RALPH FIENNES IN THE NEXT BOND, DO YOU SEE?

Craig walks slowly out the ocean wearing nothing but a speedo. Cut to Fiennes:

"YOU'RE A FUCKING INANIMATE OBJECT"

His In Bruges character was darkly complex. Maybe he should reprise him. And call Bond a cunt.

Q?

The Craig films are starting to mirror the Brosnan films to some degree:

GOLDENEYE/CASINO ROYALE

After a difficult period of down-time for the franchise, director Martin Campbell reboots 007 with great success.  A classy and current adventure with some great action scenes and strong Bond moments.  Still considered the best of the lead actor's tenure as Bond.

TOMORROW NEVER DIES/QUANTUM OF SOLACE

A new director comes in to put his own stamp on the Bond films, but ends up with a film that comes up short on running time*, plot, character and logic, preferring to distract viewers with on-screen mayhem instead.  The villain uses public relations to obscure his secret plan.

Everything about BOND XXIII sounds like we're heading into THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH territory:  A director known for drama and working with actors (and virtually no action chops) tries to class up the franchise following what's perceived to be a disappointing entry.  Interesting actors are brought on, and there's an emphasis on trying to give the proceedings more depth.

Which means in BOND XXIV, we'll finally get Moneypenny, Q, laser watches, flying cars and an army of cyborg cheetahs repelling into the Earth's core to stop the villain from launching his tachyon pulse emitter which will turn back time, allowing him to rule the world with all of his future knowledge of the stock market, world events and Princess Kate.

In any case, I look forward to the next film mostly because Craig is my favorite Bond.  And having Bardem and/or Fiennes in the mix would be pretty bad-ass.

* Okay, TND's 119 min. run time might not seem short but 15 of the 22 Bond films run longer, with the excellent CR clocking in at a whopping 144 mins.

Sadly, your analysis is spot on. I expect another disappointment.

Kill of Dame Judy Dench, make him the new M.

Sorry, Quantum of Solace gets better on repeat watching. I am ready to hear some plot points on this one. Who am I kidding, I am ready for a freaking trailer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey Moore 

Sorry, Quantum of Solace gets better on repeat watching.

I've had the opposite experience with QOS. What are you seeing that I'm not?

The cries of "World is Not Enough" syndrome are entirely bunk since this won't have Denise Richards playing a nuclear scientist. And while he's not exactly sporting what I'd call "action chops," and the film doesn't have anything I'd call an action sequence, but Road to Perdition has that final shootout in the rain, and yeah, Conrad Hall and all that, but he also sported some nicely dynamic visuals in Jarhead. Say what you will about Mendes, he's not coming from the same flat journeyman style that Michael Apted lives for.

If Bardem and Fiennes end up in the cast, I'll be thrilled. Quantum of Solace worked better when viewed as an extended coda to Casino Royale, so here's hoping wherever they take this next brings the Bond A-game.

And for the love of Cthulhu, Roger Deakins as the DP! The world needs this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Litmus Configuration 

The Craig films are starting to mirror the Brosnan films to some degree:

 

GOLDENEYE/CASINO ROYALE

After a difficult period of down-time for the franchise, director Martin Campbell reboots 007 with great success.  A classy and current adventure with some great action scenes and strong Bond moments.  Still considered the best of the lead actor's tenure as Bond.

 

TOMORROW NEVER DIES/QUANTUM OF SOLACE

A new director comes in to put his own stamp on the Bond films, but ends up with a film that comes up short on running time*, plot, character and logic, preferring to distract viewers with on-screen mayhem instead.  The villain uses public relations to obscure his secret plan.

 

Everything about BOND XXIII sounds like we're heading into THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH territory:  A director known for drama and working with actors (and virtually no action chops) tries to class up the franchise following what's perceived to be a disappointing entry.  Interesting actors are brought on, and there's an emphasis on trying to give the proceedings more depth.

 

Which means in BOND XXIV, we'll finally get Moneypenny, Q, laser watches, flying cars and an army of cyborg cheetahs repelling into the Earth's core to stop the villain from launching his tachyon pulse emitter which will turn back time, allowing him to rule the world with all of his future knowledge of the stock market, world events and Princess Kate.

 

In any case, I look forward to the next film mostly because Craig is my favorite Bond.  And having Bardem and/or Fiennes in the mix would be pretty bad-ass.

 

 

* Okay, TND's 119 min. run time might not seem short but 15 of the 22 Bond films run longer, with the excellent CR clocking in at a whopping 144 mins.

What interesting actors do you speak of in TWINE? I'll give you Robert Carsyle. But Marceau and Denise Richards?

And the running time thing doesn't bother me. As it is most of the Bond films could have been trimmed by 15-20 minutes.

I would love for Craig to get his "Goldfinger". Nothing as horribly radical DAD. But lighten up a bit after the slightly dark CR and QoS.

And I still will never get the hate for QoS.

I still don't get Quantum of Solace hate, either, though Greg's spot on with that extended Coda thing.

I also don't get how everyone keeps calling Casino Royale a dark flick. It has pitch black moments, yes, but lest we forget, that film is often funny as hell. That smirk on Craig's face after he blows up that guy on the airport is priceless. That tone was missing from QoS, but is perfect for Craig's last go.

I also thought QoS was awesome. Its not as good as Casino Royale. However that is arguably the best Bond movie ever. My only problem with QoS is the why some of the the action is shot. The tight, shaky cam stuff didn't work for me.

