Best lines?

In a script marred by Tamahori's dodgy dialogue, I still think there are some good lines that help shape a more grounded, cynical Bond. 

"Vodka martini. Plenty of ice, if you can spare it."
For Brosnan's delivery and cynicism. Probably my favourite line in the film. 

"...Sorry for the rude awakening"
"I love my country Mr Bond"
"I'd never ask you to betray your people. I'm after a North Korean"
"A tourist?"
"A terrorist."
"One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."
The entire scene's great. But that last line quoted is most interesting to me. 

"You know you're cleverer than you look."
"Still, better than looking cleverer than you are". 

Perfect exchange in the Q/Bond dynamic, and for the Brosnan/Cleese dynamic, too.

"There's a mouthful." - Jinx while overtly eyeing James Bond's penis and scrotum.

FieldsMan wrote:

"One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."
that last line quoted is most interesting to me. 

Outright theft from Harry's Game (1975) by Gerald Seymour.

Perhaps Raoul liked Harry's Game?

There is good material there. Then of course P and W had to go and force the one novel in that hadn't been truly adapted and ruin both simultaneously.

Benson's novelization is far better at maintaining tone and has a great bit among others where Bond acquires cash after breaking out of the boat a'la Ludlum's Bourne.

"One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."

But definitely not any Jinx line...oh dear...
"I'm soooooooo gooooood."

Jinx had horrendous dialogue for most part, but I don't mind the 'Read this, bitch' at the end, and also the 'Of course, most artists are only truly appreciated after they're dead'. 

I imagine Purvis and Wade's original work would have been much more complimentary of the source material, only to be squandered by Tamahori's rewrite and "polish". 

I really like this too:

"This is crazy. You're a 00"
"It's only a number".

Liked Bond reassuring Chang that he wasn't in Hong Kong 'to try and take it back'.

I like that too. 

Just occurred to me we've had three Changs in the series.

Plenty of wangs too.

"Time to face gravity!"

" I think you've been down here too long... " (Brosnan's delivery and look at Cleese)

"You will not to live to see all Korea ruled by the North.
-That's something you and I have in common."

--

I used to be tickled by Graves' "Global warming -such a terrible thing", "The pleasure of the kill is in the chase..."

Edit:

"It seems Mr. Zao has lost himself in Havana. If you find him, say goodbye from us. "

"Time to face gravity" is a bit on the nose for me, but this is coming from someone who likes "Saved by the bell!"

I do like Chang's line. The actor's delivery is probably why, though.

Bond on Hong Kong to the Chinese agent in the hotel, "I'm not here to take it back."

watching Kingsman the Golden Circle with that cyborg arm thing I said out loud: "Armed and dangerous."

Who wore it better?

Lord knows, made my brother laugh but he didn't twig the reference and I didn't correct it. I think GG wore it better, Stephens hammed it up better.

FieldsMan wrote:

Jinx had horrendous dialogue for most part, but I don't mind the 'Read this, bitch' at the end, and also the 'Of course, most artists are only truly appreciated after they're dead'. 

I imagine Purvis and Wade's original work would have been much more complimentary of the source material, only to be squandered by Tamahori's rewrite and "polish". 
.

Agreed. Wait-Tamahori did a rewrite?!?!?!? WHAT?

There's quite a good number of lines throughout upon reflection but primarily heavier in the first third.

"I am peaceful fountains of desire...the masseuse."

My favorite that I use frequently: "I'm checking out."

Yup. Purvis and Wade's original script saw Bond simply in search for the mole who gave him up. (Side notes: initially, I believe the characters were switched - Frost was Gala Brand and wasn't a traitor, and Jinx was --perhaps it was an American who gave Bond up in early drafts. When this switched around, they knew fans wouldn't like Gala being a villain so they created the Miranda Frost name.) 

I think looking at the scenes in Cuba and Hong Kong as most reminiscent of the film Purvis and Wade wanted to tell, particularly the Raoul scenes. Tamahori's rewrites included many excesses that we have today, though thankfully, some didn't stick, such as the codename theory.

