902 replies to this topic

[Harmsway]

Well, I know a number of viewers who took strong moral exception to the older man/young girl angle. These same people, no doubt, are behind banning Lolita, the book. Just curious as to what led to the use of the strong word 'despise.'

For what it's worth, Nabokov's LOLITA is one of my all-time favorite novels.

[Quantumofsolace007]

an interesting point this rumour and thread will be going on for a month on friday. I mean that alone is interesting!


Wonder if/when we will hear good news that yes mendes is signed on.

[Zorin Industries]

an interesting point this rumour and thread will be going on for a month on friday. I mean that alone is interesting!

Bless....

[Quantumofsolace007]

an interesting point this rumour and thread will be going on for a month on friday. I mean that alone is interesting!

Bless....

Thank you?

not every day i get blessed on a bond forum.

[JimmyBond]

an interesting point this rumour and thread will be going on for a month on friday. I mean that alone is interesting!

Does this really qualify as a rumor anymore? He's been hired on as a "consultant" that's just a fancy term they're using until MGM gets sold.

I dare say, you just appear to be posting as much as you can to up your post count.

[Quantumofsolace007]

an interesting point this rumour and thread will be going on for a month on friday. I mean that alone is interesting!

Does this really qualify as a rumor anymore? He's been hired on as a "consultant" that's just a fancy term they're using until MGM gets sold.

I dare say, you just appear to be posting as much as you can to up your post count.

Every post i make i make for a reason and a good one at that ...


Well If he is confirmed this is delightfull news to me.

[JimmyBond]

Sorry mate, should have put an emoticon after my "post padding" comment, but it was meant in jest.

[Vauxhall]

Well If he is confirmed this is delightfull news to me.

Confirmed as a consultant, yes?

[Loomis]

There are few films I despise as much as AMERICAN BEAUTY.[/color]

Are your objections artistic or moral?

I don't understand what you mean by a "moral" objection, but most of my objections are ones I'd categorize under the "artistic" branch. It's often not so much what it says as how it says it (though I do have problems with some of what AMERICAN BEAUTY says, as well).

Really? What does AMERICAN BEAUTY "say" that you find objectionable?

I've seen the film just once, during its theatrical run a decade ago. While it's not something I've felt the desire to revisit, I do recall enjoying it tremendously and much more so than any other Mendes film I've seen.

But I'd be interested in reading your criticisms of it, both artistic and moral.

[Harmsway]

Really? What does AMERICAN BEAUTY "say" that you find objectionable?

Nothing particularly objectionable. Just stupid. Damn that plastic bag.

Otherwise, it's a film with nothing to say, and suggests each platitude oh-so-self-importantly. It's furthermore all expressed through a rather muddle-headed presentation of middle-class suburbia. It's impossible to believe in any of the ridiculous characters the populate this pompous exercise, even though the performances sometimes make it work when everything else doesn't. AMERICAN BEAUTY gives us a story that is simultaneously sentimental and devoid of humanity.

[Zorin Industries]

Really? What does AMERICAN BEAUTY "say" that you find objectionable?

Nothing particularly objectionable. Just stupid. Damn that plastic bag.

Otherwise, it's a film with nothing to say, and suggests each platitude oh-so-self-importantly. It's furthermore all expressed through a rather muddle-headed presentation of middle-class suburbia. It's furthermore impossible to believe in any of the ridiculous characters the populate this pompous exercise, even the performances sometimes make it work when everything else doesn't. AMERICAN BEAUTY gives us a story that is simultaneously sentimental and devoid of humanity.

Couldn't agree any less. I find the film to be a searingly honest depiction of some facets of the human condition (duck Zorin, duck!). It is not for everyone nor is its message but I personally identified with a lot in it - particularly at that time in my life when I saw it.

[Harmsway]

Different strokes, Zorin. If I'm looking for a similar film from that year, I'll take MAGNOLIA, which is similarly self-important, but deals in a much richer set of emotions and ideas. I don't see any searing honesty in AMERICAN BEAUTY, but I do see it in MAGNOLIA.

It was to my great delight that the Coens' latest, A SERIOUS MAN, dismantles AMERICAN BEAUTY (among many other things).

[Zorin Industries]

Different strokes, Zorin. If I'm looking for a similar film from that year, I'll take MAGNOLIA, which is similarly self-important, but deals in a much richer set of emotions and ideas. I don't see any searing honest in AMERICAN BEAUTY, but I do see it in MAGNOLIA.

