James Bond 24 now greenlit too...

[CaptJimboJones]

And the villain's name.

The character is completely different, though.

True, and it's a real shame, because Ian Fleming's novel Moonraker is one of his finest. It's a taut thriller with a somewhat surprising ending, and, IIRC, it's the only one that takes place entirely in England.

I'd love for someone to make a proper film version of it, although it's quite unlikely today, since the Bonds are set in current day.

 

[Ssosmcin]

I'd love for someone to make a proper film version of it, although it's quite unlikely today, since the Bonds are set in current day.

I love how the book starts off with a seemingly very small thing, too small really to get Bond involved in. Yet it sets off alarm bells with M, because the idea of it is illogical.

"Sir Hugo Drax cheats at cards."

 

[Whofan]

Elements of the MR novel were used a bit in DIE ANOTHER DAY...but once again very loosely.

 

[Rush Limborg]

And the villain's name.

The character is completely different, though.

True, and it's a real shame, because Ian Fleming's novel Moonraker is one of his finest. It's a taut thriller with a somewhat surprising ending, and, IIRC, it's the only one that takes place entirely in England.

I'd love for someone to make a proper film version of it, although it's quite unlikely today, since the Bonds are set in current day.

Well, as I said--the novel's more down-to-earth--and like Casino, it could VERY easily be tweaked to fit modern-day.

Of course, it needs a new title.

Hmm...perhaps call it Risico, since...wasn't the plot of that story used for one of the Roger Moore films? (Those movies tended to "work in" more than one short story for each film....)

Or...IMDB has a big rumor that the plot of Property of a Lady will be the pre-title sequence for Bond 23. Perhaps have the original Moonraker storyline as the main plot for the film, or something? Javier Bardem as the better (renamed) Hugo Drax?

 

[Rush Limborg]

I love how the book starts off with a seemingly very small thing, too small really to get Bond involved in. Yet it sets off alarm bells with M, because the idea of it is illogical.

"Sir Hugo Drax cheats at cards."

Yep--and again, that would really help develop the relationship between M and Bond for the Craig films. Bond perhaps gets a little ticked off that M would have him investigate something so trivial.

But in the end, their trust for one another is strengthened.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Or...IMDB has a big rumor that the plot of Property of a Lady will be the pre-title sequence for Bond 23.

Not bloody likely - it was done in Octopussy.

 

[Rush Limborg]

Indeed.

So--"For Your Eyes Only" was used.

"Property Of A Lady" was used.

"The Hildebrand Rarity"--used.

"The Living Daylights"--dittos.

"Octopussy"--check.

"Risico"--check, right?

Hmm...all that's left is "From A View To A Kill", "Quantum Of Solace", and "007 In New York"

"Quantum" is just Bond hearing a tragic love story told to him--so that's out, obviously.

The original "From A View To A Kill" has him discovering a secret hideout. Hmm...could be worked in.

"007 In New York" has him intending to make a rendezvous--but because he doesn't know squat about the zoo in Manhattan, the girl he was supposed to contact apparently gets into deeper trouble. The last paragraph about the "consequences" could be fleshed out into a story....

You know...a blunder like Bond makes in that take is actually pretty appropriate for continuing his "origin" story. He makes a mistake, and has to deal with the consequences of that.

So--"007 In New York" has potential for a story, dittos for the original "Moonraker", and "From A View To A Kill" is pretty much the beginning of a story.

Thoughts?

 

[Lonemagpie]

The original "From A View To A Kill" has him discovering a secret hideout. Hmm...could be worked in.

Yep, then a motorcycle chase, which obviously could inspire some fancy action in a movie.

 

[Starkers]

From what I recall 007 in New York has slight similarities to Bond intruding on Beckett...er I mean Canadian secret agent, at the end of Quantum of Solace.

I don't think there's much left in the Fleming canon to use now, and blasphemous as it may seem I don't see why they have to? Cinematic Bond is very different to literary Bond

 

[Rush Limborg]

^Oh, I don't know. I'd say Craig is the closest of all the Bonds to the character in the books--angrier inside, more emotionally driven and internally conflicted--more able to be hurt.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

^ Actually, I think Timothy Dalton was a bit closer to the novels' Bond, especially in "Licence to Kill".

 

[Rush Limborg]

Indeed?

Well, considering Craig's Bond "learning" his way into becoming "Bond"...perhaps we'll see him as a young Dalton, in time.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Excellent news. Now about those classic Bond Blu-Rays...

 

[Whofan]

I think we might be getting those next year, since MGM is planning an anniversary 'celebration' for 50 years of Bond films and the release of the new film.


