81 replies to this topic

[WC]

Boooooooorrrrrring. She was Tim's Chiles.

Though Lowell blows away Chiles off-screen from what I've seen. Much more interesting.

That being the case, Tim should've sung "I got Chiles... they're multiplying!"

[Jimbo007]

That line followed one of my favorite Bond comebacks:

Kara: We're free.
Bond: Kara, we're inside a Russian airbase in the middle of Afghanistan.

Who says Dalton's Bond didn't have a sense of humor?

Yes, Dalton did have some great little one-liners, and much stronger than during Moore's days (but we're aren't here to rip on them hehe). One line that really stuck out:

Bond: (to Pam) "Were south of the border. It's a man's world now!"

Very funny and VERY Flemingesque. Dalton delivers the line so boastfully; it sightly summarizes his sexism to women, especially with Pam.

Overall though, Pam sometimes could be annoying but not enough to bother me. She is one of the few, well-rounded and fairly strongly written Bond girls. Lowell, also really seems to be having a blast so that pushed her character!

[double o ego]

Yeah, great Bond girl. Strong woman of the 80s that could hold her own but didn't upstage Bond and wasn't the useless damsel in distress neither, without coming off as annoying. Here's hoping QoS handle Camille's character in a similar fashion.

[Piz Gloria 1969]

"I got Chiles... they're multiplying!"

LOL , that was funny.....NOT ! :/

[Double-Oh Agent]

No complaints.

Nor here. Carey Lowell looks great with short or longer hair although I prefer her with the short hair. She looks absolutely stunning and sexy in that purple dress and and what can I say when she strips down to her bathing suit except ooh-la-la?

Simply put, Carey Lowell is my favorite Bond girl. She's smart, tough, and able to take care of herself (see the Barrelhead Bar and her meeting with Professor Joe). I also think it's funny how she's a little hot-headed and miffed at Bond when he names her as his executive secretary. As an independent, strong-willed woman her feelings are understandable. In her eyes, at the very least she could have been his business partner or girlfriend. And I don't have a problem with her being pissed off at Bond for his liaison with Lupe. After all, she's already slept with him on the speedboat and has helped him throughout his mission and then he goes and makes love to someone she knows is little more than a pretty face. The only problem I have with the Pam character is that when she sees Bond kiss Lupe at the end that she runs away and cries. Her character would be more likely to go up and confront Lupe or tell Bond off. I suspect that the writers ended it the way they did so that Bond and Pam could wind up in the pool at the end and do the "why don't you ask me?" bit.

Anyways, I find Carey Lowell very enjoyable, pretty, and sexy--and so far, my ultimate Bond girl.

[goose007]

I don't think she was very good. There have been better Bond Girls!!!

[RazorBlade]

Cary Lowell was one of my favs for many of the same reasons others have mentioned. I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in.

[baerrtt]

They ruin her character by making her jealous of Lupe thus ruining the 'Bond girl as equal'angle for the film (again).

Lowell may have improved as an actress in the years to come but in this she comes across as bland and lifeless (like the aforementioned Ms Chiles in MOONRAKER) not as I suspect due to a complete lack of ability (like say Barbara Bach) but being unhelpfully shackled to a script that can't decide on it's definitive tone.

[Blonde Bond]

For a few weeks now, I've been watching Bond movies from Dr.No to Licence to Kill, which I saw today and I have to say; she's one of the best bond equals in the series. She's good looking, got shapes and has more balls than some of the male characters in the series.

Figuratively speaking of course. That and she looks good with short hair, without being too masculine for a lady.

edit: I liked how she imitated Lupe, who, thanks to the script, fell in love with Bond overnight. It didn't surprise me at all, and I welcomed that reaction from here. That and her line; "Bull[censored]!"

I don't think she overreacted, or that it weakened her character. Lupe however... pretty but useless outside the bedroom.

[Licence_007]

I think Carey Lowell is a terrible actress and I didn't care much about her character.

Second post pretty much sums up what I think. I love LTK but the Bond girls in it lacked any real personality and I cared nothing for them. Poor acting and just generally, in my opinion, a low point for Bond girls.

