Skyfall tonight - the Chinese dragons in the opening titles are probably my favourite title imagery ever. Oh, and this line always makes me chuckle.

That Zorin’s caper is pretty much a ripoff of Lex Luthor’s plot in Superman: The Movie minus the microchip angle. To be fair, STM has its fair share of Bond DNA in it (pretty sure at least among the technical crew, plus Guy Hamilton was set to direct at one point) but it was still fresh in people’s minds when AVTAK was released in 1985. I don’t know how much that figured into AVTAK’s relatively lukewarm critical and commercial response, but I doubt it helped.

Reason for this post is my first rewatch of STM in almost 20 years. It still holds up btw, and because it’s the special edition it includes all the scenes that were either cut from the theatrical cut or filmed later to buff up the movie’s network premiere. They actually help the movie make more sense.

Looking a bit of help Bond fans, it’s getting into the cold weather and I’ve been on the hunt for a tweed coat, watched Skyfall this morning I quite like Kincaids one.. anyone know the brand of it?

I know I'm in the stark minority over here but I wanted to see if there are others like me.

Quantum Of Solace is my favorite film of all time. I would have watched it about 50 times now.

I love the art direction , the visceral violent action , the posh aesthetic , the gritty dialogs, the intense emotions and everything else.

Just watched. He made her wife climb mountain in lingerie 😂😂

because it make him greater character getting past all canon or no ccanon things and giving a franchise unlike batman or superman where there is no comparison and but complment each other. share your thoughts on how you think this is good.

This post honestly grew a lot longer than I expected / wanted it to, but stay with me for now.

Daniel Craig remains on my #1 spot of Bond actors. I think a lot of people explained why he's many peoples' favorite, so I don't want to drag this on for much longer, as it's mostly for the same reasons (grittiness, realism, new way of complex storytelling brought to the character).

And I honestly adore his first three movies and his Bond.

Yes, even Quantum of Solace. Sure, it could have been longer, explored some things further and added some plans that were cancelled (like the flashbacks of Vesper and some other things), it could moved the gunbarrel to the scene where Mitchell is shot and had a much better song - but I liked the way the plot felt "real" and explored themes - both for Bond's character and the world (US vs Britain, making deals with the devil - no more black and white) - that were only barely touched upon at times.

Yet then came Spectre - a movie that was my first or second real cinema experience. And I actually liked the movie at first, yet thought that some plot ideas and the reused soundtrack of Skyfall were quite a bummer, among some other minor things.

And then came NTTD that had to work with what Spectre had established and of course it's controversial ending to Daniel Craig's character.

I don't know how I should feel about it. I didn't know when I watched the movie. It was gutting because this is a character I grew up, particularly with Brosnan's and even more so Craig's Bond, yet I didn't cry (though I very rarely do with movies or games etc.). I did feel deep sadness though.

I was looking forward a lot on more adventures with this Bond after Skyfall, after I already found it weird that he already counted as "old" in his third movie and always liked the idea of Craig's Bond experiencing some of the other actors' adventures during the 2008 - 2012 time period / gap (something that the books basically did too). An idea that was further embodied by the games "Blood Stone", "GoldenEye Relaoded" and "007 Legends" - the former of which I was sad when I noticed there was no sequel, yet there was one planned to continue on the cliffhanger from that game. Still wondering to this day what that sequel would have been about exactly.

Yet Spectre continued just a few months after Skyfall and acted as a (more or less) direct Sequel - and a mediocre one at that, honestly. THere were good things about it but not enough to make me think back on it on a very positive note. Then NTTD had to "pick up the pieces" and actually managed to do so well - for the most part. The first half of that movie was everything I was looking forward to when Craig announced he would return one last time. The second half suffered from a few things - mainly Safin's missing build up and unclear motivations (most likely due to the fact that they had a virus instead of nanobots in mind originally but had to edit most references of that out - quite a shame).

Yet something that made me hesistent to rewatch the movie ever since was the death of James Bond. The character that always found a way, always beat the odds and managed to prevail. An icon that lived and survived for almost 60 years and 25 movies. And then it had to be my favourite iteration & actor of Bond. And now I'm not sure if it was worth it to have him back for the 4th and 5th movie but at the same time I don't think I would have liked the alternative either.

On the one hand this ending was objectively reasonable: It made sense with the kind of character Bond is and his sacrifice was - at least - quite heroic and emobied both the family portion but also his sense of duty to Queen and country. Yet at the same time, it feels like a mistake. Honestly, if they would have pulled it off like in Nolan's Batman trilogy, it would have been easily a great ending for me: Let the viewer decide whether Bond lived or died that day, whether he lived to fight (or die) another day, whether he really died or whether he simply retired and faked his death for that matter.

But nope. They made it very clear. Something I can't really agree with but at the same time I can see why it happened (storywise but also due to the fact that Craig probably wanted to make it clear that he would not return, sadly).