It was to my great delight that the Coens' latest, A SERIOUS MAN, dismantles AMERICAN BEAUTY (among many other things).

I loved MAGNOLIA too. Call it turn of the century angst...

[Pierce - Daniel]

American beauty is fastastic.
It is a very black comedy, with an interesting sideways look at soceity. It is very exaggerated but still compelling. Socially there's someone in the film we can relate to and there all pretty ed up in either there own quiet way or a more expressed form. Ricky is the outsider, the only really pure one int he film, who observes this people living there 'life' and not noticing the simple beauty around them. It's fantastic, Spacey is amazing in the film and just eats up the screen.
Mendes' direction is superb, it is very visual and starting, but the narrative is astonshing. the construction of the film is amazing, it had to be the way it was, and had to flow that way, not many films are that perfect in the way they are set out but i beleive AB really is, it is a truly well scripted, well directed, well acted, well structed film, I think it a classic.

[Zorin Industries]

American beauty is fastastic.
It is a very black comedy, with an interesting sideways look at soceity. It is very exaggerated but still compelling. Socially there's someone in the film we can relate to and there all pretty ed up in either there own quiet way or a more expressed form. Ricky is the outsider, the only really pure one int he film, who observes this people living there 'life' and not noticing the simple beauty around them. It's fantastic, Spacey is amazing in the film and just eats up the screen.
Mendes' direction is superb, it is very visual and starting, but the narrative is astonshing. the construction of the film is amazing, it had to be the way it was, and had to flow that way, not many films are that perfect in the way they are set out but i beleive AB really is, it is a truly well scripted, well directed, well acted, well structed film, I think it a classic.

Spielberg said it was the first classic film of the 21st Century.

[jaguar007]

The thing about American Beauty, it is not a movie for everyone. Some people love it, some people like it okay, some people don't like it (just like every movie). That is beside the point, the point is I think few could argue that the film was well made by the director. I think that shows the potential the director could bring to Bond as written in the script.

[DamnCoffee]

Opinion masquerading as fact on CBN once again.

I kmnow Like i said I stand by what i want and if mendes can deliver a film similar to the films i have metioned

(the list one more time Dr. No From Russia With Love On Her Majesties Secret Service, For Your Eyes Only, The Living Daylights, Licence to Kill, Casino Royale, and Quantum of solace)


Dark Mysterious with a realistic plot strong locations and great action.



Looking at the trailer for Road to perdiditon I feel Mendes can deliver that and once it's confirmed I will watch the full film.

Time of the month, again?

I am working on it. Not to make excuses but the last few posts were done when I was emotionally charged due to my real life and I just wanted to escape.

I wonder if we'll get some confirmation soon. Once MGM sorts it's financial stuff out? I have yet to see ANY Mendes movies, but from what I've heard, he would be an ideal choice. I'm planning to check out Road To Perdition and American Beauty soon, so hopefully I will enjoy them.

[mcdonbb]

Opinion masquerading as fact on CBN once again.

I kmnow Like i said I stand by what i want and if mendes can deliver a film similar to the films i have metioned

(the list one more time Dr. No From Russia With Love On Her Majesties Secret Service, For Your Eyes Only, The Living Daylights, Licence to Kill, Casino Royale, and Quantum of solace)


Dark Mysterious with a realistic plot strong locations and great action.



Looking at the trailer for Road to perdiditon I feel Mendes can deliver that and once it's confirmed I will watch the full film.

Time of the month, again?

I am working on it. Not to make excuses but the last few posts were done when I was emotionally charged due to my real life and I just wanted to escape.

I wonder if we'll get some confirmation soon. Once MGM sorts it's financial stuff out? I have yet to see ANY Mendes movies, but from what I've heard, he would be an ideal choice. I'm planning to check out Road To Perdition and American Beauty soon, so hopefully I will enjoy them.

Yeah not too sure on Mendes yet. Yes technically good esp compared to Campbell but I really dont like his style. Now I did like Road to Per so who knows...I was very questionable on Foster but I liked his style.

If Mendes likes and understands Bond then yeah I think good idea. Mixed reaction to QoS aside Foster was a fan and that helped even if kinda a misfire. Ditto for Morgan too but I think he is and I think the script is good and in the direction back to center.

Last point and just fyi Mendes was executive producer on The Kite Runner.

[Quantumofsolace007]

I think a dark thriller bond film Like Casino royale or Quantum of solace or From Russia with love.


