Where does Bond go after Craig?

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  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,266
    DarthDimi wrote: »

    The Bonds are imperfect films in my opinion.

    Wrong thread, dimi, you want the controversial opinions thread.

    I see what you mean, @Mendes4Lyfe. 😉 Think about it, though. We usually don't want our Bonds too grounded, too serious or realistic. We enjoy a bit of fun -- the old five-minutes-into-the-future element. We want big villains, bombastic lairs, gadgets, and futuristic tech. Such things invite errors of some kind. But we typically embrace them. Even the loop whistle in TMWTGG or not knowing why the bald man wants to beat up Bond in Beirut aren't too big a deal for mist Bond fans.
    peter wrote: »
    The Bonds are imperfect films in my opinion. And that's fine because I usually cherrish their flaws. Also, they don't have to be perfect to give me what I want from a Bond movie.

    Beautifully stated. And so true.

    Thank you, @peter. I was thinking the other day about DAF. Why didn't Tiffany think it odd that Peter Franks had to be told a second time what floor to choose? But instead of hating her for not smelling something iffy, I usually just laugh with it. That is the power of these films.
    mtm wrote: »
    Half the fun of a lot of Bonds is some of the naff or cheesy bits! Swinging from a vine whilst doing a Tarzan call? Absolutely dreadful joke, complete rubbish. I love it :D
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    There really is no objectively perfect film out there, nor a truly objective way to grade or compare films like that.

    As hard as it is to believe, @Creasy these will be sobering words for some.

    As there's literally not a single person in this conversation who has asserted that any film is perfect, those people getting sobered aren't to be found here!

    I'm glad. Imagine having that discussion. I mean, what even constitutes a perfect Bond film? So I am happy that most of us can agree that Bond films are not perfect at all.
  • Posts: 1,871
    Bond films, like any films, don't have to be perfect. Just provide a viewer something they can call their own.
  • George_KaplanGeorge_Kaplan Being chauffeured by Tibbett
    edited June 7 Posts: 701
    I dread the day the perfect Bond film is made. What would be the point of carrying on once perfection has been attained?

    No Bond film is perfect, but no Bond film is without value either, which for a 62-year-old, 25 film series is an outstanding achievement.
  • Posts: 3,327
    Mendes4Lyfe's 10 point plan for Bond 26 that every Bond fan can agree with:

    1. The Gunbarrel - A proper Maurice Binder stylised gunbarrel, with the blood trickle and opening up on the location. No text, no fade out/fade in, no CG bullets.

    2. The Song - No ballads. An exciting track that sets the pace for the exhilarating thrill ride we're about to embark on, with riffs repeating throughout the score.

    3. The Mission - Bond is sent on a mission at Ms request. It doesn't have take place in M's office with handing over a dossier, it can be "off the books" but M needs to have full awareness and consent.

    4. Cat and Mouse - Bond and the villain engage in an charged but friendly game of one-upmanship in a casual environment, where they play along as polite acquaintances despite what they know about the other.

    5. The Bond Girl - Miranda Frost, Jinx, Vesper, Camille, Strawberry, Madeline Swann, Nomi. How about a bond girl who isn't either another agent or has some connection to the crime world. I for one like the Kara Milovy type, who gets thrust into this world of danger and gradually has to learn to rise to it. That's more compelling to me than the ones who sit down and have bonds number from the moment they meet.

    6. The Locales - The bulk of the film should take place in one country to give enough time to get a feel for the place. Bonus points if theres some local activities taking place for Bond to interact with.

    7. Inventive Action - A Bond action sequence should have more to it than cars chasing eachother through exotic vistas, there should be that extra element to spice things up. That doesn't have to mean gadgets, it could be driving half a car with the back ripped off, or skiing through a resort cafe, or riding a cello case down a mountain. Get creative, people.

    8. Spy Another Day - we get at least one sequence of Bond infiltrating a facility featuring old-school tension and suspense, where his acumen as a spy is demonstrated.

