No Time to Die (2020)

I think they were under the gun to get someone affordable, available and without as much clout. It pains me to say that but it seems to be the honest truth.

Unfortunately they never do seem to treat directors well or support ones who aren't used to this style of picture. And there aren't many who are today because no one makes adventure films. Even fewer if any at all understand the Bond film cocktail.

EON...you should have thrown in the towel and got the Rid. If you don't know what to do...get the Rid. If unsure...get the Rid. While he would probably smile politely and then say screw off and make a Ridley Scott picture at least the thing would be on budget, on time, and coherent for the most part. Then again I think Scott would understand what 007 is supposed to be far better than anyone else currently still working and probably is why he would never accept the job.

It makes one wish John Glen was still able to direct. It really does. The man knew exactly how to make a 2 hour film given the right crew, logistics and story. He could have made a damn good film with Brozzer.

I don't know about Ridley and Bond. There are a handful of other directors I'd pick before him, to be honest.

John Glen probably could direct (he seemed pretty switched on in a recent interview I watched). Pair him up with someone like Roger Deakins or Robert Elswit and he'd make a cracker (provided the script was decent).

HGTB wrote:

He could have made a damn good film with Brozzer.

My own sentiments, mixed with comments like these, make me yearn for that version of The Living Daylights.  

Instead, we get articles like this: Bond 25 hires intimacy coach

It's probably true, so that Babs can appear relevant and all that. But hasn't the Bond series always prided itself on the comfort it maintains on set? Many actresses have explained how they didn't feel objectified or uncomfortable. Unless of course, it's to make Daniel Craig look comfortable. If that's the case, that coach has their work cut out for them.

And to help them out with "sex scenes". If by sex scenes, they mean a little bit of making out, why do they need a coach? There's only ever been one sex scene and that was in DAD. Everything else has been a couple of snogs between pillow talk, really.

Some more pics from the Jamaica shoot and beyond.


Cary reviewing dailies.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxk2E2Ugsaz/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

BTS
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw4y4SUg-u4/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Billy Magnussen album (these are for you BC and Salomé)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxIBh5dnPQ8/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Just saw that article about the intimacy coach. If true then that's quite something. You'd think if you signed on either to be Bond or the Bond girl then you'd probably be at least a little okay with doing sex scenes. And if the article is true and Ana De Armas is the new Bond girl then it kind of confirms that Lea Seydoux may not be in Bond's life for that long unless they want to work in adultery into the story. Either she dies early on or she either leaves him early on or has already left him.

Fields, the thought of Glen directing even now titillates but it would never happen. Not with this current mob in charge. I mean I read last week during my 'hiatus' that Harris says the women in the film are more empowered or some such that the Bond of old has met his match or outclassed or some such. There's more chance of a new Dalton Bond me-fears.

Strangways&Quarrel wrote:

Just saw that article about the intimacy coach. If true then that's quite something. You'd think if you signed on either to be Bond or the Bond girl then you'd probably be at least a little okay with doing sex scenes. And if the article is true and Ana De Armas is the new Bond girl then it kind of confirms that Lea Seydoux may not be in Bond's life for that long unless they want to work in adultery into the story. Either she dies early on or she either leaves him early on or has already left him.

As I say it's probably Babs virtue signalling. Or, someone there watched Spectre and realised how awkward Craig was with Seydoux so is trying to relax him.

Your post gave me a thought. What if, and damn I hope it's not the case, Seydoux leaves Bond when he decides to go back into the field, has his flings, realises that she's the one he loves, then goes back to her at the end of the movie? Arc complete. In the words of the great Tiff, "eeek!"

Hilly wrote:

Fields, the thought of Glen directing even now titillates but it would never happen. Not with this current mob in charge. I mean I read last week during my 'hiatus' that Harris says the women in the film are more empowered or some such that the Bond of old has met his match or outclassed or some such. There's more chance of a new Dalton Bond me-fears.

But even Dalton had a bevy of poolside babes...

Even Dalton would be considered too oversexed for the current movie climate. Although they always say the same thing about the Bond girls for each movie that this is the one where they are totally different from the last in that they are empowered or a match for Bond or whatever. I know we live in different times but I still say it's probably just hype. If Madeleine is their idea of an empowered Bond girl then that is a definite laugh from me.

Also, gotta say that Tiffany reaction is perfect. Sadly that idea can't be ruled out though.

Strangways&Quarrel wrote:

Even Dalton would be considered too oversexed for the current movie climate. Although they always say the same thing about the Bond girls for each movie that this is the one where they are totally different from the last in that they are empowered or a match for Bond or whatever. I know we live in different times but I still say it's probably just hype. If Madeleine is their idea of an empowered Bond girl then that is a definite laugh from me.

