What do you want to see in Bond 25?

In an ideal world, we'd like a great script as the film's foundation. Taking that into account (knowing that everything will flow and make sense in the narrative), what things would you like to see in the film? What type of Bond girl? Villain? An action sequence? Do you want Bond at the tables, or scuba diving, or both? Beach setting? Snow setting? New setting? 

I like me a good ski chase, but considering that was written into SP, but was scrapped for arguably the most idiotic of sequences ever in a Bond film with the plane/car chase because Craig didn't want/know how to ski, I'm not holding my breath. 

Bond picking up a bird at the casino would be good. And ending the film with a bird. 

And, go.

My principle desire is an absence of emo baggage and introspection....oh and Daniel Craig....bummer!

Anyways to the matter in hand a traditional Casino scene would be wonderful as a location for some witty banter with the villain as opposed to an out and out fight, some underwater antics seem a bit overdue also. Yeah snow I'd normally opt for but SP pretty much informed me they can't do that any more..... Rock climbing may also be worth a revisit in some form, although the camera would have difficulty picking out Craig's face from the rocks I suppose......

A memorable stunt.

40+ years later, everyone remembers the corkscrew flip from TMWTGG.

After 40 minutes, nothing is memorable about any stunt sequence in Spectre, and the only corkscrew we got was one whinging about slashing his wrists. And that is what the press is going to remember every time instead.

lachesis wrote:

My principle desire is an absence of emo baggage and introspection....oh and Daniel Craig....bummer!

Anyways to the matter in hand a traditional Casino scene would be wonderful as a location for some witty banter with the villain as opposed to an out and out fight, some underwater antics seem a bit overdue also. Yeah snow I'd normally opt for but SP pretty much informed me they can't do that any more..... Rock climbing may also be worth a revisit in some form, although the camera would have difficulty picking out Craig's face from the rocks I suppose......

Rock climbing would be good, but I'd rather let FYEO keep that sequence as a point of individuality amongst the films. Unless they d something dramatically different. I'd actually really like to see Feirstein's discarded ice climbing sequence be used. 

bitchcraft wrote:

A memorable stunt.

40+ years later, everyone remembers the corkscrew flip from TMWTGG.

After 40 minutes, nothing is memorable about any stunt sequence in Spectre, and the only corkscrew we got was one whinging about slashing his wrists. And that is what the press is going to remember every time instead

Haha! But you're absolutely right. I will say the helicopter acrobatics was quite impressive, though not a standout out since similar tricks were performed in FYEO. But yes, something like the openings for TSWLM or GE would be nice.

That said, what else is there to do? We've skied off a mountain, had a mid air fight, the corkscrew flip, the bungee jump, the boat jump, the boat corkscrew flip, a jump off cranes, an excellent car roll, dangled from a cliff's edge with a rope, fought atop a bridge, held onto the outside of plane, fought on a netting hanging off a plane, barefoot water skied and jumped aboard a plane, rode a motorbike off a cliff, jumped over a chopper with a motorbike, tore a banner down a building face, hung onto a flying chopper, etc.

Your last paragraph there illustrates the problem quite neatly, FM ... coming up with new stunts after 50+ years is tough.

Jeffrey Wright back as Felix Leiter.

DrNo wrote:

Jeffrey Wright back as Felix Leiter.

Why? I have never understood the admiration of Wright's Leiter. Bland portrayal and characterisation, screaming of political correctness. I'd much prefer a more faithful adaptation of Leiter, which we have yet to see.

FieldsMan wrote:

DrNo wrote:

Jeffrey Wright back as Felix Leiter.

Why? I have never understood the admiration of Wright's Leiter. Bland portrayal and characterisation, screaming of political correctness. I'd much prefer a more faithful adaptation of Leiter, which we have yet to see.

Bland portrayal and characterisation, screaming of political correctness - This was clearly the character template for CR and QoS and sadly eases only marginally for SF and SPECTRE. Indeed aside from Severine, Silva and Maybe Donna Lucia and the two M's I don't think anyone in this group of films is practically memorable. And no I haven't forgotten Bond, Hinx or Le Chiffre in this list.

Oh and where's the edit button gone :/

I don't see screaming of political correctness....how do you figure? Because he's black? Is that the consensus with Moneypenny too?

