No Time To Die: Production Diary

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  • SirHilaryBraySirHilaryBray Scotland
    edited November 2015 Posts: 2,138
    It is known from the Sony leaks there were concerns of how Spectre would end. We know Sony was trying to put pressure on a two movie deal back to back. I also believe the Bond 25 script although far from a final draft is already there and that the two stories are interlinked and trouble with ending SPECTRE was where to leave it for the next film if Dan continues. Or how to make it seem like an ending if 1.Dan does not continue .2 Spectre was to fail to deliver at the box office and the budget was then not offered up to exceed what had been done on SPECTRE.

    All indications are that Dan and Mendes will take 6 months and then give EON a decision. Barbara seems confident she can come to an arrangement with both. The apparent box office success of Spectre having taken £40M in the UK on opening week alone will fill Mendes and Craig with confidence to continue to do more and will put EON in a good place to negotiate the best deal for the film rights. Hopefully that matter can be sorted quickly and by next summer it can be confirm Craig and Mendes will be back.

    I personally would rather Mendes move on because there is too much homage than moving it forward with new ideas. But he should be the one to finish it off. It's clear Craig enjoys working with Mendes more than with Foster on QOS or Campbell on CR. He refers to Mendes as allie. I don't think he would publicly say it but I think by that he means when Sony were attempting to put pressure on with product placement Mendes sided with Craig over issues such as the mobile, Craig knowing Mendes has his back feels he can concentrate on what's going on, on screen.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    On many articles, such as that of the Empire Magazine posts, many claim it's a disappointment. And I wonder what they were watching all the time, saying Skyfall was vastly superior. I've seen Spectre myself and I thought it's the best Bond film in the last 15 years. But, like it has been said, we need half a year at least to know how well regarded the film is in the eyes of the majority overall.
  • Posts: 418
    He is absolutely brilliant in SPECTRE, and i'll be keeping everything crossed for him to do at least one more.
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    Agreed. Keep Craig, show the door to Mendes. Get Campbell back.
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    On many articles, such as that of the Empire Magazine posts, many claim it's a disappointment. And I wonder what they were watching all the time, saying Skyfall was vastly superior. I've seen Spectre myself and I thought it's the best Bond film in the last 15 years. But, like it has been said, we need half a year at least to know how well regarded the film is in the eyes of the majority overall.

    Better than CR??? Surely not.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited November 2015 Posts: 23,883
    suavejmf wrote: »
    Get Campbell back.

    This is what I really want, even as a consultant, although I know it likely will never happen.....sadly.

    One of the greats when it comes to Bond and probably the only great thing (apart from Craig) in the last 20 yrs. If you gave him $300m or $250m (rather than the relative pittance he had to work with on GE/CR) you'd get something incredible. I just watched that crane scene again this weekend and after 9 yrs, it still just blew me away completely. Totally Bond and up there with the most iconic things they've done. Same with the GE opening jump.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    suavejmf wrote: »
    On many articles, such as that of the Empire Magazine posts, many claim it's a disappointment. And I wonder what they were watching all the time, saying Skyfall was vastly superior. I've seen Spectre myself and I thought it's the best Bond film in the last 15 years. But, like it has been said, we need half a year at least to know how well regarded the film is in the eyes of the majority overall.

    Better than CR??? Surely not.
    For me? Yes, better than Casino Royale, which I find overrated among the fans. Sure, I love the film, but like GoldenEye I find it highly overpraised.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    edited November 2015 Posts: 8,410
    suavejmf wrote: »
    On many articles, such as that of the Empire Magazine posts, many claim it's a disappointment. And I wonder what they were watching all the time, saying Skyfall was vastly superior. I've seen Spectre myself and I thought it's the best Bond film in the last 15 years. But, like it has been said, we need half a year at least to know how well regarded the film is in the eyes of the majority overall.

    Better than CR??? Surely not.
    For me? Yes, better than Casino Royale, which I find overrated among the fans. Sure, I love the film, but like GoldenEye I find it highly overpraised.