Also, gotta say that Tiffany reaction is perfect. Sadly that idea can't be ruled out though.

Absolutely. I find the overt sexual nature of Sylvia Trench to be much more empowering for women than whatever Madeleine Swann is intended to represent. Not to mention, Tanya, Pussy, Domino, Fiona-- even Tilly have a level of empowerment about them. Madeleine Swann behaves like a brat most of the time, until she plays dress ups on the train and tries to act like a grown up. We all know it's water in that martini glass, darling.

I always wondered why Dalton was considered the "sexless" Bond, when he has to birds fighting over him right until the last scene in his second film.

Intimacy coach story is from the Sun, tread carefully!

Strangways&Quarrel wrote:

Either she dies early on or she either leaves him early on or has already left him.

Seydoux has given an interview, stating she has yet to start shooting. She's currently working on a film in Hungary. So, this could mean Madeleine doesn't make it past the PTS, which is supposed to be set in Matera, Italy, and filming doesn't take place there until much later in production.

The women of the early films were extremely liberating for the times and thankfully at least some critical works have underlined this fact finally. I mean you have sexually awakened, strong female characters who are in control of themselves and are 007's equal for their scenes in 1962 for DN when in comparison in the same years there was NOTHING like that! These gals were bold and striking and sexy because they were strong and independent not because it was gal to shag in Reel 3.

Sylvia Trench and Miss Taro are fantastic characters who are flipsides of the other. In a way I'm sad Sylvia was axed when Young left because I think it would have given the screen Bond more dimensionality which was lost when the concept of making Bond a ladykiller on screen was done to cinematically suggest his love of the ladies that was more deeply felt in the novels. While the sex is a core part of the appeal-Fleming always wrote of the erotic and sensual qualities of people in situations that went alongside making the reader actually LIKE the heroines and thus the sexuality is born out of the tensions between Bond and gal as in any good story. This has never quite made it to the films and it is my one big gripe with the series as a whole since the female characters are always shortchanged. I love many of the women in the films but it is always more of they have to shag at this point in the runtime rather than they do because they actually want to.

I've had to defend myself many times but in 1962 to have a girl onscreen who was feisty and alone and MURDERED HER RAPIST...how do you get much stronger than that?? Sure Honey was not fully experienced in the ways of the world due to her upbringing and orphaning but she was a strong character-especially in the context of the time! And she doesn't bat an eye during her inescapable death by slow torture!

Again you don't need "sex scenes". Good lord the thought of a "sex scene coach". What the literal hell. The sexual tension should be felt during the story and thus the famed intelligent cutaway was born. As I've grown older I've come to realize the Bonds just haven't been sexy in the manner of Fleming's charged atmosphere outside of Young's work. They just aren't. Nothing cinematically has the charge of FRWL, Bond's flat with the near naked Sylvia, the danger tinged Miss Taro's bungalow or Fiona gripping the bars of the bed. There is more charge and sexual energy in Terence's three films than the rest of the series combined. That said I love the emphasis on romance in Dalton's era because that is more fitting to Fleming and I like elements of the Brosnan era trysts because they are trying to develop character in them but I always feel something isn't quite right.

But good lord nothing ever comes close to Fleming. I especially love the scenes between Bond and heroine where nothing happens-but the relationship is there. And gosh darn it wouldn't it be great to one day finally be able to use the ending of Moonraker with Gala? Ah, I can dream can't I?

I'm just tired of Bond Girls this and they need to be more empowered that. They need to ante up and hire real actresses and write good characters to give them something to do! They currently have at least two stunning good actresses who could do good work in B25 but given that one was wasted in Spectre and will probably be tossed in the Mathis dumpster I don't have any hope for any of the gals as per usual.

Excellent post sir! Agreed on all counts except that I think sex drips off the screen in OHMSS, GE, TND and TWINE in a similar manner to that of DN, FRWL and TB.

Oh and this:

HGTB wrote:

I like elements of the Brosnan era trysts because they are trying to develop character in them but I always feel something isn't quite right.

Only your thinking that something is wrong.

Imagining a 60s-era 'intimacy coach' - 'Whatever you do, for God's sake try not to snag any of your jewellery in Sean's chest hair dear. He's grumpy enough as it is'.

Maybe they can get a stunt coach as well because it's been lacking, especially where the cars are concerned.

I must confess earlier I was more preoccupied with what Aston Bond will drive in the new film above all else. I think the last great stunts involving the cars (in his era) would be the roll in Casino Royale and then the QOS PTS.

Still, I know Aston don't mind but I'd get a bit put out if hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of car were blown up/trashed every time. Except for Lazenby's DBS, all of Bond's Aston's have gone the way of the Dodo.

