63 replies to this topic

[Shadowman]

I don't know why I posted this..I suppose it was to get any feedback I can but what I really wish I could do is send a postcard to the producers or the screenwriters for the next film and request they stick in a scene of Bond at his flat with his housekeeper May. Not only would this continue the thread of opening up and further grounding Bond's character, it would help me forget the beginning scene from LALD with M visiting Roger Moore at Bond's flat. It played out like something from a screwball comedy. That fit right in with Moore's persona and the whole comedy style he set for his films, but it actually depressed me when I first saw it. I knew from that moment that if they continued with Moore the next series of films would all be just big action joke machines. I don't mind some levity..in fact I'd welcome it back in the next film (lightly done mind you - think of the golf match in Goldfinger). They can even bring in Moneypenny and or Q. I really would like to see just a touch of Bond at home though, even it were only for a minute or two of screentime. However, since the producers seem bent on having him bounce around the world in photogenic land and seascapes from one scene to the next, I doubt if my wish will ever come true.

[The Shark]

Yeah, defiantly. It would great to see Bond's daily chain smoking, workout routine, May, breakfast, then have Bond go out find his car won't start, so he takes the tube to work.

[jaguar007]

Bonds flat. Doesn't bother me as long as the Bond girl is not

[Shadowman]

Jaquar007 - funny comment! Loved it!

Doubt if you'll ever seen Craig smoking - his relieving stress with the drinking seems to work fine. I'd have a problem with him smoking then showing him running around like he did in the first two films. The scene at his flat in FRWL could be done just as its written, though cinematically they would have to break it up in a few places with cutaways to another scene of something developing to create more interest and not slow the pace.

[Eric Stromberg]

I really would like to see just a touch of Bond at home though, even it were only for a minute or two of screentime. However, since the producers seem bent on having him bounce around the world in photogenic land and seascapes from one scene to the next, I doubt if my wish will ever come true.

I think it's a great idea. But it had better be very short so as to give only an enticing glimpse and he should be alone, with a few telling artifacts of his lifestyle left about.

I mostly agree with the photogenic comment, but the Haiti scenes in QoS were pretty gritty, weren't they?

[The Shark]

Jaquar007 - funny comment! Loved it!

Doubt if you'll ever seen Craig smoking - his relieving stress with the drinking seems to work fine. I'd have a problem with him smoking then showing him running around like he did in the first two films.

I'd want him to smoke, but of course give up the ridiculous running and roof jumping from the last two films.

I really would like to see just a touch of Bond at home though, even it were only for a minute or two of screentime. However, since the producers seem bent on having him bounce around the world in photogenic land and seascapes from one scene to the next, I doubt if my wish will ever come true.

I think it's a great idea. But it had better be very short so as to give only an enticing glimpse and he should be alone, with a few telling artifacts of his lifestyle left about.

I mostly agree with the photogenic comment, but the Haiti scenes in QoS were pretty gritty, weren't they?

Gritty and dull, but pretty photogenic. Especially compared to what Haiti is like in real-life.

[danslittlefinger]

Waking up with bed hair, stepping onto a old pizza box then tripping over a table leg to get into the bathroom for his morning whizz.

All that and Judi Dench in the bed watching him.

Sorry my mind wanders.

[Mr. Somerset]

Jaquar007 - funny comment! Loved it!

Doubt if you'll ever seen Craig smoking - his relieving stress with the drinking seems to work fine. I'd have a problem with him smoking then showing him running around like he did in the first two films. The scene at his flat in FRWL could be done just as its written, though cinematically they would have to break it up in a few places with cutaways to another scene of something developing to create more interest and not slow the pace.

I was just thinking that as I've read thru this thread.

Still, would love to see Bond's flat again. I always preferred Connery's Dr No flat to Moore's. I wonder what Craig's would look like?

[The Shark]

Jaquar007 - funny comment! Loved it!

Doubt if you'll ever seen Craig smoking - his relieving stress with the drinking seems to work fine. I'd have a problem with him smoking then showing him running around like he did in the first two films. The scene at his flat in FRWL could be done just as its written, though cinematically they would have to break it up in a few places with cutaways to another scene of something developing to create more interest and not slow the pace.

I was just thinking that as I've read thru this thread.

Still, would love to see Bond's flat again. I always preferred Connery's Dr No flat to Moore's. I wonder what Craig's would look like?

There would weights and statues of naked men.

[Mr. Somerset]

Jaquar007 - funny comment! Loved it!

Doubt if you'll ever seen Craig smoking - his relieving stress with the drinking seems to work fine. I'd have a problem with him smoking then showing him running around like he did in the first two films. The scene at his flat in FRWL could be done just as its written, though cinematically they would have to break it up in a few places with cutaways to another scene of something developing to create more interest and not slow the pace.

