14 replies to this topic

[Hotwinds]

This term "Jumped The Shark" for those of you who do not know, means the point at which a film or TV show goes too far or way over the top.
The "oh give me a break" moment.
I liked DAD but the scene where Bond escapes from the glacier and para-sails or whatever he does just killed me. And bad special effects too.

What films do you think the Bond producers "Jumped The Shark"?

[Loomis]

TOMORROW NEVER DIES jumps the shark as soon as we're introduced to Carver with the "Good morning, my golden retrievers" scene, which gives the impression that he's already the de facto ruler of the world.

If he's capable of bringing down the President of the United States before breakfast, and then making several more major changes to the world throughout the day, he's more than capable of buying enough influence in the Communist Party of China to get his blessed broadcast rights.

And don't get me started on the preposterous idea that Britain would be prepared to singlehandedly wage war against China, at the drop of a hat and over a relatively minor incident the ins and outs of which remain unclear (with no apparent Sino-British hostility in the air prior to the loss of the Devonshire).

All of this would have been fine in a Moore outing, but the problem is that TND was obviously meant to be (relatively speaking) a "thinking person's" Bond film. If you've got a dumb script, then shoot it as zany, fun-for-all-the-family escapist hokum (this worked wonderfully for many 007 flicks). Do it SPY WHO LOVED ME-style, but don't do it ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE-style. Don't take it seriously, and don't patronise the audience into thinking they're watching "quality". Like THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, TND could have been a blast, but unfortunately it's undone by ideas above its station.

[trevanian]

The above post is right on the money, especially with respect to the notion that if you're making a dumb movie, putting a tiny bit of relevancy into it doesn't help keep it grounded, but instead just helps run it into the ground.

Even though I was hating pretty much all of MOONRAKER, I figured, as soon as we get to space, we'll see some fun acrobatics. Bond defies physics on the ground all the time, so space is going to be his place.

No, soon as we go up, MR starts channeling 2001 instead of SW. Now 2001 -- along with Se7en and TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING and don't get me started, the list is too long already -- is my favorite movie of all time, but Bond should not be trying for slow and majestic here. MR is such a dumb movie that you NEED space shuttle doing backflips and Immelmans and skidarounds, NOT the much vaunted Eric Burgess tech accuracy (which was off anyway, since they had gravity in the center ball of the station, when that is the one place that the gravity would have been lowest when it rotated.)

John Brosnan seems to think, in his book, that when Connery pressed the ejector seat button, there was no going back, so maybe that is the jumptheshark moment. But for me ... the Moore films all just presented somebody who didnt' look at all capable of doing what his stuntman was achieving, and that helped collapse credibility for me. Plus, JAWS killing the shark, then falling without a parachute and surviving (and presumably surviving reentry as well) is way over the top.

[Turn]

I know a lot of people hold GoldenEye in high regard, but the motorcycle leap off the cliff and the flying into the plane was the 'jump the shark' moment for me. It's a prime example of the series striving for that extra bit that pushes it too far when what preceded it was just fine.

[trumanlodge89]

in DAD, when bond arrives in iceland.

in DAF, after the car chase.

in MR, after ms. bassey sings her final note. (in the main titles, not the closing credits)

[ComplimentsOfSharky]

DAD - The second Halle Berry comes out of the water (though the movie is still decent for a few more scenes).

TWINE - When Pierce wipes the tear away from the picture of Elektra.

AVTAK - snowboarding to the beach boys (I actually think this is funny but come on. You might as well just have John Glen standing in the snow screaming 'LOOK ITS ROGER!!! HE CAN SNOWBOARD!!! HE'S NOT OLD!!! DUDE, HE'S LISTENING TO THE BEACH BOYS AND HE GOT THAT FACE LIFT, HE'S LIKE 20!!!)

LTK - The scene where Tim jumps over a shark? Nah, this one's ok..

MR - The Gondola chase

TMWTGG - The sun gun....wtf Scaramanga...just wtf.

[4 Ur Eyez Only]

DAF - Wow what a drop off from OYMSS! Camp,Cheese & Just plain Stupid

DAD - CGI Bond

[Bon-san]

Which Bond Films Have Jumped The Shark?

I was of the impression that jumping the shark was a singular event, and usually associated with a long-running television show. As when, a formerly great show descends into self-parody, thus irretrievably losing credibility.

To me, it seems that the Bond films have parodied themselves from the get-go. And while there have been lapses in quality throughout the series, the producers have continually righted the errant ship.

[ComplimentsOfSharky]

The way I looked at it was a singular event in any given movie that just pushed it over the edge.

If you look at the series as a whole you could probably say Goldfinger is when it jumped the shark.

[bryonalston]

In terms of the Bond series "jumping the shark," I don't think that the principle really applies to the series, since it's constantly rebuilding itself with each era, so you can only accurately judge the FOUR MAIN ERA's of the series separately. Here goes.

CONNERY/ LAZENBY:
- I'd say it's when Bond just happened to have a portable safe cracker in his jacket pocket in You Only Live Twice.
-When Bond said "This never happened to the other fella," in addition to the many other absurd one-liners in OHMSS.

MOORE: When Jaws meets his girlfriend in MR

DALTON: N/A (there weren't many absurd scenes in his films. Also, his era was so short, that it fortunately wasn't given a chance to jump the shark)

BROSNAN: DAD in it's entirety (His first three films were all right, and if he had quit after TWINE, he would have ended on top, but DAD, for the second time in the series, has jumped the Great White, causing a need for a reboot)

[Double-Oh-Zero]

TMWTGG jumped the shark at around the time Bond threw himself through the wall of the karate school.

Unfortunately, the film tripped and got eaten by the shark shortly thereafter.

Things also got pretty hokey in MR once Bond dons his safari suit and merrily rows his boat down the stream in that boat/hang glider thingie.

[Loomis]

If we're going to be picky (what? On CBn? The idea! ), surely DR. NO jumps the shark in its first few minutes.

The world's number one secret agent - and I'll repeat that, since it's important: the world's number one secret agent - returns home to find a woman - and a civilian, mind you, not even a spy with access to intelligence or expertise in breaking and entering - playing golf in his front room. What a joker! Not particularly good at hiding his personal information, is he? (And if - can't remember off the top of my head whether this is in the film - he gave Sylvia Trench a card with his address, then he's just as much of a fool.) Careful there, Jimbo, you don't want to come back from the office one night to find a bunch of SPECTRE goons waiting, do you? Which could very well happen if you keep on allowing your private details to be available to all and sundry. Clod.

There we are: Fleming's gritty and ultrarealistic espionage series ruined right from the get-go.

[ComplimentsOfSharky]

Never trust a woman who kisses with her eyes open.

[hrabb04]

It's the Bond film where Fonzie waterskis over the shark

[SecretAgent007]

I think just about all of them "jump the shark" at some point. But even Fleming did it. A giant squid in Doctor No? Come on...