28 replies to this topic

[iBond]

The World Is Not Enough would have to be the first Bond movie that really caught my attention. I first started to get into the whole James Bond phase after seeing this movie back in 1999 on a movie channel. I though the story was interesting, the effects were great and almost wished I had gotten into the whole James Bond thing back in 1995. The first time I ever heard of James Bond, or saw a James Bond commercial was back in 1995. Not knowing who this swave dude was, in a casino saying, "The name's Bond, James Bond." I was thinking to myself, "Whoa, this dude is cool!" The first Bond film I saw in theaters was Die Another Day, and it of course starred the dude I saw back in 1995: Pierce Brosnan. I could tell that he aged a little, but he certainly still had the part of 007 written all over him.

Although technically I guess you could say that I was a Timothy Dalton kid, having been born before both films came out, I think Brosnan stuck with me the most of course. Just like I'm sure many people like Connery, especially those having grown up with his movies, I would have to say Brosnan is my favorite. I wish he could have done at least one more movie after DAD, but for what it was worth, he certainly left his mark as 007. Thoughts? Comments? Opinions?

Edited by iBond, 16 March 2011 - 09:09 PM.

[jaguar007]

Thoughts? Comments? Opinions?

Well, I was a fan of Remington Steele back in the 80s. As far as my thoughts, comments and opinions on him as Bond, you may not like what I have to say.

[Capsule in Space]

Nice post iBond. Brosnan was a great Bond, and I wish he could have done 1-2 more films. What's your favorite Bond film starring Brosnan?

[iBond]

I would have to say The World Is Not Enough. It's not popular a choice I know, but it is the most realistic of his four films I think and the most elegant and well thought-out story. Yes, it does have its flaws, but what 007 movie doesn't? And yours?

Edited by iBond, 16 March 2011 - 11:34 PM.

[jaguar007]

Ibond, what is your favorite Bond film is close to the bottom of the pile for me (and easily my least favorite Brosnan film). I can see where you are coming from, on paper it looked like it should have been Brosnan's best, my problem is with the execution. The action scenes are awfully dull and too many thrown in for no reason to the plot (not the only Bond movie to do this), the casting of Denise Richards (with a name that was written just so they could use a bad joke at the end), and the whimpifying of James Bond (touching the tear on the the computer screen) really drag down what could have been a good Bond movie. The film really had no need for the Christmas Jones character at all. Take her out of the film and it really does not change the story at all except for Bond to have a girl at the end. It would have been a more powerful film had Electra been the only woman in the film.

While I think GE is overall the best Brosnan film, I think he drags that film down (he seems more like a rookie Bond than Craig did in CR, he does not come across as commanding or confident in that film). My favorite Brosnan film is TND as I think that had Brosnan at his best, much more comfortable in the role than he was in GE.

[Capsule in Space]

I would have to say The World Is Not Enough. It's not popular a choice I know, but it is the most realistic of his four films I think and the most elegant and well thought-out story. Yes, it does have its flaws, but what 007 movie doesn't? And yours?

Mine is The World is Not Enough too. For the same reasons you stated.

Ibond, what is your favorite Bond film is close to the bottom of the pile for me (and easily my least favorite Brosnan film). I can see where you are coming from, on paper it looked like it should have been Brosnan's best, my problem is with the execution. The action scenes are awfully dull and too many thrown in for no reason to the plot (not the only Bond movie to do this), the casting of Denise Richards (with a name that was written just so they could use a bad joke at the end), and the whimpifying of James Bond (touching the tear on the the computer screen) really drag down what could have been a good Bond movie. The film really had no need for the Christmas Jones character at all. Take her out of the film and it really does not change the story at all except for Bond to have a girl at the end. It would have been a more powerful film had Electra been the only woman in the film.

While I think GE is overall the best Brosnan film, I think he drags that film down (he seems more like a rookie Bond than Craig did in CR, he does not come across as commanding or confident in that film). My favorite Brosnan film is TND as I think that had Brosnan at his best, much more comfortable in the role than he was in GE.

I agree with your thoughts on Denise Richards. She was wrong for the role. I also agree with you that Brosnan was at his best in Tomorrow Never Dies, though he was very good in TWINE as well.

