902 replies to this topic

[Binyamin]

God, for another John Glen!

(Or even John Glen. I'm sure he'd be happy to take the job.)

Which one was John Glen?

The first American to orbit the Earth.

That's how they got the Moonraker footage.

[Safari Suit]

SamMendesNotBond23Director.com

It's good to know whatever happens to Bond, this "joke" will be around forever more.

Well... good in a sense.

[K1Bond007]

The three films Mendes has directed since Road to Perdition and American Beauty have all failed at the box office and they haven't exactly excited the critics either.

Bond doesn't need a director who is successful at the box office. Bond is Bond. He does 600 million with a no-name director. He's got a pretty consistent 50 year history of being in the Top 10. You need a director who can craft a good movie. And you're wrong about not exciting the critics. He was nominated for a Golden Globe on his last film - you know what.. I don't even know why you're arguing this. This is Bond. For God's sake.. if he is the director I imagine he's got more critically acclaimed films under his belt than any other director before him. Kinda sad, but true.

[Royal Dalton]

I imagine he's got more critically acclaimed films under his belt than any other director before him.

Lewis Gilbert might have something to say about that.

[Goodnight]

As long as whoever ends up directing it doesnt make it as ridiculus as DAD or as confusing as QOS.

We'll be fine.

But don't write someone off before they've even started

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

As long as whoever ends up directing it doesnt make it as ridiculus as DAD or as confusing as QOS.

We'll be fine.

But don't write someone off before they've even started

Well said.

[sthgilyadgnivileht]

With Mendez, there will be no gunbarrel at all, not even at the end. With Patrick Morgan as the screenwriter, the script will be even more political than before. Are YOU ready for another anti-American, pro-terrorist, left wing and Sean Pennish James Bond film?

Mendez has ZERO experience with action. Hell, the only action in REVOLUTION ROAD was when Leo opened the fridge door. This means that the action scenes in RISICO will either be as geriatric as those in TWINE, or they'll be cut together real quick like in QUANTUM. They'll either send you to sleep or you won't understand them. Either way, RISICO is a guaranteed wipeout in the action stakes.

With Mendez getting his theatrical chums Dame Dench and Dame Thompson on board, RISICO will be an orgy of pompous, self-regarding hamming and thesping. It'll be so talky and stagey as to give Timothy Dalton a hardon. And THIS is what you want from Bond?

Oh yeah and good luck with the title song. It'll probably be Lady Gaga or the Black Eyed Peas just so his lordship Sir Sam of Shaftesbury Avenue can show he's "down with the kidz".

This film will be a betrayal and a disgrace. It'll have about as much to do with Ian Fleming as ROCKY III. Begin the boycott now!

And what became of the last boycott the series endured?

[danielcraigisjamesbond007]

With Mendez,
Mendez has ZERO experience with action. Hell, the only action in REVOLUTION ROAD was when Leo opened the fridge door. This means that the action scenes in RISICO will either be as geriatric as those in TWINE, or they'll be cut together real quick like in QUANTUM. They'll either send you to sleep or you won't understand them. Either way, RISICO is a guaranteed wipeout in the action stakes.

Isn't that the purpose of the 2nd unit director??? To direct action?

[Santa]

Ahhhh Loomis. Bless.

[Joe Bond]

The three films Mendes has directed since Road to Perdition and American Beauty have all failed at the box office and they haven't exactly excited the critics either.

Bond doesn't need a director who is successful at the box office. Bond is Bond. He does 600 million with a no-name director. He's got a pretty consistent 50 year history of being in the Top 10. You need a director who can craft a good movie. And you're wrong about not exciting the critics. He was nominated for a Golden Globe on his last film - you know what.. I don't even know why you're arguing this. This is Bond. For God's sake.. if he is the director I imagine he's got more critically acclaimed films under his belt than any other director before him. Kinda sad, but true.