    I agree. People are baffled by those of us that do not believe CR is the second coming.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited November 2015 Posts: 23,883
    I agree. People are baffled by those of us that do not believe VR is the second coming.

    I hope you're not suggesting that they should have continued on the critically acclaimed path that they were on prior to CR?
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    edited November 2015 Posts: 15,423
    suavejmf wrote: »
    On many articles, such as that of the Empire Magazine posts, many claim it's a disappointment. And I wonder what they were watching all the time, saying Skyfall was vastly superior. I've seen Spectre myself and I thought it's the best Bond film in the last 15 years. But, like it has been said, we need half a year at least to know how well regarded the film is in the eyes of the majority overall.

    Better than CR??? Surely not.
    For me? Yes, better than Casino Royale, which I find overrated among the fans. Sure, I love the film, but like GoldenEye I find it highly overpraised.

    I agree. People are baffled by those of us that do not believe VR is the second coming.
    I never thought for a moment it was. It was just like any other entry in the series for me, and I enjoyed it. But, not to an extent where I found it as a masterpiece. I thought Quantum of Solace was better, minus the cinematography in the action setpieces. Too much cut and paste.
    bondjames wrote: »
    I agree. People are baffled by those of us that do not believe VR is the second coming.

    I hope you're not suggesting that they should have continued on the critically acclaimed path that they were on prior to CR?
    No, I would personally have advocated a For Your Eyes Only effect with Brosnan. But ah well, the producers know better how to adapt to the times they go through. :)
  • Mark_HazzardMark_Hazzard Classified
    Posts: 127
    Could Paul Haggis return to help writing the script? Unlike @ClarkDevlin I thought CR was brilliant. Let the team from that movie return, instead of the team behind SF... Maybe Haggis as a director as well?
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    edited November 2015 Posts: 15,423
    Why did you have to cite my name exactly in a statement of opinion that wasn't directed at me? As if I said something offensive.

    ...Did I?
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited November 2015 Posts: 23,883
    bondjames wrote: »
    I agree. People are baffled by those of us that do not believe VR is the second coming.
    I hope you're not suggesting that they should have continued on the critically acclaimed path that they were on prior to CR?
    No, I would personally have advocated a For Your Eyes Only effect with Brosnan. But ah well, the producers know better how to adapt to the times they go through. :)

    That could have worked.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    edited November 2015 Posts: 8,410
    bondjames wrote: »
    I agree. People are baffled by those of us that do not believe VR is the second coming.

    I hope you're not suggesting that they should have continued on the critically acclaimed path that they were on prior to CR?

    There is a difference. CR was certainly an improvment on TWINE and DAD. That being said I don't think it warrants Bond fans sitting in a circle chanting kumbaya. Its a better than average Bond flick, that's about it.
  • RC7RC7
    edited November 2015 Posts: 10,512
    bondjames wrote: »
    From what I've read, they seem to have gone for/be going for a combo of TDKR/CA-Winter Soldier with this one.

    It will depend on how this film is remembered in 6-12 months time (that is the proper timeframe to get a proper perspective imho). If it is seen positively overall (creatively.....we all know this will be a box office monster), then there will be pressure to keep the team and move forward with a conclusion. I think DC/Mendes know how to resist that pressure if they want to (they had to do it for SF).

    If it's seen as a step backward from what came before (like TDKR in a way) then it may be a good time to let it all go and move forward/reinvent again.

    From DC's perspective, it may be a good time to pack it in because he seems to have come full circle. He's fulfilled his mandate, which was to reinvent/reinvigorate Bond. No one can say he hasn't done that.

    It feels very different to the TDK/TDKR scenario to me. There is a tonal shift between SF and SP that doesn't exist between the latter two Nolan films. While it continues a few of the themes and plot strands, as a whole it is a completely different movie from SF. It feels fresh and exhilarating, which is a hard thing to achieve coming off the back of SF's success. Were the same creative team given a third crack of the whip, I've now no doubt it would be different again. There is more gas left in the tank, so to speak, where TDKR signalled they were just about empty. I think there's a final movie in the current team, sans Logan.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited November 2015 Posts: 23,883
    bondjames wrote: »
    I agree. People are baffled by those of us that do not believe VR is the second coming.

