JAMES BOND ONLY LIVES TWENTY-THRICE

[daisho2004]

While I love James Bond films I felt the last movie was just an Action movie with the Character just being named James Bond it lacked the music theme and Q. Things we grew up with!

MGM and EON Productions have hired three writers to work on the 23rd entry in the James Bond franchise. The film (as yet unnamed) will be the third movie featuring Daniel Craig as the legendary British spy. Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) will be working with the team of Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who also co wrote the two previous Daniel Craig Bond films, as well as Die Another Day, The World is Not Enough and the spy spoof Johnny English. There are no details on the plot yet, but there is a rumor about the villain, although the source is a British tabloid (which makes it highly questionable). According to The Daily Express, Michael Sheen, who starred Frost/Nixon and The Queen, is being considered as one of 007's most classic villains, Ernst Blofeld (the head of the evil SPECTRE organization). Blofeld appeared in six classic James Bond films, and was portrayed by four different actors. Blofeld is also famous for being the obvious inspiration for Mike Myers' Dr. Evil character in the Austin Powers franchise (in particular, Donald Pleasance's performance in 1967's You Only Live Twice). On the other hand, the Blofeld rumor could be completely untrue, and the Sheen rumor just based on Peter Morgan's involvement. MGM is hoping to have the script written and the movie produced in time for a 2011 release.

[bamboo spear]

I love that Blofeld is returning, really makes the Quantum seem like an updated and less goofy SPECTER-type organization. I miss the theme, but I don't really miss Q or rocketpacks or laser wristwatches or submarine cars. Maybe it's just the post-Bourne world now, but I like the grittier bond. The parkour and fighting was great, much better than anything from the other films. I grew up with Roger Moore's films, and Timothy Dalton was my favorite despite his brief Bond tenure, but the series just about lost me for good with Pierce - hated him for some reason. I hope Craig sticks around for a while.

[Guest Markgway]

For me QUANTUM OF SOLACE was exactly the Bond I wanted to see: A tough, gritty and serious-minded thriller.

I was a series fan in spite of the gadgets, the bimbos, the puns, stock characters, the silly megalomaniacs who want to create a super-race of Ayrians in outer space or whatever... not because of them.

Finally Bond is an agent and an assassin who does his job without fucking everything in a skirt and smirking his way through cheesy innuendos and dumbed-down dialogue.

Even Bond's bedding of Gemma Arterton served a character purpose.

What really pissed me off about the critics bitching about QOS is not that they disagreed with me - it's their opinion: they're wrong but they're entitled to it - but that it might spur the producers in backing away from what they've achieved with the last two movies and reintroduce the tired formulas aforementioned (a retrograde step if there ever was one). Unlike most I happened to think DIE ANOTHER DAY was a a lot of fun... but do I want that instead of another QOS? Certainly not.

Be careful what you wish for.

[daisho2004]

Timothy Dalton was my favorite despite his brief Bond tenure

bamboo spear: I hated Timothy Dalton as Bond I thought he was the worst one yet! I liked Pierce Brosnan I thought he was Great! And I'm 41 so I've seen and grew up watching all the Bond movies. Now I do like Daniel Craig and I agree you might want to get away from certain gadgets but that is what made Bond, Bond! I like the newer Grittier no holds bar Bond. I just thing it needs the Music to really make it a True Bond Movie and why not add Q into the mix maybe not as Cheesy as he was but he was great and I loved John Cleese as the new Q! But you need the Theme Music that makes it a true Bond movie!

[HyperDrive]

I agree with Daisho, Bond is just another action movie nowadays. All the telltale charm and quirkiness that was there went away. Brosnan's last couple efforts or so may have been the beginning of that.

[massa_yoda]

For me QUANTUM OF SOLACE was exactly the Bond I wanted to see: A tough, gritty and serious-minded thriller.

