Where does Bond go after Craig?

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  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    edited January 2023 Posts: 3,800
    mtm wrote: »
    MI6HQ wrote: »
    I will still stand by my point that Lucia Sciarra could have handle it better, the parallels and all.

    White was a much more important character than Sciarra ever was though; Madeline has more resonance in the plot. I do think Spectre is full of good ideas: I like the idea of Bond telling his old enemy that he'll protect his daughter in return for information, that's a good direction. It's such a shame it never quite all fits together.

    Yes, but not falling in love with her, if romance is in question Lucia Sciarra could have handled it.

    Would be good if Bond protect Madeleine, but before the ending they departed from each other, like the scene when they arrived in London when they separate ways.

    Have Bond protect Madeleine, think of it like his dynamic with Camille Montes, but at the end he would end up with Lucia Sciarra, and it's interesting to think that after the killing of her husband, Lucia would be given a new hope on a newfound love she have with Bond, then have Blofeld set her up like that in the No Time To Die PTS, it would be all the more convincing, that "why would I betray you?" Line would have make more sense.
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    Posts: 3,158
    Would MI6 have allowed Bond to have a relationship with a Spectre widow, even if he'd quit? Or would he find thallium in his phone?
  • Venutius wrote: »
    Would MI6 have allowed Bond to have a relationship with a Spectre widow, even if he'd quit? Or would he find thallium in his phone?
    Realistically speaking, Bond wouldn't have any relationship with the women he meets. From Tatiana Romanova, a potential mole, to Tiffany Case, an international smuggler; from Tracy to Madeleine, both being daughters of international criminals. So, to have a relationship with Lucia wouldn't be less allowed.
  • Posts: 1,871
    That problem was not with the characters but with the on screen chemistry between the actors. Some times it works and sometimes it doesn't.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    Posts: 5,970
    In my opinion, no amount of chemistry could save the writing of Madeleine Swann.
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,232
    Venutius wrote: »
    Would MI6 have allowed Bond to have a relationship with a Spectre widow, even if he'd quit? Or would he find thallium in his phone?

    It's about as likely as allowing him to have a kid with a SPECTRE operative's daughter, in fairness.
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    Posts: 3,158
    Yes, indeed. They took his information seriously, but nothing came up. Oh, that's all right then...
  • Posts: 1,871
    Denbigh wrote: »
    In my opinion, no amount of chemistry could save the writing of Madeleine Swann.

    OK...................that too.
  • Posts: 2,027
    Venutius wrote: »
    Would MI6 have allowed Bond to have a relationship with a Spectre widow, even if he'd quit? Or would he find thallium in his phone?

    For me the enjoyment of watching a Bond film is not wondering if what he is doing would be allowed or would be considered acceptable in real life. A fictional character and the fictionalized real world organization he works for do not have to abide by real world rules.
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    Posts: 3,158
    No, no, I wasn't thinking about real world equivalents - I was wondering what MI6 would've done in the gap between SP and NTTD if Bond had driven off with Lucia rather than Madeleine and how that would've changed the story.
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    edited January 2023 Posts: 3,800
    Since the Franchise had gone far away from Fleming, I mean they've changed some aspects of the Bond character, what if they make Bond active in the Royal Navy? With him having received training at Naval College, then participating in the Military (Naval) operations, operating in fleets/ships with him doing a teamwork and brainstorming to resolve some military problems like battling Pirates that stealing (or hijacking) those Naval Ships that got lost and recovering them or for example investigating a fake Bermuda Triangle where a lot of ships and aircrafts had lost but it's actually hijacked from a group of Brutal pirates, or resolving some territorial disputes particularly in islands, and there's an involvement from UNCLOS.

    Or what if he joined the Royal Naval Intelligence, dropping himself out of MI6 because he's aiming for more than that, he became a Warfare Intelligence Officer in Naval Army (NID - Naval Intelligence Division), I think this would be a better option, take a look at this: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/roles-and-specialisations/services/surface-fleet/warfare-intelligence-officer

    But make an ultimate scene that would be the reason for Bond to return back to MI6 or maybe let him there, he could still cooperate with MI6 in various missions along with the partnership from the Royal Navy.
    I mean in NTTD, Bond worked with the CIA, so it's not that bad for him to work with MI6 while he's in the Royal Navy as a part of the partnership or alliance.

    This would have make the new Bond actor distinctive from his predecessors.
  • Posts: 6,710
    I’d love something like that, @MI6HQ.
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    edited January 2023 Posts: 3,800
    Univex wrote: »
    I’d love something like that, @MI6HQ.

    Thanks @Univex
    I just want to shake things a little bit, they've changed so many things or aspects in the Bond character and his world, and an idea like this may be interesting to see.
    He should be introduce to the new world other than MI6 (without going further from his background, and in which the Bond character would still be familiar of), and in that there would be a lot of new things to explore, without going back to the past like making period pieces (which I'm not a fan of).

