Bond 26 (202X)

Campbell is very hit and miss, which is why it's kind of remarkable that the two Bond films he made are both as beloved. I remember just before CR began shooting THE LEGEND OF ZORRO had just come out and a number of Bond fans became very worried over him doing another Bond*. It wouldn't do to have a third film turn out to be underwhelming thus ruin his seemingly perfect track record for Bond (though HGTB and KKBB would claim otherwise).


*=But that was really less of a Campbell problem and more of a Roberto Orci/Alex Kurtzman problem.

I quite like The Mask of Zorro. I'd say that was his last great film before The Foreigner, which as you say, is problematic but still quite good.

MP wrote:

(though HGTB and KKBB would claim otherwise).

They sound like smart people.

I'll have to check out the THE FOREIGNER sometime, haven't heard very strong remarks about it though. The only post-CR film I've seen of Campbell's was THE GREEN LANTERN... eck.

Campbell always confuses me. He comes across as very intelligent and driven in interviews yet apparently is a very shouty on set director. (Look at any GE onset promos on the DVD) He started with hard spy dramas like Edge of Darkness, translated to Bond, did the usual amount of non Bond forgotten thrillers like other directors-but then graduated to a handful of studio schlock post GE and Zorro-then nothing save for occasional blips.
Green Lantern is dire and I had no idea how he got stuck doing it. The Foreigner is a very solid picture that has a Jackie Chan late period more serious picture shoved into it. That's its problem as the Ireland material is so good that you don't need the Chan sections. However like New Police Story Chan really tries to do darker material these days and show his range-and this is the best he's been onscreen performing in I don't know how long. Brozzer is outstanding. Both are saved from their usual straight to who knows what filler junk. I just wish the overall picture was better. Campbell would do very well working with Chan again and drawing out an equally strong performance.

With reports that Cavill will resume playing Superman, that probably puts him out of the running for Bond #7. Which is fine by me, as I think we can do better than Cavill.

Makeshift Python wrote:

With reports that Cavill will resume playing Superman, that probably puts him out of the running for Bond #7.

I had the same thought too, sadly. Not only has the Craig's output been the worst in the series, he's put out Fassbender and Cavill from having a crack in the role, what with his long breaks between films and bloodied wrists and all that.

Unknown actors aside, I don't think we could top Fassbender or Cavill as contenders.

Fassbender would have been good, but he's like Ralph Fiennes and Jason Isaacs where they could have made splendid Bonds but the timing has never been on their side. I'm not a fan of the idea of Cavill as Bond. Too pretty for the role. I rather keep Bond looking like a tough customer like Connery/Dalton/Craig, as opposed to someone who'd fit with a perfume ad. Moore at least got away with it because of sheer charisma.

There's still other good picks out there who are still within the age. Dan Stevens is one I'd like, due to his narration of CR. Aidan Turner seems to be a big favorite among Bond circles, though I've never seen him in anything.

Dan Stevens looks about as threatening as a teddy bear. Also, I'm not sure Dalton exactly looks like a tough customer. He certainly brought an edge but looking at him... He could almost pass as a university professor. Cavill has a great deal of charisma and a physicality that matches Connery.

You really ought to watch THE GUEST then. What sold me him in that was that he could really come off as dangerous.

Agreed. Although there's also no doubt that Cavill could handle the physicality ... the bathroom fight in MI : Fallout alone is enough to convince.

Blunt Instrument wrote:

Agreed. Although there's also no doubt that Cavill could handle the physicality ... the bathroom fight in MI : Fallout alone is enough to convince.  

Case in point.

Though the way he carries himself in The Man From U.N.C.L.E really sealed the deal for me. And without a need to use an accent for Bond, his performance would be better.

Besides, it's how I see him outside of his films. In interviews and videos on instagram there's a natural presence that fits James Bond perfectly. Still, it it was a choice between him and Fassbender, I'd want Fassbender. Even if it's for one film, which is highly unlikely.

He was fun in THE MAN FROM UNCLE, but that type of portrayal isn't what I want from Bond. It worked for Roger Moore, but few actors have anything to match his sheer charisma.

I want a balance, and so far Connery, Brosnan and well, Lazenby have delivered on that front. Moore might be rather far removed from Fleming's version (at least his 70s films) but the lighter tone allows for him to get by on his charisma. Daniel Craig is on the opposite end of the spectrum, meaning his version, Skyfall aside (because the writing/characterisation is on point, only Craig doesn't quite nail it), is about as far removed as Moore's (circa 1970s) is... only tonally it isn't as palatable. Dalton was almost there with TLD but the one track mind nature of LTK stopped us from seeing more.

There's no reason why Cavill can't slip into something like FRWL, TLD or GE and deliver on all fronts.

Ultimately, Cavill just isn't cool enough for Bond. He more belongs in a perfume ad.

We'll just file it under 'things MP and M.KKBB should agree to disagree on'.

Hey, we agree on something!

Been watching videos by this person, particularity skiing clips. Just really goes to show how much cameras evolved to the point of being able to capture clips like this. Whenever Bond returns to skiing, EON should look into utilizing drone cameras like this to bring something new for ski action in Bond.

Incredible stuff. That shot (and stunt) at around the 1.05m mark is stunning.

You know, if they ever venture into 3D film making for the Bond films, with that photography, I'd gladly put my glasses on and wait for those flecks of snow to jump out at me.

Great photography indeed.

Makes me feel queasy....

If i had three hours to spare i would sit and watch this, fantastic photography best enjoyed in short bursts.

Producers have confirmed that they have yet to begin their search for the new Bond actor. Babs is practising monogamy:

https://www.gamesradar.com/next-james-bond-daniel-craig-tom-hardy-producers-interview/?fbclid=IwAR3qzWOFtsoy_0GhCm28ooUz9SnC5spJFdiLIEYqrvx-eN8K-8T77IM6JRw

So there we have it. Just release NTTD on a streaming service and get on with it.

Time machine for the sixties. Films 62, 63, 64, 65, 67 and 69 alone. Ah.

Honestly, it makes sense. Better to wait until the dust settles before you begin work on another film.

Ordinarily, yes. But when the film's been sitting on the shelf for a year, not using this time effectively so to bounce back when all of this is over (or when we adjust to a new covid normal) is poor management.

Also another talking point in the article: Babs noted she intends to reinvent the wheel again so to not simply repeat the direction of the Craig era and to do something different...which I'm absolutely on board with. However, she's not ruling out a black actor in the role (which to me sounds like she won't pass up on the opportunity for another '1st' in the series and virtue signal at the same time). She's firm on creating roles for women without turning male characters into female characters (hence discounting the Jane Bond idea) so why can't the same logic apply to black actors? She also went to great lengths in Skyfall establishing Bond's ethnic background. Changing that would certainly fuel the codename theory, no?