Well said. Also I don't think a director's previous films really gives a good gauge when they are doing a film of a genre they have never attempted before. When Marc Forster was announced as the director of QoS I remember being so excited because I really liked his previous films and had real big expectations for the film. Well I liked QoS but it really did not meet my expectations and who could have predicted the quick editing style of the film when all of Forster's previous movies are very traditional when it comes to the editing. Who could have predicted the critical success of J.J. Abrams' Star Trek when everyone was saying it was going to be really bad and the same for Casino Royale. This scenario is really reminding me of the backlash of the casting of Daniel Craig, obliviously not entirely to the degree of that backlash. I think the producers and Daniel Craig have learned something from the criticisms of QoS and will make sure the director they hire believes this and has the same ideas of what Bond 23 should be.

[Emma]

Hold on! I just jumped back in and noticed that the thread has been changed to Update: Oscar winner in talks to board Bond 23 as "consultant". So maybe there is hope that a more suitable director will be brought in after all.

[danielcraigisjamesbond007]

Hold on! I just jumped back in and noticed that the thread has been changed to Update: Oscar winner in talks to board Bond 23 as "consultant". So maybe there is hope that a more suitable director will be brought in after all.

I believe that that happened because of monetary problems...

[tdalton]

Said one insider about the choice of Mendes: 'Barbara thinks he's smart, which he is. But you don't need such a fancy director. You need someone who can do an action movie.'

Most "action movies" suck, including the actiony parts. No thanks to any more Tamahoris. And Mendes is a far cry from Apted IMO.

Agreed. It's been quite a while since I've seen a good, straight-up action film. That's a genre that has become rather stale, and I'd prefer that the Bond franchise continue down the road that it's currently on rather than going back down the route of being just a pure action movie and little else.

[K1Bond007]

I imagine he's got more critically acclaimed films under his belt than any other director before him.

Lewis Gilbert might have something to say about that.

He might, but he never won an Academy Award.

[Dr.Fell]

I loved every bit of it, especially Marceau. Only sticking point I really had with the film was Richards and Brosnan's ability to figure out the whole relationship between Renard and Elektra based upon hearing Renard say "What's the point in living if you can't feel alive?". Loved Marceau's scenes with Dench...loved seeing Dench slap Marceau. Favorite line: "The glory of my people!"

I always hated that scene when Marceau was trying justify her "Evilness". What people is she talking about ? Her character is never developed being more then some bratty little . All we do is get some last minute rants about oil being so scared and equating to Goldfinger motivation rip off number #2.

And the real corker is when she running to the top of Maiden's Tower with her Eric Cartman-esque "You can't kill me ! Nah Nah !". Oy veh.

[Odd Jobbies]

I suspect that if you liked TWINE you'll love BOND-23.

If I have a fear regarding Sam Mendes directing BOND 23, that's it, right there. I furthermore believe that it's an altogether very rational fear.

The thought of another confused miss-match of drama and action that was TWINE fills me with dread. But as has been said, Mendes is a far cry from Apted. I certainly can't see Apted making a movie like Perdition.

Mendes has a far more visual, and visceral, sensibility - the images and actions in his movies are as important as the dialogue. I think Apted was far more reliant on dialogue telling the story, which in turn made him too reliant on Vic Armstrong to direct the action. I don't see Mendes handing over the reigns in what are sequences crucial to the movie and the story.

Agreed. It's been quite a while since I've seen a good, straight-up action film. That's a genre that has become rather stale, and I'd prefer that the Bond franchise continue down the road that it's currently on rather than going back down the route of being just a pure action movie and little else.

Well said.

[Dr.Fell]

I imagine he's got more critically acclaimed films under his belt than any other director before him.

Lewis Gilbert might have something to say about that.

He might, but he never won an Academy Award.

So what ?

[Simon]

The thought of another confused miss-match of drama and action that was TWINE fills me with dread. But as has been said, Mendes is a far cry from Apted. I certainly can't see Apted making a movie like Perdition.

Mendes has a far more visual, and visceral, sensibility - the images and actions in his movies are as important as the dialogue. I think Apted was far more reliant on dialogue telling the story, which in turn made him too reliant on Vic Armstrong to direct the action. I don't see Mendes handing over the reigns in what are sequences crucial to the movie and the story.

Quite.

For my part, I knew we were on the wrong track with TWINE when all Apted could manage to do to effectively include the Guggenheim in the Bilbao scene was a whip pan from Bond walking towards the bank.

A shoehorn would have been a more effective tool than a camera hinge.