Thank you. I'm sick of all the QoS haters. I thought i was the only one that liked it on this forum.

and Timothy Dalton was my favorite despite his brief Bond tenure

Daniel Cragg's Bond is closer in feel to Timothy Dalton's. I wasn't too crazy about him at the time, but going back i do really enjoy his films.

[froffeecoffee]

I really liked Quantum of Solace, but am in agreement with traditionalists that the Bond trademarks need to be brought back. Leave out the silliness though.

In an interview, even Daniel Craig feels that they've established his Bond enough to now bring back the humor and gadgets. It can be done, just look at From Russia with Love. The Bond gadgets were there, but they served a purpose and kept to a minimum and didn't overshadow the story. Even Casino Royale used the gadgets like they should, the medical kit in the Aston Martin.

Daniel Craig is exactly what this franchise needed and I hope they continue to go in this direction.

[daisho2004]

froffeecoffee: You see you guys are looking at this from the wrong point of view! Ask yourself what made James Bond movies so great in the 1st. place it was all the Gadgets and the futuristic stuff and the Womanizing that he famous for everyone wanted to be like Bond, James Bond! I do like the New Bond I just miss certain ingredients that truly makes it a Bond movie! With those ingredients left out its just another Action movie that's all nothing more nothing less! How do you Guys think James Bond lasted so long and has been one of the longest running franchise's in Hollywood History!

[Guest Markgway]

You see you guys are looking at this from the wrong point of view! Ask yourself what made James Bond movies so great in the 1st. place it was all the Gadgets and the futuristic stuff and the Womanizing that he famous for

Not for me.

[OldPangYau]

While, QOS wasn't as good as CR, I felt it was a good continuation of the story. Basically, it was Casino Royale 2: Quantum of Solace. And while it was more of an action film than the espionage-thriller of the previous film, it set up how Bond was not able to detach himself emotionally like he thought he could, and how it nearly jeopardized everything. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Craig's third outing as Bond will at least be better than QOS (a 7/10 film, in my opinion) but I won't lift my hopes up to be as good as CR.

[bolofan]

I see where everybody is coming from when they say they want a grittier Bond but if they make it too realistic, then what will seperate a Bond film from any other "exciting hollywood thriller?"

I loved Casino Royale and I can honestly say that felt like an excellent "bond" film, with QoS, sadly, I'm going to have to join this haters and say I thought it sucked. Big time.

I think the formula for these films obviously needs updating, but doesn't need changing, if that makes sense.

Bond needs to be an invincible, cock slappy, trigger happy, wiseguy.

[Guest Markgway]

Roger Moore played Bond tongue-in-cheek because he felt the character was ridiculous. Sounds like some of you guys agree and would like to go back to those dark days of the franchise in the 70s. Apart from The Bourne Series (and I prefer Bond for sure) is there another series of realistic, gritty spy thrillers? But there are plenty of movies with smart arses, sexual innuendos, and gadgets. Most in fact. We need another Quantum of Solace more than we need a return The Man with the Golden Gun.

[wuxiawuxia]

On the contrary, I like the old style Bond more, the days of Sean Connery and when Roger Moore was at his best, to me thats - Octopussy, A View to Kill, and For Your Eyes Only. I disliked Timothy Dalton although I was a big fan of Maryam D'Abo and Talisa Sotto at the time Pierce Brosnan was ok, but as most people have said, the Bond franchise under his name went to an outrageous direction with the cartonish gadgets.

I like Daniel Craig but James Bond is no bully, James Bond needs a balance between his suaveness to a borderline feninime but still have the roughness of a macho man. Daniel, unfortunately to me, is leaning toward the later (So far).

[TibetanWhiteCrane]

I think it's a good direction they are taking with the new ones! They just have to find their own style, and stop dangling from Bourne's dick!

[dionbrother]

The problem with QOS was the poorly shot and edited action, plus the plot was the usual rehash in the GOLDFINGER mode (which they claimed they were getting away from). Lousy villains and heavy reliance on formula, everything CASINO ROYALE wasn't.

