My/Your Competing New Bond Film

[Desiremakesmeweak]

Er, I've read the leaked screenplay and it is absolute rubbish.

So, how about anyone here coming up with a few better ideas that what is being floated in this new 'Spectre' storyline?

I've opened the batting, so to speak on my own blogsite - so if you want to refer to that please do. But otherwise, how about we do our own new 'latest' Bond screenplay/story?

Any takers?

I'm thinking Fleming adulated Chandler and basically set most of his stories outside of the UK - how about a modern, noir spy/detective yarn with better cars than the crap in the recent movies, better gadgets and guns, wa-a-ay better sex, and definitely BETTER VILLAINS an absolute must.

 

[CharleyH]

Er, I've read the leaked screenplay and it is absolute rubbish.

So, how about anyone here coming up with a few better ideas that what is being floated in this new 'Spectre' storyline?

I've opened the batting, so to speak on my own blogsite - so if you want to refer to that please do. But otherwise, how about we do our own new 'latest' Bond screenplay/story?

Any takers?

I'm thinking Fleming adulated Chandler and basically set most of his stories outside of the UK - how about a modern, noir spy/detective yarn with better cars than the crap in the recent movies, better gadgets and guns, wa-a-ay better sex, and definitely BETTER VILLAINS an absolute must.

The only thing I've heard on this issue is that Idris Alba won't be the new Bond. It's a bit of a disappointment, but 007 hasn't ever been my thing. As far as I can tell from fans, Roger Moore's Bond was the heyday.

 

[PennLady]

I'm thinking Fleming adulated Chandler and basically set most of his stories outside of the UK - how about a modern, noir spy/detective yarn with better cars than the crap in the recent movies, better gadgets and guns, wa-a-ay better sex, and definitely BETTER VILLAINS an absolute must.

I think the thing is they need to get away from the supervillains who border on clownish, but those are probably easier to write. I think it's a bit more difficult now because there's no Soviet bloc, and because computer/cyber warfare is difficult to show on screen. Typing code and watching it run aren't terribly interesting things to see.

It's hard to imagine one person threatening the entire world or world order, so an organization of some sort would be more believable, as far as it goes.

I'd love Idris Elba as Bond, though.

The only thing I've heard on this issue is that Idris Alba won't be the new Bond. It's a bit of a disappointment, but 007 hasn't ever been my thing. As far as I can tell from fans, Roger Moore's Bond was the heyday.

Well that of course would be the subject of much debate among Bond fans. I prefer Connery to Moore, myself, but probably like Daniel Craig better than either. OTOH, that's kind of an apples-to-oranges comparison. I also have a soft spot for George Lazenby in his one outing, and still think Diana Rigg was likely the best Bond Girl.

 

[sr71plt]

The fun thing about the original Bond books/movies was that students of espionage were entertained by Ian Fleming's use of real names (e.g., Smersh) and exaggerations of real (but blown) operations in his writing. Connery was the ultimate Bond for me.

 

[oggbashan]

Plot? What plot?

Once the Bond franchise moved beyond the original Ian Fleming stories, the plot became almost irrelevant.

They are now parodies of the originals.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

Well that of course would be the subject of much debate among Bond fans. I prefer Connery to Moore, myself, but probably like Daniel Craig better than either. OTOH, that's kind of an apples-to-oranges comparison. I also have a soft spot for George Lazenby in his one outing, and still think Diana Rigg was likely the best Bond Girl.

Commercially, I think Roger Moore was the most successful Bond despite making some of the worst movies. The latter Roger Moore movies were so over the top that they were almost parodies of his earlier movies and the Sean Connery films.

I recently watched Goldfinger--considered by most Bond fans as Connery's finest--and it was painful. The last third of the movie seemed to be done in slow motion. I could make a sandwich in the time it took for a punch to land. It really makes you appreciate the advances in film making technology over the last 50 years.

Personally, I like the Daniel Craig films the best. Fast-paced, gritty, and with action that is for the most part believable--not too much more absurd than what takes place in Bourne films. For the most part, I think they are striking the right balance between fantasy and reality in an action movie.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

I'm thinking Fleming adulated Chandler and basically set most of his stories outside of the UK - how about a modern, noir spy/detective yarn with better cars than the crap in the recent movies, better gadgets and guns, wa-a-ay better sex, and definitely BETTER VILLAINS an absolute must.

