The BJMDDS General Discussion Thread......

[bjmdds]

...........reading other posts here, i see that some of you people think that
Craig in CR does not show any class or sophistication in the role of Bond.

..........but that was what CR was all about............it was about basically
a rookie goverment employed hitman learning the ropes of his job in being able to adapt and socialise in any situation in life in which his missions put him in to be able to carry out his job.

In CR for instance we see Bond transend as a guy running around in casual clothes at the start of the film, to one being converted by the high life from his experiences at the Casino and so forth, to acquiring the
mannerisms and trappings, in being able to socialize with people in those circles and dressing to suit.............and by the end of the film you have the Bond figure that everyone knows..........and Craig pulled that off with ease.

Its not that difficult to figure out!!!

EA

The rookie agent thing was a handy get out of jail card for Craig and his supporters. If you say "To be honest, I think Craig lacks the refined qualities needed for Bond and came across a bit thuggish" they can say that was the whole point, a young agent with raw edges. The problem is, Craig was 38 in CR. A bit old for that angle.

If Craig mumbles his way through the next one like a stroppy teenager it would make even less sense because he'll be a couple of years older.

The mumbling annoyed me as well James. I wonder how many others were affected by it?

[English Agent]

Totally disagree with your entire post.

Dont you remember the scenes where he learns about Martinis,
learns to wear Dinner jackets and how he acquires the Aston Martin?

I think most people learn about Martini's when their 17 not late 30's. As for learning how to wear a dinner jacket 'Are you taking the p*ss"? The guy was an officer in the Armed forces for a number of years. Surely, he would be able to afford one and had numerous occassions where he would have been required to wear one.

In his meeting with Dryden he looks smart with a nice fitted suit. Next minute he's crashing through walls and crane jumping looking like a Polish hod carrier.

Yes you've got me there 'Skywalker' about Bond dressing smartly.

........and reading the posts from 'James' and 'BJ', i do understand fully
your opposing views...........its just that while most of us are happy with
Craig (he's a very good actor) you guys want a different actor preferably taller, darker and suave who you feel fits in with the the typical Bond image as portrayed by actors in the past.

Didn't you guys think CR was a more grown up Bond film (than say AVTAK) and the sort of Bond film Fleming would of approved of?

Regards: EA

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

In CR for instance we see Bond transend as a guy running around in casual clothes at the start of the film, to one being converted by the high life from his experiences at the Casino and so forth, to acquiring the
mannerisms and trappings, in being able to socialize with people in those circles and dressing to suit.............and by the end of the film you have the Bond figure that everyone knows..........and Craig pulled that off with ease.

If you think that James Bond became "James Bond" at the age of 40 and before that he was a scruffy thug, then you have badly misunderstood Fleming's creation.

[English Agent]

In CR for instance we see Bond transend as a guy running around in casual clothes at the start of the film, to one being converted by the high life from his experiences at the Casino and so forth, to acquiring the
mannerisms and trappings, in being able to socialize with people in those circles and dressing to suit.............and by the end of the film you have the Bond figure that everyone knows..........and Craig pulled that off with ease.

If you think that James Bond became "James Bond" at the age of 40 and before that he was a scruffy thug, then you have badly misunderstood Fleming's creation.

How old was Bond in the first Fleming Novel

Mind you their have always been changes in screen adaptations from books!!

I don't think that after 40 years, cinema audiences would take to a young
Bond now!!

EA

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

How old was Bond in the first Fleming Novel

35, I think. 25-30 years old when he became a 00 agent.

Craig's Bond is a completely new, modern interprettion of James Bond that has nothing to do with Ian Fleming.

[Captain Nash]

It must really bug many of you here that Daniel Craig has been widely accepted as James Bond.
In his debut movie he has outgrossed all previous instalments (without inflation adjusted figures.) and has been the first actor in the role to be nominated for a major award for playing OO7.
Now with Bond 22 about to begin shooting what will the reason for your dislike be?
Still the height, the hair or the look?
Rant and rave all you like, these hissy fits over Craig and Eons direction are so amusing. I do hope someone from Eon visits the site for a good giggle.
But seriously if the argument over Daniel Craig as James Bond is going to continue in this vein, the next few years are going to be freaking boring. Come up with a new angle, something that can really be used to get other Bond fans thinking. Your first attempt failed, the press lament this site now, and other Bond fans have given up caring about the anti-Craig brigade.
Now fire back with some witty lines and it'll keep me happy. This place needs a spring clean.

