18 replies to this topic

[ChristopherZ22]

I would like to know what everyone thinks makes a good Bond film. Is it a simple plot like Live and Let Die? A more sophisticated and complex plot such as The Living Daylights? A human Bond like Daniel Craig? A more Superman Bond like Roger Moore? Good action scenes and great stunts like in Octopussy? A more serious and realistic plot like Licence To Kill, or a more humorous and over the top plot to add entertainment value such as Moonraker? Sexy women? Great gadgets like in Goldfinger? Please share your thoughts on this.

[Aris007]

For me, stunning locations just like in OHMSS, Fleming elemented characters and a mixture of down-to-earth touches with a OTT plot on the whole. Well, just watch TB!

[Safari Suit]

It depends

[sthgilyadgnivileht]

It is a long list that starts with a decent script. The best Bond films are the ones that are well written and have a good story.
Other important things I would include are Cinematography, a Bond movie should simply look bloody stunning on the big screen.
CGI should only be used where it goes unnoticed. Stunts and SPFX should be done for real where possible, integrating the Bond actor into the scene.
A wide international cast of faces generally unknown to cinema audiences brings an element of intrigue and realism to the film and a distinctive musical score and title song are the icing on the cake. Ideally the audience should have the title song in their heads on the way home from the cinema.

[OmarB]

Film in the camera helps.

[Judo chop]

As does having James Bond.

Wish they'd thought of that before they wrote TWINE.

[Bryce (003)]

It is a long list that starts with a decent script. The best Bond films are the ones that are well written and have a good story.
Other important things I would include are Cinematography, a Bond movie should simply look bloody stunning on the big screen.
CGI should only be used where it goes unnoticed. Stunts and SPFX should be done for real where possible, integrating the Bond actor into the scene.
A wide international cast of faces generally unknown to cinema audiences brings an element of intrigue and realism to the film and a distinctive musical score and title song are the icing on the cake. Ideally the audience should have the title song in their heads on the way home from the cinema.

What he said.

[OmarB]

As does having James Bond.
Wish they'd thought of that before they wrote TWINE.

That's why I like you man, we are on the same page. Aside from my assumption that you are a fellow martial artist (because of your name).

So, thus far we need:
Bond
Film in the camera
A script (didn't one of the Brosnans not have a script when they started?)
An explosion ... because explosions are cool. Especially the ones the hero walks slowly away from and is too cool to even look back at the conflagration.

[Garth007]

I would say A Human Bond like craig, but with both Dalton films styles and as well with a great edge of your seat story like Inception which worked great by the way.

[Lachesis]

Balance, its not all action and brute force isn't the only valid solution.

Enemies that are both interesting in their own right and convey a real threat to Bond as well as to others.

A sense of danger yet one that breeds adventure and excitment we can enjoy and be thrilled by.

[David_M]

Safari suits with brown loafers.

[Messervy]

As does having James Bond.
Wish they'd thought of that before they wrote TWINE.

That's why I like you man, we are on the same page. Aside from my assumption that you are a fellow martial artist (because of your name).

So, thus far we need:
Bond
Film in the camera
A script (didn't one of the Brosnans not have a script when they started?)
An explosion ... because explosions are cool. Especially the ones the hero walks slowly away from and is too cool to even look back at the conflagration.

a good actor would also be a nice touch

[The Shark]

A great score.

[jaguar007]

Really it is hard to boil it down to a few things, a great Bond movie is made when everything melds well. I generally prefer a more down to earth Bond film like FRWL, OHMSS, TLD CR etc. However one of my favorites is TSWLM. Is goes against what I traditionally like in a Bond film but even though it was over the top, everything melded well and that movie just worked.

[john.steed]

People have already said a number of the things that I think go in to a great Bond film, such as a quality script and a great score. Similar to what jaguar007 just said, I do not believe the best Bond films require either a particular type of script, (“simple” versus “sophisticated”) or a single type of way to play Bond (“human” versus “superman”). My preferences are somewhat different than his because I prefer the more over the top type film. However, I think that some of the relatively down to earth films such as FRWL and OHMSS are among the gems of the series. I also think that one of the reasons why the Bond films have prospered so long is that the films have differed in tone and that the actors playing Bond have differed in their approach to playing the part.

[elizabeth]

Just having all the elements: good action, good love, good Bond, good everything!

