Mendes says Skyfall is `darker than usual’

[Blowfeld]

Couple of places to get this but I'm going with the HMSS blog.

Mendes says Skyfall is `darker than usual’
Posted on April 23, 2012 by The HMSS Editors

Skyfall director Sam Mendes is quoted by an Italian publication as saying the 23rd James Bond movie is “darker than usual.”

Skyfall director Sam Mendes

The comment appeared in La Repubblica. When you run the story through Google Translate, it comes out like this:

“Although the script is original, we’ve told the writers, telling them to be guided by the irony and the spirit of Fleming’s novels,” said Mendes. “If I agreed to shoot Bond is because I believe that it is now possible to make a film of escape, fun, but at the same time tell us something about the world in which we live. And to do that you have characters believable and human. And actors like Daniel Craig, who has given to 007 humanity that I had never seen in the Bond of the past. Bond again seems a real man in real situations. I recalled how I felt when I saw the films of Sean Connery. Skyfall is even a bit darker than usual.”

What to make of this? Who knows?

Back at Skyfall’s early November press conference, Mendes talked about how he liked Live And Let Die, hardly a dark film. Now he’s talking up the Sean Connery movies. At the same press conference, producer Michael G. Wilson said no change in direction for Skyfall, then later talked about Skyfall having a feel like Goldfinger, a more escapist movie than Quantum of Solace.

The Skyfall principals have told other reporters there will be more humor in Skyfall. The most recent example? An April 23 story in The Washington Post, quoting star Daniel Craig. Now Mendes says “darker than usual.”

If you accept the principals at their word, Skyfall is escapist fun AND a film with a message about the way we live. It’s got more humor AND it’s “going to move people a little.” (another Craig quote at the end of the Washington Post story). We’ll see.

[Blowfeld]

The original story

"Skyfall" Bond becomes dark

Sam Mendes and Daniel Craig reveals the first details on the new movie in the saga of 007, out in Italy on October 31 and November 9, United States

Daniel Craig on the set of "Skyfall"
Daniel Craig on the set of "Skyfall"
Silvia Bizio

In depth
Characters:
- Daniel Craig
- Sam Mendes
- Sean Connery
Movies:
- Skyfall
LOS ANGELES - So far, only few and scanty news leaked. The plot, special effects, all top secret, but it remains one of the most anticipated movies of the year the new 007, Skyfall, due out October 31 in Italy and the U.S. on November 9, the 23rd of the series (which has gained more than $ 5 billion, second only to Harry Potter for profit), the first directed by a cult and "serious" as the Englishman Sam Mendes who has given to reporters for a few minutes in direct studies of Pinewood London, along with Daniel Craig starring in his third appointment with the "spy with a license to kill", and of course the Bond girl, the newest Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe.

Especially a 007, this, and not just because celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first Bond film, Dr. No (Sean Connery), 1962: shot digitally, first out in Imax (the giant screen showing images in size and excellent resolution that is supplanting the 3D U.S.), Skyfall puts a strain on loyalty to the boss of Bond M (Judi Dench, with his seventh 007) when the past comes back to haunt her. If this were not enough, the agency MI6 is threatened by the enemy, Silva, played by Javier Bardem, and 007 will do everything to save her, even at the cost of personal sacrifice. Other new characters appear in the plot are Ralph Fiennes in the role of Mallory, a government official who oversees the agency of M, and the great British actor Albert Finney in a small role.

"Although the script is original, we've told the writers, telling them to be guided by the irony and the spirit of Fleming's novels," said Mendes. "If I agreed to shoot Bond is because I believe that it is now possible to make a film of escape, fun, but at the same time tell us something about the world in which we live. And to do that you have characters believable and human. And actors like Daniel Craig, who has given to 007 humanity that I had never seen in the Bond of the past. Bond again seems a real man in real situations. I recalled how I felt when I saw the films of Sean Connery. Skyfall is even a bit 'darker than usual. " Shot in Istanbul and the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, then Shanghai and Macau, Bond Sam Mendes' is a lone wolf. " And Daniel Craig, 44, adds: "Everyone knows what Sam and I are big fans of Bond. Connery was the largest to define this role. He was bad, sexy, animalistic and style to spare. If I'm here I owe to him. "
(23-04-2012)

[Thunderpussy]

" A Darker Bond", So the same old crap as the last two.
Can't see how they will mix a Darker Bond with Craig's statement " I'm very CAMP in this one "
another Turkey on the way for D Craig, ( Mabey filming in Turkey was an In Joke )

[The Sweeney]

I've learnt to take everything with a pinch of salt as far as PR goes prior to a Bond film, as EON spin any old BS.
I remember Foster stating before QoS was released that it was influenced by 70's conspiracy thrillers such as Parallax View and All the Presidents Men......

(no mention of Bourne though...)

[Omega]

I've learnt to take everything with a pinch of salt as far as PR goes prior to a Bond film, as EON spin any old BS.
I remember Foster stating before QoS was released that it was influenced by 70's conspiracy thrillers such as Parallax View and All the Presidents Men......

(no mention of Bourne though...)

The build up this time is very bi-polar, last week Craig said it is very campy which we had doubts about what he considers campy and how well he can do it, and this week it seems to line up with set designers morose dark soul reflecting concept.
But QOS at this point in history was a master script with a sublime director, One difference is QOS they were really globe trotting but it didn't show up on screen, this time its all second unit which may show up on screen. By show up on screen I mean the money showing up on screen, QOS they could of CGIed it for all it mattered.

