38 replies to this topic

[HildebrandRarity]

But then again I never noticed the gunbarrel blood wiping Lazenby clean off the screen before either!

Well, no; he turns into a silhouette and runs into the credits. Am I the only one who thought that was a nice touch from Maurice Binder?

I think Prof Pi meant the gunbarrel.

It's the only gunbarrel out of the 22 where the image of Bond is completely wiped away by the blood when it pours down and over the gunbarrel. In the other 21 gunbarrels, the silhouette or image of Bond remains.

It was an in joke by Cubby, Harry and Maurice. They were symbolically wiping out Lazenby as, by then, the Aussie was no longer in the role.

No, that's not true, and you know it.

Also, if you read the rest of his post, you'll notice that I was referring to his earlier comment in the same post on what Lazenby does after he says the one-liner.

1. What's not true?

2. I'm sorry. I misunderstood. Apologies. I do like what Binder did with Bond "going into" the Main Titles accompanied by Barry's awsome theme.

[Judo chop]

I’m not bothered by it, really. It’s quirky, but doesn’t hurt my senses at all. In fact, I think given the fact that Laz ended up doing only one film, it’s stands as somehow more appropriate. I see it as a birthmark on the series more than I see it as a cyst or pimple. It’s also the case that I don’t see OHMSS as the epitome of Bond, so maybe I’m just not as defensive.

In perspective, it’s on the same level as the Tarzan yell to me, but not nearly as criminal as the slide-whistle. Yes, the Tarzan yell is dumb, but I like the way Tarzan yells (amazing really, how one can pop in and out of falsetto so abruptly like that), and it’s not like that scene was so precious to begin with. It’s ‘appropriate’ on a very simple level, and a little zaniness doesn’t really hurt what’s already zany.

The slide whistle, on the other hand, totally undermines what is otherwise a magnificent thing. It draws attention from one of the great vehicular stunts of all time.

I think having Laz speak to the audience can be seen as the producer’s confidence in the momentum of the series’ popularity at that point in time. In essence, by stepping out of the film you’re saying that you trust that the film can take care of itself. If that makes any sense.

In short, there are a hundred little things I’d change about the series before I’d change that line. If I’d change that line at all.

[MajorB]

I'm not crazy about it, but I think it's harmless as a one-time phenomenon--having a new Bond actor was, indeed, a HUGE deal back then.

Actually, the only other true fourth-wall breakage I can think of is in OP when Vijay plays the Bond theme as a recognition sign. The others were silly movie jokes, but they didn't specifically say "Yes, the actors know they're in a James Bond film."

As for Lazeby being wiped off the screen by the gunbarrel blood, I can't help thinking it was deliberate. Given how independently I think Binder tended to work, and how late he always turned in his stuff, it might have been his own in-joke.

[plankattack]

It is both a great line and a terrible line. Yes, he breaks the 4th wall (I don't care if he's looking to see if his fly is undone and not at the camera!) and if I'm in a fanboy-geek, everything Bond is sacrosanct mood, then it's a terrible line.

But as a throwaway moment, it's brilliant. It's a genuine attempt to get the audience on-side and IMHO it's not as obnoxious as the slide-whistle. It works because Laz has just stylishly and physically taken care of some goons and has already gone about setting up his "Bond." Personally, I find Hunt's decision to mimic DN with his initial introduction (shots in the car mirror, Laz lighting up) as a weaker move than the line.

I don't have a problem with Bond-films being self-aware - it's when they're referencing other films that I think the series gets it wrong (Lawrence of Arabia music, Magnificent Seven etc).

As for DC - I always thought that "I'm all ears" in CR was a reference to all the "too ugly" hyperbole at CraigNotBond. www.craignotbondandhemadejokesaboutitthetwat.com

Edited by plankattack, 12 January 2009 - 06:01 PM.

[Professor Pi]

But then again I never noticed the gunbarrel blood wiping Lazenby clean off the screen before either!

Well, no; he turns into a silhouette and runs into the credits. Am I the only one who thought that was a nice touch from Maurice Binder?

I think Prof Pi meant the gunbarrel.

It's the only gunbarrel out of the 22 where the image of Bond is completely wiped away by the blood when it pours down and over the gunbarrel. In the other 21 gunbarrels, the silhouette or image of Bond remains.

It was an in joke by Cubby, Harry and Maurice. They were symbolically wiping out Lazenby as, by then, the Aussie was no longer in the role.

No, that's not true, and you know it.

Also, if you read the rest of his post, you'll notice that I was referring to his earlier comment in the same post on what Lazenby does after he says the one-liner.

I did mean the blood in the gunbarrel. And Mr. Blofeld's right. Lazenby runs to his right, our left, but does indeed look straight into the camera beforehand. Then Maurice Binder's titles show Lazenby's silhouette running away from the camera (and the role, I guess!).

To be thorough, I checked some, but not all the other gunbarrels (DN, TB, YOLT, OHMSS, DAF, LALD, TLD, LTK, GE, DAD, and CR) and I have some distressing news. The blood in Casino Royale wipes out Daniel Craig's leg and much of the rest of him ...

... but then his image reappears as the blood begins to fade and the gunbarrel shrinks into the CR titles. Let the CBn conspiracy theories begin!

[Judo chop]

As for DC - I always thought that "I'm all ears" in CR was a reference to all the "too ugly" hyperbole at CraigNotBond.

Count me in among the believers. No coincidence that the shot in which he says the line is taken with a nauseating ‘peephole’ effect which accentuates his ears and other unique facial features, making him appear uglier than all sin.

It was kind of a "Here you go. Be careful what you wish for."

[Mr. Arlington Beech]

We know that this line is an inside-joke, but at the same time works perfectly as a Cinderella's reference (if you don't want that the fourth wall be broken).

[sharpshooter]

I'm not crazy about it, but I think it's harmless as a one-time phenomenon--having a new Bond actor was, indeed, a HUGE deal back then.

Without a doubt, the next Bond after Connery especially. I’m kind of indifferent about the line. It doesn’t really bother me that much, but I could do without it. But after such a great pre title sequence, I’m willing to let any qualms pass. They just wanted to have some little acknowledgement about the obvious fact that for the first time since 1962, they had a new man in the lead role. It's certainly a lot better than that face reconstructive surgery idea they floated.

[double o ego]

Peter Hunt suggested he say this line. Basically he's talking about Connery.

Don't try to find some kind of continuity or depth in this line. I tried.

It is the single most stupid and most idiotic line ever spoken in a James Bond movie. Period.

No other line even comes close to this.

In this line, LazenbyBond is speaking to the audience!

It's complete and utter bull[censored]!

I know you to be a reasonable and intelligent poster, most of the time so, I'm going to pass your comment off as you being overzealous with your anger.