740 replies to this topic

[Golden Claw]

9) I like the Peter Franks elevator fight from DAF more than the Red Grant train fight from FRWL.

10) I would like to see Bond 24 filmed completely in England. No foreign locations for a change. Instead of action scenes, stunts and gadgets, it should have Bond doing actual detective and spy work, as a SECRET AGENT. Also, I would like it to show more of Bond's mundane and humdrum life, like scenes in his apartment.

[AMC Hornet]

The end of

SECRET PAPER-WORK

James Bond will return in

NIGHT DUTY

followed by

A TWO-HOUR WALK IN THE PARK

[Pussfeller]

9) I like the Peter Franks elevator fight from DAF more than the Red Grant train fight from FRWL.

So do I. I love the elevator fight.

[glidrose]

The Miami airport chase sequence starting with Bond's arrival in Miami is a fantastic "realistic" action sequence and one of the series' best. Much better than the overrated free-running sequence.

[Colossus]

TMWTGG is the highlight of all things related to the movie industry this far, and always will be. 

 

 

I just looked at this post, thought about it for a while, and just gotta yeah. 

[Tiin007]

The Miami airport chase sequence starting with Bond's arrival in Miami is a fantastic "realistic" action sequence and one of the series' best. Much better than the overrated free-running sequence.

 

Agreed 100%. Frankly, I find the free-running sequence to be nothing more than an excuse for a big action set piece towards the beginning of the film, contributing little to the overall plot. They could have achieved the same end (Bond getting Mollaka's cell phone, and M being pissed at Bond for his recklessness) by scrapping the whole first chunk and having Bond simply chase Mollaka from the snake/mongoose fight into the embassy. The sequence as it currently stands is far too long, and seems to be there solely to "ooh and ahh" the audience.

 

The airport scene, on the other hand, is VERY relevant to the plot, not to mention much more tense. And it fits in nicely with the post-9/11 tone of the film. 

 

Fans are correct when they say the first half of Casino Royale had one action scene too many. Except it is the free-running sequence which should get scrapped.

[Grard Bond]

I don't think so.

First of all, all Bond's have a great exciting teaser, so than you can skip that at every other Bondmovie as well, incl the one from Skyfall

and second it's a very original one (although it's now after the titles), the freerunning is something you never had seen before in a Bondmovie.

 

The action scene at the airport is not very original at all. How many times you have seen a scene like that, when someone is hanging at/on a truck? The best one is still from Raiders of the lost Ark (from 1981).

For me the airportscene was just written as an excuse to get finally another big actionscene in the movie, that's not the case with the teaser.

Edited by Grard Bond, 31 December 2013 - 06:34 PM.

[tdalton]

I don't think either of the action sequences in the first half are particularly strong.  As already stated by a couple of posters, the free-running sequence is perhaps one of the most overrated action sequences in the entire series, and the Miami airport sequence is also quite tedious to sit through.  The screen time spent on these two sequences would been much better spent in the second half of the film, where it could have been used to further flesh out the Bond/Vesper relationship as well as giving Gettler something worthwhile to do on screen.

[Tiin007]

Post deleted. 

[Walecs]

- I love all Brosnan's movies, including Die Another Day and he's my favourite Bond actor.

 

- I dislike Thunderball (too damn boring), You Only Live Twice (really disappointing if you read the book), Diamonds are Forever, and every Roger Moore movie but FYEO.

[Janus Assassin]

The entire ski chase in FYEO is absolutely boring and tiresome. Add Conti's score and I feel that we should have seen Rocky Balboa running through the snow in the background.  

[Turn]

What's with the negativity toward the free running sequence? It's by far one of the most fresh action sequences the series has produced in years, not some recycled car, ski or boat chase, but something original and different, which used to be a hallmark of the series.

 

It establishes 2 important things: 1) Bond's dogged determination to go above and beyond to achieve an end, albeit recklessly. This is a very physical Bond, not the typical image of the guy in the tux chasing bad guys around without mussing his hair.  2) As someone else says, gets the film off to a rousing start after the low-key teaser. The length doesn't bother me in the least due to showing how dedicated Bond is.

