268 replies to this topic

[Seannery]

My comments were directed to lots of folks.  Not sure how you get to "no one involved is having any fun," though.  Didn't they just have a big kickoff party?  Sounds like fun to me, but then again I live under a rock...   Again, my point is we're all projecting, both positively and negatively.  All we know for certain is: filming has begun!  Yippee!

I agree blueman We all know little--good signs, bad signs? Who knows? When we see CR then we all can make our true judgements. Right now--I know nothing, hear nothing and see nothing! But that a Bond movie is being made--that is a nice sign.

[Harmsway]

You have missed my point utterly. My reference to the whole production seeming, at this moment, to be "joyless", is that no-one involved seems to be having fun. I haven't even taken the so-called "insider" report into account because it feels bogus to me. Eon used to be so adept at the chuzpah; but, alas, that seems to have withered on the vine.

Craig seems genuinely excited about CASINO ROYALE in all his interviews. Always singing the praises of Haggis' screenplay and such.

[Bon-san]

You have missed my point utterly. My reference to the whole production seeming, at this moment, to be "joyless", is that no-one involved seems to be having fun. I haven't even taken the so-called "insider" report into account because it feels bogus to me. Eon used to be so adept at the chuzpah; but, alas, that seems to have withered on the vine.

Craig seems genuinely excited about CASINO ROYALE in all his interviews. Always singing the praises of Haggis' screenplay and such.

Really? Maybe I'm not seeing the right ones, because in the ones I've seen, he always appears a bit annoyed to be talking about Bond.

[Harmsway]

You have missed my point utterly. My reference to the whole production seeming, at this moment, to be "joyless", is that no-one involved seems to be having fun. I haven't even taken the so-called "insider" report into account because it feels bogus to me. Eon used to be so adept at the chuzpah; but, alas, that seems to have withered on the vine.

Craig seems genuinely excited about CASINO ROYALE in all his interviews. Always singing the praises of Haggis' screenplay and such.

Really? Maybe I'm not seeing the right ones, because in the ones I've seen, he always appears a bit annoyed to be talking about Bond.

Does this sound annoyed:

"It's going to be very different from anything else," Craig said. "It will have certain elements that will make it a Bond movie."

"[Screenwriter] Paul Haggis has done a rewrite of the script and has written great dialogue. The lead girl part is fantastic, the characters are all fantastic. It's a Bond film. We're making a Bond movie first and foremost."

"Yes, I could fail miserably, but maybe I can do something that's different and make the franchise last another 30 years

[Bon-san]

You have missed my point utterly. My reference to the whole production seeming, at this moment, to be "joyless", is that no-one involved seems to be having fun. I haven't even taken the so-called "insider" report into account because it feels bogus to me. Eon used to be so adept at the chuzpah; but, alas, that seems to have withered on the vine.

Craig seems genuinely excited about CASINO ROYALE in all his interviews. Always singing the praises of Haggis' screenplay and such.

Really? Maybe I'm not seeing the right ones, because in the ones I've seen, he always appears a bit annoyed to be talking about Bond.

Does this sound annoyed:

"It's going to be very different from anything else," Craig said. "It will have certain elements that will make it a Bond movie."

"[Screenwriter] Paul Haggis has done a rewrite of the script and has written great dialogue. The lead girl part is fantastic, the characters are all fantastic. It's a Bond film. We're making a Bond movie first and foremost."

Impossible to tell, since I cannot hear the voice inflection nor see the facial behaviors.

I can say, "That's a fairly interesting idea", but depending on how I say it, it can mean different things.

[Harmsway]

I can say, "That's a fairly interesting idea", but depending on how I say it, it can mean different things.

That's not all he's saying though. He's saying things like "he has written great dialogue" and "the lead girl part is fantastic, the characters are all fantastic." That's really positive.

[Bon-san]

I can say, "That's a fairly interesting idea", but depending on how I say it, it can mean different things.

That's not all he's saying though. He's saying things like "he has written great dialogue" and "the lead girl part is fantastic, the characters are all fantastic." That's really positive.

Right. I heard him say a lot of those kinds of things at the initial press conference, but he came off as annoyed a lot of the time, uncertain at others. It was a very strange vibe at that press conference. Rather joyless, given it should have been a triumphant moment.

