35 replies to this topic

[EyesOnly]

I just rewatched all of PB's bond movies. I must say that Pierce Brosnan acted awesome in GE. His acting was completly top notch in my opinioin. Beyond that it seemed to fall into this haze of "Brosnan blah"...as if he was told to act a certain way. Brosnan in GoldenEye if he continued to act that way would have been IMO a great Bond comparable to Connery...the wit, charsima, and imo credible dialogue. I think he had some good Bondian moments in the others but GE was consistant, fresh, and real slick. I am truly sorry they didn't make more of his 007 movies this way! What do you think?

Eyesonly!

[Publius]

I think this should be in the Brosnan forum, but I'm sure a moderator will move it if necessary.

Anyway, I actually disagree with your assessment, despite loving GoldenEye. I believe Brosnan became truly comfortable with the role only after his debut, and was himself very good in Die Another Day (the rest of the movie, another story). Perhaps that had to do with the fact that GE was somewhat written for Dalton, and he seemed to be partly emulating him, even channeling him at some points. The appeal of GE transcends whatever awkwardness I perceived in that regard, however, and I find it enjoyable mostly because of the Cold War motifs, betrayal/revenge plot, and a very different film style that did more to redefine the series than any movie before it, not to mention the excellent cast it touted.

However, the dialogue in GE I do love, but would also make the case that it resurfaced, if a bit differently, in TND. Even in TWINE, to some extent. Very quotable film, though, indeed.

[EyesOnly]

See, I think Brosnan was the darkest here. Curious as to why you say he is in best form in DAD?

[Harmsway]

See, I think Brosnan was the darkest here. Curious as to why you say he is in best form in DAD?

It's because in GOLDENEYE Brosnan looks like he's trying too hard. He just doesn't seem comfortable with the darker aspects and is trying a little too hard to be dramatic. GOLDENEYE was written with Dalton in mind, and thus it wasn't exactly tailored to Brosnan's strengths and comfort areas. He was much better as the charming, debonair, humorous spy rather than the dark and brooding one, at least from the work he actually put out in his Bond movies themselves.

When he eased up (in TOMORROW NEVER DIES and DIE ANOTHER DAY), he got a lot more comfortable and lot more at ease. DIE ANOTHER DAY is truly the role where he truly settles in and gives a comfortable feeling performance.

[MrDraco]

I thought he kinda floated threw the last half of Die Another Day...

[Harmsway]

I thought he kinda floated threw the last half of Die Another Day...

Likely because there wasn't a whole lot of performance there - it was mostly action scenes after the other with him doing action-y things. He doesn't even have a lot of dialogue.

I thought he was great in the last half when he did have dialogue, though. That scene by the car with Miranda Frost is well done and quite humorous. One of the best moments in the film, actually.

[EyesOnly]

I understand he was probably more along the lines of Moore. I just can't believe how different he was between TND and beyond! Yes, I agree he seems more relaxed in DAD....but wooden! AH, i'm all over with this one! ha

[K1Bond007]

He was much better in GoldenEye, IMHO. Afterwards, I guess you can say he got comfortable with the role, but I'd rather say that he got increasingly lazy with it, which culminated with DAD. Then again, who's really at fault here? You play the role that the script gives you. GoldenEye was written for Dalton not Brosnan. So there you go.

[Qwerty]

That scene by the car with Miranda Frost is well done and quite humorous. One of the best moments in the film, actually.

Wonder if keeping in the addition of that scene with the two of them caught in the water by Graves would have further helped.

[Harmsway]

That scene by the car with Miranda Frost is well done and quite humorous. One of the best moments in the film, actually.

Wonder if keeping in the addition of that scene with the two of them caught in the water by Graves would have further helped.

I really wanted to see that scene. I saw pictures of it, but that's all.

[Qwerty]

That scene by the car with Miranda Frost is well done and quite humorous. One of the best moments in the film, actually.

Wonder if keeping in the addition of that scene with the two of them caught in the water by Graves would have further helped.

I really wanted to see that scene. I saw pictures of it, but that's all.

Me too.

[Harmsway]

That scene by the car with Miranda Frost is well done and quite humorous. One of the best moments in the film, actually.

Wonder if keeping in the addition of that scene with the two of them caught in the water by Graves would have further helped.

I really wanted to see that scene. I saw pictures of it, but that's all.

Me too.

What the hot tub sequence would have provided is a nice color change to bring some warmth to the Iceland sequence. Iceland is far too cold as a location, with all of its blues and more blues. A brownish, warm hot tub scene to break it up would have been nice.