I was just thinking that as I've read thru this thread.

Still, would love to see Bond's flat again. I always preferred Connery's Dr No flat to Moore's. I wonder what Craig's would look like?

There would weights and statues of naked men.

LOL classic!!!!!

[danslittlefinger]

Jaquar007 - funny comment! Loved it!

Doubt if you'll ever seen Craig smoking - his relieving stress with the drinking seems to work fine. I'd have a problem with him smoking then showing him running around like he did in the first two films. The scene at his flat in FRWL could be done just as its written, though cinematically they would have to break it up in a few places with cutaways to another scene of something developing to create more interest and not slow the pace.

I was just thinking that as I've read thru this thread.

Still, would love to see Bond's flat again. I always preferred Connery's Dr No flat to Moore's. I wonder what Craig's would look like?

There would weights and statues of naked men.

LOL classic!!!!!

Inferring what pray tell? A "Roman" side to Bond?

[zencat]

A scene in Bond's flat is looooooong overdue.

[danslittlefinger]

I think he should be having a sexy party.



(anyone recognize the music? )

[jaguar007]

(anyone recognize the music? )

I thought I saw Mata Bond dancing around with Stewie.

[DaveBond21]

Doubt if you'll ever seen Craig smoking -

That reminds of the British press conference for the announcement of Craig as the new James Bond in October 2005. A journalist asked if Bond will smoke and Martin Campbell said something along the lines of "No, James Bond is a role model and there will be children watching so, no, he won't be smoking..."

to which another journalist asked...

"He's still going to shoot people though, is he?"

[Aris007]

Doubt if you'll ever seen Craig smoking -

That reminds of the British press conference for the announcement of Craig as the new James Bond in October 2005. A journalist asked if Bond will smoke and Martin Campbell said something along the lines of "No, James Bond is a role model and there will be children watching so, no, he won't be smoking..."

to which another journalist asked...

"He's still going to shoot people though, is he?"

Nice punchline! I don't think that the producers stopped smoking in the flms because Bond's a role model! I've seen in a documentary that they chose to go like that because smoking isn't comsidered "cool" anymore.

[Attempting Re-entry]

I would still like to see Bond have a fine cigar every now and then, though.

[Col. Sun]

I also really long for a scene in Bond's Chelsea flat. I think it'd work very well to see Craig's Bond off duty.

It's an element in several of the books (Moonraker, FRWL, Thunderball I think) which has been largely ignored or under developed in the films.

[General G.]

I also really long for a scene in Bond's Chelsea flat. I think it'd work very well to see Craig's Bond off duty.

I wholeheartedly agree.

And I'd also like to see him driving the Aston Martin DB5 he won -- in the Bahamas poker game in CR -- to MI6 HQ to start his workday at the office. (Cue Arnold's "Inside Man" track.) Then comes the summons from M...

Edited by General G., 26 February 2010 - 03:26 PM.

[sharpshooter]

I also really long for a scene in Bond's Chelsea flat. I think it'd work very well to see Craig's Bond off duty.

Agreed. I think the last few films have made a greater effort to connect the audience to Bond. Seeing his flat and a segment of his everyday life would extend that progression.

[Major Tallon]

I'm among those who'd like to see this, but it would be a bit of a balancing act. The flat would have to be visually interesting but not too glitzy. They could, rather obviously, have a bedroom scene, but it might be different to have Bond in a sitting room, or perhaps a library. There are several possibilties here.

[Shadowman]

Having introduced the idea of showing Bond's flat in the future, I looked at LALD again for reference. Initially, I think the overall look is not bad. It is a lot of wood paneling and and a fireplace and leather chairs. However there is obviously a signficant "70's" era influence...everything is carpeted, olive green fabrics, light oak paneling, split level rooms (going up stairs to enter his bedroom), his bedboard and bed side lamps (god I hated the 70's). It also seems that much of the set was probably just parts of reused sets from "government office" scenes (the paneling, paintings, club chairs..in fact the chairs are probably the same ones used in M's office). Going on how Fleming describes his flat and having actually been in a flat in Chelsea, I can say with confidence that if they were going to show a scene in a future film, they should stay with a classic Regency period interior with all Queen Anne mahogany furnishings. Looking at photos of Fleming in his office and in other interiors it seems obvious he was probably describing parts of the home he had in Victoria Square. There would be Cole striped wallpaper and dark wood paneling (not light). Dark burgendy leather furniture, oak floors with oriental area rugs (except in his bedroom, which would probably be all carpet). Tons of moulding everywhere..oil paintings and map prints...a small bust of Lord Nelson...a large floor globe. There would also be some armor displayed, such as a sword or two and perhaps old dueling pistols. Overall, it would have a dark and elegant yet spartan feel to it like a gentlemens club.
I don't think they should have it decorated in the current modern look they have given the new films (such as M's apartment). Bond's character is very traditional and classic in his taste and I feel the look of the flat the way Fleming described it fits him. It's fine to have high tech gadgets in it such as a laptop like M's and in the kitchen, but thats it. Speaking of kitchens...the one in LALD was horrendous. Not only was it too large (it's supposed to be like a small ship's galley - which is what the one I saw in Chelsea looked like)it had those black dots over the walls. I suppose they were a tongue in cheek reference to the gunbarrel logo, but it was awful. I've included a photo of what the outside of his flat might look like. In fact, I have several photos to show but given the small file size allowed per entry I'll have to just put in some further short replies in order to attach the other photos I have.
 FLAT1.jpg   19.2KB   36 downloads

