James Bond: Skyfall

[1961MJS]

Yes, I think a lot of them took liberties - wasn't Moonraker markedly different than the book? I'm sure I also recall that the gadgets were a film invention - though of course ot much of the market for the films, those were Bond.

HI

Moonraker was actually pretty close, but was updated. The book was about a British Philanthropist who gave the crown enough money to build their own ICBM, which he conveniently targeted to London. The movie was about a British Philanthropist who attempted to do the same thing to the whole world.

Later

 

[Mario]

What I always liked about the Bond films (especially the earlier ones) was the humour and the fact that they never took themselves too seriously. Bond was always tongue-in-cheek. All those qualities have been drained out of the new films. They're simply not my cup of tea, thank you.

 

[alsendk]

What I always liked about the Bond films (especially the earlier ones) was the humour and the fact that they never took themselves too seriously. Bond was always tongue-in-cheek. All those qualities have been dried out of the new films. They're simply not my cup of tea, thank you.

I totally agree with Mario on this issue. The humour,the little smiles,the feel good feeling by watching 007 has for my part changed to a nervousness about when the next explosition will make my tinnitus worse, more than the actual plot,which is hardly understandable anyway.
But I agree that Daniel Craig plays his caracter extremely well.
It is not just Sean Connery I miss, it`s more the better time there was then,to let every scene have it`s time, and the time there was to dwell on the good and funny parts, that made a 007 movie so joyful to watch then.

Now it`s like if there is not a chase, shoot down, or an ear cracking explosion every 20 seconds, then the film industry fears to loose it`s costumers, becourse this is the pace and the trend of all new movies in this genre. I pity this,and movies like 007, Bourne identity,and Mission impossible reminds me more and more about modern music videos, where cross clipping, colour explosions,multi short sequences, frozen pictures - slow mo and so on,takes away the whole meaning and joy for me to be watching a movie like the 007 Downfall.
That`s why I miss the old movies in general.
Maybe it`s becourse I am getting old myself[huh]

 

[AntonAAK]

If you haven't done so, read "The Spy Who Loved Me" and then watch the movie. Without giving too much away, the whole book takes place in a Motor Hotel on the US / Canadian border. The rest of the movies take "poetic license", this one takes the name.

The title was all they were allowed to use. Fleming was very unhappy with the results of his experiment with telling a Bond story from another protagonist's POV so he stipulated that no part of the story could be made into a film but left the title up for grabs.

Moonraker was actually pretty close, but was updated.

There wasn't a great deal of space travel in the novel but I guess that was what you mean but 'updated'. The movie was just a cash-in following the late 70s sci-fi resurgence. At the end of the credits for The Spy Who Loved Me they said that 'James Bond will return in For Your Eyes Only'. After the success of Star Wars and Close Encounters they changed their schedule and shoved as much space stuff in as they could.

I think Moonraker is a stong contender for worst ever Bond movie.

Best
A

 

[Bird Lives]

The thing about Sean Connery's Bond was that, he was making history...At that time we had never seen a hero like this...Someone who would use the girl he was kissing as a weapon, a second later kill a guy and then crack a joke as he left the room....That was new...The anti-hero was new...and Sean Connery and Terence Young the director knew how to pull it off. Thats it...And they made it timeless by keeping the wardrobe simple and stylish. He looks as stylish today as then because of it...The Aston Martin DB5 looks as stylish today as in '64 aswell...

Later the special effects took over and everything changed...I do think Daniel Craig is the first to take the character anywhere interesting since Connery...While not as Earth-Shattering because times have changed...The first 4 films hit a window in the Worlds current events that made it relavent on every plane...Even Jethro on the Beverly Hillbillys was trying to be a Double-naught spy...We saw references to James Bond in everything...Of course that was a phenom...I doubt will ever see that kind of influence come from the Bond franchise again....Of course now its an institution...And we look to it for state-of-the-art intrigue and cool action...and on that level I think the new ones deliver admirably...

The idea of doing one of the books as a period piece and stay faithful to the book...That sounds fabulous...I'd be there...love to see it...Also when I saw they were considering Daniel Craig, Hugh Jackman, Clive Owens and Ewan MacGregor for the new James Bond, I thought Hugh was the only one who could continue the Connery tradition and I still think so...But I think they thought he was too well known and associated with another character....Shame...It would have been interesting...And I bet his Bond would have worn a Fedora....

 

[AmateisGal]

I didn't know they were considering Hugh Jackman for the role. Hmm. I can't see it. I love Hugh Jackman, but I don't think he was Bond-material (just my opinion).

I was hesitant when they chose Daniel Craig as I always saw Bond as dark-haired and not as beefy, but was willing to give the guy a chance. I know there was a huge uproar from some people who were very upset that they chose Craig and wanted to boycot the films, which seems silly to me. To each his own. But anyway, I think Craig has delivered admirably and taken the character in a new direction.