    I hope you're not suggesting that they should have continued on the critically acclaimed path that they were on prior to CR?

    There is a difference. CR was certainly an improvment on TWINE and DAD. That being said I don't think it warrants Bond fans sitting in a circle chanting kumbaya. Its a better than average Bond flick, that's about it.

    Fair point. Every film has flaws. The Venice part & Vesper romance of CR is not a high point for me. In fact, I don't like watching it. I prefer to skip from the phenomenal 'ball buster' straight to the equally great 'Bond, James Bond' ending.
    RC7 wrote: »
    bondjames wrote: »
    From what I've read, they seem to have gone for/be going for a combo of TDKR/CA-Winter Soldier with this one.

    It will depend on how this film is remembered in 6-12 months time (that is the proper timeframe to get a proper perspective imho). If it is seen positively overall (creatively.....we all know this will be a box office monster), then there will be pressure to keep the team and move forward with a conclusion. I think DC/Mendes know how to resist that pressure if they want to (they had to do it for SF).

    If it's seen as a step backward from what came before (like TDKR in a way) then it may be a good time to let it all go and move forward/reinvent again.

    From DC's perspective, it may be a good time to pack it in because he seems to have come full circle. He's fulfilled his mandate, which was to reinvent/reinvigorate Bond. No one can say he hasn't done that.

    It feels very different to the TDK/TDKR scenario to me. There is a tonal shift between SF and SP that doesn't exist between the latter two Nolan films. While it continues a few of the themes and plot strands, as a whole it is a completely different movie from SF. It feels fresh and exhilarating, which is a hard thing to achieve coming off the back of SF's success. Were the same creative team given a third crack of the whip, I've now no doubt it would be different again. There is more gas left in the tank, so to speak, where TDKR signalled they were just about empty. I think there's a final movie in the current team, sans Logan.

    Yes @RC7, from reading the reviews, I gather there is that tonal shift which is quite pronounced. I suspect this is what is throwing some of those 'who are uncomfortable with the film' off.

    In TDKR, Bane & Catwoman were realized in quite a mature (imho) fashion, similar to what was done in TDK (Joker) and BB (Ra's Al Ghul). Everything had a consistency. TDKR did feel like the true completion of a circle, but then it was always just going to be that......the end of Nolan's trilogy.

    The fact that SP has a tonal shift suggests that they may be trying to take us quickly back to the pre-DC environment so that he can move on. It seems surprising otherwise to reportedly shift the tone like this, because it does leave some viewers with a possible unexpected jarred experience. Again, difficult to say without having seen it, but I would have thought they should have probably developed Blofeld more thoroughly. There appears to be a rushed/shoehorned quality (again from reading reviews) which is / may seem odd to some, given the character's importance.
  • MyNameIsMyBondRnMyNameIsMyBondRn WhereYouLeastExpectMeToBe
    Posts: 221
    ..as we dig by, in everyday digging, falling on one's back is a serious statement-seeing it trough a looking glass..!-in retrospect-I for one knows what that means..!
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    edited November 2015 Posts: 8,410
    bondjames wrote: »
    bondjames wrote: »
    I agree. People are baffled by those of us that do not believe VR is the second coming.

    I hope you're not suggesting that they should have continued on the critically acclaimed path that they were on prior to CR?

    There is a difference. CR was certainly an improvment on TWINE and DAD. That being said I don't think it warrants Bond fans sitting in a circle chanting kumbaya. Its a better than average Bond flick, that's about it.

    Fair point. Every film has flaws. The Venice part & Vesper romance of CR is not a high point for me. In fact, I don't like watching it. I prefer to skip from the phenomenal 'ball buster' straight to the equally great 'Bond, James Bond' ending

    I like to look at CR like this. The first bit up until Vesper and Bond meet on the train is decent enough. The poker game and torture section is amazing, top notch Bond. Then I feel the 'love story' ending is very underwhelming IMO. The execution is just poor.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    bondjames wrote: »
    bondjames wrote: »
    I agree. People are baffled by those of us that do not believe VR is the second coming.

