96 replies to this topic

[Agent Spriggan Ominae]

I just realised something. What if the PTS and main titles are like references to both of the past Casino Royale films and Dr. No. The original Climax! special was in B&W and we know that Bond will kill Drryden and Fisher. What if The film opens like the '67 CR with no GB and instead of metting Sellers and that other guy we meet Dreyden and Fisher completing a deal and then we see a faceless assassin take then out who is then revealed to be Bond. I think the film will then continue like the opening of Dr. No with the GB and MT combined. I think the change to color should be with the blood in the GB. B&W isn't a bad thing, it's very unique and has a classic/retro feel. I won't complain. Handheld cameras do make worry though. As long as the fight scenes aren't Bourne supremacy, it's all good.

[DanMan]

^^^^ Basically everything I was thinking but couldn't put into words. Good post, a_crook.

[Andrew]

I'm thinking that this supposed first act scuba diving is just a small "romantic" scene with Bond and Solange.

[Moore Not Less]

Handheld cameras do make worry though.

I have no problem with the occasional hand held camera shots, but the excessive use of them in The Bourne Supremacy spoilt my enjoyment of that film somewhat. I am hoping that Eon/Campbell are not going down that route in Casino Royale.

[double-O-Durg]

I think that the b&w scenes will be a good thing, I'm not overenthusiastic about the whole reboot idea, so having the pretitle 'how bond gets his 00 status' will be in b&w bcoz its in the past and Bond can get on with what he does without this whole Bond Begins crap

[Loomis]

[quote name='JimmyBond' post='529630' date='9 March 2006 - 19:29']
[quote name='Loomis' post='529623' date='9 March 2006 - 13:26']

And why won't they ditch Panavision for just one film?
[/quote]

Would a smaller aspect ratio really make the film better?
[/quote]

No, but I'd prefer it.

[quote name='Bon-san' post='529643' date='9 March 2006 - 19:37']
[quote name='Loomis' post='529623' date='9 March 2006 - 14:26']
Black and white bits? Hmmm.... sounds a bit "arty" to me, a bit "trying too hard". Wouldn't mind, but it risks looking just like yer average Tony Scott film.

And why won't they ditch Panavision for just one film?
[/quote]

Loomis, now don't take this the wrong way, but I believe I've got one thing figured now.

When the majority are slating something, you stand up to defend it.

But when the majority are lavishing praise, you raise objections.

The Devil's Advocate must be in your blood.

You're not a barrister are you?


[/quote]

LOL! Nah, although, yes, I do enjoy playing devil's advocate.

Not always, though: often, my posts reflect my honestly-held opinions. Honest!

Seriously, a prologue in black and white.... haven't loads of movies done that, from THE BIG BLUE to KILL BILL VOLUME 2? It's not really all that uncommon or original, is it?

I'm not suggesting that the Bond people shouldn't do something unless it's 100% unique and groundbreaking, but, still....

[quote name='zencat' date='9 March 2006 - 20:44' post='529712']
[quote name='Kronsteen' post='529698' date='9 March 2006 - 12:35']
[quote name='zencat' post='529668' date='9 March 2006 - 21:08']
Makes sense to me too.

....the famous James Bond gunbarrel logo, which The Young Bond Dossier can confirm will be at the END of the pre-title sequence instead of the beginning.

I think it sounds really exciting. It's like the gunbarrel is shown when we first get to see James Bond, 007, while in the PTS he's just James Bond...
[/quote]

Hehe. But don't leave out this part:

But how will that work exactly? Well, you

[Andrew]

I think that theory makes sense, Loomis.

I'm sure that Sony would like a single though, that could probably be the end-title track.

[Loomis]

I think that theory makes sense, Loomis.

I'm sure that Sony would like a single though, that could probably be the end-title track.

The way they seem to be shaking things up, the big hit song (say, "A Whisper of Love, A Whisper of Hate" by George Michael, or some other Sony artist) will probably be played in the middle of the movie!

I say that half-jokingly, but, seriously, why not? After all, "We Have All the Time in the World" appears quite a way into ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE.

