The industry has never been less secure, despite streaming demanding production. But it is just generating content, too much, too uninteresting, too quick to forget. Production entities cut back, costs rise, people are getting fired, stars are a thing of the past because the long build up with blockbuster films does not happen anymore. Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell might attract attention now, but look at the status of Jennifer Lawrence, the biggest new star of the previous decade - she has to appear in subpar trash.
And letās face it: Bond films are for most people forgettable anyway, just one of these things that comes along. To make one which stands out now is impossible because the competition is too big. Heck, even the āTom Cruise does his own crazy stuntsā-element only lasted for a few years as an enticement of the M:I films.
I predict that Bond will only be a niche project in the future, something for a a hardcore fan segment of the mass audience. The younger ones will not be that interested, and when they get older they will forget about it.
Maybe in two or three decades someone will resurrect its ideas, like Lucas did with the space operas.
I was thinking about this yesterday. Itās been a while since Iāve been excited to go to the movies. Of my few trips to the cinema this year, the only thing I watched that made a real impression was Dune 2, and a big part of that was the IMAX experience (I havenāt watched it since). Iāll likely be going to see Gladiator when that comes out, and I have high hopes for The Brutalist and the next MI, but beyond that I canāt think of anything thatās really grabbing my attention. Iāve been wondering if Iām just becoming less interested in movies, but I donāt think thatās the case. As you said, thereās a magic thatās missing at the moment. I love this stuff (like we all do here, I imagine) and Iām rooting for things to get better. Iām actually okay with Bond taking a breather given the current climate. Still, I share everyoneās concern. Iām lucky thereās a theater about an hour away that occasionally shows 70mm films. Iāve seen Lawrence of Arabia and Inception projected there, and those experiences reinforced my love for the medium. Fingers crossed things turn around.
In a way the prediction Spielberg and Lucas made a couple of years ago will/ has come true: a few blockbuster flops and cinema will become only a place for major attractions (Imax, surprise hits, classics) but the previous age of cinema offering continually movies which reach audiences in high enough numbers is probably over.
Especially films which are aiming for the adult audience over 40, those typical award fodder films of yesteryear, flop. Imagine a āLawrence of Arabiaā today (no chance of being greenlit or produced without CGI anyway, nor with actors āthat oldā). People would not watch it at the cinema, only wait for streaming maybe.
And I am one of them. The cinema experience itself has become so disappointing and charmless in multiplexes, I only miss the big screenā¦ and an audience which loves the movie instead of being distracted by their phones.
I wonāt say that Jennifer Lawrence is as popular as she once was. Ten years ago, she was Americaās sweetheart. Now as more about her personality has come out, people are getting sick of her. Sheās mean, was a muse to both Harvey Weinstein and David OāRussell (two truly hated people in more ways than one). Now, she is telling people how to vote, and she doesnāt even have half of a high school education. She left school simply because she was bored. After hearing about her going door to door telling people how to vote, I thought my opinions of Jennifer Lawrence couldnāt sink lower. Even if I have similar political viewpoints. Sheās just telling people to vote for Kamala Harris because sheās a woman. That and the Hollywood liberals told her too. She has clearly slept with men who are no different than Trump, just for her advantage.The material that she got was considered good, not really herself. And donāt give me the Oscars excuse. Harvey Weinstein and David OāRussell arguably rigged it for her. She is a lot of what is wrong with certain ābig starā names that people would assume. After Weinstein got busted people felt that she wasnāt that great. I never got her hype. The way she brags about herself as a reliable, funny girl-next-door is her biggest lie. Just ask fans who have met her. Sheāll blow them off. Even Adam Sandler told her to lighten up. Rubbing her butt on scared rocks and laughing about it should have gotten her cancelled, even from an atheistsā standpoint. Not many people generally want her butt around anymore. Next to Mitch McConnell, she is Kentuckyās biggest mistake. To quote David Spade about Eddie Murphy on SNL: āLook kids, a falling star. Make a wish.ā Sums Jennifer Lawrence right now. Give me Emma Stone or Saorise Ronan any day of the week over the bully that is J-Law. It seems that the Hollywood LAW is laying down on her. Just like Harvey Weinstein did with her.