I had also been hoping that the jungle-esque biodome would have provided another interesting setting and break from the icy cold that dominated the Iceland sequence, but it was barely used. That was a tragically wasted location.

[medrecess]

In GE,I think PB is the best and most comfortable as BOnd.But in later movies he was kind of uncomfortable ,i dont know why.But in my opinion the credit should go to the fact that Martin Campbell and Pierce were comfortable with each other.Martin's direction style suited PB.

[Santa]

I enjoyed GE and thought PB would revitalise the Bond franchise, but he turned out a huge disappointment. I can't work out how much of this is down to PB, and how much was the fault of the poor material he was given to work with. I think the material is largely to blame, but for me PB just moved further and further from my idea of Bond with each film he did. He just didn't have a dark side and became more like the gross uncle that insists on kissing you on the lips at Christmas(see 'Bridget Jones' Diary' Uncle Geoffrey for example). Now I like a man being smooth in a tux (where are the smooth men in tuxes by the way? My life is sadly lacking those...)but he confused cool and sophisticated with smarmy and I'm afraid this is not down to the scripts as he is equally naff in real life. 10 years ago I wanted him for Bond, and I got him, but it just goes to show you should be careful what you wish for. This why I'm supporting Craig; PB was exactly my idea of Bond but got it very wrong, Craig is not truly my idea of Bond but as my judgement is clearly lacking in that department he'll probably turn out great, if that makes any sense at all.

[MarcAngeDraco]

For me, GoldenEye was a solid film that showed a lot of promise as to where the series could go. Unfortunately (IMHO), the series never really capitalized on that potential...

[bondrocks14]

He was great in GE, somewhat cold but realistic with the occasional formula thrown in, but you could tell he was new at this. In TND, he was great. He showed that he is James Bond, and he could pull off all aspects of the formula with smooth ease. In TWINE, he showed that he could do drama (which I like TWINE because it is more of a subdued, dramatic movie then an all out action fest like DAD) and then in DAD the performance was all fun and formulatic (just like the movie). In any case, Brosnan successfully followed the formula while adding his own flair, thus making us believe he was James Bond. Dalton tried to follow the formula, but he could never put a flair into it like Connery, Moore, and Brosnan. Even Lazenby had his own kind of style. Granted, Dalton played a colder, darker style of James Bond, but he couldn't pull off the formula well. Brosnan came along and showed that he could do a little bit of what the other Bonds did best.

[Harmsway]

I can understand what people are getting at with GOLDENEYE being Brosnan's best. I mean, Brosnan does seem more generic, stereotypical "Bond" with his other films, and in GOLDENEYE he makes more of an impression.

And I do understand the "lazy" argument as well, with Brosnan seemingly just going through the motions of Bond a bit. However, with DIE ANOTHER DAY, I feel he got a burst of energy and spirit so he ended up being comfortable and lively at the same time.

[Hitch]

I'm going to sound like such a fanboy...

One of Brosnan's best moments was the Hamburg sequence from TND, particularly when he returns to his hotel after receiving a phone call from E. Carver hinting that Paris might be in danger. For once, the camera is mobile; Bond strides down the street, the camera peering over his shoulder as he notes the pick-up truck passing him (on its way to assault 007's BMW). He is - and this is the difference - motivated. He's concerned for Paris (whether their relationship is believable is another question); he's distraught at her death and thus very motivated to get out of his hotel room alive; he is very professional when dispatching his opponent; and then we have a very motivated and angry Bond who throws himself into an absurd but satisfying action sequence. Yes, the inconsistencies are there, but we ignore them because the character takes over - Bond is up against someone nasty, nasty things happen and he gets nasty in return. Simplistic but satisfying. In this sequence, Brosnan is Bond. Oh, for better scripts!

[SeanValen00V]

I'm going to sound like such a fanboy...

One of Brosnan's best moments was the Hamburg sequence from TND, particularly when he returns to his hotel after receiving a phone call from E. Carver hinting that Paris might be in danger. For once, the camera is mobile; Bond strides down the street, the camera peering over his shoulder as he notes the pick-up truck passing him (on its way to assault 007's BMW). He is - and this is the difference - motivated. He's concerned for Paris (whether their relationship is believable is another question); he's distraught at her death and thus very motivated to get out of his hotel room alive; he is very professional when dispatching his opponent; and then we have a very motivated and angry Bond who throws himself into an absurd but satisfying action sequence. Yes, the inconsistencies are there, but we ignore them because the character takes over - Bond is up against someone nasty, nasty things happen and he gets nasty in return. Simplistic but satisfying. In this sequence, Brosnan is Bond. Oh, for better scripts!

