Controversial opinions about Bond films

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  • Posts: 7,507
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    So were Dalton, Brosnan (both times) and Craig. All were generally known for movie and TV audiences.


    Of course. I am not saying they just dragged a nobody from the streets and made him James Bond. What I am talking about are the big movie stars, examples like Robert Redford, Peter O´Toole or Idris Elba who have all been considered for the role at various moments.
  • Posts: 15,114
    SaintMark wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    It is one thing to wish Brosnan or Dalton or whoever had done one more Bond film. It is another to be in denial or hostile towards a new Bond simply because he succeeded to an actor you liked. And it was Craig's cardinal sin for people at DCINB.

    Who knows how we'll react to the next 007, seen enough hostility towards Brosnan & Craig as they are 007 in the internet age, I expect some issues with the next one too.

    But even if I am not a Craig 007 fan I do prefer him going out/on with a great movie and have a wee more confidence in the new director than Mendes.

    Well, I'm a "Craig fan" and I understand that five is a good run and that he's not getting younger. I think many Dalton and Brosnan fans were in denial when they were replaced. The former about Dalton's popularity and appeal, the latter about Brosnan's importance in the franchise. As for Craig's successor there will be people skeptical, even hostile. I just hope there will be no hysteric hostility like the one Craig faced, regardless of who is cast.
  • Posts: 1,917
    echo wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    It is one thing to wish Brosnan or Dalton or whoever had done one more Bond film. It is another to be in denial or hostile towards a new Bond simply because he succeeded to an actor you liked. And it was Craig's cardinal sin for people at DCINB.

    If the Internet were popular in the '80s, or even 1995, there would have been a lot of complaining about the Brosnan-Dalton situation.
    From what I've read, Brosnan was not that well known outside the U.S. when he was cast in '86. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me. It was his role as Remington Steele that made people declare him a future Bond front-runner, at least here in the U.S. and it's well known that TLD and LTK did well at the box office in places outside the U.S.

    The Fourth Protocol was possibly Brosnan's first big film that got wide exposure and that was around the time TLD was released. A lot of people were listing people like Mel Gibson and Liam Neeson as their preferred Bond between 90-94 as Brosnan was still building a strong resume and staying in the public eye and likely got more exposure for world-wide audiences.

    It would've been interesting talk back then and I'd have been on there just as I am on here now.
  • Posts: 16,153
    BT3366 wrote: »
    echo wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    It is one thing to wish Brosnan or Dalton or whoever had done one more Bond film. It is another to be in denial or hostile towards a new Bond simply because he succeeded to an actor you liked. And it was Craig's cardinal sin for people at DCINB.

    If the Internet were popular in the '80s, or even 1995, there would have been a lot of complaining about the Brosnan-Dalton situation.
    From what I've read, Brosnan was not that well known outside the U.S. when he was cast in '86. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me. It was his role as Remington Steele that made people declare him a future Bond front-runner, at least here in the U.S. and it's well known that TLD and LTK did well at the box office in places outside the U.S.

    The Fourth Protocol was possibly Brosnan's first big film that got wide exposure and that was around the time TLD was released. A lot of people were listing people like Mel Gibson and Liam Neeson as their preferred Bond between 90-94 as Brosnan was still building a strong resume and staying in the public eye and likely got more exposure for world-wide audiences.

    It would've been interesting talk back then and I'd have been on there just as I am on here now.

    In the States back then, Pierce was clearly the strongest contender for Bond. Several media magazines and television programs listed Mel Gibson, Liam Neeson and Hugh Grant in '94 as possible choices, but all paled in comparison to Pierce when it came down to the "who should be the new James Bond" polls. Pierce was easily the top choice.
    Throughout Tim's run and the 6 year gap, casual fans in the U.S. were fairly indifferent to Dalton. The popular opinion was that at best he was "okay, but it should still have been Pierce".
  • Posts: 15,114
    Brosnan was clearly the heir apparent, from the moment Moore left or almost. He was fairly well known outside the US as well as he'd played in many miniseries (Around the World in 80 Days, Noble House). He was not a big star, but people remembered him. I don't think any other Bond actor got it as easy when cast as the new Bond, not even Roger Moore.
  • Posts: 16,153
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Brosnan was clearly the heir apparent, from the moment Moore left or almost. He was fairly well known outside the US as well as he'd played in many miniseries (Around the World in 80 Days, Noble House). He was not a big star, but people remembered him. I don't think any other Bond actor got it as easy when cast as the new Bond, not even Roger Moore.

