677 replies to this topic

[007jamesbond]

Is there any reason why we don't much of the Bond theme for more than a few seconds 

[Call Billy Bob]

I've enjoyed the Craig films, but not hearing enough of the Bond theme is a problem to me. At times in Skyfall, it felt as if the producers went the way of Batman Begins and Man of Steel - throwing away iconic themes related to each character (by Danny Elfman and John Williams in these cases). Bring back large doses of the theme please.

[x007AceOfSpades]

I'm fine with not having the Bond theme at full force during action scenes. I like how Newman incorporated little cues and moments of it in his tracks for Skyfall.

 

The last thing I want is some techno/Moby-esque remix of the theme playing in each scene like in Brosnan's last three films.

[Guy Haines]

The Bond theme works best in the films, imho, when (1 it is played as it is and adds to the scene  - "Bond, James Bond" being the obvious example but there are many others and/or (2 when it is worked into other music pieces seamlessly, in such a way that you almost don't notice it. The score for TB is a good example - listen to it and the bars from the JB theme are there mixed in with Thunderball and Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

 

It works least, again imho, when it's on all the time. And there are some classic scores when it is used very sparingly - OHMSS, for example.

 

I think now Bond is established as Bond - the "early years" learning how to be 007 are behind him - the theme can be granted more often, but I wouldn't want a score which is just endless variations on a theme by Monty Norman.

[dtuba]

The Bond Theme should have been overused in SF - It was the 50th anniversary, for cripes sakes!

 

That was my beef with Newman's score then. If he under-uses it again in SPECTRE I probably won't mind as much.

[Guy Haines]

I think dtuba has a point about the Bond theme in SF. It could have been used a bit more often, and there were one or two cues in the score which didn't sound like Bond at all. But on the whole the Newman score worked well.

 

If Spectre is more of a classic style of Bond film - a TB/OHMSS style movie for 2015 - then I would expect to hear more of the Bond theme in it rather than less. But I still wouldn't want a score which recycles the Monty Norman theme endlessly.

[the man with the BB gun]

https://www.youtube....h?v=mlwIZPXgjYY

[JCRendle]

https://www.youtube....h?v=mlwIZPXgjYY

 

[Call Billy Bob]

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=mlwIZPXgjYY

 

 

[JCRendle]

 

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=mlwIZPXgjYY

 

 

 

[sharpshooter]

If Spectre is more of a classic style of Bond film - a TB/OHMSS style movie for 2015 - then I would expect to hear more of the Bond theme in it rather than less. But I still wouldn't want a score which recycles the Monty Norman theme endlessly.

I think Newman will more or less resemble his Skyfall approach in regards to the Bond theme - which is fine by me.

 

I'd love to hear a lounge ambience this time if possible. Case in point the unused 'Old Dog, New Tricks' cue from Skyfall.

[DaveBond21]

I can see SPECTRE turning out to be a mixture of Goldfinger and OHMSS. It's a vibe I get from the early announcements, the gadgets being back to a certain extent, the fact that they are filming in the snow and that we have the evil organisation back.

[dtuba]

I for one wouldn't mind seeing a bit of automotive "foreplay" between Bond and a female (Ms. Belucci perhaps??). Similiar to that with Xenia in GE - and of course, the PTS of OHMSS. Perhaps playing a little cat and mouse on an autobahn. It's been a while since we've seen a Bond girl in a sporty car.

[Guy Haines]

I'm surprised if it hasn't been mentioned already - it usually crops up in the "what we would like to see" threads - but, Bond in naval uniform at some point? I'm not that vexed about it myself, I just wonder what others think. Connery, Moore & Brosnan were seen in the RN uniform, Lazenby, Dalton and as yet Craig not.

 

Mind you, Craig's Bond doesn't quite strike me as an RNVR type - more ex-special forces, probably Special Boat Squadron. Which since he's now working for a former SAS officer seems apt.

[JCRendle]

Mind you, Craig's Bond doesn't quite strike me as an RNVR type - more ex-special forces, probably Special Boat Squadron. Which since he's now working for a former SAS officer seems apt.

 
Craig's Bond was both SBS and RNR (basically the same as RNVR). From the old Casino Royale website dossier:-
 

Bond served as an intelligence officer on HMS Exeter both before and during Operation Granby, and later was able to transfer to submarine service, touring on the HMS Turbulent. His natural abilities, mental quickness and confidence impressed his commanding officers. Within the year of being assigned to HMS Turbulent, it became apparent that Bond was not being sufficiently challenged with his duties. Cdr. Bond volunteered for Special Boat Service.

