80 replies to this topic

[Tybre]

I can't say that I'd want to see Nolan direct a Bond film. His two Batman films are wildly overrated, and I don't want to have the Bond films go in a direction that's similar to the recent Batman films.

Only "overrated" because it is the 2nd highest grossing film if all time?

TDK was a great movie, one of the best sequels of all time...ranked right there with the Godfather 2, Aliens, T2, and The Empire Strikes Back.

Yes, The Dark Knight is a good movie. But it's still highly overrated. Part of the reason everyone loves it is, well, take a look back at everything Hollywood had been churning out the past few years. Imo, there hasn't been a single truly great film since the 1960s. There's been some amazing stuff, but since the 1960s, cinema has just been in a rapid decline. Yes, the Batman films are entertaining, but they don't even come remotely near my list of almost-greats.

And if we're judging a movie's greatness by its gross revenue, I suppose that means Spider-Man 3 and Die Another Day are fantastic movies, too. Box office performance means nothing, particularly when it comes to longstanding franchises like Bond or superheroes. Fans of a superhero will always go see their favorite hero's movie, and studios have gotten smart and made superhero movies commercially accessible as well. And then of course there's the big factor of The Dark Knight's financial success: Heath Ledger. Heath Ledger's death prompted people to go see the movie who ordinarily never would have, simply because they want to see Ledger's final performances. I personally know forty people who went to see The Dark Knight for just that reason, and I overheard many more people saying such things on the way into the theatre.

Both of Nolan's Batman films drag, particularly The Dark Knight. The Dark Knight tries to weave undue complexities into a fairly simple story, which adds to the dragging. For the majority of the movie I was sitting in my seat fidgeting wondering when the hell this was going to be over. Christian Bale is just...horrendous. I can go on, but this thread isn't about bashing The Dark Knight.

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I have two issues with Nolan.

1. The Batman films have made him too big-name. People would be all OMG CHRIS NOLAN IS DIRECTING JAMES BOND!!!!1!!!11!!! A Bond film should be about James Bond, not whoever the hell is helming the project. EON no doubt feels the same way.
2. He doesn't feel like a Bond director to me. I don't deny that he's good, but take a look at the sort of directors EON has employed, even the slightly form-breaking Forster. Nolan does not seem to fit the bill in the slightest. Oh sure, they can break form. I'd welcome it, with the right director. For me, though, Nolan is a far cry from the right director.

Edited by Tybre, 18 June 2009 - 08:35 PM.

[CaptainPower]

I'd take a Dark Knight, Batman Begins or even a Prestige over a Quantum of Solace any day of the week. And I'm a Bond fan.

[KENDO NAGAZAKI]

The films need individualising more in the way Forster tried (but failed due to the limits of outside interference) to do IMO. And I think Nolan would do this if given plenty of free reign. He's very committed and involved on all levels of his films. This kind of choice of individualistic and personal director could prevent us going down the familiar "throw even more action and familiar elements at it with each film" and "hire whichever half-decent director-for-hire who's available" approach which helped ruin Brosnan's tenure. Because otherwise, I'm sensing a detrimental and full-on "familiar elements" movie next time out, which they'd get away with giving us due to the comfortable position the franchise is in right now and the fact that even if people begin to tire of Craig, there'll only likely be one more film with him after the next one.

Edited by KENDO NAGAZAKI, 18 June 2009 - 09:12 PM.

[Tybre]

I'd take a Dark Knight, Batman Begins or even a Prestige over a Quantum of Solace any day of the week. And I'm a Bond fan.

Ruling out the Prestige as I have not seen it, I'm quite the opposite.

[tdalton]

I'd take a Dark Knight, Batman Begins or even a Prestige over a Quantum of Solace any day of the week. And I'm a Bond fan.

Ruling out the Prestige as I have not seen it, I'm quite the opposite.

Same for me, and I'd also take QUANTUM OF SOLACE over THE PRESTIGE as well. I would say, however, that THE PRESTIGE is probably Nolan's best film, IMO, but I don't think it's better than either of Craig's two Bond films.

[Lebowski951]

I think it's a shame that EON can't stick with a winning formula and just let Martin Campbell helm the next outing (though too much of a good thing does come to mind).

In regards to Christopher Nolan I think he would make an excellent director. After Forster the only place you could really go is up.

[bosst]

Once again us Bond fans are slagging off Marc Forster because QOS didn't match up with Casino Royale.All this talk of Christopher Nolan is riling me because it is almost putting a film like TDK in the same illustrious category as THE GODFATHER Part I and II,Apocalypse now etc.etc - true cinematic masterpieces.
Nolan had lots of time to edit TDK and had the resources and creative control to make the film.By comparison I don't think in QOS they had a fully up and running script by the start of filming and according to Michael Wilson, EON's main objective is to produce a film to deadline.So in spite of these shortcomings and short running time Marc Forster managed to stamp his own take on Bond.People complain of the quick edits,the lack of exposition of story and characters,lack of quips,gadgets,girls,decent adversaries and final confrontation.What Forster didn't do is make Bond uncool-quite the opposite he is still the man.
I compare the audience and critical response to QOS to that for OHMSS.Only now is that film receiving the recognition it deserves.
I don't say that QOS is the be all and end all of Bond films but in style and grit it certainly ranks as one of the best.
So although Nolan is a great director I certainly don't think he is the messiah to resurrect Bond.I would certainly put a shout out for the Layer Cake director Matthew Vaughan or even Kevin Macdonald of 'Last King...' fame.I recently saw Terminator Salvation; now that film had chaotic action and quick edits also but pales in comparison to QOS; not because of the story but the cohesiveness between scenes.Forster was brilliant at less is more.Look at the opera scene or the final scenes facing Vesper's boyfriend as evidence of that.
Things are looking up for the next film with Peter Morgan on board.I for one would not mind Forster taking helm again with a meatier and more light hearted script, although I won't hold my breath.
Mark my words Quantum's brilliance will prevail and the shortcomings of TDK will be ever more apparent-heck even 'Watchmen' was a richer more satisfying experience and that is not to blight TDK.

