The James Bond Thread: RIP Robbie Coltrane

[James Bond]

Craig lent his voice and likeness to Blood Stone as well, in addition to Quantum and GoldenEye. It's funny seeing Brosnan's face in Nightfire yet hearing a totally unrelated voice.

Craig's likeness is used for 007 Legends but unfortunately not his voice. Very disappointing since Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, and Rory Kinnear all lent their voices to it. Carey Lowell voice Pam Bouvier for the Licence To Kill section and Toby Stephens reprises his role of Graves as well for the Die Another Day section. Considering all this voice talent, it's a shame Craig wasn't part of the mix.

I agree - it's funny hearing old Connery against the image of young Connery in the From Russia With Love game. As for your question about a complete weapons list, I'm not sure.

I would have shut down the project if I couldn't get the star to lend a voice. Isn't Daniel Craig a little difficult to work with?

Having watched Licence to Kill recently I really liked Pam as a Bond girl. She had guts but at the same time she can be vunerable but then again she is just an informer only taught to defend herself. She is the first of the tougher Bond girls peaking with Michelle Yeoh but went too far with Halle Berry. I liked Halle but her role was campy as fuck.

Oh and I found a list.

http://en.wikipedia....oductions_films

Also a vehicle list but I am sure it is incomplete.

Good find!

Not sure if Craig is difficult to work with because Michael and Barbara have had nothing but praise for him. In interviews for Bond at least he comes across as very passionate about acting and working in general. I'm guessing the only reason he didn't do the voice for Legends was because it didn't fit into his schedule.

I agree - Pam is an awesome Bond girl. One of the better "tough" ones. I think the biggest problem with Halle's performance in Die Another Day (aside from some of the terrible dialogue she was given) is that she's playing it campy and light yet Brosnan is playing a serious Bond. It's an odd contrast, but the same can be said of the whole movie. Brosnan is trying to be serious but there's so much camp going on around him that it doesn't quite work. Thus, the first half of the film is great and the second half falls apart.

I saw Skyfall. More succinct than Quantum, but not as taut as Casino. Also, you guys need to check out Layer Cake.

Layer Cake is awesome. I made a blind buy when Craig's casting was announced to see what he was like, plus I had heard good things.

[Georgy Zhukov]

I watched Layer Cake and Munich before seeing Casino Royale. Made me feel a lot better about his casting, I wasn't a hater but I was worried how he would stack up compared to the others.

I guess he takes his role so seriously he comes off as grumpy on set. I know George Lazenby was difficult to work with but Cubby offered him a seven picture deal. Interesting to see how the series would turn out after that.

The documentaries on the special edition DVD's are really good! I love one where they featured an interview with Sean Connery's tailor for the films, how the suits were so well made that if they get roughed up they can be fixed in seconds. Terrence Young had Connery sleep in his suit and was amazed how comfortable it was and how the suit still looked fresh. Just in case everyone wondered why Bond always looked good after a fight, it is the well tailored suit.

I never realized that Roger Moore hasn't smoked a single cigarette or drank a vodka martini in his tenure. Dalton brought them back but Brosnan was the first not to smoke. Craig quit just before Casino Royale.

[Powerage5]

One more thing I picked up on:

Maybe this is just a coincidence but in the title sequence, "Judi Dench as M" appears over a tombstone. Seeing how many references there were in the title sequence, I wouldn't be surprised if this was intentional.

Probably not a coincidence. The titles in this film are brilliant and I enjoyed them even more the second time I saw the movie. There's perhaps a little too much going on, so the second viewing definitely helped me pick up on some more of the thematic content. I didn't notice the one you mentioned, good catch!

Also, I liked:

The double meaning of having the "Bond" name on one of the tombstones - Bond's "death" from falling of the train as well as a foreshadowing for his parents graves later in the film.

I've only ever played GoldenEye for N64, I didn't realize that Daniel Craig did the updated version. How are the other video games? Everything Or Nothing looks dumb since it is third person.

Everything or Nothing is great. Third-person works well for Bond's single player because of the smooth cover system, and the other moves like barrel rolls and so forth. It's almost like you're watching a Bond movie. There's also something like 20 missions which made it the longest game since GoldenEye. Multiplayer, of course, needs to be in first-person. GoldenEye set the standard. Tomorrow Never Dies, From Russia With Love, and Blood Stone were also third-person.

Other Bond games? Here's some quick reviews based on the versions I've played:

Tomorrow Never Dies (PS1) - Pretty bad. It's got some nostalgia going for it but it's short, easy, and lacks replay value. No multiplayer either.

The World is Not Enough (PS1) - Okay, but not as good as the Nintendo 64 version (different developer, both different games). No multiplayer.

The World is Not Enough (N64) - Every bit as good as GoldenEye, but sadly overlooked because of the status of the former. Addition of bots in multiplayer was great.

007 Racing (PS1) - avoid this at all costs. It's fucking shit.

Agent Under Fire - solo missions are okay and there's some variety (driving, stealth, shooting). Multiplayer is solid.