Let me reiterate that Brosnan was a great Bond. The problem is that each of his films have flaws, but I don't blame them on him.

[Matt_13]

I used to love TWINE, but as I've gotten older I've started to notice all of it's flaws as a film. I watched it a couple weeks ago and was stunned at how poorly executed the action sequences were. There is virtually no energy to be seen in the action, and while Brosnan is (IMO) at his most "Bond," I think the performances on the whole come across as bizarrely muted. It feels like a made for TV movie. It certainly has it's moments (most of which in the first 15 mins), but by and large it's a pretty weak (or harmless I think is a more appropriate term) entry in the canon. TND is by far the best of Brosnan's entries, even if it suffers from the same ho hum cinematography as TWINE. I think we can all agree that Brosnan cannot be blamed for the mediocrity of any of his entries. Given the material he was handed, he did exceptionally well. It's just too bad we didn't get to see him work with the sort of talent Craig has the good fortune of collaborating with.

[jaguar007]

I think we can all agree that Brosnan cannot be blamed for the mediocrity of any of his entries. Given the material he was handed, he did exceptionally well. It's just too bad we didn't get to see him work with the sort of talent Craig has the good fortune of collaborating with.

Except I fear the dreaded "pain face" we would have got during the torture scene in CR.
Brosnan was at his best doing lighter work and I enjoyed him as Bond during those type scenes, never the dramatic ones.

[Matt_13]

Heh yeah, the pain face....good point.

[iBond]

Heh yeah, the pain face....good point.

Oh, yeah I do have to admit he does look odd when he is struggling. I mean, there are several occasions in all of his films where he has that look:

being squeezed by Onatopp
-strangled on the jet in TND
-strangled by Elektra on the torture chair, etc.

There is something a little odd about that face he makes. But...at least he is giving it his all. But yeah, I think for the fans of Brosnan, like myself, you just have to overlook that.

[bondfisher007]

I would have to say The World Is Not Enough. It's not popular a choice I know, but it is the most realistic of his four films I think and the most elegant and well thought-out story. Yes, it does have its flaws, but what 007 movie doesn't? And yours?

TWINE reminded of a soap opera like a young of the retless. Very poorly done and Goldeneye got me hooked into james bond

[Jump James]

I always felt sorry that he didn't have any films with a good Fleming backdrop to the story. I mean, were they any bits used from the books, even a sniff of Fleming? None spring to mind......

[dinovelvet]

I always felt sorry that he didn't have any films with a good Fleming backdrop to the story. I mean, were they any bits used from the books, even a sniff of Fleming? None spring to mind......

Die another day actually uses Fleming's Moonraker as the basis for Gustav Graves and his identity switch.

[Dustin]

I always felt sorry that he didn't have any films with a good Fleming backdrop to the story. I mean, were they any bits used from the books, even a sniff of Fleming? None spring to mind......

Die another day actually uses Fleming's Moonraker as the basis for Gustav Graves and his identity switch.

Brosnan had the bad luck to be Bond at a time when the films became ever more generic. You didn't really need much of a plot for a Bond after GE and so the films often seemed to me to just do the most obvious turns. That in effect damaged even the more interesting ideas such as the female villain, the M kidnap, the media villain (whose potential wasn't even used; a look into today's media importance and the manipulation of public opinion shows what dramatic opportunities were lost there). Moonraker's plot was wasted on DAD, with Bond's capture and ensuing torture thrown on top of it. All for a most forgettable film experience that did it's material not in the least the deserved credit.

Overall I'm sure it wasn't Brosnan's fault. And we mustn't forget that that the financial success of his tenure made the current reinvigoration possible in the first place.

[Jump James]

Die Another Day and Moonraker, I forgot about that. Although Moonraker's plot was an opportunity missed and I agree DAD didn't do it justice.

[iBond]

Even though there are many connections with "Moonraker" and Die Another Day, I would just have to say that Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (whatever they did other than Bond I don't know) were the ones responsible for the film. I mean, they seemed to cram everything in so much in this story. But, I do have to say that the beginning of Die Another Day was great! The doom and gloom! But yeah, overall, I just think they needed to have another writer on board other than those two dudes. Why didn't Bruce Feirstein come back?

