20 replies to this topic

[Mr_Wint]

Will anyone be surprised if we get a traditional casino scene in Bond 23? In that case, should Bond continue to play Poker as established in CR, or is Bond mature enough to challenge a villain in Baccarat?

It seems like every second Bondfilm has a flashy party with a DJ and everything while every second Bondfilm has a more traditional Casino scene. Coincidence or formula?

Bond 17: Casino (Casino de Monte Carlo)
Bond 18: Party (CMGN Party)
Bond 19: Casino (L'Or Noir Casino)
Bond 20: Party (Ice Palace)
Bond 21: Casino (Casino Royale)
Bond 22: Party (Greene's party)
Bond 23: Casino?

[Quantumofsolace007]

personnaly if there is a casino Game I'm hoping bond played Hold Em Poker.

I know many are screaming for baccrat's retrun but I love Hold em poker and if they are going to play a card game even if it's just background to say bond meeting the villian etc. Hold em poker is more my thing.

[Judo chop]

I think a fresh take on the customary “sidle up for a round or two of baccarat” would be welcomed. Typically Bond does it to make contact with a beautiful lady, or to intimidate the villain. Perhaps there’s another reason for him to hit the tables?

If not, well… there’s nothing wrong with some good ol’ intimidation.

[Harmsway]

I'd actually like to see this in a montage of scenes that give us a sense of Bond's life during the regular grind, when he isn't in the field. We could have it cover a variety of scenes, with an emphasis on Bond's relative boredom when he's off of an assignment. That would be very Fleming, and a bit new for the franchise.

[Mr_Wint]

I agree that it would be nice to see Bond playing off-duty. Maybe at the beginning of the film á la DN, OHMSS or GE... or how about actually end a Bondfilm with a casino scene?

[Harmsway]

I agree that it would be nice to see Bond playing off-duty. Maybe at the beginning of the film á la DN, OHMSS or GE... or how about actually end a Bondfilm with a casino scene?

You could start or end the flick that way.

But my imaginary BOND 23 would use it as the start of the pre-title sequence. Take 2 minutes to set up a variety of scenes of Bond being bored, in that elegant playboy vein. Soak up the day-to-day lifestyle. Have it set over some old-school lonely-sounding Barry-esque lounge music, like "Try" from ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE.

Then you can have it all brought to a screetching halt when somebody makes an attempt on Bond's life, and Bond's back into "secret agent mode."

[Judo chop]

I'd actually like to see this in a montage of scenes that give us a sense of Bond's life during the regular grind, when he isn't in the field. We could have it cover a variety of scenes, with an emphasis on Bond's relative boredom when he's off of an assignment. That would be very Fleming, and a bit new for the franchise.

I agree.

Though I wouldn’t particularly want to dwell on the loneliness of the field aspect as a too-noticeable theme in the film. After QOS, I do hope to see Craig’s suggestion that the next one will be mostly a Thunderballish fun-in-the-sun adventure come to fruition. The one exception that comes to mind is if they could further establish trust and friendship in the Bond/Felix relationship with such a contrast. QOS was a nice second piece in a small character arc between those two which I’d love to see (mostly) solidified in the next one.

eg) A bored-to-death Bond is slumped at the table losing carelessly. Then Felix arrives and suddenly Bond’s eyes light up and a warm smile cracks across his glum face as he shouts, “Felix!”

Were you thinking these scenes of the ‘montage’ would have no bearing on the plot whatsoever? Ie. They’re simply there to underline Bond’s loneliness/boredom? I have a hard time imagining EON resisting the temptation to turn a casual round of cards into some form of a plot lead.

(EDIT: A bit late w/my thoughts. Sorry for diverting the conv. gentlemen.)

[Fan]

personnaly if there is a casino Game I'm hoping bond played Hold Em Poker.

I know many are screaming for baccrat's retrun but I love Hold em poker and if they are going to play a card game even if it's just background to say bond meeting the villian etc. Hold em poker is more my thing.

I'd rather have Bond play baccarat than play poker. It suits his character far better, though I would imagine that he's as skilled at poker as he is at baccarat; his playing of poker in CR (the film, of course) is excusable in that he didn't choose the game.

However, if he is to play poker, I'd much rather it not be a variety called "hold 'em"!

[Vanya86]

I think games of hold 'em are a bit long and involved. Fine in Casino Royale where it was a major plot point, but in the future I think we need something quicker, a game where it's easier to walk in and out of and only play a hand or two.
But Casino's and card games are very much a part of Bond's character, I hope we'll see more in this one.

[Mr_Wint]

I agree that it would be nice to see Bond playing off-duty. Maybe at the beginning of the film á la DN, OHMSS or GE... or how about actually end a Bondfilm with a casino scene?

You could start or end the flick that way.

