219 replies to this topic

[urhash]

Something about TWINE just oozed Bond cool - Brosnan at his most polished and confident in some terrific Bond scenarios. [...] I give this film full credit for hooking me into the suave world of James Bond and turning me into the Bond freak I am to this day. TWINE will always have a special place in my heart.

Ditto.

TWINE wasn't the first Bond film I saw... that honor goes to Goldeneye. But after seeing TWINE, it did capture my imagination and the film totally oozed the charm and suave that connect so many men with the world of Bond. The opening PTS was just an absolute blast, and when Bond dived underwater in the Q-Boat and straightened his tie and drew a laugh from everyone in the audience, it sealed the deal that this movie was going to be a fun experience and he was having just as much fun as the audience was. Granted the movie does falter towards the end, but the fact that it doesn't build up a story just to completely devolve to a final hour of non-stop balls to wall action (ahem TND, DAD) means the involvement in watching the first half isn't a waste.

[quantumofsolace]

Its difficult not to bash it because it's the worst Bond film. But it does have a good PTS, although overlong. The acting from the whole cast is bad but I blame that on Apted and not the actors

[Pete]

I'm one of those people who quite enjoyed TWINE, as I do GE & TND. It's not in my top 5 but might make my top 10......no just added it up it made 12. It has it's moments of madness, eg the boat going overland, (Moore's gondola scene springs to mind)but that is the only thing I probably have against it. As a "tick all the boxes" Bond film goes, it does it's job.

[Marketto007]

Here's the deal. I LOVE TWINE, it's the 2nd BEST Brosnan Bond movie...

1st - TND
2nd - TWINE
3rd - GE
4th - DAD



xxx

[Double-0-Seven]

The World Is Not Enough is a great Bond film. It has always been one of my favorites.

Recently, I've been watching Tomorrow Never Dies more and established that it is probably the most enjoyable Brosnan film. However, I still think that The World Is Not Enough is an excellent film. It's not half as bad as most people say. I rank it as one of my top favorites. I've never understood the bashing. It's better than quite a few Bond films, in my opinion of course.

It was the first Bond film I ever saw at the theatre, so that's one of the reasons why it will always be one of my favorites. However, the film itself has so many great things. The good definately outweighs the bad. Here are some of the good points:

- The pre-title sequence. Is it long? Yes, but it it is one of the best, if not the best, in the entire series. Brosnan really shines as Bond here.
- Brosnan's performance as Bond. As I said above, he really shines in the PTS, but also throughout the whole film. At this point you can tell he is really comfortable in the role.
- Sophie Marceau as Elektra. One of the most underrated Bond girls in the series, she was terrific.
- Robert Carlye as Renard. I thought he was a great villain. I also rather like the concept of the villain being unable to feel pain.
- The action sequences. While you could argue that the film could have done without a scene like the one at the caviar factory, I think the action sequences are done very nicely. Not to mention the caviar factory scene set up one of the best lines in the film, "The insurance company is never going to believe this".
- Valentin returning. It was a nice touch to have him return, especially for fans of GoldenEye.

There are many more that I could list, but I think those are most of the main points.

There is not much I would have changed. The film is great the way it is I think. The only thing I would have changed, of course, is having a different actress as Christmas Jones. Better yet, cut out her character entirely. Do the pipeline scene with Robinson and Bond. Make some slight dialogue changes and the film could have easily worked without the character.

Overall, The World Is Not Enough is easily one of the best, and most enjoyable Bond films of all time.

[john.steed]

TWINE is probably my favortie of the post Connery/Moore Bonds. A major reason for that is Sophie Marceau's Elextra King. I love the way that she manipluates everyone throughout the film, including M. The is also my favorite performance by Pierce Brosdan. I also love the opening boat race and the farewell to Q. All and all a fun 007 film.

[Daddy Bond]

TWINE is probably my favortie of the post Connery/Moore Bonds. A major reason for that is Sophie Marceau's Elextra King. I love the way that she manipluates everyone throughout the film, including M. The is also my favorite performance by Pierce Brosdan. I also love the opening boat race and the farewell to Q. All and all a fun 007 film.

Better than CR???

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

Actually I found The World is not Enough a little weaker than Tomorrow Never Dies and GoldenEye (My favourite). But it's better than Die Another Day, so, count me on as a The World is not Enough fan indeed.