    We can explore many things with Bond, even Jeffrey Deaver changed Bond's background to make him work in a modern world, and that's interesting, we can create so many things with Bond.

    Sticking to the books was already over by this point (and since the film Bond is different to the book Bond), and the Producers seems experimenting James Bond and his world at this point too (and in a lot of worst way, like having him and Blofeld be step brothers, and it never happened in the books).
  • edited January 2023 Posts: 6,710
    MI6HQ wrote: »
    Univex wrote: »
    I’d love something like that, @MI6HQ.

    Thanks @Univex
    I just want to shake things a little bit, they've changed so many things or aspects in the Bond character and his world, and an idea like this may be interesting to see.
    He should be introduce to the new world other than MI6 (without going further from his background, and in which the Bond character would still be familiar of), and in that there would be a lot of new things to explore, without going back to the past like making period pieces (which I'm not a fan of).

    We can explore many things with Bond, even Jeffrey Deaver changed Bond's background to make him work in a modern world, and that's interesting, we can create so many things with Bond.

    Sticking to the books was already over by this point, and the Producers seems experimenting James Bond and his world at this point too (and in a lot of worst way, like having him and Blofeld be step brothers, and it never happened in the books).

    I would see that as being more true to the spirit of Fleming than many other changes they’ve been making, so I’m up for it. Just make it exciting and tasteful and stylish. We need an escapism film like no other to push us into the new 30s. Make Bond bold and fun whislt keeping the cinematic quality they already achieved with Craig’s era. That’d be my pitch. The Naval connection would work marvellously, IMO.
  • Agent_Zero_OneAgent_Zero_One Ireland
    Posts: 554
    MI6HQ wrote: »
    Since the Franchise had gone far away from Fleming, I mean they've changed some aspects of the Bond character, what if they make Bond active in the Royal Navy? With him having received training at Naval College, then participating in the Military (Naval) operations, operating in fleets/ships with him doing a teamwork and brainstorming to resolve some military problems like battling Pirates that stealing (or hijacking) those Naval Ships that got lost and recovering them or for example investigating a fake Bermuda Triangle where a lot of ships and aircrafts had lost but it's actually hijacked from a group of Brutal pirates, or resolving some territorial disputes particularly in islands, and there's an involvement from UNCLOS.

    Or what if he joined the Royal Naval Intelligence, dropping himself out of MI6 because he's aiming for more than that, he became a Warfare Intelligence Officer in Naval Army (NID - Naval Intelligence Division), I think this would be a better option, take a look at this: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/roles-and-specialisations/services/surface-fleet/warfare-intelligence-officer

    But make an ultimate scene that would be the reason for Bond to return back to MI6 or maybe let him there, he could still cooperate with MI6 in various missions along with the partnership from the Royal Navy.
    I mean in NTTD, Bond worked with the CIA, so it's not that bad for him to work with MI6 while he's in the Royal Navy as a part of the partnership or alliance.

    This would have make the new Bond actor distinctive from his predecessors.
    That would be a very interesting route.
  • edited January 2023 Posts: 4,308
    I don’t have a problem with Bond’s Navy background. The main thing about him is that he’s a character skilled and dedicated enough to have worked his way into the 00 section. It’s partly out of a sense of duty and partly because he likes the adventure/danger. Without these two incentives I can’t see him as an aspirational ladder climbing type, and if anything I suspect the 00 section with its required anonymity would suit him more. I can’t see any iteration of Bond aspiring to be a high ranking Naval Intelligence Officer over a 00 to be honest.

    It’d be cool to maybe reference Bond’s background though from a story perspective. I mean, knowing Bond’s an ex Navy Commander adds a bit of intrigue to him and might depict him as high achieving for his age in a modern context (which of course is interesting given he’s an agent in this anonymous, shadowy unit of MI6 rather than having a more prominent position in the Royal Navy).
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    Posts: 3,800
    007HallY wrote: »
    I don’t have a problem with Bond’s Navy background. The main thing about him is that he’s a character skilled and dedicated enough to have worked his way into the 00 section. It’s partly out of a sense of duty and partly because he likes the adventure/danger. Without these two incentives I can’t see him as an aspirational ladder climbing type, and if anything I suspect the 00 section with its required anonymity would suit him more. I can’t see any iteration of Bond aspiring to be a Naval Intelligence Officer over a 00 to be honest.

    It’d be cool to maybe reference Bond’s background though from a story perspective. I mean, knowing Bond’s an ex Navy Commander adds a bit of intrigue to him and might depict him as high achieving for his age in a modern context (which of course is interesting given he’s an agent in this anonymous, shadowy unit of MI6 rather than having a more prominent position in the Royal Navy).

    The thing is like what I've said, he needs to evolve as a character not just in the way he feels, but in his career as well.
    His world just revolves around MI6 to the point that they became almost a Scooby Doo type of Gang in the Craig movies, that's what happened if one may not get out Bond of his circle, or the comfort zone.
    They've been experimenting Bond in almost a downfall way.
    That's the thing to make him relevant, it's interesting to see him explore a new world rather than have him just in MI6, and it's getting obvious in the Craig Era that the Producers are running out of steam or idea to make the Bond character and his world interesting.