    9. Runtime - The length should be kept to under 2 hrs and 20 minutes to give it that breezy flow of the Connery and early Moore films. There's nothing worse than a Bond film feeling saggy and bloated, cut out the fat and keep it to a lean 2 hrs 10 mins.

    10. Another Happy Landing - wherether Bond ends up, once the baddies plans have been dashed he and the Bond girl get to enjoy themselves and relax after a job well done, and the film ends with them on a happy note together.

    I agree with pretty much all of this, but there is one criteria that is drastically missing. Unused Fleming scenes from the books (there are still plenty). And properly adapted too, not some half-assed, micky-mouse attempt like the very loose connections to YOLT in NTTD, or MR in DAD.

    Proper Fleming adaptations, like the short story used in TLD, or the short stories used in FYEO.

    What scenes are you thinking about?

    Plenty. Take your pick - game of cards at Blades with M to catch out a potential cheating villain, Viv Michel about to be raped by 2 gangsters in a motel only to be rescued by the new Bond (great PTS potential for the new actor), 2 gangsters kicking Bond half to death in a `Brooklyn stomping' football boot torture, the mud bath scene in DAF, Bond undercover as Mark Hazard to get close to his man, the end train scene battle in TMWTGG, the end train scene in DAF, the horse race scene in DAF, Bond watching in the woods as a bush opens to reveal the biker killers in FAVTAK, etc. etc.
  • Posts: 1,871
    Mendes4Lyfe's 10 point plan for Bond 26 that every Bond fan can agree with:

    1. The Gunbarrel - A proper Maurice Binder stylised gunbarrel, with the blood trickle and opening up on the location. No text, no fade out/fade in, no CG bullets.

    2. The Song - No ballads. An exciting track that sets the pace for the exhilarating thrill ride we're about to embark on, with riffs repeating throughout the score.

    3. The Mission - Bond is sent on a mission at Ms request. It doesn't have take place in M's office with handing over a dossier, it can be "off the books" but M needs to have full awareness and consent.

    4. Cat and Mouse - Bond and the villain engage in an charged but friendly game of one-upmanship in a casual environment, where they play along as polite acquaintances despite what they know about the other.

    5. The Bond Girl - Miranda Frost, Jinx, Vesper, Camille, Strawberry, Madeline Swann, Nomi. How about a bond girl who isn't either another agent or has some connection to the crime world. I for one like the Kara Milovy type, who gets thrust into this world of danger and gradually has to learn to rise to it. That's more compelling to me than the ones who sit down and have bonds number from the moment they meet.

    6. The Locales - The bulk of the film should take place in one country to give enough time to get a feel for the place. Bonus points if theres some local activities taking place for Bond to interact with.

    7. Inventive Action - A Bond action sequence should have more to it than cars chasing eachother through exotic vistas, there should be that extra element to spice things up. That doesn't have to mean gadgets, it could be driving half a car with the back ripped off, or skiing through a resort cafe, or riding a cello case down a mountain. Get creative, people.

    8. Spy Another Day - we get at least one sequence of Bond infiltrating a facility featuring old-school tension and suspense, where his acumen as a spy is demonstrated.

    9. Runtime - The length should be kept to under 2 hrs and 20 minutes to give it that breezy flow of the Connery and early Moore films. There's nothing worse than a Bond film feeling saggy and bloated, cut out the fat and keep it to a lean 2 hrs 10 mins.

    10. Another Happy Landing - wherether Bond ends up, once the baddies plans have been dashed he and the Bond girl get to enjoy themselves and relax after a job well done, and the film ends with them on a happy note together.

    I agree with pretty much all of this, but there is one criteria that is drastically missing. Unused Fleming scenes from the books (there are still plenty). And properly adapted too, not some half-assed, micky-mouse attempt like the very loose connections to YOLT in NTTD, or MR in DAD.

    Proper Fleming adaptations, like the short story used in TLD, or the short stories used in FYEO.

    What scenes are you thinking about?

