James Bond: Skyfall
- Thread starter Monster Dave
- Start date
Solo4114
Master Member
Not me, man. I LIKE that it's no lighthearted.
Make no mistake: Bond is a mix of detective and hired killer. I like that the films don't try to sugarcoat the violence by defusing it with a "witty quip." It was one thing when Bond said something grim like "That's a Smith and Wesson. And you've had your six." That's not a quip. Oddjob being electrocuted and Connery quipping "Shocking..." THAT's a quip. And while it was fine in its time, I'm glad we have something different now.
That's not to say you can't have moments of levity and humor. You see that interspersed in Casino Royale. For example, when Bond wins the car in the poker game, or when he seduces the guy's wife, gets information out of her....and then just up and leaves. You also get the line when Bond's facing the man he was sent to kill, having already fought in the bathroom against the other guy. The target says "So, you've made your first kill. One more and you get your double-o. You'll find that the second kill is--" and Bond shoots him, then says, "Yes. Considerably." Not a quip, but a bit of black humor.
I think you can find the right balance of humor, but it shouldn't be goofy lighthearted humor. You're dealing with people who want to topple governments, commit acts of terrorism, etc., or people who are killing them because that's their job. You're dealing with themes of revenge, love cut short by death, etc. This is serious stuff.
Besides, if you want lighthearted Bond, you have twenty (20) films' worth of gadgets and humor, some of it wry quips, some of it slapstick for pete's sake.
Must.. resist.. respect.. and understand..
I agree Solo. 110%. . . . But it wasn't Oddjob that Connery quipped about when he got electrocuted. It was the unnamed thug that tried to kill Connery in the teaser to Goldfinger. He even followed it up with "Positively Shocking" when he looked at the girl recovering on the floor. I'm so sorry. :facepalm
You forgot one of my favorite "quip" in CR, Solo, it wasn't even verbal : the twisted smirk Bond has when the bomber finds out he's about to blow up, that was just perfect. No cheesy line, no joke, just fine acting. I really hope Skyfall will be as good as Casino Royal, QoS was a bit weak...
jlee562
Sr Member
I think we're closer to agreeing than disagreeing. Like I said, I don't mind at all the film's aesthetics and action being update to fit today's standards, but like many, I didn't really see Casino Royale so much as a Bond movie as it was a Bourne movie. Just a little nod to 'classic' Bond is all I ask.
As I've said before, Craig's Bond is what drew me into the Bond franchise. I have seen some of the classic Bond flicks along with Brosnan's films. For me, the Brosnan films were a little too lighthearted for my tastes. Craig's Bond is edgier, harder, and grittier, which I really enjoy.
I know some of the classic Bond fans don't agree, but to each their own...
Sean
I know some of the classic Bond fans don't agree, but to each their own...
Sean
Solo4114
Master Member
Crap. You're right. I totally forgot that. Good catch!
Still, my sense of those kinds of things have always been that they put the quips in there specifically to lighten things up because, otherwise, it's a pretty damn brutal killing.
Good point on that one, too. And it gets at what I'm talking about. It's humor, but black humor. Not goofy humor. And it fits in the moment. Plus, the weight of the rest of the movie shows the toll that the lifestyle takes on Bond. It's not as if the whole thing is nothing but "Not a good way to get AHEAD in life. He'll never be the HEAD of a major corporation. So much for standing HEAD and shoulders above the rest..." I mean, one of the aspects of sheer brilliance of the original Austin Powers film was how spot on it was in its lampooning of the Bond series. All done with love, of course, but still, a spot on critique.
I think it needs to be a balance, yeah. I found QoS to be almost unrecognizable as a Bond film, personally. There needs to be SOMETHING to distinguish the films from other spy movies. But quips and gadgets are, to me, the weakest aspect of that. I expect SOME gadgetry. That makes sense to me. But sometimes it's just gadgets for the sake of having gadgets in the film, rather than things which make sense as kit for a field agent.
The From Russia With Love attache case makes perfect sense. Some of the other gadgets do, too. But soooooo many of them just seem over the top and silly (which fits with the rest of the films). I thought, for example, that the defibrillator in the car in CR made perfect sense. The car couldn't fly, turn into a submarine, and launch missiles from its exhaust pipes...but having a compact defibrillator made sense, kinda. Other concealed weaponry to be carried on Bond's person would make sense too, as would, say, a PDA that can do more than what your average smart phone can.
But that just sort of hits the point -- as technology has increased, the need to MAKE Bond gadgets stand out did, too, to the point where it got ridiculous. That's why I say there needs to be a balance. Bond having a phone that can do XYZ advanced function? Sure. Bond having a tuxedo akin to Spiderman's symbiote suit? No way.
I saw my first Bond movie at about age 8. It was Goldfinger, on VHS. The first Bond film I saw in a theater was Living Daylights that same year. I loved it. Still do. I love many of the classic Bond films, in spite of their occasional goofiness. But I'm also glad to see a change in direction for the franchise. I wasn't fond of QoS, but I'm hopeful for this next one.
people who complained about CR and QoS not being "Bond" movies sorta missed the point of them i think..... they were "Bond BECOMING Bond" movies.
to me QoS had the perfect ending line:
when M says something like "we want you back"....
Bond says..."I never left..."
THAT is Bond! dedicated to his job to the end...... He is not really doing a job he IS his job.... THATS Bond IMO
to me QoS had the perfect ending line:
when M says something like "we want you back"....
Bond says..."I never left..."
THAT is Bond! dedicated to his job to the end...... He is not really doing a job he IS his job.... THATS Bond IMO
Which Connery Bond film is that? Goldfinger? I can't remember.
The Craig Bond films have been so much more serious and the usual Bond silliness kept to a minimum. All the good stuff I like they kept and all the things that made me cringe are gone. Far far preferred and I hope even after the character is re-cast at some point they keep Bond in the realm of plausible.
I'm pretty sure it is Goldfinger
I didn't like Quantum of Solace much, then saw it on TV a few times. It actually has many good parts. But the stupid parts erase your memory of them.
The car chase at the beginning was great, but quickly followed by a long pointless foot chase through streets and crowds with horses and whatnot. It could have been cut down to 10 seconds.
The entire movie was that way. They were doing a modern Bond, but had an urge to go back to the 'old style' bond.
The car chase at the beginning was great, but quickly followed by a long pointless foot chase through streets and crowds with horses and whatnot. It could have been cut down to 10 seconds.
The entire movie was that way. They were doing a modern Bond, but had an urge to go back to the 'old style' bond.
A couple new scenes
SKYFALL Costume Videoblog - YouTube
SKYFALL Costume Videoblog - YouTube
Similar threads
