552 replies to this topic

[HildebrandRarity]

Not me. I've never smoked a cigarette, never done one hardcore drug, and my liquor consumption is extremely limited.

Wow. You should try it. It would quite probably make you a far more likeable person.

Na...that's complete bull and you know it!

Smoking cigarettes isn't going to make one anymore personable. It may be a social thing and fun in certain circles and at a certain age but it does little for the lungs and brain. In fact, the smart kids* are not smoking cigarettes anymore, but they do smoke pot. [*The stupid and poor ones ARE smoking cigs, less so pot. ]

Also, who would want to encourage 'hardcore' drug usage to anyone? Heroin, crack, meth and E are not what i'd encourage. So what you say is complete ing bull !

There's, however, nothing wrong with having a couple of glasses of red wine w dinner, or going out for some pints of brew a couple of times a week. As long as you don't have more than 18 alcoholic beverages a week (for the average woman) or 23 alco drinks per week (if you're the average male) then you should be fine. Well, your liver should be fine. That's if you have nothing better to do with your life...

[Do, however, remember that you only have a certain amount of brain cells...and they tend to die everytime you drink alcohol or smoke anything...so, eventhough you have billions of brain cells, they do tend to pop and never, ever come back.]

[Loomis]

Slightly off-topic, perhaps (although this topic does seem somewhat stuck in a rut), but does anyone know whether Fleming was partial to a bit of "pot"?

I've often wondered whether he and Noel Coward would break out the skins and bongs of an evening in Jamaica. Neither man was exactly averse to smoking vast quantities of fags, and I'm fairly sure that both enjoyed a "party lifestyle", so I'd be a little surprised if Fleming lived and died a stranger to the sensimilia.

THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN's Scaramanga is an enthusiastic toker, but I can't think of any other weed references in the books, other than in - I think - CASINO ROYALE, when Bond observes that a henchman has a psychotic look about him and decides that the man must be on "marihuana". Shades of REEFER MADNESS there!

[JADSTERSDAD]

In reply to the thread title......again....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[HildebrandRarity]

Slightly off-topic, perhaps (although this topic does seem somewhat stuck in a rut), but does anyone know whether Fleming was partial to a bit of "pot"?

I've often wondered whether he and Noel Coward would break out the skins and bongs of an evening in Jamaica. Neither man was exactly averse to smoking vast quantities of fags, and I'm fairly sure that both enjoyed a "party lifestyle"...

Who knows.

Perhaps he and good ole Noel got really high one evening and this gave Our Ian the 'courage' to do his gay little bum buddie up the backside 'just for laughs'!

[honeyjes]

Apples and Oranges, didn't our hero take Benzidrine, smoke 70 cigs a day and drink, but we still admire the character.

[mister-white]

The thing with Winehouse, is that she needs a major dose of self respect. Sure she's talented, but I think someone who does something as big as a Bond theme shouldn't be on the front cover of the tabloids for their personal life. Plus, I don't think the person who does a Bond theme should make a big splash, look at what Madonna did (whose work is very hit and miss, much like Winehouse, and always in the papers again like Winehouse), was way too much of a big name and did what's easily the worst theme ever, then the next time they get someone who's not the biggest name in the world and gives us one of the best.

As for what QoS' theme should be, I can't see the words Quantum or Solace being used, so why not just do what they did on the Bourne movies, used the same music, in this case You Know My Name, maybe in a new arrangement and new animation for the titles. Or get a real composer (instead of that hack Arnold), in the composer's chair and do a nice piece of score for the titles.

Edited by mister-white, 18 May 2008 - 10:07 PM.

[HildebrandRarity]

mister-white, you were making a reasonable amount of sense...until you got to the part about David Arnold being a hack and the bit about re-arranging YKMN for the Main Titles.

James Bond, musically, is not like Jason Bourne...and thankfully so.

[Johnboy007]

I think a distinction needs to be made between her drug use affecting her personal and professional life. What she does private is not our concern (and hopefully not what drives people away). However, it's gotten to the point where she cannot perform because she's constantly hammered or stoned beyond imagination. Quite simply, she's become a complete joke.

