The James Bond Film Discussion Thread (With Bonus Lazenby!)

[Captaindemotion]

I think Licence to Kill is the best of all the Bonds' final films, I guess they didn't know it is was his final films when they made it mind you.

Not sure if they'd decided DAD would be Brosnan's last film until after it was made

LTK is a better film than DAD but it underperformed and was - perhaps unfairly - viewed as a flop, whereas DAD made loads at the box office.

Most trade magazines and fans expected Pierce to return (as did he). As to why he didn’t, I’ve heard that he wanted too much money and priced himself out, but there was also the fact of Bourne and the like, which supposedly made Barbara feel that 007 needed a move away from invisible cars etc, despite DAD’s financial success.

My recollection from the time is that as soon as LTK’s box office returns came in, the press were speculating about Tim’s future and blood was in the water. Whether he may have returned had various legal issues not paused the franchise for 6 years (no longer as big a deal as it was at a time where 007 films came out every other year), well, we can only speculate.

So as to who went out on a higher note, the guy with a solid but underperforming movie or the guy with a widely-ridiculed but financially successful one, well, as one of my old lecturers used to say, you pays your money and you takes your choice.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

LTK had its share of outrageous moments too, semi trucks that can pull wheelies come on. Did Q branch sell those to the baddies on the side?

 

[Captaindemotion]

LTK had its share of outrageous moments too, semi trucks that can pull wheelies come on. Did Q branch sell those to the baddies on the side?

I like to think that Bond thought back to the events of Diamonds Are Forever and thought “well, if I can do it with a car, I can do it with a lorry.”

But, yeah, you raise a point that I remember at least one critic pointing out at the time. For all the efforts to humanise Bond that Dalton made, and the grittier, more realistic departure that LTK was supposed to herald, he still hung from planes and helicopters, performed that stunt you cite, and baddies still owned sharks. The Wire it was not.

 

[The Realist]

I still have not finished No Time to Die, but have ANY Bonds gone out on a high note? (NO, Lazenby doesn't count!)

I am not the biggest Craig fan, so perhaps not the best judge of what would constitute a "high note" for him. But

Spoiler

the ending of No Time to Die had me in tears, an emotional response I never expected I would have to a Bond film. That has to count for something.

LTK had its share of outrageous moments too, semi trucks that can pull wheelies come on. Did Q branch sell those to the baddies on the side?

Except they actually did those stunts with real semis (albeit ones that had been somewhat modified for the purpose IIRC).

The Wire it was not.

Bond movies were never meant to be The Wire -- although the Craig era sometimes seemed to think otherwise, to my displeasure.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Bond movies were never meant to be The Wire -- although the Craig era sometimes seemed to think otherwise, to my displeasure.

Well, quite (if I’m honest, I just named the first gritty series I could think of, and as it was drug-trade-centred, like LTK, I went with it).

But I think it does reflect a difficulty with trying to make any essentially improbable series, be it Bond or Batman, grounded and real. For example, The Penguin was pretty good, Farrell was superb, but it was never really going to compete with The Sopranos; it’s always set in a world where a billionaire dresses as a Bat and fights crime with fancy toys and a cool car. No matter how realistic you try to make Bond, it’s never going to be Le Carre or even Slow Horses. Finding that balance is pretty hard.

 

[The Realist]

Was intended more as agreement than disagreement with you, in that I think Bond films take too serious an approach at their peril. This is true, as you note, for most franchise entertainments (a certain man of steel comes to mind).

 

[Captaindemotion]

Was intended more as agreement than disagreement with you, in that I think Bond films take too serious an approach at their peril. This is true, by the way, for most franchise entertainments (a certain man of steel comes to mind).

Thank goodness a certain poster with the initials TG isn’t active in this thread.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Except they actually did those stunts with real semis (albeit ones that had been somewhat modified for the purpose IIRC).

Oh I know that, saw some behind the scenes stuff about how they rigged the trucks to work for the movie.

 

[Turtletrekker]

James Bond is Doctor Who canon.

James Bond is canon in 'Doctor Who' now

Did you catch Steven Moffat's sly spy reference in "Joy to the World"?

mashable.com

Spoiler

In the recent Christmas special, Joy to the World, the Doctor encountered a woman on a train named Sylvia Trench. Steven Moffat has confirmed that it was his intent that this be the same character from the first two Bond movies.