It is odd about DAD. Up until Bond returns from Cuba (on a BA 747? Must've skipped over to Miami), the film isn't too bad. Perhaps he should've stayed away from Blighty.

Purvis and Wade find the first half of DAD rather Fleming-ian. I can see that. Wonder what they think of the second half.

On the back of another of your posts, I remembered I say "Just surviving" a lot.

Aye, that surviving line I still get mileage out in real life. Tends to work as a vague answer.

You can't destroy my dreams but my dreams can destroy you!

now, that's harder to work in.

Ha exactly.

Hilly KCMG wrote:

It is odd about DAD. Up until Bond returns from Cuba (on a BA 747? Must've skipped over to Miami), the film isn't too bad. Perhaps he should've stayed away from Blighty.

It went downhill for me after he shaved his beard. Underground when he met jinx. And written off for dead after he went parasurfing on a tidal wave. I've seen better CGI in free on-line FLASH games.

Hilly KCMG wrote:

Aye, that surviving line I still get mileage out in real life. Tends to work as a vague answer.

You can't destroy my dreams but my dreams can destroy you!

now, that's harder to work in.

Whistles uncomfortably...I've done it...at work...more than once...complete with "Time to face destiny!" in a mock accent...I have no shame sometimes...

Then again I do impressions of everything from Ahnuld Mr. Freeze to crazy hermit Ben Kenobi to silly Connery-isms without even realizing it most of the time.


Worst lines: Anything delivered by Jinx primarily...and Frost's dialogue in the M "shes a spy!" reveal scene always seems a bit off. And of course the sex scene that should have never have been shown...and the implication that Jinx is anything like Tracy in that Bond wakes up alone. No movie...just no.

More best lines: "Got your attention."
"Tell it to the concierge."
"Your firing squad should have done the job for me."
"It seems Mr. Zao has lost himself in Havana-if you find him say goodbye from us."
"extending the lifespan of our great leaders..."
The way Brosnan delivers "I'm here for the birds."
"The British spy runs..."

I love Benson's alternate to "you've been down here too long": "I'd heard about the budget cuts..."

I don't mind the Frost/M scene, if only because we get to see another MI6 agent briefed in a similar manner as we've seen Bond in the past 19 films.

But Jinx's dialogue is mostly terrible.

hegottheboot wrote:

Hilly KCMG wrote:

Aye, that surviving line I still get mileage out in real life. Tends to work as a vague answer.

You can't destroy my dreams but my dreams can destroy you!

now, that's harder to work in.

Whistles uncomfortably...I've done it...at work...more than once...complete with "Time to face destiny!" in a mock accent...I have no shame sometimes...

Then again I do impressions of everything from Ahnuld Mr. Freeze to crazy hermit Ben Kenobi to silly Connery-isms without even realizing it most of the time.


Worst lines: Anything delivered by Jinx primarily...and Frost's dialogue in the M "shes a spy!" reveal scene always seems a bit off. And of course the sex scene that should have never have been shown...and the implication that Jinx is anything like Tracy in that Bond wakes up alone. No movie...just no.

More best lines: "Got your attention."
"Tell it to the concierge."
"Your firing squad should have done the job for me."
"It seems Mr. Zao has lost himself in Havana-if you find him say goodbye from us."
"extending the lifespan of our great leaders..."
The way Brosnan delivers "I'm here for the birds."
"The British spy runs..."

I love Benson's alternate to "you've been down here too long": "I'd heard about the budget cuts..."

ha, sure I've worked in the time to face destiny line (which I add is followed by one of the best uses of the Bond theme in the Brosnan era). I used to use "plenty of time to sleep when you're dead" or 'the thrill of the hunt is in the chase' or whatever.

Referring to another post, quite like the dialogue between Bond and M early on. "If I had my way you would still be in North Korea."