The Award Winning : 'Bond...comments while you watch...'

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Comments

  • mattjoesmattjoes Julie T. and the M.G.'s
    edited February 2018 Posts: 7,021
    Diamonds Are Forever, part three:

    - I like how Bond plays the prototype J.W. Pepper for a fool by waiting until he's outside the car to leave.

    - I wish we'd seen a bit more of the fish tank bed, a few more wide shots.

    - It would've been amusing if Bond had died crushed between the lift and the building. (Idea for a future YouTube video.)

    - The film seems to be trying to establish this strange connection between Willard Whyte and restrooms. There's toilet paper when Bond enters Whyte's penthouse, and later on Whyte appears to be leaving the toilet when Bond finds him. And after that Whyte says he'll take a phone call "in the john."

    - Another great set, that of Whyte's penthouse. So slick and inventive.

    - I do love the idea of Blofeld doubles, with him being such a notorious criminal. I wish the concept had been put to further use in the film. Some more insight into the process of "becoming" Blofeld would've been welcome as well.

    - Bond Smells a Rat. Great music by Barry. The pipeline scene, while not exploited to its full potential, is memorable. Scary way to die. And I like the strange, confusing sight of the welding machine approaching Bond.

    - I love Leiter's bored/mildly annoyed face while Bond is talking as Saxby on the phone.

    - Bond Meets Bambi and Thumper. More terrific music. Great juxtaposition of the Diamonds Are Forever eight-note ostinato and the James Bond theme.

    - Whyte's summer home, a great location indeed. It's so spacious and open it appears to blur the lines between being inside and outside a house.

    - I love how Bond still has a faint smile in his face after Bambi and Thumper kick the hell out of him. He's taking a beating but is still enjoying being close to beautiful women.

    - Norman Burton's Leiter is so annoyed by Bond's antics. Completely different dynamic than with, say, Cec Linder.

    - Bond could've mentioned the CIA was also involved in rescuing Whyte, not just "British intelligence."
  • mattjoesmattjoes Julie T. and the M.G.'s
    Posts: 7,021
    Diamonds Are Forever, part four (the last one!):

    - I like Connery's brown jacket look. It's refreshing to see him in warmer colors than usual.

    - Willard Whyte takes center stage for a few minutes. Cool character. Even though Connery and Jimmy Dean don't interact much, you can see they have great chemistry. They could've made a buddy comedy or something.

    - Shane Rimmer before he became commander. I like how Whyte is so annoyed at him.

    - The people in the missile silo freeze completely before the explosion. Connery sure took a big bite out of the SFX budget with his salary.

    - The running burning soldiers are comical.

    - I love the theme that plays when the "bubble" with Bond in it lands in the water. Even in something kind of lighthearted like this there's an ethereal, otherwordly quality to John Barry's music.

    - "Attention all recovery personnel." Spectre sure has a complex, organized structure.

    - Bond stands with one leg over the other in the lift. Playing it casual. Cool stuff.

    - I love Bond's mischevious smile while Blofeld explains what he planned to do with the tape. And how he plays dumb when pressing the button to eject the tape.

    - Metz may be a genius when it comes to refraction but he is a putz when it comes to reading people. "Out, out!"

    - The continuity error with Tiffany's bikini... was that a mistake with the clothes or a camera color calibration problem?

    - Bond grabs the guy in the Bathosub crane and throws him out and he falls unconscious automatically. Heh.

    - I love how Bond looks at the levers like he doesn't know which one to pull. He's preparing to have a ball moving the sub around.

    - Why do Wint and Kidd attack Bond? On whose orders? Maybe they are just consummate professionals and can't let him get away alive.

    - Great use of the Wint and Kidd theme in a more explosive version.

    And that's a wrap. Another fun viewing of Diamonds Are Forever-- a blast as usual. I don't care what anybody says, Connery is on top form, as is Charles Gray. Jill St. John is funny, and of course great to look at, even though her character eventually runs out of things to do. I like the locations and I enjoy the contrast between the elegant, refined Amsterdam and the brash Las Vegas. (Not unlike with AVTAK and Paris vs. San Francisco.) The film has some terrific black comedy and the score and set design are top notch.

    mattjoes' Bond comments will return
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    Excellent writeup on DAF @mattjoes. I'm now really excited to take in a viewing soon. DAF is always great fun and a very light hearted Bond adventure which is easy to revisit.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    I've always enjoyed DAF and for some
    Reason it always reminds me of
    Christmas
  • mattjoesmattjoes Julie T. and the M.G.'s
    edited February 2018 Posts: 7,021
    @bondjames Have fun watching it!