    Exactly. He was more or less known as the 'guy that should have been James Bond"................or even "the guy that SHOULD be playing Bond".
    Luckily the 6 year gap was a one time situation (and not for every film), otherwise Pierce might have lost out altogether.
  • Posts: 15,114
    My controversial opinion on Brosnan : it took DAD for his star to wane and for his tenure to be reevaluate. Ultimately it's the movie that made him superfluous to the future success of the franchise. Something his diehard fans never quite understood. Or Brosnan either, come to think of it.

    That said, him being cast for GE was a no brainer.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,182
    Hugh Grant as Bond. Talk about bad casting.
  • Posts: 16,153
    Hugh Grant as Bond. Talk about bad casting.

    I remember specifically going to see FOUR WEDDINGS and a FUNERAL just to size him up as a possible Bond.
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,026
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    Hugh Grant as Bond. Talk about bad casting.

    I remember specifically going to see FOUR WEDDINGS and a FUNERAL just to size him up as a possible Bond.

    And? With what result?
  • Posts: 16,153
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    Hugh Grant as Bond. Talk about bad casting.

    I remember specifically going to see FOUR WEDDINGS and a FUNERAL just to size him up as a possible Bond.

    And? With what result?

    Maybe it was his haircut in the film? I felt he'd need a makeover to be Bond and if so he might just be able to pull off a Roger style lightness. He was certainly charming and likable. Had a hard time picturing him with a PPK in hand, though.

    By contrast, I went to LAYER CAKE just to see what Craig might be like as Bond and I was immediately won over.
  • Posts: 7,507
    It says quite a lot about the time and what traits and qualities were associated with Bond that Red Hugh Grant was considered for the role. No wonder Dalton struggled to win people over.
  • edited May 2020 Posts: 16,153
    jobo wrote: »
    It says quite a lot about the time and what traits and qualities were associated with Bond that Red Hugh Grant was considered for the role. No wonder Dalton struggled to win people over.

    Honestly though, I'd have actually considered Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Mel Gibson or Ralph Fiennes over 99% of the potential names listed in the media for Bond today.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,182
    Jason Isaacs is the guy I wish was Bond in the 90s, though that’s only in retrospect.
  • Posts: 15,114
    Hugh Grant as Bond. Talk about bad casting.

    His name was still in the air circa 2005.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,182
    Audiences, particularly Americans, thought Hugh Grant was a viable candidate only because he had an English accent. I guess that’s all it takes to qualify. It feels no different than suggesting Richard Gere would have fit as Indiana Jones.
  • Posts: 15,114
    Audiences, particularly Americans, thought Hugh Grant was a viable candidate only because he had an English accent. I guess that’s all it takes to qualify. It feels no different than suggesting Richard Gere would have fit as Indiana Jones.

    Still depressing that people think like this. Robbie Williams was also mentioned. Ouch.
  • FatherValentineFatherValentine England
    Posts: 737
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Audiences, particularly Americans, thought Hugh Grant was a viable candidate only because he had an English accent. I guess that’s all it takes to qualify. It feels no different than suggesting Richard Gere would have fit as Indiana Jones.

    Still depressing that people think like this. Robbie Williams was also mentioned. Ouch.

    It's this kind of thing that reminds me that, no matter what our issues with the casting of Bond and each actors foibles, EON have always got it right, imo. Some of the names that have been suggestions that I have heard over the years, from either studio bosses, the press, or the public have been nothing short of nightmarish. Cary Grant, Caine, Redford, Gavin, Gibson, Findlay Light, Lambert Wilson, Clive Owen, Brolin, Eric Bana, Hugh Grant, Neeson...

    Not saying these guys couldn't have done a version of Bond, but I'm glad we got who we got. Gives me faith EON will make the right choice next.
  • R1s1ngs0nR1s1ngs0n France
    edited May 2020 Posts: 2,148
    Here are some of my personal views which may 'offend' others ;)

    TND is by far Brosnan's best outing.

