has anyone else lost their love of the bond series?


Kavinsky

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I like all the Bonds. They all were kind of, of they're time. there's some people that hate this guy or that guy, but i'm more accepting.

They've run out of ideas though. Casino Royale was the best movie in decades, and it was a Fleming novel they were finally able to use. Quantum of Solace i liked. Skyfall was a great movie, but it actually stole a lot from The Dark Knight. Spectre stole a lot from Captain America: The Winter Soldier. That films plotline of Blofeld being someone Bond knew as a child i just loathe. They need new writers. They've been using the same guys for 20 years and they came out recently and said they didn't know what to do next with the way the world is changing.

Here's an idea: write a story like  Ian Fleming would have written and don't worry about what year it is.

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I guess this is the way I feel about this Topic ..............  Don Johnson IS, Sonny Crockett ...... Sean Connery IS  James Bond

All others are wannabes.      Brosnan  was true to the role.....Craig's personality turned me off!

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54 minutes ago, Tony D. said:

I guess this is the way I feel about this Topic ..............  Don Johnson IS, Sonny Crockett ...... Sean Connery IS  James Bond

Although I like some of the other James Bonds to variable extents, I agree with you 100% here, Tony. Well said!

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Fun to see this thread resurface. I really wish the writers would go back to more intricate story lines, subtle (and major) plot twists, real exotic landscapes and less annoying CGI. It seems so much of cinema has become who can produce the loudest, most outrageous, over the top (and sadly, unbelievable) action scenes. This method has creeped into the newer Bond films as well.  (just saw the trailer for the new Fast Furious last night, Yikes!).

I think it would be intriguing to consider producing a retro Bond film....have it set in the 1960's perhaps? Focus on the story, cut the CGI and have someone develop innovative gadget and weapon ideas. They could even pay homage to, and utilize some concepts from the old films. (Much of the modern audience has probably never even gazed the classic films as much as many of us have).   At any rate, I do hope the Bond franchise gets some new inspiration and continues. As for me, I have been watching a lot of old classic Hitchcock films lately. Wonderfully heavy on plot, mood and suspense, without the fake bombastic computer graphics dominating action films today. 

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there's not that much cgi in recent Bond films, at least not noticeably. After Die Another Day they went back more realistic with the Craig movies.

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Roger Moore is and was always the best Bond for me and for many. Actually Roger was the first choice to play Bond, Ian Fleming had specifically Moore in mind, but Roger Moore was busy doing "The Saint", so he had to turn the offer down until the right timing came up later in years. I saw them all, Sean, Roger, Timothy, Brosnan,  all i can say all the best movies came out during Roger's era, and he carried the series for more years than any other and if it wasnt for him, the series would have died out way back in the 70s and 80s. He is the most talented actor of them all combined, but he never got credit for it, he was just made to act down on Bond,  but if you look at his body of work, at movies like "The man who haunted himself", what an outstanding drama actor he is.    P.S.  Craig is not Bond for me, he is just new age action figure with loads of cgi action around him. He doesnt even look like Bond, sorry, but i cant see him as Bond, even his face doesnt look Bond, he amy bee a good actor, but not suitable for Bond

 

Edited by S0NNY
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12 hours ago, AzVice said:

there's not that much cgi in recent Bond films, at least not noticeably. After Die Another Day they went back more realistic with the Craig movies.

I'm sorry....what is CGI ?

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23 minutes ago, Tony D. said:

I'm sorry....what is CGI ?

Computer Generated Images. "Jurrasic Park" was one of the first blockbusters that I remember to successfully incorporate this technology the way that it is so (over)used today. 

