67 replies to this topic

[Simon Beavis]

I think Bond 22 should be done by one of the following filmmakers, I've stated reasons why they should be considered:

John Woo-- Arguably the greatest action director of the current day. A John Woo Bond film would kick .

JJ Abrams-- He created Alias and directed some of its finest episodes.

Christopher Nolan-- He gave us the best cinematic take on Batman. He could do the same for Bond.

Quentin Tarantino-- Kill Bill convinced me he could handle it.

[killkenny kid]

Chris Nolan or John Glenn.

[Double-Oh Agent]

My top three choices in order would be:

1) John McTiernan
2) Wolfgang Petersen
3) Steven Spielberg

[Yellow Pinky]

Both John Woo and JJ Abrams would be good, however their having directed installments 2 and 3 of the Mission Impossible franchise make them competing directors (or at least I'm sure that's how Eon would view it).

I think McTiernan, Tarantino and Peterson are inspired choices, as is Chris Nolan. I believe that Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake) would be an interesting choice as well (kind of a British Tarantino himself) and was even under consideration for CR at one point.

All that said, I'd love to see Doug Liman given a chance (although thanks to his having directed The Bourne Identity we probably have that bias working against him just like Woo and Abrams). There are large portions of Mr. & Mrs. Smith that have a very Bondian flair and he handles stunt spectacle on par with James Cameron (who would also be an intersting choice were it not for True Lies to muddy the waters).

Phil Alden Robinson (Sneakers, Sum of All Fears) is another director I've thought for years could make a good Bond film. He's got a good sense of pacing and his action scenes are really strong.

Philip Noyce (Clear & Present Danger, Patriot Games, The Quiet American) is another choice that I think could steer a slick yet gritty film that still felt like Bond.

Well, that's a few off the top of my head.

BTW, this is my first post here... decided to join in on the fun and stop just being a lurker (which I've been doing with more and more frequency since the Daniel Craig announcement!).

[malaysian_bond]

My picks:

1.Michael Mann
2.Guy Ritchie
3.Matthew Vaughn
4.Quentin Tarantino

[Agent007.5]

Here's my picks:
- Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins)
- Brad Bird (The Incredibles) (I know what you're think, an animation director doing a Bond film? but he does have a great sense of action, adventure and using them to tell a good story)
- J.J. Abrams (Alias)
- Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill)
- Breck Eisner (Sahara)
- John Woo (M:I-2)
- Lee Tamahori (I hate DAD as much as the next man, but Tamahori has a great sense of action and if he was given the right script, it could turn out great)
- Michael Apted (TWINE is my favourite of the Brosnan films and I hope Apted gets a second shot at the director's chair)
- Roger Spottiswoode (TND is my second favourite Brosnan film and I also hope that Spottiswoode gets a second shot at the helm- also it'll be nice to see a fellow Canadian at the helm again)
- Nicholas Meyer (He came close to directing TND, but I hope he gets a shot at a Bond film in the near future)
- Stuart Baird (I hated Star Trek: Nemesis, but with a good script he could do something great- also he has connections to Eon since he's editing CR)

Edited by Agent007.5, 05 November 2005 - 03:56 AM.

[Qwerty]

BTW, this is my first post here... decided to join in on the fun and stop just being a lurker (which I've been doing with more and more frequency since the Daniel Craig announcement!).

A very big welcome to the CommanderBond.net Forums.

[K1Bond007]

Tony Scott would be pretty good. I'd also go for Guy Ritchie or Joe Carnahan.

Preferably if Casino Royale is good, however, I'd like to stick with Martin Campbell. One of things I think hurt Brosnan's era was the absence of a constant director. Maybe that's not so bad, but if they go back to picking guys like Lee Tamahori and Michael Apted, I'll be a sad panda.

Edited by K1Bond007, 06 November 2005 - 07:11 AM.

[Andrew]

I'd love to see Nolan do it, however he will probably be doing the Batman sequel around this time which I would much rather have him do.

I'd like to see Vaughn get his chance.

[Roebuck]

It's a bit presumptive to nominate him based on only one film, but I'm suggesting ''Underworld'' helmer Les Wiseman. He's a reasonable enough action director, but I was also impressed with the way he shoot the rundown Bucharest locations, or handled the Q-Branch style armourer sequences.

[tdalton]

Michael Mann
Michael Apted
John Glen
Sydney Pollack

[Lounge Lizard]

Mike Hodges. Definitely Mike Hodges. A veteran, but not a tired or sloppy one- still eager to learn and try things out. A sly mind with a talent for wit, black humour and sudden violence. I'm not sure if he'd want to do it, but he sure gets my vote.

[dinovelvet]

Mike Hodges. Definitely Mike Hodges. A veteran, but not a tired or sloppy one- still eager to learn and try things out. A sly mind with a talent for wit, black humour and sudden violence. I'm not sure if he'd want to do it, but he sure gets my vote.

