232 replies to this topic

[Righty007]

Felix wasn't Bond's friend or henchman in Casino Royale, he was an ally. You don't become somebody's friend the first day you meet. It takes a little while to build trust, etc.

[Skudor]

I think they should just leave old Felix out of the movies. He made sense in CR because he's in the book. In the movies there's rarely any good reason for him to be there in the first place - better to just have some random, meaningless characters. To build a meaningful relationship between Bond and Leiter would only be a distraction.

[Judo chop]

I think they should just leave old Felix out of the movies. He made sense in CR because he's in the book. In the movies there's rarely any good reason for him to be there in the first place - better to just have some random, meaningless characters. To build a meaningful relationship between Bond and Leiter would only be a distraction.

I take it my post didn

[Daddy Bond]

I think we need to find out why he didn't pick up Le Chiffre though.

[Skudor]

I think you made some excellent points! My view is simply that following on from that argument I'd rather have no Felix than to waste screen time developing a Bond/Leiter relationship.

[Judo chop]

I think you made some excellent points! My view is simply that following on from that argument I'd rather have no Felix than to waste screen time developing a Bond/Leiter relationship.

A couple points I

[Skudor]

Why not just get Bond a dog? Call it Fluffy or something.

Sure, they could develop Felix over several movies, but to do that seriously they'd need to make sure they keep JW. Otherwise, again, there's really no point. And I'd still rather not waste too much screen time on it.

Bond and Vesper is a whole different kettle of fish. Not really comparable in my books.

[Judo chop]

Why not just get Bond a dog? Call it Fluffy or something.

Sure, they could develop Felix over several movies, but to do that seriously they'd need to make sure they keep JW. Otherwise, again, there's really no point. And I'd still rather not waste too much screen time on it.

Bond and Vesper is a whole different kettle of fish. Not really comparable in my books.

I read

[00Twelve]

I have to agree with Judo there. Seriously, it worked well for the novels. I, for one, don't see why developing Bond & Leiter's friendship a la how it was done in the novels would be a bad thing. It should never take up as much time as Bond & Vesper's relationship by a long shot. But yes, over an arc of several films, it would add a depth and tangibility to Bond that might attract more fans who want more meaty stories than action fare.

In Fleming's second novel, Bond and Felix really feel like partners. Near-equals. And it works. Felix isn't just the sidekick who smirks at Bond's remarks and rolls his eyes at the way Bond leaves him messes to clean up. He is the one guy that Bond has learned to trust, and that after his CR experience. And after Felix' near-demise, it ups the suspense ante in the story considerably, and later in the literary canon, his disability added character, and the continuing relationship with Bond added to both of them, or so I thought.

In the films, they never really went through this development. Felix just kind of showed up as Judo said, to make Bond look even cooler by comparison. It didn't really make Bond more of a 3-D character. They finally did use the shark attack storyline, but that was the last time he was see before the reboot, for whatever reason.

Now, they've rebooted Bond, rebooted continuity, and, obviously, rebooted Felix as well. Some of us would really like to see what Bond having an actual trusting partner/friend would be like for more than one film.

Oh, and definitely, they need to keep Jeffrey Wright for that. That's a given, IMO. But he's not the type to demand higher salaries from what I've seen. He's a character actor, and I'm sure he'd be happy to reprise his role in Bond. At least, I'd be surprised if if he didn't.

[Judo chop]

Allow me to extend a judo-chopping handshake to you, 00Twelve.

Proceed with caution though... it sometimes has a mind of its own.

[Skudor]

Don't we then risk ending up with a buddy movie a couple of films down the line? I can see the merits of establishing a decent relationship between Bond and Leiter - I'm just not convinced that it wouldn't get in the way of Bond getting on with being in a Bond film.

[Daddy Bond]

You know I really can see both sides on this one. Part of me wants Bond to be the lone character (with minimal support) getting the job done. On the other hand, it would be interesting to see where the new reboot could take Felix (as long as he didn't get in the way).

