Oh, I love that TB exchange, too. My POV is more about FRWL being held up as the untouchable masterpiece it only sorta kind of is. It's not 100% note perfect to me. Love it, could go on all day about its merits, but there are just some moments that fall flat. Just like any other Bond, really. After a particular recent viewing of CR, I found it shocking just how light-hearted FRWL was by contrast. Found it a little disappointing. Again, just me.Sure, sure. Horses for courses and all that. The train confrontation was an improvement as well, for sure. I do love FRWL, don't get me wrong. Watching it these days, though, just reminds me of how much more original NORTH BY NORTHWEST was. The action scenes after Grant's death were fine (though the boat chase is a bit "meh"), but they seemed to be all on top of each other. Again, nearly to a fault.Ditto with Shark and Safari. It's absolutely light-hearted, nearly to a fault IMHO. Way moreso than Craig's outings. It's why I personally rank CR #1 above FRWL. Quite a bit more tongue-in-cheek than the novel.I don't recall FRWL being fun and light-hearted.
Really?
The score is, there's a general light mood (contrasting with the impending doom of Grant) and Connery's even smiling in action sequences.
I'd say to it's benefit to be honest.
The one aspect where the films improved upon the novels is in the humour department.
I suppose I like my humor a little more dry in general, with notable exceptions.
Drier than FRWL?
I prefer my humour to be something like TB's - "I know a lot about women", "Not from where I'm standing", Bond only handing Fiona her shoes, "Could it be the front doorbell?"
That sort of thing.
The "humour" in QOS seems to be both poorly written, and poorly delivered.
I know, I say the same things with CR.
While it's still a very good Bond film it has its flaws:
Weak script, lack of chemistry between Bond and Vesper along with contrived romance, terrible Brosnan-era throwback score, average title song, dull masturbatory action sequences designed to keep teenage viewers awake (minus parkour sequence, which is actually pretty good), weak finale (sinking house), more psychobabble (can I trust you) BS from M, ineffective villain etc...
FRWL while not perfect, seems far closer to the world of Fleming, than CR.