Yeah good choice there, for the 'realistic' Bond. Can't believe so many people are suggesting John Woo though, does anyone really want to see Bond diving in slow motion while firing two guns simultaneously with doves flying past in tbe background? The John Woo style is just played out now to the point of self-parody, leave it in the 90s. (When was the last John Woo movie that was even vaguely watchable, anyway?)

Anyway, a couple more suggestions of the off-the-wall variety :

Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast)
David Mamet (Spartan)
Shane Black (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang)

[Ouroboros]

I like an earlier poster's suggestion: Breck Eisner. Sahara was a Bond film, despite having different characters and a muddled script. But the director was solid and didn't rely on the hyper stylized tricks that all the cool kids go with these days.

Roger Spottiswoode is also good. Though probably the weakest in the plot department, TND was in my opinion the most impressively directed of the Brosnan-era Bonds.

As for John Woo, well I'm a huge fan and I think if he downplayed his style back to the level of The Killer or A Better Tomorrow, he might be a good choice. Another Hong Kong vet who's stuck doing Van Damme features is Ringo Lam, who also has an excellent eye for action but isn't quite as hyper-stylized as Woo.

Basically, as far as directors go, I think the producers should aim for people with a distinct visual ability who wouldn't try to influence the story or script too much. My main fear with Tarantino is that he would try to make Bond a little too "hip." Most of his style comes from his scripts, or his clever use of cinema quotes, and not so much from the visual aspect. At least that's the way I feel about it, feel free to disagree.

[Harmsway]

Here's the big wishlist (with a lot of never-gonna-happen candidates):

QUENTIN TARANTINO - We can dream, can't we?

MICHAEL MANN - Another wish-list candidate. Not gonna happen, though.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN - Doubt it'll happen, but it'd be undisputably cool if he did.

ROGER SPOTTISWOODE - He was let down by the screenplay and an extremely rushed and disorganized production schedule, but was probably the best of the Brosnan directors.

STUART BAIRD - A solid contender who could plausibly end up directing in the future.

MATTHEW VAUGN - I'd really like to see him try his hand at James Bond.

STEPHEN SODERBERGH - He's got a great sense for style, and I think that'd really be good for the Bond films. I could see the class of the series really returning with him at the helm.

[Stratus]

I remember Matthew Vaughn saying he is going to develop some other spy series himself?

I doubt half of these directors would direct Bond, not because they can't or are too good for it, but the creative limitations.

Chris Nolan has a very good working relationship with Warner Brothers (they give him almost full creative control) which is rarity these days so I doubt he would try to jump studios.

Tarantino would make it hard-gritty - too radical for EON - and I have a feeling he won't do it unless it is with Brosnan being a major backer of him.

Liman of Bourne fame has a notorious reputation over creative output and arguments with producers. That was why Greengrass was brought onboard in the first place so a sequel would happen.

John Woo is as close as it gets and I am not interested in seeing him behind the lense because if he gets a crap script (a la Purvis and Wade) with terrible actors/actresses dictated by the producers he won't be able to save it. JJ Abrams being the other plausible person, but he is already associated with the Mission Impossible film now. I would worry about who is writing the story first as oppose to who is directing. Purvis and Wade is returning.

They need to hire Stuart Beattie to write a script, his recent Splinter Cell (espionage) script got a good review over at latinoreview.com and he also wrote Michael Mann's Collateral.

Edited by Stratus, 06 November 2005 - 05:03 PM.

[TheSaint]

Vic Armstrong.

[Sanjuro007]

John Woo -- I think this could be a good comeback film, in the sense that he could shy away from self-parody and reinvent himself as a director with the biggest film icon there is, James Bond. And aside from the obvious action-oriented reasons, I think thematically, there's at least two additional reasons to have him come aboard. If one looks back at his filmography, there are a lot of themes that come back again and again in his work, two of which are 1) the hero and villain being "doubles" of one another in some way, shape, or form and 2) the hero honoring one's friends above all. I think that could definitely play out well in a Bond film. I'd love to see another James Bond vs. Red Grant-type face-off (pardon the pun) or a story in which Bond fights alongside or to avenge a friend in some way, whether that friend be Felix Leiter, Rene Mathis, or whomever. Sure, it may skirt close to Licence to Kill, but hey, we're starting over with Casino Royale, right?

Other choices (sorry for the repeats)

Christopher Nolan
Michael Mann
Ridley Scott
Michael Apted
Johnnie To
David Fincher
Wong Kar-Wai (This will NEVER happen, and I'm not sure it should, but it would be an interesting movie nonetheless. Art house Bond? Yeah, it'll never happen)

Edited by Sanjuro007, 07 November 2005 - 07:43 AM.

[Qwerty]

Welcome to the CommanderBond.net Forums, Sanjuro.

