64 replies to this topic

[Gri007]

I enjoyed HTTK, DS and NDOD. It was a good twist at the end of NDOD, and i would think it would make pretty decent films. HTTK would be good as a Bond film hasn't been set in the Himaylayers.

[zencat]

I agree, Gri007. I would love to see any or all of the Benson books become films.

[Qwerty]

I wouldn't mind it. There are alot of topics covering this, I recommend you check them out.

[Bond_Bishop]

It would be so excellent with HTTK as a Bond movie with some mountain climbing. Since when have we seen that, since FYEO? It has a great story and great locations and EON maybe can get some help from Benson. Too bad that EON have said that they probably never will do any movie versions of the newer books.

[David Schofield]

Too bad that EON have said that they probably never will do any movie versions of the newer books.

[/quote]

You also couldn't make any Benson movies without Brozza as its his portrayal of the role that Benson is clearly writing about - and Brozza is 52.

That said, I COULD see Brozza as an older, wiser Bond musing on SPECTRE and the conflict of working with his best friend's alluring daughter and distraught at bedding Blofeld's daughter in a version of Gardner's For Special Services.

Strange, that!

[hcmv007]

Sadly, I have not read High Time to Kill, anybody know where I can get a copy, no used Bookstore has it where I live and Bensons books are out of print. But yes, the union trilogy would make great Bond films.

[DLibrasnow]

They would have to change the plot for HTTK to give Bond a reason to climb the mountain
Far easier, faster and cheaper to take a helicopter up to the crashed plane and recover the microdot than spend a month putting together an expedition.

[hrabb04]

Well, DLibrasnow, they don't have to change anything. They might like the idea and think it is brilliant. Not everyone has your tastes in what is stupid and brilliant. Maybe that is why movies do so badly these days, who knows?

[DLibrasnow]

[quote name='hrabb04' date='22 June 2005 - 20:23']Well, DLibrasnow, they don't have to change anything.

[Qwerty]

Sadly, I have not read High Time to Kill, anybody know where I can get a copy, no used Bookstore has it where I live and Bensons books are out of print.  But yes, the union trilogy would make  great Bond films.

eBay is a great place. Often copies of High Time To Kill (US editions) can be found for as low as $1-$2.

[bryonalston]

****
But give him a reason that makes sense.

Time is of the essence in HTTK, yet instead of going for a tactic that would take less than a day, British intelligence decides to mount a month long expedition. WHY?? It makes no sense.

If you can explain how a month is faster than a day (or a few hours) then I'll concede...

Apparently you would like the Bond series to be the laughing stock!

*****

Well DLibraSnow, when I first read HTTK, I thought the same thing, so I did a little bit of research:

As a helicopter propellor moves or whirls through the air, air flows over and under the wing. In the same amount of time, the air flowing over the curved upper surface travels farther than the air flowing under the wing. The air thus flows faster over the wing than under it. This difference in air speed creates a difference in air pressure above and below the wing. There is less pressure on the upper surface than on the lower surface. Because air pushes more strongly against the bottom of the wing than against the top, lift is created.

This means that it would be near impossible to get a helicopter 28,000 feet above sea level, since the air is so thin up there, the lift effect wouldn't take place, since the air isn't sufficient enough to support the helicopter propellor. A more practical method to reach the top of the mountain would be by airship or dirigible, since the helium inside would weigh less than the surrounding air in the upper atmosphere. However, this is highly dangerous.

The most practical method of transportation would be by a hot-air balloon. Balloons have taken people as high as 100,000 feet above sea-level. It would be easy to get that high up, however, landing the balloon would be near impossible due to the high winds. Therefore, the safest method is to hike the entire way, just like they did in the book. Also, it wouldn't be very exciting if 007 took a helicopter up a mountain and went back down the same day, now would it?

[hrabb04]

Unfortunately, we can't all be geniuses like DLibrasnow.

[bryonalston]

please elaborate hrabb04. Yes it doesn't really make sense, but don't you think there is an actual reason why the British government would choose a full expedition? If they had other means to reach the top of the mountain, then don't you think they would? Unfortunately, at the time in which the story takes place, they didn't.

[bryonalston]

Anyways, back to the main topic of the board... I think that the Union trilogy would be great on the big screen. It seems like all of Benson's books were written to be movie potential. If I had to pick only three of Benson's books to be adapted, I would pick:
1. The Facts Of Death
2. Never Dream of Dying
3. High Time To Kill

[hrabb04]

I am sorry, guys. I liked this book. I did not have any problems with it. I read the Bonds and enjoy a lot of them, and I don't endlessly think about them afterwards like some of you do. So sue me.