Wright's easily the most talented actor to play the character. He hasn't fully been explored, but in the movies, barring LTK, Leiter never really is. He is a supporting character, after all. I thought he was depicted as a good ally for Bond in QoS though, and would like to see him return and do more.

I'd like Timothy Dalton to return as Bond and go down fighting.

Seriously, a half decent film that makes Spectre a faint memory. If Waltz is to return, something with a bit more meat. Something original. And a decent soundtrack, an okay song that doesn't hurt my ears and send the cat running for cover and some nice locations. Even if it's somewhere we've been before.

Pre titles, a touch of flair -end with the girl, cleaning up.

DrNo wrote:

I don't see screaming of political correctness....how do you figure? Because he's black? Is that the consensus with Moneypenny too?

In my opinion, yes. I don't think Wright was sought for his great screen presence because it's not on screen. The writing for Naomie Harris was great in SF (though I'm still unsure how I feel about the agent backstory), and she's a better actor than he is, so it's easier to buy. But if I was going by her turn in SP, I wouldn't rate her all that highly.

DrNo wrote:

Wright's easily the most talented actor to play the character. He hasn't fully been explored, but in the movies, barring LTK, Leiter never really is. He is a supporting character, after all. I thought he was depicted as a good ally for Bond in QoS though, and would like to see him return and do more.

Jack Lord is still my favourite, in part due to his acting ability and screen presence. Does Leiter need to be explored? It's a series about Bond after all, and frankly I don't think I'd care to delve into Leiter's history or character anymore than what we have in Licence to Kill. Bond and Leiter's exchange at the bar in QOS doesn't sit right with me at all, not to mention it only serves to lead into another shootout. 

lachesis wrote:

Bland portrayal and characterisation, screaming of political correctness - This was clearly the character template for CR and QoS and sadly eases only marginally for SF and SPECTRE. Indeed aside from Severine, Silva and Maybe Donna Lucia and the two M's I don't think anyone in this group of films is practically memorable. And no I haven't forgotten Bond, Hinx or Le Chiffre in this list.

Pretty much, though I reckon Skyfall did a little bit more to ease the PC burn: Female M dies after questionable work, a white male replaces her. Black female agent is relegated to secretary and turns slave girl shaving Bond.  

Seriously though, I would have added Hinx to your list. In fact, I'd add him to the list before Lucia. 

lachesis wrote:

Oh and where's the edit button gone :/

Had this issue in another thread. Hilly do you have the power to remedy this?

Hilly KCMG wrote:

Seriously, a half decent film that makes Spectre a faint memory. If Waltz is to return, something with a bit more meat. Something original. And a decent soundtrack, an okay song that doesn't hurt my ears and send the cat running for cover and some nice locations. Even if it's somewhere we've been before.

Pre titles, a touch of flair -end with the girl, cleaning up.

+1

Hilly wrote:

I'd like Timothy Dalton to return as Bond and go down fighting.

Heh, if we got his third Bond film in the early 90s I'm not sure robots was the way to go with that. Kind of glad that was scrapped. Really would have tarnished his era after the disappointing LTK returns.

I might boycott the film if asshole libtard Jeffrey Wright returns as Felix. And just give up because I have zero interest in Craig as it stands.

A lot can happen between now and 2019. I'm still holding out on the slim chance that Craig won't like the script and pull out. Given the current climate, it's perhaps not a stretch to think the script won't be as good as we've seen. So what would I like to see in Bond 25? A shoddy script that will taint Craig's run a little further, or a script that will force him out before it even goes into production, and then we have a new actor in the role.

After seeing OP and TND recently, I want to see more of Bond sneaking around, such as Bond sneaking around Kamal's palace, or Bond infiltrating Carver's Hamburg factory. The last time we saw something like this is Bond stalking Patrice in Shanghai, and before that probably Bond gaining access to Los Organos in DAD. Such a great convention of the spy genre and yet it's seen all too little. Effective way to establish suspense.

FieldsMan wrote:

After seeing OP and TND recently, I want to see more of Bond sneaking around, such as Bond sneaking around Kamal's palace, or Bond infiltrating Carver's Hamburg factory. The last time we saw something like this is Bond stalking Patrice in Shanghai, and before that probably Bond gaining access to Los Organos in DAD. Such a great convention of the spy genre and yet it's seen all too little. Effective way to establish suspense.

