Bond - James Bond

[Hoist]

Yesterday I left my quiet little town for a day-trip to out nation's capital, London. Whilst up there I ended up buying the James Bond Box set - all 22 films up to and including A Quantum Solace! So let's do this Jazz! I see your excited for Skyfall, the new Bond film, and quite right too!

Let's talk Bond films! All Bond films!

I grew up liking them because they were on so often on UK TV, every Easter, bank holiday, almost every national holiday on out third terrestrial channel! It was almost a tradition! I too love the Bond films, even the cheesy ones, but with this new box set I am watching them all with a fresh perspective! This is especially good for films like On her Majesty's Secret Service and Never Say Never Again. Also films I haven't seen since I was a kid.

My favourite all time Bond film is Goldfinger - "She's covered in paint - gold paint..", and my favourite Bond - Connery. (Then Dalton, Craig, Brosnan, Moore, Lazenby.) I always felt the Moore era was a bit too campy, although I still enjoyed the films, especially A View To A Kill ("Jump Mayday! Jump!") and Live And Let Die. I liked the Brosnan era, mostly Goldeneye but was disappointed by The World Is Not Enough. I can't really speculate on Quantum Of Solace until I've seen it again, but loved Casino Royale, I was breath taken by the chase early on (much like free-running) up construction works etc, and felt exhausted just after watching that scene! I am a fan of the new Bond continuing to bring something fresh to the franchise.

So Jazz what's your story of being such a bond fan? How and when did it start? WHat are your favourite films, fave Bond? Thoughts on any of the films?

If anyone else likes the films, free free to contribute!

[Jazzman Crothers]

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LEVEL 10_PROCEED............


James Bond is a bit of a family affair. My Mother got me hooked on the films. She used to read everything, so I think she got hooked on the books first and then of course the movies. My uncle told me that the films at the time were their Star Wars. So the movies were a big deal for my Mom's side of the family. And no girl at that era could resist Sean Connery.

I think the first Bond film I watched was In Her Majesty's Secret Service. I remember my Mom telling me about Bond films as we sat down to watch this one. As a kid my fav memory was the end battle as they storm the mountain.

Then I watched other Bond films. Dr. No and You Only Live Twice were my favourite Connery films and Octpussy and Moonraker were my favourite Moore films. I don't remember having a favourite Bond actor at that time.

I really didn't get in to Bond until the Brosnan era. He became my favourite Bond. The first Brosnan film I watched was Tomorrow Never Dies, then I watched Golden Eye. Loved them. The World is Not Enough started off cool but died some where towards the end. And Die Another Day was cool at first but soon lost its appeal at some point a year or so later.

So when Casino Royale came up and the new Bond, I was first confused at the choice for Daniel Craig. But then I saw him in Munich and I found his character to be quite sinister. So I began to research what James Bond was all about and found that the decisions to use Craig were ground in how Ian Flemming protrayed Bond.

So after watching Casino Royale about 5 times in the theatre, I read the book. Then the rest of the Flemming books. This changed my perspective on the first 20 filmes.

Sean Connery was an excellent Bond. Take away the chessy onel-iners and the gadgets and he's pure Flemming's Bond. The films are only about 10 years about form the time line in the books so you get a pretty good idea of how things would of looked. Connery is just perfect for the role as he's a man's man.

George Lazenby has a special place in my childhood, but he's not right for the part. Mined you out of all the actors that played Bond, he was the only one that had could actually fight a real fight in real life as he was a fight instructor in the army! Lazenby, IMO would of been a better choice then Moore, its too bad Lazenby listened to his agent and didn't sign the 7 film contract for future Bond films, so I've read online.

I enjoyed the Roger Moore films at one point. Now there hard to watch. Moore had to play it funny. Bond wasn't funny. Moore is actually the oldest out of all the actors to play Bond and he was never in good enough shape to make his fights look real. If he had the ability to act as cold as Connery, Dalton of Craig, then maybe I would like him. But like many other fans who have a low opinion of him as Bond, so do I.