[bryonalston]

Who would you cast in the major roles in each movie in the Union Trilogy? For me, I would cast:
James Bond: Clive Owen
Roland Marquis: Jude Law (Would work especially well, since Owen and Law had a similar relationship to Bond and Marquis in Closer.)
Le Gerant: Jeremy Irons
Dr. Hope Kendall: Nicole Kidman
Hedy and Heidi Taunt: Molly Sims and Emma Caulfield
Margareta Piel: Angelina Jolie ; Eva Mendes
Tylyn Mignonne: Catherine Zeta-Jones ; Angelina Jolie

[DLibrasnow]

I am sorry, guys.  I liked this book.  I did not have any problems with it.  I read the Bonds and enjoy a lot of them, and I don't endlessly think about them afterwards like some of you do.  So sue me.

Hrabb,
I also like the book despite its flaws. My point was that they will have to change the plot to give Bond a reason to scale the mountain. The one that Benson provides does not hold water as there are other means faster than mounting a full month-long expedition.

[Blofeld's Cat]

They would have to change the plot for HTTK to give Bond a reason to climb the mountain because the one Benson gave him was completely stupid.

Far easier, faster and cheaper to take a helicopter up to the crashed plane and recover the microdot than spend a month putting together an expedition.

Like in Vertical Limit, Darren?

Thinness of the air would've been a problem.

[Qwerty]

Roland Marquis: Jude Law (Would work especially well, since Owen and Law had a similar relationship to Bond and Marquis in Closer.)
Le Gerant: Jeremy Irons
Dr. Hope Kendall: Nicole Kidman

Agreed on those three. I think Law could make a good cocky villain in Roland Marquis.

[DLibrasnow]

I just received a couple of emails from Raymond Benson. I'm awaiting word on if I can quote them here. Nice fellow and he cleared up a lot of the issues that have been brought up here in this thread.

[DLibrasnow]

Here is the first of those emails (reprinted with permission):

Hi Darren--

[spynovelfan]

Cool that Raymond replied there, and let you quote him. I must say, that particular plot point didn't bother me when I read the novel. If they were to make a film, they could easily clarify it in a couple of lines of dialogue.

BOND: Why the hell don't we just send a helicopter up there and be done with...
M: We can't. The air's too thin. A hot air balloon's out of the question, too. No, I'm afraid the only way to make it to the top is the hard way, Double Oh Seven...

I don't think it will happen, though. HTKK is pretty similar to THE EIGER SANCTION in one major way: the last third of the plot is set on a mountain, and a secret agent has to figure out which of the climbing party is trying to kill him. If Eon wanted, they could easily get Purvis and Wade to write a Bond-does-Eiger-Sanction kind of thing. That way, they'd just be paying Purvis and Wade, rather than paying Raymond Benson, and then Purvis and Wade to make it into a script.

If I start pointing out plot holes in GOLDFINGER, do you think I'll get a telegram from Ian Fleming?

[DLibrasnow]

I agree with your post spynovelfan. Having thought over Raymonds emails I now have to rethink my thoughts on HTTK and join those who would like to see it on the big screen.

BTW, The Eiger Sanction is one of my favorite spy movies

[Gri007]

Anyways, back to the main topic of the board... I think that the Union trilogy would be great on the big screen. It seems like all of Benson's books were written to be movie potential. If I had to pick only three of Benson's books to be adapted, I would pick:
1. The Facts Of Death
2. Never Dream of Dying
3. High Time To Kill

What about Double shot. Double shot is the second installment of the Union Trilogy

WOW. I feel honoured that Raymond Benson has visited my thread.

Edited by Gri007, 24 June 2005 - 04:42 PM.

[zencat]

VERY cool that RB clarified this and let you post it here. Thanks, DLibrasnow.

[Jim]

If I start pointing out plot holes in GOLDFINGER, do you think I'll get a telegram from Ian Fleming?

I await my email from Raymond Benson with...

Well, with no real expectation of / desire for it ever happening.

[hrabb04]

Jim, it's after one o clock, you can stop being snooty

[kevrichardson]

Too bad that EON have said that they probably never will do any movie versions of the newer books.

Michael G Wilson once said that about "Casino Royale " . Things change over the course of time in Hollywood . After "Casino Royale" the natural thing would be for EON would be to explore the Gardner / Benson for the big screen . I am sure that SONY already has this in mind .

[bryonalston]

I certainly hope so. What I don't understand is why they don't just hire Raymond Benson to write the screenplays instead of Purvis and Wade. Benson's books have proven to be bestsellers worldwide, and their plots are much more creative than some of the plots that P+W have come up with.

[Qwerty]

[quote name='DLibrasnow' date='24 June 2005 - 09:34']Here is the first of those emails (reprinted with permission):

Hi Darren--