Cinema will turn around, @Matt_13 everything goes through hard times. Hollywood needs to take lessons in a different way. I would love to see more experimental (technically at least), get their chance to shine. I believe we will see that again. As for long movies, @secretagentfan youāre right. But I have a bit of hope. Certain movies that are 2 and a half hours can draw people in. Oppenheimer and Dune Part 2 are arguably proof of this recently. They just have to take a risk and as the late Roger Ebert said: āNo bad movie is short enough and no good movie is long enough.ā Itās all a creative risk from the story suppliers and their customers.
As for James Bond, Iām not worried at all. Bond has joined the ranks of Sherlock Holmes, Batman, Superman and even something far out as Pokemon, as there will always be fans. So while his Books, Movies and Videogames will always take breaks, Bond will always return. When is the only question.
Iāve thought about that a lot in recent years. I donāt play video games anywhere near to the extent I used to, either. I think being older does have something to do with it, but I donāt think the content is up to par either. If something captured my imagination Iām sure Iād be all over it.
There is so much wrong about your post, but I will only address your comment on my supposed view on ālong moviesā.
I adore āLawrence of Arabiaā and I donāt care if it is long. My point was totally different: this kind of quality filmmaking, apart from having no chance of being greenlit today, would not draw the adult audience in because the cinema experience has changed.
As for ālong moviesā in general: most blockbusters these days have a bloated running time and could easily benefit from editorial choices.
Oh, and donāt believe what some āentertainment outletsā publish to rile people up. As for Lawrence actively participating in supporting the only democratic choice: letās be grateful for that.
NTTD starring Ana de Armas would have been the only way to salvage the only kernel of a decent idea in that film.
Outside of that standout sequence, the whole family and mortality bit was the only point that NTTD had to make. Even now, 3 full years later, itās still frustrating that this is how they closed out a run that began so promisingly with CR and that it was the last Bond film I got to see with my dad. That so much money and time went into that is simply astounding. The last decade-plus of Bond filmmaking leaves me with little faith that the upcoming(?) reboot will be any better.
Doubtful. Spectre was not all that different to No Time to Die, it just wasnāt as vibrant looking since Mendes accidentally dropped the film in a vat of mustard before delivering it to MGM.
And a lot of that nonsense began in Skyfall. Itās just not egregious as the last two films since it is actually a well made film that is also based on solid source material (i.e. The Dark Knight). But since the last three films made them incredible money and Skyfall brought them to the precipice of the accolades that they so desperately crave, weāll see more of the same coming up with the next batch of films.
Just as TND gave Bond a new handgun with the Walther P99, I think giving a new Bond another weapon would be a small but significant move to freshen things up. The same applies with vehicles. Even if theyāre not willing to depart from Aston Martin Iām up for a colour other than silver. Some clear differences from what came before, while retaining the general spirit, is what Iād be wanting next time around.
Get rid of the Aston, find another car thatās fitting. That DB5 has turned from a nice but inconsequential reference - TOMORROW NEVER DIES, CASINO ROYALE - into a malignant ulcer overgrowing everything with āiconographyā and āheritageā.
Itās a dead horse and we shouldnāt weigh down the next Bond with that ballast. The PPK is probably in the same category - a design close to a hundred years old soon - but hasnāt become such an overbearing presence the way that car has. Itās justified to change it to whatever is the doctrine of the day in such matters. Most people will neither notice nor care about the details of the shooting iron as long as it looks the way it should.
If Bond is to be truly of the present then nothing communicates that better than using present day equipment. Back in Flemingās day he was writing contemporary material and that should be remembered. In Dr. No we have Q saying the Beretta has had its day and itās time to move on. In Goldfinger Bond wants a Bentley but heās getting an Aston instead. The same mindset can apply now, 60 odd years later. Thereās more variety for the audience and eras can be more clearly defined.