Dalton. I used to hate him. As a kid I thought he was to ugly for Bond and boring. It wasn't until a few year ago I watched his films. Now I think he makes an awesome Bond. I don't like movies though. I believe after 7 Moore films, Bond films were tired and exhausted. They should of taken a rest. Plus Dalton's films came out in the 80s, I don't think Bond fits well in the 80s. I don't like Dalton's Bond films but Dalton is good as Bond.

Brosnan. He was the ultimate Bond for me in his era. I thought this was what Bond was all about until I read the books. What takes it away for me is Brosnan had too many gadgets, bad one-liners and he was just too smooth. He's playboy smooth ya know? His fights I couldn't believe cause he was just too skinny to really knock out 3-5 guys in a fight. However, his hand to hand with 006 in Golden Eye was awesome. Golden Eye and Tomorrow Never Dies will still be awesome Bond movies for me.

Craig. Craig is perfect. I do find him a little too dark sometimes but Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace are films were Bond is becoming Bond. Whats funny is that Craig actually looks like Bond on the books. Except for the hair of course. But if you look up Flemming's description of Bond, Flemming compares him to an actor named Hoagy Carmichael. Craig and Carmichael both have a bold nose and ears. Bond is described as having a cruel looking mouth and stone cold eyes, like Craig. So give Craig the proper dark hair with the curl hanging down over his forehead and two more inches to his height (Flemming's Bond is exactly 6 feet tall) and you have James Bond in the flesh.

Ok, so thats my opinion of James Bond and some history. I'll comment on some other things later as I've already written enough for now!

[Hoist]

You've gotta wander how the Dalton films would've faired if they had come out during the mid-90's IE Brosnan era. I like the films personally although License To Kill is much better than The Living daylights. I thought Dalton was a more real grittier Bond for me.

What takes it away for me is Brosnan had too many gadgets, bad one-liners and he was just too smooth

Agree about Brosnan, it was to me like, a much smoother Moore, without the cheese. By the Moore - Brosnan era it had become very gadget laden, and perhaps fallen in too much of a "formula" _IE Bond saves the world, girls gadgets cars, explosions. Of his films [Brosnan] Goldeneye was my favoutire with Natalya nd Ms Onatopp and Sean Bean made a good bad guy, I loved that last fight as well.

I hear Skyfall will be it's own story, will be interesting to see what direction they go with this Bond with reguards to past clichés and formulmatic style.

[Jazzman Crothers]

I agree, Brosnan was really just a better Moore but without the funny.

Now that I think of it, a lot of these actors suffer the movies they're placed in. Connery might be considered the best but Daimonds are Forever is a bad Bond film IMO. If Dalton had been allowed to do a few more films that were different then what came with the Moore era or had he stayed on to do a film that was like Golden Eye, then Dalton might have been remembered as being a very good Bond.

I hope Craig does two more Bond films after Skyfall. 5 seems to be the magic number for Bond films. Now Skyfall sounds interesting. New story and the reintroducing of an old character, Moneypenny! Or at least we are to think so. So far actress Naomie Harris is confirmed as playing an agent named Eve. But some seem to think she's playing Moneypenny. The film makers aren't saying that she isn't Moneypenny.

And Ralph Fiennes is in the film. A lot of people think he's going to play Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Properly because he was Lord Voldemort and makes an awesome villain. But I think this is just too obvious, I think he's going to replace Judi Dench as M. The reason why I think so is for three reasons; one is Judi's was contacted to play M in 7 Bond films and this would be her last one and I haven't heard that she has signed on for anymore Bond films. Second is Ralph would be a good replacement. You need some who comes off strong to take on the role of M, replace Judi and someone who looks like they can boss Craig's Bond around. Not many actors can pull that off. And 3rd, to cast Javier Bardem as the villain and then have Bond's arch nemesis in the film as well could cast a shadow on Javier Bardem's character. I wouldn't be surprised if more fans were interested in Blofeld's return then a new Bond villain.

I wonder if we'll get Q soon too?

And speaking of Q, Hoist whats your favourite Q gadget of all time?