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5 hours ago, S0NNY said:

Roger Moore is and was always the best Bond for me and for many. Actually Roger was the first choice to play Bond, Ian Fleming had specifically Moore in mind,

Actually I read that Fleming's first choice was Cary Grant but that he was too expensive, and he also considered David Niven, James Mason, Rex Harrison, Richard Burton and Stewart Granger, all big film stars. Niven purportedly turned down the role because he felt he was too old. Moore did state in an interview that "they" told him he was Fleming's first pick, but Fleming was always interested in a big named film star and so that seems unlikely, and because Moore was never even approached for the first Bond role. Moore did not have that star status either, because the Saint only premiered the day before Dr No was released. But he likely was on the Producer's short list, as was Connery, and the Producers obviously went against Fleming's direction in selecting Connery who was by no means a big film star.  Connery did say later in an interview that he felt Fleming was a snob. and that he perceived Fleming did not want him in the role because he was perceived as a working class Scot:  "“What was it he called me, or told somebody? That I was an over-developed stunt man. He never said it to me. When I did eventually meet him he was very interesting, erudite and a snob – a real snob."

I always will associate Connery with the Bond role though I must admit I think Daniel Craig has breathed new life into the franchise, adding a much needed edge and grit to the role as Fleming originally intended Bond to be. Imo he is right up there with Connery now, though with less humor and suaveness of character. And I really did enjoy the Simon Templar character played by Moore, and I have that series on DVD. But his performance as Bond, at least for me, was too over-the-top in terms of silliness and corny one liners that to me detracted from his performance.  

Edited by Sonny-Burnett
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IMO,

Connery was a suave, ladies man that fit the role perfectly of "Irresistible to his women, deadly to his enemies". He did kinda fizzle out after Goldfinger. I just simply lost interest in the Bond films that he did after that.

Lazenby was a brutal fighter and played the fighting Bond well. Apparently, the movie is closely tied to the novel. His acting is somewhat convincing but...I don't know. We didn't see enough of him to know much more.

Moore was kinda like Grandpa hitting on the young chicks to me. He just took Bond to a silly side that half the time worked and half the time didn't.

Dalton was the vicious Bond, and even though I have his autograph, I think his vicious Bond is more of a theatrical version of Bond and less realistic. His portrayal was closest to the novels at the time, and he read them continuously for inspiration.

Brosnan was a great Bond. He brought it back to a realistic portrayal. He just always had the sleekest look as Bond to me. I guess it's because I was born in his era of Bond portrayal that he resonated with me the most. The first Bond movie I ever saw was "Tomorrow Never Dies". In fact, I have some gameplay videos of 3 of the Bond games that he starred in. I think he got handed good roles as Bond but they just didn't have very convincing cast members except most of the MI-6.

Craig is a vicious Bond that has a very stone-faced character to his portrayal. One-sided, tough, and seeks to get what he wants out of anyone. I personally think that Spectre was the best Bond film of his (except the Helicopter shoot-down scene with a WALTHER PPK of all guns; so fake). He's starting to bring a light-hearted side to his portrayal and I hope that even though the movies are a bitch to make for him and that he's suffered quite a few injuries on the job (Right shoulder reconstructed, Left/Right knees operated on, his thumb hurts :D among others) but he doesn't stop. He's been offered quite a few million and he loves how his portrayal is starting to show lately. But he's tired of it, so there's a lot of contemplating for him.

So personally I think that there's still hope for the series. It just takes a toll on its actors and they can change their mind anytime. It's good though to see the movies and it's one of those things that you'll never escape watching. I take my time to see a Bond film, and have only seen Spectre once.

Here's my Gameplay footage of the Brosnan-era Bond games if y'all want to take a peek:

 

 

 

Edited by codemaster94
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having read all of the novels Dalton and Craig are the closest to the literary version. In the novels you don't have the jokes, Miss Moneypenny is just there without any dialogue. Q isn't really there much. Bond isn't a superman in the novels. He barely scrapes through. He gets beaten up in pretty much every novel, doesn't bed a woman in some of them. Vesper commits suicide in the first one--not in front of him, he just wakes and finds her. From Russia With Love ends with him unconsious and he goes in a hospital for six months. His wife is murdered in the 10th novel, he has a breakdown, he gets brainwashed by the U.S.S.R. Up until the Craig era they mostly stayed away from showing any real impact on his life in the movies.