    Spectre is Craig's best outing if only for the fact that if feels like a proper Bond movie and not a Jason Bourne rip off.

    Adele's Skyfall is pretty crap (especially that cringe inducing chorus).

    Kananga/Mr. Big is one of the series' best villains (and that is taking into account his silly death).

    No one ever mentions her but OHMSS' Ruby Bartlett is one of the series' best Bond girls - an unusually fleshed out character, considering she's one of two secondary Bond girls.

    OHMSS gunbarrel music and Lazenby's pose trump all others.

    Maybe not that controversal but I think the quintessential Bond performance is Connery in TB.

    Up until the space finale, MR is actually a great Bond film (with some uncharacteristically dark moments), featuring Moore's finest performance as 007.

  • Posts: 1,917
    R1s1ngs0n wrote: »
    Here are some of my personal views which may 'offend' others ;)

    TND is by far Brosnan's best outing.

    Adele's Skyfall is pretty crap (especially that cringe inducing chorus).

    Maybe not that controversal but I think the quintessential Bond performance is Connery in TB.

    Up until the space finale, MR is actually a great Bond film (with some uncharacteristically dark moments), featuring Moore's finest performance as 007.

    Agree strongly with the first two and maybe a little less but generally with the other two listed, maybe not so much on the Moore performance, though.

    On Hugh Grant as Bond, come on. I thought that was a horrible idea from the beginning. The guy specialized in romantic and goofy comedy and had zero qualifications for Bond. Maybe that's why his Bridget Jones fisticuffs look so authentic.

    Never bought into Ewan McGregor either, whose name was bandied about at one time or another, although he was certainly more acceptable than Grant.
  • Posts: 7,653
    You prefer SP over CR that is certainly bold.

    If Adele farts in her bathtub it would sell, it was at least a proper ballad that fits the Bondmovies

    And MR is a bloody brilliant and entertaining movie with a Roger Moore, this movie would never work with any other than hi,
  • edited May 2020 Posts: 15,114
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Audiences, particularly Americans, thought Hugh Grant was a viable candidate only because he had an English accent. I guess that’s all it takes to qualify. It feels no different than suggesting Richard Gere would have fit as Indiana Jones.

    Still depressing that people think like this. Robbie Williams was also mentioned. Ouch.

    It's this kind of thing that reminds me that, no matter what our issues with the casting of Bond and each actors foibles, EON have always got it right, imo. Some of the names that have been suggestions that I have heard over the years, from either studio bosses, the press, or the public have been nothing short of nightmarish. Cary Grant, Caine, Redford, Gavin, Gibson, Findlay Light, Lambert Wilson, Clive Owen, Brolin, Eric Bana, Hugh Grant, Neeson...

    Not saying these guys couldn't have done a version of Bond, but I'm glad we got who we got. Gives me faith EON will make the right choice next.

    Not to forget Jude Law. Clive Owen I honestly cannot see what people saw on him.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,182
    If my only exposure to Brosnan was Remington Steele, I would have thought he’d make a terrible choice because nothing in that show to me suggests Bond. Thankfully, his actual Bond performance was nothing like in that show.
  • FatherValentineFatherValentine England
    Posts: 737
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Audiences, particularly Americans, thought Hugh Grant was a viable candidate only because he had an English accent. I guess that’s all it takes to qualify. It feels no different than suggesting Richard Gere would have fit as Indiana Jones.

    Still depressing that people think like this. Robbie Williams was also mentioned. Ouch.

    It's this kind of thing that reminds me that, no matter what our issues with the casting of Bond and each actors foibles, EON have always got it right, imo. Some of the names that have been suggestions that I have heard over the years, from either studio bosses, the press, or the public have been nothing short of nightmarish. Cary Grant, Caine, Redford, Gavin, Gibson, Findlay Light, Lambert Wilson, Clive Owen, Brolin, Eric Bana, Hugh Grant, Neeson...

    Not saying these guys couldn't have done a version of Bond, but I'm glad we got who we got. Gives me faith EON will make the right choice next.