[ChickenStu]

John Woo (the "Face/Off" John Woo, not the "MI-2" John Woo).
Doug Liman ("The Bourne Identity" kicked ")
Paul Greengrass ("The Bourne Supremacy" kicked !"
Brian DePalma (Born to do one, IMO.)
Wolfgang Petersen (prefer his sci-fi fantasy stuff, but he is a very competent action director).
Renny Harlin (a big maybe on that one)
Peter Hyams (the guy is a bit of a hack, but I'm sure he could do it competently)

[Double-Oh-Zero]

They would have to be willing to give up almost all creative control, but...

-Christopher Nolan
-Paul McGuigan (directed the excellent Gangster No.1)
-Fernanado Meirelles (The Constant Gardener)

[Agent007.5]

I thought I would focus on my top three picks to direct the next Bond film, which are: Brad Bird, Breck Eisner and Christopher Nolan.

First we have Brad Bird. Sure, Mr. Bird is an animation director, and he did get his start as an executive consultant (or something like that) on The Simpsons, but the two features films that he directed both proves that he is a great storyteller and would be most welcome in the world of James Bond. His film was The Iron Giant, which I haven't seen in a while, doesn't really show his talent as an action director, but if it's an emotional charged movie you want- The Iron Giant gives it. His second film, The Incredibles, shows that he has everything that a Bond director needs. The Incredibles is filled with a lot of great fun and action that we all want in a Bond film but also the film has a story that is easy to follow and is also filled with lots of elements from earlier Bond adventures that have seem to have been lost that Mr. Bird could bring back.

My second choice to direct Bond 22 is Breck Eisner. First things first, yes, he is the son of former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, but the younger Eisner has proven himself to be a great action director, and seems not to have enharited the evil gene from his father. His first (and so far only) film was this spring's Sahara, which was basically a Bond film is disguise, with different characters but all the same elements as a Bond film. But, sure the story was a mess, but that was mostly because of the script, but Eisner still was able to create great action sequence (such as the boat chase) and make a great fun action film, which I think is needed in a Bond film.

My final choice for Bond 22 director is Christopher Nolan, and let me say this first: Batman Begins is the only film directed by Mr. Nolan that I've seen. But anyways, BB is a great action film and is defintily an action film with a heart. He also is able to do a darker story with a lot of great big action sequences. Also, he has publicly said that he would is interested in directing a Bond film and if Eon does grow a brainstem and decides that they would be happy with a big name director, than Nolan is the perfect choice to direct!

Anyways, what do you think of my three choices. And what do you think of a unique choice like Brad Bird to step into the director's chair.

[medrecess]

I would like to see Noyce direct this One.Clear and present Danger and Patriot games are some of the finest action movies.Also i think the guy who directed US Marshals can do a good job.But,if you want a totally new take in Bond a more realistic approach i think there is oner guy who could do a great job-M.Night Shyamalan.

[Dalton]

My shortlist would be:

John McTiernan,
Michael Apted,
Stuart Baird,
Roger Spottiswoode,
Wolfgang Peterson.

[pieffra]

MY VOTE IS FOR:

JAMES CAMERON

RIDLEY SCOTT

CHRIS NOLAN

TONY SCOTT

[Blue07]

I doubt EON would go for a really well established director and certainly not one with a 'name.' In the past they have either hired from within promoting editors or second unit directors or gone for hired guns like Campbell. I think that's a missed opportunity as it would be good to see someone like Chris Nolan given a chance. I just don't see the producers ever going down that line. Having said that there are some directors who although remarkable and very sucsessful would take the franchise too far in their own direction - Woo and Tarantino being two. It should always be a James Bond film and not a Tarantino etc film.

Other than Nolan I would like to see Wolfgang Peterson given a chance.

[killkenny kid]

If, we could get him to walk away from the other guy. I would love to see what Doug Liman, can do with Bond.

[Qwerty]

I'd like to see one from Christopher Nolan.

[Gabe Vieira]

Peter Weir. End of Story.

[ACE]

Michael Caton-Jones (rumoured to have been up for Bond before)
Phillip Noyce (well, need I say more. C&PD is the best political thriller of the last 20 years - a classic yet to be fully appreciated on all levels)
Andy Wilson (did Cracker and Playing God - claimed to have been up for a Bond before)
Antonia Bird (Ravenous, Spooks)
Fernando Meirelles (claims he was up for Bond, great potential in The Constant Gardner and good take on the British)
Christopher Nolan (never going to happen but let's see)
Peter Hyams (US but has British sensibility)
David Yates (British TV - State of Play)
John Boorman (he's too arty and wouldn't do it but he might want to turn light back into money at some point)

Love to see a return of any of the Brosnan helmers:

Michael Apted (only if the piece is character-led - stay away from action)
Roger Spottiswoode
Lee Tamahori
and, of course, the genius that is
Martin Campbell

ACE