No Time To Die: Production Diary

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  • Posts: 233
    HASEROT wrote: »
    I wouldn't mind a Bond film set in the fifties, but I feel like it would be a waste when they haven't yet made a film that properly takes advantage of the modern political climate. Casino Royale touched on the concerns of 21st Century terrorism with the Obanno character, and Spectre had some interesting commentary on drone warfare, but other than that they've shied away from it. I'm not asking for Bond vs Daesh, but it'd be nice to see 007 tackle a villain who has a little more relevance in the real world. I've always liked the use of contemporary political concerns in For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, and The Living Daylights, those plots felt like they could really happen.

    Also, shameless plug here, but I've written a bit about the future of the Bond franchise on my blog and I'd be grateful if anyone wanted to take a look:

    https://clueddown.com/2016/04/19/where-next-for-james-bond/

    i think there is more there than your recalling..

    QOS - Quantum and Greene buying up "worthless plots of land" - in order to create a drought in Boliva, thus controlling the water supply of the entire country is apropos to many back channel / greedy corporate dealings... just think of the midwest oil dealings.

    SF and SP - both touched on dangers of cyber terrorism... one focusing more on the dangers of terrorism through hacking poor government infrastructures (but using it for his own personal agenda) - the other about a global intelligence community that is privately run and funded outside of government jurisdictions..

    execution of the writings aside, i think EON has done a fine job of taking the modern day concerns of the masses, and adapting it to Bond's world.

    That's a fair point, probably why I've always been a big fan of Quantum's plot, despite everything else. The references to US foreign policy was also welcome, grounds it all in some proper geopolitical context. My issue is that the villain's themselves don't always seem feasible - they've invariably been a load of white European men. For example, in SP we had the Spectre organisation orchestrating terror attacks across the globe - I much preferred the way it was set up in CR, with Spectre acting as a go between for existing terror groups. Felt much more connected to the real world.

    I understand it's a Bond film so there's always going to be an element of escapism, I just feel that the more outlandish the villains become, the less threatening they feel - I never get the impression that Silva is someone who could really exist.

    Agreed. It's past time to portray the villains as Islamic Arabs. You know--for the sake of realism.

    I'm not suggesting that we introduce Islamist villains into the James Bond series, but that we try and link the villain's scheme more tangibly to the real world and current geopolitical conflicts.
  • Posts: 2,483
    HASEROT wrote: »
    I wouldn't mind a Bond film set in the fifties, but I feel like it would be a waste when they haven't yet made a film that properly takes advantage of the modern political climate. Casino Royale touched on the concerns of 21st Century terrorism with the Obanno character, and Spectre had some interesting commentary on drone warfare, but other than that they've shied away from it. I'm not asking for Bond vs Daesh, but it'd be nice to see 007 tackle a villain who has a little more relevance in the real world. I've always liked the use of contemporary political concerns in For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, and The Living Daylights, those plots felt like they could really happen.

    Also, shameless plug here, but I've written a bit about the future of the Bond franchise on my blog and I'd be grateful if anyone wanted to take a look:

    https://clueddown.com/2016/04/19/where-next-for-james-bond/

    i think there is more there than your recalling..

    QOS - Quantum and Greene buying up "worthless plots of land" - in order to create a drought in Boliva, thus controlling the water supply of the entire country is apropos to many back channel / greedy corporate dealings... just think of the midwest oil dealings.

    SF and SP - both touched on dangers of cyber terrorism... one focusing more on the dangers of terrorism through hacking poor government infrastructures (but using it for his own personal agenda) - the other about a global intelligence community that is privately run and funded outside of government jurisdictions..

    execution of the writings aside, i think EON has done a fine job of taking the modern day concerns of the masses, and adapting it to Bond's world.