    And as Bond said it himself, 00 agents have short life expectancy, he's getting tired of being in the MI6, he wants to retire or resign many times because he wants to do something out of his life, and for my view, falling in love and settling down isn't the only way to make that.

    We can do a lot more things with Bond than just not getting him out of his old circle until it gets rotten (if you know what I mean).

    And in that way, it can keep Bond's relevance, there's a lot of things to explore about Bond and his world, not just his feelings or his personal life, but his job as well.

    They've done a lot of changes within Bond the character and his world, so I don't see this being that much of a problem.
  • edited January 2023 Posts: 4,308
    MI6HQ wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    I don’t have a problem with Bond’s Navy background. The main thing about him is that he’s a character skilled and dedicated enough to have worked his way into the 00 section. It’s partly out of a sense of duty and partly because he likes the adventure/danger. Without these two incentives I can’t see him as an aspirational ladder climbing type, and if anything I suspect the 00 section with its required anonymity would suit him more. I can’t see any iteration of Bond aspiring to be a Naval Intelligence Officer over a 00 to be honest.

    It’d be cool to maybe reference Bond’s background though from a story perspective. I mean, knowing Bond’s an ex Navy Commander adds a bit of intrigue to him and might depict him as high achieving for his age in a modern context (which of course is interesting given he’s an agent in this anonymous, shadowy unit of MI6 rather than having a more prominent position in the Royal Navy).

    The thing is like what I've said, he needs to evolve as a character not just in the way he feels, but in his career as well.
    His world just revolves around MI6 to the point that they became almost a Scooby Doo type of Gang in the Craig movies, that's what happened if one may not get out Bond of his circle, or the comfort zone.
    They've been experimenting Bond in almost a downfall way.
    That's the thing to make him relevant, it's interesting to see him explore a new world rather than have him just in MI6, and it's getting obvious in the Craig Era that the Producers are running out of steam or idea to make the Bond character and his world interesting.

    And as Bond said it himself, 00 agents have short life expectancy, he's getting tired of being in the MI6, he wants to retire or resign many times because he wants to do something out of his life, and for my view, falling in love and settling down isn't the only way to make that.

    We can do a lot more things with Bond than just not getting him out of his old circle until it gets rotten (if you know what I mean).

    And in that way, it can keep Bond's relevance, there's a lot of things to explore about Bond and his world, not just his feelings or his personal life, but his job as well.

    They've done a lot of changes within Bond the character and his world, so I don't see this being that much of a problem.

    Adapting Bond for modern films is one thing. But the core traits of the character do need to be kept intact.

    For me, one of these core traits is actually Bond’s attitude towards being a 00. In the novels (and a number of the films) he’s cynical about his profession, and as you said seems to contemplate retiring at various points. The point is that he always returns. It can be because fate lures him back, often tragically (ie. CR with Vesper’s suicide, Tracy’s death in OHMSS), or it can be because that higher sense of duty takes over (SF being an example). But the point is he always comes back and does what is expected of him for the greater good.

    Like I said, I don’t think ladder climbing or professional aspiration factors into this for James Bond. He’s a man who knows and accepts that he may not come back from one of his missions. It’s why he indulges in his vices the way he does, because he’s addicted to that danger being a 00 entails. It’s the only life he really knows. I suspect any iteration of Bond would hate the idea of having such a job in the Navy, sitting behind a desk for much of his time, having to deal with various superiors.

    If anything I think it’d be more interesting (and perhaps more modern) asking why such a competent Naval officer with a promising career ahead of him sees this shadowy MI6 unit where agents have a short life expectancy as more suited to him. To me it’s also more true to the character.
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    edited January 2023 Posts: 3,800
    007HallY wrote: »
    MI6HQ wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    I don’t have a problem with Bond’s Navy background. The main thing about him is that he’s a character skilled and dedicated enough to have worked his way into the 00 section. It’s partly out of a sense of duty and partly because he likes the adventure/danger. Without these two incentives I can’t see him as an aspirational ladder climbing type, and if anything I suspect the 00 section with its required anonymity would suit him more. I can’t see any iteration of Bond aspiring to be a Naval Intelligence Officer over a 00 to be honest.

    It’d be cool to maybe reference Bond’s background though from a story perspective. I mean, knowing Bond’s an ex Navy Commander adds a bit of intrigue to him and might depict him as high achieving for his age in a modern context (which of course is interesting given he’s an agent in this anonymous, shadowy unit of MI6 rather than having a more prominent position in the Royal Navy).