I've seen only a couple of interviews on tv since, and he was again giving off that irritable air. I'm not a Craig-basher, but I do note that he has hasn't exactly been tap dancing around singing the joys of Bond-dom. Although, he's practically been Gene Kelly compared to Mike, Babs, and the rest of the unnamed, faceless EON/Sony staffs.

I've got to sign off now, so I won't be able to continue this interminably until you feel you've won the point, as you're want to do.

XXXX OOOO

[Harmsway]

I've got to sign off now, so I won't be able to continue this interminably until you feel you've won the point, as you're want to do. 

XXXX  OOOO 

Hey, isn't that what debating on CBN is for most of us here?

[blueman]

I honestly don't give a crap what Craig says in interviews, I've seen him act, he delivers. I don't need the actor playing Bond to sell it, that's what the studio's publicity department is for. And I'm sure that'll all kick in soon enough (although NOT soon enough for some ).

[Harmsway]

I'm not putting a whole lot of stock in how Craig says things, because he seems to be somewhat uncomfortable with the press as is. But his comments themselves are of a positive nature and have me excited that he thinks so highly of the project.

And as you say, blueman, the publicity department will kick in soon.

[Bon-san]

[quote name='Harmsway' date='31 January 2006 - 16:37'][quote name='Bon-san' date='31 January 2006 - 15:25']I've got to sign off now, so I won't be able to continue this interminably until you feel you've won the point, as you're want to do.

[Jack Spang]

Craig is obviously shy around the media as is Dalton. This in turn is reflected in the way he communicates his answers. His enthusiasm is hindered. Or maybe this is just the way he speaks in general when he is not acting. The content of his responses is certainly positive. I think the media genuinely piss him off some of the time too. I don't blame him.

MI6 are also reporting that the Aston Martin will be filled with gadgets? Someone mentioned that Ford have the right to inform Eon what they want done with the car in the film. Is this really true? If it is, then how the hell will Eon ever be able to maintain any artistic integrity? Christ, this is worse than what this so called insider said. It affects the entire rest of the series! Before I read this I was going to say, why the hell can't Eon just use the car to go from A to B? Why do we even have to have another car chase much less a gadget filled Aston? FYEO did the right thing. Especially since they'd used a gadget laden lotus in TSYLM.

Let

[Harmsway]

MI6 are also reporting that the Aston Martin will be filled with gadgets?  Someone mentioned that Ford have the right to inform Eon what they want done with the car in the film.  Is this really true?  If it is, then how the hell will Eon ever be able to maintain any artistic integrity?  Christ, this is worse than what this so called insider said.  It affects the entire rest of the series!  Before I read this I was going to say, why the hell can't Eon just use the car to go from A to B? Why do we even have to have another car chase much less a gadget filled Aston?  FYEO did the right thing. Especially since they'd used a gadget laden lotus in TSYLM.

Ford does not have that kind of leverage. However, I'm still fairly skeptical about a gadget-filled car rumor. It just doesn't fit, and MI6 has made some fairly bogus claims in the past.

[Jack Spang]

Well I hope you

[Harmsway]

[quote name='Jack Spang' date='1 February 2006 - 01:43']Well I hope you

[Streetworker]

I'm not putting a whole lot of stock in how Craig says things, because he seems to be somewhat uncomfortable with the press as is. But his comments themselves are of a positive nature and have me excited that he thinks so highly of the project.

And as you say, blueman, the publicity department will kick in soon.

I'm sure you're right. But what some of us are suggesting is that they should have already kicked in.

I'm not being negative for the sake of being negative. Although a fence-sitter as far as Craig's concerned, I've been a fan of this character and these films since the late 60s, so no-one wants Casino Royale to succeed more than I do. But no amount of wishful thinking by people on this site - and there's an awful lot of that going on - is going to make CR a success. There's a perception out in the real world, fairly or unfairly, of dullness about this production at the moment. Friends who know I have an interest in the Bond films are coming up to me and asking what the hell's going on with it.

Now I'm a realist when it comes to the TV and movie industry because I work in it. Nothing suggests to me that the film is in trouble - compared with the early days of TND, it sounds a picnic - but the vibes a movie gives off, even in its early days of shooting, can be vital in the prevailing public perception of it. You are correct that Daniel Craig is sounding the most positive person on the movie at the moment, but doesn't that prove my point? When Daniel Craig - who's a superb actor but is never, let's be frank, the jolliest of interviewees - is the most upbeat person in interviews, it kinda speaks volumes. That is why I described Casino Royale as feeling "joyless" earlier.

