Is 'Tomorrow Never Dies' the most formulaic Bond film?

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  • GadgetManGadgetMan Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 4,247
    Love Everything about TND.
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,439
    I don't think TND is the most formulaic Bond movie. That honour would fall to TSWLM and MR who were basically the same plot done twice in a row. One dealing with the seas and the other with space. I consider TSWLM as a remake of YOLT in many ways even having the same director. Little Nellie became Wet Nellie.

    I enjoy TND and feel that while some themes started in GE are abandoned the movie is entertaining. The Stealth ship becomes a shoot and blast adventure which isn't really what Bond is about. But overall I think the movie entertains and isn't too formulaic.
  • Posts: 1,596
    I think the most formulaic (don't confuse for most poor) are the middle-to-late Moore era and Brosnan era entries, as a whole. Is TND the *most* formulaic? I don't think so, but as a Brosnan film it would certainly be up there.

    I'd say the Bond films that really seem to follow a template / formula established by GF would be YOLT, TSWLM, MR, OP, AVTAK, TND, TWINE, DAD. Maybe? This is a question I've never really asked myself, because in many ways the vast majority of Bond films are formulaic so it isn't something I think about often.
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,218
    TND is more formulaic than TWINE, I would say. The latter is, on paper, not a formulaic film in concept. It is, however, held back by certain formulaic elements that prevent it from reaching its true potential, which is what makes it frustrating in parts.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,188
    TND is more formulaic than TWINE, I would say. The latter is, on paper, not a formulaic film in concept. It is, however, held back by certain formulaic elements that prevent it from reaching its true potential, which is what makes it frustrating in parts.

    Yup.

    I’d say TND is the only Brosnan film that actually tries to go for a classic formula that we got from DN-AVTAK. Ever since TLD the formula had been tweaked in different ways, with LTK being the most extreme at that point, which also kicked off the more personal angle that has been a part of every film since. Its still there with Bond having a past with Paris, but not as emphasized as other films after she’s bumped off.
  • I agree that it's the most by-the-numbers Bond film. It's a fun, run-of-the-mill entry into the canon and looks like Brosnan's second best to most of us. While the plot and execution is very straight, there are still enough quirky characters and moments to enjoy. It's also insane how short the production period was for TND... from April start of filming to December release!
  • Posts: 1,596
    Yeah, that speaks to the essential failures of TWINE, I think. It just couldn't commit to its premise, routinely cutting itself off at the knees to meet the quota. Just frequently cops out.
  • Posts: 1,917
    TND for sure clings to the Bond averts third party from starting WWIII formula with lots of the tropes, but it works in that way, making it my favorite Brosnan era film. The overpraised GE is formulaic even though it introduces things that bring the era into the then modern day.
  • Posts: 230
    TWINE had some legit emotional pull in it with the relationship between Bond and King.

    TWINE also had a (predictable) but fun twist. TWINE has a MUCH better PTS, and some LEGIT tension in both the first scene Bond meets Renard and in the casino.


    I don't think TND is anymore formulaic than most many of the films...but it sure is way worse than most of them.

    I hate TND ALMOST as much as DAD. Well, okay. Maybe that is taking it too far.
  • Posts: 1,917
    TWINE being half-baked and unable to fulfill what it sets out to do makes it much worse than TND for me. TND sets out to be just a fun, race against the clock to stop a world war mission that never bores.

    TWINE commits the cardinal sin of having nothing stand out, no superlatives and worst of all just bores me with by-the-numbers action and Bond and the Mi6 staff come off badly.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,410
    I for one don't think formuliac equals bad, or I'd be a much bigger Craig advocate. For me Memorability and rewatchability are more important than whether it follows a formula or not. TND is a great Bond adventure, I get a lot of enjoyment on each viewing. I even love the stealth ship finale, I like seeing Bond outnumbered and thinking on his feet.
  • edited April 2020 Posts: 1,917
    Right, it's not all Bond machine-gunning people. He comes up with some creative ideas on how to defeat the enemy along the way on the boat.