Nightfire - great solo campaign though a little short. Again, lots of variety. Amazing multiplayer too - the bots make a return.

From Russia With Love - sadly, this game is overlooked. It's a lot of fun playing in the Connery world, and multiplayer is decent despite being in third-person.

Quantum of Solace - basically Bond on the Call of Duty engine. It's okay. Really should have been called "Casino Royale" since it takes missions from both movies and there's more from that.

Blood Stone - best game since Everything or Nothing. It's a shame they canceled the sequel. Played and felt like a Daniel Craig Bond movie. Great fight mechanics.

GoldenEye (2010) - fun game, like some of the updates, others not so much. Some nostalgia scattered throughout but it's another Call of Duty clone and far too linear.

Have yet to play 007 Legends. I've heard it's absolutely terrible. I'll wait for the bargain bin. It's a shame - it sounded promising but it's yet another wasted opportunity for a Bond game.

Yea, loved the Bond tombstone. One that got pointed out to me was that in the 2 shots of Craig's eyes, the first one is apparently CGI'd, supposed to look like a younger Bond, perhaps when his parents died. The second one is supposed to be a current day, tougher and more-scarred Bond. I'll have to see it again to decide on that one.

I'm sure you caught that one of the red splatters (Think it was blood or something) was the map of the Underground from Silva's PC.

[Georgy Zhukov]

Has anyone seen The American? George Clooney would have made a great Bond if they ever wanted an American. Several Americans have been considered for the role.

[Roush]

I watched Layer Cake and Munich before seeing Casino Royale.

Do you recommend Munich? Haven't seen it.

[Powerage5]

I watched Layer Cake and Munich before seeing Casino Royale.

Do you recommend Munich? Haven't seen it.

Nor have I. I've been meaning to for quite some time though...

[Crazyman]

Jon "Draper" Hamm. I think I already mentioned his name in this thread, too. I think he'd make the perfect American Bond.

Edit: - That was a reply to Georgy. For some reason it didn't let me quote. Also, would you recommend "The American"?

Edited November 25, 2012 by Crazyman

[Roush]

How you guys feel about Mendes getting another stab at the series? Personally, I'm down. I'm a slut for good cinematography. Dunno how much more Craig has in 'em, though.

[Crazyman]

How you guys feel about Mendes getting another stab at the series? Personally, I'm down. I'm a slut for good cinematography. Dunno how much more Craig has in 'em, though.

Craig is signed on for 2 more (I think), which would be the perfect amount for me. I think 4-5 movies per actor is about right.

I would love if Mendes came back for the next one as well.

[James Bond]

I'm all for Mendes returning. Give the success of the movie, I'd be very surprised if they didn't ask him back. I have a feeling they might try to get him for the next two films (the last two Daniel Craig ones). Apparently one of his ideas is what the script John Logan is working on is based on. Craig denied that it'd be a two part movie, but it seems that there will be a story arc that might carry over (Logan has been talking about Blofeld, so perhaps a villain like that that will carry over). They might even be sorting out contracts as we speak. It'll be nice to have a consistent Bond director again for at least a couple of films.

Skyfall Box Office update:

$221.7 million domestic, $568.4 million foreign = $790.1 million worldwide

The fourth highest grossing movie of the year, and it's about to pass Bourne for the domestic record for a spy film.

Yea, loved the Bond tombstone. One that got pointed out to me was that in the 2 shots of Craig's eyes, the first one is apparently CGI'd, supposed to look like a younger Bond, perhaps when his parents died. The second one is supposed to be a current day, tougher and more-scarred Bond. I'll have to see it again to decide on that one.

I'm sure you caught that one of the red splatters (Think it was blood or something) was the map of the Underground from Silva's PC.

I'm happy to say I caught both of those references the first time around. It's a very well done sequence, but my favorite is still the Casino Royale titles.

[appetite4illusions]

The Bond theme wasn't used as much as I would have liked. It seemed almost like a different franchise picture.

[Georgy Zhukov]

Yeah, Skyfall is going to surpass Bourne by the end of the week. It probably needs to make another 20 million to get the attendance. Broccoli and Wilson must be jumping with joy. They are definitely going to want Sam Mendes to return. I believe Skyfall is placed fifth or sixth in Bond films adjusted for inflation. Thunderball remains the highest with over a billion world wide.

To answer everyone's question I would recommend both Munich and The American. But I have to warn you, they are more realistic, epecially Munich. Films like Bond and Bourne have fantasy elements that you forgive, Munich is just straight up honest about the world of espionage, especially in Mossad which is considered the best intelligence agency in the world.

The American, is more of a hitman film. It keeps you in the dark, it is more art house than an action film but it has some intense scenes and Clooney was great. I think he could pull off an American Bond.

Another American that would be good is Josh Brolin, his father James Brolin nearly got the role, anyone who has seen the screen tests can say he would have been a great Bond. I believe they passed him over for Roger Moore just to be safe at the box office. The film was Octopussy.