Edited by iBond, 08 April 2011 - 09:59 PM.

[Agent Sidewinder]

Even though there are many connections with "Moonraker" and Die Another Day, I would just have to say that Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (whatever they did other than Bond I don't know) were the ones responsible for the film. I mean, they seemed to cram everything in so much in this story. But, I do have to say that the beginning of Die Another Day was great! The doom and gloom! But yeah, overall, I just think they needed to have another writer on board other than those two dudes. Why didn't Bruce Feirstein come back?

GoldenEye also has a few echos of Moonraker, with a scarred villain plotting to avenge himself on Britain by destroying London. In fact, it's interesting to see how the story of the MR novel has been dispersed over several films.

[iBond]

I guess the average viewer wouldn't realize it. Unless of course if you read the novel, which I have yet to do.

[Agent Sidewinder]

I guess the average viewer wouldn't realize it. Unless of course if you read the novel, which I have yet to do.

I'd definitely recommend reading it....it's one of Fleming's best IMO.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Unless of course if you read the novel, which I have yet to do.

Then, you are not a true Bond fan. Begone!

[Double-0-Seven]

Brosnan was my first Bond as well. I played GoldenEye 007 when it came out for Nintendo 64 thanks to my cousin and the rest is history. I'll always have a soft spot for his films because of the impact they had on me when I was a child. I was seven years old when The World Is Not Enough hit theaters and I managed to see it twice. At that stage in my life, it was absolutely mind-blowing to see Bond on the big screen. Likewise, when I saw Die Another Day at ten years old I absolutely loved it. Pure excitement from start to finish, especially for a ten year old kid. Now, of course, my opinion on his films has changed.

The one that has the most nostalgia for me is GoldenEye. It was the first I ever saw and I still play the game to this day. The film is definitely strong overall, but it's brought down by slow pacing during the middle part of the film and a weak score. Actually, the music is pretty well written and enjoyable on its own but within the context of the film it does nothing to help the pace. Too slow.

I'm tempted to say Tomorrow Never Dies is his most entertaining film. Great pacing from start to finish and a more relaxed/comfortable performance from Pierce.

As I mentioned, The World Is Not Enough was the first one I saw in theaters. An equally good performance from Brosnan and the boat chase are enough to make this film worth a mention. I don't think it's as bad as everybody makes it out to be. In fact, it's probably my favorite of the Brosnan films and I rank it fairly high on my overall list. Perfect mix of action and dialogue scenes, a good score from Arnold (before he got stale with Die Another Day), and solid performances from most of the cast. I do believe Denise Richards was a bad casting choice, but she's not absolutely terrible.

Die Another Day is another story. I loved it then but now I hardly watch it, though it's still a good two hours of entertainment. I do believe there is a difference between what is a technically good Bond film than what is a purely entertaining Bond film. Die Another Day is good for entertainment, but the horrible CGI and the horrible performance from Halle Berry really take away from what could have been a great film. The stuff in North Korea at the beginning is great. Actually, aside from Berry, the whole first half until Iceland is awesome. Iceland is where it falls apart, but much of that has been greatly discussed elsewhere.

Overall, I am still rather fond of Pierce and think he made some great films for us to enjoy!

[OmarB]

I gotta say that although Brosnan's run didn't blow me away it had a great effect on a friend of mine. My bud Tony is a crazy completist, if he misses the first one he is not going to watch or read. For years I was trying to get him into Bond but he had not seen a film and he alwyas said "it's like a million movies in man." So one day we by chance caught DAD on tv a a friend's house while waiting to have dinner. He loved it, it blew him away. From there on he borrowed all the books (and I mean all). So you can credit Brosnan with yet another fan.

[iBond]

I guess the average viewer wouldn't realize it. Unless of course if you read the novel, which I have yet to do.

I'd definitely recommend reading it....it's one of Fleming's best IMO.

Now I have to check it out! I've only read DAF.

[00 Brosnan]

Whenever I think of "James Bond" or anything Bond related Brosnan is usually the first image that pops in my head.