[Guest Markgway]

Lol... the plot of QOS was nothing like Goldfinger(!)

[dionbrother]

Mastermind pulling off big scheme, big henchman, girl murdered after she sleeps with Bond and dipped in oil(instead of gold), the "bigger is better" idea of 007 storytelling...it's the same mode. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, CASINO ROYALE, ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY and even the likes of THUNDERBALL and DR. NO are a completely different style than the GOLDFINGER/MOONRAKER/YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE/SPY WHO LOVED ME type. I forgot, was there a scene where the main villain killed a cohort? I'll never watch it again, so remind me.

[DAJIZZARIZZA]

While, QOS wasn't as good as CR, I felt it was a good continuation of the story. Basically, it was Casino Royale 2: Quantum of Solace. And while it was more of an action film than the espionage-thriller of the previous film, it set up how Bond was not able to detach himself emotionally like he thought he could, and how it nearly jeopardized everything. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Craig's third outing as Bond will at least be better than QOS (a 7/10 film, in my opinion) but I won't lift my hopes up to be as good as CR.

as they say on the Simpsons,... WAAAAAAA ?

Both those movies were kick ass 10/10 ok,.. maybe 9.5/10,.. missing the gadgets,.. but let's get real for a second,.. when did Bond ever do a continuation from previous film ? ,.. that was pretty risky,.. yet it worked for me,... now we all have to admit,.. we did not know which direction the bond films were going after Pierce left,.. hell,. i did not even want to watch the films following Pierce's leaving.

this guy looks like a freak'n boxer,.. he's a UGLY bond,. so ,.. ok ,.. he does not get all the chicks,.. it looked unreal that chicks wanted him,.. it looked forced,.. for the sake of Bond having to be a chick magnet,.. they can stop focusing on that part as far as i am concerned.

Bourne has to be a huge impact on the New Bond ,,.. that's good at least for these last 2 films,.. now bring others in this,.. add more menacing foes,.. maybe 2-3 at a time,.. i like to see him work his way through crap,.. getting the feeling you realy do not know how Bond will get out of this one, type plots.

damn,.. and let the guy get some rest and sex at the end for heaven sake,... at the end do as all the rest of bond flixs,. and show him rewarding himself at the end of a hard mission.

Women are not digging this guy too much,.. we fellas are liking him,.. but he is not handsome,.. romantic,..or gentleman enough to win over the Women audiance. so they better do something,.. because these films should be raking in the dow from all directions.

and lastly,.. yes i agree with the intellegent being ,.. who mentioned THE MUSIC,... give me some damn Scores made for this film that can also go platnum when released as a single.

the openings may be by some well knowns, and the opening musics are great,.. but you need some glue in the mix as well,.. but maybe it's too expensive ? well get up and coming artist for less ,.. but get a hit out of them.

that's it from me on this,.. Bond is great,.. just needs to be more Bond to a degree and bring back the "shaken not stirred" line !!!! it's a classic !!!!

any drink ,.. JUST SHAKE THE DAMN DRINK !!! ,..lol

[Guest Markgway]

Mastermind pulling off big scheme, big henchman, girl murdered after she sleeps with Bond and dipped in oil(instead of gold), the "bigger is better" idea of 007 storytelling...it's the same mode. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, CASINO ROYALE, ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY and even the likes of THUNDERBALL and DR. NO are a completely different style than the GOLDFINGER/MOONRAKER/YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE/SPY WHO LOVED ME type. I forgot, was there a scene where the main villain killed a cohort? I'll never watch it again, so remind me.

There wasn't any mastermind in the film. Greene was a representative of Quantum - an organization made up of influential people intent on controlling the world's power and money. In this case the precious resource of water in Bolivia. Not exactly frickin' sharks with frickin' laser beams is it? There wasn't any big henchman either. There was Greene's skinny, wig-wearing bodyguard, but he wasn't anything like Oddjob or Jaws. In fact the joke is he gets tripped up by Agent Fields and never has a shot at Bond. Yes, the girl dipped in oil is a nod to Goldfinger - but that's all it was - a nod (for fans). I think you maybe need to watch the film again to answer your question since you clearly didn't understand it the first time.

