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James Bond 007 Thread — Page 11

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My third Bond film and the first I ever owned. People should always give children the gift of Tom Mankewicz, pissy Roger Moore, tri-nippled Christopher Lee and the world's premiere personal chef to children for Christmas.

TMWTGG gets a raw deal, and for years it was the Bond that people gave hell despite never seeing it. It is a low in terms of budget and production, plus it was made at the height of Saltzman's money troubles in addition to the Broccoli-Saltzman partnership fraying. Then add on that it was based on Fleming's novel which itself was unfinished, chose to add elements of popular kung-fu entertainment which itself was exploitative, was not extravagantly budgeted, had waning audience interest, and a general degree of low key emphasis that results in some bland moments and a number of far too silly gags that do not really work.

But what is present is one of the best villains ever onscreen in Lee's most charming performance. You don't want him to fail actually. Why can't Scaramanga and Nick Nack live in affluent peace? Roger does quite well in a very tough and gruff performance that makes the mistake of trying to mimic some Connery moments but proves that Roger could be just as nasty if required. The Mankewiczian wit is so on point that it may be the best of the three in terms of dialogue gags. Just incredible, right down to the Phuyuck bottle.

I've always loved how the film has a golden cast to the cinematography and the it was both the last shot flat spherical and the last by Ted Moore.

The locale is exotic, Bond has a nasty edge, the villain is grand...but the plot doesn't shape up to match the strength of the setup, and what could be extremely suspenseful just peters out into harebrained mediocrity that has some explosions at the end. The fun becomes more in the ridiculousness of the journey and less the plot. And Britt Ekland is just hopelessly miscast. Why they had to make Goodnight so much of a dumb bimbo and Maud Adams a cardboard cutout is beyond me.

Hip should have been the sacrificial lamb and the ending sequence between titans should not have been so cut down as it was, because ti creates a huge lapse in the narrative payoff.

VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
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what is meant by "flat spherical"?

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 (Edited)

Warbler said:

what is meant by "flat spherical"?

 From what I understand, the film is shot flat on 35mm film, and then it is matted and optically printed using anamorphic scope lenses in post production to create an anamorphic print for theater release.

“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison

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Warbler said:

what is meant by "flat spherical"?

 It refers to non-anamorphic photography of a motion picture. Moore's first two films were 1.85:1. (I've always wondered why.) They went back to anamorphic for TSWLM, and have remained 2.35:1 ever since.

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Where were you in '77?

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Flat spherical refers to the process of creating a matted widescreen image on regular 35mm film that is Academy ratio in its native format. By basically masking off the top and bottom edges this creates a rectangular widescreen image inside the original squared frame. The common ratios were 1.85 for the US, and 1.66 for Europe. Some films can be viewed with the full aperture, called open matte, and this will reveal most of the time if the widescreen shape was intended or not when shot.

I still think the Bonds are better as flat films. They seem more focused and down to earth. On the big screen, the scope photography is spectacular but it does seem to lose a certain something.

Silver, I think LALD and TMWTGG were shot flat as a cost cutting measure. This was the point at which Saltzman's financial troubles were at their peak, and the budgets had to suffer heavily as this crisis dragged down the partnership before its dissolve.

VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader

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I thought it would be interesting to try to rank the Bond films just for fun. Here's my list:

  1. Dr. No
  2. Licence to Kill
  3. The Man with the Golden Gun
  4. Live and Let Die
  5. Casino Royale
  6. Goldfinger
  7. Thunderball
  8. The Spy Who Loved Me
  9. You Only Live Twice
  10. GoldenEye
  11. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
  12. Skyfall
  13. The Living Daylights
  14. From Russia With Love
  15. For Your Eyes Only
  16. A View to a Kill
  17. Octopussy
  18. Quantum Of Solace
  19. Moonraker
  20. Diamonds Are Forever
  21. Tomorrow Never Dies
  22. Die Another Day
  23. The World Is Not Enough

This was pretty hard, though. Dr. No is my favorite, 2-6 are all great and fun, 7-10 all solid movies, 11-17 were from good/okay to pretty meh so not really sure how to rate them, but then again 18-23 were probably the easiest to rate (it's a tie between 19 and 20). GoldenEye could have been a little higher as a film but I'm more into classic Bonds, they get more views from me. Skyfall is good also but it suffers from multiple viewings, I'm not keen to pop it in if I feel the need to watch some fun 007 action.