    Not to forget Jude Law. Clive Owen I honestly cannot see what people saw on him.

    Had no idea Law was mentioned. Was never a fan of Owen either. I guess every handsome British actor gets mentioned at some point. I know Rupert Everett put his name forward. Don't think I've ever seen him act, but based on his look he didn't seem too bad.
  • Posts: 7,653
    I loved Remington Steele and Brosnan was already on the radar when his then wife played in FYEO when Broccoli met the man visiting his wife on the set.
  • marcmarc Universal Exports
    Posts: 2,610
    R1s1ngs0n wrote: »
    Spectre is Craig's best outing if only for the fact that if feels like a proper Bond movie and not a Jason Bourne rip off.

    Adele's Skyfall is pretty crap (especially that cringe inducing chorus).

    Kananga/Mr. Big is one of the series' best villains (and that is taking into account his silly death).

    No one ever mentions her but OHMSS' Ruby Bartlett is one of the series' best Bond girls - an unusually fleshed out character, considering she's one of two secondary Bond girls.

    OHMSS gunbarrel music and Lazenby's pose trump all others.
    I tend to agree on Spectre and on the Skyfall song (but then, I don't like most of the Bond songs)

    I might agree on Kananga (inspite of his behaviour/mask as Mr. Big ) if it weren't for the voodoo stuff.

    On Ruby and on the OHMSS music/pose I don't agree.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    edited May 2020 Posts: 7,546
    marc wrote: »
    R1s1ngs0n wrote: »
    Spectre is Craig's best outing if only for the fact that if feels like a proper Bond movie and not a Jason Bourne rip off.

    Adele's Skyfall is pretty crap (especially that cringe inducing chorus).

    Kananga/Mr. Big is one of the series' best villains (and that is taking into account his silly death).

    No one ever mentions her but OHMSS' Ruby Bartlett is one of the series' best Bond girls - an unusually fleshed out character, considering she's one of two secondary Bond girls.

    OHMSS gunbarrel music and Lazenby's pose trump all others.
    I tend to agree on Spectre and on the Skyfall song (but then, I don't like most of the Bond songs)

    I might agree on Kananga (inspite of his behaviour/mask as Mr. Big ) if it weren't for the voodoo stuff.

    On Ruby and on the OHMSS music/pose I don't agree.

    Welcome, @marc. What do you like?
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Audiences, particularly Americans, thought Hugh Grant was a viable candidate only because he had an English accent. I guess that’s all it takes to qualify. It feels no different than suggesting Richard Gere would have fit as Indiana Jones.

    Still depressing that people think like this. Robbie Williams was also mentioned. Ouch.

    It's this kind of thing that reminds me that, no matter what our issues with the casting of Bond and each actors foibles, EON have always got it right, imo. Some of the names that have been suggestions that I have heard over the years, from either studio bosses, the press, or the public have been nothing short of nightmarish. Cary Grant, Caine, Redford, Gavin, Gibson, Findlay Light, Lambert Wilson, Clive Owen, Brolin, Eric Bana, Hugh Grant, Neeson...

    Not saying these guys couldn't have done a version of Bond, but I'm glad we got who we got. Gives me faith EON will make the right choice next.

    Not to forget Jude Law. Clive Owen I honestly cannot see what people saw on him.

    Had no idea Law was mentioned. Was never a fan of Owen either. I guess every handsome British actor gets mentioned at some point. I know Rupert Everett put his name forward. Don't think I've ever seen him act, but based on his look he didn't seem too bad.

    Clive is a big hit as far as potential-Bonds go for friends of mine, but I couldn't really see it either. He could have been a good Bond at the beginning of a more faithful YOLT adaption, if you know what I mean.
  • Posts: 7,653
    Rupert Everett was good looking but very gay so I doubt if EON would have wanted him for their big Alpha male hero.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,546
    SaintMark wrote: »
    Rupert Everett was good looking but very gay so I doubt if EON would have wanted him for their big Alpha male hero.

    My number one ideal replacement for Craig is also a gay actor; I'd hope it wouldn't hurt their chances, but who knows.
  • Posts: 7,507
    There is no reason why a gay actor should not be able to play Bond.
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