[...]

Upon completion of UAW training, Cdr. Bond commenced Advanced Commando Parachute training at Brize Norton.

[...]

Bond' s record with training earned him placement with the 030 Special Forces Unit, rather than deployment as a swimmer-canoeist with the standard SBS Units in Poole. During further training with 030 SFU, Cmd. Bond earned certifications for the operation of assault helicopters, Harrier-class jets, fixed wing aircraft, hovercrafts, marine assault vessels, armored vehicles, and other crafts.

[...]

During his three-year tenure with the 030 SFU, Cmd. Bond rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

[...]

Bond was recruited by the RNR Defence Intelligence Group and awarded the rank of Commander. 

[Guy Haines]

Must have missed that background website page, but it fits my impression of Craig's Bond - more commando than on the bridge, although I dare say he'd turn out well in RN uniform if he had to.

[Walecs]

The Bond Theme should have been overused in SF - It was the 50th anniversary, for cripes sakes!

Exactly my feelings. Newman did many good tracks for Skyfall, and I could forgive his terrible ones if he had used the Bond theme, especially in a triumphant way, not just subtle hints which require a close listen.

[tdalton]

I'm not exactly sure where Newman could have used the Bond Theme in any kind of a triumphant way.  SKYFALL is marked by the failures of its main characters, including Bond.  In the end, the entire mission is basically a failure, which would, IMO, negate any potential use of a triumphant rendition of the theme.  

 

The only scene where I think that they could have potentially used it in such a manner would have been at the shootout during the inquiry.  But, I think it's use there would have been rather cheesy and wouldn't have done anything to aid that scene, which is one of the best in the film.

[sharpshooter]

Good points tdalton. The closest thing to a 'triumphant way' would be during the DB5 reveal. This sequence was meant to be a big deal - Mendes has spoken about his love for the car many times. He's said how audience reaction made the project worthwhile, and how it made him want to come back for another film. Therefore Newman chose his moment wisely. He did give us one moment of uninterrupted Bond theme, just that it wasn't during an action scene. Although let's not forget the blaring Bond theme during the rooftop motorbike chase.

[SecretAgentFan]

Newman´s SKYFALL score incorporates the Bond theme almost constantly, using its elements, its rhythm and even parts of its instrumentation, weaving it in again and again, offering variations of the melody, and blasting it out triumphantly not only in the DB5-reveal (Track "Breadcrumbs") but also during "Grand Bazaar, Istanbul", "The Bloody Shot", "Tennyson" and "She´s Mine".  One may argue that during the last two tracks, it´s not only triumphant but laced with a certain sadness - but still, there is much more of the Bond theme in SKYFALL then in most Arnold scores.

 

Which I do not mention to put down Arnold.  I do think it´s possible to enjoy both composers´ approaches to 007.

 

But it´s obvious that Newman very intelligently uses the Bond theme in many interesting ways.  Sometimes you will notice that only through repeated listening.  But it´s done extremely skillfully.

[RMc2]

Newman´s SKYFALL score incorporates the Bond theme almost constantly, using its elements, its rhythm and even parts of its instrumentation, weaving it in again and again, offering variations of the melody.

 

Arnold's QoS score does much the same.

[sharpshooter]

 

Newman´s SKYFALL score incorporates the Bond theme almost constantly, using its elements, its rhythm and even parts of its instrumentation, weaving it in again and again, offering variations of the melody.

 

Arnold's QoS score does much the same.

 

Not as much as Skyfall's score.

[dtuba]

While on the topic of the JB theme being overused/underused, I am reminded that Barry's score for GF barely used the JB theme as well, and not during a "triumphant action scene". In fact, the only time we hear the non-vamp parts of the theme are 1) the gunbarrel and 2) a few bars are heard when Oddjob is en route to his "pressing engagement". Most of the score is variations on the theme song. 

Imagine the outcry if the interwebz existed in 1964!

[dtuba]

Well, looks like I killed that thread. Next!

[Guy Haines]

Not dead yet! I think the theme tune for GF, probably more than any, utilises sections of the James Bond theme, and since the score was built around the theme tune it's no surprise that Monty Norman's theme turns up as well, through excerpts rather than the tune being played as originally written - pre title credits excepted of course.

