Skyfall

[JohnVF]

I'd personally love to see an even more realistic portrayal of Bond, as an even less-wealthy, less lucky, Mi6 agent who is a more believable character without all the contrivances of the stereotyped Bond as we know him. He could wear whatever suit he wanted as long as it wasn't Men's Warehouse (he'd still have some taste) but would rely even more on his intelligence and brawn, connections, and fluency with the world at large. Sort of where they are going but even more so. Give it a real-world grit, not even as exaggerated as the Bourne movies. Something with the mood of Spielberg's Munich, even...a darker and more depressing reality based upon real-world events.

I think many of our differences here lie in how much we care about what happens to the legend of the character. Its just a film. Nothing could be worse than some of the Roger Moore films.

 

[Bigerik]

I'd personally love to see an even more realistic portrayal of Bond, as an even less-wealthy, less lucky, Mi6 agent who is a more believable character without all the contrivances of the stereotyped Bond as we know him. He could wear whatever suit he wanted as long as it wasn't Men's Warehouse (he'd still have some taste) but would rely even more on his intelligence and brawn, connections, and fluency with the world at large. Sort of where they are going but even more so. Give it a real-world grit, not even as exaggerated as the Bourne movies. Something with the mood of Spielberg's Munich, even...a darker and more depressing reality based upon real-world events.

I think many of our differences here lie in how much we care about what happens to the legend of the character. Its just a film. Nothing could be worse than some of the Roger Moore films.

Ok, but that ain't Bond. And it isn't just a film. It's the second most popular, and longest lasting movie series of all time.

 

[JohnVF]

Ok, but that ain't Bond.

Bond can be whatever a screenwriter and director want him to be. The books are all movies, the same schtick has been played out so many times. Most people, who don't put the character on a pedestal, seem to be over it. I know I was until Casino Royale surprised the hell out of me for actually trying something different and being at least somewhat glued to a believable reality.

But you and I want very different interpretations of the character. Well...you want NO interpretation . I have no adherence to the books as I've never read them. But I do like the idea of a suave British secret agent that sleeps around and kills bad guys.

 

[prisoners]

I'd personally love to see an even more realistic portrayal of Bond, as an even less-wealthy, less lucky, Mi6 agent who is a more believable character without all the contrivances of the stereotyped Bond as we know him. He could wear whatever suit he wanted as long as it wasn't Men's Warehouse (he'd still have some taste) but would rely even more on his intelligence and brawn, connections, and fluency with the world at large. Sort of where they are going but even more so. Give it a real-world grit, not even as exaggerated as the Bourne movies. Something with the mood of Spielberg's Munich, even...a darker and more depressing reality based upon real-world events.

I think many of our differences here lie in how much we care about what happens to the legend of the character. Its just a film. Nothing could be worse than some of the Roger Moore films.

Agreed. The days of the "gentleman spy" are gone forever and ended when the cold war did. Today's espionage is even more dangerous than it was before and the films need to reflect that.

(Of course I'm only an interested bystander and the closest I've ever come to that world was working in the cryptographic vault while in the USN...kinda like the no-name guy who hands the telex message to M)

 

[JohnVF]

Agreed. The days of the "gentleman spy" are gone forever and ended when the cold war did. Today's espionage is even more dangerous than it was before and the films need to reflect that.

(Of course I'm only an interested bystander and the closest I've ever come to that world was working in the cryptographic vault while in the USN...kinda like the no-name guy who hands the telex message to M)

One of my friends works for the Defense Intelligence Agency...nerdy guy with dull family life, average looking wife, kid, doesn't drink, doesn't smoke (anything). I was interviewed as part of his background check many years ago. "Yes, he's probably the most boring guy you'll ever meet". Check! He's our man!

That's not what I want Bond to be, but I imagine there could be some field-agent Mi6 stories that felt like they had real-world significance.

 

[Bigerik]

Bond can be whatever a screenwriter and director want him to be. The books are all movies, the same schtick has been played out so many times. Most people, who don't put the character on a pedestal, seem to be over it. I know I was until Casino Royale surprised the hell out of me for actually trying something different and being at least somewhat glued to a believable reality.

But you and I want very different interpretations of the character. Well...you want NO interpretation . I have no adherence to the books as I've never read them. But I do like the idea of a suave British secret agent that sleeps around and kills bad guys.

No, it ain't. At some point, if you change him too much, he stops being Bond. The character you want could make for some interesting movies. They just wouldn't be James Bond movies.

So why don't we make him celibate and American and not a killer? We could still call him Bond and no one would know the difference, right?

 

[JohnVF]

No, it ain't. At some point, if you change him too much, he stops being Bond. The character you want could make for some interesting movies. They just wouldn't be James Bond movies.

