136 replies to this topic

[iceberg]

One of the perceived flaws of TWINE is Denise Richards as Christmas Jones. But the character was reduced in importance somewhat because Bond, according to Michael Apted, was fading into the background because of the strong females involved in the plot (M, Elektra, Christmas). In fact, in the early days of TWINE (around casting time), Apted is on record as saying that 'the women are much more integral to the plot this time around.' Well, that changed somewhat in the rewrites, at least as far as Christmas. They certainly could not touch Elektra and M, because their damaged relationship was the emotional center of the film. So the only sacrificial lamb was the good Dr. Jones, reducing a Natalya Simonova like character to what is almost window dressing. Cast someone just too young for the role as Ms. Richards and you have the result. I have to clarify that she is not entirely plausible because of her AGE, and not her talent. Had she looked older, she would have been perfect. Still, she did what she could.

NOTE: I am editing this post because I've come to terms with Denise R. as CJ. Never had a real problem with her. Just was wishing for Species chick or hot lawyer from Desperate Hours. But no more pining for Natasha Henstridge or Kelly Lynch. I'll take Denise, anyday. Thanks for everyone's inputs and suggestions, though.

Go, Denise!!

[Loomis]

Well, she should have been played by a much older actress. It's implausible that someone in her 20s could be such an experienced nuclear physicist. Had I been the casting director, I'd've looked at people like:

- KIM BASINGER

- LORRAINE BRACCO

- KIM CATTRALL

- SIGOURNEY WEAVER

- DEBRA WINGER.

[iceberg]

Originally posted by Loomis
Well, she should have been played by a much older actress. It's implausible that someone in her 20s could be such an experienced nuclear physicist. Had I been the casting director, I'd've looked at people like:

 - KIM BASINGER
 
 - LORRAINE BRACCO

 - KIM CATTRALL

 - SIGOURNEY WEAVER

 - DEBRA WINGER.

Good choices, L. Love the idea of Sigourney and Kim, especially....

[zencat]

Halle Berry.

[Xenobia]

I have heard that Darryl Hannah was considered for the role, which wouldn't have been so bad. I wouldn't have minded seeing Renee Russo in it either, but that latter choice is highly unlikely given the timing (just after TCA).

I know this is coming out of nowhere, but Gillian Anderson would have been a nice Christmas Jones.

-- Xenobia

[rafterman]

Christmas Jones should have been played by...........Denise Richards, sorry, but I like her in the movie:)

[BONDFINESSE 007]

thank u rafterman, that makes two of us long live denise richards people like to pick on her so much and i get so sick of it

[brendan007]

i think denise made a great bond girl, i prefer her over halle berry. it was a pity that dr jones was given so little to do.

[zencat]

I actually don't mind Denise in TWINE at all. She looked great in that wet white T-shirt in the sub. Seriously, TWINE was so dramatically self-important that Denise provided some much needed bimbo sex appeal.

But it is strange that Denise Richards looks off-the-scales super hot in every movie she's ever been in, except TWINE. She looks okay...but she wasn't really directed or photographed in a sexy way. I think this is Apted's failing. He didn't seem to notice that he had a mega-sexy woman in his film, in the same way he didn't seem to notice that Bond had a cool-looking car (compare his introduction of the car scene to the one in DAD--the BMW never even makes it above the frame line!). He just didn't seem to care a lick about anything but the DRAMA.

[iceberg]

Originally posted by brendan007
i think denise made a great bond girl, i prefer her over halle berry. it was a pity that dr jones was given so little to do.

Well, honestly, it's nice to see Denise getting support. I bemoan more the revising of the character than Denise Richards playing her. And I do not think that she was anywhere near as bad as Tanya Roberts as Stacey Sutton. Ms. Richards gave the character spunk and capability.

But the Christmas Jones of my dreams is and will always be Natasha Henstridge. She may have been in her late twenties when TWINE was being cast, but she has a gravity that makes her seem wordly. And now that I also know Darryl Hannah might have been in the running for the role (as per Xen), I can not help but think how much stronger TWINE would have been with her as Dr. Christmas Jones. Guess we'll never know.

Nevertheless, Denise did what she could with what she was given. One of the other folks here has a signature block that reads ' The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Roger Moore' or some words to that effect.

