388 replies to this topic

[Bondian]

Bondian, what the hell is Eon thinking? Making Bond a Fox Terrier? Based on the novels alone, he has to be the whippet; a grey whippet who is at least 5-6 years old. The femme fatale is the poodle and everyone knows Ms. Moneypenny is a collie.  And machine guns? Everyone knows dogs don't have hands!

I won't even get started on the blatent typecasting of a Dachshund as Adolf.

I know. It's crazy Mate.

I believe the guns are located at the base of their ears, their tails act as view finders and the controller's located by muscular impulses in the neck.

[Bondian]

The scary thing is that some journalist will read the lead to Bondians post and it'll soon start appearing everywhere around the world as the latest Bond news.

Yep. They can say they've heard it here first at CBoNe.

[Stephenson]

I believe the guns are located at the base of their ears, their tails act as view finders and the controller's located by muscular impulses in the neck. 

Ah, that makes sense now: just like the mutant killer sharks with lasers on their heads....

[Roebuck]

I think they make the stupid mistake of trying to compete with say The Bourne series. They should continue the saga on its own merits.

It's not even competing. it's blatant copying.
The producers of the Bourne movies created an exciting, credible spy franchise for the 21st Century. They relied on solid scripting and physical action rather than computer effects. The first two films were not only well received by critics but were financial successes as well, costing half the budget of the Eon product.

The current team at Eon wouldn't know where to START making movies like that!

[Stephenson]

Who said they are trying to compete with or copy Bourne? In their interview P&W come right out and say they don't want to make Bond like Bourne, that it wouldn't work.

Edited by Stephenson, 26 May 2005 - 06:53 PM.

[spynovelfan]

Bondian, you're barking. I once interviewed a guy who'd made a feature film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet starring a cast of streets cats, with their voices dubbed by famous British actors. Vanessa Redgrave, Maggie Smith and Ben Kingsley. The only human to appear in the film was John Hurt, who was in drag.

No, I'm not making this up. See?

Stephenson, I agreed with all your point but 5:

'5. IMO, Bond and Eon are still strong enough to attract quality actors. I agree with Schofield's points and would just like to add that I don't really buy into this whole Bond curse that people hint at. Bond didn't ruin the careers of Connery, Moore, Lazenby or Brosnan: it created them or saved them from oblivion (I would say Dalton is the exception: I don't think his career was hurt, but it wasn't done any real favors). Without Bond where would they be? People know Bond is a starmaker if the actor plays his cards right. This is multi-million dollar world-wide enterprise that has yet to produce a serious flop in 40 years, with serious product endorsement deals on the sideline. Most people are going to want a piece of that.'

I think you might have been right in another post about the world of cinema changing. I don't think it's any longer the case that that many actors would want a piece of Bond. I don't agree that there's a curse, but neither do I think Bond saved any of that lot from oblivion. I think Dalton would have had the same career with or without Bond, as you do. I think Moore would have had pretty much the same career, perhaps more successful if he'd played things differently, perhaps less successful. I don't think Bond helped his career inasmuch as it *was* his career, pretty much (no pretty much about Lazenby). In the kind of terms you mean. Ditto Brosnan: though he's gotten better parts as a result of Bond, he's not a star. You say the role's a starmaker: the only person who has played the part and become a bona fide star is Sean Connery. I was watching an interview with Orlando Bloom the other day. He's 26 or 27, I think. Signed to LOTR straight out of drama school. A very intelligent and level-headed guy, I thought. I know some people like to rag in him because hey, he looks a bit pretty and millions of girls love him, but he's a Properly Trained British Actor and he looks enough of the part to me. Too famous now, but I think I might buy him as Bond. But LOTR was a risk, even for him. There was no guarantee that it would be a massive hit. Bond is always a hit, and the films last forever, basically. If he'd been offered LOTR or Bond straight out of drama school, he might well have taken Bond. But after LOTR? Why limit himself? He didn't need it. I think it's going to have to be someone close to unknown, for the reasons already stated. If they can convince the world they're Bond, they have a good shot of convincing the world they're St George in some epic blockbuster, and they will *know* that. Sure, they can take the Omegas and the Brioni suits and the world fame. But they might get all that anyway, plus an Oscar. I wouldn't be surprised at all if none of us have heard of the next actor to play Bond.

And that might not be a bad thing.

Moomoo

[Bondian]

Ah, that makes sense now: just like the mutant killer sharks with lasers on their heads....

It's a little early to talk about Bond 23.

[Stephenson]

Spynovelfan, I would have to disagree on where Moore, Lazenby and Brosnan would be today if not for Bond. IMO, for these actors the benefits of playing Bond have far outweighed any negatives and none of them would be as well known as they are if they hadn't been associated with the role: what other options were out there for a 46 year old Moore and a 42 year old Brosnan that would have made them the stars they are today?