If she can get her act together later I am not entirely opposed (I don't care for her stuff), but I definitely do not want a drugged up mess of a song thrown in the titles just because Amy Winehouse has been a big name.

[Santa]

someone who does something as big as a Bond theme shouldn't be on the front cover of the tabloids for their personal life.

Did it put you off Live and Let Die?

[Jim]

Please make a case for me where hard core drug addiction and assault and battery are A GOOD THING. Please! Anybody! I'm struggling to understand why the people who don't want a known crack addict singing the Bond theme song are somehow the bad people in this argument.

You will struggle to understand it because nobody has suggested it. It's very lazy to polarise like that.

It's the manner in which the position has been put forward. Nobody has advocated these things as good, and I'd be very surprised if anyone did, but some have shown more compassion than others.

[Harmsway]

Here's a really bizarre article posted at the Daily Star with their own take on the Bond bit: http://www.dailystar...AMY-WINEMOUSE-/

Basically, they claim Winehouse finished recording the title song last week without Ronson and it's awesome.

Interesting.

[honeyjes]

My last comments on Amy Winehouse.

As Britney doesn

[Santa]

Wrong. Santajosep, in post #305 of this very thread, openly encourages me to experiment with hardcore drugs in an effort to make myself more "likeable".

You're an exceptional case.

[Double-Oh-Zero]

THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN's Scaramanga is an enthusiastic toker, but I can't think of any other weed references in the books, other than in - I think - CASINO ROYALE, when Bond observes that a henchman has a psychotic look about him and decides that the man must be on "marihuana". Shades of REEFER MADNESS there!

I'm quite certain it's mentioned in Live and Let Die when Bond and Felix walk into the restaurant in Harlem that there's a distinct scent of Mary Jane in the air.

Anyway, I'm still optimistic about her doing the song. I, for one, would rather have a great, soulful, heartbreaking song by a drug addict than a rubbish, middle-of-the-road, cookie-cutter Bond song by someone who's clean. And if the producers only agree to give her the title song on the condition that she cleans herself up, well, I think that'd be beneficial to all parties involved (as long as Winehouse is really interested/invested in doing it).

All of these points may very well have been stated already, but I can't be arsed to read through twelve or so pages containing variations of "But she's a drug addict" to find out if I'm repeating somebody; apologies in advance if I have.

[Jim]

No, it's actually quite lazy to pretend to refrain from judging drug abuse and domestic violence

Nobody has advocated these things as good, and I'd be very surprised if anyone did, but some have shown more compassion than others.

Wrong. Santajosep, in post #305 of this very thread, openly encourages me to experiment with hardcore drugs in an effort to make myself more "likeable".

Refrain from judging? Blimey.

I note santa's advice - bit pointless. You might be right - drugs don't work.

I appear to have judged. Bad me, for not refraining.

[dee-bee-five]

You will struggle to understand it because nobody has suggested it. It's very lazy to polarise like that.

No, it's actually quite lazy to pretend to refrain from judging drug abuse and domestic violence, as if somehow there's a legitimate reason why Winehouse would be snorting cocaine or beating her boyfriend to the point of being arrested.

Nobody has advocated these things as good, and I'd be very surprised if anyone did, but some have shown more compassion than others.

Wrong. Santajosep, in post #305 of this very thread, openly encourages me to experiment with hardcore drugs in an effort to make myself more "likeable".

If I had never heard of Amy Winehouse before...if I'd only run into her on the streets yesterday with no prior knowledge of her, I'd think she was homeless...a prostitute...and living on the streets trying to earn money for heroin. She looks horrible. Woman needs to get her life together before being asked to do the Bond theme song.

And who, pray tell, will set the parameters of what is acceptable behaviour before she is allowed to sing a Bond theme? You? Me? The wretched Moral Majority?

Everyone on here seems to think it's okay for Paul McCartney to sing a Bond theme because he "only" smoked a bit a weed (allegedly)- yourself included, incidentally - yet some puritans believe Amy Winehouse should be declared persona non grata. And, you see, this is the minefield we get into when we start to judge others. So do please enlighten us. What is an acceptable drugs intake for a potential Bond theme singer?