    That's a fair point, probably why I've always been a big fan of Quantum's plot, despite everything else. The references to US foreign policy was also welcome, grounds it all in some proper geopolitical context. My issue is that the villain's themselves don't always seem feasible - they've invariably been a load of white European men. For example, in SP we had the Spectre organisation orchestrating terror attacks across the globe - I much preferred the way it was set up in CR, with Spectre acting as a go between for existing terror groups. Felt much more connected to the real world.

    I understand it's a Bond film so there's always going to be an element of escapism, I just feel that the more outlandish the villains become, the less threatening they feel - I never get the impression that Silva is someone who could really exist.

    Agreed. It's past time to portray the villains as Islamic Arabs. You know--for the sake of realism.

    I'm not suggesting that we introduce Islamist villains into the James Bond series, but that we try and link the villain's scheme more tangibly to the real world and current geopolitical conflicts.

    Heh. And Islamist plots and villains do that in spades.

  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    Posts: 4,399
    keeping in theme with Islamic terrorists... what if Spectre was trying to rig an election, to make the incumbent ruler of an arab nation look like he has terrorist connections, and is using them to keep his power - when actually, the incumbent has been trying to stop the terrorism, and the real one with the terror/Spectre connections is the one trying to succeed him...... it's a little bit of TLD, QOS, and SP kind of rolled into one..... i think something of that geopolitical nature would be interesting (and relevant), and could certainly work in Bond's world - the trouble is, is finding a way to make it connect to MI6 - as in - why would MI6 care about this enough to send Bond to investigate...

    if this is too much like any other plot to any other movie, i apologize - just throwin' ideas out lol..
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    HASEROT wrote: »
    keeping in theme with Islamic terrorists... what if Spectre was trying to rig an election, to make the incumbent ruler of an arab nation look like he has terrorist connections, and is using them to keep his power - when actually, the incumbent has been trying to stop the terrorism, and the real one with the terror/Spectre connections is the one trying to succeed him...... it's a little bit of TLD, QOS, and SP kind of rolled into one..... i think something of that geopolitical nature would be interesting (and relevant), and could certainly work in Bond's world - the trouble is, is finding a way to make it connect to MI6 - as in - why would MI6 care about this enough to send Bond to investigate...

    if this is too much like any other plot to any other movie, i apologize - just throwin' ideas out lol..
    That's actually an excellent idea. I watched episode 1 of The Night Manager last night. As I was watching it, I realized how 'dated' the recent Bond plot felt in comparison. I won't spoil it (check it out if you haven't seen it) but it seems to have a very topical incorporation with real world references.
  • edited April 2016 Posts: 4,409
    Ralph Fiennes talks Bond 25
    landscape_showbiz-venice-film-festival-ralph-fiennes-01.jpg
    http://www.denofgeek.com/40108/james-bond-ralph-fiennes-doesn-t-know-if-he-ll-be-back-as-m

    Look like everything is in a holding pattern at the moment. I still think that regardless of the new direction the franchise takes it would be shame if EON lost Fiennes (or any of the new MI6 team). I quite like the idea of going back to the '60's and having proper Cold War story. I think Fiennes would still work - after all Judi played M in the Brosnan films and the rebooted movies. The timeline is so screwed up with Bond it hardly matters to maintain continuity.
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    Wow, what a mess.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,400
    Yeah, imagine: Turner, Fiennes, Harris, Whisaw.

    Now that's a dream team, right there.
  • Posts: 4,325
    Yeah, imagine: Turner, Fiennes, Harris, Whisaw.

    Now that's a dream team, right there.

    Or Craig, Fiennes, Harris, Whishaw, Waltz and Seydoux :)
  • Posts: 9,847
    Grr so we are pretty much back where we were between die another day and casino Royale or quantum of solace and Skyfall....

    And with no video games literally the comic book is all we have to push bond forward this is kind of depressing.

    Well at least Macgyver is back....
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    edited April 2016 Posts: 8,400
    Risico007 wrote: »
    Grr so we are pretty much back where we were between die another day and casino Royale or quantum of solace and Skyfall....

    And with no video games literally the comic book is all we have to push bond forward this is kind of depressing.