I agree that "bigger" names might not want or need Bond, but I was talking about quality actors, who might not necessarily be known, especially if they are younger like a pre LotR Bloom.

Otherwise, Cheers!

[Bondian]

Bondian, you're barking. I once interviewed a guy who'd made a feature film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet starring a cast of streets cats, with their voices dubbed by famous British actors. Vanessa Redgrave, Maggie Smith and Ben Kingsley. The only human to appear in the film was John Hurt, who was in drag.

No, I'm not making this up. See?

LOL I am am a little crazy at times. I'd be insane if I wasn't.

He-he. Maybe my idea is not all that daft after all.

Moomoo

LOL

[007 Agent]

Moomoo? Who's this? A cow? I don't mind a cow as Bond but it would have to be a convincing Bond cow.

I think it could be an unknown as Bond but hard to know who. I guess that's why he's an unknown.

[spynovelfan]

Very profound, 007 Agent.

[007 Agent]

I think it could be an unknown as Bond but hard to know who. I guess that's why he's an unknown.

Very profound, 007 Agent.

Yes, I know it seems an obvious statement to make but an unknown, by definition, is an unknown so no-one should have a clue who he is. I've always thought an unknown actor as Bond is a bit of misnomer because any actor in regular employment will be known to someone, particularly if they've got a role in a tv show, theatre play or even a small British film. When I think of unknown I tend to think of someone similar to George Lazenby, someone so far off the radar that he's not even an actor. I don't believe Eon will look for another Lazenby type or someone similar so I guess the unknown actor will be known to someone even if that's just the guy's drama teacher!

[Athena007]

Then again and "unknown" could be "known" (in some circles) but he could just be someone who's not in the limelight yet.

[Stephenson]

Then again and "unknown" could be "known" (in some circles) but he could just be someone who's not in the limelight yet.

Come on, spill it! What do you know??????

[Qwerty]

And that might not be a bad thing.

Moomoo

LOL.

[Arrant]

" One hot contender is only 22."

Actually, he was 23 last november!

[Athena007]

Um, no....

But in your world, who's he?

[hrabb04]

Hmm, are any of the Culkins up for the part?

[Athena007]

Not that I know of... Oh Gawd, I hope not!

[Qwerty]

" One hot contender is only 22."

Actually, he was 23 last november!

Who is that?

[Arrant]

Just putting the cat among the pigeons!

If you have read any of my posts ( which it would appear no one has) you will know I have been a firm supporter of the "Bond - Year One, Total Restart" idea and have been using Gary Lucy as an example "restart candidate" for some time.

My point is NOT that Mr Lucy is the best choice for BOND but that a younger Bond (of his ilk) is a necessary gamble at this point.

My reasoning is not just the recent success story that comic books have had in restarting 50 yr old characters, too massive sales, and Hollywood sitting up and taking notice, but the fact that it is the ONLY door left open to an intelligent writing team.

None of the film writers are Fleming and despite the fact that several writers, over the years have been successful in adapting Fleming to the screen they have always had Flemings startlingly creative imagination to use as a scaffold.

That situation has ceased and EON have been pushing on with diluted Fleming adaptations. These have had financial success and this has led EON to the delusion that they are good at it. They are not. The continued dilution and evaporation of Fleming is a mistake. The Brosnan bond movies are uninspired fan fiction and I'm sure 80% of this site could write one just as good.
So what is the ONLY door left open to an intelligent writing team. Well IMHO use the only advantage they have over Fleming....They know how the story goes and where it ends.

Start filming Bond like Star Wars or Lord of the Rings, as a cinematic TV series.

Join the story together, and introduce characters and plots in Casino Royale that will play out in later films.

I,m not a writer, and this is over egging the pudding, but " for example" the Casino Royale card game could involve....Goldfinger, Emilo Largo, Hugo Drax and Tracy, and all of the later repercussions of Bonds various card games could be set up in one go.

As I say, I'm not a writer but I'm sure you get my principle. Lets add depth to Bond by multi-layering his own lexicon, rather than by trying to turn him into something he is not, such as Bourne or Harry Palmer.

[tdalton]

My point is NOT that Mr Lucy is the best choice for BOND but that a younger Bond (of his ilk) is a necessary gamble at this point.

Going with a young Bond or a rebooting of the series is not a necessary gamble. It would be a foolish gamble that could ultimately lead to the end of the series. There are several reasons why this would be:

1. The MAJORITY of fans don't want to see Bond, a man who has always been described as someone in his 30s or 40s and has always been portrayed that way on the screen, as some little child in his early 20s. It's completely unrealistic for someone like the Bond we're used to seeing being portrayed by someone who is barely of legal age to drink, who is barely of legal age to enter a casino, and couldn't possibly have had much experience with the ladies, which a Bond in his early 20s wouldn't have.