[daisho2004]

and lastly,.. yes i agree with the intelligent being ,.. who mentioned THE MUSIC,... give me some damn Scores made for this film that can also go platinum when released as a single.

DAJIZZARIZZA: Just for the record I was the one who mentioned that these New Bond Movies were missing the Original Score that made them Bond Movies, at least bring the theme Songs back during the movie chases etc!

James Bond 007 Movie Theme Music - Official

[dionbrother]

I understood it, it just bored the hell out of me and was generally unmemorable. No way am I sitting through those headache-inducing, shaky cam, ADD-edited action scenes. Within days of its release, the director declared he wasn't doing anymore Bond movies. Thank god. Bring back Martin Campbell, Tsui Hark or get one of Luc Besson's guys. Better off rewatching OSS117:CAIRO, A NEST OF SPIES. Or rereading Fleming's original books. QOS is banished to the one-time viewing junkpile with the Brosnan Bonds and A VIEW TO A KILL.

Quantum, ooh, I am so scared...gimme a break. Bring back SPECTRE, Sony cheapskates!!!

[vengeanceofhumanlanterns]

You need the classic Bond theme, reworked, fine, but it has to accompany the action scenes at least a few times throughout the film. Secondly, Sean Connery was the best bond in my opinion. Still have'nt seen QOS and I have to admit it's because the classic Bond theme music is'nt in it. Saw the last one and at the very end it started seeming like a Bond flick. Hopefully they smarten up with this third installment.

[Guest Markgway]

I understood it, it just bored the hell out of me and was generally unmemorable.

It seemed to me you were describing a different film since none of your previous criticisms applied, but if you thought it was boring (!) and unmemorable that's of course your perogative.

No way am I sitting through those headache-inducing, shaky cam, ADD-edited action scenes.

Not my number one style choice I admit. But they still worked for me. I found them easier to take than the similar ones in The Bourne Sequels (by the same second unit director) which gave me a bit of a headache. I would like to see them go back to a less frenetic style of action.

Within days of its release, the director declared he wasn't doing anymore Bond movies.

I think Marc Forster was given too hard a time.

Bring back Martin Campbell, Tsui Hark or get one of Luc Besson's guys.

Tsui Hark hasn't made a truly good film in 15 years so I'd rather he didn't take over Bond. Campbell seems to have the ideal touch. The director of District 13 and Taken (I presume that's who you mean) would also be a fine choice.

QOS is banished to the one-time viewing junkpile with the Brosnan Bonds and A VIEW TO A KILL.

Lol... I enjoyed the Brosnan films a lot more than the Moore ones. Even Die Another Day which took the comic strip action and humour as far as it could go. View is alright... it's just that Moore was too old to do the required heroics (and the fights - all done by ageing stuntmen - are rank).

Quantum, ooh, I am so scared...gimme a break. Bring back SPECTRE, Sony cheapskates!!!

There are rumours of Blofeld returning... perhaps he'll be the head of Quantum? I don't think the name makes a difference.

[dionbrother]

Marc Foster was given a hard time because he did a lousy job. He was a strange choice, as his forte was not action. The story was dull...who gives a rat's ass about Bolivia? Typical leftist dribble masquerading as a spy movie.

TIME AND TIDE blew away the last two decades of 007, and ACES GO PLACES 3:OUR MAN FROM BOND STREET and DOUBLE TEAM show more imagination as 007 spoof and pastiches than the last 30 years of Bond. I think Hark always wanted to make a Bond movie, and has been on a short list of directors for the last few years considered for the series. Get him away from his cocaine and have him stick to the script, and Hark could make a great Bond movie.

If they use Blofeld, they can use SPECTRE, per the clearing of the McClory lawsuit.