    But the thing is like what I've said, he needs to evolve as a character not just in the way he feels, but in his career as well.
    His world just revolves around MI6 to the point that they became almost a Scooby Doo type of Gang in the Craig movies, that's what happened if one may not get out Bond of his circle, or the comfort zone.
    They've been experimenting Bond in almost a downfall way.
    That's the thing to make him relevant, it's interesting to see him explore a new world rather than have him just in MI6, and it's getting obvious in the Craig Era that the Producers are running out of steam or idea to make the Bond character and his world interesting.

    And as Bond said it himself, 00 agents have short life expectancy, he's getting tired of being in the MI6, he wants to retire or resign many times because he wants to do something out of his life, and for my view, falling in love and settling down isn't the only way to make that.

    We can do a lot more things with Bond than just not getting him out of his old circle until it gets rotten (if you know what I mean).

    And in that way, it can keep Bond's relevance, there's a lot of things to explore about Bond and his world, not just his feelings or his personal life, but his job as well.

    They've done a lot of changes within Bond the character and his world, so I don't see this being that much of a problem.

    Adapting Bond for modern films is one thing. But the core traits of the character do need to be kept intact.

    For me, one of these core traits is actually Bond’s attitude towards being a 00. In the novels (and a number of the films) he’s cynical about his profession, and as you said seems to contemplate retiring at various points. The point is that he always returns. It can be because fate lures him back, often tragically (ie. CR with Vesper’s suicide, Tracy’s death in OHMSS), or it can be because that higher sense of duty takes over (SF being an example). But the point is he always comes back and does what is expected of him for the greater good.

    Like I said, I don’t think ladder climbing or professional aspiration factors into this for James Bond. He’s a man who knows and accepts that he may not come back from one of his missions. It’s why he indulges in his vices the way he does, because he’s addicted to that danger being a 00 entails. It’s the only life he really knows. I suspect any iteration of Bond would hate the idea of having such a job in the Navy, sitting behind a desk for much of his time, having to deal with various superiors.

    If anything I think it’d be more interesting (and perhaps more modern) asking why such a competent Naval officer with a promising career ahead of him sees this shadowy MI6 unit where agents have a short life expectancy as more suited to him. To me it’s also more true to the character.

    I though understand your point.

    But is there anything you can do more about him?
    I'm saying this because rewatching the Craig Era films makes me think that there's not much sense, the MI6 staffs almost turned into a Scooby Gang, Bond and Blofeld becoming step brothers, the events of No Time To Die.
    The Producers did a lot of experiments in the Craig Era and that changed Bond as a character and his world in general.
    And it's also clear that they're running out of ideas, they're only getting ideas from some popular films outside of Bond, again, copying trends.

    And they're desperate to make Bond different.

    It's interesting to see it at least, it's a lot more interesting than anything (at least for me) the Producers had done for the last 8 years, since 2015 at least.

    And no there would be no desk works, actually, I would've liked it to be more similar to the opening of The Spy Who Loved Me with Bond along with other colleagues investigating something, or doing some maritime explorations like what I've said before, like investigating some hijacked or missing ships because of piracy, or the fake Bermuda Triangle where all Aircrafts and ships were all lost, but to be revealed that it's just a matter of hijacking or stealing by the Brutal Pirates.

    Maybe have Bond and his group of other Naval Officers go to an island to investigate something like them in a small vessel or a rubber boat for example, them at the night investigating something but there would be a shoot out, and that's where the action starts.

    And I, would liked to see more from Bond, I would've liked him to interact more and different people than Moneypenny, Q, M.

    It would be interesting to see him there, and like what I've said, Bond has already changed, the books doesn't matter by this point, look at the medias shouting to cast for an ethnic Bond for example, it doesn't matter nowadays.

    What I liked was more interesting plots and stories that's new and unique, and we could only get it if we get out of the old circles.
  • edited January 2023 Posts: 4,308
    MI6HQ wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    MI6HQ wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    I don’t have a problem with Bond’s Navy background. The main thing about him is that he’s a character skilled and dedicated enough to have worked his way into the 00 section. It’s partly out of a sense of duty and partly because he likes the adventure/danger. Without these two incentives I can’t see him as an aspirational ladder climbing type, and if anything I suspect the 00 section with its required anonymity would suit him more. I can’t see any iteration of Bond aspiring to be a Naval Intelligence Officer over a 00 to be honest.

    It’d be cool to maybe reference Bond’s background though from a story perspective. I mean, knowing Bond’s an ex Navy Commander adds a bit of intrigue to him and might depict him as high achieving for his age in a modern context (which of course is interesting given he’s an agent in this anonymous, shadowy unit of MI6 rather than having a more prominent position in the Royal Navy).

    But the thing is like what I've said, he needs to evolve as a character not just in the way he feels, but in his career as well.
    His world just revolves around MI6 to the point that they became almost a Scooby Doo type of Gang in the Craig movies, that's what happened if one may not get out Bond of his circle, or the comfort zone.
    They've been experimenting Bond in almost a downfall way.
    That's the thing to make him relevant, it's interesting to see him explore a new world rather than have him just in MI6, and it's getting obvious in the Craig Era that the Producers are running out of steam or idea to make the Bond character and his world interesting.