 

That sequence at least stands out, something I can't really say for any of the action sequences in Skyfall, a big factor in my lessening enjoyment of the film.

[saint mark]

SKYFALL failed me when M & 007 leave the relative safety of the Secret services in order to go to Bonds ancestral home where they plan to face Silva and his thugs on whose terms exactly???? SHe did not even take some SAS forces with her, the absolute stupidity of that decision still surprises me and makes the outcome totally silly.

And how does a respected 00 survive two shotwounds a fatal fall in hostile country  and pops up healthy enough some time later. And he seems to walk into his bosses house after she has been targeted with a terrorist attack only moments before. MI6 must really dislike her, by not protecting their boss well enough on two occasions in SF.

 

SF is in my view an exercise of style over content, as the movie looks really good but the plot is easily the worst in the whole 007 franchise.

[Tiin007]

I don't think so.

First of all, all Bond's have a great exciting teaser, so than you can skip that at every other Bondmovie as well,

 

Had the free-running sequence been the PTS, I would probably agree with you. But as it currently stands, we already have an exciting and fresh PTS which establishes that this Bond is "different" in his physicality and brutality. And most Bond movies (QOS being the other glaring exception in my book) do not have ANOTHER action scene immediately following the title song.

 

My point was not about the originality of the scene, but rather about its relevance to the plot. The airport scene provides the motivation behind Le Chiffre's poker tournament; the free-running scene is there primarily so Bond can get Mollaka's cell phone at the end (which is why, as I stated above, they could have simply had the embassy section, both showing Bond's dedication / recklessness and allowing him to get Mollaka's cell phone).

 

The screen time spent on these two sequences would been much better spent in the second half of the film, where it could have been used to further flesh out the Bond/Vesper relationship as well as giving Gettler something worthwhile to do on screen.

 

I agree- I would've loved some more screen time to flesh out the Bond/Vesper relationship. Which is why I also would've cut Solange out of the film entirely. A film which is purportedly about Bond falling in love, being betrayed, and learning not to trust anyone (hence becoming the Bond we all know and love) should NOT contain the token second Bond girl at the beginning. If anything, Solange's presence detracts from what the filmmakers were trying to achieve with the Bond/Vesper relationship.

 

What's with the negativity toward the free running sequence? It's by far one of the most fresh action sequences the series has produced in years, not some recycled car, ski or boat chase, but something original and different, which used to be a hallmark of the series.

 

 

Considering this is a thread devoted to "unorthodox Bond opinions," I think the negativity is our way of expressing an opinion which we are all-too-aware does not fit in with mainstream Bond opinions. The fact that now three of us have expressed said opinion does not in any way indicate we are in the majority here; if anything, it's just a few of us banding together on being outside the norm.

[Grard Bond]

So that means in your opion CR would have no real exciting action peace at all, but more so called love scene's and more about the relationship between Bond and Vesper, which the second half of CR has already too much.

Than you only have the staircase fight (which last a minute or so), the "car over the head" scene (sorry for my English and car chase is a too big word for it) and the sinking house scene, which is not realy the most exellent actionscene the series has...

That's ofcourse too little for a Bond adventure/action movie, which lasts almost two and a half hours, a Bondmovie is not a soap opera.

[Tiin007]

So that means in your opion CR would have no real exciting action peace at all, but more so called love scene's and more about the relationship between Bond and Vesper, which the second half of CR has already too much.

Than you only have the staircase fight (which last a minute or so), the "car over the head" scene (sorry for my English and car chase is a too big word for it) and the sinking house scene, which is not realy the most exellent actionscene the series has...

That's ofcourse too little for a Bond adventure/action movie, which lasts almost two and a half hours, a Bondmovie is not a soap opera.

 

I would also include the airport scene and the PTS bathroom fight. I am one of the few Bond fans who actually enjoyed the airport scene.

 

I also like the "suspense" scenes such as the scene where Bond is poisoned.

 

In my mind, sometimes less is more, which is why deleting the free-running scene would, in my opinion, enhance the remaining action scenes in the movie.

 

And I disagree that the second half of the film has too much of Bond and Vesper.

[Grard Bond]

For me the freerunning actionpeace is the highlight of CR and one of the best and most original actionscene's of the whole Bondseries, without that scene for me this movie is a lot less.

Edited by Grard Bond, 04 January 2014 - 01:19 AM.

[Major Tallon]

I enjoy both the parkour and the airport sequences.  They both contribute to the story.  It's because of the parkour chase that Bond discovers the code name ellipsis, leading him to an investigation that ultimately takes him to the Bahamas.  The airport sequence shows Bond's personal involvement in frustrating Le Chiffre's financial schemes, placing him in jeopardy from his client.  For me anyway, they're both very exciting.  I don't think that having a sequence that "oohs and ahhs" the audience is a bad thing. 

[tdalton]

 

And I disagree that the second half of the film has too much of Bond and Vesper.

 

 

Absolutely agreed.  There's certainly nowhere near too much development of Bond and Vesper's relationship in the second half.  There's actually far too little of it.  That relationship is much more central to the Casino Royale story than the invented backstory that features the Parkour and Miami Airport scenes, yet so little time is spent developing it any meaningful way. 

[MrKidd]

Apart from the soundtrack NSNA is a great movie - better than at least half of the official Bond movies.

[Walecs]

Apart from the soundtrack NSNA is a great movie - better than at least half of the official Bond movies.

 

I agree. If it had had Thunderball actors and a good soundtrack, it would have been in my top 5!

Edited by Walecs, 02 January 2014 - 08:25 PM.

[MrKidd]

I knew there were more of us,
Unless of course you were being sarcastic? Then it's still just me.

[Goodnight]

That bit in Goldeye when Bond makes some snotty remark to Xenia about her Ferrari being last years model or something, that was such a snobby, stuck up, pointless line.

[S K Y F A L L]

1) Connery in OHMSS

 

2) Brosnan since 86 till 02 (7 films) 

 

3) Craig in 7 films. Its the magic number.

[Goodnight]

1) Connery in OHMSS

2) Brosnan since 86 till 02 (7 films)

3) Craig in 7 films. Its the magic number.

Agreed. Good work S K Y F A L L.

[Double Naught spy]

Goodnight,

 

If memory serves correctly, Bond doesn't comment about Xenia's car being last year's model (I agree, had he, it would be snarky), but rather comments on her license plate being from last year.  In other words, 007 is telling her that he's noticed that she is driving around with a "forged" license plate and therefore letting her know that he's aware that she's not on the "side of the angels."

 

 As for my "unorthodox" opinions -

 

1) Sean Connery should have hung up his hat after TB.

 

2) Move heaven and earth and gotten Moore for YOLT onward. (no offense to the wonderful job Mr. Lazenby did)

 

3) Move heaven and earth again and have gotten Pierce Brosnan way back in the early/mid-80's and do a CR-style reboot with him (considering his youth at the time, it might've worked)

 

4) Scrub this "guest star author" nonsense and get someone to pump out 007 novels once a year like Gardner and Benson did for two decades.  Call me crazy, but in the spirit of "More Cowbell!" I shout "More Bond!" to the heavens with the consistency of Icarus soaring to the stars (and yes, with the quality of the last couple of novels, my success/failure rate has been about the same as ol' Icarus.)

 

5) For only my sheer perverse curiosity - they should've let Burt Reynolds play 007 at least once. 

 

6) A better ending for FRWL would've been for 007 to silently strangle Tatiana to death aboard the Venice gondola, complete with the Matt Munroe version of the theme song playing in the background.  (Talk about screwing with 1963's moviegoers expectations!)

 

7) During the Hemmingway House confrontation in LTK, 007 should've taken M as a human shield hostage and/or physical laid hands on him.  If nothing else, this would've surely prevented the "wink-wink, nudge-nudge" tacit assistance by MI6 via Q (nothing against Mr. Llewelyn, but *groan*) towards the end the film.  Of course, the villain's plot would have had to have been modified a bit to make it an eventual threat to British security so that Bond's revenge scheme wound up (despite his motive at the onset) being "the correct action" for Queen and Country, thus giving M an "out" to re-instate Bond into MI6 at the conclusion.

 

8) Since it's a current topic - the parkour chase in CR worked for me because of the scene when 007 swats away the empty pistol Mollaka throws at him.  I recall seeing that (as well as 007 waiting that 'one-split-second' on the upper tier of the snake fight arena until he's out of Mollaka's sight before pursing him) and thinking, "OK, this guy from Layer Cake might do a decent job."   

Edited by Double Naught spy, 06 January 2014 - 12:40 AM.

[Tiin007]

 

4) Scrub this "guest star author" nonsense and get someone to pump out 007 novels once a year like Gardner and Benson did for two decades.  Call me crazy, but in the spirit of "More Cowbell!" I shout "More Bond!" to the heavens with the consistency of Icarus soaring to the stars (and yes, with the quality of the last couple of novels, my success/failure rate has been about the same as ol' Icarus.)

 

Fully agree with this one. Gardner and Benson, regardless of the varying quality of their work, were clearly committed to writing Bond novels. It seems like the more recent continuation authors (whose contributions I actually enjoy more than most posters on this board) were persuaded by a hefty paycheck to "give it a go" just once-- but have no real desire to be writing a Bond novel. I want an author whose tenure will last at least a few novels.

[Goodnight]

Goodnight,
 
If memory serves correctly, Bond doesn't comment about Xenia's car being last year's model (I agree, had he, it would be snarky), but rather comments on her license plate being from last year.  In other words, 007 is telling her that he's noticed that she is driving around with a "forged" license plate and therefore letting her know that he's aware that she's not on the "side of the angels."

I stand corrected, I watched that bit in Goldeneye last night, it's been a while since I last saw it. Yes I got that wrong.

[glidrose]

The Miami airport chase sequence starting with Bond's arrival in Miami is a fantastic "realistic" action sequence and one of the series' best. Much better than the overrated free-running sequence.

 
Agreed 100%. Frankly, I find the free-running sequence to be nothing more than an excuse for a big action set piece towards the beginning of the film, contributing little to the overall plot. They could have achieved the same end (Bond getting Mollaka's cell phone, and M being pissed at Bond for his recklessness) by scrapping the whole first chunk and having Bond simply chase Mollaka from the snake/mongoose fight into the embassy. The sequence as it currently stands is far too long, and seems to be there solely to "ooh and ahh" the audience.
 
The airport scene, on the other hand, is VERY relevant to the plot, not to mention much more tense. And it fits in nicely with the post-9/11 tone of the film. 
 
Fans are correct when they say the first half of Casino Royale had one action scene too many. Except it is the free-running sequence which should get scrapped.

My main complaint about the free-running sequence is that I don't find it particular exciting. All those flashy camera angles, moving camera, etc, wrecks it for me. The concept is excellent, but the execution isn't. Whereas I love the airport sequence precisely because of the cat-and-mouse setup starting in the museum, which is original for this series. And I think the truck action is every bit the equal of the comparable sequence in Raiders.

But if we're going to scrap any action sequence, that awful, hyper-edited sinking Venice building bit should go. Again, the concept was okay, but the execution (and editing) were awful.

[Turn]

I'll be unorthodox and say I am a fan of both the free running and Miami Airport sequences. They are part of why CR is still an ultimate Bond movie for me. Both are important in showing the dogged and reckless determination of the newly licensed 007.

 

I like the free running in that it's not a standard car or ski chase, but a foot chase involving something most people hadn't seen before, the way the older films would introduce things like sumo wrestling or kickboxing before they were widely known, but directly involves Bond. The Miami sequence has a different tone which is nice. I remember being particularly impressed in the body exhibit. That lent an atmosphere in leading to the chase.

 

And these sequences were enough to maintain the long stretch with little action to follow and it all works beautifully in a way I don't think Skyfall does.