So why don't we make him celibate and American and not a killer? We could still call him Bond and no one would know the difference, right?

I'm just think it would be interesting for a director to take on the story of what an actual British Mi6 agent would be like, even if he's slightly classier, with more athletic prowess than the average field agent. Why? Because I'm really bored with the Bond franchise. Where else need it go before you do something else with the mythology?

 

[prisoners]

You two are obviously big fans of the 007 world. I'd like to read your thoughts on Homeland if you've seen it.

 

[JohnVF]

I gave homeland about 6-8 episodes before I gave up on it (Danes bugs the crap out of me). I wanted to like it but I didn't care or believe any of the characters emotions. I've been told I gave up on it right when it got good.

 

[imglocked]

hmm . . . I watch movies for entertainment . . . I must say I was entertained by Skyfall, despite ill-fitting suits and purported 'mama-boy-ism' of the character . . . in fact, I have been entertained by ALL the Bond movies . . . but looking back on them with 'now'-colored glasses, yeah, some of them seem to fall short . . . but at the point in time when I saw them, they ALL kicked-ass! . . . its like comparing apples to apples; there are many varieties that all have a place and use, so my advice is don't use Granny Smiths for apple juice! . . . and as for Bond movies, just enjoy 'em for what they are, or were during their time!

 

[Bigerik]

I'm just think it would be interesting for a director to take on the story of what an actual British Mi6 agent would be like, even if he's slightly classier, with more athletic prowess than the average field agent. Why? Because I'm really bored with the Bond franchise. Where else need it go before you do something else with the mythology?

I think the Bond franchise has lots of life on it. The problem is a lack of confidence in the part of the producers. They keep trying to reinvent him and reboot the franchise. Well, we have had two reboots in three movies. We have had one good movie (Casino Royale which stated very close to the book). We went in three movies from a young, inexperienced Bond, to an old and tired one. Will they please make up their minds?

 

[prisoners]

There certainly was a lull at about that time, but season two is as gripping a TV series as I've ever seen.

 

[JohnVF]

I don't get how Skyfall was a reboot. It just seems like it was marketed that way, when in reality, it was just another film in the Craig era, with a different theme (the world moving past Bond and M).

 

[prisoners]

The 'reboot' thing is meaningless to me. They could bring M back in the next film and I wouldn't care; it would just be a new story. I never looked at the Bond films as having a linear story from one film to the next.

 

[audiodon]

There was an aging Roger Moore James Bond movie as I recall.
Could this one just be a crisis of confidence?

 

[cubdog]

All I know is I have enjoyed the last three Bond movies way more than any of the past ones. How his clothes fit have no impact on me. In my mind Craig's Bond is much more believable, as a movie character, than the rest of them combined. Not being a student of the movies or a movie critic I can watch movies strictly for my own enjoyment. Weird thread. No pun intended.

cubdog

 

[hjames]

Ever seen the FIRST Bourne film, the 1988 made-for-TV film with Richard Chamberlaine - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094791/

Yeah, I don't want James Bond to EVER go down that road, ok?

While I have enjoyed 24, I also don't want the America "Bond" - Jack Bauer ... ugh!

Ian Flemming updated for the present world struggles will do just fine, thank you!

I'd personally love to see an even more realistic portrayal of Bond, as an even less-wealthy, less lucky, Mi6 agent who is a more believable character without all the contrivances of the stereotyped Bond as we know him. He could wear whatever suit he wanted as long as it wasn't Men's Warehouse (he'd still have some taste) but would rely even more on his intelligence and brawn, connections, and fluency with the world at large. Sort of where they are going but even more so. Give it a real-world grit, not even as exaggerated as the Bourne movies. Something with the mood of Spielberg's Munich, even...a darker and more depressing reality based upon real-world events.

I think many of our differences here lie in how much we care about what happens to the legend of the character. Its just a film. Nothing could be worse than some of the Roger Moore films.

 

[JohnVF]

All I know is I have enjoyed the last three Bond movies way more than any of the past ones. How his clothes fit have no impact on me. In my mind Craig's Bond is much more believable, as a movie character, than the rest of them combined. Not being a student of the movies or a movie critic I can watch movies strictly for my own enjoyment. Weird thread. No pun intended.

cubdog

That's how I feel about it. Done with this thread...I hate when people try to convince me that I didn't like something that I clearly very much enjoyed.

 

[jaguar06]

...Nothing could be worse than some of the Roger Moore films.

Amen.

 

[Bigerik]

Amen.

Ain't that the truth. I think the low point of the series was A View to a Kill. Even Roger Moore seemed embarrassed by that one. I think it was likely Christopher Walken worst performance. And they certainly wasted a nice turn by Patrick McNee.