    I hope you're not suggesting that they should have continued on the critically acclaimed path that they were on prior to CR?

    There is a difference. CR was certainly an improvment on TWINE and DAD. That being said I don't think it warrants Bond fans sitting in a circle chanting kumbaya. Its a better than average Bond flick, that's about it.

    Fair point. Every film has flaws. The Venice part & Vesper romance of CR is not a high point for me. In fact, I don't like watching it. I prefer to skip from the phenomenal 'ball buster' straight to the equally great 'Bond, James Bond' ending

    I like to look at CR like this. The first bit up until Vesper and Bond meet on the train is decent enough. The poker game and torture section is amazing, top notch Bond. Then I feel the 'love story' ending is very underwhelming IMO. The execution is just poor.
    I felt quite the same way to tell you the truth.
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    Haven't watched CR in awhile but I remember that the love story worked quite well for me....far better than expected from Campbell.

    Not a jab against Campbell ...just not what he's known for ...but then neither was Bond sans OHMSS.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    mcdonbb wrote: »
    Haven't watched CR in awhile but I remember that the love story worked quite well for me....

    It works pretty perfectly for me.
  • SirHilaryBraySirHilaryBray Scotland
    edited November 2015 Posts: 2,138
    I am surprised. I thought Bond and Vespers romance is very real so much more so than in SPECTRE with Madeleine, The bit of him sitting on the boat on the phone to M after Vesper's death you see the rage building. It's a great piece of acting from Daniel. I personally think CR is near a flawless Bond that will find, Locations, women, style, pace.. helped of course with the source material being Flemings. No surprise the strongest Bond films are the ones adapted from Flemings novels the dialogue is so much better.

    As for Martin Campbell, he's 72 years old. I don't think he will risk his legacy by coming back to finish it all off, I don't think he would have done CR if it wasn't for the fact he's a fan and the chance to put a Fleming novel on screen was something he could not resist getting involved in.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited November 2015 Posts: 23,883
    To clarify my earlier comments on the Vesper romance development/Venice component, it's all good. Just that in a film that overall is almost perfect, that part is the weakest for me, but it's all relative.
  • Posts: 389
    UNCLE have shown this idea to be commercialy and artistically viable... NOT
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    bondjames wrote: »
    To clarify my earlier comments on the Vesper romance development/Venice component, it's all good. Just that in a film that overall is almost perfect, that part is the weakest for me, but it's all relative.

    Oh I see. Makes sense.

    And @SirHilaryBray I didn't know that Campbell was 72?

    You know Deakins is up there too.
  • SirHilaryBraySirHilaryBray Scotland
    edited November 2015 Posts: 2,138
    Yeah it came as a shock to me when I found out how old Martin Campbell was, he is still directing he's doing a movie with Jackie Chan at present called The Foreigner due out 2016.
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    Haven't seen Jackie Chan in a long time. In a movie I mean.
  • ShardlakeShardlake Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 4,043
    While I don't think CR is Craig's best for me anyway, SF and SP are level pegging for the top spot. I do think CR is far from being just another entry it reset things and presented a film unlike anything we'd seen since OHMSS, no it's not perfect but it's pretty fantastic.

    QOS is still the seriously flawed one but SP has given it some added weight with the tying things together.

    Mendes though for me is better director than Campbell and he gets great performances out of actors, SPECTRE is littered with great work from all the cast and both this and SF show Craig at his strongest in the role.

    I don't imagine Jesper would have returned as Mr White if he's just been solely a piece of exposition to move the story on, his redemption gave his character a touching sign off and an actor of his calibre no doubt saw that and reprised the role, that and a chance to work with Mendes.