[DLibrasnow]

Black and white sounds good to me, and it seems the majority of the posters here...but one wonders what the vote that counts (ie the general audience) will think?!

[dunmall]

WOW! this actually sounds like they are trying to do something different for once! great news!! handheld is fine by me too

[Dmitri Mishkin]

A few thoughts!

The moment handheld cameras was mentioned, I thought of the Bourne Supremacy. In that film, they were used well to really amplify the intensity of the action, but they were also used just a bit excessively, to the point of confusing viewers. You couldn't tell where a punch was going because you thought Bourne just kicked him the groin... or something like that. However, used in moderation, they really help inject the viewer into the action. I really think this will give the action scenes a much more kinetic quality than what we've seen before. Campbell and Phil Meheux did great work on GE (in particularly the final fight scene), so I'm not worried.

The black and white idea is very interesting and it reminds me of the torture scene-main titles idea for DAD. I don't think it will shock the audience; there's not much that shocks an audience these days IMO - all the tricks and fancy cuts have been used. But hopefully this will freshen up the feel of the opening of a Bond film.

I'm still surprised at the amount of risk-taking we've seen so far; truly astonishing to see Babs and Mike really push this franchise.

[marktmurphy]

The moment handheld cameras was mentioned, I thought of the Bourne Supremacy. In that film, they were used well to really amplify the intensity of the action, but they were also used just a bit excessively, to the point of confusing viewers. You couldn't tell where a punch was going because you thought Bourne just kicked him the groin... or something like that.

Don't really agree with that- I thought it was surprisingly easy to follow; although certain scenes like the very first bit in the beach hut at night (a very slow scene) were badly affected by the shakeyness which was amplified quite annoyingly on the big screen. I've no worries with action being shakey, though.

[Agent Spriggan Ominae]

And is the following staring us in the face, or is it staring us in the face? The film will have the first instrumental opening credits track since ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. My reasoning being:

If the opening credits will end with the gunbarrel, the gunbarrel must be accompanied by The James Bond Theme. No ifs and no buts.

Hard to imagine a song leading into The James Bond Theme. Easy to imagine a new piece of music by David Arnold leading into The James Bond Theme. The opening credits track will by necessity be an extended intro to The James Bond Theme, ergo an instrumental. (Okay, it could, in theory, work with a song, but it's harder to imagine.)

Anyone see where I'm coming from on this one?

(Scratch this theory if the gunbarrel does in fact come before the opening credits.)

What if Arnold or whoever comes up with the theme song works the Bond theme into it like in FRWL or GF.

[SecretAgentFan]

How can you like the horrible news that the PTS will be in black and white?!

Quite easy really. I understand art.

[stamper]

Sod all who don't like the idea of the pre-credits in black and white.

Go back to your Moonrakers and MWGG and DAD crap and let us enjoy, for the first time since 1989, the RETURN OF JAMES BOND !

Finally some bold artistic move, just like the early movies were for their time.

[deth]

handheld cameras make me motion sick.. I hope it's not used much

Edited by deth, 10 March 2006 - 04:57 PM.

[Blue07]

B&W = OK. Handheld cameras overused = Bourne. Bourne = Not in CR thank you.

Cautiously optimistic.

Keep it Bond and piss on Bourne.

[Niwram]

Sod all who don't like the idea of the pre-credits in black and white.

Go back to your Moonrakers and MWGG and DAD crap and let us enjoy, for the first time since 1989, the RETURN OF JAMES BOND !

How does us not liking the crappy BW thing make us fans of those movies?!

I do not like that a good Bond movie gets ruined with a stupid comedic moment!

Black and white have nothing to do in a 2006 non-comedy movie when the rest of the movie is in color!

Edited by Niwram, 10 March 2006 - 07:27 PM.

[Andrew]

Yes...because black and white=comedy. Schindler's List was just downright hillarious!

[Loomis]

Go back to your Moonrakers and MWGG and DAD crap

Gladly. All three are big favourites of mine.

[luciusgore]

The PTS in black and white? Why? I don't get it.

[JimmyBond]

The PTS in black and white? Why? I don't get it.

To be stylish.

