Yes yes, there already was an R- RATED bond outing -"License to kill" which grossed the least amount of money in the franchise which simply bedazzles me, but I have a few reasons to believe why perhaps, this was Dalton's second outing, following the fairly serious yet still humorous outing, The Living Daylights", and before that was a hugely successful 7 film course of outings starring Roger Moore as Bond, how they were successful? maybe due to the slapstick silliness of the 70's era.
Where im going at is mainstream audiences were used to Rogers Style of Bond, the comedy, corny charm, outrageous stunts and overall silliness. Dalton was following up on a 7 year tenure of a unrealistic silly tenure of Moore, while trying to Bring the character back to basics and what the books intended . Audiences couldn't comprehend that and were just too immuned to Moore's Style of Bond and this resulted in poor ticket sales for LTK.
In my opinion LTK did not fail in ticket sales due to the R-Rating, it failed with mainstream audiences because people just weren't ready for a change of pace in Bond at the time, in this case a more serious gritty bond.
But now its 2012, Craig is Bond, audiences know what to expect from Craig's style of Bond, grittyness,toughness, seriousness, realism and overall a darker style of Bond which I love by the way. If..and if EON decided to bring Bond to a R-RATING level, I would say this is perhaps the best time to do so due to the films being more serious with Craig. Am I saying they should just make Bond 24 "R" just to be R? no, but I think if EON wanted to really bring a dark,dark amazingly serious script with true reasons for having a R Rated rating, than it would be wise to do so before Craig's tenure is over because audiences could grasp the rating with more gratitude now than ever before.
Conclusion - I would like to see another R rated bond film before I die to see what EON could do with more leverage of the R RATING than what the PG13 boundaries offer.
But I know as long as the PG13 sells, we'll most likely not see this happen , atleast until producers either decide to take a huge risk or poor ticket sales happen.
You're thoughts?
Comments
No, we will not see an R- rated Bond film. It would hurt ticket sales because an R rating would cut out a whole demographic of people.
The only reason a film is rated R is because it has a ton of swearing and an over dosage of graphic violence. (None of which belong in a Bond film.)
That being said, I'd still see it.
check the link my friend -
http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0097742/
graphic violence.. Films just aren't rated R for over the top violence or cursing as you can clearly see with my example of American Beauty. Sometimes its the course of direction involving the script and plot which can lead to specific events of violence or drama that regulates towards the story's tone. Duh
Licence to Kill was released PG13. Look at your DVD of it.
The original uncut R version of LTK was released on the ultimate edition DVD and even that was rated PG13. No Bond film has ever been released in theaters or on DVD with an R rating.
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What would an Bond 18 entail anyway ?, certainly an F word or too maybe, but a number of 18 releases of years past had no such content, would people be so shocked by that, I for one, it wouldn't bother me at all, but Bond is supposed to be family fare, and I think any 'shits' or such would be about as far they can take it without causing over offense. Add to that, a significant amount added of violence, more blood, a bit more graphic Bond etc, - the thing is, I'm all for it, I would welcome it for sure, but one person doesn't make an opinion and the general consensus would be something people would, or might take issue with, it can happen, this 18 Bond release, one day, maybe in the next 10 years even, but don't quote me on that. James Bond has always for the most part been family fare and for all ages, it could be a bit of a risk for the producers to take a step up and go for the whole adult package, but I'd jump at the chance to see something like that
But, if they took bits of these, and didn't stretch the limits of belief for what we would expect from a Bond movie, then I would enjoy myself.
Alot of people are saying on here that an R-Rated bond would drive families/young kids away, yeah it may, but Ian Fleming didn't intend Bond to be for little kids, for Christs sake Bond is a licensed hitman for the British government. not a circus clown petting pony's by the Riverside at kids party's. Yes yes I understand theres been a PG-/PG13 formula within the cinematic franchise of bond and that involves the routine stunts and family friendly dialogue to a degree, but an R-Rated bond would be refreshing. Seeing Craig pistol whip a guard, then he spits on the body and says,"fuck you". Or Craig Pointing a gun at a hostaged/captived terrorist and says,"I dont give a fuck if you die, I want the information now, if you dont give it to me your dead." The terrorist says,"Go to hell". Bond (Craig) then shoots him in the head and says,"never was one to cooperate ". Or Craig (Bond) is sleeping with a woman, a guard or intruder interrupts abruptly, Bond quickly uses the woman as a body shield , then throws her in front of the intruder, fights off the intruder and manages to kill him, then looks down at the girl and says," what a shame". Then gets dressed and moves on.
Why not Brosnan? Look at films like The Tailor of Panama and The Matador - he certainly has no problem with letting words fly and having a large amount of sex on screen. He could have definitely pulled it off.
But today, for Craig, he most certainly could, especially after seeing a film like The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
But see, that's what makes me wonder - do we truly need an R/18 Bond film? After 50 years of Bond, do we desperately need to see a Bond girl naked, or hear Bond say the 'f' word a few times, or see a very gruesome death? I don't think so. An R/18 Bond film would be nice, but I'll never need it.
Granted, I would be lying if I said I hadn't wondered what some of these Bond girls would have looked like under the sheets ;)
Brosnan isn't as physically capable than Craig is, but Pierce could have definitely been more ruthless, conniving and persuasive in his personality while playing Bond. I wish the writers would have made Brosnan more sneaky, more infiltration scenarios involving him as well. The directors and writers misused Brosnan bigtime.
Which goes to show that someone shouldn't get so much flak over something that isn't necessarily their fault. If you hate Brosnan for other reasons, fine: personally, he's my favorite actor - not just as Bond, either - and I don't see the complaints because I love the man's work so much, but in terms of, say, the story, it can't be his fault. But, complaints in other departments? Understandable.
I watched an 18 movie the other night when I had time, Turbulence to be exact, and take it from me, it has nothing to warrant such a classification, I thought a 12 would of been more appropriate, methinks these guys who put these ratings on film releases sometimes must have been smoking some good stuff when they make these decisions
I've always said also in retrospect that Live and Let Die should of been a '15' at the time of release, there was no 12 certificate back in 1973 of course, but all said, and I've seen it more times than you could imagine, it's not really a kids film sometimes
No worries, I'm an American, too. I believe those are the European rating numbers, yes.
I don't need a lot more graphic violence, swearing, or sexual inuendo/nudity to enjoy the Bond movies (ok could enjoy the sexual inuendo/nudity bits more, yeah). But ... it would be interesting to see what a good director would do with an R rated Bond film; I'd go see it of course. Maybe some day.
Well I don't know about all the other countries, but in the UK we use U, PG, 12, 15, 18. LTK was released as a 15 over here.
In my country i think the extra symbol's (besides the age symbols (ALL) 6-9-12 and 16) there yuse work better, but should be extented.
2. Why is it necessary? Bond doesn't need to show nudity. It adds to the imagination as it is.
To be honest I hope we don't. While I know full well Bond is (or at least was) made for adults primarily, the vast majority of us first experience Bond as a kid. An "R rated" film wouldn't allow that to happen.