I think in most cases they're just Aston shells and not the full car. Still, not good for branding I imagine, but then again, it is James Bond.

BI wrote:

Imagining a 60s-era 'intimacy coach' - 'Whatever you do, for God's sake try not to snag any of your jewellery in Sean's chest hair dear. He's grumpy enough as it is'.

"Besides, where do you think the hair for his toupee comes from?"

And a new update:

007.com wrote:

Bond 25 production today announced Daniel Craig will be undergoing minor ankle surgery resulting from an injury sustained during filming in Jamaica. Production will continue whilst Craig is rehabilitating for two weeks post-surgery. The film remains on track for the same release date in April 2020.

So far I've heard nothing about what Bond films used to be known for, great action sets.

Will other franchises, esp MI and F&F leave Bond trailing again? The bar has been raised and all I've seen so far is Craig in shorts and legs which don't look tanned at all.

bitchcraft wrote:

So far I've heard nothing about what Bond films used to be known for, great action sets.

Will other franchises, esp MI and F&F leave Bond trailing again?

Probably. You'd think Rogue Nation and Fallout would have kicked them into gear.

bitchcraft wrote:

The bar has been raised and all I've seen so far is Craig in shorts and legs which don't look tanned at all.

He's shooort and he's light
And like a shark he looks for money
That's why he's the energizer bunny
Mr. Ankle Break Wrist Slashhh.

Watching the new run of Grand Tour episodes showing off the new DBS and Bentley made me realize 007 could be in either one and still this is more dramatic than anything they would do with them. Aston announced a special limited OHMSS DBS edition to match the 69 car for some reason. Looks nice but again how would a civil servant or government department ever afford this stuff?

Honestly the Bond chases really have never been up there with the greats because if they really get moving its just a setpiece or not the important element going on. From a car standpoint the best is the FYEO Citroen chase due the Glen working well with Remy Julienne. The best overall is TLD for having every element and remaining relatively straight laced. The most iconic is GF but that gets cut off quickly and they had to cut around the DB5's oddities. TSWLM has reat moving shots but is more about performance and getting Nellie wet. TND is fun but is held in the car park and doesn't build tension in the way of a more typical chase, but I like it for being different.
And for being a simple fun bit the GE chase is shot and cut so damn well that is a bloody marvelous thing.

But the best car bit period I think is actually Dr. No-because it is based on performance and inherent danger despite being done entirely on a process screen. Sure I hate the cutaways to the same stretch of road but the sequence is properly built up and executed and Sean's facial reactions are genius-and it remains dark and brutal as it should be.

You know it's only now dawning on me how long Vic Armstrong has been gone. It's quite obvious in fact. Each time I think they cannot make a worse or more boring or less inspired action sequence I'm proven sorely wrong. As bad as the opening of QoS was at least it was over quickly and not like the unending openers to follow. And we thought we had it bad when TWINE went 14 minutes for the PTS...

Blunt Instrument wrote:

Imagining a 60s-era 'intimacy coach' - 'Whatever you do, for God's sake try not to snag any of your jewellery in Sean's chest hair dear. He's grumpy enough as it is'.    

Heck that sounds like Young or Gilbert almost..."now don't knock the toupee dear..."

I'm perhaps easier to please when it comes to Bond car chases because I think there's some excellent examples in this series though maybe it's mere preference to this franchise than others. One of the few times outside of Bond I've really dug a car chase is in Ronin. But nothing springs to mind as quickly as that.

The Goldfinger, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, The Man With The Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, The Living Daylights, Goldeneye and Die Another Day all have excellent car chases as far as I'm concerned.

You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever and Octopussy all have flashes of iconic brilliance but just aren't up to scratch.

For Your Eyes Only and Tomorrow Never Dies are the two best.

Wish I could say the same thing.

The car chase (Bond/Hinx) in SPECTRE was hyped for months...was supposed to put F&F to shame....instead, I get a better high from a kid's SCALEXTRIC set...it was THAT bland.

Looks like the car and other vehicle stunts in the upcoming Hobbs and Shaw will do it better...

Spectre's chase was rubbish. Looked pretty but there was no danger and the music, for most part, left a lot to be desired. The car chase in Johnny English 3 was better (which by the by, I noticed in the credits was directed by Vic Armstrong!).

Craig's 2-week recuperation will of course include June 1st, when his beloved Liverpool will be playing in the Champions League final.

Not that I'm suggesting he deliberately crocked himself in order to have the time off to watch it .

Blunt Instrument wrote:

Craig's 2-week recuperation will of course include June 1st, when his beloved Liverpool will be playing in the Champions League final.

Not that I'm suggesting he deliberately crocked himself in order to have the time off to watch it .  

Not at all. He's never given fans any reason to believe he's not into his job.