I'm in the contingent who likes Quantum of Solace. I think it works really well as a follow on from Casino Royale and it actually feel that Craig really solidifies his Bond. I think the big difference between QoS and TND is that QoS continued the feel of  Craig's Bond whilst Brosnan felt kind of lost in TND. Still really looking forward to this and I hope it's great, if only so we don't have to put up with Litmus doing his usual douchey crowing about how terrible something is. 

Post deleted.  Nevermind.  Not worth it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Litmus Configuration 

Post deleted.  Nevermind.  Not worth it.

I'm hurt. Come on, I want my Litmus screed explaining in annotated paragraphs how much I suck. 

I'm just curious to see how many films Craig ends up doing.  Supposedly he was contracted for the standard deal (3 films, with an option for a fourth), so we'll probably get at least two more out of him.  The question is will he want to stick around beyond that and will EON want him to?  I'm thinking no on both counts, particularly the latter...........though I could be wrong.  I think the days of having a Bond actor stick around for six or seven films (ala Connery & Moore) are over.  Prediction?  Craig does Bond 23 (2012) and Bond 24 (2014), with the role being recast for Bond 25 (2016 or 2017).

As for the current news about Bond 23?  Bardem and Fiennes on board?  Hell yes!  I also love the fact that Craig is working with Sam Mendes again.  I have always felt that Road To Perdition is an underrated film.  Anyone know if  Peter Morgan is still involved in the writing?

Craig should do at least 2 more. He's being hailed as the best Bond since Connery, can't see them letting him walk away after just 3 films.

Fiennes and Bardem would be great in next movie and I also fail to get the hate for QOS. Though i was a bit let down watching it in the theater it did improve watching it at home.

Any word on the Bond girls? That was the one thing I think they fucked up in Quantum.

Quote:

Originally Posted by History Buff 

 

Any word on the Bond girls? That was the one thing I think they fucked up in Quantum.

Really? Sure Arteton (who I thought was great) and Kurylenko were no Eva Green, but compared to Denise Richards? Halle Berry? Pah

The QoS girls were great. Definitely not one of the movie's problems.

Quote:

Originally Posted by History Buff 

Craig should do at least 2 more. He's being hailed as the best Bond since Connery, can't see them letting him walk away after just 3 films.

In 1989, Timothy Dalton was the best Bond since Connery.

Everyone is always hailed as the best Bond since Connery.

That aside, non-fans generally seem to prefer Craig's two films to the Brosnan run........at least in my experience they do.  The series has followed a basic tonal pattern since Connery left though...

- Lazenby (serious, more realistic film)

- Moore (far more stylized and "fun")

- Dalton (harsher and more realistic again)

- Brosnan (back to high-stylized and fun)

- Craig (back to the seriousness)

Every other Bond goes back to a take that is closer to Fleming.  We might not get a "fun" entry during Craig's tenure, but you can sure as hell bet that they will slide right back into it when they move on to the next actor.  They always do.  I think that it part of how they try and distance new actors from their predecessor.

Anyway, I don't get the QoS hate either.  Was it as good as Casino Royale?  Of course not.  The production was too rushed for that to ever even be possible.  The characters also lacked some much needed definition, which I wonder if a director's cut wouldn't fix.  After all, Forster said that a lot was cut out.  The main problem with QoS isn' the villain or the Bond girls or the way it was shot or the song (though it was awful)..........................it's the script.   Either the script was never fully formed or just too much was cut out of the film itself.  All that aside, I definitely like it better than Brosnan's last two efforts.  Casino Royale is a series classic and Quantum of Solace ranks as a solid entry in my eyes.

Somehow QoS became more about Bond sorting his shit out than stopping Quantum. You had to deal with this of course, but I feel like things got a bit one sided. But I don't mean to appear as if I think it is a bad Bond movie. I'd take it over any Brosnan Bond except for Goldeneye.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stelios 

Somehow QoS became more about Bond sorting his shit out than stopping Quantum. You had to deal with this of course, but I feel like things got a bit one sided.

100% agreed.  It was a little disappointing that he wasn't more gung-ho about going after them, but I'm cool with that as long as they continue to use Quantum from time to time in the films to come, ala SPECTRE.  Personally, I hope we don't see a "head of Quantum" for at least a couple of entries.  We didn't actually get to see Blofeld until five films into the original series and I wouldn't mind for them to do the same here.

Speaking of Quantum, does anyone know if they will factor into this next one at all?  Initially after QoS was released, they acted like they weren't going to have the organization as the villains for Bond 23 and instead save them for Bond 24.  A few comments since then make me wonder though.

Also, anyone care to guess what title it might go by?  Considering they used a title as obscure as Quantum of Solace for the last one, I wouldn't be surprised if they attempt to use another one of the Fleming short story titles that hasn't been done yet.  Here are the ones that are left:  Risico, The Hildebrand Rarity, and Property of a Lady.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil 

Quote:

Originally Posted by History Buff 

 

In 1989, Timothy Dalton was the best Bond since Connery.

According to whom??

People who didn't like Roger' Moore's campy/shitty version?

Quote:

Originally Posted by stelios 

I'd take it over any Brosnan Bond except for Goldeneye.

 I'm very glad you added that last Sentence, Goldeneye is one of the better Bond movies hands down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by History Buff 

According to whom??

Everyone?

Watching The Living Daylights, low as it is on the Bond movie totem pole, was such a relief after suffering through A View To A Kill.