Perhaps there should be one for Denise Richards....

[BONDFINESSE 007]

Originally posted by iceberg


Well, honestly, it's nice to see Denise getting support.  I bemoan more the revising of the character than Denise Richards playing her.  And I do not think that she was anywhere near as bad as Tanya Roberts as Stacey Sutton.  Ms. Richards gave the character spunk and capability.  

But the Christmas Jones of my dreams is and will always be Natasha Henstridge.  She may have been in her late twenties when TWINE was being cast, but she has a gravity that makes her seem wordly.  And now that I also know Darryl Hannah might have been in the running for the role (as per Xen), I can not help but think how much stronger TWINE would have been with her as Dr. Christmas Jones.  Guess we'll never know.    

Nevertheless, Denise did what she could with what she was given.  One of the other folks here has a signature block that reads ' The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Roger Moore' or some words to that effect.

Perhaps there should be one for Denise Richards....  

AMEN! AND I THINK I AM GOING TO START IT MYSELF WHO WANTS TO JOIN?????

[Blue Eyes]

Seriously, TWINE was so dramatically self-important that Denise provided some much needed bimbo sex appeal.

Bimbo sex appeal is fine (just take a look at Miss Goodnight), wooden acting is not.

[zencat]

True, Blue Eyes.

But this another strange thing about Richard's in TWINE. She's not a bad actress. Ever see WILD THINGS? I think poor Denise was cast adrift by her director and maybe her co-star. Maybe Pierce didn't like her because she was prettier than he was. That was a joke. Joke!

[Adam]

Contrary to my incessantly heavy cynicism, I liked Denise in TWINE...it's so campy to have a busty bimbo as a nuclear physicist, especially when you have to study atleast 10 years before you defuse nuclear bombs. She was a hell of a lot more enjoyable than Halle Berry, too...

However, someone did mention Jennifer Connelly, and that's actually not a bad idea--if they wanted to take the role seriously, she could easily pull off someone in her 30s (unless she's already in her 30s?).

[Blue Eyes]

She's not a bad actress. Ever see WILD THINGS?

Yes I did. But the character she was playing could (and I'm saying could!) be one closer to her own personality and, hence, easier to play. I did like her performance in the film. But I have to ask any warm blooded male which performance they were watching.

[BONDFINESSE 007]

Originally posted by Blue Eyes


Yes I did. But the character she was playing could (and I'm saying could!) be one closer to her own personality and, hence, easier to play. I did like her performance in the film. But I have to ask any warm blooded male which performance they were watching.

i will take denise in wild things anyday >thats why i watch that movie so much, just cant get that 3some out of my head lol

[rafterman]

Denise was perfect in TWINE, she balanced well with the overly serious Elektra by being the requisite bimbo and I think she's far better than Goodnight or Sutton....

[Mourning Becomes Electra]

... an actress.

Really, she was terrible. Yes there have been worse but that's damning with faint very faint praise. She filled out her hot pants and wet T-Shirt admirably but to call her performance wooden as Daniel did is being generous. People laughed at her in the theater, and not when she was making jokes but when she was trying to pronounce words like atomic. Somehow I don't think that was intended. Her performance while not as bad as Tanya Robert's (also a beautiful woman) was cringeworthy. And I consider it a blessing her role was cut down. Her role was sketchy but not as abyssmal as some others (Mary Goodnight for example) in the series but she did her best to make the least of it. And no I don't blame her "acting" on anyone but her, it's that dreadful. Oh she sucked in Starship Troopers too where she was suppossed to playing a brainy pilot, but then almost everyone sucked in that film so she didn't stick out as much. She's a little better in bad girl teenage bimbo roles because then she can work the pout and the body, and no one has to believe she has a brain in her head, otherwise she's pretty much adrift or rather drift wood.

[Dr. Yes]

There's another thread going in the Bond 21 forum about Jennifer Garner as a possible Bond girl, and then seeing this thread it made me think that she could have been a good Christmas Jones. Still young, but way better than Denise Richards.

[BONDFINESSE 007]

lets dont blame denise, blame the writers its their fault, not hers she is a very good actor

[Blue Eyes]

she is a very good actor

Oh come on, you're strecting it a bit now. Yeah she's great to look at, and she's an okay actresses , but a "very good" one? Very good actresses are Kate Beckinsale, Natalie Portman and people such as Judi Dench are excellent. Denise Richards is not in either of these classes.

