97 replies to this topic

[SeanValen00V]

He agrees Die Another Day went downhill after he got back from Hong Kong.

http://www.moviehole.../news/3420.html
quote
: But you've got one more dance with Bond - is there anything left to do with the character?

Pierce: Well, the dance...we seem to have taken a break at the moment. The producers have reached an impasse, as far as I can tell. They don't know what to do. They don't know how to move on. A sense of paralysis has set in. So, for me it's business as usual. I shall just carry on with creating work for myself. I certainly would love to do a fifth Bond and then bow out, but if this last one is to be the last one, then so be it.

Q: We've discussed before Michael Wilson's timidity to make a Bond movie in the vein of From Russia With Love and I think that's a real problem...

Pierce: It's frustrating, really, because they feel they have to top themselves in a genre which is just spectacle and huge bang for your buck. For me, I think you can have your cake and eat it. You can have real character work and real storylines and a thriller aspect and all the kind of quips and asides and explosions and the women. I love From Russia With Love. It's one of the finest pieces.

Q: So with the next one, would you want to cut back to a more For Your Eyes Only-type model? More simple, less effects-driven?

Pierce: More of a character-driven piece, yes. Certainly more of a character-driven piece and what is going to happen next in the story because now we're just saturated - it's wonderful the spectacle they create. It's fantastic. But I love the last one and where it was going - until we got to Hong Kong and I was into the suit and into the old straitjacket of playing him.

Q: If they changed it, you'd do more than one more?

Pierce: Oh, my contract is up. They can do it or not.

Q: You say there's a paralysis - are they talking to someone else?

Pierce: They say they're not talking to someone else...

Q: But they might not tell you?

Pierce: I'd be inclined to carry on if it were From Russia With Love or anything. Just, the fifth was there. We started talking about the fifth and so this paralysis that set in is rather surprising.

Q: But they finally got back the rights of Casino Royale, but [Wilson] said he wouldn't dare film any of the story, so he just wants to scrap the novel and use the title.

Pierce: Well, that's ludicrous. It's absolutely sheer lunacy because Casino Royale is somewhat the blueprint for the Bond character anyway. If you go to that book, you find out more about James Bond than in any of the other books. But hey, they're a wonderful family that's done it their own way for many years and they're at a point now where they've suffered a great loss in the passing of their mother. They're an Italian family, an American family and they're in the unique position that no one else in this community called Hollywood stands it - they have full control of this franchise. So, I don't know what's going to happen. I have no idea.








Pierce has been trying his best to keep his true feelings about the direction of the Bond films, always saying Martin Cambell talking him up and GE, but this interview is proper proof that the Bond producers are have lost the plot on quality control on their fanchise.

Edited by SeanValen00V, 22 March 2004 - 10:14 AM.

[brendan007]

but this interview is proper proof that the Bond producers are have lost the plot on quality control on their fanchise.

Oh get a life. Seriously. Sure DAD may not have pleased everyone, but it pleased a hell of a lot more people than it disapointed. And have you not paid attention the the last four films? Each film is quite a bit different to the previous one, which means the producers DO know what they are doing. With each film they listen to what the fans did or didnt like, and make the next movie accordingly. They certainly havent 'loss the plot' and are not ramming this franchise into the ground.

[SeanValen00V]

but this interview is proper proof that the Bond producers are have lost the plot on quality control on their fanchise.

Oh get a life. Seriously. Sure DAD may not have pleased everyone, but it pleased a hell of a lot more people than it disapointed. And have you not paid attention the the last four films? Each film is quite a bit different to the previous one, which means the producers DO know what they are doing. With each film they listen to what the fans did or didnt like, and make the next movie accordingly. They certainly havent 'loss the plot' and are not ramming this franchise into the ground.

Oh get a life?

Don't get personal man, just talking about Bond here, and I know people expect different things about Bond films, but Pierce clearly wasn't happy with DAD after the Korea bit, it's like he had a shave, and none of torture stuff ever happened, it was a creative sell out.

Don't make me sound like a DAD hater, I enjoy it and everything to a extent, , I admit I watch the pre-title sequence dozens of time because it's like a different Bond film to what comes later, I wanted to like it desperately, but the flaws can't be undone, it was disappointing, because it set up a different Bond film but turned into something else, Pierce Brosnan agrees, thats why it's such a important interview, this is my opinion and Pierce Brosnan also agrees with it, I respect your opinion and stuff, no need for get a life, that pretty much sealed the digity of your post.


Tomorrow Never Dies had problems
The World is Not Enough had problems
Die Another Day had problems

Why is Goldeneye consider the better Pierce film? Cubby died, and the quality control since then has been more careless. Do the producers listen to the fans, to a extent, but doesn't mean they act on everything they hear and execute it with the care, Cubby said "Don't screw it up." And look at Brosnan's words, it's a fallen house, maybe Brosnan is trying to wake them up and tell them they can't keep trying to go bigger, but back to character, from character the explosions and action have more effect, not the other way around.

