O/t- James Bond Films-run Their Course?

[Northstander]

The newer films I don't count as there are basically action films.

IMHO and action film is different from a "Bond film!"

 

[Dave the OAP]

Northstander.

That would be Thunderball, which I actually thought was one of the best.

The storyline about stealing a nuclear weapon from a Vulcan bomber was very prophetic, as in the early Seventies, someone actually did.

I thought You Only Live Twice was the best , followed by On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Connery played it true, Moore for laughs, lazenby was good( his scene with Dianna Rigg where she died was one of the most moving things I had seen in a film), david Niven very suave, Dalton too dark( although probaby more closer to Flemming's original spy) and Brosnan too up himself.

I would kill it off now

 

[Marshy]

i still think they are great escapism and enjoy going to see them, if only for the quality crumpet in them.

 

[Spiros]

Northstander.

That would be Thunderball, which I actually thought was one of the best.

The storyline about stealing a nuclear weapon from a Vulcan bomber was very prophetic, as in the early Seventies, someone actually did.

I thought You Only Live Twice was the best , followed by On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Connery played it true, Moore for laughs, lazenby was good( his scene with Dianna Rigg where she died was one of the most moving things I had seen in a film), david Niven very suave, Dalton too dark( although probaby more closer to Flemming's original spy) and Brosnan too up himself.

I would kill it off now

Spot on - Connery was definitely the top Bond. My own favourite was From Russia with Love where he mixes his usual quips with almost torturing the girl to get information out of her. The later films were mostly a mixture of 'comedy' and special effects - quite enjoyable but not in the same class as even the worst Connery version.

 

[defrocked priest]

kin ell did Daniel Craig do the job.

 

[Nibble]

After the nonsense that was the last Brosnan film (a shame 'cos I liked Brosnan) The franchise was in bits. But for my money they totally turned it around with Craig and Casino Royale. Excellent adaptation of the original novel and Craig was superb. A lot of people slated the film while it was in production, saying that Craig could not handle the action scenes and it was going to be a flop but he surpassed all my expectations and made a superb film and a superb Bond.

I'm sure it is the same with the new one, and reports of it being in disarray are more than likely very exagerrated. Any big budget film comes under scrutiny during filming, add the expectation and interest a Bond film generates and their is going to be loads of media speculation.

In my opinion From Russia With Love is the best Bond film and the elements they took from that into Casino Royale made for a great reboot of the franchise. I am very much looking forward to the new film. But I am a massive Bond fan so I always hope the films go great!

 

[beorhthelm]

im not sure the Bond franchise is dead, it depends on who works it and what they do with it. If they place more emphasis on plots and use Bond as method to put across an import geopolitical issue, then theres a lot of life left. The problem with relying on special effects and action scenes is that you have to out-do the last one and eventually you end up in farce. we saw this in Matrix II where the 18hour long fight sequences literally had me so bored i thought i might go and get another round of popcorn (maybe thats the idea?). some of the basic plots in some of the recent films have been great but are given about 5 minutes attention. Of course ultimatly the problem is the films are made by big studios that focus group themsleves to death and think they have to pitch to a segment of the american audience who just want to see lots of chasese and explosions as they think thats cool. Maybe with all the war they see on the news they will be more open to an alternative thrill at the cinema.

 

[Wozza]

Strange thread bounce.

Nobody thinks the series is dead after Casino Royale, surely?

The rival Bourne series gave it a kick up the arse, thankfully.