[Hoist]

I'll have to get back to you on the favourite gadget. So we have a new arms-master a young Q, any thoughts on the choice.

I've got up to Spy Who Loved Me now, and the Moore season. I tried but still couldn't get into OHMSS I'm afraid. It wasn't Lazenby at fault however. Watching it as an adult and having probably in it's entirety for the first time, I realised how the production, the writing and what went into it made it hard to bear. (For me.) As a friend of mine said it dates because of the time it was filmed in and so suffers tacky music, awful sets, and definetly not helped by not only breaking the forth wall ("This never happened to the other chap"), but to me, trying to keep breaking it. Like reading a playboy whilst waiting for something, down to what probably is a very small and petty complaint, and that's kissing Moneypenny smack on the lips. It just seemed like it was trying to break all the rules, and I couldn't stick with it.

Enjoyed Live And Let Die but really loved The Man With The Golden Gun much more! As well as the uber Christopher lee, i really love little Nick Nack! (I want to keep saying Monsieur!). Looking forward to Octopussy as I only have a very, very vague recollection of that one.

[Jazzman Crothers]

Dec 19, 2011 15:02:28 GMT -5 Hoist said:

I'll have to get back to you on the favourite gadget. So we have a new arms-master a young Q, any thoughts on the choice.

All I can say is that he looks smart. I wonder what route they'll take with him. I assumed Q would be more of a weapons masters like in the books rather then a gadget maker. Could be wrong. It would be interesting to see if this movie actually got a hold of some new technology that hasn't come out just yet and made use of it.

[Jazzman Crothers]

And just something I whipped up for fun for the 007 forums I visit.

[Hoist]

I love it! It's very professional if you don't mind me saying!

I have since been through the Dalton films and enjoyed them both. prefer, LTK but suprisingly liked TLD alot more than I thought I would. I'll go out on a limb and think it's criminal they didn't do more films with him. Bond got serious again and any humour was subtley delivered by Dalton. Still wierd seeing a different Monneypenny.

On the same day I went through almost all the Brosnan films except the last obe, DAD. Still retain that Goldeneye was the best, none of the others stood up to it. Enjoyed Tomorrow Never Dies though, but still find The World Is Not Enough dire, boring and dull. Still love Goldeneye though, Sean Bean, the charaismatic General Ouramov and crazy psycho ***** Onatopp!

For England James!

[Jazzman Crothers]

And here's the first look at Skyfall!



Man it's looking like a sick James Bond movie!!

And the current movie poster > insidemovies.ew.com/2012/05/17/skyfall-poster-photo/

[Hoist]

My God... That trailer's got epic written all over it! Nice to see the gun-barrel back as well in the poster.

[Jazzman Crothers]

"Planet."


“Cybertron.”


"Gun."


“Shot.”


"Renegade."


“Provocateur.”


"Murder."


“Employment.”


"Skyfall."


"..."


"Skyfall?"


"Umm, crappy G1 Action Master toy?"

[Hoist]

Today has been dubbed "Global James Bond day" as it's exactly 50 years since the release of Dr No, according to the news anyway.

I'll have an Electricised whiskeygon|! Shaken not stirred!

[Hoist]

Hey Jazz, what do you think of the new Bond theme by Adele?

Until just now I had only heard it once on the radion, and goddamn if it hasn't gotten in my head!

"Skyfall, when we crumble, we will stand tall and face it all... together, at skyfall."

I really really think I'm starting to love it already in just two hearings. Falling badly for it already.

[Jazzman Crothers]

At first I wasn't sure. When it started I immediately heard the old Bond style of opening music in it and thought to myself that they were going back to the old style. So I didn't think much of it at the moment. But after listening to it, I felt it was a good song. After hearing it a second time, I fell in love.

[Jazzman Crothers]

Hey Hoist! Did you see it yet?

I know it came out there before it does here. Tell me what you think!!

Right now I'm looking forward to it, will properly see it this weekend either Saturday or Sunday. And then once I watch it I'll be able to buy the new Legends game!