    People also seem to forget that Bond running around with a machine gun also goes back to GE; it didn't begin with TND.
  • GadgetManGadgetMan Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 4,247
    TND is the kind of Bond film one shows to a Bond Newbie....or better still a teen Newbie. It's just a fun-filled Bond Flick.
  • Agent7777Agent7777 England
    Posts: 37
    Interesting article about how TND is the most entertaining Brosnan film and the most overlooked Bond film...
    https://film.avclub.com/tomorrow-never-dies-is-an-underrated-adventure-for-pier-1842655791

    tumblr_pf9scgu22u1s12hlbo2_500.gifv
    tumblr_peyhz3fU5b1s12hlbo2_540.gifv

    Michelle Yeoh really should have been the lead in another Bond flick....

    Thanks for sharing this article @Pierce2Daniel . TND has always been one of my favourite Bond films, and sits proudly at number 5 in my rankings. I just find it hugely entertaining and definitely Brosnan's best as far as I'm concerned.
  • Posts: 1,596
    Yeah, formulaic certainly isn't indicative of quality (or lack thereof).
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,218
    BT3366 wrote: »
    Right, it's not all Bond machine-gunning people. He comes up with some creative ideas on how to defeat the enemy along the way on the boat.

    People also seem to forget that Bond running around with a machine gun also goes back to GE; it didn't begin with TND.

    It goes back further than that. Dalton and Moore both carried and used machine guns at some point in their films. The Brosnan era just seems to be pasted with that criticism more regularly.
  • Posts: 1,917
    You can also throw in Connery with an Uzi in NSNA during its climax.
  • GadgetManGadgetMan Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 4,247
    BT3366 wrote: »
    Right, it's not all Bond machine-gunning people. He comes up with some creative ideas on how to defeat the enemy along the way on the boat.

    People also seem to forget that Bond running around with a machine gun also goes back to GE; it didn't begin with TND.

    It goes back further than that. Dalton and Moore both carried and used machine guns at some point in their films. The Brosnan era just seems to be pasted with that criticism more regularly.

    Correct....Lazenby was even the first Bond to use a Machine Gun.
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,218
    True.
  • Posts: 230
    BT3366 wrote: »
    Right, it's not all Bond machine-gunning people. He comes up with some creative ideas on how to defeat the enemy along the way on the boat.

    People also seem to forget that Bond running around with a machine gun also goes back to GE; it didn't begin with TND.

    Its not the machine guns. It's all the scenes where Bond is randomly spraying machine gun fire everywhere/haphazardly. I also think the Bond girls are the worst combo in the series and Price's dialogue is abysmal and embarrassing.

    The second-half of tND and DD are the only two films/sections of films I want to skip completely during marathons.

    I am legit surprised at home many people like this film. But that is what makes this place interesting and fun.
  • GadgetManGadgetMan Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 4,247
    It Doesn't have the Most Complex Plot, ( I don't think it was aiming for that) But i think TND might be the most action-packed Bond film. All it's Action Scenes are Colossal....even it's Pre-title sequence feels like a Finale. It's one of those Bond films that Opens Big & Closes Big. It has a Plethora of Stylish Scenes. The Soundtrack & the use of the Bond theme is very effective in this film. E.g the way the Bond theme is played when Bond calmly walks around Carver's Newspaper Factory is just effortlessly Bondian. I want NTTD to have Bondian moments like that.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,188
    It was my first Bond film when I was 11 years old. I actually switched it off after the garage sequence because I was so bored.

    It’s second bottom on my rankings.
  • Posts: 1,917
    GadgetMan wrote: »
    It Doesn't have the Most Complex Plot, ( I don't think it was aiming for that) But i think TND might be the most action-packed Bond film. All it's Action Scenes are Colossal....even it's Pre-title sequence feels like a Finale. It's one of those Bond films that Opens Big & Closes Big. It has a Plethora of Stylish Scenes. The Soundtrack & the use of the Bond theme is very effective in this film. E.g the way the Bond theme is played when Bond calmly walks around Carver's Newspaper Factory is just effortlessly Bondian. I want NTTD to have Bondian moments like that.
    And it wasn't aiming for being complex, just a big Bond averts WWIII plot that hits its marks well as opposed to a TWINE that starts out one way and just cops out and leaves us with underwhelming action and scenes.

    TND is also refreshing in being the one film between LTK and SP where the "this time it's personal" angle gets the least emphasis and doesn't slow down the ride. The short running time is likely why it seems action-packed.