    Plenty. Take your pick - game of cards at Blades with M to catch out a potential cheating villain, Viv Michel about to be raped by 2 gangsters in a motel only to be rescued by the new Bond (great PTS potential for the new actor), 2 gangsters kicking Bond half to death in a `Brooklyn stomping' football boot torture, the mud bath scene in DAF, Bond undercover as Mark Hazard to get close to his man, the end train scene battle in TMWTGG, the end train scene in DAF, the horse race scene in DAF, Bond watching in the woods as a bush opens to reveal the biker killers in FAVTAK, etc. etc.

    All this and no giant squid.
  • Posts: 6,710
    delfloria wrote: »
    Mendes4Lyfe's 10 point plan for Bond 26 that every Bond fan can agree with:

    1. The Gunbarrel - A proper Maurice Binder stylised gunbarrel, with the blood trickle and opening up on the location. No text, no fade out/fade in, no CG bullets.

    2. The Song - No ballads. An exciting track that sets the pace for the exhilarating thrill ride we're about to embark on, with riffs repeating throughout the score.

    3. The Mission - Bond is sent on a mission at Ms request. It doesn't have take place in M's office with handing over a dossier, it can be "off the books" but M needs to have full awareness and consent.

    4. Cat and Mouse - Bond and the villain engage in an charged but friendly game of one-upmanship in a casual environment, where they play along as polite acquaintances despite what they know about the other.

    5. The Bond Girl - Miranda Frost, Jinx, Vesper, Camille, Strawberry, Madeline Swann, Nomi. How about a bond girl who isn't either another agent or has some connection to the crime world. I for one like the Kara Milovy type, who gets thrust into this world of danger and gradually has to learn to rise to it. That's more compelling to me than the ones who sit down and have bonds number from the moment they meet.

    6. The Locales - The bulk of the film should take place in one country to give enough time to get a feel for the place. Bonus points if theres some local activities taking place for Bond to interact with.

    7. Inventive Action - A Bond action sequence should have more to it than cars chasing eachother through exotic vistas, there should be that extra element to spice things up. That doesn't have to mean gadgets, it could be driving half a car with the back ripped off, or skiing through a resort cafe, or riding a cello case down a mountain. Get creative, people.

    8. Spy Another Day - we get at least one sequence of Bond infiltrating a facility featuring old-school tension and suspense, where his acumen as a spy is demonstrated.

    9. Runtime - The length should be kept to under 2 hrs and 20 minutes to give it that breezy flow of the Connery and early Moore films. There's nothing worse than a Bond film feeling saggy and bloated, cut out the fat and keep it to a lean 2 hrs 10 mins.

    10. Another Happy Landing - wherether Bond ends up, once the baddies plans have been dashed he and the Bond girl get to enjoy themselves and relax after a job well done, and the film ends with them on a happy note together.

    I agree with pretty much all of this, but there is one criteria that is drastically missing. Unused Fleming scenes from the books (there are still plenty). And properly adapted too, not some half-assed, micky-mouse attempt like the very loose connections to YOLT in NTTD, or MR in DAD.

    Proper Fleming adaptations, like the short story used in TLD, or the short stories used in FYEO.

    What scenes are you thinking about?

    Plenty. Take your pick - game of cards at Blades with M to catch out a potential cheating villain, Viv Michel about to be raped by 2 gangsters in a motel only to be rescued by the new Bond (great PTS potential for the new actor), 2 gangsters kicking Bond half to death in a `Brooklyn stomping' football boot torture, the mud bath scene in DAF, Bond undercover as Mark Hazard to get close to his man, the end train scene battle in TMWTGG, the end train scene in DAF, the horse race scene in DAF, Bond watching in the woods as a bush opens to reveal the biker killers in FAVTAK, etc. etc.

    All this and no giant squid.

    And swimming with barracudas ;)
  • edited June 7 Posts: 4,310
    Forgot Bond desperately trying to convince a villain to take him on as a personal secretary to let him live… only for the villain to say no and then for some reason do this later anyway…

    And Bond trying to hold his breath to kill himself… only for this not to work of course.

