The BJMDDS General Discussion Thread......

[Omega]

This weekends numbers

1. A Good Day to Die Hard $25 M $33.2 M
2. Identity Thief $23.4 M $70.7 M
3. Safe Haven $21.4 M $30.2 M
4. Escape from Planet Earth $16 M
5. Warm Bodies $9 M $50.2 M
6. Beautiful Creatures $7.4 M $10 M
7. Side Effects $6.3 M $19.1 M
8. Silver Linings Playbook $6 M $98.4 M
9. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters $3.4 M $49.6 M
10. Zero Dark Thirty $3.1 M $88 M

[The Sweeney]

I believe Bond-mania was really big in the late 70s, much bigger than the Craig mass-psychosis we have today.

I think you'll find the BO figures, and global critical reviews of both CR, and in particular SF, will prove otherwise.

I don't think Bondmania went past the 1960s

I agree, not the heights we saw at the GF and TB premiere's anyway, or the mass hysteria that followed Connery around in Japan in 1966/67.

[Count_Lippe]

I don't think Bondmania went past the 1960s

You're right, I should have said interest in Bond.

I think you'll find the BO figures, and global critical reviews of both CR, and in particular SF, will prove otherwise.

It's been an overhyped something with the Craig films, especially the latest one, not an interest in the classic Bond character.

[Count_Lippe]

TSWLM and MR were really big lavish productions as well, with huge sets, spectacular stunts and exotic locations.

Jaws became a popular character and came back a second time.

The Lotus car was a sensation.

The pre-credits scenes, ski jump and free fall respectively, were incredible.

All this was really Bond and beyond.

The Craig films have all been more anti-Bond, and probably attracted audiences who didn't care for the classic 007.

[Count_Lippe]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbzc3BRFT60[/video]

[Blowfeld]

I don't think Bondmania went past the 1960s

You're right, I should have said interest in Bond.

I think you'll find the BO figures, and global critical reviews of both CR, and in particular SF, will prove otherwise.

It's been an overhyped something with the Craig films, especially the latest one, not an interest in the classic Bond character.

Moore in the 1970 was everywhere his image bleed into the public consciousness. Jaws, the Lotus, the music, books and other paraphernalia. We have not seen that level of interest in Bond in long, long time.

[The Saint 007]

I like all the Roger Moore Bonds for various reasons, but The Spy Who Loved Me is my most favourite. In regards to Bond mania, I don't think the series is on the same scale of popularity as it used to be. Not sure if others here will agree, but I find the series is not as open to the younger audience now. Years ago, it seemed there was more Bond merchandise for kids like toys, books, comics, lunch boxes, games, etc. With the films being more dark and gritty, I don't see how the series is suitable/interesting for kids anymore. There's always the classic Bond films of course, but I think it's a shame how the series has sort of distanced itself from that demographic.

[bjmdds]

There was a Bond doll in the 1960s that had the right arm of Bond lower, then raise to shoot a cap gun. http://www.007collector.com/bond/wp-con ... -doll1.jpg Now, kids have video games to play of Bond films.

[The Sweeney]

The Craig films have all been more anti-Bond, and probably attracted audiences who didn't care for the classic 007.

Moore films were not classic Bond to me. The early Connery films is what I would define classic Bond. Moore's Bond was a different interpretation of the character, and probably won over lots of new fans in the 70's, from the generation before who grew up reading the novels and watching the early Connery flicks.

Likewise, Craig's films are now attracting a new audience for Bond, a new generation. And with the BO figures of SF surpassing anything Moore did, I think its inaccurate to state Craig's Bond has not been as successful as Moore in the 70's.

[Kristatos]

The Craig films have all been more anti-Bond, and probably attracted audiences who didn't care for the classic 007.

Moore films were not classic Bond to me. The early Connery films is what I would define classic Bond. Moore's Bond was a different interpretation of the character, and probably won over lots of new fans in the 70's, from the generation before who grew up reading the novels and watching the early Connery flicks.

Likewise, Craig's films are now attracting a new audience for Bond, a new generation.

Are they, though? Skyfall seemed to be firmly targeting the grey pound, with its "the old dog's still got some life in him" theme. Moonraker cashed in on the Star Wars craze, while Skyfall seemed to be going for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel's audience.

[The Saint 007]

A quote from stockslivevan from the Skyfall Spoiler Thread:

stockslivevan wrote:I'd argue that AVTAK was the last true traditional Bond movie that followed the formula by crossing every t and dotting every i. PTS, the title song, Bond flirting with Moneypenny, briefing with M discussing the villain of the film, then being sent off to confront said villain. All in that sequence.

