I would also add the free-running scene in Casino Royale. No one had ever really done that on screen before–certainly to that level. Now it’s quite common for films or TV shows to have a scene like that, but back in 2006 it was pretty much only Bond, James Bond.
But that, and the two you mentioned Dustin, are about the only innovative stunt scenes I can think of in the Daniel Craig era. Compare that to the 1970s and 80s when we were getting AT LEAST one innovative stunt a film and it’s not even close. To quote a line from the theme song to All In The Family, “Those were the days.”
Parkour was HUGE in the UK at the time after the documentary Jump London. Poker, particularly texas hold’em, was also big. It makes me think we should watch trends outside of film to get an idea of what Bond 7’s debut will be.
I would say the fog/forest sequence in NTTD where Bond drops the Landrover on the baddie is where Bond movies need to live. Simple but brutal against a stunning palate/backdrop. Those other franchises don’t really do that like Bond can. Also, Bond doesn’t need to do the kind of action the others do. He’s an MI6 agent, simple, efficient, brutal. Get it done.
Exactly. Bond is his own thing, especially in how he improvises an outcome and appears nonchalant under pressure. Wrapping the cable around the tree and taking down the motorcyclist, then walking unbothered as Logan Ash fires the tracer bullets - before leading the vehicle to the log. Great sequence.