 

[cardinal biggles]

James Bond is Doctor Who canon.

James Bond is canon in 'Doctor Who' now

Did you catch Steven Moffat's sly spy reference in "Joy to the World"?

mashable.com

Spoiler

In the recent Christmas special, Joy to the World, the Doctor encountered a woman on a train named Sylvia Trench. Steven Moffat has confirmed that it was his intent that this be the same character from the first two Bond movies.

So does that lend credence to the theory that Bond is a Time Lord, and Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan, and Craig were all regenerations?? (Does that make Connery's appearance in DAF akin to Tennant coming back as the Fourteenth Doctor?)

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

James Bond is Doctor Who canon.

James Bond is canon in 'Doctor Who' now

Did you catch Steven Moffat's sly spy reference in "Joy to the World"?

mashable.com

Spoiler

In the recent Christmas special, Joy to the World, the Doctor encountered a woman on a train named Sylvia Trench. Steven Moffat has confirmed that it was his intent that this be the same character from the first two Bond movies.

I hope that is just wishful thinking

 

[Tallguy]

Now if she was dubbed by a different actress that would clinch it.

Then he went on to share his affection for the overlooked Bond girl. "She's the reason that James Bond introduces himself the way he does," Moffat explained. "He says to her, 'I admire your luck, miss...?' And she says, 'Trench. Sylvia Trench. Mister...?' [And he replies,] 'Bond. James Bond.' That's why, for the rest of time, James Bond goes around inexplicably announcing his surname before his Christian name."

I'm so glad someone knows this. (I bet lots of people here do.)

It is the only time he does so in the three Terrance Young films. Although I think someone calls him "Mr. Bond James Bond" in Thunderball. Fiona, I think.

My favorite variation of this is when Robbie Coltrane's Zukovsky sees Bond in The World is Not Enough and joyously exclaims "BOND JAMES BOND!"

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

I am glad Broccoli is digging her heels in and not budging.

Another discussion over on reddit about this some of the commentary here is good and things I didn't think of.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Turtletrekker]

All I can say is that the Doctor is a character that has both visited a place called The Land of Fiction and cast salt at the edge of the universe, with all that implies.

And even if James Bond were in the Doctor Who canon, that doesn't mean that Doctor Who is in the James Bond canon.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

All I can say is that the Doctor is a character that has both visited a place called The Land of Fiction and cast salt at the edge of the universe, with all that implies.

And even if James Bond were in the Doctor Who canon, that doesn't mean that Doctor Who is in the James Bond canon.

I know. I just feel unsettled at the thought of it though

 

[Captaindemotion]

So does that lend credence to the theory that Bond is a Time Lord, and Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan, and Craig were all regenerations?? (Does that make Connery's appearance in DAF akin to Tennant coming back as the Fourteenth Doctor?)

Rassilon is either Bond’s fourth or fifth incarnation, depending on whether or not DAF Connery is his first or third one.

 

[oktay]

I am glad Broccoli is digging her heels in and not budging.

Another discussion over on reddit about this some of the commentary here is good and things I didn't think of.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

EON is right but Amazon is also right because they don't have a series that will transform a Marvel-like universe. At one point there were ideas to expand the Creed and Rocky universes with a lot of spn-offs. But even if they did that, it would definitely not be the same as the money they would make in a James Bond universe.

 

[oktay]

Plus it is not clear whether film projects like Voltron and He Man will be successful.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Has anyone read any of those books set in the Bond universe but centring on other characters (other 00 agents etc)?

I’m in the camp that doesn’t want an expanded Bond universe (no M: the Early Days or The Adventures of 008) but I wouldn’t mind if in the (even lengthening) gaps between cinematic releases, Eon agreed to the odd standalone out-of-continuity” direct to streaming film or miniseries featuring period-set Bond films, with guest actors (who might not commit to a full film franchise contract) or returns for Dalton or Brosnan.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

I did read the Felix Leiter comic book, thought that was alright.
I could see potential in a Felix Leiter PI show. It could be similar enough to feel connected to Bond, but different enough so it wouldn't just be a Bond adventure with a different lead.