The BJMDDS General Discussion Thread......

[bjmdds]

A novice director in this genre cutting his teeth on a Bond film? Risky.

This a vibe I keep getting, but it seems like if your favorite Bond contender was in this film, you'd have no problem with Forster. Yet because Craig is in it, everything must fail from director all the way to a boom operator's assistant who serves coffee.

Not accusing of such, but I always get that vibe from you. At least people like Skywalker show some optimism yet you doom and gloom. As if even if an experienced action director was up for Bond 22 you'd try to look for something wrong and exploit it non-stop by questioning every member like "is this what you want? what will you do if he does this?" You did that even with the unannounced title saying "they haven't got a title, something must be utterly wrong" even though it is not uncommon for Bond films to get a title while in the middle of shooting or finishing.

I have to agree with Stocks here, bj. I get the impression that the likes of Kristatos and Skywalker are still open minded about Bond 22, even if they don't like the actor, but you are just looking for any angle you can find to knock Bond 22, even slagging off the BO figures of Craig's other films, in some way hoping this will have a knock-on-effect with Bond 22.

I also wonder if you would still have the same doubts about Forster, had Brosnan been in this film.

Sweeney, with Craig in the role of Bond and Eon trying to reinvent the Bond 'wheel", and decisions made one after another in a divergent direction from a 'traditional' Bond film, why would I think differently? You very well know that TBM will 'resemble' another spy genre than it will Bonds 1-20, correct? So, enthused over what, should I be, as Yoda would say, to young Skywalker?

[bjmdds]

An admitted 'rookie action' director for his first time outing in a Bond film? I still believe they will go on unchartered waters with TBM, or else, why hire such a director?

I with you on this one BJMDDS. Eon have their stunt-teams and don't feel obliged to take a punt on an action director. With all the talk of following on from CR and pushing that approach further I expect another dry reading of James Bond with some anguished lip wobbling from Daniel Craig. Forster is an ok middlebrow director but not the most exciting name they could have come up with. Still, I'm sure when the film does arrive the Craig fanboys will act as though it's Gone With the Wind.

I think you are correct in your assumptions Terry. The pieces to this puzzle known to me as TBM simply do not add up to anything special.

[Skywalker]

A novice director in this genre cutting his teeth on a Bond film? Risky.

I think you've got to wait until the early reviews before you can speculate as to whether Forster will do a decent job. We already know from interviews that Bond 22 will begin where CR left off so I think we may well end up with a film very similar in style and tone as CR.

I am looking forward however, to see how Forster develops the character and whether he can bring back the smooth, charming agent that was so lacking in CR.

[bjmdds]

Chararcter development you will most certainly get young Skywalker,with some 'surprises', but do you really believe Craig can be 'morphed' into the smooth and charming agent you missed in CR

[stockslivevan]

BJ, what do you think of On Her Majesty's Secret Service?

[bjmdds]

I did not particularly care for Lazenby, but he was not awful. I did not like the lack of recognition between Bond/Blofeld, after having seen YOLT's storyline. I did not particularly care for Bond's marriage film, but I tolerated it. OHMSS is the film Craig supporters enjoy over the ones I enjoy;however, those like OHMSS are in the minority in the franchise. It bothers me when timelines and storylines from film to film do not mesh, no matter who is in the role. That is why CR made no sense, as Broccoli admitted, but as she said, "Doing book one as film 21 makes no sense, but it is fun". It seems she plans to continue with her 'fun', even if it invalidates the prior film history storylines, which you or anyone else cannot deny.

[stockslivevan]

I did not like the lack of recognition between Bond/Blofeld, after having seen YOLT's storyline.

That was because the Blofeld revelation was terribly handled, hell they had to recast the role in the middle of shooting. EON not only wanted to re-introduce the character for better, but they also wanted to stick to the book as close as they could. Making YOLT before OHMSS was a big mistake IMO. And I thought Savalas' introduction was better handled and shot, especially with Barry's music.

It bothers me when timelines and storylines from film to film do not mesh, no matter who is in the role.

But a timeline was never that much established in the series besides Bond being married and his nemeis being Blofeld.

OHMSS is the film Craig supporters enjoy

Why are you singling them out? There are more than just the Craig supporters that like that film.

those like OHMSS are in the minority in the franchise.

I wouldn't say minority, but certainly not the majority. Somewhere in between.

Which Bond films do you enjoy the most then BJ?

[Skywalker]

Chararcter development you will most certainly get young Skywalker,with some 'surprises', but do you really believe Craig can be 'morphed' into the smooth and charming agent you missed in CR

I guess we will find out later this year.

[The Sweeney]

Chararcter development you will most certainly get young Skywalker,with some 'surprises', but do you really believe Craig can be 'morphed' into the smooth and charming agent you missed in CR

I guess we will find out later this year.

A refreshing comment to hear, Skywalker.

[bjmdds]

I did not like the lack of recognition between Bond/Blofeld, after having seen YOLT's storyline.

That was because the Blofeld revelation was terribly handled, hell they had to recast the role in the middle of shooting. EON not only wanted to re-introduce the character for better, but they also wanted to stick to the book as close as they could. Making YOLT before OHMSS was a big mistake IMO. And I thought Savalas' introduction was better handled and shot, especially with Barry's music.

It bothers me when timelines and storylines from film to film do not mesh, no matter who is in the role.

But a timeline was never that much established in the series besides Bond being married and his nemeis being Blofeld.

OHMSS is the film Craig supporters enjoy

Why are you singling them out? There are more than just the Craig supporters that like that film.

those like OHMSS are in the minority in the franchise.

