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I think that films is Pierce's From Russia with love.
There are probably several threads on this already, but why were some of the Bond films over the top in places? As best as I can figure before having my coffee this morning, it was pretty much a 70's and possibly early 80's (Moore era) phenomenon--I don't think any of the Daniel Craig films have had moments that severely light-hearted, nor really Brosnan nor Dalton. With all due respect, were the producers/directors/writers having a bit too much cocaine? (though I doubt Cubby would have, though I haven't really read his life story). Was it just because it was the 70's and people were into having a good time, and the filmmakers wanted to reflect that? I doubt it was because they thought the Bond series might not last. As a side note, I guess it's possible that pigeons do double-takes in real life--we just might not catch them doing it.
The main OTT films were TSWLM & MR, and they came out in the late 70's after Jaws had redefined the summer blockbuster, and when Star Wars took everything to a different level entirely.
Bond had suffered a hit after TMWTGG failed to light the box office on fire, and after Saltzman bitterly divorced the franchise, selling his stake to United Artists.
So I assume Cubby decided to throw the kitchen sink at his beloved franchise and make a Bond film for the ages that captured all that was best in the prior 9 entries, and which was also in tune with the summer blockbuster phenomenon. To make something too big to fail. In my view, he succeeded beautifully, and reinvigorated Bond.
As unrealistic as it is its one of the most fun Bond flicks of all time and as much many hate Brosnan's portrayal i have to say that time was his best friend.
With each film he got better. Getting at his best in this film and its most beautiful to look at film.
Nice im not the only one here who loves that film and funny this time I noticed a few ridiculous details that just went away with them like: When Miranda goes to tell Jinx Bond died well she had her chance to escape but to give drama to the film she just stood there.
It was just fighting a little more, if she is an agent she would have had no problem to escape.
Another one when Bond finally saves Jinx from drowning she hitted against his car without a single scratch lol. She turned out to be more invincible than Bond hehe.
Die Another Day its a film to relax and enjoy without overthinking it
I just find this one frustrating more than anything because I've always felt that with just a few changes it could be Moore's best and one of my favourites.
I'll get the bad stuff out the way before singing the films praises. The racial overtones discourage me. I don't think it was maliciously intended but there's something off putting about the white, British imperialist hero coming to save the innocent white (up until she met Bond) virgin from the crowd of black voodoo loving natives. I have a similar issue with the execution of Bains at the start. Solitaire should have been black. That's what the screenwriter intended, it would have made more sense (since she's presumably a native of San Monique) and I don't buy the reasoning of "sticking to Fleming's description" that the producers apparently offered, given the major differences between the book and the film. He sleeps with Rosie sure but she's a terrible character anyway (and again, a villain). At least there's Quarrel Jr and that CIA agent.
Some of the action feels a bit bland too, and the film isn't always that well plotted. I think they could have come up with a better way of Solitaire being recaptured than the airport sequence for instance. And the whole boat chase sequence. Jesus christ. Long, boring, pointless and introduces us to JW Pepper. Completely kills the pacing and any chance of this film making it into my top 10.
Onto the good stuff. Going back to the subject of race (you can't talk about LALD without addressing it really), the fact that all the villains are black has never bothered me. I always thought it was a bit OTT how every henchman was but I realised it makes sense. They're all either San Monique natives or (in the America scenes) are members of Mr Big's black mob. And the villains are fantastic. Every single one of them. There has never been such a great cast of villains in a Bond film. There have been better villains than Kananga, and there have been great pairings (Goldfinger and Oddjob, Sanchez and Dario) but in terms of an overall cast of villains, the only films that come close are Goldeneye (Trevelayn, Onnatop, Ourumov) and FRWL (Kronsteen, Klebb, Grant, Blofeld). But I think LALD takes it. Kananga is genuinely menacing, the dual identy gimmick is a cool idea, and his belief in the supernatural differentiates him from the usual Bond villains. Whisper is a memorable enough character to be a half decent main henchman, but even better is Tee Hee. Henchmen in the Bond franchise can generally be slit into two categories: strong silent types, and dull Red Grant knock offs. Tee Hee is one of the few exceptions (Onnatop and Dario are the only others that come to mind). He's colourful (those red suits, that hearty laugh), chatty, and all the better for it. The metal arm is a cool gimmick too and leads to an inventive death scene. Then last but not least is Baron Samedi. He's wonderfully creepy, adds a lot to the atmosphere of the film, and his reappearance at the end is a great stylistic touch. I love the supernatural elements of LALD. Really sets it apart from the other films in the series.