But I don't really blame Apted - he was just a hired chap who was out of his depth with a script that was going to fail him at the first hurdle. A film with 'some' good intentions that didn't have the courage of its convictions together with a slightly misguided set of producer-led criteria for hiring the talent.

Anyway.

So. Sam.

[K1Bond007]

I imagine he's got more critically acclaimed films under his belt than any other director before him.

Lewis Gilbert might have something to say about that.

He might, but he never won an Academy Award.

So what ?

Well it is a pretty prestigious award. Did you read the discussion and have any idea what you're replying to? I'm betting no because given the context, there's nothing you can argue here.

[DaveBond21]

If the story about Mendes being on board as a "consultant" is true, then I take it as a positive, that at least something is happening with Bond 23. It's almost as if they want everything ready for as soon as the MGM situation is resolved.

[Dr.Fell]

I imagine he's got more critically acclaimed films under his belt than any other director before him.

Lewis Gilbert might have something to say about that.

He might, but he never won an Academy Award.

So what ?

Well it is a pretty prestigious award. Did you read the discussion and have any idea what you're replying to? I'm betting no because given the context, there's nothing you can argue here.

Is your point not who should be tipped in favor of praise ? Then I don't agree an Oscar means anything because some of the best actors and directors never have had a single Oscar to their names. Leslie Howard and Sidney Lumet for example.

[Ambler]

I imagine he's got more critically acclaimed films under his belt than any other director before him.

Lewis Gilbert might have something to say about that.

He might, but he never won an Academy Award.

So what ?

Well it is a pretty prestigious award. Did you read the discussion and have any idea what you're replying to? I'm betting no because given the context, there's nothing you can argue here.

Bollocks. The two greatest directors of the twentieth century were Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick and they didn't have an academy award between them. By your sheep-like logic, Sam Mendes, Warren Beatty, Robert Redford, Kevin Costner and Mel Gibson are better directors than Hitch and Kubrick.

[Bondesque]

Mendes will be good. He is a quality Director that will make sure the script has depth. I have said it a million times. Bond is a suspense character not an action figure! Mendes will also attract a higher level of talent then we have had in the past. My first choice for Bond 23 was Ridley Scott, however Mendes is a fine selection. Compare how far we have come from the Lee Tamohori days! It is nice to see that the series is being taken seriously in the Craig era.

[blueman]

As i've said above, it seems more than fair to suggest that Solace disappointed a lot of people (IMO most of them). I'm certainly not calling your claims tosh, but where are the 'repeat viewing figures for QoS? Are they as good as CR?

Don't get me wrong - i'm a fan QoS. Like Forster said, the film is a bullet and i love it for that (i'd put it in my top 5 -- I'd say the the opera scene/shoot out is the second best in the franchise, after Connery & Robert Shaw's confrontation in FRWL). In fact i'd love to see Forster do another, only this time with a finished script.

I see it's flaws as being symptomatic of an unfinished script - believe me, i know how that can create problems you think you've fixed 'til you're in the edit and.... Damn, can we re-shoot?!!!

I love it's balls to reinvent Bond as a dark visceral adrenalin ride with a stunning pace. I think Forster's eye for the interesting as well as the necessary in a scene is a welcome breath of fresh air in Bond.

The film simply loses it's way in a couple of poorly planned action scenes -- the 'superman' freefall in which Bond seems indestructible jars horribly with the gritty realism given the character in the rest of the movie, both emotionally and physically i.e the balcony fight, which was perfectly directed. And to often the plot seemed complicated rather than complex.

If not for writer's strike i dare say all of these issues would've been resolved, much to the chagrin of Haggis.

Not liking a couple bits doesn't equate to an unfinished script, just means you didn't like a couple bits. I have a similar opinion concerning parts of CR, but recognize it as such, just one dude's opinion. Both films look to me like exactly what the director wanted to capture on film, even if I have quibbles. FRWL had an "unfinished script" feel to the end, after the fight on the train they didn't seem to know what to do with Bond, the actiony bits that followed all seem rather random to me - yet also appears to be what Young wanted, and many fans love those set pieces with the helicopter and the boat chase, so again just one dude's opinion. Pretty sure the perfect Bond film will never ever exist, as by definition it as many different things as there are fans. For my Bond money, QOS has the sharpest and most cohesive script since OHMSS, and tackles some of the most complex character aspects since that film as well (CR does a lot of that too, just not as polished in its entirety IMHO).