    And as Bond said it himself, 00 agents have short life expectancy, he's getting tired of being in the MI6, he wants to retire or resign many times because he wants to do something out of his life, and for my view, falling in love and settling down isn't the only way to make that.

    We can do a lot more things with Bond than just not getting him out of his old circle until it gets rotten (if you know what I mean).

    And in that way, it can keep Bond's relevance, there's a lot of things to explore about Bond and his world, not just his feelings or his personal life, but his job as well.

    They've done a lot of changes within Bond the character and his world, so I don't see this being that much of a problem.

    Adapting Bond for modern films is one thing. But the core traits of the character do need to be kept intact.

    For me, one of these core traits is actually Bond’s attitude towards being a 00. In the novels (and a number of the films) he’s cynical about his profession, and as you said seems to contemplate retiring at various points. The point is that he always returns. It can be because fate lures him back, often tragically (ie. CR with Vesper’s suicide, Tracy’s death in OHMSS), or it can be because that higher sense of duty takes over (SF being an example). But the point is he always comes back and does what is expected of him for the greater good.

    Like I said, I don’t think ladder climbing or professional aspiration factors into this for James Bond. He’s a man who knows and accepts that he may not come back from one of his missions. It’s why he indulges in his vices the way he does, because he’s addicted to that danger being a 00 entails. It’s the only life he really knows. I suspect any iteration of Bond would hate the idea of having such a job in the Navy, sitting behind a desk for much of his time, having to deal with various superiors.

    If anything I think it’d be more interesting (and perhaps more modern) asking why such a competent Naval officer with a promising career ahead of him sees this shadowy MI6 unit where agents have a short life expectancy as more suited to him. To me it’s also more true to the character.

    I though understand your point.

    But is there anything you can do more about him?
    I'm saying this because rewatching the Craig Era films makes me think that there's not much sense, the MI6 staffs almost turned into a Scooby Gang, Bond and Blofeld becoming step brothers, the events of No Time To Die.
    The Producers did a lot of experiments in the Craig Era and that changed Bond as a character and his world in general.
    And it's also clear that they're running out of ideas, they're only getting ideas from some popular films outside of Bond, again, copying trends.

    It's interesting to see it at least, it's a lot more interesting than anything (at least for me) the Producers had done for the last 8 years, since 2015 at least.

    And no there would be no desk works, actually, I would've liked it to be more similar to the opening of The Spy Who Loved Me with Bond along with other colleagues investigating something, or doing some maritime explorations like what I've said before, like investigating some hijacked or missing ships because of piracy, or the fake Bermuda Triangle where all Aircrafts and ships were all lost, but to be revealed that it's just a matter of hijacking or stealing by the Brutal Pirates.

    Maybe have Bond and his group of other Naval Officers go to an island to investigate something like them in a small vessel or a rubber boat for example, them at the night investigating something but there would be a shoot out, and that's where the action starts.

    And I, would liked to see more from Bond, I would've liked him to interact more and different people than Moneypenny, Q, M.

    It would be interesting to see him there, and like what I've said, Bond has already changed, the books doesn't matter by this point, look at the medias shouting to cast for an ethnic Bond for example, it doesn't matter nowadays.

    What I liked was more interesting plots and stories that's new and unique, and we could only get it if we get out of the old circles.

    Actually the books very much matter, and the producers and writers know this. All the traits I mentioned were integral to Fleming’s creation and would have to be there even with a non white actor. Without that sense of loyalty towards MI6, M, that sense of duty, him being a 00 with a License to kill etc. he’s simply not James Bond anymore.

    The thing about Bond even in that scene in TSWLM you mentioned is that he’s a character who essentially operates outside of the traditional Government channels. That’s what being a 00 is in essence. Having him wander around with other colleagues, investigating Naval matters as if he’s in NCIS would not only be limiting from a story perspective but would negate that ‘lone wolf’ aspect of the character that’s even there in the Craig era.

    I’m sure there’s a lot they could do that would differentiate the MI6 of the Craig era from the new one. You don’t have to have the MI6 regulars joining Bond in the climax in that ‘Scooby Gang’ way you mentioned. I just don’t think this is a route the film series will ever go down, nor do I personally think it’s inkeeping with the fundamental point of the character.
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    edited January 2023 Posts: 3,800
    007HallY wrote: »
    MI6HQ wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    MI6HQ wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    I don’t have a problem with Bond’s Navy background. The main thing about him is that he’s a character skilled and dedicated enough to have worked his way into the 00 section. It’s partly out of a sense of duty and partly because he likes the adventure/danger. Without these two incentives I can’t see him as an aspirational ladder climbing type, and if anything I suspect the 00 section with its required anonymity would suit him more. I can’t see any iteration of Bond aspiring to be a Naval Intelligence Officer over a 00 to be honest.