And in the time of greatest despair, there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as the Son of the Suns.

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Right back at ya ;-)

1. The Living Daylights
2. For Your Eyes Only
3. You Only Live Twice
4. A View to a Kill
5. Live and Let Die
6. GoldenEye
7. Licence to Kill
8. Goldfinger
9. Octopussy
10. The Man with the Golden Gun
11. Moonraker
12. Casino Royale
13. Thunderball
14. Diamonds Are Forever
15. Dr. No
16. The Spy Who Loved Me
17. From Russia With Love
18. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
19. Tomorrow Never Dies
20. Quantum Of Solace
21. Skyfall
22. Die Another Day
23. The World Is Not Enough

VIZ TOP TIPS! - PARENTS. Impress your children by showing them a floppy disk and telling them it’s a 3D model of a save icon.

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      I go for the dialed-back Bonds with more serious themes.

     For Your Eyes Only

     Skyfall

     GoldenEye

    

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I think they missed their golden opportunity to use the SPECTER organization in QoS.  Christmas 2015 is going to be expensive for me as far as movie tickets go.

'Spectre' is title of next James Bond film

By Jason Hanna and Andrew Carey, CNN
updated 11:41 AM EST, Thu December 4, 2014

(CNN) -- The past is new again for agent 007: The next James Bond film will be called "Spectre."

Director Sam Mendes announced the name of the 24th official Bond film Thursday at England's Pinewood Studios.

Austrian actor Christoph Waltz will join Daniel Craig in the cast. Craig makes his fourth appearance as the rugged British secret service agent.

Ralph Fiennes, Rory Kinnear, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw will be reprising their roles from 2012's "Skyfall." Newcomers to the franchise include Monica Bellucci, Lea Seydoux, Andrew Scott and Dave Bautista.

Shooting for the film, due for release in late 2015, begins Monday.

New Bond film: 'Spectre'

Mendes all but said the title was a nod to the SPECTRE terror group featured in Ian Fleming's James Bond novels and the early films.

"Those of you who have some knowledge of the Bond franchise and the legend of Bond will probably have some idea of what that refers to, but I couldn't possibly comment," Mendes said.

The film's official Twitter account featured a picture of Bond's new car, a snazzy Aston Martin DB10.

“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison

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It wouldn't surprise me if Quantum has evolved into Spectre, or is a splinter organization.

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Where were you in '77?

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SilverWook said:

It wouldn't surprise me if Quantum has evolved into Spectre, or is a splinter organization.

 At least one source is reporting that Mister White is back, so there's going to be some sort of closure with regard to to Quantum.  I'm so incredibly excited for this one.  It has everything I want, really.  SPECTRE, continuity, and Christoph Waltz (as Blofeld?). 

My rankings, from best to worst:

Goldeneye
Goldfinger
Casino Royale
From Russia With Love

You Only Live Twice

Tomorrow Never Dies

Skyfall

The Living Daylights

Licence to Kill

Thunderball

Quantum of Solace

The World is Not Enough

The Spy Who Loved Me

For Your Eyes Only

Die Another Day

Moonraker

Dr. No

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Live and Let Die

Diamonds are Forever

A View to a Kill

Octopussy

The Man With The Golden Gun

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'Spectre' starts shooting tomorrow. So there is still at least 30 minutes left for the Producers to sack Mendes and hire a decent Director. Here's hoping...

VIZ TOP TIPS! - PARENTS. Impress your children by showing them a floppy disk and telling them it’s a 3D model of a save icon.

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Spectre is such an unsurprising title that it's actually a little surprising they really went with it. Still, it's cool (of course) and I like it. Very excited for the film, should be great considering the last outing and the new cast (Waltz especially).