[bjmdds]

Craig will be considered widely accepted IF Bond 22 trounces Bourne in it's opening, and continues to surpass Casino Royale in box office revenue worldwide. The UK will be an easy $100 million, given their obvious love for their home grown Bond actor;however,if the remainder of the ticket buying public went to see CR due to the overhyped boycott just to see what this situation was all about, will they return once again in 2008, or did they see Craig, and formulate their opinions? Do not think Bond 22 will be a slam dunk success, in fact, it could underwhelm at the box office, with Eon questioning their doubling of Craig's salary for Bond 22 and 23. Given the current spy film climate out there now, Eon will be gambling everything they can to try to pump up the success for Bond 22. The difference this time? If Craig is voted sexiest man alive, who cares now? If Craig is voted best dressed male, who cares now? If Eon pays off magazines huge dollars to plaster Craig's face all over their magazine covers, who cares now? If Bond 22 continues to mimic the Bourne films, it will be a negative comparison due to lack of originality this time. Craig will now stand alone in Bond 22 and he will be judged accordingly.Do not ask for whom the bell tolls ....it could toll for Craig in Bond 22!

[English Agent]

...........well with the pre-production of Bond 22 on its way, i hope everyone starts talking about the news from the film, as the info
is made available to the public.............with the locations for the
film being listed in Europe........i personally think we are looking
forward to another cracking film in Nov 2008 with Craig.

EA

[bjmdds]

You will get another film with Craig as Bond in 2008, but I do not think it will be as cracking as you think. It is time for Eon to release the title of the film already, be it Death to Spies, The Spy Who Hated Me, Diamonds Aren't Forever, etc. With a non-action director selected, you wonder what Eon has in store for their storyline.

[English Agent]

You will get another film with Craig as Bond in 2008, but I do not think it will be as cracking as you think. It is time for Eon to release the title of the film already, be it Death to Spies, The Spy Who Hated Me, Diamonds Aren't Forever, etc. With a non-action director selected, you wonder what Eon has in store for their storyline.

'BJ' i think that if Bond 22 turns out to be less than successful say, then
it will be due to a poorly made film, and not down to Craig's portrayal
of the character.

I agree that the new film should do stellar business in the UK, as people
here generally loved CR, and the ladies took to Craig.

Elsewhere in the world, business as usual, and probably a resonable BO
improvement in the North American market.

I dont think you guys can rely on having a new Bond in 2010, just because
Craig's contract expires..........if his next two films are very successful, then i'am sure the producers will try their best to keep him onboard,
even if he gets bored with the role.

EA

[bjmdds]

I am not so sure Bond 22 will do better than CR in the USA market at all. People got their curious taste of Craig and have demonstrated a propensity towards the Bourne spy genre. November 2008 will bare out the USA trend towards the newest Bond.

[Captain Nash]

By november 2008 Bourne will be forgotten and Sony will have spent millions of dollars promoting Bond 22.
Bond is still Bond. Too many fans and it would seem the general moviegoing public, there's no difference. It's just a small group of fans that can't accept change.
So why should everyone else suffer because of this minority group?
Bond 22 may do better or worse in the US, but movies are a worldwide market. Bourne may have outgrossed CR in the US, but who cares? As long as Bond 22 makes money, the franchise is safe and Craig has another film to make. Like it or not he's going to be Bond after 2010. My guess is the earlisest you'll see a new Bond wont be before 2012.

[bjmdds]

Nash, a scenario for you: You are in a singles bar with six other men. They happen to be the 6 actors who have played James Bond,all in their prime:Connery,Lazenby,Moore,Dalton,Brosnan,Craig, and you. The ladies have arrived and are checking out the male scene. I want an HONEST response from 001:WHO DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR 'LEAST' MALE COMPETITION IN THE ROOM?(I am not shouting by the way, just emphasizing the question)

[Captain Nash]

Well honestly I wouldn't be in a singles bar. Even hypotheticaly I couldn't be so up myself to say I would have no problem with the ladies over so and so.
So I cannot answer that scenario. Sorry.
Gotta say it's a bit of a weird question bj.

[Jedi007]

The bad thing for the anti-Craigs is that nothing that any of us do will make any difference.
The boycott ( yeah remember that, went well didn't it ? ) and even this site will not stop EON making another Bond film starring Daniel Craig. But then again all of the die hard Bond fans, whether pro- or anti- cannot change anything. We make up such a small part of the overall audience that it wont harm a film.
The only way to do that is for the money to drop off when the next film is released. And being that Bond has a strange place in many peoples minds then I can't see that happening. Bond is an event, a must do. People go to see Bond, because it's Bond. So you don't like Craig, well we're all different I think he gave a fantastic debut in CR and really nailed the part. The best characterisation of the Bond character since Dalton. (Who btw I wasn't that keen on when he landed the role in 1986, but after TLD I was sold)
So continue with this displeasure of a well received actor playing the worlds favourite spy. Churn out the same arguments over and over, and get those crystal balls to try and predict how Broccoli and Craig will fail. Your efforts are futile unless you can persuade joe public to not see the next Bond film.