Yep, that's also one of my favorite scenes also, if he got more scenes like that, or with the class and care of that regarding the bond character, we would of been spoiled for great bond films, that hamburg scene, Brosnan's is Ian Flemming's James Bond, right there.

Definately one of his best moments, alongside his instincts in the North Korea sequences in DAD, it's all in the scripts, he was a fine Bond when the producers decided to include good character scenes.

[Andrew]

Brosnan's is Ian Flemming's James Bond, right there.

What about Fleming's Bond?

[EyesOnly]

I like Brosnan in Goldeneye so much because he had (IMHO) the cocky-ness that majorly lacked in his later films!

[Santa]

I'm not a fan of Brosnan anyway - I was but then liked him less with each Bond film he did - but I felt Rosamund Pike acted him off the screen in every scene they had together in DAD. It was only made worse by the cringeworthiness of each of his scenes with Halle Berry. However I feel Brosnan and Berry were on each other's level in DAD, which was not good, well cheesy in fact. I'm sure PB had the best of intentions when he took on the role and he must be as disappointed as I am about how the films turned out. Shame.

[Tinfinger]

Well, I liked Brosnan. He was right up there with Connery in my book. His movies were kinda spotty, but it was not his fault. Brosnan was wasted potential.

[Santa]

I'm half in agreement with you. I think he was given some fairly appalling material to work with, which never helps, but then Roger Moore managed to rise above it, and PB didn't manage to. But I love Roger, IMHO PB is just not in his league.

[Streetworker]

Well, I liked Brosnan. He was right up there with Connery in my book. His movies were kinda spotty, but it was not his fault. Brosnan was wasted potential.

I agree. I liked Brosnan; in fact, although I'm of an age when I should be a die-hard Connery fan, I'm finding I like his performance less and less as I get older.

I liked the Brosnan era; some of the things they tried didn't always come off, but I think it's to their credit that each of his four films were utterly different. And it's to Brosnan's credit that he grew into the part with each one, so I have to agree with Harmsway's opinion that he was at his best in Die Another Day.

I dislike the way Brosnan was dumped publicly. Showbusiness is showbusiness[i] and it's a bloody tough business, as I know only too well. If producers want a new direction, that's their prerogative and they're entitled to hire and fire actors as they choose. However, it could have all been done with a little more finesse, and would have certainly been done so in Cubby's day. Whatever our own private thoughts about the way Brosnan was treated, he's regarded as having had a raw deal in the world beyond fandom and this, I suspect, is one of the reasons there is simmering negativity in the press towards Casino Royale (which is a shame for Daniel Craig). I, personally, can't shake off the feeling that they've crossed the Rubicon with this and that the series is going to suffer as a result. I hope to God I'm wrong. But time will tell...

[Bondesque]

Brosnan had good material in GE and a decent director. He always seemed to be posing for the camera in all his films. His best work as a spy was The Fourth Protocol and The Tailor of Panama. The sad thing about Brosnan is that he has more talent then he has been given the freedom to show.

[DLibrasnow]

I just rewatched all of PB's bond movies. I must say that Pierce Brosnan acted awesome in GE. His acting was completly top notch in my opinioin. Beyond that it seemed to fall into this haze of "Brosnan blah"...as if he was told to act a certain way. Brosnan in GoldenEye if he continued to act that way would have been IMO a great Bond
Eyesonly!

I agree with this assessment, in fact GoldenEyeis the only Brosnan Bond movie that makes it into my Top 10. The other three are well towards the bottom with even 1967's CASINO ROYALE ranking higher than The World Is Not Enough.

[Tinfinger]

{sigh{ I liked TWINE. I have no clue as to why there are so many people here who hate it.

[Harmsway]

{sigh{ I liked TWINE. I have no clue as to why there are so many people here who hate it.

I'll give you the major reason: it's self-important. And instead of Bond acting like Bond and internalizing his emotions and being removed and cold, he gets open, whimpery, and somewhat whiny. He wouldn't have wasted a second thought on blowing Elektra away once he knew she was playing him the whole time.

[JimmyBond]

{sigh{ I liked TWINE. I have no clue as to why there are so many people here who hate it.

I don't hate it, but I'd take any of Brosnan's other three films over that one. In fact I'm in the minority where I think DAD was his best, and in fact the most enjoyable of all four of his films, with TND pretty close.