Here's your new Bond Car--Aston Martin DB10

 

[sr71plt]

Here's your new Bond Car--Aston Martin DB10

I'll take one, please.

 

[CharleyH]

I'll happily concede to PennLady.

 

[Handley_Page]

Er, I've read the leaked screenplay and it is absolute rubbish.

I'm thinking Fleming adulated Chandler and basically set most of his stories outside of the UK - how about a modern, noir spy/detective yarn with better cars than the crap in the recent movies, better gadgets and guns, wa-a-ay better sex, and definitely BETTER VILLAINS an absolute must.

And just what car is better than a DB10 or a Jaguar F type ?

http://www.jaguar.co.uk/jaguar-range/f-type/index.html?gclid=CIH1ibb4_cICFUjJtAodxS4AXQ

Here's your new Bond Car--Aston Martin DB10

Plot? What plot?

Once the Bond franchise moved beyond the original Ian Fleming stories, the plot became almost irrelevant.
They are now parodies of the originals.

Here Here.
Like most films it's about 'action' not words. All CGI and flash whatever.
But some of the chase scenes are fun.

 

[jomar]

... As far as I can tell from fans, Roger Moore's Bond was the heyday.

Maybe, but mission creep turned it into a cartoon by the end of his tenure. May as well have been Austin Powers by then.

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

I see there are quite a few here with whom I am in agreement: Pennlady, Jomar, Handley Page particularly.

There is a cartoonish sense these days with what is being presented as 'the dramatic' thing, or even the 'danger/risky' elements.

I really think they've badly overdone all the jump cut editing and the CGI, although the latter is pretty much inevitable with today's movie-making but it still could be better done.

Cyber warfare is very difficult to make cinematographically satisfying.

But these things don't need to be that way.

Personally, the new Aston DB10 reminds me of an old Ferrari shape although it is more streamlined and, um, bland?? I know others disagree but it doesn't cut it for me at all. Clearly Bond is not up against some Russian oligarch who really HAS the world's fastest car with genuinely the most expensive gadgets - the Bond car needs some thinking about.

I really DID like Eva Green and Craig's interlude on the train in the last movie - that had a touch of style that has been often brutalised into meaninglessness in recent times.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

It actually pains me to admit it but I squirmed my way through the much hyped Skyfall. What a piece of garbage. All...was it two or three...of Daniel Craig's Bond fiasco's were just that fiasco's. Each had a different title but were mirror images of each other. If you didn't know the title of what you were watching you would be hard pressed to tell which was which.

A caveat: Casino Royal remake, which I guess was Daniels first, was okay. Much better than that the flop with the great David Niven.

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

I never took much notice of the fact that James Brolin was originally the top pick to be Bond after Connery. You'd think this was a silly choice but not really - take a look at Josh Brolin today... Definitely the type of almost ruffian type guy who is meant to be launched to take out bad guys without any remorse.

Remembering Jesse Ventura, once again, silly though it sounds at first, was a navy seal and had that same big rough brute look when he was younger.

"A street fighting brute in a savile row suite." Jeremy Clarkson wrote that phrase first I think.

My movie would start with a newly retired, greying Bond, visiting his friend Felix Leiter (back to life of course) and the two of them staying up late playing poker in a loft-style apartment in a once-derelict, just renovated huge red brick, ex warehouse, block.

Leiter sticks his gun carry harness on the back of chair, and they discuss the choice of weapon (I'll have to research this because I have no idea about this kind of thing).

And then, the video security system alerts them to a figure walking up to the gleaming bright red Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat parked in the back alleyway outside.

The video security is black and white, and all you see is this old school noir movie dame in a little black dress, her dress tight around her ass.

It is Monica Bellucci, and the scene is exactly like the section from Reversal, where she is walking, walking, walking, just before she enters the underpass.

