654 replies to this topic

[ACE]

The film grossed $460 million worldwide - the highest grossing Bond film of it's time (not adjusted for inflation). It made almost $90 million more than its immediate predecessor and continued an unheard of constant rise in box office for the fourth straight time. No film makes that amount of money without repeat viewings.

In a recent CBn poll, over 30% of those who responded thought the film was "awesome" at some point.

A large number of fans LOVE the first half of the film.

For a large number of civilians, this is the most memorable film of the Brosnan era.

Regardless of what some might think now - and I agree the film has a host of problems - at some point, a lot of people liked this film enough to go to the theatre to see it.

Then the highest grossing Bond film in its day, Moonraker, was similarly reviled by the same fans who love it now.

Let's see how time treats Die Another Day in the long run.

It's already done one great thing - given birth to Casino Royale - a film made by virtually the same people.

(I feel like Officer Murphy facing off to Clarence Boddicker and his gang....!)

[David Schofield]

But isn't this just yet another example of the typical reaction of a great many CBNers being heavily influence by the zeitgeist?

After all, there are many, many CBNers who actually believe Casino Royale is the best Bond movie they have ever seen and Craig the best Bond simply because it/he is the first they have actually grown up with the making of? Or the most recently released/financially successful/has positive contemporaneous reviews?

Indeed, to criticise CR on CBN is almost as heretic as praising DAD!

[broadshoulder]

For a large number of civilians, this is the most memorable film of the Brosnan era.

Yep, remembered in the same way the Black Death is or mustard gas...

Regardless of what some might think now - and I agree the film has a host of problems - at some point, a lot of people liked this film enough to go to the theatre to see it.

Well, you cant make up your mind about something unless you see it. Unfortunately reviews started appearing on the net saying what a stinker it is. This should have tipped us off.But most of us went and made our own mind up. Surely it cant be THAT bad can it? Oh Lordy, it was...

Let's see how time treats Die Another Day in the long run.

The same way Plan-9 from Outer Space is treated today, or Ishtar, or Heavens Gate, or Casino Royale 67, or Spiceworld the Movie, or any film starring Demi Moore - there are some stinkers which defy rehabilitation.

It's already done one great thing - given birth to Casino Royale - a film made by virtually the same people.

Yep, when you sit on a nail you dont want a repeat of the same experience. There are two people who wernt around with DAD - one is Paul Haggis and the other, well - you know his name...

[mccartney007]

I remember being at the Royal Premier of DAD and walking up to Lee Tamahori and saying, "DIE ANOTHER DAY is the Bond film I didn't even know I wanted." I loved it. Maybe I loved it so much because I felt so invested in the project -- I had the script, I sat in the cars and the hovercrafts, I walked through most of the sets and watched them film part of the scenes with Brosnan on the beach in the pre-titles, as well as Rick Yune's death. I mean, Michael G. Wilson had never seen the quad teaser poster until I showed it to him! By the time I went to the premier, the producers, the writers, the director and a good majority of the cast knew who I was (that's for you ACE). To me DAD seemed like a child I had known and got to watch grow -- that's a big part of the reason I loved it.

To this day it's the only Bond film I've seen in the cinema in three different countries.

My opinion has since changed in regards to DAD, as it has with a lot of people, but I still appreciate all the great bits of DAD (and there are quite a few) and all the fanatastic memories I have associated with it and all the friends I made along the way.

[Loomis]

The film grossed $460 million worldwide - the highest grossing Bond film of it's time (not adjusted for inflation). It made almost $90 million more than its immediate predecessor and continued an unheard of constant rise in box office for the fourth straight time. No film makes that amount of money without repeat viewings.

In a recent CBn poll, over 30% of those who responded thought the film was "awesome" at some point.

A large number of fans LOVE the first half of the film.

For a large number of civilians, this is the most memorable film of the Brosnan era.

Regardless of what some might think now - and I agree the film has a host of problems - at some point, a lot of people liked this film enough to go to the theatre to see it.