    ---

    I've always enjoyed Connery's performance in DAF very much, but this time I appreciated it even more. He is seriously great, almost reaching the pinnacle of Bondian cool. And he would've been fantastic in LALD as well (not that Roger Moore wasn't!).
  • Posts: 16,163
    Watching LIVE AND LET DIE at the moment.

    Bond dispatches of two henchmen in Harlem. Apparently this alley has been redeveloped and the location looks nothing like it did in 1973.

    I love Strutter.
  • Posts: 16,163
    A genuine Felix Lighter.
  • Posts: 16,163
    The legendary Baron Samedi folks!
  • Posts: 16,163
    I love Bond in Jamaica. They really should go back there for another film.
  • Posts: 16,163
    Bond in his hotel room, looking for listening devices. Another element I miss.
  • Posts: 16,163
    Bond's Solitaire seduction. "The deck was slightly stacked in my favor".
  • Posts: 16,163
    It's going to be a beauuuuuuuuuuuuuuutiful day.
  • Posts: 16,163
    Well hello, Jim! What's happening, baby? Just ease back, now, Jim! RELAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAX!
  • Posts: 16,163
    Today's your lucky day, Jim! You're going skydiving!
  • mattjoesmattjoes Julie T. and the M.G.'s
    Posts: 7,021
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    The legendary Baron Samedi folks!
    I want to walk like that spider fellow. Frighten the hell out of people.
  • Posts: 16,163
    Great viewing of LALD. Well deserved top 10 for me!
  • Posts: 16,163
    DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

    Ancient CBS/Fox-20th Century Fox VHS copy.

    PTS looked good. This version is the one I remember most as a kid along with the ABC edit.

    M and Bond- 007 is bored.
  • Posts: 16,163
    Dr Tynan is a dead ringer for my barber growing up. Great barber. You could have hair like Mr Kidd's, walk into that barber shop with picture of Roger Moore and walk out looking like Bond in LALD.
  • Posts: 16,163
    Great Moneypenny scene.
  • Posts: 16,163
    I think perhaps B25 should give Moneypenny and the rest of the Scooby gang similar screen time to what the regulars got in DIAMONDS.
  • Posts: 16,163
    Bond in single breasted navy blazer is very Fleming IMO. Connery even has the comma above the right eyebrow in some scenes. Not here, though.
  • Posts: 16,163
    Birdleson wrote: »
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    Great Moneypenny scene.

    But at this point (really beginning with YOLT) she has already reached spinster status.

    She is strongly hinting to Bond marriage. What a shame needling him so soon after he lost Tracy.

    I think she looks great here. I believe her hair had been dyed darker for another role so the uniform was given to her.
  • Posts: 16,163
    Birdleson wrote: »
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    I think perhaps B25 should give Moneypenny and the rest of the Scooby gang similar screen time to what the regulars got in DIAMONDS.

    If only that would happen! Sadly, it sounds like that Whishaw is angling for more screen time. I'd bet EON caves.

    Considering practically every other scene in SP was a Scooby gang scene, I wouldn't be surprised.
  • Posts: 16,163
    Bond just creamed Franks.
  • Posts: 16,163
    There's the comma above the eyebrow.
  • Posts: 16,163
    I remember in the pilot episode of THE ROCKFORD FILES, Jim poses as the dean of a college and is told he looks more like a truck driver in a suit. Connery (who WAS a truck driver) has a similar vibe here.
  • Posts: 16,163
    Felix!!!!!!!!!!!
    Norman Burton does have very good chemistry with Sean.
  • Posts: 16,163
    Sid Haig is the man.
  • Posts: 16,163
    I got a brother!
  • Posts: 16,163
    Damn it's been ages since I've watched a pan and scan Bond film.
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