[The Girl With The Golden Gun]

Does anyone have a link to the video content that was in the CBn news article on this, as i can't seem to find it on the BBC website and would really like to see some video footage. Thanks!

[krypt]

Black and white? If it's done right, thumbs up!

Hand-held cameras? If it's done right, thumbs up!

They're not saying the entire film is being shot hand-held. We've already seen photos of camera crews not using hand-helds, haven't we?

Think about great use of hand-helds for a moment. When I think hand-held I think Syriana, Traffic, Black Hawk Down, The Constant Gardener, Spy Game, the Bourne films and so on. Contemporary thrillers that bring the audience inside the world of the film. IMHO it's great stuff when used the right way.

And in defense of the extra-shaky hand-held use in "The Bourne Supremacy" ... director Paul Greengrass used the camera to reflect Jason Bourne's eroding mental state. Think about the breakdown of his mental "conditioning," his chronic headaches and the anmnesia, insomnia, cryptic memory fragments, mourning, guilt and rage he was experiencing in the film. Bourne is coming apart at the seams mentally in the film and the camera work brings the viewer along with him. It was an artistic decision and IMHO it worked.

Also, to people who think B&W is a "comedy" element ... no, it's really not. But I dare say that many previous Bond films did have comedy elements in them. Do I really have to start listing them?

Edited by krypt, 11 March 2006 - 09:14 AM.

[SecretAgent007]

B&W could be a good idea. But, only if there isn't any reference to Bond being a new "00" agent in the film proper. It would also make sense to have the gun barrel at the end of the titles with what we know the titles will consist of.

I just hope that they don't try to re-photograph the gun barrel, as Binder did. It would be impossible to have it look anything like the original. It would be cool if they could clean up the original plate (if it still exists) and use it. Binder just kept re-using the negative and not the plate. That's why the detail of the gun barrel is less crisp in each film and eventually looks B&W. If you pause the gun barrel in DN, you can actually see the lands and grooves in the rifling. If they want to use a CGI gun barrel, maybe they could manipulate the DR one with movement, or at least make a CGI barrel with DR's detail and color.

[sir_hilary_bray]

http://www.empireonl...y.asp?NID=18246


- The PTS will be in black & white and change to color at a crticial point (perhaps the gunbarrel?)
- Scuba diving is in the 1st act of the film
- Whole film will be shot with quite a bit of of handheld cameras and will feature a lot of other nontraditional Bond lighting/camerawork

Wow! Thanks for the insight. Sounds like the PTS will change to color when the blood starts to ooze. Very cool...

[JimmyBond]

B&W could be a good idea. But, only if there isn't any reference to Bond being a new "00" agent in the film proper.

That's the whole point of the film though, that Bond is slowly going to become the character we've come to know. This transition will not happen in just the pretitles but the whole film.

[Loomis]

And why won't they ditch Panavision for just one film?

Would a smaller aspect ratio really make the film better? I actually prefer Bond to be in wide scope, gives it the potential to be more epic.

Well, we've heard a lot about how CASINO ROYALE will in some ways be a return to the style of the early Connerys (don't ask me to cite sources, though ), and DR. NO, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE and GOLDFINGER weren't shot in Panavision.

Since this is a restart of the series, going back to filming 'em "flat" (for just a couple of movies, of course, and then by all means give us Craig's widescreen epic MOONRAKER-/DIE ANOTHER DAY-type extravaganza) seems to me a good stylistic move.

[Mister Asterix]

‘Now in order to tell the difference between good and evil, we have manufactured two images representing the extremes — representing the deepest black and the purest white...’

– James Bond from Casino Royale Chapter 20 ‘The Nature Of Evil’ by Ian Fleming

[SecretAgent007]

That's the whole point of the film though, that Bond is slowly going to become the character we've come to know. This transition will not happen in just the pretitles but the whole film.

Well, yeah. But I'm trying to ignore that aspect of the film. It is the main reason I'm not excited about CR.

If the transition from b&w is not used to distinguish time, I don't think most people will get it. If they are just using it for dramatic effect, it seems like an easy way out for the film makers so they don't have to come up with something innovative and unique, not just for a Bond but for a film in general. But then again, I'm an old now and remember when they were innovative. Oh, well.