SPECTRE (2015) - UK Oct 23rd , US Nov 6th

I don't think EON prioritised money over quality. It makes no sense for them to talk up the idea of a two-part film and then piss all of it away for the sake of a quick dollar. Rather, I think there was a third party in play, someone who invested in the film and put pressure on production to get everything shot and released on time. It makes no sense, otherwise - why did they rush into production in the face of the writers' strike and an unfinished script? There was nothing stopping them from hiring British non-WGA writers to rewrite Haggis' script, but they never took up the option.

Given the way "Another Way to Die" got released, as a snippet in a Coke commercial, I suspect someone funding the film had a lot of influence over production and used that influence to force production to push on with an unfinished script (the film never explains key plot points regarding Rene Mathis, like how Bond suddenly knew he was innocent, even though he had correctly pointed out that Vesper's guilt did not prove his innocence), and less-than-ideal conditions for shooting.

Prisoner Monkeys wrote:

I don't think EON prioritised money over quality. It makes no sense for them to talk up the idea of a two-part film and then piss all of it away for the sake of a quick dollar. Rather, I think there was a third party in play, someone who invested in the film and put pressure on production to get everything shot and released on time. It makes no sense, otherwise - why did they rush into production in the face of the writers' strike and an unfinished script? There was nothing stopping them from hiring British non-WGA writers to rewrite Haggis' script, but they never took up the option.

Given the way "Another Way to Die" got released, as a snippet in a Coke commercial, I suspect someone funding the film had a lot of influence over production and used that influence to force production to push on with an unfinished script (the film never explains key plot points regarding Rene Mathis, like how Bond suddenly knew he was innocent, even though he had correctly pointed out that Vesper's guilt did not prove his innocence), and less-than-ideal conditions for shooting.

As you say it makes no sense, yet it clearly happened and I'm inclined to agree with Lazenby here the decision to effectively make part 2 of Casino Royale (after that film had opened) already smacked of a desire for a quick cash in but to go into production before the project was ready is bewildering and all imo very much the responsibility of the producers. I do think they tried to buy their way out of the hole in the end, QoS's budget seems totally out of proportion to what we get on screen or the productions either side of it.

Sometimes EON just appear to be giving a big shrug and saying "Oh well, it'll do" even when a film has very blatant problems. The arse end of that scale is clearly something like DAD, but the "written on the run, if it's crap by deadline day, then it will just have to stay crap" attitude is definitely present in the likes of TND and some of QOS. Dates, marketing and money rule the franchise, with artistic vision only standing a chance now in Bond if it's given nearly half a decade to fully form.

Lazenby. wrote:

Sometimes EON just appear to be giving a big shrug and saying "Oh well, it'll do" even when a film has very blatant problems. The arse end of that scale is clearly something like DAD, but the "written on the run, if it's crap by deadline day, then it will just have to stay crap" attitude is definitely present in the likes of TND and some of QOS. Dates, marketing and money rule the franchise, with artistic vision only standing a chance now in Bond if it's given nearly half a decade to fully form.

Yes, well time does indeed appear to be a healer as far as the recent fortunes of James Bond are concerned.

What unused Fleming material do you think John Logan should adapt in Bond 24? I think there's quite a bit in the later halves of Dr. No and You Only Live Twice. Blofeld's Garden of Death and Julius No's tests of human pain and endurance could easily become one.

Before I finished reading your post, I was about to suggest Dr. No's interest in pain and the Garden of Death. That might blend well nicely, though I'd still like to have the crawling through the tunnel sequence. Would it have to be a giant squid at the end? Maybe another creature but just as deadly.

After the CGI Komodo Dragons in SF I'm a big wearier of animals in Bond.

Ah, yes, the CGI Bond equivalent of the rancor.

It rules out death by crabs as in Dr No or even bird shit.

I'd like to see death by guano in future Bond. Could be either utterly hilarious or very disturbing.

Hmm, in a Brosnan film hilarious...Craig, maybe both. Depends how it's handled, if you pardon the expression and image that brings to mind.