[Guy Haines]

James Bond as a licenced killer, a blunt, if flawed instrument -rather than as a figure of fun.

More than one leading lady.

A villain who is a more than a match for Bond - physically, intellectually or both.

A henchman who is not a cartoon character, but a real threat.

An M, of either gender, who is clearly the boss.

A Q branch shown developing useful gadgets rather than a Bond/Q scene which is an excuse for throwaway visual gags.

(come to think of it, no throwaway visual gags)

Dark humour, coming out of an otherwise serious situation. Verbal rather than visual. We are invited to laugh with Bond rather than at him.

A plot that seems credible, even if it isn't (Thunderball providing a typical example - could a hijack of a Vulcan bomber really take place? No.... but if it could, this is how it might happen)

The real world as a backdrop. Locations as a relevant part of the story, rather than being shoehorned in because "we haven't been there before".

Memorable action scenes, two or three, rather than a succession that seem to merge into each other.

A great theme tune, performed by someone who should actually perform it, rather than whoever is the pop music flavour of the month.

And, it goes without saying, a great music score to match.

[Jeao007]

James Bond as a licenced killer, a blunt, if flawed instrument -rather than as a figure of fun.

More than one leading lady.

A villain who is a more than a match for Bond - physically, intellectually or both.

A henchman who is not a cartoon character, but a real threat.

An M, of either gender, who is clearly the boss.

A Q branch shown developing useful gadgets rather than a Bond/Q scene which is an excuse for throwaway visual gags.

(come to think of it, no throwaway visual gags)

Dark humour, coming out of an otherwise serious situation. Verbal rather than visual. We are invited to laugh with Bond rather than at him.

A plot that seems credible, even if it isn't (Thunderball providing a typical example - could a hijack of a Vulcan bomber really take place? No.... but if it could, this is how it might happen)

The real world as a backdrop. Locations as a relevant part of the story, rather than being shoehorned in because "we haven't been there before".

Memorable action scenes, two or three, rather than a succession that seem to merge into each other.

A great theme tune, performed by someone who should actually perform it, rather than whoever is the pop music flavour of the month.

And, it goes without saying, a great music score to match.

Agreed

[AMC Hornet]

(IMCO) A good Bond film should include:

An introduction for 007 like in DN, OHMSS, DAF, FYEO, TLD, GE or TND. Sure we know who he is, but I always enjoy the setup.

Exotic locations including a really snazzy, sophisticated backdrop for a little dialogue, like the casino in OHMSS & FYEO, the Mujaba club in TSWLM, Sugarloaf in MR or the hotel pool in OP.

An equally snazzy lair for the villain like in DN, TB, OHMSS, LALD & TMWTGG (not OTT like YOLT, TSWLM or MR).

A little sneaking around like at Auric's factory, Palmyra, the top of the Whyte House, the Venini glassworks, the Monsoon palace and the Ice palace (and like those scenes, with appropriate musical accompaniment).

A fight like in GF, TB, YOLT, OHMSS, DAF, LALD or OP.

A chase scene involving something besides cars, like in YOLT, OHMSS, LALD, TSWLM and LTK.

The villain should either be an arrogant, bloated capitalist like Goldfinger, Savalas' Blofeld, Stromberg and Elliot Carver, or a physical match like Celi's Largo, Dr. Kananga, Scaramanga, Sanchez, Trevelyan and Renard.

The henchman should be memorable a la Oddjob, Jaws, Gobinda, Stamper and Zao (Elvis? What kind of a wimp has another wimp for a henchman? Was his name ever even mentioned in QoS?).

Hot women with some acting chops, introduced in a suitably spectacular way (Honey Rider, Pussy Galore, Tracy, Solitaire, Octopussy).

Goodies from Q branch that Bond actually uses on an enemy.

It's time for another finale involving more than just Bond and his equal-partner-love-interest vs the hordes of evil (hmm, I guess that calls for an OTT lair after all...).

A two-hour, ten minute running time.

A title song either like TB, LALD, AVTAK, GE or YKMN, or like DAF, NDIB or ATH.

I could go on, but I think I've made my point - make it reminiscent of the best from the sixties, without actually copying anything already done. Building the script around some hitherto unused Fleming material would certainly help - it helped FYEO and LTK.