    I suspect the idea of Bond turning a lesbian 'straight' (who afterwards openly admits being abused by her uncle) might not be on the table though for a future film though...
  • LucknFateLucknFate 007 In New York
    edited June 7 Posts: 1,677
    The point of the Bond movie franchise is that it's a winning formula of components, not a lucky fluke and not a precision instrument. It's designed to make another one soon, so they will never be perfect. It's all you best ideas right now in a film, and then you challenge yourself to do it again. Seeking perfection, but never finding it, is good movie business for a franchise. Bond isn't a pencil, there isn't one perfect design.
  • Posts: 2,029
    mtm wrote: »
    Half the fun of a lot of Bonds is some of the naff or cheesy bits! Swinging from a vine whilst doing a Tarzan call? Absolutely dreadful joke, complete rubbish. I love it :D!

    Each to his own. I found that rubbish to be utter nonsense that weakened the series. It was better suited for Matt Helm and Derek Flint films. The RM are what I consider the Bond parody years. I won't argue their success and that RM is The Bond for many. It's not a direction I could see MI or Bourne going. I think Bond can lighten up a bit, but not to the point that Bond himself doesn't seem believable.



  • Posts: 2,029
    For me Goldfinger is the quintessential Bond film. It is perhaps the one Bond that could be taught in a film studies class. Not necessarily the best Bond film, but the one with all the elements: gun barrel opening, a great PTS, a thundering, brassy theme song, a tremendous villain and henchman, a preposterous scheme, Pussy, Jill, and Tilly, the ultimate Bond gadget, and gold.

    I would very much enjoy a post Craig film that recaptures that flavor. It's time for Bond to be fun again. Not silly. But cheeky and a bit implausible with a Bond who is both charming and dangerous.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,456
    CrabKey wrote: »
    For me Goldfinger is the quintessential Bond film. It is perhaps the one Bond that could be taught in a film studies class. Not necessarily the best Bond film, but the one with all the elements: gun barrel opening, a great PTS, a thundering, brassy theme song, a tremendous villain and henchman, a preposterous scheme, Pussy, Jill, and Tilly, the ultimate Bond gadget, and gold.

    I would very much enjoy a post Craig film that recaptures that flavor. It's time for Bond to be fun again. Not silly. But cheeky and a bit implausible with a Bond who is both charming and dangerous.

    Don't we all. :-<

    I think the back to back sequences of the car getting crushed, bond seducing Pussy and the planes flying over Fort knox all bring down the pace of the second half of Goldfinger for me. As a modern viewer I struggle to find engaging some of those baby steps into the true epic spectacle that they would come to master with TB, YOLT and OHMSS.
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 2,190
    I'm still hoping on October for a significant reveal concerning Bond 26. Then if not October, surely, surely, Bond 26's architectural work should start next year.
  • Posts: 9,860
    Watching dead reckoning part one i am now 100% convinced there needs to be a horror element in bond 26

    The Batman had slasher elements
    Mission impossible dead reckoning had AI almost acting demonic so in a weird way exorcist vibes

    Bond 26 needs to be scary
  • Posts: 750
    As much as I love Connery, to me Daniel Craig is the quintessential Bond. We can't go back to jokey Bond now.
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,694
    Risico007 wrote: »
    Watching dead reckoning part one i am now 100% convinced there needs to be a horror element in bond 26

    The Batman had slasher elements
    Mission impossible dead reckoning had AI almost acting demonic so in a weird way exorcist vibes

    Bond 26 needs to be scary
    Yes to horror please. I've been thinking, if the Bond film featured AI, we could see the villain unleash AI at the end of the PTS, which then transitions into the title sequence and the AI infects the title sequence and takes over, giving it that creepy, melting, morphing effect to the dancing women and objects related to the film's themes. The AI would affect the music too, which would become haunting and unpredictable.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,703
    QBranch wrote: »
    Risico007 wrote: »
    Watching dead reckoning part one i am now 100% convinced there needs to be a horror element in bond 26

    The Batman had slasher elements
    Mission impossible dead reckoning had AI almost acting demonic so in a weird way exorcist vibes

    Bond 26 needs to be scary
    Yes to horror please. I've been thinking, if the Bond film featured AI, we could see the villain unleash AI at the end of the PTS, which then transitions into the title sequence and the AI infects the title sequence and takes over, giving it that creepy, melting, morphing effect to the dancing women and objects related to the film's themes. The AI would affect the music too, which would become haunting and unpredictable.