Then the highest grossing Bond film in its day, Moonraker, was similarly reviled by the same fans who love it now.

Let's see how time treats Die Another Day in the long run.

It's already done one great thing - given birth to Casino Royale - a film made by virtually the same people.

(I feel like Officer Murphy facing off to Clarence Boddicker and his gang....!)

I feel like the boy stood on the burning deck. I'm sorry, but I still don't see anything really wrong with DAD - you concede that the film has "a host of problems", but I wouldn't even go that far. If pushed, I might make one or two minor changes, but only if pushed.

Then again, I also love THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN, and not in an "ironic" or "knowing" or "camp" way, BTW (to my mind, that would equate to just pretending to like it) - I genuinely believe it's about as good as Bond gets. Same goes for my views on DAD. I honestly feel that it's very well-made and entertaining and, yes, classic Bond (and at the same time I think CASINO ROYALE is an utter masterpiece and by far the best 007 film of all time).*

Oh, well, perhaps I'm just beyond hope.

*Although it did take me a couple of viewings to reach that conclusion. DAD had me on our first date.

[MR. BOND 93]

I seriously can't believe people actually liked this movie.

[Harmsway]

I seriously can't believe people actually liked this movie.

I'm mystified how some people can find certain elements great, too (Graves a fantastic villain? Really!?). Very different perceptions. The more I watch DIE ANOTHER DAY, the less I find to like about it.

[K1Bond007]

I love how it's impossible for this thread to die. It just keeps getting resurrected.

[ACE]

I remember being at the Royal Premier of DAD and walking up to Lee Tamahori and saying, "DIE ANOTHER DAY is the Bond film I didn't even know I wanted." I loved it.

Yup, I remember you saying that first in the Albert Hall. And the events of that fateful, fruitful night!

Erm, the film was fun at the time and is still fun now.
http://debrief.comma...p...ost&p=72923

[Double-0-7]

I love how it's impossible for this thread to die. It just keeps getting resurrected.

I think it is one of the best threads on CBn - scrolling through it is a history of the various personal perspectives of a movie that was a definite financial success.

I caught crap for resurrecting it last year, but loved seeing it at the top of "new posts" this evening.

I still think the first half or so is a great movie, there are decent pieces buried under an ice palace and bad special effects in the remainder of the movie. It is not at the bottom of my list of Bond movies.

[Mr. Blofeld]

For a large number of civilians, this is the most memorable film of the Brosnan era.

I agree; I remember reading a quote from George Clooney in People magazine on being dethroned Sexiest Man Alive by Matt Damon in which he said that he first noticed that Damon was sexy in the Speedo scene from The Talented Mr. Ripley, comparing it to (and don't quote me on this) "when Halle Berry came out of the water in that Bond movie."



Way to look smart, George.

[DaveBond21]

I like this thread.

It is one of those threads that proves that even Bond fans can never agree on what makes a good Bond movie.

For example, some people on here love TMWTGG while others hate it. See? It's bizarre.

[Mr. Blofeld]

For example, some people on here love TMWTGG while others hate it. See? It's bizarre.

Not to some, mon ami...

[Skudor]

I like this thread.

It is one of those threads that proves that even Bond fans can never agree on what makes a good Bond movie.

For example, some people on here love TMWTGG while others hate it. See? It's bizarre.

It's just a result of there being so many different types of Bond films - people have been drawn into Bond fandom by different things and therefore see Bond in different ways.

I love this thread!

[Jim]

I like this thread more than the film and I like watching it drift slowly down the board until suddenly - boom! - there it is at the top again.

Now watch it drift slowly down the board.

[mccartney007]

BOOM!

I remember being at the Royal Premier of DAD and walking up to Lee Tamahori and saying, "DIE ANOTHER DAY is the Bond film I didn't even know I wanted." I loved it.

Yup, I remember you saying that first in the Albert Hall. And the events of that fateful, fruitful night!

