Skyfall contains 'one use of strong language' ...

... according to the 'content box' next to the 12A certification on the posters, and a caption in the trailers too. Well, we all know what that means ... somebody says 'fuck' at some point.

Was just wondering how y'all feel about that ... doesn't overly bother me personally, but was wondering if others saw it as an unfortunate coarsening of language in the Bonds which they have (for the most part) avoided, unlike other action-thriller franchises down the years.

'Course, Fleming has Bond tell Goldfinger to go eff himself ... given the restrictions of the times, the word couldn't actually appear in print. But it's clear what's being said.

I'm alright with it as long as they don't turn it into a habit. Bond should only curse in extreme situations. Let John McClane spew out the words in every other sentence, but leave Bond's vocabulary relatively curse free.

Blunt Instrument wrote:

... according to the 'content box' next to the 12A certification on the posters, and a caption in the trailers too. Well, we all know what that means ... somebody says 'fuck' at some point.

Was just wondering how y'all feel about that ... doesn't overly bother me personally, but was wondering if others saw it as an unfortunate coarsening of language in the Bonds which they have (for the most part) avoided, unlike other action-thriller franchises down the years.

'Course, Fleming has Bond tell Goldfinger to go eff himself ... given the restrictions of the times, the word couldn't actually appear in print. But it's clear what's being said.

I'll be disappointed if they use the "F" word. It's a lowering of standards and a total abandonment of the idea that these films are still somewhat 'family entertainment.' I mean, if they're going to start coarsening up the language, why bother going for the PG-13/12A rating? Why not show explicit sex scenes, explicit nudity, maybe a little penetration? Go for a hard-R rating or an NC-17?!?

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

a total abandonment of the idea that these films are still somewhat 'family entertainment.'

Bond really shouldn't be for children. That reminds me of Dalton in that EVERYTHING OR NOTHING doc, talking about parents complaining to him "this is terrible! I can't take my six and seven year-olds to these anymore!" and his response "well they were never meant for six and seven year-olds!"

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

I'll be disappointed if they use the "F" word. It's a lowering of standards and a total abandonment of the idea that these films are still somewhat 'family entertainment.' I mean, if they're going to start coarsening up the language, why bother going for the PG-13/12A rating? Why not show explicit sex scenes, explicit nudity, maybe a little penetration? Go for a hard-R rating or an NC-17?!?

Bond films ceased being family entertainment in 1987.

I thought Bond being adult fantasy was common knowledge. It only became 'family entertainment' during Moore's tenure.

Depends on how it fits into the film.

I'd hate to see Bond randomly throwing around "fuck" and "shit" in future films, just to get some snickering from the kids in the audience.

I've never had a problem with Bond not cursing. I think it separates him from the generic action heroes in the cinema today.

Python wrote:

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

a total abandonment of the idea that these films are still somewhat 'family entertainment.'

Bond really shouldn't be for children. That reminds me of Dalton in that EVERYTHING OR NOTHING doc, talking about parents complaining to him "this is terrible! I can't take my six and seven year-olds to these anymore!" and his response "well they were never meant for six and seven year-olds!"

I agree that they aren't for little children, but around the teenage years, maybe pre-teen years, the kids will be interested in seeing the movies and I'd like to be able to hold on to one film series as reasonable "family entertainment" without having to worry that the movies have now gone too far into sex, violence, and vulgarity in order to keep up with the competition. 007 is what he is, but I don't think he's classless and base, which is what using the "F-word" entails. I can excuse away some of the vices Bond has (smoking, drinking, promiscuity, contempt for mundane living) because he puts his life on the line to save the world and defeat the bad guys, but I would no more excuse away him using the "N-word" or the "C-word" or being cruel to animals than I would be comfortable with him dropping the F-bomb on audiences. Bond is already become somewhat thuggish and rough around the edges in the Craig era; I don't want to see that taken any further.

Ever since Krest's head exploded in that decompression chamber and Xenia came while when breaking a man's spine, Bond films stopped being suitable for sitting down bloated, pissed or hungover with the family on Thanksgiving/Christmas/Boxing Day.

Do we know for sure it's 'fuck'? I didn't think you got away with that in a 12A?

Ravenstone wrote:

Do we know for sure it's 'fuck'? I didn't think you got away with that in a 12A?

i can't speak for the British ratings system, but you can use the word in America in films rated as little as PG. TOP GUN got away with it three times. In the opening sequence, when Maverick is trying to spook the MiG and make it go away, he says: "Fuck up, baby. Fuck up baby. Come on, fuck up baby." Later there were uses of the word dick, pussy, and "johnson". Not quite sure how that film didn't get at least a PG-13 rating.

I remember SOAPDISH used "fucking" twice. Sally Field: "Who am I? Gloria-fucking-Swanson?", and later Robert Downey-Junior:"This is fucking great"

That's why the MPAA's rating of SKYFALL as PG-13, even with the description of why it was rated that way, still doesn't tell me much. It's rated PG-13 for "violence, language, sexuality and smoking". At least with the British Board you're getting a sense that the language in SKYFALL is stronger than it has been in other Bond films. Sounds like 007 is joining the "F-word" club. Cubby Broccoli would be ashamed of Barbara right now, but since he can't be I'll do it for him :(

Looking up the rating meaning, it doesn't seem to actually stipulate the level of swearing. I hope it isn't 'fuck', at least not uttered by Bond anyway.

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

Cubby Broccoli would be ashamed of Barbara right now, but since he can't be I'll do it for him :(

That shame would turn into kisses when Skyfall rakes in the money...

I'm all for an F word....

Mrs Aural Sects wrote:

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

Cubby Broccoli would be ashamed of Barbara right now, but since he can't be I'll do it for him :(

That shame would turn into kisses when Skyfall rakes in the money...

I'm all for an F word....

FLIPPING BOX OFFICE SUCCES?

Ravenstone wrote:

Looking up the rating meaning, it doesn't seem to actually stipulate the level of swearing. I hope it isn't 'fuck', at least not uttered by Bond anyway.

It's going to be M and you know it.

I heard it was Kincade.

Maybe it is. I know he calls Bond a "jumped up little shit."

And there was me hoping for, "Watch the birdie you bastard."

Ravenstone wrote:

Looking up the rating meaning, it doesn't seem to actually stipulate the level of swearing. I hope it isn't 'fuck', at least not uttered by Bond anyway.

As far as I understand it (and as I said in my initial post) 'strong language' generally means 'fuck' nowadays. 'M/F' and the 'c' word fall under 'very strong', whereas most other terms seem to fall under 'mild to moderate' language.

I won't put it past M to be cussing in Skyfall...

In Casino Royale, I thought she said PRICKS but it was really, "Have you ever seen such a bunch of self righteous, arse covering prigs?"

Toppers wrote:

I thought Bond being adult fantasy was common knowledge. It only became 'family entertainment' during Moore's tenure.

No way a kid is going to take in the girl painted gold and dead without a little upset ... ditto for Quarrel frying.I wasn't even 4 when I saw GF in the cinema and it seriously weirded me out.

Some critics took issue with the first couple of Connery Bonds being classified as less than an 'X' certificate at the time, or so I've read.

Bond needs to be down wiv da kidz. He should also use the phrase "that's so gay" (and not just when referring to Silva).

But nah, I'd tolerate an F-bomb per film if they let the bastard smoke again.

Fleming's Bond used the F-word on many occasions, so I really have no problem with one here-or-there in the future films.

It wouldn't surprise me if it's Silva that says it in Skyfall.