[john.steed]

TWINE is probably my favortie of the post Connery/Moore Bonds. A major reason for that is Sophie Marceau's Elextra King. I love the way that she manipluates everyone throughout the film, including M. The is also my favorite performance by Pierce Brosdan. I also love the opening boat race and the farewell to Q. All and all a fun 007 film.

Better than CR???

Yep,I prefer Brosdan's third (and best) to Craig's first. I am going through all the Bonds and maybe my view will change after I watch Casino Royale again.

[DaveBond21]

I agree with those who say the action scenes later in the movie don't match up to the excellent PTS.

I like the late scenes in Istanbul, but earlier in the movie, something else could have replaced the pipeline scene, and I would have liked to have seen the caviar factory during the day. I always remember seeing the trailer in the cinema, and thinking there looked like too much action at night/in the dark. Daylight action scenes with real stunts always look better in my opinion.

[AngryPolarBear]

I think TWINE gets a lot of unnecessary bashing, at least compared to many older movies. I often hear "That just part of the charm" or "It's supposed to be silly" when people cite criticisms against films from example the Moore era. But with TWINE some show no mercy and act's like it's the devils work.

I'll be the first to address it's many flaws, but it's in no way a horrible movie. I personally enjoy it and think it's a decent Bond film. Not up there with the best off course, but not at the bottom of the list either.

[coco1997]

There is not much I would have changed. The film is great the way it is I think. The only thing I would have changed, of course, is having a different actress as Christmas Jones. Better yet, cut out her character entirely. Do the pipeline scene with Robinson and Bond. Make some slight dialogue changes and the film could have easily worked without the character.

Replace Dr. Jones with Robinson? That's an excellent idea! Mind if Mr. Blofeld and I use that in our inevitable "TWINE" rewrite?

[Pete]

I think TWINE gets a lot of unnecessary bashing, at least compared to many older movies. I often hear "That just part of the charm" or "It's supposed to be silly" when people cite criticisms against films from example the Moore era. But with TWINE some show no mercy and act's like it's the devils work.

Yep I feel the same, I prefer the Flemig driven bond films, by that I mean FRWL, OHMSS, CR, LTK & LTD. TWINE compared to most of the Moore films IMO is far superior.

I feel one of the best parts of this film is when he shoots Elektra, it's not what he does, but the reaction of M, it's the first time she witnesses in person how cold Bond is, yet he still has time to feel compassion.

[DaveBond21]

I think TWINE gets a lot of unnecessary bashing, at least compared to many older movies. I often hear "That just part of the charm" or "It's supposed to be silly" when people cite criticisms against films from example the Moore era. But with TWINE some show no mercy and act's like it's the devils work.

Yep I feel the same, I prefer the Flemig driven bond films, by that I mean FRWL, OHMSS, CR, LTK & LTD. TWINE compared to most of the Moore films IMO is far superior.

I feel one of the best parts of this film is when he shoots Elektra, it's not what he does, but the reaction of M, it's the first time she witnesses in person how cold Bond is, yet he still has time to feel compassion.

This reminds me that Judi Dench's M gets to see Bond doing his job more than M in previous incarnations. She sees him at work in tbhe PTS of Tomorrow Never Dies and also sees him kill the main villain in TWINE, as you mentioned, Elektra.

[Double-0-Seven]

There is not much I would have changed. The film is great the way it is I think. The only thing I would have changed, of course, is having a different actress as Christmas Jones. Better yet, cut out her character entirely. Do the pipeline scene with Robinson and Bond. Make some slight dialogue changes and the film could have easily worked without the character.

Replace Dr. Jones with Robinson? That's an excellent idea! Mind if Mr. Blofeld and I use that in our inevitable "TWINE" rewrite?

Feel free to use it.

[quantumofsolace]

I feel one of the best parts of this film is when he shoots Elektra, it's not what he does, but the reaction of M, it's the first time she witnesses in person how cold Bond is, yet he still has time to feel compassion.


That is a good scene, but most of this film is melodramatic soap opera.

[broadshoulder]

When M is kidnapped as part of a plot device you know a story has run out of original ideas.

TWINE is a cumbersome stodgy plod of a film with an overly ambitous script realised by people who are not quite up to its ambition. It wants to be a deep character piece but falls down, it wants to be a spectacle but falls down, it wants to be an action film but falls down.

It hits so many brick walls that it literally falls to pieces. The second worse 007 flick..