Erm, the film was fun at the time and is still fun now.
http://debrief.comma...p...ost&p=72923

You made for a wonderful date -- you look simply stunning in that dress!

I will agree that DAD is overall a lot of fun!

[Calypso Vermouth]

Some things don't need to be debated or agreed on - they just are!

In order to believe that Die Another Day comes anywhere near the top of a 'Best of Bond Film' list you just need to be intellectually vapid.

No doubt some people will disagree with this statement.

However, when did the village idiot ever know he was the village idiot.

[Bondian]

Some things don't need to be debated or agreed on - they just are!

In order to believe that Die Another Day comes anywhere near the top of a 'Best of Bond Film' list you just need to be intellectually vapid.

No doubt some people will disagree with this statement.

"intellectually vapis". Love it. Very Flemingian.

However, when did the village idiot ever know he was the village idiot.

Probably when he met the idiot from the village council.

BTW. Welcome to CBn.

Cheers,


Ian

[Trident]

I'm looking forward to revisiting this thread in 3, 7, 10 or even 20 years. My impression is that hardly any other Bond film is debated so controversely by fans and has seen such widespread change of opinion with some of its initial followers. Difficult to say how good or bad it will age with the care of time, but maybe DAD might even see a backswing amongst fanbase and one day be viewed as a classic of the early new century?

Edited by Trident, 31 January 2008 - 08:25 PM.

[dee-bee-five]

But isn't this just yet another example of the typical reaction of a great many CBNers being heavily influence by the zeitgeist?

After all, there are many, many CBNers who actually believe Casino Royale is the best Bond movie they have ever seen and Craig the best Bond simply because it/he is the first they have actually grown up with the making of?

For nearly 40 years I considered OHMSS the best Bond film. That changed in November 2006 when I had to admit the Bond film and Bond actor I had been waiting for since the 1960s had finally arrived. Trust me, that had nothing to do with the zeitgeist.

I seriously can't believe people actually liked this movie.

I can't believe people don't see what a great Bond movie TWINE is. Or that Thunderball is, largely, a dreary bore. But it's all subjective.

[Red Barchetta]

I also like the book Bond picks up in Cuba- "Birds of the West Indies". Nice touch.
The book has since become a collector's item amongst Bond fans.

All in all, a great Bond film, though I would lose the CGI para-surfing scene.

Loved the scenes of him in Cuba, at the hospital, and also in Hong Kong!

Oh, and the sword fight at Blades! I kept expecting Graves, and Bond to fall over M, who would be dining at his table! LOL


I agree with Zencat!

[Donovan Mayne-Nicholls]

DAD is over-the-top, but so are SPY and TWICE for the matter (the latter a movie with barely any plot, twist or surprise). DAD is one of those rare cases where you pass the 60-minute mark and you've still got some plot elements waiting around the corner before the big fireworks for the finale. It's got twists aplenty and above all, it borrows from Fleming like no other Bond film since probably EYES back in '81. Even the ice wave can be traced back to MOONRAKER. Look it up.
The people that I personally know that actually didn't like it, they went into the cinema expecting not to like it. I loved Royale, but I'm aware that many people loved it because they were told to do so by the same press that is now telling us that "we" don't like the title QOS. TND's script was weak but the movie was so unpretentious in being another summer blockbuster (first Bond in ages under the 120-minute mark), I can enjoy it as such. The remainder of Brosnan's era I enjoyed thoroughly.

[dee-bee-five]

DAD is over-the-top, but so are SPY and TWICE for the matter (the latter a movie with barely any plot, twist or surprise). DAD is one of those rare cases where you pass the 60-minute mark and you've still got some plot elements waiting around the corner before the big fireworks for the finale. It's got twists aplenty and above all, it borrows from Fleming like no other Bond film since probably EYES back in '81. Even the ice wave can be traced back to MOONRAKER. Look it up.
The people that I personally know that actually didn't like it, they went into the cinema expecting not to like it. I loved Royale, but I'm aware that many people loved it because they were told to do so by the same press that is now telling us that "we" don't like the title QOS. TND's script was weak but the movie was so unpretentious in being another summer blockbuster (first Bond in ages under the 120-minute mark), I can enjoy it as such. The remainder of Brosnan's era I enjoyed thoroughly.

