The Movie Reel

[Kieran]

My favorite all-time Bond film is by far GoldFinger but I enjoyed To Die Another Day more. There's is nothing better than seeing Halle berry's body in that entire movie especially coming out of the water in the orange bathing suit..Lord Have Mercy.

Oh yeah! I have a huge crush on Halle. The Brosnan Bonds were a mixed bag. Golden Eye was very good, with a classic Bond tune too. Directed by Martin Campbell, who also directed Casino Royale. I wonder who'll get the call to helm the reboot?

 

[shawnbm]

Halle Berry and Sophie Marceau—loved those two Bond ladies. Jane Seymour was nice as well—so young in Live and Let Die

 

[Horsa]

Halle Berry and Sophie Marceau—loved those two Bond ladies. Jane Seymour was nice as well—so young in Live and Let Die

I liked Honor Blackman.

 

[tented]

An interesting development on the Bond front is that Bezos has acquired a 50% stake in the Bond franchise, leading to speculation that there maybe spin-offs on Amazon Prime, in the way that Disney buying Star Wars led to many spin off stuff there. I'm in two minds about this. Firstly, the cycle of Bond films moves slowly, so a movie is an event, and to water it down by releasing too many offshoots might affect the demand for the main feature.

Exactly. I remember when the first three Star Wars movies were originally released. They were each a Big Deal. I agree the brand has been watered down by Disney with so many movies and TV series. There’s no longer the wait for something new, which built up excitement. With a new film practically every year, and off-shoot films, and TV series there’s no anticipation anymore. Once you’re done with one, just wait a week for the next thing. They’re no longer special.

However, let's be candid, most Bond films are crap. Horrible, and dated, and just lousy poorly made films that traded on the reputation but rarely delivered.

Very well put. A few of the Craig films have been so good I’ve watched them more than once, such as Casino Royale & Skyfall, but Quantum of Solace became intolerable while watching it the first time and I barely remember Spectre at all. The Roger Moore movies are dated, although better than the current batch because they weren’t focused so strongly on violence and pyrotechnics. The best are still the Connery films from the 60s — the brand has been living off them ever since.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I will be interested to see what films roles Daniel Craig gets offered after playing James Bond,playing a character role for sometime,an actor can get type casted.

 

[tented]

I will be interested to see what films roles Daniel Craig gets offered after playing James Bond,playing a character role for sometime,an actor can get type casted.

That’s a good question. I saw him in Knives Out a year or so ago and immediately thought of Bond, and it stuck with me throughout. I guess in my mind he has already been typecast.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

That’s a good question. I saw him in Knives Out a year or so ago and immediately thought of Bond, and it stuck with me throughout. I guess in my mind he has already been typecast.

Agree, I always thought of Sean Connery when I saw him in another film,as James Bond,he was my favorite James Bond.

 

[Kieran]

That’s a good question. I saw him in Knives Out a year or so ago and immediately thought of Bond, and it stuck with me throughout. I guess in my mind he has already been typecast.

Is this good?

 

[shawnbm]

I thought Connery moved on as well as could be expected later in his career. But when I see or hear the name James Bond, he is who I picture—no one else.

 

[tented]

Is this good?

Knives Out was OK. I liked the idea better than the execution.

 

[Kieran]

Knives Out was OK. I liked the idea better than the execution.

They’ve made a sequel now, I think. I haven’t seen it but we’ll watch it if it comes..

 

[the AntiPusher]

Exactly. I remember when the first three Star Wars movies were originally released. They were each a Big Deal. I agree the brand has been watered down by Disney with so many movies and TV series. There’s no longer the wait for something new, which built up excitement. With a new film practically every year, and off-shoot films, and TV series there’s no anticipation anymore. Once you’re done with one, just wait a week for the next thing. They’re no longer special.

Best line ever in ANY movie when the actress told him "my name is Pussy Galore". Bond response, "I must be dreaming"

Very well put. A few of the Craig films have been so good I’ve watched them more than once, such as Casino Royale & Skyfall, but Quantum of Solace became intolerable while watching it the first time and I barely remember Spectre at all. The Roger Moore movies are dated, although better than the current batch because they weren’t focused so strongly on violence and pyrotechnics. The best are still the Connery films from the 60s — the brand has been living off them ever since.

Best line ever. " My name is Pussy Galore"! "I must be dreaming"

 

[the AntiPusher]

I liked Honor Blackman.

I like Pussy Galore too .

 

[Moxie]

I've been on a mad run of work and missed this whole Bond conversation. I came here to say that I just saw the new Bond film, and I give it a big thumbs up! I won't say much, so as not to spoil, but I recommend those who are inclined to see it soon, and not read ahead. It's elegantly done, with a smart script, like Skyfall, which I did love, though it had a rather melancholy air. (But one of the best theme songs of the franchise. This one, by Billie Eylish is more forgettable, IMO.) A lot of opinions about the Bond films have been thrown out there, and I don't agree with all them. I think we all agree that Connery was the best and the ultimate Bond. Daniel Craig is my second favorite and I don't find him at all merely thuggish, @Kieran. I also disagree with any notion that the films should adhere to the books. The films have taken on a life of their own, and they have their tropes, but they have had to evolve to keep the franchise going. You have to admit, it is an astonishing run. It even survived the smarmy, campy version of itself in the 70s with Roger Moore. But for a film series to survive 60 years, it has to evolve or die.