[dee-bee-five]

TWINE is a bloody good Bond film and I make no apologies for liking it. It has a (largely)great cast and an intriguing script. It gets a lot of bashing on here. But then I'm old enough to remember when Moonraker was hated by Bond fans. I'm also old enough to remember when OHMSS was widely reviled. I've said it before and I'll repeat it: TWINE will come to be regarded as a classic in time. It's just that some of us are slightly ahead of the game than others..

I'd sooner slap TWINE in the DVD player than the dreary Thunderball any day.

When M is kidnapped as part of a plot device you know a story has run out of original ideas.

Presumably, you've never read the superb Colonel Sun, then...?

[AngryPolarBear]

TWINE is a bloody good Bond film and I make no apologies for liking it. It has a (largely)great cast and an intriguing script. It gets a lot of bashing on here. But then I'm old enough to remember when Moonraker was hated by Bond fans. I'm also old enough to remember when OHMSS was widely reviled. I've said it before and I'll repeat it: TWINE will come to be regarded as a classic in time. It's just that some of us are slightly ahead of the game than others..

I'd sooner slap TWINE in the DVD player than the dreary Thunderball any day.

Oh, I agreed with you all the way until you mentioned Thunderball. I love that movie. I really love most of Connery's films. However, as I've said I feel TWINE get's a lot of unecessary bashing. It doesn't fully succed in what it tries to accomplish, but it still has a lot of good stuff in it.

In my opinion, it's far from worst. It's better than TND, DAD, AVTAK, TMWTGG, DAF etc.

[Jonathan D. Parshall]

I just re-watched all the Brosnans and I'm surprised to learn that TWINE is so dumped upon. Yes, the plot is a muddled mess and Christmas Jones is laughable, but there is several things that make it quite viewable.

1. The PTS. I agree it's probably the best, if a trifle long (Could the Spanish scenes have been cut?). Arnold really shows his talents and the entire chase sequence is an example of what Bond can do at its best.

2. Renard. One the great villains despite his limited screen time. He's a near-tragic figure and the longer the film goes the harder it is to hate the guy. As it becomes clear he's really a pawn in Elektra's game you feel some real sympathy for him. It's a shame he gets a lame death scene.

3. Elektra. A great Bond girl and a great villain. I think they hit a good balance between little girl lost and mad megalomaniac. I find interesting that we don't know wether she was always warped or the kidnapping did it to her. The latter idea is very interesting since it means Renard and Elektra created each other's destruction.

4. Brosnan. He put in a great performance in TWINE and you can tell he was fully comfortable in the role, like Connery in GF. In the same vain, I've rather watch a full-on Brosnan here than a disinterested Connery in YOLT. Brosnan humanizes Bond while adding some needed grittiness. I think the review of TWINE by James Berardinelli, says it best:

This is a rare movie in which we are given a clear picture of the character's loneliness - his dead wife is never mentioned, but her presence hovers over Bond almost from the beginning. 007 is also colder here than in any film since Licence To Kill. Brosnan actively works to bring the screen superhero closer to Ian Fleming's conscienceless secret agent.

All in all, not a terrible flick.

My ordering of Brosnans flicks:
1. TND
2. TWINE
3. GE
4. DAD

[Zorin Industries]

The PTS. I agree it's probably the best, if a trifle long (Could the Spanish scenes have been cut?).

I'm a TWINE basher so I won't stay long. But I always felt that the Bilboa scenes should have been the shortest, snappiest pre-title sequence, followed by the London stuff post-Garbage.

I could bash all day, but I will bow out here...

[Jim]

I've said it before and I'll repeat it: TWINE will come to be regarded as a classic in time. It's just that some of us are slightly ahead of the game than others..

Ah, but I've gone from loathing it to tolerating it and then back to loathing it as a monument to colossal rubbishness, so does that put me ahead even of your game, my poppet?

[AngryPolarBear]

The PTS. I agree it's probably the best, if a trifle long (Could the Spanish scenes have been cut?).

I'm a TWINE basher so I won't stay long. But I always felt that the Bilboa scenes should have been the shortest, snappiest pre-title sequence, followed by the London stuff post-Garbage.

Wasn't the PTS supposed to only include the Bilboa scenes first, but it was too short? So they put in the London chase to compensate, but then it really became too long...