    I also love the Hamburg break-in, break-out as it's listed on the soundtrack. There is a great Bondian vibe in that scene. It's one of my favorite underrated scenes because it's Bond doing spy things, looking cool and being creative in his escape. I especially enjoy the remark about how much that satellite costs and there's Bond wrecking the thing. It's a nice callback to the Connery days where he'd randomly wreck things in his escape.
  • Posts: 342
    I have to take issue with the OP.

    First, you say it is formulaic, but do not say what the formula is and how the film aligns. But instead, you simply critique the film

    Secondly, you say “He's a misogynist after all“. I have thought a lot about his charge over the years, and I just don’t get it, and have come to the conclusion it is actually a lazy accusation thrown around by misandrists

  • Posts: 623
    TND may be formulaic (and it is a real favorite of mine), but so are many others.
    I'd say one of the most formulaic is TSWLM, which is in my top 5. :)

    Yes! I think TSWLM is the 'formula' personified.
  • dominicgreenedominicgreene The Eternal QOS Defender
    Posts: 1,756
    Interesting article about how TND is the most entertaining Brosnan film and the most overlooked Bond film...
    https://film.avclub.com/tomorrow-never-dies-is-an-underrated-adventure-for-pier-1842655791

    tumblr_pf9scgu22u1s12hlbo2_500.gifv
    tumblr_peyhz3fU5b1s12hlbo2_540.gifv

    Michelle Yeoh really should have been the lead in another Bond flick....

    She's the most underrated Bond girl of all time.
  • Agent_47Agent_47 Canada
    Posts: 330
    The most formulaic? Not sure, but it's certainly up there. Regardless, it's one of the most entertaining Bond films, perfect for almost any occasion.
  • OctopussyOctopussy Piz Gloria, Schilthorn, Switzerland.
    Posts: 1,081
    I've always found that Tomorrow Never Dies feels like a generic action film from the era, IMO. Not a fan at all. I also loathe that Bond has a gadget for literally every occasion in this film. The sequence where Bond breaks into the laboratory followed by the car chase has to be one of the most gadget-laden sequences in the series. Yawn!
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,218
    Octopussy wrote: »
    I've always found that Tomorrow Never Dies feels like a generic action film from the era, IMO. Not a fan at all. I also loathe that Bond has a gadget for literally every occasion in this film. The sequence where Bond breaks into the laboratory followed by the car chase has to be one of the most gadget-laden sequences in the series. Yawn!

    I love all of that. Great fun.
  • Posts: 1,917
    Octopussy wrote: »
    I've always found that Tomorrow Never Dies feels like a generic action film from the era, IMO. Not a fan at all. I also loathe that Bond has a gadget for literally every occasion in this film. The sequence where Bond breaks into the laboratory followed by the car chase has to be one of the most gadget-laden sequences in the series. Yawn!

    YOLT is much worse in my view. Example: Bond's first move in Japan is to meet Henderson. Then through all kinds of circumstances winds up in Osato's office and just happens to have a handy mini safecracker in his pocket to open up a safe (not to mention grabs just the right documents to offer clues). Just a film later he had to have a safecracker/copy machine of immense size that took forever to crack the code. I always thought it would've been amusing to reach into his pocket and pull out the rebreather or homer instead.

    Later in the film, one morning he rows a boat to investigate a cave where villagers have died, which leads to hiking to the top of a volcano and, finding it's fake, Bond has convenient artificial volcano mountaineering suction cups on his person. He comes across imprisoned astronauts and has a convenient lock-obliterating explosive device.

    Then he happens to have the mini missile cigarette to bail him out when he needs it, then later a throwing star. In fairness, we did see those introduced at the ninja training school.

    When he set out to explore the cave, did he just anticipate he'd need all those items? That's a great cigarette case that it didn't leave the cigarettes soggy after that dive into the water. I've never smoked, so wouldn't know exactly.

    So given that, do the TND gadgets really seem that out of place? Bond knew he was going to break into Carver's place, so it's not unreasonable he just may have had the devices needed, Q's always been good about getting what he needs on short notice.

    I'll add the too convenient buzzsaw in the Rolex in LALD we didn't know about and the avalanche shelter inflatable thing in TWINE. So, are TND's all that bad?

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