For better or worse, imo, Connery had two, GF and DAF, Moore’s undoubtedly was Moonraker, Dalton had LTK, Brosnan’s was Goldeneye ( it was a repackage of a repackage wrapped in a cloak of nostalgia. Craig’s, I think will end up being Spectre.
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Given the success that the franchise has sustained, and even increased as of late, one would think that it shouldn’t need to justify itself anymore. Which makes the constant hand-wringing that EON does within the films to, quite literally, ask the question as to whether or not Bond is still relevant in this day and age all the more puzzling and, to a certain extent, insulting to its ever growing audience.
Now, it was an appropriate question to ask back in 1995, when they first broached the topic, because it was the first Bond film in the post Cold War era. After a six-year hiatus and dwindling box office returns and the end of the era that Bond was synonymous with, that’s a reasonable time to ask the question. By all means, at that point, go for it. But, as we’ve seen in the time since GoldenEye, that Bond is more relevant than ever. With the rise of international terrorism, surveillance, biological weapons, etc., there’s plenty out there that requires Bond to be the one standing between us and global disaster.
It really does make one wonder why EON seems to feel the need to constantly ask the question as to whether or not Bond is relevant. It’s what 60% of the Craig era is directly about, and it’s touched on, albeit not in as heavy handed a way as it is during Craig’s run, a time or two during Brosnan’s time in the role as well.
What would truly benefit the films is having a team behind the camera who is confident in Bond’s place in the world and doesn’t feel the need to question it. Bond is here, his presence is necessary, and let’s get on with some new adventures that feature Bond doing what he does, or at least used to do, best. The fact that they continue to ask the question as to Bond’s relevancy is, in itself, an answer to the question.
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Agreed. But the financiers will rather bankroll what is tested and successful rather than surprising.
And movie franchises behave like rock music superstar acts these days: tour the greatest hits instead of moving on with new forward developing albums.
April 18: Bond and animation - can‘t see that working, only as parody, and „Archer“ already did that.
I would rather see more Bond films.
As for the reality show: I know mass audiences love them because they feed the illusion that everybody can be a star. But I have no desire to watch some obnoxious idiots mugging around at Piz Gloria while Bond soundtracks are playing in the background.
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Will be interesting to see what the landscape looks like when this approach inevitably implodes on itself. It’ll happen in the music industry (the Rolling Stones won’t be able to continue on forever) and it’ll happen with the movie franchises as well.
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DC dubbed the english voice in a black and white animated film about a detective - Rennaisance. Not an technological expert, but it was black and white and had that very stylized “comic strip” come-to-life type feel - angles and shadows etc. I could see something in that vein - echoing the old Daily Express strips. And I’ve always been a fan of the Toby Stephen’s starred audio Bonds, so along those lines of notable voice cast, there is some potential.
Beyond that…well, it’s the old universe discussion and does seem like we fit into the same broad swatch of real estate there. Of course that said, “The Adventures of Max Zorin, Junior High” might sound idiotic but, well, I know I’m a big enough sucker to at least watch the first…
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April 15 - Diana Rigg is not miscast and is arguably the best leading female of the entire franchise. I actually think the film leaves out some of Tracy’s backstory from the novel that makes her suicidal tendencies more understandable (most specifically the death of her child).
April 16 - I consider Trigger Mortis, Forever and a Day, and Colonel Sun to be on par with some of Fleming’s best work. Also, James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me might be the most underrated novel in the entire Bond canon.
April 17 - I love all of the Bond films, even the “bad” ones (okay, maybe not CR 67 or NSNA). Of which, I’d count at least 2 as being part of the Harry Saltzman films (Diamonds are Forever and The Man with the Golden Gun).
April 18 - I can totally see Amazon going full Disney and milking MGM’s biggest property for all its worth. (Does anyone even care about Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi whose biggest selling point appears to be a ton of cameos? Because, you know, pathetic nostalgia)
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April 18 -
Agree with @secretagentfan , would feel too much like Archer. The side characters are just that, so no to that also. Maybe if pushed a wartime Bond serial. I hope they are clever with the property and merely increase the frequency of the movies. Other MGM properties to be mined, pink panther, RoboCop etc.