    It’d be cool to maybe reference Bond’s background though from a story perspective. I mean, knowing Bond’s an ex Navy Commander adds a bit of intrigue to him and might depict him as high achieving for his age in a modern context (which of course is interesting given he’s an agent in this anonymous, shadowy unit of MI6 rather than having a more prominent position in the Royal Navy).

    But the thing is like what I've said, he needs to evolve as a character not just in the way he feels, but in his career as well.
    His world just revolves around MI6 to the point that they became almost a Scooby Doo type of Gang in the Craig movies, that's what happened if one may not get out Bond of his circle, or the comfort zone.
    They've been experimenting Bond in almost a downfall way.
    That's the thing to make him relevant, it's interesting to see him explore a new world rather than have him just in MI6, and it's getting obvious in the Craig Era that the Producers are running out of steam or idea to make the Bond character and his world interesting.

    And as Bond said it himself, 00 agents have short life expectancy, he's getting tired of being in the MI6, he wants to retire or resign many times because he wants to do something out of his life, and for my view, falling in love and settling down isn't the only way to make that.

    We can do a lot more things with Bond than just not getting him out of his old circle until it gets rotten (if you know what I mean).

    And in that way, it can keep Bond's relevance, there's a lot of things to explore about Bond and his world, not just his feelings or his personal life, but his job as well.

    They've done a lot of changes within Bond the character and his world, so I don't see this being that much of a problem.

    Adapting Bond for modern films is one thing. But the core traits of the character do need to be kept intact.

    For me, one of these core traits is actually Bond’s attitude towards being a 00. In the novels (and a number of the films) he’s cynical about his profession, and as you said seems to contemplate retiring at various points. The point is that he always returns. It can be because fate lures him back, often tragically (ie. CR with Vesper’s suicide, Tracy’s death in OHMSS), or it can be because that higher sense of duty takes over (SF being an example). But the point is he always comes back and does what is expected of him for the greater good.

    Like I said, I don’t think ladder climbing or professional aspiration factors into this for James Bond. He’s a man who knows and accepts that he may not come back from one of his missions. It’s why he indulges in his vices the way he does, because he’s addicted to that danger being a 00 entails. It’s the only life he really knows. I suspect any iteration of Bond would hate the idea of having such a job in the Navy, sitting behind a desk for much of his time, having to deal with various superiors.

    If anything I think it’d be more interesting (and perhaps more modern) asking why such a competent Naval officer with a promising career ahead of him sees this shadowy MI6 unit where agents have a short life expectancy as more suited to him. To me it’s also more true to the character.

    I though understand your point.

    But is there anything you can do more about him?
    I'm saying this because rewatching the Craig Era films makes me think that there's not much sense, the MI6 staffs almost turned into a Scooby Gang, Bond and Blofeld becoming step brothers, the events of No Time To Die.
    The Producers did a lot of experiments in the Craig Era and that changed Bond as a character and his world in general.
    And it's also clear that they're running out of ideas, they're only getting ideas from some popular films outside of Bond, again, copying trends.

    It's interesting to see it at least, it's a lot more interesting than anything (at least for me) the Producers had done for the last 8 years, since 2015 at least.

    And no there would be no desk works, actually, I would've liked it to be more similar to the opening of The Spy Who Loved Me with Bond along with other colleagues investigating something, or doing some maritime explorations like what I've said before, like investigating some hijacked or missing ships because of piracy, or the fake Bermuda Triangle where all Aircrafts and ships were all lost, but to be revealed that it's just a matter of hijacking or stealing by the Brutal Pirates.

    Maybe have Bond and his group of other Naval Officers go to an island to investigate something like them in a small vessel or a rubber boat for example, them at the night investigating something but there would be a shoot out, and that's where the action starts.

    And I, would liked to see more from Bond, I would've liked him to interact more and different people than Moneypenny, Q, M.

    It would be interesting to see him there, and like what I've said, Bond has already changed, the books doesn't matter by this point, look at the medias shouting to cast for an ethnic Bond for example, it doesn't matter nowadays.

    What I liked was more interesting plots and stories that's new and unique, and we could only get it if we get out of the old circles.

    Actually the books very much matter, and the producers and writers know this. All the traits I mentioned were integral to Fleming’s creation and would have to be there even with a non white actor. Without that sense of loyalty towards MI6, M, that sense of duty, him being a 00 with a License to kill etc. he’s simply not James Bond anymore.

    The thing about Bond even in that scene in TSWLM you mentioned is that he’s a character who essentially operates outside of the traditional Government channels. That’s what being a 00 is in essence. Having him wander around with other colleagues, investigating Naval matters as if he’s in NCIS would not only be limiting from a story perspective but would negate that ‘lone wolf’ aspect of the character that’s even there in the Craig era.

    I’m sure there’s a lot they could do that would differentiate the MI6 of the Craig era from the new one. You don’t have to have the MI6 regulars joining Bond in the climax in that ‘Scooby Gang’ way you mentioned. I just don’t think this is a route the film series will ever go down, nor do I personally think it’s inkeeping with the fundamental point of the character.