That doesn't mean we're NOT allowed to voice our opinions while others are free to say that Lazenby/Moore/Dalton/Brosnan is crap. Craig is still not the perfect Bond, and like the other actors who took over the Bond character, he has many follies that we feel are not right for the character of James Bond. EA's post doesn't made any sense: Young Bond pushing 40? Bond's just learning how to dress properly when he's already 38? Come on, my father's has become a baker, a dining/service crew, an architect and a professor before he even reached 30 years of age! What is Craig's Bond doing during his entire army years, watching saturday morning cartoons?

[James]

It must really bug many of you here that Daniel Craig has been widely accepted as James Bond.
In his debut movie he has outgrossed all previous instalments (without inflation adjusted figures.) and has been the first actor in the role to be nominated for a major award for playing OO7.
Now with Bond 22 about to begin shooting what will the reason for your dislike be?
Still the height, the hair or the look?
Rant and rave all you like, these hissy fits over Craig and Eons direction are so amusing. I do hope someone from Eon visits the site for a good giggle.
But seriously if the argument over Daniel Craig as James Bond is going to continue in this vein, the next few years are going to be freaking boring. Come up with a new angle, something that can really be used to get other Bond fans thinking. Your first attempt failed, the press lament this site now, and other Bond fans have given up caring about the anti-Craig brigade.
Now fire back with some witty lines and it'll keep me happy. This place needs a spring clean.

It seems to really bug you that we're still here. You can always pop over to MI6 and discuss Daniel Craig's muscles if you don't like this site.

[English Agent]

...........going back to the Bourne thing.

People are saying that Bourne is the spy thing of the present.

True, the films are very popular in these times.......but will there be
any more.

A BBC poll run recently questioned who was more popular, Bond or Bourne..........and the result was roughly 66% voted Bond to 33% Bourne,
and i'am sure the gap would of been even wider if this poll had been started at the release of a Bond film rather than a Bourne film.

People here say that Bond copies Bourne.........there may be similar tones
say between CR and a Bourne movie, but generally they are two different
types of beast. Bond does not copy Bourne.

An email by someone to the BBC hit the nail on the head...........have you
ever heard anyone say they wanted to be Bourne..no........but countless
people have said they wanted to be Bond.

Despite the temporary popularity of other various spy/action films they only have a short lifespan.

EA

[Count_Lippe]

People are saying that Bourne is the spy thing of the present.

True, the films are very popular in these times.......but will there be
any more.

I hope not, and I don't think there will be any more.

[English Agent]

The bad thing for the anti-Craigs is that nothing that any of us do will make any difference.
The boycott ( yeah remember that, went well didn't it ? ) and even this site will not stop EON making another Bond film starring Daniel Craig. But then again all of the die hard Bond fans, whether pro- or anti- cannot change anything. We make up such a small part of the overall audience that it wont harm a film.
The only way to do that is for the money to drop off when the next film is released. And being that Bond has a strange place in many peoples minds then I can't see that happening. Bond is an event, a must do. People go to see Bond, because it's Bond. So you don't like Craig, well we're all different I think he gave a fantastic debut in CR and really nailed the part. The best characterisation of the Bond character since Dalton. (Who btw I wasn't that keen on when he landed the role in 1986, but after TLD I was sold)
So continue with this displeasure of a well received actor playing the worlds favourite spy. Churn out the same arguments over and over, and get those crystal balls to try and predict how Broccoli and Craig will fail. Your efforts are futile unless you can persuade joe public to not see the next Bond film.

That doesn't mean we're NOT allowed to voice our opinions while others are free to say that Lazenby/Moore/Dalton/Brosnan is crap. Craig is still not the perfect Bond, and like the other actors who took over the Bond character, he has many follies that we feel are not right for the character of James Bond. EA's post doesn't made any sense: Young Bond pushing 40? Bond's just learning how to dress properly when he's already 38? Come on, my father's has become a baker, a dining/service crew, an architect and a professor before he even reached 30 years of age! What is Craig's Bond doing during his entire army years, watching saturday morning cartoons?

What i was saying was that for the reboot thing in CR, i dont think the public worldwide would of accepted a very young Bond, after having a 40 something Bond in the previous 40 years of Bond movies.
It may not of been literally correct to the novels, but cinematically it
worked perfectly.
I think some of you guys are to analytical of the Bond thing.........
remember the Bond films you say you liked were even further away
from Flemings visions of the character.

[Count_Lippe]

BTW: I see your a Thunderball fan, just like me.

Have you visited that website that caters for fans of Thunderball?

I think its called 'Thunderball Obsessional' ?

EA

Yes I love Thunderball and I know about that site, nice one!