[broadshoulder]

TWINE is a bloody good Bond film and I make no apologies for liking it. It has a (largely)great cast and an intriguing script. It gets a lot of bashing on here. But then I'm old enough to remember when Moonraker was hated by Bond fans. I'm also old enough to remember when OHMSS was widely reviled. I've said it before and I'll repeat it: TWINE will come to be regarded as a classic in time. It's just that some of us are slightly ahead of the game than others..

I'd sooner slap TWINE in the DVD player than the dreary Thunderball any day.

When M is kidnapped as part of a plot device you know a story has run out of original ideas.

Presumably, you've never read the superb Colonel Sun, then...?

I have indeed read Colonel Sun and thought the same "kidnap M" plot device was trite and unimaginative even back then.

But TWINE just self-destructs. It hasnt even got cause and effect. Why does Mr Bull leave a bomb in the safe house? What was his motivation? Did they edit out a scene?

[dee-bee-five]

I've said it before and I'll repeat it: TWINE will come to be regarded as a classic in time. It's just that some of us are slightly ahead of the game than others..

Ah, but I've gone from loathing it to tolerating it and then back to loathing it as a monument to colossal rubbishness, so does that put me ahead even of your game, my poppet?

Ah, Jim, you know you're not even in the game. As usual, you're sitting watching the rest of us play with an amused eyebrow cocked and a witty remark poised...

TWINE is a bloody good Bond film and I make no apologies for liking it. It has a (largely)great cast and an intriguing script. It gets a lot of bashing on here. But then I'm old enough to remember when Moonraker was hated by Bond fans. I'm also old enough to remember when OHMSS was widely reviled. I've said it before and I'll repeat it: TWINE will come to be regarded as a classic in time. It's just that some of us are slightly ahead of the game than others..

I'd sooner slap TWINE in the DVD player than the dreary Thunderball any day.

When M is kidnapped as part of a plot device you know a story has run out of original ideas.

Presumably, you've never read the superb Colonel Sun, then...?

I have indeed read Colonel Sun and thought the same "kidnap M" plot device was trite and unimaginative even back then.

There were have to disagree. I find Colonel Sun a brilliant addition to the literary series (light years ahead of the Gardner abominations) and believe it's actually better than lesser Flemings like TMWTGG and DAF. And the "kidnap M" plot is certainly better than the half-baked "assassinate M" plot of TMWTGG (and, yes, I know Fleming was dying when he wrote it so we must make allowances, blah, blah, blah).

Oh, I agreed with you all the way until you mentioned Thunderball.

Alas, I have a blind spot when it comes to TB. It's my least-favourite Eon Bond film. I find its deathly pace vexing.

[Quantumofsolace007]

I liked the film

[DaveBond21]

This thread was really meant to be somewhere for TWINE fans to chat. Hence the "no TWINE-bashers allowed" part of the title.

It's always nice to see people sticking up for it. The PTS is so good, that the rest of the film struggles to match it. Mind you, plenty of Bond movies have problems when it comes to the last 20 minutes. But the boat chase would have made a great finale.

[plankattack]

Regulars know I'm a confirmed TWINE fan. Sure it's got it's weaknesses, but it strove to be more than just "business-as-usual" and compared to it's "play-it-safe, stick-to-the-formula" predecessor, that's worth something.

Many of us have had a go at Broz's era, especially for being too formulaic, or too action-centric, or for having too many bad puns, or worrying too much about the video game tie-in; if those are the characteristics of EON 95-02, then TWINE is the odd-one out, and for me that's a good thing.

I've never been Broz-the-actor's biggest fan; yet strangely the Bond where he's got the most acting to do is, IMHO, his best performance and his best film. Whether or not you agree with how Bond is portrayed in TWINE, there's no doubt that Broz fills the role with more than the usual raised eyebrow or throwaway remark - something we think of when we criticise him as Sir Rog-lite, hybrid, etc.

DaveBond, you know I'm with you every step of the way!!

[Pete]

The second worse 007 flick..

Impossible.....there were 7 Roger Moore films before it.

[Napoleon Solo]

I think there was a genuine attempt to Fleming-ize the story. Elektra King, as some of the Fleming heroines, has a physical defect, for example. Bond killing Elektra, in the manner he did, was meant to evoke Bond as both, cold-blooded and, at times, sentimental. At the same time, there's a "paint by numbers" mentality involved (as if it were trying to squeeze in a certain number of action sequences).