The Ultimate 007 James Bond Thread

[willtopower]

Originally Posted by dgoswald

Yeah, give each guy to play Bond a trilogy; no more. If he's wildly popular then all the better for it; he can go out at the top, leaving the audiences pining for more. Better to burn out than fade away, well past your welcome, which is what usually happens with Bond actors.

Then take a breather for a few years (a voluntary one in order to let the previous era be "digested" as opposed to a forced break if things go awry) and then recast and start again. Insist on top-notch writers and directors, and get some young, hungry talent involved who are itching to make a mark behind the camera. That way you'll avoid the safe, predictableness that Bond films eventually succumb to when one Bond era continues past its sell by date.

Totally with you. After the few-year breather you suggested, do you want/mind reboots or do you want the same universe? We've only had one instance of that so far, but I have some friends who seem to think once Craig leaves, we need another reboot. Not sure I agree.

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I don't think there should be a number on it. They should go when the market and the actor both want to move on, and that could vary depending on the movies, the timing and the actor himself. I love Octopussy and that was Moore's 6th, but Connery was already on half-juice in his 5th.

I'm with you on Octopussy, it's one of my favourite Moore films. That being said I was still tired of him at that point and I think they could have had a great Octopussy with a different Bond.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Moore looking to leave the franchise earlier but they convinced him to stay? Seems like that happened with both Connery and Moore where the actor was looking to leave but they ended up staying, or returning, for one reason or another.

[dgoswald]

Originally Posted by willtopower

Totally with you. After the few-year breather you suggested, do you want/mind reboots or do you want the same universe? We've only had one instance of that so far, but I have some friends who seem to think once Craig leaves, we need another reboot. Not sure I agree.

Is the Craig era a rebooot? I'm asking because I genuinely don't know. Were all Bonds from Connery to Brosnan part of the same universe? I'm not fussed tbh. As long as they don't try to manhandle continuity into prospective films, because, let's be honest, the Bond films have never been about continuity.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by dgoswald

Is the Craig era a rebooot? I'm asking because I genuinely don't know. Were all Bonds from Connery to Brosnan part of the same universe? I'm not fussed tbh. As long as they don't try to manhandle continuity into prospective films, because, let's be honest, the Bond films have never been about continuity.

I was having this discussion with a friend recently. Before Skyfall, I thought Craig's run was a clean reboot (even though Judi Dench's inclusion kinda throws that off), but Skyfall makes it clear that Bond is old and has been around a while, so I then assumed that Dr. No-DAD took place between Quantum and Skyfall. So I don't really know. Don't really care either TBH, as long as the movies are good.

(and yeah, continuity in the Bond series? get outta here.)

[willtopower]

Originally Posted by dgoswald

Is the Craig era a rebooot? I'm asking because I genuinely don't know. Were all Bonds from Connery to Brosnan part of the same universe? I'm not fussed tbh. As long as they don't try to manhandle continuity into prospective films, because, let's be honest, the Bond films have never been about continuity.

When I watched the films this month, I was completely confused during Casino Royale for the first half if it was a reboot, due mainly to Judi Dench's reprisal. It wasn't until Bond's introduction to Felix that I realized it was a straight-up reboot. It seems pretty clear to me now that Craig's bond is a complete reboot, especially concerning the events in Spectre:

[Show spoiler]Blofeld's new introduction

.

I don't see any way Craig's bond is a part of any of the events before he took on the role. Despite continuity not being too important to the franchise, there are some things I think are cornerstones to his pre-craig character, mainly the events in OHMSS.

[Kevin Holly]

Casino Royale shouldn't have been a reboot.

The opening sequence is awesome, but would have worked just as well as just another mission Bond was on (a few opening sequences are completely unrelated to the main plot, so there is precedence for this), or (for some reason) a flashback to his first mission but having the main story take place after DaD. I am aware that Casino Royale is the first novel, but that didn't stop the films from being in one chronology before and it shouldn't have now.

[spaceball-one]

After watching "Goldeneye" recently, I still think it's good, maybe Brosnan's best, but what seemed to stick out was how the score is totally out of place in the movie, and the general Bond series. I find it dated and completely annoying.

Also, although it doesn't seem to get much love here or anywhere else, and I guess I may just be crazy, but I absolutely LOVE "Moonraker", and there's nothing anyone can say to change my mind!

[willtopower]

Originally Posted by spaceball-one

Also, although it doesn't seem to get much love here or anywhere else, and I guess I may just be crazy, but I absolutely LOVE "Moonraker", and there's nothing anyone can say to change my mind!

I don't love Moonraker, but I love how bonkers it is. Drax was a great villain. He flat out embarrassed Bond.

[imsounoriginal]

My biggest problem with Moonraker isn't even the space stuff, it's Jaws going all mushy because he finds love with that little Dutch girl. Ugh. "Why can't Jaws be a good guy???" smh...

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by willtopower

I don't love Moonraker, but I love how bonkers it is. Drax was a great villain. He flat out embarrassed Bond.

Drax has a veritable library of great Bond villain lines and quips.

James Bond. You appear with the tedious inevitability of an unloved season.

Mr. Bond, you persist in defying my efforts to provide an amusing death for you.

May I press you to a cucumber sandwich?

Now, regarding a replacement for Chang. Do you have someone in mind? Oh yes, well. If you can get him, of course...

[dgoswald]

Originally Posted by spaceball-one

After watching "Goldeneye" recently, I still think it's good, maybe Brosnan's best, but what seemed to stick out was how the score is totally out of place in the movie, and the general Bond series. I find it dated and completely annoying.

