148 replies to this topic

[TCK]

Don't listen to Mr. Blofeld. He's a bitter young man with nothing better to do than irritate people on a James Bond discussion forum.

I don't really know if he is, but all the times I discussed with him he was very pleasant, interesting, just like I was interested about what he said, and I also learned things I never noticed before, about Quantum of Solace for instance, thanks to him.

Perhaps I'll be the one man out saying this, but I wanted to say this and I do.

[iBond]

I wonder what Campbell thought of Licence to Kill.

[Donovan Mayne-Nicholls]

I don't HATE QoS but it was a big disappointment having to wait two years for such a hollow film (same happened to me with TND). There's two reasons why people who hail it as the pinnacle of Bond do so:
1, QoS is all style over substance and people tend to take that as "art"
2, it's still, after 3 years, the newest Bond film and people also tend to hype newness for newness' sake. By my account, the WORST Bond ever would be Live and Let Die: no plot, desperate to distance itself from all previous Bonds, cheap-looking, padded with one setpiece after another to fill the requisite two hours' length (that one could have done with some trimming!) and guess what, it was a massive hit back in '73.
Schaefer's cinematography is by the only outstanding contribution from the new crew but everything else (production design, editting, costume design, titles) is so bloody "Hollywood". I still don't get it. Why would anyone would like a Bond to be exactly like a Bourne, least of all a Bond "fan"? Even those who hail that film should admit how much its editting sucks, because only twelve-year olds find shaky cam cool. Pearson not only edited one of the Bournes but Get Smart as well! It's sad when you start hiring people who work on ripoffs of your franchise to work in your franchise. Again, so "Hollywood", no risks, just go by the numbers. Fortser was Sony's idea of "artist" (admittedly I still prefer him to the likes of Mostow and Ridley's talentless clone brother). I wish EON had been more agressive in pursuing Roger Michell (whose Enduring Love rocked!) rather than letting Amy Pascal tell them who to use.

[Righty007]

I wish EON had been more agressive in pursuing Roger Michell (whose Enduring Love rocked!) rather than letting Amy Pascal tell them who to use.

I would have preferred Michell too (Enduring Love is a masterpiece) but I always got the impression that Forster was handpicked by Broccoli and Wilson, not Pascal. A studio head like Pascal would have pushed for someone a little more mainstream and blockbuster-y than Marc Forster.

[Mr. Blofeld]

I don't really know if he is, but all the times I discussed with him he was very pleasant, interesting, just like I was interested about what he said, and I also learned things I never noticed before, about Quantum of Solace for instance, thanks to him.

Perhaps I'll be the one man out saying this, but I wanted to say this and I do.

Thank you, TCK; your kindness is quite overwhelming (and I mean that in all sincerity).

You sure about Mitchell, Righty0? If I'm not wrong, his career has been even spottier than Martin Campbell's outside of Bond; in fact, his last movie was this... and he also directed this... and this.

Marc Forster, by comparison, has only really directed two spotty films out of seven; that's not as poor a CV, in my book.

[Righty007]

I don't really know if he is, but all the times I discussed with him he was very pleasant, interesting, just like I was interested about what he said, and I also learned things I never noticed before, about Quantum of Solace for instance, thanks to him.

Perhaps I'll be the one man out saying this, but I wanted to say this and I do.

Thank you, TCK; your kindness is quite overwhelming (and I mean that in all sincerity).

You sure about Mitchell, Righty0? If I'm not wrong, his career has been even spottier than Martin Campbell's outside of Bond; in fact, his last movie was this... and he also directed this... and this.

Marc Forster, by comparison, has only really directed two spotty films out of seven; that's not as poor a CV, in my book.

Who is Mitchell? And don't call me Righty0.

[TCK]

I wonder what Campbell thought of Licence to Kill.

Why this movie in particular ?

[Mr. Arlington Beech]

I wonder what Campbell thought of Licence to Kill.

Why this movie in particular ?

Perhaps, because LTK, just like QOS, followed the fashion of its time in the action genre, instead of trying to be "just" a good Bond movie (except that the action trend of the late eighties wasn't a pretentious artsy one, like the current).

[Mr. Blofeld]

Who is Mitchell? And don't call me Righty0.

You mentioned him above: Roger Mitchell.

And I believe I can call you whatever0 I like, Mr. Really0-Truly0-Righty0...

[The Shark]

I don't really know if he is, but all the times I discussed with him he was very pleasant, interesting, just like I was interested about what he said, and I also learned things I never noticed before, about Quantum of Solace for instance, thanks to him.