[jaguar007]

You can't please everyone, some people are going to be negative no matter what. People are complaining about Bond 23 needing a more action experienced director. Yet if we were given an action experienced director they would be complaining about Bond 23 being another action fest with no character or story development.

[sthgilyadgnivileht]

I imagine he's got more critically acclaimed films under his belt than any other director before him.

Lewis Gilbert might have something to say about that.

He might, but he never won an Academy Award.

So what ?

Well it is a pretty prestigious award. Did you read the discussion and have any idea what you're replying to? I'm betting no because given the context, there's nothing you can argue here.

Bollocks. The two greatest directors of the twentieth century were Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick and they didn't have an academy award between them. By your sheep-like logic, Sam Mendes, Warren Beatty, Robert Redford, Kevin Costner and Mel Gibson
are better directors than Hitch and Kubrick.

Agreed. An academy award is not the be all and end all. Not to mention when you look retrospectively it's often regarded that certain people were undeserving, or to put it another way the Academy got it wrong. For what it's worth Lewis Gilbert won plenty of awards during his fine and acclaimed career. Plus Hitch got the Thalberg award, an honour also bestowed to Cubby Broccoli.

[Bondesque]

Note to Mr. Mendes: spend the next few months viewing and reviewing: Notorious, North by Northwest, The Spy Who Came In From the Cold, From Russia With Love, Day of the Jackal, Thunderball and To Catch A Thief. After they have consumed you, read Fleming, insist that the script/cast is of the highest quality, take Craig to lunch and get smashed and then make the BEST SPY THRILLER EVER!!!

[danslittlefinger]

Note to Mr. Mendes: spend the next few months viewing and reviewing: Notorious, North by Northwest, The Spy Who Came In From the Cold, From Russia With Love, Day of the Jackal, Thunderball and To Catch A Thief. After they have consumed you, read Fleming, insist that the script/cast is of the highest quality, take Craig to lunch and get smashed and then make the BEST SPY THRILLER EVER!!!

Um I think Craig might be remaking "To Catch a Thief" in another project he might do.
All speculation though.
As for taking Craig to lunch, he did that in Oct 09 in New York and I think they merrily quipped about Bond then.
(just a thought)

[Odd Jobbies]

Not liking a couple bits doesn't equate to an unfinished script, just means you didn't like a couple bits. I have a similar opinion concerning parts of CR, but recognize it as such, just one dude's opinion.

Well, gee, that was petty patronizing!

My humble experience does me no favors when trying to choose a suit, fewer still when trying to put an Ikea filing cabinet together, but it does come in handy in discerning the flaws in a movie's script from flaws in the direction.

Certainly QoS has flaws in the direction - few films are perfect in that respect - but in this case, as i spelt out, i was referring to flaws in the unfinished script.

Thanks for your concern, but do rest assured that i'm not confusing the script with it's realization, and i'm not, at least in this regard, a complete idiot.

Cheers dude...


EDIT: BTW, saying that the bad bits in films are meant to play that way and it's just me that doesn't like, or get it, is over-simplifying the issue the maximum and makes any criticism impossible. It's also a redundant argument when several reviewers highlight the same problems.

Study film, or better still make a few and you'll soon see where the intentional highs and unintentional lows are in other people's work. 'Bad bits' are a flaw that's occurred at one stage in the process (often the script) and have not been fixed; they're not intentionally malfunctioning in the name of art.

Try reading Robert McKee's 'Story' to start with. Watching a movie may indeed be purely subjective, but making them and criticizing them is all about understanding how other people see things.

Edited by Odd Jobbies, 07 January 2010 - 12:26 AM.

[blueman]

Seems people are going to great lengths to try and find objective reasons to buttress a purely personal opinion - it's okay to like what you like and not like what you don't like, just cuz. Really. Sorry if that comes off patronizing, seems appropo IMO, film study notwithstanding lol.

My opinion is that QOS doesn't have the script or direction flaws that many (including yourself) claim it does. C'est la vie.