But my imaginary BOND 23 would use it as the start of the pre-title sequence. Take 2 minutes to set up a variety of scenes of Bond being bored, in that elegant playboy vein. Soak up the day-to-day lifestyle. Have it set over some old-school lonely-sounding Barry-esque lounge music, like "Try" from ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE.

Then you can have it all brought to a screetching halt when somebody makes an attempt on Bond's life, and Bond's back into "secret agent mode."

Sounds like a good idea.

Casino scenes normally takes places after the title-sequence or in the middle-act. So a simple way to put a different spin on it is to place the scene at a different place in the film. For instance, the gunbarrel fades into a Casino scene or, even better, the very last scene is Bond playing and relaxing after the assignment (maybe to clear up some last details).

[Harmsway]

Though I wouldn’t particularly want to dwell on the loneliness of the field aspect as a too-noticeable theme in the film.

I'm not really thinking of setting this in the field. Or even somewhere like Monte Carlo. I'm thinking London, and London alone. We very rarely get to see what Bond's day-to-day life looks like when he's not on assignment.

Were you thinking these scenes of the ‘montage’ would have no bearing on the plot whatsoever?

Yup. But, if you read my other post, you'll see that I want to use the montage as a set-up for the pre-title sequence, introducing Bond to the audience again, showing what the off-assignment life is like, and then kicking him right into "secret agent mode."

I have a hard time imagining EON resisting the temptation to turn a casual round of cards into some form of a plot lead.

Me too, but it's a suggestion, nonetheless.

But my imaginary BOND 23 would use it as the start of the pre-title sequence. Take 2 minutes to set up a variety of scenes of Bond being bored, in that elegant playboy vein. Soak up the day-to-day lifestyle. Have it set over some old-school lonely-sounding Barry-esque lounge music, like "Try" from ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE.

Then you can have it all brought to a screetching halt when somebody makes an attempt on Bond's life, and Bond's back into "secret agent mode."

Sounds like a good idea.

I think so too.

Though I imagine folks wouldn't necessarily like that I'd also like to keep the gunbarrel from showing up before such an opening. I think a gunbarrel opener would rob such an opening of a lot of its effect.

[Judo chop]

Were you thinking these scenes of the ‘montage’ would have no bearing on the plot whatsoever?

Yup. But, if you read my other post, you'll see that I want to use the montage as a set-up for the pre-title sequence, introducing Bond to the audience again, showing what the off-assignment life is like, and then kicking him right into "secret agent mode."

Yeah, I caught that. Hence my post-post EDIT.

I like it. It’s especially relevant now as a perfect contrast to QOS, which obviously took the exact opposite approach.

[Loomis]

But my imaginary BOND 23 would use it as the start of the pre-title sequence. Take 2 minutes to set up a variety of scenes of Bond being bored, in that elegant playboy vein. Soak up the day-to-day lifestyle. Have it set over some old-school lonely-sounding Barry-esque lounge music, like "Try" from ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE.

I love this idea, and it would also mollify those fans who thought QUANTUM OF SOLACE too joyless and unBondian.

How about starting off with Bond tailing a man and a woman, creeping round corners and ducking into shadows, and the audience is obviously meant to assume that he's on a mission, but the woman turns out to be the bored wife of a tycoon with whom 007 is having an affair in his free time. And then cut to your montage, with Bond at the casino and on the golf course, tinkering with his beloved car and, erm, issuing May her instructions or something. It'd make a great and refreshing PTS.

London, though.... Bond's London is no longer a glamorous place (recall the gloomy, rainy view from Mitchell's flat). I mean, obviously there are still some beautiful locations and casinos and assorted haunts of the wealthy and powerful in the city, but I have a hard time picturing Bond even wanting to spend much time in today's London. Where would he go to "chill out"? I have trouble seeing it. Still, I've always wanted to see London's Chinatown used as a location (which I think, but since I haven't read the book don't know, turns up in DOUBLESHOT). Anyhoo, great idea, Harms.

[Mr_Wint]

After some thinking, here's how to do it:

a: Mission concludes in a traditional fashion.

b: Bond is off-duty and relaxing at a casino. He ends a game and walks out from the casino during the night dressed in a tuxedo. Maybe hint at the first chapter of Casino Royale. "He felt the dry, uncomfortable gravel under his evening shoes..." etc

c: A couple of men (with a connection to Bonds mission) grabs him and inject something in his neck while Bond is fighting for his life.

d: Bond is left unconscious at the ground with the casino building as a backdrop.

e: Camera zooms out. The Bondtheme starts playing. Film ends.

I have solved three problems for EON: 1) They get the casino scene as it seems like they want that for every second Bondfilm, 2) They get a gritty, thoughtful, ending as it seems like they prefer that for Craig's Bondfilms, 3) A nice Fleming connection with Bond being "dead" at the end.

