10 replies to this topic

[shady ginzo]

With Casino Royale starting a fresh timeline for bond and Craig seeming likley to do 3 films, I can't help but hope for what you might call a "fleming trilogy"

don't take me out of context there though! I know many of the movies have been faithful to the novels (and others not so much) and also that the novels have frequently been used for source material on the original stories like the brosnan era.

what I mean is, I would love to see the character progressions of the novels be faithfully transposed to a craig trilogy or possibly 4 films. at the moment I wonder whether Bond 22 should feature Felix becoming the victim of a shark attack as per the second novel, and then become the mutilated character he was in the latter novels, sporting a fake leg and a hook.

Consider that Jack Wade was introduced as a substitute for Leiter because EON didn't want to portray a mutilated felix after Licence to Kill, now 20 yeras later I wonder if it could be presented in the right way to make it work for Craig's era, afterall, Casino Royale has a rather disturbing scene so I don't think seeing jeffrey wright with a hook should put anyone off Bond 23

as much a dramatic plot as I think it would be, I think Eon would be frightened to repeat a storyline directly, so I doubt there'll be sharks involved. also I think if they did want to include Mister White torturing one of Bond's allies, they'd choose Mathis, and then write him out of the following movies.

Edited by shady ginzo, 16 October 2006 - 10:32 AM.

[Vauxhall]

Well, as will become apparent in about a month or so, it is extremely unlikely we would see Mr White torturing Mathis in the future. Personally I think that they wouldn't repeat the mutilation of Felix, or any other character for that matter. It was done in LICENCE TO KILL, and I see no need to do so again. Even with this reboot of the series for CASINO ROYALE, nothing is actually being repeated. I think that the best way forward is a new plotline, back to basics, but without feeling the need to tread on already trampled ground.

[Pam Bouvier]

I'd sure like to see at least the relationship between Bond and Leiter progress. Continue with Leiter, not add some other character as Bond's CIA connection (I liked Wade, but I like the way the relationship grows in Flemings books with the characters).
It would be great if the original injuries from LALD where written in at some point, but I agree, I wouldn't count on it. For whatever reason, film makers just seem to shy away from a disabled Felix. Stupid.

[JimmyBond]

I doubt this deserves its own thread, but did Producers really pass over Felix for GE because of the disability angle? First I've heard of that.

[shady ginzo]

I doubt this deserves its own thread, but did Producers really pass over Felix for GE because of the disability angle? First I've heard of that.

perhaps you're right to question this topic needing it's own thread, I'll admit it is a little obscure to ponder this so early on, and having not read the script I'm probably not the best person to comment on it, but with dozens of threads dedicated to the colour of craig's hair, I feel quite justified!

The ditching of felix after LTK is attributed to his mutilation on several websites devoted to the character, although not officially commented on by the producers (probably affraid to offend) but I don't doubt it's truth, as Jack Wade was brought in immediatly in GE, in no role which couldn't have been filled by a disabled felix who still worked for the CIA in the later novels.

Edited by shady ginzo, 18 October 2006 - 07:53 AM.

[JimmyBond]

perhaps you're right to question this topic needing it's own thread, I'll admit it is a little obscure to ponder this so early on, and having not read the script I'm probably not the best person to comment on it, but with dozens of threads dedicated to the colour of craig's hair, I feel quite justified!

Actually I was talking about my question not needing it's own thread.

Thanks for the answer though

[Skudor]

I am ashamed to admit that I didn't realise that Leiter lost his legs in LALD... i've only read it once, and a long time ago.

I for one would support them in adding this to Bond 22... and perhaps they would. I think they might be willing to have a mutilated Leiter in future films - the difficult part is that it already happened to Leiter in the future past (as it were) in Licence to Kill. It's just too damn confusing.

[bond_girl_double07]

I think it would show the maturity and intelligence of the newer films (and set the bar for the Craig years) if they allowed the character to be what it should be..

I think JW is going to be a fabulous Leiter, and hopefully his portrayal will generate enough interest in the character (because lets face it.. in the past films Felix has been one of the Fleming elements that has consistently been either glossed over or forgotten all together) that they'll flesh out the film character a little more.. here's hoping anyway

Btw, check out http://www.mjnewton..../bond/felix.htm if you haven't already.. Reading that account really shows the way the films have mistreated Felix imho.. sorry I love this character, it's really sad (but not as sad as me caring so much about a fictional texan.. a lovely, loyal, straw-haired texan )

[00Twelve]

LALD made me like Felix. Not the films and not CR. Seeing Felix after LALD and how he related to Bond makes me like Felix, and the Bond novels, all the more. I admit, it could be confusing to see it happen again, after LTK, but the same can be said of Bond's relationship with M in this new film as opposed to GE or the older days.

I also understand that there can be risks of offense or ridicule with showing a physically handicapped Felix onscreen in an action flick, but if you can sell the character, we'll buy the idiosyncracies that go with him. If you can write for that character, we'll go with it. Felix had more active things to do in stories such as Thunderball, and since the character was so well written, we forget about the handicaps. (Yes, maybe it would be different to SEE it all the time) But, the character is who he is, and he is a much more endearing character in the pages of Fleming (and even Gardner and Benson), IMO, so to short-change the reality of that character is to rob the viewer of the opportunity to see a forcibly-handicapped man in a prominent role. I'm very hopeful and excited about Jeffery Wright, because he's a great actor. Who knows, he might even appreciate the chance for a new challenge, as actors do.

And Bond_girl, my signature agrees with your sentiment!

[DanMan]

Maybe not a shark attack, but maybe he could become injured/disabled some other way, so they really woulnd't be ripping of LTK.

[bond_girl_double07]

As well it should, 00twelve

In the novels, Fleming occassionally brings up Felix's injuries, but other than costing him his job at the CIA, it doesn't seem to change his job performance basically at all.. I think it would be such a positive thing (for the films and for the character) to show him in that same fashion..