[Jim]

Originally posted by Mourning Becomes Electra
... an actress.

Really, she was terrible. Yes there have been worse but that's damning with faint very faint praise. She filled out her hot pants and wet T-Shirt admirably but to call her performance wooden as Daniel did is being generous. People laughed at her in the theater, and not when she was making jokes but when she was trying to pronounce words like atomic. Somehow I don't think that was intended. Her performance while not as bad as Tanya Robert's (also a beautiful woman) was cringeworthy. And I consider it a blessing her role was cut down. Her role was sketchy but not as abyssmal as some others (Mary Goodnight for example) in the series but she did her best to make the least of it. And no I don't blame her "acting" on anyone but her, it's that dreadful. Oh she sucked in Starship Troopers too where she was suppossed to playing a brainy pilot, but then almost everyone sucked in that film so she didn't stick out as much. She's a little better in bad girl teenage bimbo roles because then she can work the pout and the body, and no one has to believe she has a brain in her head, otherwise she's pretty much adrift or rather drift wood.

Really, he was terrible. Yes there have been worse but that's damning with faint very faint praise (sic). He filled out his dinner jacket admirably but to call his performance wooden as critics did is being generous. People pitied him in the theater (sic), and not when he was acting serious but when he was trying to pronounce words without a hot spud rolling round his gob. Somehow I don't think that was intended. His performance while not as bad as George Lazenby (also a handsome man) was cringeworthy. And I consider it a curse his role was beefed up. His role was polluted and considerably worse than some of the others (Sean Connery, for example) in the series and he did his best to make a meal of it. And no I don't blame his "acting" on anyone but him, it's that dreadful. Oh he sucked in The Tailor of Panama too where he was supposed to playing (sic) a darker character, but then almost everyone sucked in that film so he didn't stick out as much. He's a little better in bad tv movie roles because then he can take the cheque, and no one has to watch, otherwise he's pretty much adrift or rather drift wood.

Which is abuse and which fair comment?

Oh, standards are great. 'Specially when they come in doubles.

[Blue Eyes]

Do I sense tension?

[Jim]

Only if you keep thinking about Denise Richards, Daniel

[Mourning Becomes Electra]

Jeez, Jim, as President for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Me I'd have thought you'd know. Everything negative you say is fair comment and everything negative l say is abuse. But at least I never tried to get Densie Richard's autograph.

[kevrichardson]

Denise Richards was fine as Dr. Christmas Jones. She was a great piece of Bondian "eye candy" . I really get tried of these stupid post about her . The movie is what over 3 1/2 years old. I found it hard and may be still do to look at her , with "getting aroused" . Elektra King ought to be the "point of attack" . It was a great idea for a "real tough "Female Villian" . Like the Female head of SPECTRE , Nena Blofeld . In "For Special Services" . I doubt that any of you sleep ,next to her "Stunt Double , ah". Also more food for thought may be it should have been Nicole Kidman , she all ready play a Nuclear Physicist in "The Peacemaker" , so the lingo about "nukes". would have been second nature , ah .

[Adam]

Originally posted by kevrichardson
I found it hard and may be still do to look at her , with "getting aroused"

Ok that is a little too much horrifying information...

[kevrichardson]

what was wrong with her then?? Perhaps too much information , yes but horrifying no. She is an attractive women . so get over it.

[Adam]

Originally posted by kevrichardson
what was wrong with her then??  Perhaps too much information , yes but horrifying no. She is an attractive women . so get over it.

I wasn't referring to her, of course she's hot; I was referring to the fact that I don't need to envision some dork getting a hard-on...it was light humor

[kevrichardson]

Cool , now i am a "Dork" . i never said that i got a "Hard on". That's your fantasy. It sick that a group of "adult" are still debating a actress's performance in a film that grossed over $ 350 million (USA) world wide. while getting hot over the performance of a "frozen english rose" so whole screen time was not even 25 minutes. And who will "disappear" from view except on "Masterpiece Theater" , play another english rose . In defense of both Berry and Richards , they were established "actress" before DAD or TWINE. Thanks for the "nickname"