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1 minute ago, AzVice said:

having read all of the novels Dalton and Craig are the closest to the literary version. In the novels you don't have the jokes, Miss Moneypenny is just there without any dialogue. Q isn't really there much. Bond isn't a superman in the novels. He barely scrapes through. He gets beaten up in pretty much every novel, doesn't bed a woman in some of them. Vesper commits suicide in the first one--not in front of him, he just wakes and finds her. From Russia With Love ends with him unconsious and he goes in a hospital for six months. His wife is murdered in the 10th novel, he has a breakdown, he gets brainwashed by the U.S.S.R. Up until the Craig era they mostly stayed away from showing any real impact on his life in the movies.

https://www.quora.com/How-do-the-Bond-movies-differ-from-the-books

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/11/literary-bond-superior-to-movie-version.html

http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-james-bond-book-plots-that-were-too-insane-to-film/

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  • 3 months later...

The only way I could lose my love for the series is if it keeps going in the same direction as Skyfall and SPECTRE. Unfortunately, it probably will. I have been on a break from the series for a couple months because I've been watching it so damn much.

I'll always have the first 22 films. Cheers.

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On 2/6/2017 at 11:43 AM, Dadrian said:

Although I like some of the other James Bonds to variable extents, I agree with you 100% here, Tony. Well said!

I always watch this series.  Connery is James Bond, the rest are just OK.  IMO a good James Bond must have two qualities:  1.) Be macho enough to make all those stunts slightly less than totally unbelievable and 2.) be a suave English gentleman.  Moore is kind of weak in no 1. and Craig lacks a little no. 2.

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I'll understand if people think I'm too old fashioned, but I lost interest in Bond when, a few films back, they tried to make the character more compassionate, especially towards his female co-stars. To me, Bond was always very macho, but in something of a classy way. To see him fold under the pressures of a female interest made me put the series on pause.

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  • 2 months later...
On 20/05/2017 at 2:51 AM, CharlieGlide said:

I'll understand if people think I'm too old fashioned, but I lost interest in Bond when, a few films back, they tried to make the character more compassionate, especially towards his female co-stars. To me, Bond was always very macho, but in something of a classy way. To see him fold under the pressures of a female interest made me put the series on pause.

Yes I prefer the Connery Bond who back hands women around like he does to Jill St John and chokes a chick with her bra at the start of "Diamonds":). I'm not into Craig's Cuck-Era Bond. The producers seem flummoxed with what to do with Bond in this world of Multi-culturism, feminism, political correctness and the place where our enemies are terrorist groups instead of opposing nations. Instead of Bond being forced to conform to this society, he should rise above it like Dirty Harry or something.

I'm also tired of Skyfall and Spectre trying to justify Bonds existence and failing!! If you're going to do a storyline that shows that Bond is obsolete then why bother making these movies in the first place? Like why!! Ughhh

Atleast they can't take the Connery/Moore/Lazenby/Dalton films away from us.

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  • 1 year later...

Bond was born in another era. when i was a kid i was a huge fan of the series. but recently i was watching the episode with the diamond asian with the antartica base. and man, if was so ridiculous, i mean it was really close from being pathetic. i don't want to bash, but it was so caricatural, with a guy with diamonds in his face. the guy owns a minigun fitted car in antartica. someone just tells me why. or Bond hanging on a 2 kilometers high ice cliff. and he saves his life with a 5 minutes crafted parachute. man, it was so stupid

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well that Film was Die Another Day and it came out SIXTEEN years ago, so not a 'recent' entry. They followed it up with Casino Royale. 

Also the Bond movies of the 70s were pretty much along those lines.

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On 2/6/2017 at 10:38 AM, AzVice said:

 Skyfall was a great movie, but it actually stole a lot from The Dark Knight. Spectre stole a lot from Captain America: The Winter Soldier. That films plotline of Blofeld being someone Bond knew as a child i just loathe.

 

On 8/3/2017 at 2:58 PM, Vincent Hanna said:

I'm also tired of Skyfall and Spectre trying to justify Bonds existence and failing!! If you're going to do a storyline that shows that Bond is obsolete then why bother making these movies in the first place? Like why!! Ughhh

Atleast they can't take the Connery/Moore/Lazenby/Dalton films away from us.