This also occurred to me when I watched Live and Let Die at the beginning of this year actually. Even the more over-the-top Bond adventures like Moonraker had Bond doing some sneaking around and detective work which seems to be mostly missing from the current Bond films. In Live and Let Die for instance there was that scene earlier on in the film where Bond is investigating the parking garage before heading to the New York Filet of Soul which seems like something you never really see as there was no action just Bond doing investigating and trying to not get spotted.

Such things don't provide instant gratification, ergo they're no longer needed in the Spacebook era.

Strangways&Quarrel wrote:

FieldsMan wrote:

After seeing OP and TND recently, I want to see more of Bond sneaking around, such as Bond sneaking around Kamal's palace, or Bond infiltrating Carver's Hamburg factory. The last time we saw something like this is Bond stalking Patrice in Shanghai, and before that probably Bond gaining access to Los Organos in DAD. Such a great convention of the spy genre and yet it's seen all too little. Effective way to establish suspense.

This also occurred to me when I watched Live and Let Die at the beginning of this year actually. Even the more over-the-top Bond adventures like Moonraker had Bond doing some sneaking around and detective work which seems to be mostly missing from the current Bond films. In Live and Let Die for instance there was that scene earlier on in the film where Bond is investigating the parking garage before heading to the New York Filet of Soul which seems like something you never really see as there was no action just Bond doing investigating and trying to not get spotted.

Both of those sequences in MR and LALD are highlights for those films, imo. Even Bond sneaking around Zorin's chateau in AVTAK are amongst my favourite in that film. He's a spy, and I daresay it's one of the reasons why a lot of us are attracted to the series. 

Unfortunately, given the unfathomable success of CR and the Madagascar chase, stealth is going to continue to be traded for reckless action and moronic choices such as barging into an embassy, not giving a rat's arse if he's spotted, and then play victim to his choice. All in the name of three-dimensional character work and grit. 

Quote :

CJB wrote:

Such things don't provide instant gratification, ergo they're no longer needed in the Spacebook era.

And yet, Eon decided to shoehorn in 11 action sequences into the shortest Bond film ever and no one remembers it, besides the Tosca sequence.

bitchcraft wrote:

I might boycott the film if asshole libtard Jeffrey Wright returns as Felix.

Heh. Ok.

"I don't think Wright was sought for his great screen presence because it's not on screen. The writing for Naomie Harris was great in SF (though I'm still unsure how I feel about the agent backstory), and she's a better actor than he is, so it's easier to buy. But if I was going by her turn in SP, I wouldn't rate her all that highly."


I haven't seen Naomie Harris in much else....Moonlight. That's about it. But a better actor than Wright? No way. Boardwalk Empire, Ride With The Devil, Westworld, Basquiat....guy's an immense talent in an underwritten role.

Also I can't find the quote button again.

The quote button is on your right hand side along the top of the post you happen to be looking at. Hope that helps!

Secret Files wrote:

The quote button is on your right hand side along the top of the post you happen to be looking at. Hope that helps!

There it is! Cheers. :D

DrNo wrote:

I haven't seen Naomie Harris in much else....Moonlight. That's about it. But a better actor than Wright? No way. Boardwalk Empire, Ride With The Devil, Westworld, Basquiat....guy's an immense talent in an underwritten role.

Those others characters were probably a better fit for him. Maybe you're right in that Felix is an underwritten role in CR and QOS, but I don't think he has enough presence to elevate the material he does have to work with. Look at Lord's Leiter in DN, where he holds his own against Connery. Wright feels like a featured extra for most part. 

But on your earlier point about expanding Leiter's role with Wright in the role, I certainly don't want Leiter's role expanded for the sole purpose of using Wright, as they have with Fiennes, Harris and Dench.

If it's political correctness that drove Wright's casting as Leiter, what are we to make of Bernie Casey's casting (later Sharky in LTK, of course) in the part in Never Say Never Again 23 years earlier I wonder?

For me, the standout Leiters are Hedison and Wright by dint of the fact that they're the only 2 to have played the part more than once. I think it's more than a little ridiculous that an actor couldn't be found 'back in the day' who was willing to reprise the role across several franchise entries.