    As for Craig returning, when the film finished, my Wife turned to me and said she couldn't understand why people were saying it's obvious this is Craig's last. Swann's comments even hint that she doesn't believe that Bond can give up the life and I can even envisage a PTS to bring Bond back to being a double O again.

    I think and hope that Craig will be back for at least one more go around.
  • Posts: 2,081
    suavejmf wrote: »
    On many articles, such as that of the Empire Magazine posts, many claim it's a disappointment. And I wonder what they were watching all the time, saying Skyfall was vastly superior. I've seen Spectre myself and I thought it's the best Bond film in the last 15 years. But, like it has been said, we need half a year at least to know how well regarded the film is in the eyes of the majority overall.

    Better than CR??? Surely not.
    For me? Yes, better than Casino Royale, which I find overrated among the fans. Sure, I love the film, but like GoldenEye I find it highly overpraised.

    I agree. People are baffled by those of us that do not believe VR is the second coming.
    I never thought for a moment it was. It was just like any other entry in the series for me, and I enjoyed it. But, not to an extent where I found it as a masterpiece. I thought Quantum of Solace was better, minus the cinematography in the action setpieces. Too much cut and paste.

    The comment about cinematography was confusing, not only because I think it's beautiful in QoS, I also don't remember ever having seen anyone complain about it before, but rather praise it. Then next sentence suggests you actually meant editing. Too hectic at times to my taste as well.
    Yeah it came as a shock to me when I found out how old Martin Campbell was, he is still directing he's doing a movie with Jackie Chan at present called The Foreigner due out 2016.

    Well... George Miller is 70, Michael Mann is 72, Martin Scorsese is 72 (73 in 2 weeks) Ridley Scott is 77 (78 at the end of this month), Clint Eastwood is 85... and they're all working. Depends on one's health and energy, of course, more than age. Compared to Eastwood Campbell is relatively young. :)
    Shardlake wrote: »
    While I don't think CR is Craig's best for me anyway, SF and SP are level pegging for the top spot. I do think CR is far from being just another entry it reset things and presented a film unlike anything we'd seen since OHMSS, no it's not perfect but it's pretty fantastic.

    QOS is still the seriously flawed one but SP has given it some added weight with the tying things together.

    Mendes though for me is better director than Campbell and he gets great performances out of actors, SPECTRE is littered with great work from all the cast and both this and SF show Craig at his strongest in the role.

    I don't imagine Jesper would have returned as Mr White if he's just been solely a piece of exposition to move the story on, his redemption gave his character a touching sign off and an actor of his calibre no doubt saw that and reprised the role, that and a chance to work with Mendes.

    As for Craig returning, when the film finished, my Wife turned to me and said she couldn't understand why people were saying it's obvious this is Craig's last. Swann's comments even hint that she doesn't believe that Bond can give up the life and I can even envisage a PTS to bring Bond back to being a double O again.

    I think and hope that Craig will be back for at least one more go around.

    I can't understand it, either. Sure could be, but it certainly isn't "obvious" at all. Quite the opposite in fact, like you said.

    Btw, I was so glad Christensen returned - both the character and the actor, and that section in the movie was one of my favorites. He also gave one of my fave performances in the movie, along with Craig and Whishaw.


  • ShardlakeShardlake Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 4,043
    @Tuulia I think Jesper Christensen is pure class, one of the greatest strengths of the Craig era is very talented European actors they've cast. I very much enjoy his work in The Legacy.

    When I heard he was returning I was delighted, not just the way he would tie into things for the Craig films and give QOS more validity instead of being forgotten about but it all felt unfinished, when it looked like he'd just be forgotten like Quantum.

    His moments in CR are great but it's that interrogation scene and his witty Tosca remark that were his most memorable in QOS, his moment in SP adds another aspect to the character and presents more than just a thinly sketched outline moving the plot on.

    Although I though everyone pretty much hit their marks here, Wishaw was an absolute joy but Fiennes & Harris were great. I also can't help but root for Kinnear's Tanner, I know some here find him bland but I think he does fine with what he's given and team MI6 are on fine form here.
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