Here's my ranking by the way:

1. From Russia with Love

2. Goldfinger

3. Skyfall

4. On Her Majesty's Secret Service

5. Casino Royale

6. The Spy Who Loved Me

7. Goldeneye

8. The Living Daylights

9. You Only Live Twice

10. Diamonds Are Forever

11. Thunderball

12. Dr. No

13. License to Kill

14. Quantum of Solace

15. Live and Let Die

16. For Your Eyes Only

17. A View to a Kill

18. Tomorrow Never Dies

19. The World Is Not Enough 

20. Die Another Day

21. The Man with the Golden Gun

22. Moonraker

23. Octopussy

And, if I were to count it:

24. Never Say Never Again

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1) Thunderball

2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service

3) From Russia With Love

4) Licence To Kill

5) Casino Royal (2006)

6) Dr. No

7) Diamonds Are Forever

8) Goldfinger

9) Live and Let Die

10) The Spy Who Loved Me

11) Quantum of Solice

12) Moonraker

13) You Only Live Twice

14) The Living Daylights

15) For Your Eyes Only

16) Skyfall

17) The Man With The Golden Gun

18) Octopussy

19) Never Say Never Again

20) Tomorrow Never Dies

21) Goldeneye

22) A View To A Kill

23) The World Is Not Enough

24) Die Another Day

I would say that "Casino Royal (1967)" would have been placed above "A View To A Kill" if it was allowed to be considered.

“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison

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Ryan McAvoy said:

'Spectre' starts shooting tomorrow. So there is still at least 30 minutes left for the Producers to sack Mendes and hire a decent Director. Here's hoping...

 What are you talking about.

Skyfall was a really good movie, not just a Bond Film but a good film period. It was also one of the best shot and looking action films I have ever seen. It had the look and lighting of an art film while feeling like a great action film.

Skyfall is my favorite Bond film since The Living Daylights and I for one can't wait for Spectre and am glad Sam Mendes is returning to the director's chair.

I can't wait.

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DrCrowTStarwars said:

What are you talking about.

One example... This is a Bond Gadget...

This is not...

DrCrowTStarwars said:

It had the look and lighting of an art film

Exactly. Mendes should stick to making those kind of movies.

VIZ TOP TIPS! - PARENTS. Impress your children by showing them a floppy disk and telling them it’s a 3D model of a save icon.

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Since it seems we're all doing this now:

  1. From Russia with Love
  2. The Living Daylights
  3. GoldenEye
  4. Skyfall
  5. Casino Royale
  6. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
  7. Goldfinger
  8. Licence to Kill
  9. Dr. No
  10. Thunderball
  11. Quantum of Solace
  12. Tomorrow Never Dies
  13. You Only Live Twice
  14. The World is Not Enough
  15. Diamonds Are Forever
  16. Die Another Day

There. I don't think I've forgotten anything important.

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Ryan McAvoy said:

DrCrowTStarwars said:

What are you talking about.

One example... This is a Bond Gadget...

This is not...

DrCrowTStarwars said:

It had the look and lighting of an art film

Exactly. Mendes should stick to making those kind of movies.

 So all gadgets have to look the same and have to be straight out of a star Trek movie and all action films have to look bad and be nothing but one long shaky cam shot.  Boy am I glad you are not running the franchise.  Look I don't think Bond films will ever be to your taste so why don't you just go and watch the Transformers movies instead, they seem to be more your style.

Oh and you do know that jetpack was only in one movie, so is Thunderball the only good bond film because most of the bond films do not feature gadgets that are so out there.

Oh and you do know that the directors but in the day were trying to make the films look as good as they could on budget too, right?

As I said I don't think you get Bond at all, and it would have to become something it is not to have an appeal for you so I am just as glad you are not running the franchise and we are getting a real follow up to Skyfall.  I can't wait for it to come out.

Take a look at the gadgets Bond had in the 60s and tell me the design and function of that radio doesn't fit right in.

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DrCrowTStarwars said:

So...

all gadgets have to look the same

have to be straight out of a star Trek movie

all action films have to look bad

be nothing but one long shaky cam shot

I don't ever recall ever saying any of those four things ever anywhere on this site ever but maybe you can quote the part where I did.

DrCrowTStarwars said:

Look I don't think Bond films will ever be to your taste so why don't you just go and watch the Transformers movies instead, they seem to be more your style.

Hmmm maybe?... *Glances over at DVD/Blu-Ray shelf which is straining under the weight of Bond movies and is startled to notice it contains no Michael Bay movies*

DrCrowTStarwars said:

you do know that jetpack was only in one movie, so is Thunderball the only good bond film because most of the bond films do not feature gadgets that are so out there.

Funnily enough I did know that and most of the Bond movies contain gadgets waaaay more "out there" than a real-world JetPack.

DrCrowTStarwars said:

you do know that the directors but in the day were trying to make the films look as good as they could on budget too, right?

No idea what you are trying to say?