Journalists, particularly British hacks (the nastiest journos in the world) can scent blood in the water faster than Largo's Golden Grotto sharks and they've been desperate to write the obituary of the Bond series since 1967. At this crucial point in the series' history, it would seem to me to be sensible to counter any negativity about Brosnan's dumping in favour of Craig (which exists in the real world whether we like it or not), with a show of confidence and chutzpah. Showman Cubby knew how to do it; I well recall an interview he gave in 1976 when the series had been battered by the relative failure of TMWTGG and the Broccoli-Saltzman divorce. While the series wasn't necessarily on its knees, it wasn't in great shape. But you wouldn't know it from Cubby; from the outset in that 1976 Daily Express interview, he was positive and upbeat. In contrast, Eon currently give the impression of having retreated into their shells after that sorrily inept press launch announcing Daniel Craig.

I'm truly sorry if some of you find my pointing out these truisms unpalatable. But shooting the messenger isn't going to alter the fact that the production team needs to find their balls, counter the negativity and at least give the impresssion they're enjoying themselves.

Edited by Streetworker, 01 February 2006 - 08:18 AM.

[Tinfinger]

Streetworker, you are absolutely right. God bless you for speaking the truth.

[fatima]

[quote name='Harmsway' date='1 February 2006 - 06:44'][quote name='Jack Spang' date='1 February 2006 - 00:33']MI6 are also reporting that the Aston Martin will be filled with gadgets?

[Agent Spriggan Ominae]

[quote name='fatima' date='31 January 2006 - 22:21'][quote name='Harmsway' date='1 February 2006 - 06:44'][quote name='Jack Spang' date='1 February 2006 - 00:33']MI6 are also reporting that the Aston Martin will be filled with gadgets?

[medrecess]

You cant tell at this stage how things shape up.Having a good script is fine but ultimately it has to be translated into a good film.That is the challenge.But at least they have won round 1 of the battle.

ONE must remember a lot will depend on actor DC as he will be constantly compared with PB.I am not saying that he will fade in comparison.

[Streetworker]

Streetworker, you are absolutely right. God bless you for speaking the truth.

Too kind...

[Harmsway]

I'm truly sorry if some of you find my pointing out these truisms unpalatable. But shooting the messenger isn't going to alter the fact that the production team needs to find their balls, counter the negativity and at least give the impresssion they're enjoying themselves.

Hey, it's true. EON should be doing a lot more right now to show up and say, "Hey. Bond is back, and he's doing just fine, thank you very much."

[blueman]

I don't think any of this is registering on the general public yet, just us Bond geeks. Ask yourself: are you already planning on seeing this movie? If so, why should EON spend a dime on publicity for YOU? They already have you by the short and curlies, you're in the bag, you're caught! They want just plain old movie-goers, and the pubicity for that will kick in when it always does. The "negativity" surrounding CR is far more projection than real, IMHO (regardless of polls taken a year before the movie comes out, lol).

Did ya hear? They started filming this week! Isn't that exciting???

[Red Barchetta]

I still wonder, though, without his trademark tux (when does Bond NOT wear one to a casino?), and changing the card game, if this film will retain the mood, and flavor of the novel? And Judi Dench as M? Seems like they should have brought in another 'Benard Lee' type of M...
Thoughts anyone?

[Loomis]

I don't think any of this is registering on the general public yet, just us Bond geeks. Ask yourself: are you already planning on seeing this movie? If so, why should EON spend a dime on publicity for YOU? They already have you by the short and curlies, you're in the bag, you're caught! They want just plain old movie-goers, and the pubicity for that will kick in when it always does.

Exactly. Why does the world need to have chapter and verse right now on a film that won't be available for nearly another year? (Particularly when "the world" doesn't give nearly as much of a stuff about Bond as we do.) The publicity doesn't need to kick in for a long time. A loooooooong time.

[Polynikes]

No, it's not. However, the intake for the Special Air Service is open to any member of the British Armed Forces, i.e. the Royal Air Force (RAF), the British Army and the Royal Navy (RN).