What do you think?

For those familiar with Red Dwarf, is it me or is Gustav Graves remarkably similar to Ace Rimmer?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny6oZED1Hm8&t=1080s

17:59 minute mark. Did he just say what I think he said?

What is going on with it? It used to be on I-Tunes and now all of it is unavailable. Not even on Spotify or Amazon Music.

Is this a Danjaq issue? A John Barry estate issue?

Idk if it’s my absolute favorite but i absolutely love the scene when bond returns to the hotel in TND to find Dr Kaufman, the German assassin/“torture artist” waiting for him. After the convo and skirmish when bond pushes the gun to Kaufman’s face and he says

“Wait! I’m just a professional doing a job.”

Then, with a great low shot making bond look towering, and perfect deliver by Brosnan as he coldly, but aggressively says:

“Me too..” before BLAM -a single shell flies and falls from the ground and the body hits the floor..

Sorry I didn’t need to describe it you’ve all seen it, but it is honestly a really cold blooded and cool moment. On its own it’s one of my favorites in the franchise and personally my favorite moment in TND (the actor playing Kaufman is very good too.”

So anyway I’m sorry to have gone on but please share your favorite examples I’d love to see them. Thanks :))

Richard Branson going through TSA screening in Miami airport while James tracks the suspect on the left. LOL!

On two of the occasions I've done a rewatch of the Bond films, two of the actors who played Bond died. When I was doing a rewatch in 2017, Sir Roger Moore died while I was in the middle of his tenure. When I did it again in 2020 (in the buildup to NTTD before it got delayed again), Sean Connery passed away, and the next day I watched Diamonds Are Forever to honour him. It makes me wonder when I next rewatch the Bond films, whether George Lazenby will still be alive by the time I come up to OHMSS.

I still love the opera sequence but remain underwhelmed by the desert hotel finale. It may have been a better movie if it wasn't such a direct sequel to Casino Royale, but a decent, entertaining film with a lot more good than generally credited for

Imagine you required the services of either James Bond (007) or Hitman (Agent 47)? Who would you chose?

Agent 47 is deadlier in one-on-one, stealth-based assassination scenarios, while Bond is deadlier in high-stakes, large-scale combat situations where adaptability and firepower are needed (in my opinion). Explain your reasoning for hiring purposes...

Overview

Marked excess in the Bond series is usually followed by a paring down and a return to the basic fundamentals. You Only Live Twice was followed by On Her Majesty's Secret Service; Moonraker was followed by For Your Eyes Only. Despite Die Another Day's financial success, the producers were aware they had gone a bit too far over the top with the twentieth Bond outing. For their next project, with a mind to bring some grit and realism back to the franchise, Eon turned to Fleming's first novel, Casino Royale, for which they had finally acquired the film rights. In doing so, they crafted an origin story for the iconic secret agent that deconstructed his character and brought him down to earth, in the tradition of popular genre movies like The Bourne Identity and Batman Begins. At the same time, however, they didn't jettison the things that made Bond special. The nice suits, the fancy cars, the beautiful women, the exotic locations, the wry humor, and the large-scale action set pieces were all still present and accounted for. The result was a revitalization of the brand, and, though the quality of what followed may be debatable, there's really no denying that Casino Royale is one of the most special entries in the series.

Review

The pre-title sequence sets the tone right away for the kind of Bond movie Casino Royale is going to be; darker, grittier, different. A fair-haired Bond confronts Dryden in his office, in stark black-and-white, then blows the mother away, interspersed with shots of a truly brutal fight in a public toilet. This is definitely Bond, though not the one we're used to. And what about the gun barrel that opens every film? It wasn't there! I'll admit, when my mother and sister and I went to see Casino Royale in 2006, I was immediately salty about that. I didn't like that they'd apparently left it out. But then, at the end of that terrific sequence, just as an enemy is about to get the drop on Bond, he spins on his heel and fires at the screen, and the animated blood (freshly redesigned) comes pouring down, and the first chords of 'You Know My Name' fill the air, and I was all like, "WHAT THE FUCK, I WASN'T EXPECTING THAT!?!?!?" They had me then. The bastards had me.

Of course, the title sequence strikes exactly the right note, with the casino-themed imagery, and Chris Cornell's banger of a theme song reminding us that we know this man's name. Roulette wheels turn into gun sights, and Bond stabs a man in the side, causing him to bleed out spades and diamonds. The traditional lady silhouettes sit this one out. It's all very evocative of the rough, tense atmosphere the filmmakers succeed in conveying.

Daniel Craig had some skepticism to overcome, but he made his critics eat their words. He delivers what must be the most real, most human, most visceral portrayal of James Bond since early Connery. He's cocky, insolent, extremely physical, a loose cannon, sparing with his emotions, but, over the course of the movie, we witness him becoming more and more like the 007 we know and love; more competent, more stylish, more in command of his surroundings.