Also, most of the films that are missing on blu-ray (With the exception, I think, of only Goldeneye and Tomorrow Never Dies) are available in excellent HD on Netflix instant, so that probably is a good sign as well.

 

[Starkers]

^Oh, I don't know. I'd say Craig is the closest of all the Bonds to the character in the books--angrier inside, more emotionally driven and internally conflicted--more able to be hurt.

I wouldn't neccesarily disagree with that, although again I'd probably say Dalton was just as good in the role, I was talking more about the scope of the stories told, the world Bond inhabits. Even though they were trying to be quite faithful to Casino Royale, the film is really very different. In some ways I think trying to shoehorn story ideas from the books into the films doesn't always work, sometimes its better to just go with something original(ish!).

 

[Captaindemotion]

Indeed?

Well, considering Craig's Bond "learning" his way into becoming "Bond"...perhaps we'll see him as a young Dalton, in time.

Only if he loses his sardonic delivery of one-liners. I liked Dalton's Bond but he had no way with a one-liner to save his life. Craig is good with them, without ever sounding corny.

 

[23skidoo]

"Property Of A Lady" was used.

But the title is still perfectly suitable for a Bond film. Wouldn't be the first time only a title was used (i.e. Quantum of Solace)

"Octopussy"--check.

Sort of. The plot line formed the backstory for the film character of Octopussy (she's Col. Smythe's daughter from the story), but the basic plot could be recycled.

"Risico"--check, right?

Definitely - adapted almost word for word in For Your Eyes Only. The title has been rumored as a potential film title, and I guess it would work.

"Quantum" is just Bond hearing a tragic love story told to him--so that's out, obviously.

They could still work that into a film, though, as backstory for a Bond girl or something. Or the whole notion of Bond jumping to conclusions about someone (QoS is the only James Bond story that actually has an explicitly stated "moral of the story" component) could be worked into something.

The original "From A View To A Kill" has him discovering a secret hideout. Hmm...could be worked in.

I recall there was some exciting motorcycle action too.

"007 In New York" has him intending to make a rendezvous--but because he doesn't know squat about the zoo in Manhattan, the girl he was supposed to contact apparently gets into deeper trouble. The last paragraph about the "consequences" could be fleshed out into a story....

The Casino Royale movie also took a character name, Solange, from this story. Bond's encounter with the Canadian agent at the end of QoS could also be seen as inspired by the basic plot.

Let's not also forget that, as I understand it, EON does have access to the post-Fleming novels. Colonel Sun was actually offered as a Bond film in the 1970s, but Broccolli or Saltzman vetoed it at the time because apparently they were pissed that another "Robert Markham" novel, Per Fine Ounce, written by a friend of theirs, was rejected by the publishers. Die Another Day paid homage to the novel with the character of Col. Sun Moon (it also readapts elements of Moonraker - the Blades encounter, Graves is basically a reimagining of Sir Hugo Drax, and Miranda Frost was originally named Gala Brand in the script - that's the Bond girl in Moonraker). Colonel Sun I'm also pretty sure influenced elements of The World is Not Enough, in particular the kidnapping of M.

And although this has never, I think, been acknowledged, the A View to a Kill movie contained many elements from John Gardner's Licence Renewed, including segments taking place at an Ascot-like event. Much as I enjoy seeing bits and pieces of Fleming's original work showing up, unless they want to start remaking more novel adaptations (Live and Let Die 2.0, etc), I'd like to see them start plundering the post-Fleming novels more - I mean, how much more "Bond" can a movie title be than "Scorpius" or "Brokenclaw"! Or "The Man with the Red Tattoo".

Alex

 

[Rush Limborg]

^"Devil May Care" would be interesting. The author made it a point to write it in the style of Flemming--and to make it a direct follow-up to the book The Man With The Golden Gun.

Indeed?

Well, considering Craig's Bond "learning" his way into becoming "Bond"...perhaps we'll see him as a young Dalton, in time.

Only if he loses his sardonic delivery of one-liners. I liked Dalton's Bond but he had no way with a one-liner to save his life. Craig is good with them, without ever sounding corny.

Yeah. Craig's skill with the one-liner is practically Connery-worthy:

"Oh, I'm sorry. That had--it nearly killed me...."

 

[Starkers]

I don't think Craig is any better with one liners than Dalton, the difference is Craig has lines written to fit with his dry, deadpan delivery, Dalton was handed a lot of lines that only Rog could have delivered well (ok maybe Brosnan as well).

I wouln't want them to make Devil May Care, I didn't like it at all, there's a point where homage becomes rip off and that book went over the line. Plus its very much a period piece. I did like the use of the ekranoplan however.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ I wanted to like Devil May Care but just didn't, er, care for it. (Not even Connery could have saved that pun, sorry, but it's the truth).