    Yes to both of you. The last Bond to lean into full horror was LALD. And that was campy at heart.
  • edited June 9 Posts: 133
    We can't go back to jokey Bond now.

    Of course they could go back to a lighter Bond. They did the same after Dalton, and there needs to be at least a little bit of a difference to the Craig era.
    I think, given the current climate in the world, a lighter Bond is more than needed now.
    But don't worry, I doubt they actually will go back to a more "fun" Bond in the foreseeable future, especially with rumors like Villeneuve directing and Barbara Broccoli mentioning in an interview in early 2023 that the next Bond requires the same "emotional heft" as Bond in the Craig era.
  • Posts: 2,296
    Kojak007 wrote: »
    We can't go back to jokey Bond now.

    I think, given the current climate in the world, a lighter Bond is more than needed now.

    Bingo. The world is already too depressing these days; I think it would be a huge mistake on part of EON to try and darken things up even more after the Craig era.
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 2,190
    Yeah, I think we discussed horror a few weeks back. But then again, I feel NTTD had elements of horror. Maybe it might be carried over to Bond 26.
  • LucknFateLucknFate 007 In New York
    Posts: 1,677
    Let's see how the new Alien does? Maybe Fede Alvarez will be in talks for Bond one day soon.
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,694
    Yeah, I think we discussed horror a few weeks back. But then again, I feel NTTD had elements of horror.
    The horror elements there were great. Everyone dropping like flies around Bond at the bunga party - a real highlight of that film. I was hoping they'd play more into the new Land Rover's evil glowing headlights in the forest, with it watching through the trees. Wishful thinking.
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 2,190
    LucknFate wrote: »
    Let's see how the new Alien does? Maybe Fede Alvarez will be in talks for Bond one day soon.

    Yeah. He's a good horror director. He shouldn't just give Bond his gory style, Lol. I think Bond needs more like surface horror. If delved in too deeply, it loses the Bond touch. Another example, is Jaws in TSWLM. He was genuinely scary in the pyramid scene, but still watchable, because Lewis Gilbert doesn't doesn't show him chewing off flesh, even if we know.
  • Posts: 2,029
    CrabKey wrote: »
    For me Goldfinger is the quintessential Bond film. It is perhaps the one Bond that could be taught in a film studies class. Not necessarily the best Bond film, but the one with all the elements: gun barrel opening, a great PTS, a thundering, brassy theme song, a tremendous villain and henchman, a preposterous scheme, Pussy, Jill, and Tilly, the ultimate Bond gadget, and gold.

    I would very much enjoy a post Craig film that recaptures that flavor. It's time for Bond to be fun again. Not silly. But cheeky and a bit implausible with a Bond who is both charming and dangerous.

    Don't we all. :-<

    I think the back to back sequences of the car getting crushed, bond seducing Pussy and the planes flying over Fort knox all bring down the pace of the second half of Goldfinger for me. As a modern viewer I struggle to find engaging some of those baby steps into the true epic spectacle that they would come to master with TB, YOLT and OHMSS.

    As compared to the nonstop action, can't catch a breath sequences in contemporary films, GF can seem a bit slow paced, but I wouldn't change a thing.
  • Posts: 2,029
    As much as I love Connery, to me Daniel Craig is the quintessential Bond. We can't go back to jokey Bond now.

    We don't need a jokey Bond. We need one with style, charm, and wit who displays a true element of danger. Craig has been an excellent Bond, but not the complete package. Craig's Bond is more akin to Hunt and Bourne. The series can be a little more fun without sacrificing believability.



  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,266
    I continue to be baffled by all these "we need x type of Bond" exclamations as if a good Bond film is merely one thing. CR had lighter and darker elements, some of the more quiet moments as well as some tense action pieces, tender moments as well as violence, ... The better Bond films (IMO at least) are not shoved in one or two boxes. FRWL, OHMSS, TLD, GE, CR, ... all combined salt, sugar, and pepper into one harmonious whole.