SAS are considered the world's best elite fighting force.

Bond would belong...

Actually it's not.

Bond joined the Royal Navy and moved into intelligence...he got his unarmed combat skills from a private interest in judo.

I'm quite looking forward to seeing Bond restored to the human race and no longer a superhero but there's no need to dress him up as a soldier in the SAS when he's supposed to be a Royal Navy officer.

Remember the name of the forum?

Commander Bond?

A commander, for those who don't know, is a senior navy rank equivalent to a Lt Colonel in the army.
Not quite sure how that can be exlained - was he supposed to have served as an ordinary soldier and then transferred back to the navy to get his senior rank!!!

Sorry but dreaming up an army history to replace a navy history unravels the Bond character...

The script writer(s) who dreamt it up should be immediately fired before he/she makes the story an even bigger mess & replaced with someone who can write and think logically from at least a rational and semi-informed base.

PS: There's nothing magical or super-power granting with SAS membership...not that anyone really cares, this Bond movie is just a disposable item for young US teens who couldn't care about trivial details like plausability.

Let's make him an a long lost son of Clerk Kent too...that would be cool...also if he could have special powers, like being able to make himself invisible or turn into a flaming torch or climb walls like Spiderman...

Maybe when he was in the SIS (that's Secret Intelligence Services), he was involved with experiments on Dolphins...maybe somehing went wrong in the experiments and Bond is now "Dolphin Man", able to hold his breath for really long periods and swim really fast???

OK, I'm being facetious but hopefully you'll get my drift.

Bond's character - who is is and was - doesn't need to be re-written, just the scripts need to be improved and made more intelligent.

Personally I wouldn't mind taking the story back and setting it in the early 50's - that would make sense if you wanted to "start over" but I understand if the producers aren't willing to take such a gamble with millions of dollars.

Trouble is the re-invention of Bond and having him a newly licenced member of the double-oh club only works as a period piece.

The producers wnat to have their cake and eat it - they want a "Bond Begins" type movie but can't make one without engaging in a scripting contortion that makes the Pam's dream in Dallas look like a believable storyline device.

Sorry but I am starting to wonder if this scripting contradiction might undermine the whole success of the movie.

[triviachamp]

Bond joined the Royal Navy and moved into intelligence...he got his unarmed combat skills from a private interest in judo.

I'm quite looking forward to seeing Bond restored to the human race and no longer a superhero but there's no need to dress him up as a soldier in the SAS when he's supposed to be a Royal Navy officer.

Actually his naval status was just a cover.

[Santa]

I just wish that Casino Royale didn't feel so, I dunno... so joyless, somehow. The whole production is giving off an aura, at the moment, of being dour.

I see what you mean, Streetworker, and although I'm supportive of Craig and a 'new direction' for Bond, I have to agree with you there. 'Joyless' is the right word.

Since the 14th October news conference, EON has been silent, and those present at the conference itself seemed very reluctant to talk. It wasn't just Craig who was uncommunicative there: Barbara Broccoli hardly said anything, Martin Campbell looked very nervous, and Michael G. Wilson... well, with all due respect to him as a writer / producer / private person / human being, but as a public figure, he is as boring as they come. There was really something special about the 'showman' flamboyance of Broccoli and Saltzman.

I don't give a if all the crew are having fun or not, they're there to work and much as I enjoy my job, I'm fairly sure I don't go around displaying my joy in it every day. The most I hope for is for them to get on with it and make a good film and I don't care if they're smiling while they do it or not. For all you know some may look 'joyless' because their dog just died or something. This is just nitpicking for those who have nothing better to do. There's a new Bond film coming out, this can only be a good thing. Even if it's not as some would have it (and personally I think it sounds very promising), this is still better than nothing. Come on people, take a Prozac.

[Frostyak]

Really? Maybe I'm not seeing the right ones, because in the ones I've seen, he always appears a bit annoyed to be talking about Bond.

I don't care if he loves or hates his job. Look at Metallica when they recorded the 'Black Album'...3/4 of them went through divorces while that album was being made. 12 million albums sold and no one is discussing that fact. While Christian Bale was making 'Batman Begins' he was very vocal about his skepticism about becoming a "Hollywood star". I don't believe it hurt that movie at all.

- Chris