Edited by dee-bee-five, 20 May 2008 - 11:15 AM.

[Captain Tightpants]

The Daily Star is reporting that Winehouse has already recorded the title song (without Ronson) that that "it's in the bag".

However, I'm not believing a word of it until we hear from EON. In less than two weeks, we've gone from Ronson stating that Winehouse isn't fit to be recording any music to this claim that Winehouse has already finished the tape, and that it's in the vein of Dame Shirley and will go down as a classic theme.

Given that A) it's being eported by a tabloid, B') the "news" is tacked onto the end of a report on Winehouse's increasingly erratic behaviour, C) the "source" is from within the record company (as opposed to their usual guff about an EON insider), D) it's two days old and we haven't heard hide nor hair since, E) she was only ever recording a demo tape in the first place, and F) no-one else is reporting it, I'd say all this really proves is that G) tabloid journalism hasn't gotten any better in the past fifteen minutes, H) Amy Winehouse is still a weirdo, and I) the tabloids are still obsessed with her.

Edited by Captain Tightpants, 20 May 2008 - 11:27 AM.

[honeyjes]

The Daily Star is reporting that Winehouse has already recorded the title song (without Ronson) that that "it's in the bag".

However, I'm not believing a word of it until we hear from EON. In less than two weeks, we've gone from Ronson stating that Winehouse isn't fit to be recording any music to this claim that Winehouse has already finished the tape, and that it's in the vein of Dame Shirley and will go down as a classic theme.

Given that A) it's being eported by a tabloid, B') the "news" is tacked onto the end of a report on Winehouse's increasingly erratic behaviour, C) the "source" is from within the record company (as opposed to their usual guff about an EON insider), D) it's two days old and we haven't heard hide nor hair since, E) she was only ever recording a demo tape in the first place, and F) no-one else is reporting it, I'd say all this really proves is that G) tabloid journalism hasn't gotten any better in the past fifteen minutes, H) Amy Winehouse is still a weirdo, and I) the tabloids are still obsessed with her.

By reading the last paragraph, your summation, puts into question the many speculative reasonings to how one can characterise and label people.

Edited by honeyjes, 20 May 2008 - 01:13 PM.

[dodge]

But...Dan doesn't mind if she sings. After head-over-heeling for all about Dan, somehow it seems just a tiny bit odd to trash the great man's judgment here.

[killkenny kid]

But...Dan doesn't mind if she sings. After head-over-heeling for all about Dan, somehow it seems just a tiny bit odd to trash the great man's judgment here.

Odd? No, I'm not surprise. I now look for some to change their feelins toward Craig because of his support of Winehouse.....Funny Winehouse is fast taking over this forum.

[MarcAngeDraco]

I'm just ready for the whole Winehouse/Bond Theme drama to be over... I don't really care one way or the other at this point... Just make it stop...

[killkenny kid]

You know, Marc. I'm a fan of Winehouse, and I'm begining to feel the same way. And the best way to stop all of this, is for Eon to name the title singer. But, that isn't going to happen right now.

[Jim]

Funny Winehouse is fast taking over this forum.

If she buys a Rolex, run.

I mean, seriously, drug addiction is about the one taboo left that we should all be able to agree upon.

I only hope we share the same view of alsatian buggery.

But there have to be SOME STANDARDS for a person who is going to be associated with 007

Why? What's so precious about "007"?

[byline]

If you don't want to "judge", then essentially what you're saying is that you're willing to allow anyone who can potentially carry a note to sing the title/theme song, no matter how repugnant their personal life and political/religious/social views may be.

OK, you had me till this line. You cut a really wide swath there with your categories of views. Rupugnant to whom? The difference of opinion between a bleeding-heart liberal and a fundy conservative is going to be significant. And someone who's a fundamentalist . . . well, anything, will find 99 percent of what goes on in the entertainment industry repugnant. Doesn't mean all those individuals are immediately disqualified as singers for a Bond film.