What are your thoughts?

Edited by Jim, 10 February 2010 - 07:43 AM.
Thread merged with existing Mendes thread - seems to cover similar ground

[dinovelvet]

Chaplinesque silent era.

[The Shark]

A good one, hopefully.

[tdalton]

I'd prefer it to be something more in the style of Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, but I imagine that we're looking at something that will be more in the style of Goldfinger (unforutnately).

[sharpshooter]

Hopefully something more in line with Casino Royale.

[JimmyBond]

I'd prefer it to be something more in the style of Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, but I imagine that we're looking at something that will be more in the style of Goldfinger (unforutnately).

While I do agree with you for the most part about Goldfinger. I do have to say, if the next film is anything close to resembling Goldfinger (in tone, not outright copying mind you) than I'd be more than happy with it.

We've walked the dark path for two films, darkness is great and all, for a while. But every once in a while it's nice to see light.

[Safari Suit]

I want it so dark that the film isn't actually visible on a standard projector. I want it to be dark enough that light cannot escape from it. I want other objects to be sucked into this film when placed next to it.

Or they could go for a lighter approach, whatever, it's all cool.

[Dekard77]

Less action and more plotting. I really wish they will let go of Purvis and Wade. Just watches QOS again and the overload of action is just scary.

I felt it all started with TND with that rather long and unnecessary bike chase. I tend to skip that part every chance I get.

[JimmyBond]

Less action and more plotting. I really wish they will let go of Purvis and Wade. Just watches QOS again and the overload of action is just scary.

I'm not sure it's fair to blame Purvis and Wade for the excesses of QoS.

I felt it all started with TND with that rather long and unnecessary bike chase. I tend to skip that part every chance I get.

Perhaps, but I feel it started with Goldeneye really. But than again, that was the aim of the Brosnan era, in that they were competing against action movies more in that decade than any other decade.

[Dekard77]

Less action and more plotting. I really wish they will let go of Purvis and Wade. Just watches QOS again and the overload of action is just scary.

I'm not sure it's fair to blame Purvis and Wade for the excesses of QoS.

I felt it all started with TND with that rather long and unnecessary bike chase. I tend to skip that part every chance I get.

Perhaps, but I feel it started with Goldeneye really. But than again, that was the aim of the Brosnan era, in that they were competing against action movies more in that decade than any other decade.

Goldeneye was more balanced in terms of action and dialogue. The other films were very excessive. Why do you say QOS not fault of Purvis and Wade?

[jaguar007]

Chaplinesque silent era.

I was thinking more Keystone Cops.

[dodge]

There are few films I despise as much as AMERICAN BEAUTY.[/color]

Are your objections artistic or moral?

I don't understand what you mean by a "moral" objection, but most of my objections are ones I'd categorize under the "artistic" branch. It's often not so much what it says as how it says it (though I do have problems with some of what AMERICAN BEAUTY says, as well).

Really? What does AMERICAN BEAUTY "say" that you find objectionable?

I've seen the film just once, during its theatrical run a decade ago. While it's not something I've felt the desire to revisit, I do recall enjoying it tremendously and much more so than any other Mendes film I've seen.

But I'd be interested in reading your criticisms of it, both artistic and moral.

I'm still wating for some moral exposition. To 'despise' a movie above all others denotes, imo, a strong degree of moral disapproval. Personally, I'm convinced that Harms reacted in horror to the spank the monkey scene. But, really: no matter how lovely a wife is, however deep her love may run, now and then--God save us all--the monkey must be spanked.

American beauty is fastastic.
It is a very black comedy, with an interesting sideways look at soceity. It is very exaggerated but still compelling. Socially there's someone in the film we can relate to and there all pretty ed up in either there own quiet way or a more expressed form. Ricky is the outsider, the only really pure one int he film, who observes this people living there 'life' and not noticing the simple beauty around them. It's fantastic, Spacey is amazing in the film and just eats up the screen.
Mendes' direction is superb, it is very visual and starting, but the narrative is astonshing. the construction of the film is amazing, it had to be the way it was, and had to flow that way, not many films are that perfect in the way they are set out but i beleive AB really is, it is a truly well scripted, well directed, well acted, well structed film, I think it a classic.

Spielberg said it was the first classic film of the 21st Century.

Agree or disagree with Spielberg's degree of enthusiasm, it is a wonderful film. And, I agree, a classic.