    So you're not the one who believes that the Film Bond and the Book Bond are two separate things?

    Because now, since NTTD or at least SPECTRE happened, I now view the film Bond and the Book Bond as Two separate entities.

    Whatever change they want to do with the film Bond, I mean the books were out of it, since it's two separate things.
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    edited January 2023 Posts: 3,158
    True, the film Bond has become its own thing but his character's still informed by the books. I'd like that to continue - have to say, I wouldn't be too keen to just have some movie character whose only connection to Fleming is the name 'James Bond'. I know CraigNotBond-types used to claim that's what we'd got, post-Pierce - but they were wrong! ;)
    Agree with 007HallY that Bond's not enough of a by-the-book careerist to have made it very far up the ladder in the Navy or Naval Intelligence - that's why it worked so well with CraigBond having done a stint in NI before joining the SBS and being recruited by MI6 from there.
    Said it before, but I still think there's a lot of potential for NewBond to have come to MI6's attention through the Special Forces units that work directly with MI6 on foreign black ops:

    https://www.eliteukforces.info/e-squadron/
  • Posts: 4,308
    MI6HQ wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    MI6HQ wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    MI6HQ wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    I don’t have a problem with Bond’s Navy background. The main thing about him is that he’s a character skilled and dedicated enough to have worked his way into the 00 section. It’s partly out of a sense of duty and partly because he likes the adventure/danger. Without these two incentives I can’t see him as an aspirational ladder climbing type, and if anything I suspect the 00 section with its required anonymity would suit him more. I can’t see any iteration of Bond aspiring to be a Naval Intelligence Officer over a 00 to be honest.

    It’d be cool to maybe reference Bond’s background though from a story perspective. I mean, knowing Bond’s an ex Navy Commander adds a bit of intrigue to him and might depict him as high achieving for his age in a modern context (which of course is interesting given he’s an agent in this anonymous, shadowy unit of MI6 rather than having a more prominent position in the Royal Navy).

    But the thing is like what I've said, he needs to evolve as a character not just in the way he feels, but in his career as well.
    His world just revolves around MI6 to the point that they became almost a Scooby Doo type of Gang in the Craig movies, that's what happened if one may not get out Bond of his circle, or the comfort zone.
    They've been experimenting Bond in almost a downfall way.
    That's the thing to make him relevant, it's interesting to see him explore a new world rather than have him just in MI6, and it's getting obvious in the Craig Era that the Producers are running out of steam or idea to make the Bond character and his world interesting.

    And as Bond said it himself, 00 agents have short life expectancy, he's getting tired of being in the MI6, he wants to retire or resign many times because he wants to do something out of his life, and for my view, falling in love and settling down isn't the only way to make that.

    We can do a lot more things with Bond than just not getting him out of his old circle until it gets rotten (if you know what I mean).

    And in that way, it can keep Bond's relevance, there's a lot of things to explore about Bond and his world, not just his feelings or his personal life, but his job as well.

    They've done a lot of changes within Bond the character and his world, so I don't see this being that much of a problem.

    Adapting Bond for modern films is one thing. But the core traits of the character do need to be kept intact.

    For me, one of these core traits is actually Bond’s attitude towards being a 00. In the novels (and a number of the films) he’s cynical about his profession, and as you said seems to contemplate retiring at various points. The point is that he always returns. It can be because fate lures him back, often tragically (ie. CR with Vesper’s suicide, Tracy’s death in OHMSS), or it can be because that higher sense of duty takes over (SF being an example). But the point is he always comes back and does what is expected of him for the greater good.

    Like I said, I don’t think ladder climbing or professional aspiration factors into this for James Bond. He’s a man who knows and accepts that he may not come back from one of his missions. It’s why he indulges in his vices the way he does, because he’s addicted to that danger being a 00 entails. It’s the only life he really knows. I suspect any iteration of Bond would hate the idea of having such a job in the Navy, sitting behind a desk for much of his time, having to deal with various superiors.

    If anything I think it’d be more interesting (and perhaps more modern) asking why such a competent Naval officer with a promising career ahead of him sees this shadowy MI6 unit where agents have a short life expectancy as more suited to him. To me it’s also more true to the character.

    I though understand your point.

    But is there anything you can do more about him?
    I'm saying this because rewatching the Craig Era films makes me think that there's not much sense, the MI6 staffs almost turned into a Scooby Gang, Bond and Blofeld becoming step brothers, the events of No Time To Die.
    The Producers did a lot of experiments in the Craig Era and that changed Bond as a character and his world in general.
    And it's also clear that they're running out of ideas, they're only getting ideas from some popular films outside of Bond, again, copying trends.

    It's interesting to see it at least, it's a lot more interesting than anything (at least for me) the Producers had done for the last 8 years, since 2015 at least.

