder, he knew exactly where to huuurt me."

    I have had a bad shoulder the last few months, so I am starting to sympathize.

    Besides, my feelings on Brosnan and at least two of his films have mellowed considerably lately. I know some others feel differently still.
    Cool, as long as one of them is TND. ;)

    It is. And the other is DAD.
  • edited February 2022 Posts: 7,438
    Only just discovered this thread!
    Well, where to start? I would be Brossas worst fan. Being Irish, I knew of him through 'The Manions of America' and the awful 'Remington Steele', a show in which he played second fiddle to Stephanie Zimbalist, and thats one of the problems with Brossa, he always came across as second fiddle in his Bond films. When Roger left the role, Brossa was front runner in the media, especially here in Ireland, "The Man from County Meath was born to play Bond!" was the nonsense I was hearing constantly. He appeared on our main chat show 'The Late Late Show' and host Gay Byrne gestured to the audience "wouldn't He make a great Bond?" to resounding cheers "No, he bleedin' wouldn't!" I retorted at the telly!
    To my relief, Timothy was signed and we got a fantastic new 007, the Best imo, but then that lawsuit came about, and when sorted, Dalton bowed out and back into the news came Brossa again!!
    When he inevitably got the role, I went to see 'GoldenEye' , not expecting much, though I was loving the excitement of Bond returning to the big screen. The only thing I remember from that first viewing was Daniel Kleinmans dazzling title sequence! Its a dull movie, GE, and now it remains second last in my ranking! Brossa, despite whats said by fans, is a very bland, wooden actor, who has very low screen presence! When he does have to act, its unintentionally hilarious ( hello TWINE!) and he is always outshone by other actors, whether it be Judi Dench, Robbie Coltrane, Vincent Schiavelli or Sophie Marceau! There is no question he is a handsome guy, with youthful looks ( my nightmare was these looks meant he would be making 6 or 7 Bond films, think that would have finished me as a fan!) but Brossa also had a smugness/ smarm about him which none of the other actors had and greatly irritated me. Each movie after GE were equally forgettable, generic, by the numbers action (and poor action!) fodder.....and then DAD happened!!! And I thought "Jesus, it cant get any worse than this!" For the record, I dont just single out the Ice surfing scene and invisible car, but the whole movie was badly written, acted and directed, the very worst in the series! Anyway, sense prevailed and Brossa was dumped ( I was ELATED!!) and we got Daniel Craig, who was a revelation as Bond. I came away from first viewing of CR with the joys of being a James Bond safely returned! Brossas four movies reside at the bottom of my ranking, and thats where I reckon they will always stay!
    Does this answer your question, @chrisisall?? 🤣🤣🤣
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    Posts: 3,152
    whenever I think of Bond, it’s either Connery or Brosnan that immediately jump to mind.

    Say 'James Bond' and, without a second's consideration, I see Connery. And that's despite Craig's Bond resonating the most with me on a personal, emotional and visceral level. And also despite thinking 'that is James Bond' whenever I see Dalton from back in the day!
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,218
    chrisisall wrote: »
    I think Brosnan is the only other actor apart from Connery to nail down every element of the character of Bond. He was handsome, sophisticated, physical, swaggering, believable, humorous, you could buy how dangerous his Bond was. I think he’s right up there with Connery, if not slightly lower.
    I feel Dalton did as well as they did. Craig & Moore are right behind. We fans have been so damn lucky with the casting....

    Oh absolutely, every Bond is great in my eyes. It’s all really just down to preference. Brosnan was my 1st Bond, but Connery was the one that got me hooked on the series. Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, and Craig are all equally wonderful in my eyes, but whenever I think of Bond, it’s either Connery or Brosnan that immediately jump to mind.

    It's Connery or Dalton for me - but Brosnan was my first too, so he's not far behind.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    @Mathis1 sums up my feelings to a "T". It was the smarmy and cheese which irritated me the most and yes, I found his acting and presence to be lacking.
  • edited February 2022 Posts: 2,270
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    Only just discovered this thread!
    Well, where to start? I would be Brossas worst fan. Being Irish, I knew of him through 'The Manions of America' and the awful 'Remington Steele', a show in which he played second fiddle to Stephanie Zimbalist, and thats one of the problems with Brossa, he always came across as second fiddle in his Bond films. When Roger left the role, Brossa was front runner in the media, especially here in Ireland, "The Man from County Meath was born to play Bond!" was the nonsense I was hearing constantly. He appeared on our main chat show 'The Late Late Show' and host Gay Byrne gestured to the audience "wouldn't He make a great Bond?" to resounding cheers "No, he bleedin' wouldn't!" I retorted at the telly!
    To my relief, Timothy was signed and we got a fantastic new 007, the Best imo, but then that lawsuit came about, and when sorted, Dalton bowed out and back into the news came Brossa again!!
    When he inevitably got the role, I went to see 'GoldenEye' , not expecting much, though I was loving the excitement of Bond returning to the big screen. The only thing I remember from that first viewing was Daniel Kleinmans dazzling title sequence! Its a dull movie, GE, and now it remains second last in my ranking! Brossa, despite whats said by fans, is a very bland, wooden actor, who has very low screen presence! When he does have to act, its unintentionally hilarious ( hello TWINE!) and he is always outshone by other actors, whether it be Judi Dench, Robbie Coltrane, Vincent Schiavelli or Sophie Marceau! There is no question he is a handsome guy, with youthful looks ( my nightmare was these looks meant he would be making 6 or 7 Bond films, think that would have finished me as a fan!) but Brossa also had a smugness/ smarm about him which none of the other actors had and greatly irritated me. Each movie after GE were equally forgettable, generic, by the numbers action (and poor action!) fodder.....and then DAD happened!!! And I thought "Jesus, it cant get any worse than this!" For the record, I dont just single out the Ice surfing scene and invisible car, but the whole movie was badly written, acted and directed, the very worst in the series! Anyway, sense prevailed and Brossa was dumped ( I was ELATED!!) and we got Daniel Craig, who was a revelation as Bond. I came away from first viewing of CR with the joys of being a James Bond safely returned! Brossas four movies reside at the bottom of my ranking, and thats where I reckon they will always stay!
    Does this answer your question, @chrisisall?? 🤣🤣🤣

    peter wrote: »
    @Mathis1 sums up my feelings to a "T". It was the smarmy and cheese which irritated me the most and yes, I found his acting and presence to be lacking.

    Sorry fellas but all I got from those was a reaffirmation that Pierce is one of the best Bonds ;)
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    edited February 2022 Posts: 8,218
    Each to their own and all that, but I just don't get how - whatever about the criticisms of performance - anyone can say Brosnan has no presence. He is a bona fide movie star. It's one of the reasons he was so popular in the 90s amongst general audiences.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    @007ClassicBondFan , I wish I didn't feel this way. I have my favorite Bonds in Craig and Connery by far, but I can watch Moore, Dalton and Lazenby any day of the week and am filled with genuine enjoyment watching them do their thing.

    But with Brosnan, it hurts to say that I only like one half of his four films, and that's TND; I think his performance is effortless (I can't stand the film from the HALO jump onwards); but that first half, he was damn good... he leaned into his comfort zone. Once he stretches himself and tries "the drama", I find him cringey (TWINE and scenes like the one in DAD when he confronts M aboard the ship... I hear his reading of the lines and it sends uncomfortable shivers down my back).

    Generally he just rubbed me the wrong way.... Perhaps when I was younger I watched him in something that turned me off? And that stuck to him when I watched his Bond films? I don't know what it is. But however this dislike came about, it hasn't softened with time.
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