Hey Sweeney since you're in the UK film business do you think the Olympics was a April fools day joke?

[bjmdds]

Cr-egg has been an April fool's joke on the public since October 2005. Where is Forster now, oblivion, after his Bond flop?

[FormerBondFan]

BJ....let's say we give our money to the Bat this summer, shall we?

[katied]

Completely agree on the bi-polar comment. Serious or funny, which one is it? Yet another reason not to waste $10.

[bjmdds]

$13.00 in NYC now and will be higher in November. FBF, the dough shall be 'batted', 'twilighted', 'hobbited' and 'avenged', but not 'skyfalled'.

[FormerBondFan]

$13.00 in NYC now and will be higher in November. FBF, the dough shall be 'batted', 'twilighted', 'hobbited' and 'avenged', but not 'skyfalled'.

Speaking of Twilight, I was tempted to buy Twilight 4.1 when it was out in stores for the first time.

[Kristatos]

It's camp. But it's dark camp. Or something.

[Mazer Rackham]

It's camp. But it's dark camp. Or something.

They think FRWL is dark.

Skyfall is shaping up to be another a revenge drama. Which I am glad they are doing it, they're going to push the Craig envelop and well see how well it plays. I'm betting they hit more sour notes.

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Mendes had come to see Craig on Broadway with Hugh Jackman in "A Steady Rain," the actor suggested, "What about doing the next Bond movie?"

Michael Wilson says that the film "is about Bond defending MI6, the country and the realm"

Empire suggest from their on-set visits that his plot involves "computers and the control of information."

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Midas Mendes -three essentials to a Bond movie: 1) "There needs to be a female contingent that interacts with Bond in a way that verges on the racy side." 2) "He doesn't live entirely in the real world, in the sense that you can't put him on the street. He's not Bourne. Bourne is a footsoldier. You walk into Waterloo station this morning, he's probably there, standing next to you. Bond can't do that. He has to have his own space around him." 3) "He also can't work in tandem with another man of a similar age. You can't be Butch and Sundance. You can't have a buddy. There's this constant tension where he only has relationships with his senior figures in MI6 - and women."

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Casino Royale & Quantum of Solace" were unusually dour for the series, nodding more to the Timothy Dalton era than the Connery films. But with the revenge plotline jettisoned for the moment, Mendes suggests that this film could be lighter in tone, with the director saying that it's "more playful than the last two," comparing it to "Goldfinger" as well as the darker "From Russia With Love" and "Live And Let Die."

[The Sweeney]

Hey Sweeney since you're in the UK film business do you think the Olympics was a April fools day joke?

It appears as though the Danny Boyle Bond film for the Olympics story is genuine...is that what you are referring to?

[Blowfeld]

Hey Sweeney since you're in the UK film business do you think the Olympics was a April fools day joke?

It appears as though the Danny Boyle Bond film for the Olympics story is genuine...is that what you are referring to?

Bond, Games Bond is legit? What a travesty. I still can't credit it because it seems so crass, then again these clowns invited all the members of The Who including the dearly departed.


Boyle said in January it was based on The Tempest

Boyle told The Telegraph:

“Caliban’s speech…which is one of the most beautiful speeches in Shakespeare, is about the wondrous beauty of the island and in this case Caliban’s deep, personal devotion and affection for it and that was something we all felt going into the show and wanted to reflect.”

Furthermore, as he told THR, this opener won’t embody the epic, awe-inspiring drum-beating thing that kicked off the Beijing games in 2010:

“You are standing on the shoulders of giants when you do this kind of job. You can not but live in the shadow of your predecessors. The spectacle of Beijing was just breathtaking. The sheer beauty of Athens is very inspiring but I have to say that Sydney has inspired us. It got the feel of a people’s Games right.”

Boyle also cited budgetary reasons for the smaller scale.

Boyle and co-director Stephen Daldry (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) also apparently plan to continue their Tempest theme throughout the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

[The Sweeney]

The story has been circulated now by all international press, and so far no one has denounced it as an April Fool. In fact, the new Empire magazine Skyfall edition confirms it.

[carl stromberg]

I was looking forward to watching the Olympics opening ceremony but will now be reminded of how Daniel Craig is ruining the James Bond series when I watch it.

[bjmdds]

He will be wearing his infamous life preserver when they toss him out of the plane. Maybe he will land in the South China seas.

[Omega]

The story has been circulated now by all international press, and so far no one has denounced it as an April Fool. In fact, the new Empire magazine Skyfall edition confirms it.

Well then we'll have Katniss Everdeen and Hellboy open our Olympics. Maybe with a bottle of Heineken in hand .

I hoped since the latest interviews Craig and Babs didn't mention it. it was a joke.

[FormerBondFan]

Well then we'll have Katniss Everdeen and Hellboy open our Olympics. Maybe with a bottle of Heineken in hand .

Speaking of Hellboy, I hope Del Toro gets the third installment ready by 2014.

[shaken not stirred]

Michael Wilson says that the film "is about Bond defending MI6, the country and the realm"

The realm, what the hell does he think bond is now bloody thor , fear not dear maidens for I james bondeth shall destroy evil with My mighty walter ppk and some plane tickets along with a lot of unecessary pouting about the long flight, loss and pretty much anything, james bond away (bond flies).

If somone is making you pay more for your water I (puts hand to the skies) will stopeth themeth, now excuse me for a second I'm gonna practice My pouting at thateth wall.