I don’t see the issue in translating unused or underexplored traits from the novels, when certain villains have already been used cinematically. For all intents and purposes the overall package is new to the film universe (such as merging Dr No and Blofeld) while still giving the new villain a sense of authenticity in the material, and room to branch out.
3 Likes
On the first point, I would say that the percentage of filmgoers that would pick that up is likely less than one percent. While I have read Dr. No (probably 20-30 years ago) and have seen the film many. many times I did not even catch on to it. Perhaps I am a little slow there as others got it right away. If anything it became a nod an wink to the hardcore fans. I know you don’t like those but others do.
We can all have different views on the characters. I liked Safin a lot. I doubt he will go down as a great villain in Bond history (but perceptions change over time) but he is far from the bottom this IMHO.
All the best.
5 Likes
3 Likes
CR was very much a Bond Film and had no Q or Moneypenny. I’m fine giving these characters a rest for a while, along with Blofeld and the DB5.
2 Likes
IMO there’s never anything wrong with a 3-minute scene with Q.
3 Likes
The DB5, as far as I’m concerned, should be permanently retired. I don’t understand why it appeared in twice as many Craig films as Connery ones.
2 Likes
Very much agreed. This was the example that I put up a few weeks ago that a classic Bond film could be made without many of the periphery characters. But the universal consensus was that it wasn’t BOND without them, that it was okay to have a one-off, but that in order to truly be a “BOND FILM”, it had to retain the periphery characters.
CASINO ROYALE proves that you can have classic Bond while still trimming a lot of the fat off of the so-called formula. As far as I’m concerned, the only requirement to have a BOND film is Bond himself. Everything else takes a backseat to that.
2 Likes
Agreed. As long as it’s not a backseat in that sodding DB5, yet again.
4 Likes
I saw Branagh’s Death On The Nile this last weekend. I still think Tom Bateman might be a decent contender for Bond # 7 (even though his character in the Poirot films is a bit of a doughy goofball, he’s got the tall dark and charismatic look that has potential). Even more so, the French actress Emma Mackey would make a great femme fatal for Bond. (sorry I don’t have pictures of either).
2 Likes
“It’s going to take some time. It’s a big decision. It’s not just casting a role. It’s about a whole rethink about where we’re going.”
3 Likes
“He has an amazing range and he can do anything,” Broccoli said of Craig. “He’s just the greatest actor ever.“
Now, now. He‘s not coming back for more Bond films, so let’s stop the hyperbole, shall we?
As for „taking a long time“: I hope that was just a way to avoid further questions.
5 Likes
It’s almost like she was there to promote the theatre production she produced that Craig is lead in…
Broccoli told Variety at the Longacre Theatre on Thursday at the opening night of “Macbeth” on Broadway, which she is producing and in which Craig is also starring.
4 Likes
Another chance for saying nothing about the future - or maybe they will drop a hint?
4 Likes
That seems many Deathmatches away.
2 Likes
"We’re reinventing who he is and that takes time. "
Does it, though? You just got done reinventing him, and you made it up as you went along, just declaring retroactively that it was all planned. That made you a couple billion bucks, so how badly do you really need a game plan, after all?
5 Likes
It was nicer than what she was thinking
“I’ll tell you when I ******* tell you!!”
2 Likes
Lest my snark be misinterpreted, I’m not bitter at the prospect of a long wait. In fact, I consider NTTD a good stopping point and wouldn’t mind if they just folded camp entirely.
Realists are such killjoys.
True. They do not need one, but every producer with aspirations now must claim that they have one, so as to be taken as a serious producer. I prefer a more serendipitous path for art:
-
Spielberg had a setback with one film, found himself free, signed on to make THE POST–one of his best films (done sans storyboards, and all the better for it).
-
Do I need to list the actors proposed and then discarded for CASABLANCA?
-
Claudette Colbert broke her back on the last day of filming for THREE CAME HOME. ALL ABOUT EVE needed to start shooting. Darryl Zanuck called Bette Davis, who thought it was a prank, since the two did not get along. The night before shooting Davis had a shouting match with her then husband William Sherry on her front lawn, and burst a blood vessel in her throat. Two days later, on location at the Curran Theater in San Francisco, she apologized to Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who said it was fine, but she would need to use that voice for the entire film. A legendary screen performance resulted.
4 Likes
There’s also Jaws, where not being able to rely on the mechanical shark led to more creative approaches for instilling dread and horror, and gave us a better film. Or Raiders, where Harrison Ford’s illness scotched a planned swordfight and gave us an improvised moment that became one of the best parts of the movie.
In terms of casting, even Flynn was a fill-in as Robin Hood when Jimmy Cagney (!!!) ran afoul of Jack Warner.
When it comes to filmmaking, I agree with Max Zorin: the secret of genius is often intuitive improvisation.
4 Likes