The GoldenEye score is the only black mark against the film IMO. Although a few Eric Serra fans on this forum will strongly disagree. I disliked it a lot. The film deserved something traditional instead of the electro / synth thing that was going on.

[Markgway]

When I was a kid I thought Drax was boring, now I appreciate his very dry humour.

There's so much good stuff in Moonraker that the bad stuff (goodie Jaws, etc) is all the more infuriating.

[FilmKoala]

Originally Posted by spaceball-one

Also, although it doesn't seem to get much love here or anywhere else, and I guess I may just be crazy, but I absolutely LOVE "Moonraker", and there's nothing anyone can say to change my mind!

I love Moonraker as well, it's a really fun film. Maybe even underrated.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by dgoswald

Is the Craig era a rebooot? I'm asking because I genuinely don't know. Were all Bonds from Connery to Brosnan part of the same universe? I'm not fussed tbh. As long as they don't try to manhandle continuity into prospective films, because, let's be honest, the Bond films have never been about continuity.

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

I was having this discussion with a friend recently. Before Skyfall, I thought Craig's run was a clean reboot (even though Judi Dench's inclusion kinda throws that off), but Skyfall makes it clear that Bond is old and has been around a while, so I then assumed that Dr. No-DAD took place between Quantum and Skyfall. So I don't really know. Don't really care either TBH, as long as the movies are good.

(and yeah, continuity in the Bond series? get outta here.)

Originally Posted by willtopower

When I watched the films this month, I was completely confused during Casino Royale for the first half if it was a reboot, due mainly to Judi Dench's reprisal. It wasn't until Bond's introduction to Felix that I realized it was a straight-up reboot. It seems pretty clear to me now that Craig's bond is a complete reboot, especially concerning the events in Spectre:

[Show spoiler]Blofeld's new introduction

.

I don't see any way Craig's bond is a part of any of the events before he took on the role. Despite continuity not being too important to the franchise, there are some things I think are cornerstones to his pre-craig character, mainly the events in OHMSS.

Yes, the producers confirmed at the time of its release that Casino Royale is a definite reboot due mainly to the fact that it was an adaptation of the first Fleming novel, so it was an opportunity to start fresh.

Dr. No through to Die Another Day are meant to be one continuous series although the Brosnan films are a bit of a soft reboot. As for continuity though, yes, there are a few glitches over the years particularly with YOLT and OHMSS.

Originally Posted by Infernal King

Drax has a veritable library of great Bond villain lines and quips.

My favourite is "Take care of Mr. Bond... see that some harm comes to him."

[Hucksta G]

Moonraker is my least favorite Bond film!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Hucksta G

Moonraker is my least favorite Bond film!

Moonraker was the first James Bond film that I saw from beginning to end during my childhood, and I'll always have a soft spot for it as such. (My real introduction to James Bond was when I saw the Fort Knox scene from Goldfinger at an even younger age, but I happened on it when I was flipping through channels circa 1979 or 1980 when I was only seven or eight years old.)

To this day, I still love the "gothic" sequence in Moonraker, where the woman is running through the woods to escape from the dogs. That scene gave me nightmares as a kid, but I loved it just the same.

The skylift scene in Moonraker is awesome, just awesome.

[Geoff D]

I do like Moonraker. It's supremely daft (dat pigeon! dat laser shootout!) but Drax is a wonderful villain because Lonsdale plays it so straight he's almost catatonic and somehow that makes his pithy putdowns seems all the more spiteful. As said above there are some memorable flourishes too, and I don't care what anybody says: when Jaws says "well, here's to us" when drinking champagne with his busty companion I can't help but grin from ear to ear.

[willtopower]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

To this day, I still love the "gothic" sequence in Moonraker, where the woman is running through the woods to escape from the dogs. That scene gave me nightmares as a kid, but I loved it just the same.

That scene is so damn brutal. I like the way you described it as "gothic." I love the artsy stuff that pokes its head out in Bond films like that. One of my favourites is the quick cuts in OHMSS of the crazy polar bear photographer. It's so psychedelic and disorienting; it's perfect for the scene. I also really like when the shark eats the first guy in the pool in Thunderball too, the way the camera goes red.

[imsounoriginal]

I'm already not much of a dog person, so that scene still makes me $#!T my pants. But I like Moonraker overall, think it gets a bad rap just cuz of the space stuff, which is dumb but at least entertaining. Like I said earlier, everything involving Jaws is just brutal (yes, even the pre-title sequence... as great as it is, Jaws landing on a circus tent and surviving is a ).

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by willtopower

When I watched the films this month, I was completely confused during Casino Royale for the first half if it was a reboot, due mainly to Judi Dench's reprisal. It wasn't until Bond's introduction to Felix that I realized it was a straight-up reboot. It seems pretty clear to me now that Craig's bond is a complete reboot, especially concerning the events in Spectre:

[Show spoiler]Blofeld's new introduction

.

I don't see any way Craig's bond is a part of any of the events before he took on the role. Despite continuity not being too important to the franchise, there are some things I think are cornerstones to his pre-craig character, mainly the events in OHMSS.

The producers have always said 1-20 were the same dude, same continuity, just ignore the dates, and that Casino Royale was a full reboot. That's the continuity, for better or worse. The fact it makes little sense is why people try and come up with fan theories, but the official continuity is what it is.

I love the code name theory and tend to just ignore bits and pieces that refute it. Fan-canon is fun!

[spaceball-one]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I don't care what anybody says: when Jaws says "well, here's to us" when drinking champagne with his busty companion I can't help but grin from ear to ear.

Couldn't agree more, Richard Kiel deserved a happy ending!