[ChrissBond007]

Carey Lowell is one of my least favourite Bond girls, her acting was pretty poor and I must say I did like her longer hairstyle more.

Edited by ChrissBond007, 20 August 2008 - 06:31 PM.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

I really liked Carey Lowell in LTK. One of the sexiest Bond girls IMO. I thought her role was perfect in being a "capable" Bond girl who could hold her own while not upstaging Bond. I liked the fact that the writers didn't feel a need to put her in some contrived trap where Bond had to come save her.

Call me sexist, but I love it when the writers put the Bond girl in some contrived trap where Bond had to come save her. I love it when Bond comes to the rescue of Tracy in OHMSS, Solitaire in LALD, Anya in TSWLM, Octopussy in OP, Elektra(before we learn she's bad in the avalanche) in TWINE, Vesper in CR. Always appeals to the hero in me when I watch it. It is interesting in retrospect that Pam came before the Brosnan-era yet Wai Lin and Jinx both had to be rescued by Bond in a way Pam never did.

Back on topic. What do I think of Carey Lowell as Pam? Miss Lowell is an incredibly beautiful woman(definitely more so than Michelle Yeoh, Denise Richards, Halle Berry, even Eva Green) and she plays her character fine. My problems are with the character though. Pam is supposed to be this hard as nails CIA pilot but after she meets Bond and had just one action scene and then an argument with him, she abruptly falls in love with him. Why? Because it's in the script.(In fairness, GE's script had Natalya more or less do the same thing). She then turns whiny and possessive about Dalton's Bond(who does she think she is anyway? Kara?). This is not Miss Lowell's fault as she is just playing the character as written, but it does grate on my nerves. It would've been more effective if Maibaum and Wilson had Pam gradually fall for Bond over the course of the film(perhaps have her realize it gradually with a more subtle jealousy towards her rival Lupe Lamora) and complain and whine a lot less.

My favorite parts involving her character:

-Pulling a gun on Professor Joe

Definitely a great moment. She and Wayne Newton play off each other very well. I would add the scene with her in the elevator, pulling the bottom of her dress off and revealing the gun in her garter and the scene at the casino where she orders then later drinks Bond's martini were my faves of Pam.

[marygoodnight]

AMERICAN WOMEN IN BOND FILMS JUST DON'T GO TOGETHER. Carey Lowell,Priscilla Barnes were terrible in the film,of course Tanya Roberts holds the worst record of all.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

AMERICAN WOMEN IN BOND FILMS JUST DON'T GO TOGETHER. Carey Lowell,Priscilla Barnes were terrible in the film,of course Tanya Roberts holds the worst record of all.

I don't necessarily agree. I'm quite fond of Jill St. John, Teri Hatcher and Lois Chiles. I also thought Priscilla Barnes was good in her limited role. Do agree about Tanya Roberts and Denise Richards being very weak.

However, on the whole, European women of the Claudine Auger, Luciana Paluzzi, Maryam d'Abo, Sophie Marceau, Caterina Murino variety seem a lot more exotic and appropriate to Bond films as a general rule.

[marygoodnight]

AMERICAN WOMEN IN BOND FILMS JUST DON'T GO TOGETHER. Carey Lowell,Priscilla Barnes were terrible in the film,of course Tanya Roberts holds the worst record of all.

I don't necessarily agree. I'm quite fond of Jill St. John, Teri Hatcher and Lois Chiles. I also thought Priscilla Barnes was good in her limited role. Do agree about Tanya Roberts and Denise Richards being very weak.

However, on the whole, European women of the Claudine Auger, Luciana Paluzzi, Maryam d'Abo, Sophie Marceau, Caterina Murino variety seem a lot more exotic and appropriate to Bond films as a general rule.

Yes St John and Chiles were great in their roles ,but all the movies the american bond girls were in all rank low with most fans Diamonds,Moonraker,View to a Kill,Lic to Kill,World is not Enough,Die another Day.