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If all the things that Amazon could do with the franchise, an animated take on some of the original stories is probably the least offensive. I don’t think that there’s any reason that it would have to be anything like Archer. If it comes off that way, then they’re clearly doing it completely wrong.
In reality, I’d imagine that we’ll get something more in line with a Felix Leiter spinoff series or them taking some other minor character and putting them front in center in some kind of expanded Bond universe thing. Regardless, we’re most likely on the precipice of them beginning to ram this franchise into the ground. This reality show, albeit not created by Amazon, is just the beginning of that, a first step in that direction.
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Agreed–one for both of his Bonds.
Agree on Moore, Dalton, Brosnan. Adore this:
(Though I doubt you will be getting a holiday fruitcake from EON).
As much as I like SPECTRE, we really get three versions of Craig Bond: thug-madeover-into-state assassin–CR to SF; Robot Bond–SP; and Daddy Bond–NTTD. Each in its own way is iconic, and you could make an argument for any of them.
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I’m with you there. Obviously I’m unaware of whatever the “arrangements” are between the financiers and the creators, but “extra” stuff is now the way of the world and I just don’t see “business as usual” for the future. That said, what exactly is the position of the Ian Fleming estate in all of this? Curious if there is any agreement covering use of intellectual property - by EON, and then beyond.
Yeah I’ll not expect one from them haha, I definitely agree with you about Craig, there are arguments for all of his tenure, which is extraordinary really after 60 years. Viva la Bond!
Chunking Express went down a treat by the way!
April 18: If AmazonMGM is keen to exploit the IP and broaden the offering, 90-minute animated versions of the Fleming books is probably worth a try but there’s nothing else really worth doing. None of the other characters are interesting enough. This reality show travel game show thing… not convinced.
You lost me at “animated.”
But then I had a thought: if they’re going to be faithful adaptations of the novels, why not do them in the style – and with the technology – of the era? They could probably crank out all 13 books in a “Clutch Cargo” format and it’d be a gas.
Agreed about the reality show/game show thing: a staggeringly stupid idea. But as long as we’re going down that road, let’s add some more: how about an all-Bond edition of “Chopped” where the chefs compete to make the best version of Stuffed Sheep’s Head, with a side of Phu Yuck? Or a “Project Runway” special where contestants design new overalls and berets for an army of henchmen? Or at least add a “Challenge” round to the already-planned travel show, wherein contestants have to take on location-specific dares like telling random Jamaicans to fetch their shoes?
Wonderful. And MOONRAKER?
Going on Thursday. We couldn’t make Saturday at the time. Looking forward to it emmensely.
Great. Looking forward to the review.
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April 18: I’m interested in that, we saw how that one will looks like in Dynamite comics, there’s a young Bond, their Fleming adaptations, suddenly they’re not going to do Moonraker and so on. So they only have Casino Royale and Live And Let Die. Yes, agree with the reality show, not convinced either, for me it’s cheapening the brand.
If they’re going to do animations of Fleming novels, that’s possible but still depends on the producers if they’re going to do that, I doubt it.
But if real life people then we’re in a great problem, first is the product placement, second is the censorship.
None of the other characters are interesting? Have you read Dynamite’s Felix Leiter spin offs? They’re good in my opinion.
April 19: Can someone show a list of the odd numbered Bond films? I can’t seem to remember them. For all I know, three of Craig Bond Films are odd numbered, Am I right?
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April 19 -
“No just different, Peking Duck is different from Russian caviar, but I like them both”
“Provided the collars and cuffs match…” ( Shrugs shoulders nonchalantly)
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April 19 - brace for reductio ad absurdum
The World is Not Enough is patently better than From Russia With Love
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The Bond series is one where the “every other film is good” theory definitely does not apply. It more or less holds up for even-numbered Trek films, but that’s about it.
But if it helps, every Bond film is odd in its own way.
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