 

It's quite clever what John Barry did with the scores for GF and TB - both are clearly different from each other yet both have the Bond theme running all the way through.

[Walecs]

I want to hear the part of the Bond theme from 1:07 to 1:14 because David Arnold was the only composer who ever used it in a score.

[jamie00007]

I dont mean any of these as criticisms of the last three Bond films, as I think they are excellent, amongst the best of the series and I wouldnt change them. That said I really think some things have well and truly ran their course:

 

1. No more "trying not to be a traditional Bond film but then having huge homages to celebrate being a Bond film". We dont need references to old films like the Goldfinger car or the golden girl or teasing with a part of the Bond theme before leading into something else, or making in-jokes about the lack of gadgets, just put the gunbarrel at the start, use the Bond theme in an action sequence, use the classic lines. have some cool gadgets, Celebrate it being a Bond film by, well, being a Bond film. 

 

2. No more "personal" issues. No more studying of Bond's psyche. No more internal MI6 drama. 

 

3. A happy ending with Bond getting the girl. I think everyone will be pretty peeved at a fourth ending with someone dying and Bond not getting the girl in a row.

 

4. Humour. Despite what his critics say (and what he himself has said) Daniel Craig is actually excellent at humour. The dry wit, the off the cuff remarks, Daniel does it as well as Connery when they give him the chance, but its all too rare when they do. I'd like to see a lot more of it in the next film. I think Casino Royale did it pretty well, and parts of Skyfall but I'd like to see more

 

5. A normal mission. For the first time in about 6 movies. 

 

6. A BIG villain. With a cool lair, and henchmen, and a real threat to the world.

 

7. Tying up the Quantum loose ends. They are a branch of SPECTRE of something like that.

 

8. A somewhat slower Thunderball type storyline instead of racing from location to location, from action scene to action scene. 

 

9. Bond leading a commando assault on a villains compound. We havent had that in a LONG time.

 

10. It'd be nice to see Bond in his naval uniform. 

 

 

. 

[Call Billy Bob]

I dont mean any of these as criticisms of the last three Bond films, as I think they are excellent, amongst the best of the series and I wouldnt change them. That said I really think some things have well and truly ran their course:

 

1. No more "trying not to be a traditional Bond film but then having huge homages to celebrate being a Bond film". We dont need references to old films like the Goldfinger car or the golden girl or teasing with a part of the Bond theme before leading into something else, or making in-jokes about the lack of gadgets, just put the gunbarrel at the start, use the Bond theme in an action sequence, use the classic lines. have some cool gadgets, Celebrate it being a Bond film by, well, being a Bond film. 

 

2. No more "personal" issues. No more studying of Bond's psyche. No more internal MI6 drama. 

 

3. A happy ending with Bond getting the girl. I think everyone will be pretty peeved at a fourth ending with someone dying and Bond not getting the girl in a row.

 

4. Humour. Despite what his critics say (and what he himself has said) Daniel Craig is actually excellent at humour. The dry wit, the off the cuff remarks, Daniel does it as well as Connery when they give him the chance, but its all too rare when they do. I'd like to see a lot more of it in the next film. I think Casino Royale did it pretty well, and parts of Skyfall but I'd like to see more

 

5. A normal mission. For the first time in about 6 movies. 

 

6. A BIG villain. With a cool lair, and henchmen, and a real threat to the world.

 

7. Tying up the Quantum loose ends. They are a branch of SPECTRE of something like that.

 

8. A somewhat slower Thunderball type storyline instead of racing from location to location, from action scene to action scene. 

 

9. Bond leading a commando assault on a villains compound. We havent had that in a LONG time.

 

10. It'd be nice to see Bond in his naval uniform. 

 

 

. 

I like the way you think!

[Bond of Steele]

I wouldn't mind seeing an extended stealth-like raid on some facility or compound.  It would need to be filmed in a suspenseful thrilling way with some near misses, etc. to avoid making having it be boring.  Top it off with an action scene, if necessary, but it would be nice to get back to some espionage.  

 

I'm also in agreement with those who want the gun barrel at the start, and I too would like the bond theme used throughout a movie.  

 

I also think it would be nice if they could incorporate some neat way to have more cameos of past characters.  I loved the M picture back in TWINE.  Not homages, actual cameos in some clever manor or another.

[Vauxhall]

True, the small, unobtrusive nods are the best for the fans. I'd say it's fairly nailed on that there will be references to Judi Dench's M in SPECTRE.