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EON was still in financial difficulties and they had no idea if Bond would resonate in the 90's (after LTK's relatively disappointing 1989 showing & the long 6 year gap). Additionally, I'm not sure if that is what made them move away from the busy summer release period to December, but GE was the first Bond to go there in years.
Anyway, my point is Campbell did a very good job on GE considering the budget. TND & CR had massive budgets comparatively speaking. I only wish he had his CR budget for GE - in which case that movie could have been been absolutely phenomenal. Even now, it's a damn fine movie even with the budget limit. Consider for example the cast chosen and the superb job done by all actors in this movie compared to some of the higher budget disgraces during Brozzas' tenure.
I know he's said he does not want to come back to Bond, but even at his advanced age, I'd like him to do one more. I love what he's done for the franchise - twice.
He has given me superb fisticuff sequences (GE was outstanding on the satellite, & CR was impressive on the stairwell), & excellent aerial sequences (GE satellite & CR crane) - the best non-CGI aerial work IMO since the good old days with John Glen.
If not direct, at least be an advisor to any future director newbie EON may bring on, to prevent future debacles from debutantes.
PS: RE: Edge of Darkness 1980's version - I still remember the excellent title track by Eric Clapton. Bought it on 7"
So QoS (the most expensive Bond film) was made for almost 150 million more than GE? What the hell did they spend all that money on then?
QoS were haemorrhaging cash like money grew in the gardens of Pinewood. They squandered it big time and worse yet, there's tonnes of excellent footage that could have been used to tell a better looking, a more coherent and visually more appealing movie but it got massacred in the editing room.
Compare the 'Edge of Darkness' TV show to the movie. With the show Campbell executes the scripts by Troy Kennedy Martin excellently and the show is often thrilling. However, the movie is Campbell's baby and the thing is seriously off-kilter and totally discards the cathartic and complex nature of the show.
I think he was a big part of CR's success as he's a brilliant action director. The guy knows how to stage a thoroughly entertaining and suspenseful action setpiece. I mean take the whole pre-title sequence in GE or the parkour chase in CR. He's a genius when it comes to action and has a natural elan when tackling the genre akin to the work done by Spielberg. Therefore, it confuses me to no end why he took the 'Green Lantern' job as he must have know the film would rely heavily on CGI and in turn not play to his strengths.
Campbell is a hack but he knows how to make a great Bond film. He understands the character and the world of Bond excellently, I just wish he noticed this awhile back and directed more of Brosnan or Craig's films.
I think "hack" has a too negative connotation these days.
Yes, the Campbell trilogy has a nice ring to it. One film per decade.
I don't think 75 is really too old. perhaps pushing it a bit, but he is such a larger than life figure on set that I don't think it would matter with him. I remember hearing that Craig and everyone on CR struggled to match Campbell's intensity levels. He brings a tremendous amount of energy to a production, and gets the best out of those he works with. Surely the greatest living Bond director.
It wasn't nothing in 1994.
I listened to the Goldeneye commentary track with MGW and Martin Campbell last night. At the very end, while the credits are playing, Campbell states the following (I'm paraphasing):
"We did a good job without a big budget. Well, we had a big budget, but not by hollywood standards. And perhaps that's a good thing because it forces you to work with what you have and get the best result."
So @bondjames is right. It amazed me to hear this, because I had always felt that GE had been like TSWLM, where they had thrown everything they had at it. To find out the film was made under such limitations just makes the result even more special. Another incredible fact I learned from the commentary was that of all the scenes that were shot, only 2 weren't used in the final film.
The film is great given the money spent on it. Appreciably the cost of making films has increased, but even so.
Also, GE's worldwide box office was $352m, which in 2016 is $557m, so thats a decent return on investment.
And here's the video I talked about, where the cast struggle to keep up with Martins energy levels. Everyone seemed to love having him as a director.
I respect the man a great deal for his contributions to the Bond franchise. Hopefully in the near future we will see him return, one last time, to complete the trilogy by kicking off a 3rd consecutive Bond era.
Wow, incredible footage! It's really encouraging to see Campbell still taking on this major projects. Gives a bit of hope that he may still be interested in Bond when the next changeover happens. Cubby kept producing into his 80's, and Campbell is from New Zealand. They're made of strong stuff over there.
Mine too. Loved CR not so much GE. Same with Mendes loved SF but not so much SP.
Movie is written by Darren Campbell :-?
However by the time of CR, he seemed to cite the books a lot more. I think perhaps Campbell had to work within the producers framework a lot more with GoldenEye. When he returned for Casino, he had already proven himself and so was permitted the extra creative freedom.
I have a hard time deciding which film I prefer sometimes. CR is closer to Fleming, and perhaps a more artistically accomplished film, But GoldenEye is far tighter, flows better, and is generally more structurally solid. CR has more peaks and toughs whereas GE is consistently enjoyable from start to finish.
I just can't help but think how epic that would be if Campbell directed the next Bond's debut film and left his contribution to the series three consecutive stellar Bond debuts. Yet I'm also curious as to why he hasn't directed more Bond films than he has already.
In the end, he did make GoldenEye, The Mask of Zorro and Casino Royale. He should just stick to classic movie characters and I think he'd be fine.
Just thinking that gives me chills, I want it so bad.
A decade ago after CR came out, I recall his name being attached to numerous projects. Then he made a more “personal film” with Edge of Darkness, which was an outright disappointment. Also, the less said about Green Lantern, the better. That film sunk Campbell’s career. After he seemed resigned to making television pilots for show’s that never aired.
BUT…..things are looking good. The Foreigner is in the can – no way of knowing if it’s generic action nonsense yet. I’m more intrigued by Campbell’s Hemingway adaption, which is gearing up production now. I hope it isn’t another Beyond Beyonds – self-righteous and misjudged. Isabella Rossellini has just joined the cast and it’s filming this month. So far, it all sounds very promising.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/afm-isabella-rossellini-joins-pierce-brosnan-adaptation-ernest-hemingway-novel-944078
So Campbell is making a return to pictures after some years in the wilderness. Could he be gearing up for a return to Bond? We know EON offered him every film post-GE – do we think that is still the case?
I can't answer QOS, but I recall reading after Goldeneye a quote from him which went along the lines of "there are only so many controller rooms you can blow up" - hinting he didn't want to repeat himself. I think idea of a new actor and back-to-basics reboot concept excited him which is why he returned for Casino Royale.
Not sure he'll be returning anytime soon, but you never know...
http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/862464/Bond-25-director-return-if-Daniel-Craig-NOT-involved-Denis-Villeneuve-Martin-Campbell