2. It would be box office suicide to go this route. Despite what some of you may think, even people who aren't that fond of the James Bond films still have some idea of what the character should be, and a lot of them still hold the integrity of the original character in mind when asked about who should be the next Bond. I know someone who absolutely loathes the Bond movies, but somehow the conversation came up about who would be the next Bond when I was talking to that person, and that person didn't like the idea of a young Bond, and said that it had to be someone in their mid 30s or their 40s, and Clive Owen was that person's pick for the role, despite that person's hatred of the film series. So, I think that if there are people out there who don't even like the films who care somewhat about who is cast, then going with someone totally unfit for the role, like someone in their early to mid 20s, would not go over well with the majority of Bond fans or the general moviegoing audience.

3. Also, when was the last time any of us saw a franchise get rebooted and actually have success? The Star Wars prequels, while they have made tons of money, have been awful (I haven't seen III yet, but the other two were downright terrible), so it could be said that those films were failures as a way to "reboot" the series.


I think that whether or not Wilson and Brocolli go through with this reboot nonsense will depend on how well Batman Begins does critically and financially. If it is a bomb, or if receives downright awful reviews across the board, then I think the idea of a reboot will be shelved, because if it can't work with Batman, then it won't work the Bond series.

[IanFleming1953]

I think that everyone needs to stop and take a breath. Everyone talks as if Eon has actually chosen a Bond. None of us really know who they're considering. All we know is that Eon is casting a wide net and are leaving no appropriate stone unturned.
I think that the Bond fan community as a whole is suffering from too much rumor saturation and forum created hysteria. It amazes me that fans are reacting (negatively and positvely) to a casting decision that Eon hasn't even made yet.
Many of you are so quick to crucify Michael and Barbara that it's clouded any objective reasoning. There are thousands of voices shouting at Eon to go a thousand different paths and then you get angry at them for not listening to your specific opinion.
I trust Eon to make the right choice even if I disagree.

[DLibrasnow]

1.  The MAJORITY of fans don't want to see Bond, a man who has always been described as someone in his 30s or 40s and has always been portrayed that way on the screen, as some little child in his early 20s. 

Who gives a flying F what the fans want. The fans only make a miniscule part of the filmgoing public.

[KB 007]

Uhh...no.

DLibrasnow is right, the true fans may not want to see a teeny Bond, but casual movie goers would. Cast a teen heart-throb as Bond and you've opened up a huge market of 13-19 year old American girls.

Anyone who thinks Bond should be played by a 21 year old doesn't understand the character of Bond. Fleming would be rolling around in his grave if he heard about this rumor.

[tdalton]

Who gives a flying F what the fans want. The fans only make a miniscule part of the filmgoing public.

If you alienate your core fanbase, then it won't be long before the rest of the moviegoers start drifting away from the franchise as well.

[SecretAgentFan]

Uhh...no.

DLibrasnow is right, the true fans may not want to see a teeny Bond, but casual movie goers would. Cast a teen heart-throb as Bond and you've opened up a huge market of 13-19 year old American girls.

Anyone who thinks Bond should be played by a 21 year old doesn't understand the character of Bond. Fleming would be rolling around in his grave if he heard about this rumor.

IMHO, even the teen age movie audience wouldn

[Skudor]

I really don't think anyone really want's to see a teenage Bond. The audience at large doesn't care if Bond is 30 or 45, but I seriously don't think anyone would buy into a teen Bond. And it's not happening.

[gadgetfusion]

We know that the new Bond will be:

In his young or mid 20s
British
An unknown
Most likely a white man, maybe a black man, hopefully not a woman
Able to do cool spy stuff and must have some action experience
Is attractive enough to look good in Bond's suit

Here are some candidates according to the info above:

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers
Luke Mably
Matthew Goode
Colin Farrell

Are there any other people who fit the standards that could be Bond? Tell me so.

[007 Agent]

This is the catch 22, folks...

A younger Bond could easily work with the right actor as Bond - by that I mean someone with the classic Bond look, ample charm, decent screen presence etc. But I doubt there any younger actors that match up to that. Take actor Luke Mably - he looks nothing like James Bond, younger or otherwise. So we have a catch 22 where it seems Eon is determined to find a younger actor to play Bond on his first mission, but, in my opinion, there are no credible actors out there to play the role. So Eon will have to dump the younger Bond route, hire an older actor such as McMahon/Gruffudd or risk finding a George Lazenby unknown.