[Righty007]

personnaly if there is a casino Game I'm hoping bond played Hold Em Poker.

I know many are screaming for baccrat's retrun but I love Hold em poker and if they are going to play a card game even if it's just background to say bond meeting the villian etc. Hold em poker is more my thing.

Honda Civics may be your thing too but does that mean Bond should drive one?

I didn't mind Texas Hold 'em in Casino Royale but there's gotta me classier casino games he could play in the future.

[MajorB]

I'm always up for a casino scene in Bond, especially if they can come at it from a new angle. I don't care that much what game he plays, though cards tend to be more interesting than roulette, for me at least.

And I like the idea of B23 starting with Bond feeling a little unfocused and unchallenged. He went through a very driven period in CR and QoS, and now maybe life's a little dull. (Maybe Quantum holed up for a time after QoS.) And maybe the assignment he's given seems pretty routine, and he complains about it and gets a bit of a lecture from M. Then it turns out to involve Quantum after all, and we're off to the races. Something like that--Bond bored, a routine assignment turns into something huge--would be very Fleming.

[Automan]

I read that Bond 23 is to be in New York, plenty of casinos there.

As long as he is wearing Brosnan's see through clothes glasses I don't care what he plays.

ps
Does anyone know whaere I can get a pair of those from??

[Quantumofsolace007]

After some thinking, here's how to do it:

a: Mission concludes in a traditional fashion.

b: Bond is off-duty and relaxing at a casino. He ends a game and walks out from the casino during the night dressed in a tuxedo. Maybe hint at the first chapter of Casino Royale. "He felt the dry, uncomfortable gravel under his evening shoes..." etc

c: A couple of men (with a connection to Bonds mission) grabs him and inject something in his neck while Bond is fighting for his life.

d: Bond is left unconscious at the ground with the casino building as a backdrop.

e: Camera zooms out. The Bondtheme starts playing. Film ends.

I have solved three problems for EON: 1) They get the casino scene as it seems like they want that for every second Bondfilm, 2) They get a gritty, thoughtful, ending as it seems like they prefer that for Craig's Bondfilms, 3) A nice Fleming connection with Bond being "dead" at the end.

Amazing and would love that to be the end of bond 23. espeically if bond 23 is Risico

[Harmsway]

I love this idea, and it would also mollify those fans who thought QUANTUM OF SOLACE too joyless and unBondian.

Yup; it would throws us right into elegant Bondian-ness, but it would also be a way for BOND 23 to really channel some pure Fleming. We've gotten glimpses of the day-to-day in other flicks, like the beginning of DR. NO, but it would be nice to blow that wide open and see what the life of James Bond is like when he's not killing supervillains.

How about starting off with Bond tailing a man and a woman, creeping round corners and ducking into shadows, and the audience is obviously meant to assume that he's on a mission, but the woman turns out to be the bored wife of a tycoon with whom 007 is having an affair in his free time. And then cut to your montage, with Bond at the casino and on the golf course, tinkering with his beloved car and, erm, issuing May her instructions or something. It'd make a great and refreshing PTS.

That, too, would be fun. Though why Bond would bother to tail a woman he's having an affair with is beyond me - in Fleming, at least, he strikes me as far too disinterested in his affairs to be leaping about int he shadows over some gal - but the reveal would still be quite humorous. It would ultimately make for a braver PTS than my original idea, which called for the whole thing to give way to an assassination attempt, and thus fit in a bit more with the "PTS formula."

London, though.... Bond's London is no longer a glamorous place (recall the gloomy, rainy view from Mitchell's flat). I mean, obviously there are still some beautiful locations and casinos and assorted haunts of the wealthy and powerful in the city, but I have a hard time picturing Bond even wanting to spend much time in today's London. Where would he go to "chill out"? I have trouble seeing it.

I'm not a Londoner - though I've visited - and so I don't have the best feel for the state of the city these days. I suppose the last few vestiges of the "elegant" London would have to make their way into the montage, wherever possible.

[Vauxhall]

I read that Bond 23 is to be in New York, plenty of casinos there.

That was simply tabloid rubbish, I'm afraid. Locations for BOND 23 are undecided at this time.

As long as he is wearing Brosnan's see through clothes glasses I don't care what he plays.

ps
Does anyone know whaere I can get a pair of those from??

I don't think they sell x-ray glasses to the public sector yet.

[HellIsHere]

Since some critics said James Bond didn't have fun on the previous film QOS, I would imaging James Bond having some amusement (in upper class life!) before the title sequence (high stakes gambling; luxurious out this world restaurant/hotel scene; amazing site - possibly Porto Fino, for instance). The words: PURE LUXURY. Then something happens and a brutal short action sequence is build up just for fun. And then cut to the title sequence.