Perhaps I'll be the one man out saying this, but I wanted to say this and I do.

Thank you, TCK; your kindness is quite overwhelming (and I mean that in all sincerity).

You sure about Mitchell, Righty0? If I'm not wrong, his career has been even spottier than Martin Campbell's outside of Bond; in fact, his last movie was this... and he also directed this... and this.

Aside from WAIT UNTIL DARK, what decent films did Terence Young, Peter Hunt and John Glen direct outside of Bond?

[Mr. Blofeld]

Aside from WAIT UNTIL DARK, what decent films did Terence Young, Peter Hunt and John Glen direct outside of Bond?

It was different, back then, wasn't it? All sort of stock British directors, who knew what made a good thriller, and were great within the series, but outside of it... spotty.

Different directors, in a different time; it's different, now.

[Righty007]

Who is Mitchell? And don't call me Righty0.

You mentioned him above: Roger Mitchell.

And I believe I can call you whatever0 I like, Mr. Really0-Truly0-Righty0...

Roger Michell. There's no "T" in his name.

[blueman]

Campbell's made a career copying better directors. Woo. At least Young and Hunt and Forster brought something new to Bond.

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

I wonder what Campbell thought of Licence to Kill.

Why this movie in particular ?

Perhaps, because LTK, just like QOS, followed the fashion of its time in the action genre, instead of trying to be "just" a good Bond movie (except that the action trend of the late eighties wasn't a pretentious artsy one, like the current).

I feel Licence to Kill a lot classier and Bonder than Quantum of Solace. Besides it's "Miami Vice" setting, we had some beautiful Bondian touches missing in Quantum of Solace : Bond throwing the guy out of the plane with the "Emergency release door" system, Bond throwing out the handful of dollars away, the "you earn't it, you keep it, ol' buddy" scene, etc.
Besides, the action had a sense. Bond was trying to kill the guy who throw his best friend to the sharks. He wanted revenge and he befriended the guy to destroy his organization from the inside. In Quantum of Solace, Bond just follows one clue to another, to beat a un-frightening guy like Greene and his forgettable thug Elvis, and suddenly realized he has to take down the man who corrupted his lover Vesper.

I really didn't wanted to mess with Sánchez, Dario, etc. After watching Licence to Kill. As for Greene and Elvis, I'd knock him put blinking an eye.
"Touch me and I'll break your wrist" - and the bloke just looks amazed.
Just think if Camille did that to Sánchez or Dario.

[The Shark]

Aside from WAIT UNTIL DARK, what decent films did Terence Young, Peter Hunt and John Glen direct outside of Bond?

It was different, back then, wasn't it? All sort of stock British directors, who knew what made a good thriller, and were great within the series, but outside of it... spotty.

Like Martin Campbell?

[TCK]

Perhaps, because LTK, just like QOS, followed the fashion of its time in the action genre, instead of trying to be "just" a good Bond movie (except that the action trend of the late eighties wasn't a pretentious artsy one, like the current).

Licence to kill and Quantum of Solace are both Bondian to me.

But I don't understand the argument... Is necessarily a bad movie a movie which has the same style than an other ? I mean... Doesn't From Russia with love look like Hitchcock's style ? Isn't North by northwest a reference to a couple of Bond movies ? Is this a bad thing to you ? Or perhaps do you organize your suggested references into a hierarchy ? In which case I agree with you, the Bourne films are not North by northwest, and Michael Mann is not Alfred Hitchcock.

[Mr. Arlington Beech]

Campbell's made a career copying better directors. Woo. At least Young and Hunt and Forster brought something new to Bond.

... Right!! As if Forster wouldn't have copied anything from Bourne movies, especially in the action scenes.

Some reality check about QOS- and preferably outside this site- wouldn't harm you.

[Mr. Arlington Beech]

Perhaps, because LTK, just like QOS, followed the fashion of its time in the action genre, instead of trying to be "just" a good Bond movie (except that the action trend of the late eighties wasn't a pretentious artsy one, like the current).

Licence to kill and Quantum of Solace are both Bondian to me.

But I don't understand the argument... Is necessarily a bad movie a movie which has the same style than an other ? I mean... Doesn't From Russia with love look like Hitchcock's style ? Isn't North by northwest a reference to a couple of Bond movies ? Is this a bad thing to you ? Or perhaps do you organize your suggested references into a hierarchy ? In which case I agree with you, the Bourne films are not North by northwest, and Michael Mann is not Alfred Hitchcock.

The latter.