However, the issue with Winehouse seems to be a bit simpler. I agree that situations in which an individual's professional integrity -- and certainly, alcoholism and drug abuse are among those scenarios -- should be judged by that individual's employer, prospective or otherwise, because one of the things an employer has to do is judge job performance. If an employee is not performing according to the standards set forth by the employer, then the employer has every right to terminate that employee. Or, if the problem is known at the outset, not hire him/her at all. That's not judging that individual's worth as a human being, but simply determining whether s/he is able to fulfill the employer's job requirements. In the case of singing a Bond theme song, I would assume that means not only recording the song, itself, but also being able to fulfill any publicity appearances linked with that performance. If it's questionable as to whether Winehouse can do that, then the powers-that-be have every right not to take that risk.

Edited by byline, 20 May 2008 - 05:20 PM.

[Santa]

there have to be SOME STANDARDS for a person who is going to be associated with 007. If you don't want to "judge", then essentially what you're saying is that you're willing to allow anyone who can potentially carry a note to sing the title/theme song, no matter how repugnant their personal life and political/religious/social views may be.

Well, both Sean Connery and Paul McCartney have, allegedly, slapped their wives around; Macca's also done a fair amount of happy shopping in his time, and let's not even get started on Lee Tamahori. Surely by your standards they should all be erased from Bond history? (Actually, I'd be with you on Tamahori but not for the same reasons) Daniel Craig was about 19/20 in 1989/1990 so it's fairly safe to say he has taken the odd drug too. Shall we dump him now?

[Judo chop]

If someone can convince me that she'll be articulate, sign her up. My doubts all come down to the fact that her 'style' is, at least in part, defined by mumbling her way through lyrics. No good for a Bond film.

2 cents: I suspect that there is probably some kind of moral line separating those with whom the Bond crew will associate from those they will not. I don't know what that line is for them. If I were EON, there would be one, but drug abuse wouldn't be it.

[DR76]

For me, substance abuse or any kind of addiction or obssession is not a crime or a laspe in morality. It's a sickness. It's behavior that people utilize to hide or escape from problems they feel they cannot deal with. Amy Winehouse obviously has some personal problems that she uses drugs and booze to deal with. If she is as talented as many believe (I've never heard her sing), then I see nothing wrong with her performing the movie's theme song.

However . . . business is business. And QoS is scheduled to be released in six months or so. If Winehouse is not up to doing the job, Babs and Michael seriously need to consider finding someone else. They should have considered a backup in the first place, when they had originally considered Winehouse for the job.

[byline]

For me, substance abuse or any kind of addiction or obssession is not a crime or a laspe in morality. It's a sickness. It's behavior that people utilize to hide or escape from problems they feel they cannot deal with. Amy Winehouse obviously has some personal problems that she uses drugs and booze to deal with. If she is as talented as many believe (I've never heard her sing), then I see nothing wrong with her performing the movie's theme song.

However . . . business is business. And QoS is scheduled to be released in six months or so. If Winehouse is not up to doing the job, Babs and Michael seriously need to consider finding someone else. They should have considered a backup in the first place, when they had originally considered Winehouse for the job.

Agree with all of the above. However, I'd assumed that Winehouse wasn't the only prospect approached to record the Bond theme. Weren't there others, with her being the most highly publicized (for obvious reasons)?

[Judo chop]

As for Lee Tamahori....I've already erased him from my Bond canon by refusing to view, own, purchase, or steal a copy of DAD. By the way, what did he do that was so morally repugnant?

I think you may have just answered your own question, Grav.

(I don't entirely agree with that, but the joke was coming sooner or later.)

[Santa]

As for Lee Tamahori....I've already erased him from my Bond canon by refusing to view, own, purchase, or steal a copy of DAD. By the way, what did he do that was so morally repugnant?

On January 8, 2006, Tamahori, dressed as a woman, was arrested for allegedly soliciting in Los Angeles, by offering an undercover police officer oral sex. I wouldn't call it morally repugnant but it was certainly inadvisable. I don't imagine you approve.

Christy Lane is like the Shirley Bassey of the Gospel genre. She's got a great voice, a proven track record of success (One Day At A Time Sweet Jesus went to #1 in 1980) and she can sew up the Christian-Conservative demographic that 007's proven to be a hard sell to all these years.

At least you've finally shown us you have a sense of humour .