30 replies to this topic

[coopbond]

"Never Send Flowers" and "No Deals, Mr. Bond" are on the top of my list.

[Roebuck]

'Licence Renewed' might make the easiest transition from book to film, as it's the one that most closely parallels the EON formula.
All the expected elements are present and correct; wealthy but sociopathic mastermind, henchman, global nuclear blackmail and a tricked up car for 007. Finale would have to be changed though, to avoid comparison with...

Spoiler

DAD

.

[zencat]

For Special Services and Icebreaker would be my choices. I also think Never Send Flowers and Brokenclaw would work (good vilians, good locals).

[Tanger]

"If they did another Bond movie based on John Garnder's books which would you choose?"

They've done one?

[jwheels]

I'm reading Death Is Forever, it could be a good movie. I would like to see Venice again, in a more serious tone, not like Moonraker.

[Von Hammerstein]

"Brokenclaw" I just liked the name of that one, can't remember the villians plot off the top of my head just now.
I liked "IceBreaker" but the neo-nazi thing is soooooo tired. And Besides we just did the "ice" thing in DAD. Cool villian name though: Count Von Glowen
"Scorpius" was another favorite of mine but the religous fanatic sending scores of suicide bombers out to terrorize the world is little too chilling considering recent events. (I don't advocate Bond steering away from these ideas, I just think the studio brass would cringe away like they did with the Arab angle in "Sum of All Fears"

[black domain]

subermarine sequence in world is not enough was directly form
seafire, a john gardner novel.

[zencat]

Originally posted by black domain
subermarine sequence in world is not enough was directly form
seafire, a john gardner novel.

Yep, nice catch, Black Domain.

Check out this thread for more Gardner concepts that have appeared in the Eon films. You might be shocked.

Welcome to CBn.

[Genrewriter]

I'd like to see Death is Forever as well. If the screenplay were written with enough care, it could make for a real good Bond film in the FRWL mould.

[Bryce (003)]

I've been in favor of For Special Services for a long time.

The rebirth of SPECTRE, Cedar Leiter, Cobra/Saab race, a new Blofeld and Bond back in the States and a really great pre-credits sequence.

This Bond novel SCREAMS to be put on the big screen.

[Genrewriter]

That sounds like it would be a good one. I may have to re-read it.

[Bryce (003)]

I'd advise you to do so G!

Still great stuff after 20 years.

I'd also like to see Icebreaker and Brokenclaw done as well.

[Genrewriter]

Those two would make good films as well. I especially liked Brokenclaw. Good villain, interesting plot, twists aren't too annoying.

[Doubleshot]

IMO, bringing Cedar Leiter to the screen would be one of the series' largest mistakes.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Originally posted by Doubleshot
IMO, bringing Cedar Leiter to the screen would be one of the series' largest mistakes.

As would "Q'ute" be. Ugh!

[Wilbs]

I've only read one Gardner novel, 'Win, Lose, or Die'. I'm not sure it would make a filmable story but the concept of Bond dusting off his naval uniform and flying a Sea Harrier would be pretty cool. I liked the dogfight scene in Tomorrow Never Dies.... a well played out Sea Harrier scene, inspired by the book, would work for me.....

[Bond_Bishop]

Role of Honor could be good. But I think that the should take some parts from all Gardner's books.

Why Role of Honor? The return of SPECTRE

[ChandlerBing]

License Renewed so Bond can have Miss Lavender Peacock in the back study.

[belvedere]

I'd like to see Icebreaker filmed as a movie. Granted, the neo-Nazi angle is a little tired, and the Cold War intrigue is not sensible in the present day, but the concept of Bond being part of a team without knowing who he can trust and who he cannot is interesting.

Win, Lose, or Die and Death is Forever are also possibilities.

I know we haven't discussed Benson's books in this forum, but I would love to see High Time to Kill filmed. What a great book!

[DLibrasnow]

It can be argued that they have already filmed the Gardner books. In fact Zencat had a whole thread on the subject a while back.

[Triton]

Unfortunately, I cannot find the URL to it, but I remember in an interview Michael G. Wilson was asked if Eon Productions was ever going to adapt the continuation novels as the basis for a James Bond film. I remember his response was that he felt that they wouldn't make very exciting films.

This thread points out that the novels are being read by the folks over at Eon Production to see if there is material in them that they can use. Of course it could all be coincidence or simultaneous creation, although many would be skeptical that this was the case.

In any case, I actually think that James Bond fans benefit from the fact that the continuation novels will not be adapted into films. It gives us more James Bond stories to enjoy.

[Vodka Martino]

Definitely For Special Services, although, given how well Felix Leiter knows Bond, the idea of him ( if you haven't read the book, then this is a SPOILER ALERT) presenting Bond with 'the gift of a daughter' is more far-fetched than an invisible Aston Martin.ANYONE WHO HASN'T READ THE BOOK CAN RESUME READING NOW Am I being a little too cautious?
Icebreaker is another good one, if only for the fact that we've never seen Bond as a team player in a film. But I agree with earlier posts- the Bond-on-ice thing has been done to death recently. The only ice one should see in a Bond flick should be in a cocktail shaker.
However, I hope they never film Brokenclaw. That whole final fight just smacks of "A Man Called Horse". And as for Role Of Honour, can anyone tell me what the hell that story was about, because I don't remember it at all. Although that probably says more about my lousy memory than it might about the book. I just can't recall Bond doing anything extraordinary in that one.
Just my 2c.

Vodka Martino

[deth]

forget Gardner.... they should take advantage of Benson

[DLibrasnow]

Never - Gardner is a far better writer than Benson!

[deth]

Originally posted by DLibrasnow
Never - Gardner is a far better writer than Benson!

Never - Benson is a far better writer than Gardner!

[DLibrasnow]

Are you smoking crack Deth? Benson's writing style is problematic at best. Sure his stories are interesting but his use of grammar and repetitive verb usage are glaring!

[Triton]

Does it really matter who is the better writer? The script writers will likely just take parts of the basic plot and some character names and rework the story and dialogue so much that the film/screenplay will hardly resemble the book.

[Qwerty]

Well, I'm not gonna get involved in who is better between Benson and Gardner, but I believe the book, The Bond Files has some interesting information about how many scenes and ideas from the Gardner books have made their way into the Bond films. It's quite interesting. As for which book? I really like Never Send Flowers for it's excellent villain, girl and plot. Simple, but effective, of course they would alter it for a Bond film.

[DLibrasnow]

There is a whole thread on comparisons between Gardner books and the movies. It makes a convincing argument.

[Raymond Leggs]

I Would Pick Win Lose or die This is the only bond book I have read
besides "the world is not enough" which was part movie companion
and short story.