[Shadowman]

The photos I am going to provide in the following replies will show how small these kitchen flats are, and the one with the dark paneling is probably closer to what it would look like if they showed May coming from it. I've included photos I've grabbed off the internet to give an example of how a Chelsea flat looks. Keep in mind these are modern photos and ignore the paint schemes and decor. Notice more the bay windows, molding, books, fireplaces and the small size of the interiors. The bathroom is probably similar to what Bond's would be like..all tile and glass and spartan. I think the outside shots of the flats are similar to what one finds in Chelsea and Kensington. The one picture of the large interior study/reading room I included to get an idea of how Bond's taste in decor would lean towards. Hope this swirls some ideas into member's heads and it would be great if a member out there who happened to be an interior designer or graphic artist and could create some images of Bond's flat and post them.

Attached Files

•  KITCHEN.jpg   17.41KB   39 downloads
•  SITROOM2.jpg   33.8KB   36 downloads

[Shadowman]

I did not get the bath in the previous post..here it is.

Here is another view of a Chelsea flat.

Attached Files

•  BATH.jpg   22.19KB   31 downloads
•  FLAT2.jpg   52.34KB   33 downloads

[Shadowman]

Attached is yet another sitting room as well as the study/reading room I mentioned in regards to Bond's/Fleming's taste in decor.

Attached Files

•  SITROOM1.jpg   19.85KB   27 downloads
•  STUDY.jpg   46.95KB   26 downloads

[Stuart]

I would enjoy a scene or two set in Bond's flat, provided it was tasteful and done with care.

[Vauxhall]

I would add that obviously not all flats near the King's Road in Chelsea or Fulham look the same. I can say with certainty that no-one here would be impressed if Bond lived in a flat like mine for instance.

[O.H.M.S.S.]

The scene in LALD with M visiting Bond at his place is actually one of my favourite scenes scenes in the franchise, great interplay between Roger Moore and Bernard Lee.

[Shadowman]

I agree about the interplay with Moore and Lee in that scene. It works well within the framework of the film (keeping some light comedy in some scenes) and Lee maintains the continuity of his character which helps with the "changing of the Bonds". However, as much as I wanted to see M and Q and Moneypenney in every film, I have to admit it sometimes took me out of the story when they appeared outside headquarters. In Fleming's novels, Bond always had his assignments given formally at the office. This was in order to maintain security and secrecy as it is done in reality. Being "armored" by Q Branch was done only there for the same reason. Whenever they had M meeting Bond in person to discuss his assignment in the middle of his overseas mission (and the films with Judi Dench are very guilty of this), it always throws me off. Could you imagine Leon Panetta meeting with a CIA assassin in the middle of a mission overseas? Could you imagine his personal secretary doing it - just to hand the assassin an undercover passport (a la DAF)?
Can you imagine the head of the CIA's research & development flying halfway around the world to give their assassin their latest gadgets? This is where the films went off into Austin Powers land. In the books, M and Bond kept updates on the missions through secure telegrams and phone calls. If Q Branch needed Bond supplied, they would send it to him in a diplomatic pouch (his diving equipment in LALD). I realize they do these scenes in the films in order to give more screen time to actors like Lee and Dench, and to keep explaining the plot so the audience keeps up with the it, as well as to keep up the idea that Bond is a high profile member of the Service in that he answers directly to the head of the it.. but it really does stick in my craw. I could go on with this subject but I'll leave it at that. If that scene in Bond's flat had been written by Fleming, he would have gotten a phone call from M over his secure line (in which case you could still have had cutaways to Lee in his office talking on the phone to Bond)or perhaps sent the Chief of Staff to tell him.

[B. Brown]

It'd be neat if M broke into Bond's flat this time around.