I don't think Bourne movies and Michael Mann are good or proper influences for Bond films.

[DR76]

Some of us either like QoS or some of us don't. Frankly, I don't see why we are incapable of forming our own without depending upon the opinion of some director, producer, critic or anyone else.

[SecretAgentFan]

I wonder what Campbell thought of Licence to Kill.

I wonder what Campbell thought of any Bond film not directed by himself.

[iBond]

Good point. Hopefully he liked Goldfinger. lol

[jaguar007]

Let's see him trash other movies now in light of Green Lantern's 'success'.

While I have not seen it, from what I hear, The Green Lantern makes QoS look like Citizen Kane.

[Ytadel]

Kind of fascinating how, five years ago, saying one even vaguely negative word about Casino Royale on this forum was blasphemous, and now lots of people are happily and unapologetically throwing Martin Campbell under the bus. How time changes things.

[SecretAgentFan]

Kind of fascinating how, five years ago, saying one even vaguely negative word about Casino Royale on this forum was blasphemous, and now lots of people are happily and unapologetically throwing Martin Campbell under the bus. How time changes things.

I´m not throwing him under the bus - and I also wouldn´t criticize him for CR.

But Campbell made himself a target for criticism by trashing the work of a colleague, while advertising his new film which just is not up to the standard he obviously thinks he fulfills with his work.

[Dustin]

Kind of fascinating how, five years ago, saying one even vaguely negative word about Casino Royale on this forum was blasphemous, and now lots of people are happily and unapologetically throwing Martin Campbell under the bus. How time changes things.

Indeed. But in all fairness it has to be noted that Campbell chose to cross that coach's path himself (by misjudging his own position in relation to the proverbial glass house) as well as putting his own foot on the accelerator prior to the moment of impact by his unfortunate choice of timing and phrasing for his undoubtedly measured and thoughtful opinion. So it may be at least partially a case of self-murder of reputation by lack of sense.

[jaguar007]

I´m not throwing him under the bus - and I also wouldn´t criticize him for CR.

But Campbell made himself a target for criticism by trashing the work of a colleague, while advertising his new film which just is not up to the standard he obviously thinks he fulfills with his work.

Well said. I also won't criticize Campbell for CR which is one of my all time favorite Bond films and I don't totally disagree with his statement either. However as stated, he opened the door himself.

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

Anybody remembers when Amis and Benson (Before being a Bond author) criticized Gardner in Bondage Magazine? I've got that number.

[doublenoughtspy]

Excellent point Nicolas. It's an accepted fact that continuation authors have put down other continuation author's work (and in research for my OHMSS book I came across an interview where Fleming denigrated Amis' work, the details of which I provide in the first chapter).

But Martin Campbell does the same thing and suddenly people want to pull out their daggers.

And so what if Green Lantern isn't great? Does that mean Campbell's opinion about QOS, and it is an opinion for Christ's sake, should change? That makes no sense.

Eon, and hopefully every other production company, hires directors because they are good at directing films, not because they are good at public relations.

SecretAgentFan, I'm not sure why you use the word colleague. Campbell and Forster don't collaborate. They compete.

I really don't understand why QOS fans are upset. Campbell's statement, of his OPINION, won't affect the box office, and it won't affect your own enjoyment of the film.

[Dustin]

I really don't understand why QOS fans are upset. Campbell's statement, of his OPINION, won't affect the box office, and it won't affect your own enjoyment of the film.

I for one am not in the least upset by Campbell's comments, nor do I question his ability to judge on a film he's apparently had the opportunity to do himself, had he just chosen to do it. What I suspect people feel uncomfortable with is Campbell's timing. QOS is now three years ago. Ample time for the director Campbell to make up his mind about it and voice his opinion (and we agree it is an opinion, not some God-of-Bonddom's verdict). Has he done so in the meantime? Not that I have heard about it, and I strongly doubt we would have missed any such comment, had it been given since 2008. It seems to me Campbell chose to become vocal about his perception of QOS's merits, or rather lack thereof, at a time when it guarantees him the most publicity and when said publicity is badly needed. Good for him, one supposes.

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

Thanks Charlie! Pity your book is far of my range, but yes, you're right!
Does any Campbell hater here dare to criticize Benson or Amis for bashing Gardner?

Hell, CAMPBELL WAS BLOODY RIGHT! And I think he represented the toughts of the classic and old generation of Bond fans (Graham Rye, Paul Scrabo, etc.). The action in Casino Royale and GoldenEye had a sense. Here, Bond goes in and out kicking just for revenge - and to help the Bolivians to have enough water!