I know some people like DAD and don't see the flaws, or don't give a monkeys about plot and character and story, maybe some of those people are young boys, who later grow up and find out the flaws of DAD, the torture scenes were appreciated more by adults, it was something interesting to build on, not forget and move on as soon as Bond lands in Hong Kong.

Edited by SeanValen00V, 22 March 2004 - 11:05 AM.

[brendan007]

I apologise, it was rude to get personal, but i stand by everything i said (i just shouldve said it nicer).
BTW, whos deciding if these films had problems? Is it just your opinion, or have u decided to speak for Bond fans worldwide. Cos as far as I can tell, people must like and enjoy these films, or else they wouldve stopped going to them a few years ago.
You may think the new films have problems. Doesnt mean they actually do. Why should the producers listen to a couple of people on a fan board. If people are still going to see the films then they are doing the right thing with the films.

[James Boldman]

but this interview is proper proof that the Bond producers are have lost the plot on quality control on their fanchise.

Oh get a life. Seriously. Sure DAD may not have pleased everyone, but it pleased a hell of a lot more people than it disapointed. And have you not paid attention the the last four films? Each film is quite a bit different to the previous one...

I'm, not entirely disagreeing with you here but you say that "each film has been quite a bit different to the previous one". How so? GE's plot involves a satelite, TND's plot involves a satelite and DAD's plot involves a satelite. Granted, for the most part they (each Brosnan film) have been different but if you think about the actual plots and the over-use of the satelites they are actually quite similar.

On the other hand I mostly agree with what you're saying: The producers have not "lost plot", just take a look at the Box-office earnings. The James Bond franchise is the only thing keeping MGM alive, IMO.

Now although the new Bond films have raked in a lot of money I believe the writers (including the producers) need to go back to the classic Fleming plotlines ala FRWL and FYEO.

[SeanValen00V]

I apologise, it was rude to get personal, but i stand by everything i said (i just shouldve said it nicer).
BTW, whos deciding if these films had problems? Is it just your opinion, or have u decided to speak for Bond fans worldwide. Cos as far as I can tell, people must like and enjoy these films, or else they wouldve stopped going to them a few years ago.
You may think the new films have problems. Doesnt mean they actually do. Why should the producers listen to a couple of people on a fan board. If people are still going to see the films then they are doing the right thing with the films.

I'm not speaking for anyone other then myself, if others agree with me, thats great and a bonus when sharing a similar view.

My concerns are the same as Pierce Brosnan, thats what makes this interview so ground breaking, because at the premiers and stuff, he says, this is his best Bond film and stuff, but I knew after I saw DAD, he was really lying, and this interview confirms it. On TND he said "I don't know where the story was in that."
So if you getting fans like me and Brosnan having a go at the producers, it's just me is it, Brosnan-James Bond himself disses his previous Bond film.

He's desperate to explore the Bond character, his frustration is evident in the interview. I think he thought EON would allow him his wishes, since he's been a team player on the movies, but he realises, they are not willing to up their game, even if it's his last film, and Pierce wants to make a great Bond film before he leaves.

Edited by SeanValen00V, 22 March 2004 - 11:59 AM.

[mattbowyer]

Wow what a wonderful, wonderful interview. It's nice to see sometimes that Brosnan does actually know something about James Bond.

[Qwerty]

Now at least we're hearing more and more from Pierce now. Seems to be he's in the dark about what some of the things going on are too...

Hopefully we'll see what comes of this interview. I'd like to see him return.

[SnakeEyes]

But only something.

Casino Royale is hardly the stereo type...

As for not 'daring' to film such a book these days...they dare instead to ruin a franchise I used to love? Who dares wins. Or gets a bullet in the face.

[Moomoo]

I doubt Pierce would say negative comments about DAD if he were signed or set to be signed for Bond 21. No way.

This looks like Brosnan's suicide note - part 2!

Hee hee.

Moomoo - licenced to be a moo

[Moomoo]

HOLD ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am certain Brosnan was proud of this movie. I am certain of it. He spoke highly of DAD in all the promotion so why has he now changed his tune?

Pierce, mate, you have lost Bond - you silly moo. Oh well...

Moomoo

[Moomoo]

Nice to see PB mentioned the passing of Dana Brocolli. Seemed the right thing to do.

Moomoo

[Moomoo]

May I just add one more thing - I think some of PB's comments are disingenuous. He conveniently fails to mention anything about his fee for Bond 21 which might be as big an obstacle as these alleged creative differences. Brosnan is talking from a slightly biased point of view.

There may well be major creative problems as to where to go with Bond 21, but Brosnan saying he will gladly do Bond 21 is disingenuous. He will only do it if he is paid extremely well. He won't do it for the same amount as his DAD fee. And that might be why he is questioning the 'quality control' of the franchise.

Moomoo

[Dunph]

Moomoo, make that all one post in future. What you've done constitutes as spamming. Dont' do it again.

[Agent 76]

Nice interview! I enjoyed reading it...Pierce has to make one more surely I support that!

Then in Bond 22 chose a new Bond , and put the franchise in another route!

[Tim007]

Thanks for the alert, guys.