Hmm.... Maybe Tamawhore's 'death by Free Willy' could be given the dark 'n' gritty treatment.

Largo's Shark wrote:

What unused Fleming material do you think John Logan should adapt in Bond 24? I think there's quite a bit in the later halves of Dr. No and You Only Live Twice. Blofeld's Garden of Death and Julius No's tests of human pain and endurance could easily become one.

+1

Largo's Shark wrote:

I'd like to see death by guano in future Bond. Could be either utterly hilarious or very disturbing.

And this immediately happens right after. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63UlBsdElsY

Largo's Shark wrote:

What unused Fleming material do you think John Logan should adapt in Bond 24? I think there's quite a bit in the later halves of Dr. No and You Only Live Twice. Blofeld's Garden of Death and Julius No's tests of human pain and endurance could easily become one.

I think you could easily work elements of LIVE AND LET DIE, GOLDFINGER and OCTOPUSSY together. Dexter Smythe could be trying to pass Nazi gold off as pirate treasure to conceal its origin.

I also like the idea of a spiritual adaptation of THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. I know Fleming refused to let it be put on film, and I'm not suggesting that it happen. Rather, I like the idea of Bond facing off a localised, personal threat where there are no high stakes involved - just an immediate threat to himself and an innocent where he either overcomes it or dies.

Something like TSWLM wouldn't work as a whole film, maybe just around the middle where Bond gets stuck and has to deal with this before he has other fish to fry. What other elements could be used in LALD? Bond's swimming to the port? The book has already been used for three different films already. QOS could have been a sort of spiritual adaptation, had the filmmakers not focused so much on the immediate sequel idea.

The problem with that sequence is that it involves Bond boarding a yacht by stealth, and that was the initial set-up of THE BOURNE IDENTITY. People would accuse the series of plagiarism.

I could see it working as some kind of free-diving sequence, though, with Bond having to access the villain's lair through a dangerous labyrinth of underwater caverns that are too narrow for him to take oxygen tanks through. I'm thinking of some kind of Mayan temple that was repurposed to be a Spanish sea fort before it was abandoned, and now the only safe entry is through underwater caverns that can only be accessed from a wrecked galleon on the sea bed (which is why the villain missed them). You know, the kind of thing production design could really sink their teeth into.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/roger-deakins-will-not-return-to-make-bond-24-look-gorgeous-20140218

Terrible news.

dr. strangelove wrote:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/roger-deakins-will-not-return-to-make-bond-24-look-gorgeous-20140218

Terrible news.

Bummer. Then like Drax, we get the next best man available.

Shame, he had some absolutely breathtaking work in Skyfall.

I'm having a few problems posting URLs at the moment, but I've seen a (very) brief interview with Ralph Fiennes over at Super Hero Hype. He says filming of BOND 24 is due to begin in October this year

Financial considerations kept Bond24 out of Norway? Really? Norway couldn't gave given the studio enough discounts to make it worth the effort to come to Norway? I would have moved heaven and earth to make sure the film captured the beautiful people and culture of Norway. Sname. What a missed opportunity for Bond to have gone somewhere on film he's never been to.

http://www.latino-review.com/news/new-filming-location-confirmed-for-bond-24

I hope this tragic situation is remedied with a bang-up snowmobile chase.

Really glad there's some snow action in Bond 24 being planned! Norway would have been phenomenal, but I'm happy with the Austrian alps!

Rome will also provide a backdrop for a car chase, and it seems Mendes wants the return of an iconic villain, the mould of Oddjob and Jaws. This is shaping up nicely methinks!

http://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/bond-24-report-20140822-henchman-casting?t=&s=&id=03734

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

Financial considerations kept Bond24 out of Norway? Really?

With $1 billion in Skyfall box-office receipts, the bean counters can afford to open the Bond 24 wallet and let some fresh air inside.

Big shame about Norway. Not only does half of my family come from there, but the Scandinavian actresses scouted for the Bond girl role were stunning, and all blondes.

Sounds like a good, Europe-only adventure.