[byline]

My problems are with the character though. Pam is supposed to be this hard as nails CIA pilot but after she meets Bond and had just one action scene and then an argument with him, she abruptly falls in love with him. Why? Because it's in the script.(In fairness, GE's script had Natalya more or less do the same thing). She then turns whiny and possessive about Dalton's Bond(who does she think she is anyway? Kara?). This is not Miss Lowell's fault as she is just playing the character as written, but it does grate on my nerves. It would've been more effective if Maibaum and Wilson had Pam gradually fall for Bond over the course of the film(perhaps have her realize it gradually with a more subtle jealousy towards her rival Lupe Lamora) and complain and whine a lot less.

I actually found it fairly believable that she fell for him during that scene on the boat, right after the bar-fight scene. They're alone and together, and of course we have an idea of what transpired after the cameras cut away. For me, Dalton's kiss was what did it. We're not told a whole lot, but can see the sparks fly in that kiss. When people claim that Dalton lacks chemistry with his leading ladies (or at least the Bond ones), my reaction is, "What?" I'm feeling plenty of heat in just that one scene, alone. And then there several similar moments with Kara in "The Living Daylights."

Like you, I did find the "jealousy" factor annoying, and too predictable a way of writing her character (and undermining her capabilities, in the process). But then, that was the fate of most of the Bond women. Present them as being self-sufficient, but then -- with the exception of Pam -- put them in a situation where they must be rescued by Bond.

I kind of get what they were going for with Pam; Lupe is the kind of woman Bond traditionally fell for (and of course he turns that on its head at the end of the film). Pam would have been understandably frustrated by this; she was beautiful and certainly recognized her own seductive abilities. In her professional career, she had blazed trails by relying not on men, but herself, to succeed. Yet she saw this as being a liability in personal relationships because, as with Bond, it probably had been a turnoff to other men (an idea that was explored more fully in "Casino Royale"). And then here Bond was, apparently falling for her opposite, a woman who relied too much on men to make her way in the world.

So of course this is frustrating for Pam. The very things that make her a strong, capable woman are what stifle her hopes of a romantic relationship with the men she's attracted to. If this aspect of her character had been explored in greater depth, rather than simply resorting to the "jealousy" cliche, then I think Pam's character would have been far more interesting.

Edited by byline, 30 August 2008 - 06:22 PM.

[byline]

(Oops, sorry, hit the wrong button!)

Edited by byline, 30 August 2008 - 06:22 PM.

[Kristian]

No complaints.

Nor here. Carey Lowell looks great with short or longer hair although I prefer her with the short hair. She looks absolutely stunning and sexy in that purple dress and and what can I say when she strips down to her bathing suit except ooh-la-la?

Simply put, Carey Lowell is my favorite Bond girl. She's smart, tough, and able to take care of herself (see the Barrelhead Bar and her meeting with Professor Joe). I also think it's funny how she's a little hot-headed and miffed at Bond when he names her as his executive secretary. As an independent, strong-willed woman her feelings are understandable. In her eyes, at the very least she could have been his business partner or girlfriend. And I don't have a problem with her being pissed off at Bond for his liaison with Lupe. After all, she's already slept with him on the speedboat and has helped him throughout his mission and then he goes and makes love to someone she knows is little more than a pretty face. The only problem I have with the Pam character is that when she sees Bond kiss Lupe at the end that she runs away and cries. Her character would be more likely to go up and confront Lupe or tell Bond off. I suspect that the writers ended it the way they did so that Bond and Pam could wind up in the pool at the end and do the "why don't you ask me?" bit.

Anyways, I find Carey Lowell very enjoyable, pretty, and sexy--and so far, my ultimate Bond girl.

I love LTK for various reasons. One of those reasons is just how well the Bond girls fit into the plot and push it forward. I disagree with those who say they didn't. Were you not paying attention?

- If it were not for Lupe's indiscretion, Sanchez would have never been captured.

- She provides Bond much-needed assistance as an ally within Sanchez's camp.

- I love how Sanchez sends her to find out more about Bond in the Casino, not realizing she's already a "double-agent" I love this aspect of her character.