I remember when people preferred Moore as Bond over Connery. After Connery's comeback in THE UNTOUCHABLES, everybody suddenly hated Moore, and he did stay in the series two movies too much. OCTOPUSSY outgrossed NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN! I now watch the Moore movies as time capsules of the era. The Connery films have aged better, particularly the Terence Young movies. The Dalton movies were a relief after too much camp from Moore's tenure, but haven't aged well. Never bought into Pierce as 007, he was better in THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR. The weak, derivative scripts didn't help him either.

If Lewis Collins replaced Moore in OCTOPUSSY, I think VIEW would have been a stronger film...but that script and Tanya Roberts...ugh.

To each his own...

[Guest Markgway]

Marc Foster was given a hard time because he did a lousy job. He was a strange choice, as his forte was not action.

The first unit directors are rarely responsible for the action sequences (except when the actors are involved). If you hated the action 2nd Unit dir Dan Bradley must share the blame. It was he who brought over the style from the Bourne movies.

The story was dull...who gives a rat's ass about Bolivia?

Bolivians! Seriously... why not Bolivia?

Typical leftist dribble masquerading as a spy movie.

Yeah, there is a leftist agenda I admit, but the plot is relevant in today's climate when people all over the world are dying for natural resources. Nothing wrong with making a political point. I'd rather that than us have yet another megalomaniac out to steal the world's gold - or diamonds - or something.

TIME AND TIDE blew away the last two decades of 007, and ACES GO PLACES 3:OUR MAN FROM BOND STREET and DOUBLE TEAM show more imagination as 007 spoof and pastiches than the last 30 years of Bond.

Now you're joking, surely? Time and Tide was mindless piffle; Aces Go Places 3 was hackwork; and Double Team isn't even one of Van Damme's better movies (though I thought it was moderately entertaining).

I think Hark always wanted to make a Bond movie, and has been on a short list of directors for the last few years considered for the series.

Of HK directors I think Ringo Lam would be a better choice, although he too has passed his best.

Get him away from his cocaine and have him stick to the script, and Hark could make a great Bond movie.

Didn't know Tsui was a junkie?

If they use Blofeld, they can use SPECTRE, per the clearing of the McClory lawsuit.

It's all Ian Fleming's fault!!

I remember when people preferred Moore as Bond over Connery. After Connery's comeback in THE UNTOUCHABLES, everybody suddenly hated Moore, and he did stay in the series two movies too much. OCTOPUSSY outgrossed NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN!

I prefer Connery to Moore, he has that edge. Sure, I like Moore a lot. He's charm and sophistication personified and captures some elements of Bond's personality well. But he's not an action man. That said, Octopussy is a far better Bond movie than the frankly piss poor Never Say Never Again. Moore probably should have retired after Moonraker (aged 52) - you can see him age between that film and For Your Eyes Only. That doesn't prevent the subsequent Moore films from being enjoyable however. The Untouchables came out in 1987 by which time Timothy Dalton was in the role.

The Connery films have aged better, particularly the Terence Young movies.

Finally we agree on something. The first four Connery films are top notch; You Only Live Twice is OK; and Diamonds are Forever is pants.

The Dalton movies were a relief after too much camp from Moore's tenure, but haven't aged well.

Disgaree. I still really like the Dalton films and his performances in them. Serious, intelligent and edgy.

Never bought into Pierce as 007, he was better in THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR. The weak, derivative scripts didn't help him either.

Again, I liked Brosnan for what he brought to the role. He had his own charisma and that was fine with me. The films weren't always brilliant, but I liked them all. Tomorrow Never Dies was probably the least because it had the poorest script. I didn't like Die Another Day when I saw it at the cinema, but thought it was good fun on DVD when my expectations were lowered.

If Lewis Collins replaced Moore in OCTOPUSSY, I think VIEW would have been a stronger film...but that script and Tanya Roberts...ugh.

Tanya - The Blonde Bimbo. She was pretty terrible wasn't she? lol