The rest of the cast is just as gifted in their roles. Eva Green makes Vesper Lynd one of the most interesting and memorable Bond girls, Mads Mikkelsen is perfectly slimy and reptilian as Le Chiffre, Jeffrey Wright is probably the best Felix Leiter yet, and retaining Judi Dench in the role of M is an inspired decision; her more personal relationship with Craig's Bond makes for some great moments between the two.

More than just about any Bond movie since Goldfinger, Casino Royale is a tour de force of one great moment after another. The parkour sequence at the beginning is a great bit of action, showing off the new Bond's raw physicality, as well as his blatant disregard for whatever happens to be standing in his way, be it a bit of drywall or sacrosanct international law. The poker game with Dimitrios at the Ocean Club and Bond's subsequent seduction of Dimitrios' wife showcases Bond's cockiness and efficiency perfectly, and is followed immediately by the exciting action sequence at Miami Airport. (I love the little smile on Bond's face after the bomber has blown himself up.)

Bond and Vesper's meeting aboard the train, and their verbal sparring with each other, really lets us sink our teeth into this new dynamic. It's clear right away that Vesper is a different kind of Bond girl; she's not just "Stephanie Broadchest", she's an actual character, with depth and a personality. She and Bond get to know each other throughout the course of the poker tournament and uncover hidden facets in each other's nature. Naturally, a movie doesn't provide enough time for two people to really come to understand each other and fall in love, and that's why so many fictional relationships seem rushed, but Vesper's participation in some pivotal moments - the vicious fight in the stairwell with Steven Obanno, and her saving Bond's life with the defibrillator - contributes to making her feel more consequential.

The torture sequence has become notorious. I had read the novel Casino Royale long before this movie came out, so I knew there was going to be a torture scene of some sort. I thought it would be changed to something involving electric current or hot coals, however. I didn't think the filmmakers would let Le Chiffre actually strip Bond naked and bang away at his balls. Then I saw Le Chiffre's henchman cut the seat out of that chair, and I thought to myself, "Oh, shit, they're really going to do it!" It's excellently done, of course, and what once would have been unthinkable for a Bond movie becomes a definitive moment.

The movie does slow down a bit in the third act, but it remains interesting. Bond recovers from his ordeal, he and Vesper make plans, and then it all goes horribly wrong. The moment Vesper spots the one-eyed man in Venice is the moment she realizes that there can be no happy ending for her. If the bad guys don't get her, the good guys will, and her kidnapped boyfriend is probably dead either way. Her life has been utterly destroyed. Amidst the shame, fear, and hopelessness she must be feeling, it's little wonder she ultimately commits suicide. The final action sequence inside the crumbling building is a good one, and a necessary shot of adrenaline to go out on. The ending is a perfect culmination to everything we've witnessed over the past two hours and twenty minutes. Bond, with a rifle in one hand, looks down at the injured Mr. White (and thusly, into the camera) and delivers the iconic line. "The name is Bond. James Bond." Then the 'James Bond Theme' blasts over the end credits. Exquisite.

In Conclusion

A brilliant reinvention that tweaks the formula but doesn't throw the baby out with the bathwater, Casino Royale manages to be at once both fresh and definitive. It's been a different Bond we've been watching, but, at the same time, he feels familiar. It strikes the perfect balance. It still comes out as the best, finally toppling Goldfinger from its high throne.

Current Ranking

1. Casino Royale
2. Goldfinger
3. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
4. From Russia With Love
5. For Your Eyes Only
6. GoldenEye
7. The Spy Who Loved Me
8. Dr. No
9. Thunderball
10. Licence to Kill
11. The World Is Not Enough
12. The Living Daylights
13. Live and Let Die
14. Moonraker
15. Tomorrow Never Dies
16. You Only Live Twice
17. A View to a Kill
18. Octopussy
19. Die Another Day
20. The Man With the Golden Gun
21. Diamonds Are Forever

This is a genuine question I’d like to see an interesting debate on.

In Doctor No, it is oft said that Bond’s remark to Quarrel of “fetch my shoes” is racist as Bond is treating Quarrel as something of a slave.

But is this really what is happening?

When I watch the film, and see Bond as a character, Bond always seems like someone who is high and above everyone else in terms of class structure.

Bond also does seem to genuinely have some compassion and comradeship for Quarrel, particularly after his death. “ I'm flattered. I'd prefer the Revenge Department. Of course, my first job would be finding the man who killed Strangways and Quarrel.”

For me though, it seems to me that if Quarrel had been white, or if Felix Leiter had been on the beach with Bond instead, Bond would’ve still asked them to fetch his shoes for him.

Is this a fair opinion or am I misreading it entirely?

Daniel Craig's Bond basically had no cool cars or anything, the movies could've benefited from having wild gadgets, it looked like something big was missing. They should've brought back gadgets starting in the movie Skyfall or Spectre, after the Casino Royale era.