In fact the whole film just feels fresh. From little differences like Bond being briefed in his flat, to more notable ones like George Martins brilliant score (whole different sound to Barry, oozes 70s but at the same time isn't at all dated, and there are a number of memorable cues. I wish he'd scored more of Moore's films). Which makes the lame climax a bit disappointing. The film had taken on a fresh different direction, Bond was battling drug kingpins and voodoo practitioners, and then all of a sudden him and the girl are in an underground base being lowered into a shark pit. Feels very last minute and dull, and Kananga deserved a much better death than the ridiculous blowing up scene.
Solitaire isn't a particuarly interesting character but she's a memorable Bond girl and Jane Seymour is definitely up there as one of the hottest. Roger Moore nails it, playing his Bond to perfection (I'm not sure why after brilliantly establishing the new Bond in this one, they did the weird sub Connery stuff in TMWTGG) and he's clearly having a lot of fun. Effortlessly suave, cool, fun and likeable.
Overall I think LALD is too flawed to be considered a classic which is a shame
because it has a lot going for it but it's still a fun ride anyway. Until you get to the boat chase that is.
Postives
1. Christopher Lee: I have a feeling in a few months when I Hit A View to a Kill I will fe el the same way but Lee makes the film he is charming creepy and all around Fantasic
2. Roger Moore: though he gives a darker performNce he still shines through and does a fantastic job.
3. The music: I loved Barry's score
4. The fun house and the climax
5. The changes to the formula: I kind of liked it
6. The girls are hot
Negatives
1. The plot: sorry why did the energy crisis need to be thrown in here when bond versus scaramanga was perfectly fine
2. Mary goodnight: when M called her a competent agent I swear a laughed hysterically
3. Hi-fat is pointless
4. All of the action sequence fall flat or have shitty sound effects
1. From Russia with love
2. On her Majesties Secret Service
3. Live and let die
4. Spectre
5. Dr. No
6. Thunderball
7. Goldfinger
8. You only live twice
9. The man with the golden gun
10. Diamonds are forever
11. Casino Royale 1954
12. Casino Royale 1967
Overall not bad not great up next 1977 The Spy Who Loved Me
Hadn't seen it for a good year or two. Over time I've gone from despising it to developing a weird soft spot for it. I think it's because now I've come to terms with the bad stuff I can have fun and laugh at it, instead of feeling annoyed that my favourite film franchise devolved into this. It's fun to watch. Groaning at the cringey one liners, laughing at the tsunami scene, and enjoying the bits that are genuinely good.
It's also a very easy watch. It doesn't drag in the slightest, for all the films faults I think it's very well paced. It's ridiculously fast and energetic (I actually enjoy the sped up camera shots, like the ones during the car chase) but doesn't feel rushed in the way that say QoS does.
Honestly it's gotten to the point where this might be a mid table Bond for me, just because of it's sheer enjoyability/watchability. I'd rather watch this than something forgettable and bland like FYEO. Gets bonus points for being one of the only Bonds that my wife always watches with me, because she enjoys laughing at it too. It's a bad Bond film but now that I've come to terms with it and accepted it for what it is, it's also a really fun one.
to get familiar and a few quotes etc. ;)
#3 for me. But I'm starting to see the flaws that the people here that don't like it are seeing.
Me neither, but I'm starting to dislike the smartblood concept.
top ten.
Side note since we've been talking about Spectre. That is Craig's version of YOLT in many ways IMO. Some people compare it as Craigs TB, but YOLT for me, is the better comparison. For example, DC stating his displeasure for the role, same as Sean did while filming YOLT. Both TB and SF shattered BO records and YOLT and SP failed to match it. Hollowed out volcanoes etc.
So if history will follow that same parallel, we'll get a different actor to do the next film which will be amazing, but leave us wondering how much better it would have been if DC was in it, only to have him come back for one more movie at an extreme salary in which it will be set up for him to not have to even fire a gun and sleep with the actresses in the film