    And no there would be no desk works, actually, I would've liked it to be more similar to the opening of The Spy Who Loved Me with Bond along with other colleagues investigating something, or doing some maritime explorations like what I've said before, like investigating some hijacked or missing ships because of piracy, or the fake Bermuda Triangle where all Aircrafts and ships were all lost, but to be revealed that it's just a matter of hijacking or stealing by the Brutal Pirates.

    Maybe have Bond and his group of other Naval Officers go to an island to investigate something like them in a small vessel or a rubber boat for example, them at the night investigating something but there would be a shoot out, and that's where the action starts.

    And I, would liked to see more from Bond, I would've liked him to interact more and different people than Moneypenny, Q, M.

    It would be interesting to see him there, and like what I've said, Bond has already changed, the books doesn't matter by this point, look at the medias shouting to cast for an ethnic Bond for example, it doesn't matter nowadays.

    What I liked was more interesting plots and stories that's new and unique, and we could only get it if we get out of the old circles.

    Actually the books very much matter, and the producers and writers know this. All the traits I mentioned were integral to Fleming’s creation and would have to be there even with a non white actor. Without that sense of loyalty towards MI6, M, that sense of duty, him being a 00 with a License to kill etc. he’s simply not James Bond anymore.

    The thing about Bond even in that scene in TSWLM you mentioned is that he’s a character who essentially operates outside of the traditional Government channels. That’s what being a 00 is in essence. Having him wander around with other colleagues, investigating Naval matters as if he’s in NCIS would not only be limiting from a story perspective but would negate that ‘lone wolf’ aspect of the character that’s even there in the Craig era.

    I’m sure there’s a lot they could do that would differentiate the MI6 of the Craig era from the new one. You don’t have to have the MI6 regulars joining Bond in the climax in that ‘Scooby Gang’ way you mentioned. I just don’t think this is a route the film series will ever go down, nor do I personally think it’s inkeeping with the fundamental point of the character.

    So you're not the one who believes that the Film Bond and the Book Bond are two separate things?

    Because now, since NTTD or at least SPECTRE happened, I now view the film Bond and the Book Bond as Two separate entities.

    Whatever change they want to do with the film Bond, I mean the books were out of it, since it's two separate things.

    It’s more complex than the film and book version (that’s to say Fleming’s books) being separate things entirely. They are different in certain respects, and the films are always going through a process of reinvention, but the DNA of Fleming’s stories are very much there. Always have been. It’s something the producers and writers are very conscious about, like I said. P&W certainly know their Fleming and seem to revisit the books come writing time to the point where their story decisions can be traced back to parts of the novels. That’s not even going into what the fundamental traits of the character are, which I’d personally argue were there throughout Craig’s tenure.

    Changes can always be made, but I think it’ll be viewed through that perspective - that’s to say who is James Bond fundamentally. A big part of that I’d argue is his 007 number and his job as an MI6 agent.
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    edited January 2023 Posts: 3,800
    Venutius wrote: »
    I know CraigNotBond-types used to claim that's what we'd got, post-Pierce - but they were wrong! ;)

    Yes, from Casino Royale up to Skyfall, I still believe, but when SPECTRE and NTTD came out, I think that's became my view, at least.
    It's really those two films where they really changed Bond and his world.

    All things really worked from Casino Royale up to Skyfall, but the credibility of the writers and to the lesser extent, the Producers have gone suddenly once SPECTRE and NTTD came, those decisions that they've made to change the character and his world were just all wrong.
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    edited January 2023 Posts: 3,158
    Yes, someone really should have just said a flat 'no' when MGW proposed the Brofeld malarkey!
  • Venutius wrote: »
    malarkey!

    Biden is that you
  • Posts: 157
    I seems the studio has forgotten Bond is licensed to kill, he's a double Oo.
    Why not another Casino Rotale but instead of a new agent you have a confident spy like Conner.
    Give him a mission with another double O like at the start of Goldeneye.
    Send them in to deal with a new Mr Big,
    I don't want to see Bond as a father ever again
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    edited January 2023 Posts: 3,158
    I'll just go and have my aides change these trousers...
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    Posts: 3,800
    renno61 wrote: »
    I seems the studio has forgotten Bond is licensed to kill, he's a double Oo.
    Why not another Casino Rotale but instead of a new agent you have a confident spy like Conner.
    Give him a mission with another double O like at the start of Goldeneye.
    Send them in to deal with a new Mr Big,
    I don't want to see Bond as a father ever again

    Recycling ideas again? :(
  • Posts: 4,308
    It’s an interesting question - how far can the films stray from the original source material and still be recognisably related?

    For what it’s worth while many of the ideas in SP and NTTD strayed from Fleming (and indeed arguably engaging storytelling) I did feel that Craig was still James Bond, and they were broadly true to the character despite the situations he was being put in. I never got the feeling I did with a film like FYEO where I didn’t feel the character Roger Moore played was recognisably the cinematic Bond, much less Fleming’s Bond. Unusual given the amount of material it adapts, but it also goes to show that simply faithfully adapting Fleming doesn’t always mean being true to the character or spirit of those books.
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