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Fleming (TV Mini-Series 2014)

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  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    Birdleson wrote:
    Murdock wrote:
    I enjoyed episode 4 the most. I'm happy it toned down the Sex and romance stuff with Ann. It was a fun little series but I was hoping for something more historically accurate.

    That was the fifth time that Flemings life was a basis for a movie. Check out the other ones, they may be more of what you're looking for. GOLDENEYE (1989) seems to be the most grounded in reality. I think it's on youtube.

    Only 10 mins on Youtube - very rare and hard to find since it's out of print, so to speak.
  • MrcogginsMrcoggins Following in the footsteps of Quentin Quigley.
    Posts: 3,144
    This is now out on DVD and as I don't have SKY I bought it and sat and watched it in one sitting last night well that's one night of my life that I won't have again it's weak and I just feel that they could of done so much more with it shame! but there you go.
  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    I just discovered old colleague and friend of mine did the title sequence for 'Fleming':

    http://brokenantler.prosite.com/200185/2356128/titles-broadcast/sky-atlantic-fleming
  • RevelatorRevelator
    edited April 2014 Posts: 2,921
    Nicholas Rankin, author of the book Ian Fleming's Commandos, covered the Fleming mini-series for the Oxford University Press Blog. His three-part examination has good fun dismantling the show's delusions of historicity.

    Part One:
    http://blog.oup.com/2014/02/fleming-tv-series-episode-1-historical-accuracy/

    Part Two:
    http://blog.oup.com/2014/02/fleming-tv-series-historical-accuracy-episodes-2-3/

    Part Three:
    http://blog.oup.com/2014/02/fleming-tv-series-episode-4-historical-accuracy/
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,344
    Revelator wrote:
    Nicholas Rankin, author of the book Ian Fleming's Commandos, covered the Fleming mini-series for the Oxford University Press Blog. His three-part examination has good fun dismantling the show's delusions of historicity.

    Part One:
    http://blog.oup.com/2014/02/fleming-tv-series-episode-1-historical-accuracy/

    Part Two:
    http://blog.oup.com/2014/02/fleming-tv-series-historical-accuracy-episodes-2-3/

    Part Three:
    http://blog.oup.com/2014/02/fleming-tv-series-episode-4-historical-accuracy/

    Thanks, @Revelator, I'll enjoy reading that later.
  • Pierce2DanielPierce2Daniel
    Posts: 4,412
    I got around to watching this recently and I have to admit that while I was far from blown away (and at times a little bored) the series is perfectly fine disposable entertainment. It doesn't really want to be anything more than that despite the fact that it could have been very interesting indeed. @Revelator's comments on the previous page discussing how the series should have blurred fact/fiction would have been a much more sophisticated way of portraying Fleming's life.

    The fundamental problem with all Fleming biopics is that they misinterpret him as a Bond-like figure. Fleming was a fantasist and wanted to be Bond hense why he created him; no biopic has really grasped this concept. Also am I the only one who thinks that Fleming's life post-Bond was more interesting? He created the ultimate hero for his time only for Bond to take on a life of his own. He went from loving his creation to hating him and eventually was forced into an early grave.

    Furthermore, Dominic Cooper is miscast in the part; he seems to be doing an impression of Moore and Brosnan. In addition, Fleming is a pretty two-dimensional character. I think the performances overall are really nothing to get excited about aside from Lara Pulver who is the only interesting thing in it.

    Having said that I think the series gives the audience exactly what they want from a Fleming biopic: It has adventure, action, espionage, sex, glamour and you get to meet the inspiration for various famous characters (all being ham-fistedly).

    It's also very well-produced (maybe slightly over-produced). There is also a surprising amount of CGI in it as well. At times it reminded me of Baz Lurhman's 'Great Gatsby' with its over-the-top decadence. IF anything I'd love to see Baz produce a Hollywood version of Fleming's story but sadly it would probably be as creatively flat as this TV show. We are still awaiting the ultimate Fleming biopic sadly. But I guess this will do in the meanwhile.
  • grunthergrunther
    Posts: 158
    Did they infringe on the Bond theme with this? - the title music sounds a little close to the "bar" in places
  • SandySandy Somewhere in Europe
    Posts: 4,012
    Just a bit of news for those in Germany, I just read in a magazine this series will be broadcast on Arte begining 4th of September at 20:15. The German name is Mein Name ist Fleming, Ian Fleming (:|
  • mirandafrostmirandafrost
    Posts: 368
    Oh really? Nice news! But in German it won't be that cool because we can't listen to Dominic alias Ian speaking German, especially in episode 1! :)
    But the title is really bad. Couldn't they think of something... More creative?
  • fromswedenwithlovefromswedenwithlove
    Posts: 654
    I did not know what to expect at all when I first sat down to watch ep. 1 but I really liked it! Though it would have been cool if it took place around the time when Fleming met Cubby and Harry..
  • SandySandy Somewhere in Europe
    Posts: 4,012
    Ahem... I watched the first episode today. I really don't know what to make of it, I want to watch the rest of the series but really, there aren't many reasons why I should. I didn't like it at all. It looks like a bad novel where, for some reason, people say "bloody" an awful lot :-S On a positive note Anna Chancellor is great (as ever, I might add).
  • Ed83Ed83
    Posts: 1,181
    This series is on Netflix as of today. I'm watching the first episode. I liked the beginning, but the more I watch it seems I have to agree with the miscast of Fleming.
  • Dalton12Dalton12
    Posts: 1,107
    The miniseries does often implicitly portray Fleming in relation to the cinematic Bond (with coy references to the movies and a few 007-ish action sequences), but maybe Fleming's Fleming is more resonant to the literary Bond than I gave it credit for.
  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    There is a rumor that B Cumberbatch might play Fleming based on Andrew Lycett's Fleming biography, although Tim Hiddleston might be a good choice too.
  • Dalton12Dalton12
    Posts: 1,107
    007InVT wrote: »
    There is a rumor that B Cumberbatch might play Fleming based on Andrew Lycett's Fleming biography, although Tim Hiddleston might be a good choice too.

    That would be excellent both actors are great .
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,257
    Having finally watched the series, I can say it's okay in my book but not perfect. The casting of Cooper isn't too big a deal for me; he does rather well though I doubt he comes even close to resembling Ian Fleming. The little nods to the world of Bond are very entertaining for sure.
  • LudovicoLudovico
    edited June 2015 Posts: 15,229
    Ian Fleming: Bondmaker was IMO borderline genius. Because it was about the creative process and about the novels.
  • fire_and_icefire_and_ice
    Posts: 6,432
    Yet to watch this, found it on Sky Demand though must admit the casting of Cooper has not made me rush out to watch it.
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