I know these posts are over a year old but I think it bears repeating given we're in a potential small hiatus on Bond.  As much as I was pretty annoyed by the lazy CGI use in Die Another Day which felt very by the numbers and like the scriptwriters sleepwalked through the development process some of the recent plotlines for Bond have been absolutely terrible. Making Blofeld Bond's step-brother was one of the worst things I've seen in a franchise like this and ironically almost makes the film a knock-off of the third Austin Powers film (without the sense of humor to save it). They've tried too hard to make the series like Nolan's Batman trilogy in that anything must tie into everything and tie off by the time the last Craig film rolls around so much so that there's a rumor floating around that the reason Danny Boyle dropped out as director on Bond 25 is that the producers want to kill of Craig's Bond by the end of the film which given this series' direction is something that can't be ruled out.

The obsolete thing was somewhat copied from Goldeneye ("Sexist, Misogynist Dinosaur. A relic of the cold war.") but unlike Goldeneye which was Bond proving M's comments wrong and that he's still a formidable ally in a post-Cold War landscape they went from Bond being a hothead rookie to in a span of four years being a potentially broken, over-the-hill agent who should be replaced. It's also wasting Craig's potential as James Bond as he's only recently got a chance to actually play James Bond as well, James Bond. I want (or wanted if he does drop out due to the delay) to see him as Bond on a traditional Bond mission. Go somewhere, blow some baddies up, get the girl, make a pigeon do a double take while he rides his gondola with wheels through Venice (okay, I'll maybe give you that one as something that maybe shouldn't return ... sadly), the stuff that made the series to begin with. Nobody has to be a relative of his and he can do his job every now and then instead of going Jason Bourne every other film.

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+ 1911 for agent 47's point of view.

Craig, whilst having certain literary Bond like pro's is also acting like a bully. That is not what Bond is. Furthermore, real Bond would fire his tailor the moment he would be offered shiny suits in size too small

-J

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unfortunately not having any Fleming novels left to use let't them veer from one place to the other. The writers they've used mainly in the last 20 years have a spotty record other than when they had Casino Royale to base a movie on and when they lured Paul Haggis in

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The irony is that whilst the James Bond producers are faffing about, The Mission Impossible films are beating them at their own game. That last one had Tom Cruise piloting a helicopter for real and doing a HALO jump out of a plane for real!! How's Bond supposed to compete with this insanity?

Bond can't compete with Tom Cruise man, that guy's probably learning how to fly a Harrier Jet for next MI film right now whilst Barbara Broccoli is staring into space.

They should just stop trying to justify Bond's existence(and failing) and just focus on big budget, spectacle filmmaking like they used to be known for (and what MI is currently doing).

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I grew up watching the classics on t.v. with my Pop, I think Moonraker was my first ,or maybe it was Goldfinger while my folks were living down south.  (Kind of crazy story but my folks were looking for a place to live down south and I ran into some kid from kindergarten, 2,000 miles away, who ended up being my neighbor.  His dad was living in a mostly vacant high-rise in Alabama on the Gulf Coast before the boom.) 

Anyway, used to watch them religiously, The Living Daylights was my first at a theater and I got the vinyl in college.  Awesome.  During License to Kill, I remember having to pee at least seven times having drunk so much soda in there.  Not fun.  The last Daniel Craig one I saw - can scarcely remember the plot but it was the one where he was sitting on that  -- chair, getting whipped.  Craig said around that time that he couldn't be paid enough to do another one, yet there he went.  So the feeling after he said not even HE was into it was a huge downer.  He then said it was time for an, uh, effeminate Bond and I'm just like, "No thanks."  And a very recent 2018 comment he made was that they couldn't do the camp humor anymore due to the social milieu changing completely.  Everything's way too serious and people get too offended over petty b.s., which is mostly true!

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  • 2 months later...

Well it's all but confirmed that Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, and Naomi Harris will return for Bond 25. No surprise.

Unfortunately, it looks like Lea Seydoux is back as Madeleine. Very disappointed as I thought she was the definition of dull.

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  • 4 months later...

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