45 replies to this topic

[Belmont]

1. Letting Dalton go after just two movies. 

 

2. Letting John Glen direct 5 Bond movies in a row. The series stagnated so badly with Octopussy and A View to a Kill.

 

3. Letting Brosnan go after Die Another Day. He deserved a final go 'round.

 

4. Trying to position Quantum of Solace as a "follow up" to Casino Royale. It's the only Bond movie that doesn't feel like its own entity. It's rather like an inept extended epilogue that happens to feature the lamest villain of the series.

Edited by Belmont, 23 April 2013 - 04:01 AM.

[DaltonCraig]

This line of dialog - "What makes you think this isn't my first time?"...

 

Also losing Dalton as Bond.

[S K Y F A L L]

I agree with Belmont about #3, another Brosnan Bond film would have made up for missing a 3rd Dalton film in 92 IMO. 

[Hansen]

I can forgive everything in Bond Franchise, but not Skyfall.

[Sir_James_Moloney]

2. Letting John Glen direct 5 Bond movies in a row. The series stagnated so badly with Octopussy and A View to a Kill.

 

I think the problem was that Glen was suited to a much more serious style. He seems far more comfortable directing TLD and LTK. It might just be experience but he did a very good job with FYEO too. I just don't think he worked well with Moore's Bond (even though the two of them got on very well)

[hilly]

John Cleese as R/Q
Retaining Roger Moore for AVTAK. Letting him go after Octopussy would have ensured some dignity for all concerned.
Letting Dalton go after 2 films

[jrcjohnny99]

Some of the issues here were out pf Eon's control, particularly the lay-offs which were both due to MGM's fragile state.

 

IMHO it was not making OHMSS after Thunderball; This would have...... 

 

a) given us the OHMSS-YOLT chronology we all wanted and ended the Connery/Blofeld era with YOLT

Avoided the Japan mess that pushed Connery over the edge to leave after his 5th film

c) Would've speeded up the filming  of those 2 pics and could've led to Roger being offered the role after those 2 which would mean

d) We could have had Bond go missing (as per YOLT book) and maybe Roger could;ve opened his years with that great MWTGG book opening

[ViperSRT87]

2. Letting John Glen direct 5 Bond movies in a row. The series stagnated so badly with Octopussy and A View to a Kill.

 

I think the problem was that Glen was suited to a much more serious style. He seems far more comfortable directing TLD and LTK. It might just be experience but he did a very good job with FYEO too. I just don't think he worked well with Moore's Bond (even though the two of them got on very well)

I tend to agree. I always felt the the fact John Glen directed two very comedy oriented movies and three serious showed his versatility as a director. Granted AVTAK was beyond below average but there were other factors besides Glen in that fiasco, but Octopussy was entertaining without being too crazy, minus a couple of moments like the Tarzan yell, and Dalton's films are amazing. FYEO I like it, but for some reason I just can't seem to get into it when I watch it.    To each their own though I suppose. 

Edited by ViperSRT87, 25 April 2013 - 02:31 PM.

[thecasinoroyale]

Cast George Lazenby?

 

 

 

 

Ok, nothing really against the guy, but everything about that casting was so wrong and out the ordinary for the team looking for a new Bond. It may have made 'OHMSS' a far greater film than it already is seen to be now.

[Matt Monro]

I'd say not having Lazenby for seven movies, but it was his choice, so, the worst things were:

 

1. Starting with Dr. No (I perfectly know they didn't have the rights for Casino Royale, but they could start with Live and Let Die).

2. Not following the books' order, especially You Only Live Twice before OHMSS.

3. Not following the books' plot closely.

4. Changing Felix Leiter actor every single movie.

5. Having the Beatles singing a Bond song.

6. Not making any reference about Tracy in Diamonds are Forever, nor having Bond going for a vendetta.

7. Using Another Way To Die as main theme.

8. Using the same actors for different characters (Charles Gray), using different actors for the same character (Blofeld) WTF??

9. Making Thunderball so boring and all those underwater scenes

10. Underusing Bond theme in certain movies (GF, AVTAK, QOS)

11. Getting rid of Brosnan.

 

"The Beatles" never sang a Bond song.  "Paul McCartney and Wings" sang the best Bond song yet recorded.

[FOX MULDER]

The worst thing the Bond Franchise ever did was...

 

... Diamonds Are Forever.

 

I actually love the film. I get much enjoyment from it. BUT it could have been so much more. They didn't need to go all camp and comedy. The book is superb. They should have just filmed that - you hardly even need a script, just follow the book. It could have been a more 'serious' thriller, like FRWL. Shame.

[AMC Hornet]

That chase scene with Bond in the back of a taxi, pursued into a drive-in theatre would have been so much more entertaining than the sequence we got with Bond behind the wheel of Tiffany's Boss Mustang, laying waste to the entire police force of Greater Las Vegas.

And smuggling the diamonds to sell in jewellery stores - so much more clever and cinematic than just using them to power a laser satellite. It would have made a lifelong fan out of me...

[nickjb007]

1. The failure to connect to DAF to OHMSS. The pre-title is a complete waste and is not or will it ever be a proper follow up to OHMSS.
2. TMWTGG this film is bad. The duel is boring, the characters are bland, the scene of Bond in the boat with his karate clothes and the bond theme playing is a low point of the series. A huge waste of a large set thay is wasted and the fighy with nick nack is just sad. I'm being harsh but I just re-watched it last night and its been years since I watched it.

[hilly]

 

The worst thing the Bond Franchise ever did was...
 
... Diamonds Are Forever.
 
I actually love the film. I get much enjoyment from it. BUT it could have been so much more. They didn't need to go all camp and comedy. The book is superb. They should have just filmed that - you hardly even need a script, just follow the book. It could have been a more 'serious' thriller, like FRWL. Shame.

 I don't mind Diamonds Are Forever. The beauty of the Bond series is that they have experimented with styles, hence the reason it has lasted for 50 years. I think that it has allowed the series to continue and adapt, and longevity depends on change and renewal, but change that is not too extreme that it alienates the audience. Yes there are moments when, in places, they have overdone the camp humour ( and DAF is a good example of this) , but I think it allows the producers to raise or lower the level and keep it fresh. The great thing anout the Bond films is that they always rein it in and adapt before it is too late and there is always light and shade in any of the movies. Compare it to, say, the Batman films which veer wildly. On the one hand you have the unremitting grim tone of The Dark Knight and on the other...Batman and Robin.... In my view both went too far. At least in any Bond film there are elements of both.

[jmarks4life]

Lose Timothy Dalton. He reenergized the Bond character with more attitude.

[singleentendre]

Letting Dalton go and not having a consistent Felix Leiter are definitely the main two that I've seen mentioned. Hopefully they will remedy the latter with the reboot.