I have watched the Connery films over and over again. They never get old. I think "From Russia with Love" is my favorite.

 

[Flicka]

But anyway, I think Craig has delivered admirably and taken the character in a new direction.

If he could only stop pouting... Why does he DO that? Am I the only one who is bothered by it?

 

[AmateisGal]

When does he pout? Could you give me an example? I'm trying to remember the scenes in Casino Royale where he might be pouting. Maybe the scene where Vesper has already bought his dinner jacket?

 

[alsendk]

[/IMG]

Here they all are, the former 007 agents, with licence to kill
George Lazenby
Pierce Brosnan
Sean Connery
Timothy Dalton
I forgot his name

 

[jamespowers]

[/IMG]

Here they all are, the former 007 agents, with licence to kill
George Lazenby
Pierce Brosnan
Sean Connery
Timothy Dalton
I forgot his name

The Saint.

 

[alsendk]

Yes mr. Powers
He never did change his acting through the saint,via the persuaders to his acting role as 007:eusa_doh: always the same gentleman

 

[Alex Oviatt]

Ian Flemming always said that his Bond looked a lot like Hoagy Carmichael.....

[/IMG]

 

[Flicka]

When does he pout? Could you give me an example? I'm trying to remember the scenes in Casino Royale where he might be pouting. Maybe the scene where Vesper has already bought his dinner jacket?

No, I mean the thing he does with his mouth. Pouting. I think he thinks it's sexy, and the weird thing is, I don't remember him doing it when he was younger.

Like this:

Kiera Knightley does it too, and she said that when they did Pride & Prejudice the whole crew yelled "don't pout!" whenever she did it and it helped. They should hire those people for the next Bond flick.

 

[AmateisGal]

Ah, ok. I never really saw any of his other films before he started doing Bond, so I can't compare his past work to his more current stuff. But I get what you mean.

 

[Chasseur]

No, I mean the thing he does with his mouth. Pouting. I think he thinks it's sexy, and the weird thing is, I don't remember him doing it when he was younger.

Like this:

Kiera Knightley does it too, and she said that when they did Pride & Prejudice the whole crew yelled "don't pout!" whenever she did it and it helped. They should hire those people for the next Bond flick.

His pouty expression always reminds me of Vladimir Putin...

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

^^

Putin probably thinks he's James Bond. lol

[video=youtube;0lxMglj8LuM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lxMglj8LuM[/video]

[video=youtube;HvINFJXko7g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvINFJXko7g[/video]

 

[The Good]

Some thoughts:

I'm really looking forward to seeing Skyfall in theaters. I missed that chance with Quantum of Solace, because I've heard all of the negativity about it, and it put me off of a theater viewing, although I did see it later on DVD. Skyfall is the first film I've ever obsessively kept track of, developmentally. Since a year and a half ago it seems, I have kept my eye on the production, the casting, and other announcements. I remember staying up late just to be able to see the first picture of it revealed (the scene of Bond holding his PPK, and sporting stubble).

Where I stand on ranking the actors, this is how I would go about it right now:

1. Sean Connery (He is James Bond)
2. Roger Moore (I get the controversy, but he did a good job in portraying a more light-hearted version of the character. I still believed he was James Bond)
3. Pierce Brosnan (One of the more nostalgic Bond actors, because I grew up playing the game GoldenEye and seeing his movies)
4. Daniel Craig (He's still a bit new for me to decide placing him above Brosnan, Skyfall may change this)
5. George Lazenby (I liked his single movie more than Dalton's two, and his performance was also good)
6. Timothy Dalton (He's pretty good, but I enjoyed seeing the rest in the role more)

Favorite movie: I'm torn between Thunderball, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, or Goldfinger.

Favorite soundtrack: On Her Majesty's Secret Service


As for the cut of Daniel Craig's suits in Skyfall, while they are low-rise, I still like the way they look. Although I own a cheap $150 Land's End suit, if I were to get my pants shortened a little bit and cuffed, I think it would look reasonably similar to the mid-grey suit he is sporting in the movie, though maybe with a higher rise. I like the lapels and tie widths too. In my opinion, James Bond is still a relevant style icon. Daniel Craig may be sporting casual clothing more regularly than his predecessors, but he still looks cool.

 

[Flicka]

I always did wonder if Bond's peccadillos left a trail. Now we know. From Britain With Love, I'm sure.

 

[AmateisGal]

Watching the video of Putin doing karate with no sound is pretty funny. lol

 

[Seb Lucas]

Connery's first three films were fun but the idea soon got old. I've kept up with them over the years and haven't seen anything much good in the Craig versions. They're as dull as the rest of the series only they're less camp.