When I was really young I had seen random parts of random Bond movies on TV, but never really "put anything together." Then, GoldenEye 007 came out for the N64 and anyone who remembers those days knows it's one of the most highly rated games ever for a reason. I became intrigued about what this James Bond character was all about. I watched GoldenEye and instantly became a fan, seeking out all the other films.

That said, Brosnan is James Bond to me. Now, I'm not ignorant enough to think Brosnan is the ultimate Bond and he did everything better than everyone else. But, I very much enjoyed the many action scenes in his films, unlike some people. Brosnan's Bond had the humor of Moore's Bond and the more brutal instinct and toughness of Connery's Bond.

The only film I was really disappointed w/ of Brosnan's was DAD. It started off so well and then just got ridiculous.

[iBond]

Whenever I think of "James Bond" or anything Bond related Brosnan is usually the first image that pops in my head.

When I was really young I had seen random parts of random Bond movies on TV, but never really "put anything together." Then, GoldenEye 007 came out for the N64 and anyone who remembers those days knows it's one of the most highly rated games ever for a reason. I became intrigued about what this James Bond character was all about. I watched GoldenEye and instantly became a fan, seeking out all the other films.

That said, Brosnan is James Bond to me. Now, I'm not ignorant enough to think Brosnan is the ultimate Bond and he did everything better than everyone else. But, I very much enjoyed the many action scenes in his films, unlike some people. Brosnan's Bond had the humor of Moore's Bond and the more brutal instinct and toughness of Connery's Bond.

The only film I was really disappointed w/ of Brosnan's was DAD. It started off so well and then just got ridiculous.

I agree with you! I felt Brosnan's Bond was a great combination of Moore and Connery with his own twist in the middle. He did a great job as 007 and yes, I remember when GoldenEye 007 came out back in 1997 for the N64. My friends and I would play it like crazy! It was awesome and had such a good time playing it. It certainly was something that has never been done before and it was fun playing all the different characters. I also liked how Sanchez was one of the choices to play, who I think is an underrated villain in the Bond world.

As for Die Another Day, I would have to agree with you. It started off brilliantly! The whole bleak look of Korea and Bond getting captured. But then when the whole Icarus thing came around and the DNA transplant...it just got to me. And don't get me started with Bond surfing the waves. I mean, I tried my best to take it seriously but just couldn't.

[jaguar007]

I think when you ask the average Joe about James Bond, the first actor to pop into their head will either be Sean Connery or the actor currently in the role.

[00 Brosnan]

As for Die Another Day, I would have to agree with you. It started off brilliantly! The whole bleak look of Korea and Bond getting captured. But then when the whole Icarus thing came around and the DNA transplant...it just got to me. And don't get me started with Bond surfing the waves. I mean, I tried my best to take it seriously but just couldn't.

Yeah, pretty much. The CGI wasn't well implemented and some of it just looked really bad. I also wasn't thrilled with Jinx. I have no problem with Halle Berry, I just thought the character didn't fit.

I think when you ask the average Joe about James Bond, the first actor to pop into their head will either be Sean Connery or the actor currently in the role.

I think that's generally true, but I think it also could depend on their age. If I grew up in the 70s, I think Moore would be most prominent in my mind when thinking about James Bond.

[jaguar007]

I think when you ask the average Joe about James Bond, the first actor to pop into their head will either be Sean Connery or the actor currently in the role.

I think that's generally true, but I think it also could depend on their age. If I grew up in the 70s, I think Moore would be most prominent in my mind when thinking about James Bond.

I grew up in the 70s during the Moore era but usually still tend to think of Connery, but yes, you are correct as well. I think most deviation from the Connery/current will be the BOnd from your era.

[Goodnight]

The action scenes are awfully dull and too many thrown in for no reason to the plot (not the only Bond movie to do this),

I understand what you are saying here Jaguar, but I've always thought the skiing chase in TWINE is very exciting.

I think when you ask the average Joe about James Bond, the first actor to pop into their head will either be Sean Connery or the actor currently in the role.

I think it can depend on who they grew up with (so to speak), Goldeneye was the first one I saw, so Pierce tends to come to mind, well for me anyway.