    I also agree with @CrabKey. What is a "jokey Bond" that some want and some don't want? One poorly delivered joke can ruin the movie; several good quips can boost the movie. Indeed, a cocktail of style, charm, wit and danger is probably more essential than just a lighter Bond or a darker Bond.

    Honestly, the only thing we need is a good Bond.
  • Posts: 1,462
    CrabKey wrote: »
    As much as I love Connery, to me Daniel Craig is the quintessential Bond. We can't go back to jokey Bond now.

    We don't need a jokey Bond. We need one with style, charm, and wit who displays a true element of danger. Craig has been an excellent Bond, but not the complete package. Craig's Bond is more akin to Hunt and Bourne. The series can be a little more fun without sacrificing believability.



    Craig's Bond was a little bit grumpy.

    A different actor can change things a lot.
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 2,190
    QBranch wrote: »
    Yeah, I think we discussed horror a few weeks back. But then again, I feel NTTD had elements of horror.
    The horror elements there were great. Everyone dropping like flies around Bond at the bunga party - a real highlight of that film. I was hoping they'd play more into the new Land Rover's evil glowing headlights in the forest, with it watching through the trees. Wishful thinking.

    Yeah. Something like that is subtle, but effective. Even a shadowy villain with a trench coat and hat, that's nameless and highly-elusive would be cool. Or maybe Bond facing a clairvoyant villain. Although, with these elements, I would still want the film to feel like TLD/GE :)
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    Posts: 2,641
    CrabKey wrote: »
    As much as I love Connery, to me Daniel Craig is the quintessential Bond. We can't go back to jokey Bond now.

    We don't need a jokey Bond. We need one with style, charm, and wit who displays a true element of danger. Craig has been an excellent Bond, but not the complete package. Craig's Bond is more akin to Hunt and Bourne. The series can be a little more fun without sacrificing believability.

    Couldn't have put it better.

    After this long wait the thought of a "lighter Bond" makes my heart sink honestly. If you look over the 25 films we've had quite a lot of camp/lighter Bond films and not as many grittier darker films.

    A big problem I had with NTTD, was most of the jokes didn't land in any of the audiences I saw them with, it felt like the writers were trying way too hard to be funny and it didn't feel organic.

    I'd love the next Bond film to be a hybrid of the best elements of Dr No, TLD and CR
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,694
    I thought the humour on the cargo plane was great. The 'fairly strong' dialogue about the wristwatch and Bond not having had a drink for an Oww!- hour!
  • Posts: 3,327
    CrabKey wrote: »
    For me Goldfinger is the quintessential Bond film. It is perhaps the one Bond that could be taught in a film studies class. Not necessarily the best Bond film, but the one with all the elements: gun barrel opening, a great PTS, a thundering, brassy theme song, a tremendous villain and henchman, a preposterous scheme, Pussy, Jill, and Tilly, the ultimate Bond gadget, and gold.

    I would very much enjoy a post Craig film that recaptures that flavor. It's time for Bond to be fun again. Not silly. But cheeky and a bit implausible with a Bond who is both charming and dangerous.

    Don't we all. :-<

    I think the back to back sequences of the car getting crushed, bond seducing Pussy and the planes flying over Fort knox all bring down the pace of the second half of Goldfinger for me. As a modern viewer I struggle to find engaging some of those baby steps into the true epic spectacle that they would come to master with TB, YOLT and OHMSS.

    Those 3 films you mention all have their flaws too, just like GF has. TB has waaay too many dull sequences underwater which slow down the pace drastically (then that crazy speeded-up boat scene at the end sends it into a parody).

    YOLT has very bad special effects, with very naff back projection, and when Bond decides to turn Japanese and get married I would suggest this also loses modern audiences, rather than being a true epic spectacle.

    Likewise, OHMSS and the Hilary Bray scenes, with the naff overdubbed voice is far worse than those scenes in you mention in GF.

    No Bond film is perfect, but GF comes very close.
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