Only this time you see she has a large soft leather wallet in her nervous fingers, and she is highly agitated, or maybe extremely anxious, and she drops the wallet, and you can see the wads of cash showing out slightly as she stoops to gather the cash and the fallen wallet. And the main theme music plays - 'Love Is Not Enough,' by Above and Beyond feat. Zoe Johnson.

She hesitates, looks over her shoulder, and then, a dart gun is fired at her from somewhere and it hits her in the ass, and she falls over, sprawling onto the black asphalt.

And then Bond and Leiter make for the rear roller door.

(Some of the rest here had to be deleted asap!!)

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

Yep. There will another round of a few deletions shortly after I get off the phone with my mate.

 

[Handley_Page]

I see there are quite a few here with whom I am in agreement: Pennlady, Jomar, Handley Page particularly.

Personally, the new Aston DB10 reminds me of an old Ferrari shape although it is more streamlined and, um, bland?? I know others disagree but it doesn't cut it for me at all.
.

How can one describe something that smooth as "bland" ?

A caveat: Casino Royal remake, which I guess was Daniels first, was okay. Much better than that the flop with the great David Niven.

That David Niven film was the one I roared with laughter all the way through.
It was deliberate in it's poking fun at what Fleming's books had become.
And I'm not sure it could be described as a 'flop' except by the most devoted of the Bong film fans.

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

If I try to keep in mind this IS 2015, and, movies are largely about cinematography, then I can see some possibilities re camera angle and some dynamic motion shots.

Personally...? I'm not a fan of this (highly limited edition) iteration of the DB series.

As far as product placements go - I'll go along with the Belvedere Vodka, and the N. Peal cashmere.

Movie-land trope-ology also affects content too, now. James Bond is never going to beat G.I. Joe (or at least the villains out of that popular movie francise) in a street fight. So what does he have going for him any more...

Are we going nostalgia Bond, or never-before-seen innovation?

Whatever, the current producers need to recognize that it cannot fall between the two.

Saltzman once said that Bond reflected the violence of the real world of the day. I do want to see Bond 2015 regain his edge. I'm sure Aston's chief designer Marek Reichman is intending to be faithful to the ideology. But these things are more than intent.

I'm not convinced but I remain hopeful.

 

[sr71plt]

James Bond films are and always were fun, a grimace and then a smile. I don't expect them to be anything else.

 

[jomar]

Since we're naming favorite Bond's, Ian Fleming's Bond was visually based on this guy...

http://hoagy.com/images/pics/early_headshot_sm.jpg

 

[49greg]

I like the way Bond did things in the old films. In, I think, Dr. No he sneaks onto an island in what looks like a dugout canoe/sailboat, carrying his little pistol, dressed in slacks and a polo shirt.

They sure don't use the simple approach in the movies anymore.

 

[sr71plt]

They didn't have the big movie budgets back then either.

 

[unregistered]

 

[Handley_Page]

Since we're naming favorite Bond's, Ian Fleming's Bond was visually based on this guy...

http://hoagy.com/images/pics/early_headshot_sm.jpg

Ornithologist? wrote a book about the bird life in the Caribbean ?

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

Are you kidding?!!! That's not the ornithologist whose name Fleming employed.

Fleming was interviewed somewhere or wrote that he had Carmichael in mind for the physical description of Bond. Hoagy Carmichael is one of the greatest song writers and performers of all time - and he had, especially when he was first starting out, a certain appeal to the female of the era in question...

I have used his great composition 'Stardust' in my last piece here, in which a Russian spy 'flies' down from the rooftop of the Le Parc restaurant using aerial silks. And, I did have this aspect about what Fleming intended in mind.

Personally, I think Dior's missuse of aerial silks in their latest advert with Theron, is typical of what the clots in modern big branding do with good ideas.

 

[49greg]

I was watching a "Miss Marple" on PBS earlier this year, I think it was "A Caribbean Mystery", with Julia McKenzie. As a side plot there was a lecture by a bird specialist named James Bond at the resort she was at. One of the other guests at the lecture was a writer named Ian Fleming who had been stuck on the name of his main character.

It was a cute little throw-away in the show. My wife was in the room, but reading and not paying attention other than to know it was a murder mystery. When I broke out with a loud guffaw she was surprised. I had to rewind to show her. I love the DVR.