    Well at least Macgyver is back....

    No, we only have another 2.5 year wait. Probably 1.2 years before we find out who Bond number 007 is. Believe me, in another 6 months, the news will start to come in. I bet Turner is up for a screen test, given that he has already been has flown out at the behest of EON.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Turner is a tabloid suggestion like all those who came before him. And so is Tom Hiddleston. Until Eon makes an official announcement, I won't be taking anything seriously with them. A decade ago, we were all led to believe so heavily that Clive Owen was going to become Bond. And they went with a complete unknown which became Daniel Craig. So, let's not jump to a conclusion so soon. The media sees a British actor donning a tuxedo, or playing a spy in a suit, and that actor quickly becomes a Bond candidate to them. Let's all be serious. No Turner, no Hiddleston, no Hardy, not anyone but Craig right now, until Eon announces the otherwise.
  • edited April 2016 Posts: 9,847
    Sorry Mendes but Turner does nothing for me he is ok but nothing amazing after the first episode of Night Manager I am firmly in camp hiddleston this is also due to section 3 paragraph 7 nothing personal I am sure you understand

    Actually Turner looks much more like Adrian Paul to the point that I want Turner to be the lead in that long gestating Highlander reboot.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,400
    Turner is a tabloid suggestion like all those who came before him. And so is Tom Hiddleston. Until Eon makes an official announcement, I won't be taking anything seriously with them. A decade ago, we were all led to believe so heavily that Clive Owen was going to become Bond. And they went with a complete unknown which became Daniel Craig. So, let's not jump to a conclusion so soon. The media sees a British actor donning a tuxedo, or playing a spy in a suit, and that actor quickly becomes a Bond candidate to them. Let's all be serious. No Turner, no Hiddleston, no Hardy, not anyone but Craig right now, until Eon announces the otherwise.

    A stopped clock is right twice a day.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Turner is a tabloid suggestion like all those who came before him. And so is Tom Hiddleston. Until Eon makes an official announcement, I won't be taking anything seriously with them. A decade ago, we were all led to believe so heavily that Clive Owen was going to become Bond. And they went with a complete unknown which became Daniel Craig. So, let's not jump to a conclusion so soon. The media sees a British actor donning a tuxedo, or playing a spy in a suit, and that actor quickly becomes a Bond candidate to them. Let's all be serious. No Turner, no Hiddleston, no Hardy, not anyone but Craig right now, until Eon announces the otherwise.

    A stopped clock is right twice a day.
    Except that this isn't a stopped clock, old chap. ;)
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    Risico007 wrote: »
    Sorry Mendes but Turner does nothing for me he is ok but nothing amazing after the first episode of Night Manager I am firmly in camp hiddleston this is also due to section 3 paragraph 7 nothing personal I am sure you understand
    +1
    Risico007 wrote: »
    Actually Turner looks much more like Adrian Paul to the point that I want Turner to be the lead in that long gestating Highlander reboot.
    +1
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Adrian Paul looked a lot like Sean Connery back in his heyday to a point I wanted a Bond film with him set in the early to mid-1960s.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    edited April 2016 Posts: 8,400
    Regardless, he is the only serious candidate i have seen. He's just the right age, just the right amount of famous (by which I mean he isn't a film star, but he can handle being in the spotlight) he has the look of Bond to a tee, and is a significant departure from Craig.

    The reason the press is picking up on him is because he fits the mould of the tall dark handsome leading man. I don't care about that. I want him to be Bond because, from the small hints from his television work I already know he has the potential to be the best Bond ever created. I just hope EON don't screw it up and plump for Hiddleston for his media courting abilities. I think post Craig, they don't want any more problems with the press, so I wouldn't put it past them.