TLD is really the first to start toying with the formula where you're never sure of who the real villain is until well into the middle of the film. Bond is briefed about his next mission: Assassinate Pushkin. But he goes out of his way trying to figure out Kara's role in the whole scheme before going after Pushkin. For me this film was always the real true beginning of Modern Bond. Where as Classic Bond (1962-1985) portrayed the character as generally an unflappable cool secret agent, Modern Bond is the beginning of the character being portrayed as more human.

I fully agree with this, as I've stated here a few times how I think the Connery/Moore eras are the most similar in terms of the formula and portrayal of the character. With Goldfinger, Bond slowly became more tongue-in-cheek, cool under pressure, and more fantasy elements were introduced. By Diamonds Are Forever, the series was more slapstick, already before Moore became Bond. I know some of the fans don't care for the silly humour, fair enough. But it's something that started with Connery, and then carried on with Moore.

[Count_Lippe]

To me The Living Daylights was the last true Bond film, as I've already stated in another thread.

Like OHMSS it was different from the preceding films, but definitely part of the series anyway.

But you're right in saying the Connery era and the Moore era were the really classic times, and they're long gone now.

Licence To Kill was a rather poor film, not very Bondian and very different from The Living Daylights.

I also don't understand what some fans see in Goldeneye, this was also a poor film with no Bondian feel whatsoever.

Tomorrow Never Dies was Brosnan's most traditional Bond film, and it was relatively well made with a fast moving story and lots of action.

The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day were also poorly made and tried to introduce some new stuff that didn't quite work.

All of the Brosnan films felt tired, the new elements didn't work and the classic stuff felt like clichés.

Something needed to be done, but instead of doing some adjustments the producers rebooted the whole franchise and created this new anti-Bond series instead.

[The Sweeney]

The Craig films have all been more anti-Bond, and probably attracted audiences who didn't care for the classic 007.

Moore films were not classic Bond to me. The early Connery films is what I would define classic Bond. Moore's Bond was a different interpretation of the character, and probably won over lots of new fans in the 70's, from the generation before who grew up reading the novels and watching the early Connery flicks.

Likewise, Craig's films are now attracting a new audience for Bond, a new generation.

Are they, though? Skyfall seemed to be firmly targeting the grey pound, with its "the old dog's still got some life in him" theme. Moonraker cashed in on the Star Wars craze, while Skyfall seemed to be going for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel's audience.

I wouldn't have thought the Exotic Marigold audience would be worth the biggest global BO draw since TB. It seems as though everyone went to see SF - young and old alike, with an attempt to keep older audiences happy, and also bring in new ones too.

[Mazer Rackham]

Craig hasn't brought in the younger audience, the demographics for Skyfall were older then DAD to QOS/Quark. The 50th appealed to older fans a lot of whom don't suppose they'll be around for the 60th & 70th. The young hoodie crowed is not wowed by Bond I don't know if it matters who is the lead.

The BO Skyfall did is what Bond should be doing every time out. The world market can easily support this and has capable of it for years, the producers and studio were happy with meager results although Bond became strong again with Brozza they should have looked to expanding the market rather than maintaining it. Which would have included letting Brozza and directors have some input on the character and direction of the stories.

The market has expanded, prices have gone up it almost does not matter if they sell fewer tickets as long as the revenues continue to be high, no studio cares if they spend $400 million to sell 80 million tickets, they care if they make $800m or $1b how many tickets it take to get there is immaterial. Although it's not, eventually it will bottom out.

[bjmdds]

A quote from Jefferson is: "There are two ways to conquer a country. One is by the sword. The other is by debt."

[kater23]

Both Craig and his missus were on the list of the sexiest actors and actresses in Total Film magazine.No accounting for taste,apparently.

[bjmdds]

While the rest of the world watches Adele sing Sk-awful at the Oscars I will listen to this instead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t3cBTb3xPc ABC tv is really pushing the 50th Bond anniversary emphasis on their commercials showing Brosnan, Adele, and Cr-egg in their promos. With Bassey singing as well, Eon will have their night with Adele winning the Oscar. FBF, how will you spend Sunday evening on the west coast? Perhaps you should watch a dvd of Bye Bye Birdie

[bjmdds]

I'd rather listen to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GolToP0QR7M Sunday night than Adele's Sk-awful dirge.

[kater23]

Unusually for me, I haven't seen any of the movies that are up for the big awards(best actor, actress, etc.)

[bjmdds]

They claim this Oscar season does NOT have the usual hype the past have had.