[B. Brown]

I wouldn't necessarily call him a "master director".
Although, "Memento" was great...

I think he should stick with Batman.

[Safari Suit]

Personally, I find him to be a better writer than director.

[Pierce - Daniel]

EON need to find a director who will stay committed to Bond and see the character through instead of guys who just fancy having a little play around then leave a mess for someone else to clean up, I'm talking about Tamahori and Forster.

[Greene Planet]

I think Nolan would do a great job directing, and I think he would do a great job writing to, Nolan always brings an incredible realism to his films, I think he favors Hans Zimmer for music and I think he would also do good work. Overall I think its a brilliant Idea. He should also direct X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2

[B. Brown]

EON need to find a director who will stay committed to Bond and see the character through instead of guys who just fancy having a little play around then leave a mess for someone else to clean up, I'm talking about Tamahori and Forster.

Fine point.

Some dedication wouldn't be bad. It'd be nice if they'd drop the "let's just make a lot of money" attitude, too... but, I'm afraid that's just wishful thinking.

[Greene Planet]

Good points both of you. But I don't really think they should be worried about making money as much as finding better writers, and directors. Nolan has proved that, with time(3 years), that he could commit. Nolan also has a creative mind that EON needs at this point. None of the Bonds have been nominated for Oscars, but The Dark Knight was nominated for 8.

[Tybre]

As far as I recall no James Bond film has ever qualified for an Oscar. And who bloody well cares if a Bond film ever does qualify for one? The only priority EON ought to have is making James Bond. If it gets nominated or even wins an award, great, but that's a bonus to come after the fact.

[Greene Planet]

As far as I recall no James Bond film has ever qualified for an Oscar. And who bloody well cares if a Bond film ever does qualify for one? The only priority EON ought to have is making James Bond. If it gets nominated or even wins an award, great, but that's a bonus to come after the fact.

The films have to be critiquely acclaimed and get good review so, they can still make money and hopefully win an Oscar.

[Tybre]

As far as I recall no James Bond film has ever qualified for an Oscar. And who bloody well cares if a Bond film ever does qualify for one? The only priority EON ought to have is making James Bond. If it gets nominated or even wins an award, great, but that's a bonus to come after the fact.

The films have to be critiquely acclaimed and get good review so, they can still make money and hopefully win an Oscar.

As I recall QoS got a lot of piss-poor reviews and it's still the second highest grossing Bond film, after Casino Royale. Even "flops" like LTK earn quite a considerable amount of money. I'm pretty sure the Bond franchise isn't anywhere near risk of losing money.

[tdalton]

I honestly don't see Bond ever winning an Oscar in any of the major categories. If it was ever going to happen, then it would have happened with CASINO ROYALE after all of the rave reviews that it, Daniel Craig, Eva Green, and virtually everything else about the film got. It was one of, if not the, highest rated films 2006 on Rotten Tomatoes, and had all the buzz in the world going for it, but it failed to grab a single nomination.

As much as I'd like to see it, Bond is never going to win any major Academy Award, and even bringing on Nolan (who I find to be a very overrated director, and is a director that I don't think would be better than either Campbell or Forster) would not accomplish that either.

[Jose]

Nolan directing a Bond film? No, thanks. He might have been a good choice before he became such a big name (or maybe for CR), but now... not really. I say this because there (seem to be) cries for the return of Moneypenny, Q, humor, and a lighter tone (or so I've gathered), Nolan directing would be counter-productive (imo). Admittedly, the only Nolan directed films I've seen are the Batman movies, so I shouldn't really say much on the subject but I don't want to feel so goddamn depressed after watching a Bond film.

[Richard]

Christopher Nolan needs to direct Bond 23!

Indeed he does, but he also needs to write it, too.
Eon should have turned Casino Royale over to Nolan.

But the truth its, Eon only hires amateur hack writers that they can control, and then hire professional writers to fix it editorially.

Also, Eon only hires directors that they can control creatively, directors who will do what they are told at that first interview. This is why directors like Spielberg are turned down and why directors like Nolan and Mann aren't asked.

Richard

[Safari Suit]

None of the Bonds have been nominated for Oscars, but The Dark Knight was nominated for 8.

Um, several of the Bonds were nominated for Oscars, and Thunderball even won one for special effects. Granted, all of them, I believe, have either been in technical categories or "best song", and even then the last time was nearly thirty years ago, but it's still not true to say none of them have been nominated. The Bond series doesn't need Oscars anyway, that's not what they've ever been going for.

As for the idea that Nolan should direct both this and the brilliantly named X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2, maybe he should just direct every movie, eh?

[bond 16.05.72]

I'd take a Dark Knight, Batman Begins or even a Prestige over a Quantum of Solace any day of the week. And I'm a Bond fan.

Totally agree, I'd say Prestige was better than Casino Royale and thats my favourite Bond film.

Most of Nolan's back catalogue is better than QOS.

It's most unlikely Nolan would direct Bond and I've already said it, maybe if they'd approached him after Memento or Insomnia but now? forget it!

Edited by bond 16.05.72, 23 June 2009 - 07:58 AM.