- Pam provided much needed assistance for Bond in getting into Isthmus and throughout his mission, all the way into the climax. Plus, she never needed rescuing.

- I love Pam and Bond's "negotiation" scene on the speedboat, as well as the introduction of her character at the Barrelhead Bar. Yeah, she shouldn't have hit the hay with him so quick, but well...

Bottom line: I think Pam is somewhat unique as a Bond Girl - not really a female Bond, but very capable and self-reliant. I hope that Camille revives her spirit in QOS...

[Mister E]

You have made some excellent points GS, especially comparing Kara to Pam. Kara was actually alot more ballsy in TLD.

Also, for a broad that was supposed to be as tough as nail and smart, why did she need Bond to tell her to 'switch the bloody thing off'?

LOL ! Yeah. Even before that, how the hell can a DEA agent shoot someone at point blank range and miss ? That was the only person she shot at during the entire film. I thought she has been "to the toughest hell holes in South America".

[Kristian]

You have made some excellent points GS, especially comparing Kara to Pam. Kara was actually alot more ballsy in TLD.

Also, for a broad that was supposed to be as tough as nail and smart, why did she need Bond to tell her to 'switch the bloody thing off'?

LOL ! Yeah. Even before that, how the hell can a DEA agent shoot someone at point blank range and miss ? That was the only person she shot at during the entire film. I thought she has been "to the toughest hell holes in South America".

As far as the switch the bloody thing off, I guess we can chalk that up to the 'heat of the moment.'

But you're right, Mr. E: She should've gone for Dario's head (or at least his neck).

Major gripe about Pam - as much as I love her - is that after telling Bond she the
"will not have you lecture me about professionalism," she turns around and allows her jealousy and infatuation with Bond to affect her. I can write off her tantrum after Lupe warns her that Bond needs help to the an "off moment" but that silly "woe-is-me" look they made her express by the pool at the end was just too much.

I love Pam, and I think that had the writers decided to make her steelier and less emotional, she would've been perfect. And it could always be worse - I heard Brigitte Nielsen (she of COBRA and ROCKY IV and banging Sly Stallone fame) had lunch with the Broccolis to discuss the role Pam Bouvier. Um.... yeah, right. Nice try, Bridge.

[Mister E]

As far as the switch the bloody thing off, I guess we can chalk that up to the 'heat of the moment.'

I must admit I thought it was fairly hilarous but I think they should have let her shoot Dario and make him fall into the grinder, then she could have her blonde moment.

I love Pam, and I think that had the writers decided to make her steelier and less emotional, she would've been perfect. And it could always be worse - I heard Brigitte Nielsen (she of COBRA and ROCKY IV and banging Sly Stallone fame) had lunch with the Broccolis to discuss the role Pam Bouvier. Um.... yeah, right. Nice try, Bridge.

A definite near mis-cast. She is villianess material and I liked her roles in ROCKY IV and BEVERLY HILLS COP II.

[Kristian]

As far as the switch the bloody thing off, I guess we can chalk that up to the 'heat of the moment.'

I thought it was fairly hilarous but I think they should have let her shoot Dario and make him fall into the grinder, then she could have her blonde moment.

I love Pam, and I think that had the writers decided to make her steelier and less emotional, she would've been perfect. And it could always be worse - I heard Brigitte Nielsen (she of COBRA and ROCKY IV and banging Sly Stallone fame) had lunch with the Broccolis to discuss the role Pam Bouvier. Um.... yeah, right. Nice try, Bridge.

A definite near mis-cast. She is villianess material and liked her roles in ROCKY IV and BEVERLY HILLS COP II.

Actually, since we're letting our hair down... as much as I love Pam and Carey Lowell, the one thing that I have always thought kind of worked against Carey in some respects in that she's too perfect physically. I envision Pam Bouvier as someone more butch and masculine like, oh let's see, Jenette Golstein who played Vasquez in ALIENS. Of course, she may not have looked so smashing in all those beautiful dresses that Carey wore....