A very perceptive summing up, I'd say...

[Mr. Blofeld]

I also like the book Bond picks up in Cuba- "Birds of the West Indies". Nice touch.
The book has since become a collector's item amongst Bond fans.

It's always been a collector's item; what Bond fan wouldn't want a book written by the Commander himself?

All in all, a great Bond film, though I would lose the CGI para-surfing scene.

Really? I'd lose the whole movie.

Loved the scenes of him in Cuba, at the hospital, and also in Hong Kong!

I'm sure you did...

Oh, and the sword fight at Blades! I kept expecting Graves, and Bond to fall over M, who would be dining at his table! LOL

Come again? You must be mistaken, sir: Blades is a gentleman's club, not a place to be slashed at by a Korean maniac... although Fort Knox is perfectly appropriate for such.

I agree with Zencat!

I don't!

[DaveBond21]

For example, some people on here love TMWTGG while others hate it. See? It's bizarre.

Not to some, mon ami...

No, I meant it's bizarre that there are 2 very different opinions on it.

[Red Barchetta]

[quote name='zencat' post='147851' date='19 August 2003 - 12:35']Actually, Icephoniex didn't make that crack about the car phone. I did. I was just making a joke about how I'm sure there was some audience member in

Edited by Red Barchetta, 01 February 2008 - 12:21 AM.

[Harmsway]

DAD is over-the-top, but so are SPY and TWICE for the matter (the latter a movie with barely any plot, twist or surprise).

The argument against DIE ANOTHER DAY has rarely been that it's over-the-top, but just that it's not well-done over-the-top.

DAD is one of those rare cases where you pass the 60-minute mark and you've still got some plot elements waiting around the corner before the big fireworks for the finale.

They're not really twists worth having, though.

It's got twists aplenty and above all, it borrows from Fleming like no other Bond film since probably EYES back in '81. Even the ice wave can be traced back to MOONRAKER. Look it up.

It might borrow from Fleming, but not well. And as far as the ice wave being traced back to Fleming's MOONRAKER, I think that's Bond fans seeing things where they weren't intended. Tamahori's inspiration for the wave scene had practically nothing to do with Fleming, and in execution, it doesn't have much to do with Fleming, either.

The people that I personally know that actually didn't like it, they went into the cinema expecting not to like it.

I went in the theatre ready to love it. I was so amped up by the advertising... the film looked like an OTT fun ride in the vein of YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE and THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. Unfortunately, it was just bad.

[DaveBond21]

I went in the theatre ready to love it. I was so amped up by the advertising... the film looked like an OTT fun ride in the vein of YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE and THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. Unfortunately, it was just bad.

Me too, Harmsway. I was ready to love it too, even though I'd read some negative reviews from Bond fans.

I did enjoy it up until Iceland, and then....it really nose-dived.

[sharpshooter]

I did enjoy it up until Iceland, and then....it really nose-dived.

Unfortunetly, that is the case. A deep shame they went with that last half. It would have been right up there as one of the very best.

[DaveBond21]

I did enjoy it up until Iceland, and then....it really nose-dived.

Unfortunetly, that is the case. A deep shame they went with that last half. It would have been right up there as one of the very best.

You could be right, sharpshooter. I've often wondered what it would have been like if they'd done away with Colonel Moon at the start and have no Graves, or have them as separate people, or just ditch the Graves character entirely. Or cut out the Star Wars pod racing scene and ice surfing, or remove Jinx, or remove Mr Kil's laser death or make Miranda Frost, a goodie and the main Bond girl.

Too many changes to make.