I won't make an opinion as to where it goes next, because, having seen the film, I think it drops clues. I'll wait until we've all seen it, then we can discuss. A friend of mine who I saw the film with, and who works in Hollywood, says there is nothing in the pipeline for the next one, so we have time to speculate.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I've been on a mad run of work and missed this whole Bond conversation. I came here to say that I just saw the new Bond film, and I give it a big thumbs up! I won't say much, so as not to spoil, but I recommend those who are inclined to see it soon, and not read ahead. It's elegantly done, with a smart script, like Skyfall, which I did love, though it had a rather melancholy air. (But one of the best theme songs of the franchise. This one, by Billie Eylish is more forgettable, IMO.) A lot of opinions about the Bond films have been thrown out there, and I don't agree with all them. I think we all agree that Connery was the best and the ultimate Bond. Daniel Craig is my second favorite and I don't find him at all merely thuggish, @Kieran. I also disagree with any notion that the films should adhere to the books. The films have taken on a life of their own, and they have their tropes, but they have had to evolve to keep the franchise going. You have to admit, it is an astonishing run. It even survived the smarmy, campy version of itself in the 70s with Roger Moore. But for a film series to survive 60 years, it has to evolve or die.

I won't make an opinion as to where it goes next, because, having seen the film, I think it drops clues. I'll wait until we've all seen it, then we can discuss. A friend of mine who I saw the film with, and who works in Hollywood, says there is nothing in the pipeline for the next one, so we have time to speculate.

Okay I will go check it out..thanks Moxie...I only read the part where you gave thumbs up..

 

[Moxie]

Exactly. I remember when the first three Star Wars movies were originally released. They were each a Big Deal. I agree the brand has been watered down by Disney with so many movies and TV series. There’s no longer the wait for something new, which built up excitement. With a new film practically every year, and off-shoot films, and TV series there’s no anticipation anymore. Once you’re done with one, just wait a week for the next thing. They’re no longer special.

I agree with you on the Star Wars franchise. It's been ages since I cared, and they have completely watered it down.

Very well put. A few of the Craig films have been so good I’ve watched them more than once, such as Casino Royale & Skyfall, but Quantum of Solace became intolerable while watching it the first time and I barely remember Spectre at all. The Roger Moore movies are dated, although better than the current batch because they weren’t focused so strongly on violence and pyrotechnics. The best are still the Connery films from the 60s — the brand has been living off them ever since.

I don't exactly agree that all of the Bond films since Connery are "crap." As I said above, I think they respect the franchise, and the tropes, and of late, they have invested in better writing and a more emotional Bond. In the same way that you say that Star Wars has diluted its brand, I think the Bond brand has stayed very much on message. We have Q, and M, and Moneypenny. We have the gadget sequence, and we finish up on an island where everything blows up. And we have Bond, who survives on skills, guile and wits. Then there are the droll puns, and the obligatory tuxedo and Aston Martin. Within that, every script rifts, and we are treated to new exotic locations, more elaborate art direction, and the evolution of the Bond girl from bimbo to participant. But it's the consistency of structure that makes it keep working, if you ask me. In this new one, they so elegantly knit in all of the old signals with fresh ideas.

 

[Moxie]

Okay I will go check it out..thanks Moxie...I only read the part where you gave thumbs up..

I gave no spoilers, but DON'T READ ANY!

 

[the AntiPusher]

I gave no spoilers, but DON'T READ ANY!

I enjoy it..thanks

 

[Kieran]

I've been on a mad run of work and missed this whole Bond conversation. I came here to say that I just saw the new Bond film, and I give it a big thumbs up! I won't say much, so as not to spoil, but I recommend those who are inclined to see it soon, and not read ahead. It's elegantly done, with a smart script, like Skyfall, which I did love, though it had a rather melancholy air. (But one of the best theme songs of the franchise. This one, by Billie Eylish is more forgettable, IMO.) A lot of opinions about the Bond films have been thrown out there, and I don't agree with all them. I think we all agree that Connery was the best and the ultimate Bond. Daniel Craig is my second favorite and I don't find him at all merely thuggish, @Kieran. I also disagree with any notion that the films should adhere to the books. The films have taken on a life of their own, and they have their tropes, but they have had to evolve to keep the franchise going. You have to admit, it is an astonishing run. It even survived the smarmy, campy version of itself in the 70s with Roger Moore. But for a film series to survive 60 years, it has to evolve or die.

I won't make an opinion as to where it goes next, because, having seen the film, I think it drops clues. I'll wait until we've all seen it, then we can discuss. A friend of mine who I saw the film with, and who works in Hollywood, says there is nothing in the pipeline for the next one, so we have time to speculate.

I don’t know that anyone said the films should adhere to the books, but I’d certainly liked it now if they became more like the books, with more old school espionage, clever plots and mind games, instead of the trend towards superheroes leaping off cranes and landing on their feet. I do think Craig has made Bond more vulnerable, and deepened the character and the role, which is a huge improvement from the Roger Moore Bond, where he could portray both danger and pervy lust simply by arching his eyebrow. Whatever they do next, it’s got to a brilliant, because Craig made that role his own, so an understated Bond movie might not be the road they take..

 

[the AntiPusher]

Speaking of Billie Eyelish and her forgettable song..what is your favorite Bond Song... wow.. isn't this a tough one!

Carly Simon's No one does it BETTER is my all time favorite. Although Adele's Skyfall won probably the most critical acclaim but Duran Duran's 80s pop classic heavy sensitized drums and arrangements A View to the Kil is gonna be the most played song in my playlist. Sheryl's (Crow) voice is not the best but her Bond song Tomorrow NEVER dies lyrics are just pure haunting in a good way because of the way she describes what Bond is.. a hired Assassin with a license to Kill..

Really like the theme song from Daniel Craig Bond film intro You will know my name Casino Royale which is really the BEST Bond film afterwards GoldFinger which Sir Sean Connery's James Bond is at his Best. IMO