DrCrowTStarwars said:

it would have to become something it is not to have an appeal for you

Nope. It would would have to become something it was to appeal to me.

DrCrowTStarwars said:

Take a look at the gadgets Bond had in the 60s and tell me the design and function of that radio doesn't fit right in.

Yes but we're not in the 60s. Maybe in the 60s, audiences would have "lost their sh*t" over a miniature pocket radio thing (but I doubt it). Anyway, the radio in Skyfall was supposed to be cra*p, that was the joke. But after the laughter has died away Bond's still got a cr*p Radio for the rest of the movie... instead of I don't know... an Aston Martin V8 that fires Stinger Missles and everybody loves.

By the way... I don't like 'Skyfall', but I'm not saying it's not okay for you to like it. I think the lists so far on this page have shown a lot of difference in taste.

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So nothing should ever be a challenge, Bond should just sit in a car with Star Trek tech and take everything out with missiles and nothing he does should in any way be based on real world science?  I am guessing Die another Day is your favorite Bond film.

If the gadgets do all the work then why does MI6 even need Bond? They could grab any person off of the street and they would do just as good a job.

Oh and a radio that small with a battery that lasts, transmits as far as it was show and doesn't get detected when the bad guys search Bond, that is pretty high tech. It may not be out of Star trek but it is beyond anything that you can buy right now and it would take a pretty smart person to buy it. Also a gun that can only be fired by the person who owns it. Again that seems pretty cool and high tech to me and it has the bonus of feeling like something that could exist in the gritty world Bond is a part of, so they were perfect examples of Bond gadgets. Just because they didn't transport him to Mars doesn't mean they were not high tech.

I think the films really lose something when they get away from the character as it worked in the books so I am glad that after decades of the films going sci-fi that they are getting back to the spirit of the books and putting Bond back in character.

Oh and the old movies featured long pan over locations and at the time they were made those were considered artistic shots so I don't see how you can say there is anything wrong with Skyfall having artistic shots in it. There is no reason why you can't combine art and action and that is one of the reasons I love Skyfall is that it does this. Most film makers give up trying to make a film look good once they start making an action film I am glad that wasn't the case with Skyfall.

Oh and there is no way to fit a rocket inside a car and in this day and age most people watching know that so unless you are making a comedy that is not going to happen in a modern film. Now a days if a film starts out gritty people get take out of the story if it then features some sort of magic CGI tech that seems out of place in the film's world. That is the biggest complaint I hear about the Nolan Batman movies, that they seem to take place in the real world but then some of the gadgets seem to be magic. So You can't blame Bond for avoiding that pitfall.

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DrCrowTStarwars said:

I am guessing Die another Day is your favorite Bond film.

From a few posts above...

Ryan McAvoy said:

22. Die Another Day

As I already said... If you love Skyfall then great, most people do. I'm in the minority that thought it was a low point and think another Director might fair better with what might be Craig's (Who is an excellent Bond btw) last. That's okay too.

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So unbelievably bummed about the news. With the casting announcements and the new pitiful title, they should have just called it "Really going by the numbers at this point".

The DB10 doesn't even look real. And what's with the consistent retconning of the older material? It doesn't work in this universe and sticks out horribly, like that one moment in Skyfail where everyone in the audience sat up straight no matter how old they were. The DB5 made its inexplicable and unnecessary appearance, which was more powerful than anything going on in the narrative.

As with EP VII I really don't want to know what happens until it does, but with this I really really don't want to know.

The rankings kill me. It's actually worse than anything else.

If forced, and I do mean forced because I adore the first 16 and the Brosnans to a slightly lesser extent more than anything else. It boils down to eras mostly.

My agonized top ten in no order are DN through OHMSS, LALD-TMWTGG-TSWLM, and TLD. The rest are equals in my mind despite their flaws, but these ten all have the greater strengths and childhood memories.

The best as "films" are FRWL and OHMSS. My favorite movie of all time is LALD.

I can appreciate NSNA if prodded through my wincing, and portions of the score are excellent (Ok, I refer only to the tiny jazz piece used twice in the film that always gets stuck in my head) and one can see the bones of the far better picture Kersh and Sean intended.

CR '67 is a pop art masterpiece, a time capsule, and the greatest bad movie in history.

The three eventually four abominations never happened. If you want my true feelings however, the worst film I have ever seen was in 2006.

VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader