75 replies to this topic

[Shaun Forever]

The "Royale" would have been the world's first space casino.

Possibly the greatest quote I've ever read on here

[LadySylvia]

Maybe he's not convincing as Bond, but he is utterly convincing as a great human being. Not a very good explanation, I know, but it works for me .

I thought that Moore was convincing as Bond. I believed so for 12 years. I still believe so when watching his old movies. Since when does Bond have to be portrayed in a particular style? He hasn't in nearly 40 years.


Alright, I have to defend Sean's honor here. The reason that Connery fans forgive him the campiness of later Bonds is based on DN, FRWL, GF, and TB (I don't have time to argue the merits of GF, but despite some camp elements it is not in total a camp movie and still allows suspension of disbelief-I will save that argument for another thread).


Why should Connery be forgiven for the campiness in his movies? I don't think that his early movies should give him an excuse to escape such a reputation. The Age of Camp began during his tenure. Surely he can take some responsibility, as well? If you're going to forgive Connery for the campiness in his films because of his first four movies, then you might as well forgive Moore for his better movies. And as far as I'm concerned, GOLDFINGER was a campy movie. In fact, I believe that it ushered in the Age of Camp.

Edited by LadySylvia, 19 April 2007 - 07:32 PM.

[Dr.Mirakle32]

If Casino Royale had starred Roger Moore, it would have been the GREATEST Bond movie ever made!

Right now, it is still in my top five, but since Roger IS my favorite Bond, including him would only make it better.

However, if it was made during his tenure, I would have it be similar to the 2006 script, but closer to the Fleming novel.
The Madagascar and Bahamas subplots as well as the Venice ending would be included, but it would still be based in the cold war, have a male M, white Felix, and General Gogol would make an appearance.

Sure it would still be funny, since James Bond is still a funny guy (he still is in the 2006 film) but it would also be a great chance for Roger highlighting the ruthless Bond persona he does so well (I am serious, look at LALD, TMWTGG and the car kicking scene in FYEO.)

I would also have Le Chiffre played by a proper actor. While Mads was great, he was NOTHING like the Fleming character. He was too handsome and Bondian, plus he was written as more sympathetic.

How about Peter Cushing or Vincent Price? While certainly not looking like the Fleming character, they were such great actors, they could definitely pull off the villain's edge and lecherous persona.
It would also be sweet to see either David Hedison return, or Steve McQueen as a proper Felix Leiter.
I have no idea who would play Vesper, but I'm sure it would be someone good.

Think of it:
You're sitting in the theater after seeing TSWLM. It is 1978, and you are looking foward to seeing a classic down-to-earth Bond movie after that huge extravaganza.
You see the UA logo and the famous Moore gunbarrel with an epic rendition of the Bond theme written by John Williams. It fades out.

TWENTY YEARS AGO....
(B/W)
New York. A younger looking Moore is sneaking around the RCA building in New York. He is seen setting up his silenced rifle. We cut away to a group of Japanese businessmen talking. All leave but one. Bond knows what he has to do. He shoots his target in the head as ordered. He later finds his way to Stockholm where he interrogates an EX MI-6 businessman and has a few drinks with him, talking him up and pretending to be his friend. "Well Mr. Sterling, you are a very charming man. But you are obviously new to this business, so why would Universal Exports send you here to confront me?" Then BAM! He pulls out his Walther and shoots the guy in the head.
Bond: Because nobody does it better.

We cut away to the full-color Maurice Binder titles, with an original song by the BeeGees.

"Albert R. Broccoli presents
ROGER MOORE
as
JAMES BOND
-007
in

IAN FLEMING's
CASINO
ROYALE

Staring Vincent Price
with Steve McQueen as Leiter
and Bernard Lee as M

Music by John Williams

Written by Richard Maibaum and Michael G. Wilson

Directed by Terence Young"

Then we cut away to MADAGASCAR: THE PRESENT and the rest in history.

I get chills thinking about it!

Edited by Dr.Mirakle32, 19 April 2007 - 07:45 PM.

[ACE]

I get chills thinking about it!

So do I.

[Dr.Mirakle32]

I get chills thinking about it!

So do I.

I don't know about you, but I meant it in a positive way.

[Royal Dalton]

I would also have Le Chiffre played by a proper actor. While Mads was great, he was NOTHING like the Fleming character. He was too handsome and Bondian, plus he was written as more sympathetic.

How about Peter Cushing or Vincent Price? While certainly not looking like the Fleming character, they were such great actors, they could definitely pull off the villain's edge and lecherous persona.

You've been spending far too much time on those horror film forums, Dr. M.

Mind you, as great as they were, even back then Pete and Vinnie would have been rather too long in the tooth for the role.

Someone like James Coco would have been a better fit for the role at that time.

[MHazard]

Maybe he's not convincing as Bond, but he is utterly convincing as a great human being. Not a very good explanation, I know, but it works for me .

I thought that Moore was convincing as Bond. I believed so for 12 years. I still believe so when watching his old movies. Since when does Bond have to be portrayed in a particular style? He hasn't in nearly 40 years.


Alright, I have to defend Sean's honor here. The reason that Connery fans forgive him the campiness of later Bonds is based on DN, FRWL, GF, and TB (I don't have time to argue the merits of GF, but despite some camp elements it is not in total a camp movie and still allows suspension of disbelief-I will save that argument for another thread).


Why should Connery be forgiven for the campiness in his movies? I don't think that his early movies should give him an excuse to escape such a reputation. The Age of Camp began during his tenure. Surely he can take some responsibility, as well? If you're going to forgive Connery for the campiness in his films because of his first four movies, then you might as well forgive Moore for his better movies. And as far as I'm concerned, GOLDFINGER was a campy movie. In fact, I believe that it ushered in the Age of Camp.

A couple of brief comments:

1. My apologies for straying us off topic on what I have found to be one of the most entertaining threads in the forum;

2. My thanks for everyone who responded so politely to my trashing of a Bond they liked;

3. Judo, I have seen every Roger Moore Bond film at least once with the exception of AVTAK which I only saw parts of. I don't really have any desire to see any of them again, but I would watch most of them if they were on t.v. and I wasn't doing anything else.

4. I'm a hardcore Fleming fan so I tend to rate movies on how much of Fleming they incorporate and how well. None of Roger's movies made me think I was seeing an adaptation of the book they were named after. I enjoy a good spy spoof (Austin Powers, Derek Flint, etc.) but it's hard for me to accept Roger's Bond on that basis due to my dissapointment that the books they stole the titles from were adapted so badly.

5. If the only movies Sean had made were YOLT and DAF I would probably not like him as Bond either for the same reasons. That having been said I'll take a second rate Connery movie to any Roger Bond movie any day of the week. And, if you don't believe Roger Moore can beat anyone up that is a handicap to his being an effective Bond (remember Lady Sylvia the spirited defense of Laz because he can throw a punch).

6. If any of you Moore fans think I should go re-watch any of the Roger movies and might revise my judgments (which has been known to happen) I'm open to suggestions.
My last word on this aspect of things on this thread, but, if I think of any other good Roger Moore CR stuff, I'll mention it. Thanks.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

If Casino Royale had starred Roger Moore, it would have been the GREATEST Bond movie ever made!

Right now, it is still in my top five, but since Roger IS my favorite Bond, including him would only make it better.

However, if it was made during his tenure, I would have it be similar to the 2006 script, but closer to the Fleming novel.
The Madagascar and Bahamas subplots as well as the Venice ending would be included, but it would still be based in the cold war, have a male M, white Felix, and General Gogol would make an appearance.

Sure it would still be funny, since James Bond is still a funny guy (he still is in the 2006 film) but it would also be a great chance for Roger highlighting the ruthless Bond persona he does so well (I am serious, look at LALD, TMWTGG and the car kicking scene in FYEO.)

I would also have Le Chiffre played by a proper actor. While Mads was great, he was NOTHING like the Fleming character. He was too handsome and Bondian, plus he was written as more sympathetic.

How about Peter Cushing or Vincent Price? While certainly not looking like the Fleming character, they were such great actors, they could definitely pull off the villain's edge and lecherous persona.
It would also be sweet to see either David Hedison return, or Steve McQueen as a proper Felix Leiter.
I have no idea who would play Vesper, but I'm sure it would be someone good.

Think of it:
You're sitting in the theater after seeing TSWLM. It is 1978, and you are looking foward to seeing a classic down-to-earth Bond movie after that huge extravaganza.
You see the UA logo and the famous Moore gunbarrel with an epic rendition of the Bond theme written by John Williams. It fades out.

TWENTY YEARS AGO....
(B/W)
New York. A younger looking Moore is sneaking around the RCA building in New York. He is seen setting up his silenced rifle. We cut away to a group of Japanese businessmen talking. All leave but one. Bond knows what he has to do. He shoots his target in the head as ordered. He later finds his way to Stockholm where he interrogates an EX MI-6 businessman and has a few drinks with him, talking him up and pretending to be his friend. "Well Mr. Sterling, you are a very charming man. But you are obviously new to this business, so why would Universal Exports send you here to confront me?" Then BAM! He pulls out his Walther and shoots the guy in the head.
Bond: Because nobody does it better.

We cut away to the full-color Maurice Binder titles, with an original song by the BeeGees.

"Albert R. Broccoli presents
ROGER MOORE
as
JAMES BOND
-007
in

IAN FLEMING's
CASINO
ROYALE

Staring Vincent Price
with Steve McQueen as Leiter
and Bernard Lee as M

Music by John Williams

Written by Richard Maibaum and Michael G. Wilson

Directed by Terence Young"

Then we cut away to MADAGASCAR: THE PRESENT and the rest in history.

I get chills thinking about it!

Hmmm. Terence Young directing a Roger Moore Bond film and John Williams scoring one? Interesting. But who would play Vesper in this era? I vote for Jaclyn Smith during the height of her "Charlie's Angels" glory. Of course in this alternate universe ending there would be no captured RAF pilot or French Algerian boyfriend. Vesper wouldn't be a double agent, there would be a standard happy ending and Bond wouldn't fall in love with her, just have fun with her. Also, MI6 and/or Q's gadgets would rudely interrupt the two of them in the final clinch.

[MarkA]

I enjoy a good spy spoof (Austin Powers, Derek Flint, etc.) but it's hard for me to accept Roger's Bond on that basis due to my dissapointment that the books they stole the titles from were adapted so badly.

I agree 100%. For me Roger Moore was the wrong Bond at the wrong time. And in many respects I'm not sure it was totally his fault. If you look at episodes of the Saint, Moore can be cold hearted and brutal and really vicious in the fight sequences. But this just never came across in the Bond films he made.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

I enjoy a good spy spoof (Austin Powers, Derek Flint, etc.) but it's hard for me to accept Roger's Bond on that basis due to my dissapointment that the books they stole the titles from were adapted so badly.

I agree 100%. For me Roger Moore was the wrong Bond at the wrong time. And in many respects I'm not sure it was totally his fault. If you look at episodes of the Saint, Moore can be cold hearted and brutal and really vicious in the fight sequences. But this just never came across in the Bond films he made.

Funny to read these comments. I've often defended Moonraker as the best Derek Flint film ever made. And often thought of For Your Eyes Only as the best episode of The Saint ever filmed. Makes me wonder if in fact the Bond producers had decided to go "serious" with Moore in the 1970s if the film series would have survived or not. Of course, we can never know that but I suspect that FYEO would not been quite so highly rated if LALD, TMWTGG, TSWLM and MR had been faithful adaptations of their source material.

[Santa]

4. I'm a hardcore Fleming fan so I tend to rate movies on how much of Fleming they incorporate and how well. None of Roger's movies made me think I was seeing an adaptation of the book they were named after. I enjoy a good spy spoof (Austin Powers, Derek Flint, etc.) but it's hard for me to accept Roger's Bond on that basis due to my dissapointment that the books they stole the titles from were adapted so badly.

I'd say this is where the problem occurs. If I were judging Rog on Flemingness, I wouldn't like him either. I made a subconscious decision years ago to ignore Fleming and appreciate Rog for himself. I do the same thing when reading Young Bond. To me, they're all Bond but in totally different ways and I tend not to compare to anything but just accept each as they are.

[DavidSomerset]

Roger in Casino Royale:

The Madagascar chase in Safari Suit. Also all shots in long angle and all shots featuring Roger are back projectioned. Bond runs for 10-20 meters after the terrorist and then turns on the jets in his boots. Reaches the top of the buidling and pushes down the Russian after a quip " Too high up, arent we today comrade". This is the Teaser sequence followed by the titles of bouncing wowen playing cards in the nude. Roger sliding on the deck of cards.

Title song is called "Nobody deals it better" by Wham.

Solange is played by a voluptous woman (as in the actual movie) who wants to have a rump in the hay with Bond immediately after she sees him coming out of the water in a scuba diving gear. Bond restrains her by a quip "Can I buy you caviar?"

Later Bond wins a Ford Pinto in a wager against Demtrious and then fulfils Solange's wildest fantasies in the same Ford Pinto. A pigeon looks into the car and does a double take.

Later Solange is shot by a Russian baddie who aims at Bond. She reveals before dying that Demetrious is going to Miami to see a Bodyworks exhibition. Bond follows and goes to the Bodyworks exhibition. He cuts the skin of one of the statues and stands as a statue. He shoots Demtrious when he comes there and manages to put a tracer on the bomber. Then he uses his Rolex digital watch to track the bomber to Miami airport. Bond meets Sheriff Pepper who is the head of security and tells him to raise a alarm. Followed by the dialogue by Pepper which even I cant bear to write. Bond takes Pepper's car and drives it on two side wheels with a old lady in the back seat. The bomber crashes his motorcycle at the side barrier and is burnt in the resulting explosion.

Bond meets M and explains about 9/11, stock fixing, puts, calls, options and what the DOW will be in a year. Q brings a machine which can predict stock prices in the future but is sad that there is no use for that in MI6. M then gives a photo of Le Chiffre ( Paul Freeman ... Dr. Rene Belloq in Raiders) and tells him that he is a cheat at cards. MI6 needs Bond to defeat Le Chiffre so that he loses his confidence and looks out for a new job. Roger is given a trick card by Q which changes its suit and color when it is twisted 3 times.

Roger takes the Orient Express to Switzerland (!!!) where he meets Vesper Broadchest from the Treasury. He has the manadatory quips about her chest and then gets down to business with her to count her beans. Both disembark at Switzerland where they are chased by baddies on skis. After a back projection ski chase, where Bond manages to out ski everyone, they come to the casino.

Bond starts the game and keeps winning. In the night Le Chiffre sends a nubile nymphet to Bond's room to distract him and Bond has a Gala time with her. He notices that she has a red rose in her hair and so knows that she is a Red spy. He doesnt get distracted and throws her from the balcony into the pool after the shag.

Later he meets a white dude in strange glasses who keeps staring at him. Strange glasses dude points gun at Roger and says " It is winter in Transylvannia". Roger replies " and summer in Miami, Felix my friend". Felix tells Bond that Le Chiffre scratches his eyebrows whenever he bluffs. And that he is ex - KGB trained as a child by a mad German scientist.

Roger wins the game by using the trick card given by Q and throws a quip or two. LC takes Vesper in the car. Roger follows in a back-projectioned Lotus. He fires a rocket or two. Blows up a passing van with chicken in it. Has a fist fight with the goons. Manages to beat everyone but is injected by Vesper with a tranquilizer.
Le Chiffre quips " Didnt you wonder who paid for her broadchest?"

Le Chiffre ties Bond in a chair. He brings out a machine which sends out sparks and makes loud noises and lots of flashing lights. Goon operating machine gives wicked grin. Roger makes another quip. Goon clamps the wires to Bond's hands and gives the shocks. Machine reading goes into red. Bond keeps on spouting comebacks. Then Mr. White comes and shoots Le Chiffre to stop Roger's talking.
Mr. White explains his wicked plan to Roger for 2-3 minutes.

Roger chases after Mr. White in his Lotus and manages to call the US and British armed forces who drop in via parachute for final fight. Big fight with 100s of extras shooting at each other. In final fight, Vesper shoots Mr. White and wins Bond's confidence back. M calls Bond when he is in bed with Vesper and Bond drops his digital Rolex watch into the deck of cards and concentrates on Vesper.

Roger Moore will be back as James Bond in "Death stares you in the eye"

End titles.

Nobody does it better. Roger rules.

[Royal Dalton]

I'd pay good money to see that.

[dinovelvet]

DavidSomerset - absolutely brilliant. Would "shocked bystander looking at his booze bottle" make an appearance in your CR?

[MHazard]

I don't even like Roger Moore as Bond and I'd buy a ticket to David Somerset's CR!

[Gregbert007]

OK