I wouldn't say minority, but certainly not the majority. Somewhere in between.

Which Bond films do you enjoy the most then BJ?

I thoroughly enjoy Connery's first 5 films, thought DAF was not his best, and thought NSNA was a horrid experiment for him as Bond. I am not a Lazenby fan, but he was not awful as Bond. I liked Moore's films, except for FAVTAK which he never should have made. I am not a Dalton fan and his two films could easily be passed over by me. I liked the first 3 1/3 Brosnan films; the last 2/3 of DAD annoyed me. You know my regards for CR. All in all, Connery, Moore, and Brosnan are all good in my book except the storylines involving their last Bond films each one made.

[bjmdds]

Question for all: Do you have a favorite OPENING SEQUENCE from all prior 22 Bond Films(including NSNA)? I thought Moore's ski slopes sequence in TSWLM was quite entertaining. I thought that Craig's introduction sequence was quite lacking as well.

[stockslivevan]

Question for all: Do you have a favorite OPENING SEQUENCE from all prior 22 Bond Films(including NSNA)? I thought Moore's ski slopes sequence in TSWLM was quite entertaining. I thought that Craig's introduction sequence was quite lacking as well.

GE is a good one, blowing up a factory, going back then fighting a big guy who ends up getting electrocuted to death.

OHMSS was a perfect intro for Lazenby with the lighting of the cigarette. Pure Bondian.

DAF was going good up until Blofeld and Bond interacted. I did like the "welcome to hell Blofeld" bit.

TLD was a great intro for Dalton, with the three 00-Agents building up on who is Bond. Fights a baddie, lands on a woman's boat by parachute and having a drink with her. "Excersice control team, 007 here, I'll report in an hour... better make that two."

GE had a nice stunt sequence and some good action. It would have been a nice short film for 007.

CR finally brings a PTS that isn't yet another action extravaganza since TMWTGG. Low-key, black and white and a noir feel, I thought it was a great intro for Craig. The final shot with the gunbarrel of the gun of a man as Bond's first kill was a nice touch.

[bjmdds]

Who's 'intro' was your favorite, of the 6, Dr. No, OHMSS, LALD,TLD,GE,or CR? I would say GE, the bungi jump was a nice touch.

[stockslivevan]

The best Bond intro is easily Connery's.

Mine in order:

DN
CR
OHMSS
TLD
GE
LALD (far below the rest)

[bjmdds]

LALD's intro was pretty weak. As a matter of fact I met the Italian agent Moore's Bond was with at the LALD intro, "Finalmente", 2 years ago at a local Chiller Theatre convention in New Jersey, USA. I asked her about "Finalmente", and guess what, she had NO CLUE what I was inferring to her until I told her and then she said she did remember that film. I also met Caroline Munro there, she put on some weight, but was very friendly to the public, and yes, she certainly did remember her role in TSWLM.

[stockslivevan]

LALD was quite forgettable imo, and TSWLM was a much bigger hit and had more praise than LALD got, so I don't expect Caroline Munro to forget it, espcially since she had a larger role than the one who played the Italian agent.

[Kristatos]

LALD's intro was pretty weak. As a matter of fact I met the Italian agent Moore's Bond was with at the LALD intro, "Finalmente", 2 years ago at a local Chiller Theatre convention in New Jersey, USA. I asked her about "Finalmente", and guess what, she had NO CLUE what I was inferring to her until I told her and then she said she did remember that film. I also met Caroline Munro there, she put on some weight, but was very friendly to the public, and yes, she certainly did remember her role in TSWLM.

If we're namedropping, I once met Lon Satton, who played the CIA agent who got killed in LALD (can't remember the character's name, but he was murdered in the second New Orleans funeral - not the one in the PCS, but the reprise that happens later on in the movie). I won't say under what circumstances I met him, as it might violate the Official Secrets Act. That makes it sounds very glamorous, but it's actually related to some quite mundane civil service work that I was doing at the time, though it would still be a breach of confidence if I were to post it on a public forum.

[bjmdds]

LALD was quite forgettable imo, and TSWLM was a much bigger hit and had more praise than LALD got, so I don't expect Caroline Munro to forget it, espcially since she had a larger role than the one who played the Italian agent.

Especially with Kotto going from a Las Vegas card dealer to Mr. Big the next film. Those are little things that irritated me over the years with Eon. They knew we would realize these things, but did not care, because people keep coming back for more Bond.

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

LALD's intro was pretty weak. As a matter of fact I met the Italian agent Moore's Bond was with at the LALD intro, "Finalmente", 2 years ago at a local Chiller Theatre convention in New Jersey, USA. I asked her about "Finalmente", and guess what, she had NO CLUE what I was inferring to her until I told her and then she said she did remember that film. I also met Caroline Munro there, she put on some weight, but was very friendly to the public, and yes, she certainly did remember her role in TSWLM.

If we're namedropping, I once met Lon Satton, who played the CIA agent who got killed in LALD (can't remember the character's name, but he was murdered in the second New Orleans funeral - not the one in the PCS, but the reprise that happens later on in the movie). I won't say under what circumstances I met him, as it might violate the Official Secrets Act. That makes it sounds very glamorous, but it's actually related to some quite mundane civil service work that I was doing at the time, though it would still be a breach of confidence if I were to post it on a public forum.

I bet, Kristatos, that you always find a place for that anecdote at dinner parties.

[Kristatos]

I bet, Kristatos, that you always find a place for that anecdote at dinner parties.

Only dinner parties full of hardcore Bond fans. Of which I have been to precisely none.