    To put it another way, I want my Bond to have a burning intensity about him that is self-evident. I want a cunning agent, solely devoted to his mission, prepared to do whatever it takes. He should be cynical, dry and abrasive. Tom Hiddleston and his toothy grin don't communicate any of that.
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,582
    It's all opinion though Mendes4Lyfe. You say that choosing Hiddleston means Eon will screw up, yet he is popular with many. Eon won't screw it up, they will pick their man carefully. But it will be an actor who has the charisma to carry a Bond film, not someone who looks good on TV with his shirt off.

    They know what they are doing.
  • RC7RC7
    edited April 2016 Posts: 10,512
    Regardless, he is the only serious candidate i have seen. He's just the right age, just the right amount of famous (by which I mean he isn't a film star, but he can handle being in the spotlight) he has the look of Bond to a tee, and is a significant departure from Craig.

    The reason the press is picking up on him is because he fits the mould of the tall dark handsome leading man. I don't care about that. I want him to be Bond because, from the small hints from his television work I already know he has the potential to be the best Bond ever created. I just hope EON don't screw it up and plump for Hiddleston for his media courting abilities. I think post Craig, they don't want any more problems with the press, so I wouldn't put it past them.

    To put it another way, I want my Bond to have a burning intensity about him that is self-evident. I want a cunning agent, solely devoted to his mission, prepared to do whatever it takes. He should be cynical, dry and abrasive. Tom Hiddleston and his toothy grin don't communicate any of that.

    He has a very brooding look, but I think a lot of people are thus far unconvinced that he brings the presence and gravitas that is necessary 'on screen', not just in decontextualised stills. He was good in 'And Then There Were None', but he didn't own the screen. He reminded me much more of Dalton, visually appropriate, but lacking the electricity and charisma of a Connery or Moore, the je ne sais qois that elevates the character. To reference a more recent example, Craig during Silva's monologue and the ensuing dialogue - Bardem is a man with enormous screen presence and the nature of his character allowed him to thrive, but at no point is Craig overshadowed. He matches Bardem with every beat. I don't see that in Turner. People should feel Bond walk into a room before they've even seen him. Hiddleston (to use another potential candidate) seems to have this, to me. He never blends into the background or feels like his performance is superficial, there's a kineticism to his performance, not even in a literal sense, but you can see his mind working. That's not an easy thing to pull off.
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,582
    ^^ This
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    edited April 2016 Posts: 9,020
    Bardem's acting in that scene is ridiculously bad. Craig could have slept on the floor and would have acted Bardem to the wall.
    Bardem is hugely overrated in Skyfall. And the dialogue they gave him in his opening shot is borderline daytime soap level.

    Aidan Turner will be fine as Bond, so would Hiddleston be.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    Bardem's acting in that scene is ridiculously bad. Craig could have slept on the floor and would have acted Bardem to the wall.
    Bardem is hugely overrated in Skyfall. And the dialogue they gave him in his opening shot is borderline daytime soap level.

    Aidan Turner will be fine as Bond, so would Hiddleston be.

    Really? Even as much as I don't like SF, I don't think I've ever had a complaint about Bardem's acting level. What don't you like about it?
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    Bardem's acting in that scene is ridiculously bad. Craig could have slept on the floor and would have acted Bardem to the wall.
    Bardem is hugely overrated in Skyfall. And the dialogue they gave him in his opening shot is borderline daytime soap level.

    Aidan Turner will be fine as Bond, so would Hiddleston be.

    Really? Even as much as I don't like SF, I don't think I've ever had a complaint about Bardem's acting level. What don't you like about it?

    He doesn't feel menacing or dangerous, just ridiculous and pathetic. What does he want? To seduce Bond?
    His looks are already very camp, they should have at least given him dialogue that doesn't seem to come out of an Austin Powers movie.
    He overacts horribly. And in a bad and unconvincing way. It just doesn't fit with the tone of the movie. It's like transforming Elliot Carver into Skyfall. That wouldn't have worked either.
    Silva could have been a typical Brosnan-era villain.
    Also the Hannibal Lector sequence feels like a parody. And again his acting is way over the top and the dialogue cringe-worthy.
    The only time I really feel Silva is a Bond-worthy villain is in the Skyfall sequence.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    He doesn't come across as threatening as he does psychotic and unhinged, which is what I love. In some scenes, it's hard to differentiate between him messing with Bond or him being a complete psychopath. I don't see anything overly comparable in dialogue between SF and Austin Powers, though, that seems to be a bit of the stretch. Are you talking about the scene where Silva is touching him? Hell, people argued that to death more than they did this foster brother thing in SP.