[00Twelve]

Don't we then risk ending up with a buddy movie a couple of films down the line? I can see the merits of establishing a decent relationship between Bond and Leiter - I'm just not convinced that it wouldn't get in the way of Bond getting on with being in a Bond film.

No, I certainly don't mean something like that. Bond & Felix operating in a pseudo-partnership for half the story only worked once in the books, and that would have only added up to about half the story. After that, if films had followed the books, Felix would have only gotten 10, *maybe* even 15 minutes of screentime. That's all I'm talking about. And not every movie. Really, there's no one besides Bond and M that I want to see every movie. But 10-15 minutes written well can be plenty of well-spent time. But no, I wouldn't want it to get all Starsky & Hutch, either.

Again, I'd only want to see this at all if Wright stayed around.

[Judo chop]

Don't we then risk ending up with a buddy movie a couple of films down the line? I can see the merits of establishing a decent relationship between Bond and Leiter - I'm just not convinced that it wouldn't get in the way of Bond getting on with being in a Bond film.

No, I certainly don't mean something like that. Bond & Felix operating in a pseudo-partnership for half the story only worked once in the books, and that would have only added up to about half the story. After that, if films had followed the books, Felix would have only gotten 10, *maybe* even 15 minutes of screentime. That's all I'm talking about. And not every movie. Really, there's no one besides Bond and M that I want to see every movie. But 10-15 minutes written well can be plenty of well-spent time. But no, I wouldn't want it to get all Starsky & Hutch, either.

Again, I'd only want to see this at all if Wright stayed around.

Wright!

Er

[Colossus]

I hope he has a bigger part in 22. I liked the comradery of the Felix's from Dr. No and Never Say Never Again the most.

[Righty007]

He's back!

[killkenny kid]

He's back!

Indeed.

[Mr. Blofeld]

He's back!

Indeed.

And in name.

[Qwerty]

Good news indeed.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Oh brother!

[sharpshooter]

Excellent. I am glad he and Craig returned, after his line 'Does it look like we need the money?'

[Simon]

Probably good for continuity if the only other defined friendly regular is M (Mathis' overall friendliness still to be confirmed)

[DamnCoffee]

Brilliant News, I love the fact that EON are casting the same person to play Felix . I'm really Excited now!

[Judo chop]

Never had any doubt about his return. Or rather, willingly chose not to suffer doubts about his return.

[DamnCoffee]

I hope Wright gets more screen time this time round and more involved in the action. I liked his character in Casino Royale but I still think his talents were pretty wasted, all he had to do was sit down, order drinks and play cards thats about it. It would be nice if he and Bond were tailing someone together or spending time together, I quite liked the scene in Thunderball when Bond and Felix were in the Helicopter - it showed quite a bit of Character development.

[HH007]

Yay, he's back. Good. Maybe now we'll find out what the hell he was doing when Bond was kidnapped by Le Chiffre.

[One-Ten]

I share your expectations Mharkin...Wait and see.

Edited by One-Ten, 03 January 2008 - 05:12 PM.

[Judo chop]

Yay, he's back. Good. Maybe now we'll find out what the hell he was doing when Bond was kidnapped by Le Chiffre.

Good question. Back at the bar trying one 'with the fruit'?

[Righty007]

I hope Wright gets more screen time this time round and more involved in the action. I liked his character in Casino Royale but I still think his talents were pretty wasted, all he had to do was sit down, order drinks and play cards thats about it. It would be nice if he and Bond were tailing someone together or spending time together, I quite liked the scene in Thunderball when Bond and Felix were in the Helicopter - it showed quite a bit of Character development.

He didn't have much screen time but his talents weren't wasted. He had three of the best lines in the film:

1. "My friend, bring me one as well, keep the fruit."

2. "I should have introduced myself, seeing as we're related. Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."

3. "Does it look like we need the money?"

[Vauxhall]

This must be a record with five characters (and their respective actors) from CASINO ROYALE returning in BOND 22?!