Just posted up a main page article

[JimmyBond]

Is this anything new though? Aside from the confirmation that Brosnan is not signed for Bond 21, this is all stuff we've heard before. I mean Brosnan's bad mouthed every Bond film he's worked on (yes, even Goldeneye), I doubt he hates them though, I'm sure he looks at each film he's done and finds some good in it.

At least he hasnt gotten to the point where he's just phoning it in like Connery in YOLT

[The_Mole]

The reason why Pierce (and any actors in the business) would say that 'the latest film is the best yet!' is because they're being paid for it.

Example:

Pierce is at the DAD premiere in London. Someone is interviewing him.

INTERVIEWER: So, Pierce, what do you think of the finished product?

PIERCE: I personally think it's crap, there's not much character realisation, and the director's choice of editor was a very bad no-no.

This would never happen. If it did, the film production companies (MGM and Eon in this case) would kick the actor out of their sight for negative publicity.

Hell, even Gigli, which was critically panned to death with a real frying pan, had Affleck and JLo claiming that it's a good film.

They are not lying. They're using the powers of persuasion.

Take this example:

PIERCE: Die Another Day is probably the best Bond film yet. It's modern, stylish, and brings Bond into the 21st century in style. You haven't seen Bond like this ever.

This is modern PR guff. Mere marketing for a movie has the actors tell the fans (because they listen to STARS, not bearded men who live behind cameras, unless your name ends in 'berg') that they should watch the film, to be that part of the next generation, to be stylish, etc.

And it works.

MGM is telling it's stars that they need to raise the profile of the movie. Why do you think that even if the film is terrible, the stars never say that?

Another example:

STAR: It's an exceptional piece of filmmaking.
MAN: Dreadful. Reminded me of pørn.

Pierce is breaking away from the Hollywood system. He is allowing himself to be interviewed freely about what and how he feels. The studio regulates star's publicity lifestyle (or at least they did in the 1930s and 40s, probably still do it now to a certain extent) to allow for non-negative publicity to leak.

Bad publicity on actor / film = bad box office takings.

By the sound of that interview, Pierce seems unhappy with the Bond franchise. I loved GoldenEye myself, TWINE was good, TND and DAD were letdowns.
I appreciate that he wants a real espionage thriller in the vein of FRWL, but we all want that.

So why won't it be made?

Because that is so slow. My little brother and I used to watch Brosnan's Bond films. We sat there and enjoyed them. Then, one day I put on FRWL. He claimed that it was boring and slow, and that there wasn't enough action.

The next generation of Bond is here: and sadly, I don't see anything good on the horizon.

Also, I believe that MGM have seen this article. If Brosnan was on board for one more Bond, I doubt that he is any more.

MGM wants publicity for Brosnan's films. If Brosnan says they're crap, then who will want to watch them?

Either you have guts, Mr Brosnan, or you didn't want the job anyway...

No matter. It's great to see a film actor actually criticising his work. Don't see that everyday thanks to the PR.

Brosnan for Bond 21!
FRWL-style plot for Bond 21!
No MTV-style stuff for Bond 21!

Soul Edge!

[Turn]

Why is Goldeneye consider the better Pierce film? Cubby died, and the quality control since then has been more careless.

I don't entirely agree with this. Cubby was ailing and his involvement with GE was very limited. If anything, GE had the luxury of a relaxed pre-production schedule and a production schedule that had things worked out to where they faced a limited number of problems compared to previous films or Pierce's other three.

Also, Brosnan claiming you learn more about the Bond character in Casino Royale than any other book leads me to believe he's either never read the others or is just making an outrageous claim. Bond is, dare I say it, rather opaque in that book. It wasn't until later books that Fleming put more of a character and backstory to Bond.

[Tarl_Cabot]

I don't think Brosnan has a clue how to play James Bond. He wants to wear a beard, long hair, cry,suffer...not smoke....die on camera...get rid of him please!

[Loomis]

I don't think Brosnan has a clue how to play James Bond. He wants to wear a beard, long hair, cry,suffer...not smoke....die on camera...get rid of him please!

LOL! Exactly.

[Tarl_Cabot]

[Tarl_Cabot]

Also, he always wants to have a deeply personal love affair with his women...I miss the **** 'em and chuck 'em days of Roger!

[Loomis]

Pierce: Well, the dance...we seem to have taken a break at the moment. The producers have reached an impasse, as far as I can tell. They don't know what to do. They don't know how to move on. A sense of paralysis has set in. So, for me it's business as usual. I shall just carry on with creating work for myself. I certainly would love to do a fifth Bond and then bow out, but if this last one is to be the last one, then so be it.

Hey, Sensualist, any comment on this? Doesn't exactly look good, does it? Are you still convinced that you'll be sitting down to BOND 21 in November next year?

[Genrewriter]

I'm thinking we might be approaching either a hiatus or possibly the end of the series.

[thuffner]

Cool article. I like how Brosnan talks about past movies and seems to have a good knowledge of them.

Looks like he's is staying...

[Loomis]

Looks like he's is staying...

Yeah, staying away!

[Genrewriter]

I just think the producers are in a bit of a creative funk. It happens.

[zencat]

I'm soooo sick of the "let's do another FRWL" talk and