    I don't care for the 'Lector' sequence, either. This is where the movie really starts to drag for me, and his escape hinders my enjoyment. However, his acting itself never seems to step into an OTT/overacting territory; for me, anyway.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    I always have wanted a Bond villain that is very much like how Jared Harris played Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    He doesn't come across as threatening as he does psychotic and unhinged

    Exactly, he's a fruit loop.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,400
    RC7 wrote: »
    Regardless, he is the only serious candidate i have seen. He's just the right age, just the right amount of famous (by which I mean he isn't a film star, but he can handle being in the spotlight) he has the look of Bond to a tee, and is a significant departure from Craig.

    The reason the press is picking up on him is because he fits the mould of the tall dark handsome leading man. I don't care about that. I want him to be Bond because, from the small hints from his television work I already know he has the potential to be the best Bond ever created. I just hope EON don't screw it up and plump for Hiddleston for his media courting abilities. I think post Craig, they don't want any more problems with the press, so I wouldn't put it past them.

    To put it another way, I want my Bond to have a burning intensity about him that is self-evident. I want a cunning agent, solely devoted to his mission, prepared to do whatever it takes. He should be cynical, dry and abrasive. Tom Hiddleston and his toothy grin don't communicate any of that.

    He has a very brooding look, but I think a lot of people are thus far unconvinced that he brings the presence and gravitas that is necessary 'on screen', not just in decontextualised stills. He was good in 'And Then There Were None', but he didn't own the screen. He reminded me much more of Dalton, visually appropriate, but lacking the electricity and charisma of a Connery or Moore, the je ne sais qois that elevates the character. To reference a more recent example, Craig during Silva's monologue and the ensuing dialogue - Bardem is a man with enormous screen presence and the nature of his character allowed him to thrive, but at no point is Craig overshadowed. He matches Bardem with every beat. I don't see that in Turner. People should feel Bond walk into a room before they've even seen him. Hiddleston (to use another potential candidate) seems to have this, to me. He never blends into the background or feels like his performance is superficial, there's a kineticism to his performance, not even in a literal sense, but you can see his mind working. That's not an easy thing to pull off.

    Yes, but be honest, no Bond actor had that BEFORE they were Bond. It's something they gain from the role, its the challenge they have to take on when they agree to the part. Connery became Bond AFTER he agreed to the role, its well documented. At this stage in the process looks carry a lot of weight because its one of the few things we can be sure the actor will bring with him. You nailed it with your comparison of Aidan with Dalton. There is a huge parallel there. Both very dark and brooding. Thats their mystique. That's what the character is, IMO. What Turner lacks now, in your eyes, he may well more than make up for in the 2 years he has to get to grips with the character. That's what happened with Connery and Craig after all.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    I know I'm probably in a minority disliking Bardem's Silva.
    For me the movie gets completely derailed after 70 minutes when Silva enters the screen.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,400
    I know I'm probably in a minority disliking Bardem's Silva.
    For me the movie gets completely derailed after 70 minutes when Silva enters the screen.

    No I agree completely. He is the worst thing about SF. Everyone was aware of his reputation for playing strong villians, so no one dared even attempt to rein him in. Shame, I really like SF when Bardem isn't around. He drags the whole film down for me now, especially the middle.
  • DonnyDB5DonnyDB5 Buffalo, New York
    Posts: 1,755
    Everything hinges on whether Craig will return or not. I'd imagine they'd want him back even more so, because if he goes it seems like everyone goes. Not so sure they'd want to lose this incredible cast. I pray he comes back. Just one more!
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