The Brosnan Era '1995 - 2002'

Blunt Instrument wrote:

Hilly KCMG wrote:

I think of Brosnan enjoying himself and instantly see that reaction during the car park chase in TND, from the backseat.

There are those who think this moment of levity comes too soon after Bond's emotional farewell to Paris, but it's hard to see what good mourning would do him when he's got several of Carver's/Kaufman's goons trying to flambe the car he's driving from the back-seat.    

Yep, pretty much. When you're so in the moment - and in a life and death situation at that (for Bond) - and perhaps in the denial stage of grief, you'd be celebrating the small wins.

I consider Paris Carver being out of the picture at this point to be one of those small wins.

ROFL!!!

I agree in ways though. Some of their scenes are just waaay too on the nose and make me wince a little, but after what came later in DAD and these days it is like fine literature.

I really don't see how their scenes are on the nose. There's little to no exposition on their past (which is perfectly fine considering people don't explain their own back stories to each other) and Brosnan and Hatcher are restrained in their performances, keeping a lid on which makes their chemistry sizzle.

They've always resonated with me. It was a pleasure to later read that some of Brosnan's favourite scenes as Bond were those with Hatcher.

Talisa Soto as Lupe Carver would have required no exposition -we'd already know that she was drawn to powerful, ruthless men, and we'd know that Bond admitting that she got "too close for comfort" was just a lie to keep her talking.

Nah, she's with el Presidente.

It would also be a stretch to think Lupe would get caught up with another mad man (that Bond himself is investigating, too). Talk about bad luck.

And I'm pretty sure Eon wouldn't want to reference a film that underperformed at the box office.

Had Dalton returned, I think it would have been more interesting if it were Kara. However, I wouldn't kill her off like the typical sacrificial lamb. Even as just a new character it felt like a waste.

Again, I feel a Bond girl being a second villain's girlfriend/wife would feel incredibly contrived. The only option I can see that may work would be Sylvia Trench, since she had no affiliation to a villain, and  her lifestyle could easily orient her close to someone like a media mogul.

And I believe Sylvia was one of the characters that did float around when developing Paris. Natalya being another.

I like that we hadn't met Paris before, however, since it alludes to a past life that we haven't seen. Makes Bond a little more rounded without the pretension and self indulgence of the current era.

Whether contrived or not, all that matters is how well it's handled. Bond films are full of contrivances as they are, so why split hairs?

I can see why you'd think that, CR06 apologist.

Wouldn't you think any long-haired assassin worth their salt would tie it back while at 'work', lest it blow into their eyes?

I really need to watch Taffin.

Taffin never gets old. Ever. Well at least that one line. The whole film is rather forgettable but seeing that moment when watching a VHS rental copy as a kid made me stop and rewind about 9000 times.

I picked up a DVD of Taffin about two years ago for a dollar and never got around to watching. Mainly because I keep forgetting I have that movie.

Watched Married Life (2007). A bit of fluff with a miscast Rachel McAdams, but it made me think how great Brosnan would have been in CR if it was more focused and lost the "Bond begins" angle. Bond at the tables would have been a perfect final or penultimate mission for an older Bond, no? He's 53/54 here:

I see Broz refused to let go of his 90's vintage haircut even for a period piece.

Happy Birthday to Pierce Brosnan, the man that started it all for me.

Aye, many happy returns. I eagerly await the TND25 Esquire run-through in a couple of years.

What a treat that would be! Curious to see his live reaction to Hatcher more than anything else. No doubt he'd mention his wish to smoke a cigarette in the waiting-for-an-assassin scene.

John Cleese wishes his 007 a Happy Birthday on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1261777552827277312?s=20