[James Bond]

Munich is indeed a great film. Craig is great in it too.

The Bond theme wasn't used as much as I would have liked. It seemed almost like a different franchise picture.

I'm glad the Bond theme hasn't been used as much in the last three films. It was way overused in Brosnan's last three movies. Every two seconds in those movies. Made it less special. Casino Royale used the You Know My Name melody as the main theme which I liked as it was much in the vain of the great John Barry who, for the most part, used the Bond theme sparingly throughout his scores. Plus, You Know My Name was based around the three note vamp in the Bond theme anyways so it felt much like the Bond theme anyways. Then of course David Arnold's excellent arrangement of the Bond theme began after Bond shot Mr. White.

Quantum of Solace's score incorporates the Bond theme uniquely throughout so it's not so "in your face" as it was in the Brosnan era. Very tastefully used. Skyfall hinted at it all in most of the action scenes and some other points throughout, but the moment they saved the theme proper (with the guitar riff) for was perfect, as was its use at the end. To me, not using it all the time makes the moments where it's used more exciting.

I never really understood the desire to have the Bond theme multiple times throughout the movie. I'd rather have a specific theme for the movie, which is why I've always liked when the composer is involved with the title song and the title song becomes the main theme throughout the movie. Have the Bond theme for the gun barrel and the credits and use it sparingly throughout, otherwise it loses its effect. Goldfinger, for example, only uses the Bond theme for the gun barrel. The title song provides the musical theme for the rest of the score. The same is true for most of the John Barry scores. I'd hardly consider Goldfinger not a Bond movie because of it!

Edited November 26, 2012 by James Bond

[Georgy Zhukov]

Eric Bana was also a Bond contender. Craig was great but most people wouldn't believe him as Jewish . His role was comedic. After seeing Casino Royale, I begin to see him everywhere. He plaid an assassin in Elizabeth, the bad guy in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Ted Hughes in Sylvia, that fuck up in Road to Perdition, the paranoid inmate in The Jacket, the random American soldier in the Hungarian film about the Holocaust, Fateless. Layer Cake was his break out role.

Shit I should finish watching Cowboys & Aliens.

I am with James Bond on the use of Bond theme. It is nice to have a theme where you can hum along to but it should be used in special moments. It was used in Skyfall in a moment where people in my theater were very happy to see. If there's one thing I want to see is the next one to begin with the gun barrel sequence.

The best scored Bond film is On Her Majesty's Secret Service. What a beautiful score.

[Crazyman]

The best scored Bond film is On Her Majesty's Secret Service. What a beautiful score.

I agree. I think John Barry agrees too, iirc.

[Georgy Zhukov]

I am going to watch From Russia With Love today. Last film John F. Kennedy ever saw.

[Powerage5]

I'm all for Mendes returning. Give the success of the movie, I'd be very surprised if they didn't ask him back. I have a feeling they might try to get him for the next two films (the last two Daniel Craig ones). Apparently one of his ideas is what the script John Logan is working on is based on. Craig denied that it'd be a two part movie, but it seems that there will be a story arc that might carry over (Logan has been talking about Blofeld, so perhaps a villain like that that will carry over). They might even be sorting out contracts as we speak. It'll be nice to have a consistent Bond director again for at least a couple of films.

Skyfall Box Office update:

$221.7 million domestic, $568.4 million foreign = $790.1 million worldwide

The fourth highest grossing movie of the year, and it's about to pass Bourne for the domestic record for a spy film.

Yea, loved the Bond tombstone. One that got pointed out to me was that in the 2 shots of Craig's eyes, the first one is apparently CGI'd, supposed to look like a younger Bond, perhaps when his parents died. The second one is supposed to be a current day, tougher and more-scarred Bond. I'll have to see it again to decide on that one.

I'm sure you caught that one of the red splatters (Think it was blood or something) was the map of the Underground from Silva's PC.

I'm happy to say I caught both of those references the first time around. It's a very well done sequence, but my favorite is still the Casino Royale titles.

Agreed, Casino Royale is my favorite title sequence, but Skyfall is probably my second favorite.

[Georgy Zhukov]

I should find a way to contact wikipedia and tell them to edit their Bond weapons page.

He used an Heckler & Koch KH416, an improved version of the M4 Carbine.

[Powerage5]

Does anyone else here know Patrick McGoohan was originally one of Fleming's top choices to play Bond pre-Dr. No, and he declined it?

[Georgy Zhukov]

I think he declined because he found the role too promiscuous. I heard a rumor Roger Moore was one of Fleming's choices but I think they got Fleming confused with Cubby.

The list of considered is a really long list.

[Georgy Zhukov]

I am calling it. Skyfall will hit a $1 billion

http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bond23.htm

[James Bond]

He also asked his friend Noel Coward to play Dr. No. It's a neat little story - Fleming himself sent a telegram to Coward, who replied "Dr. No? No! No! No!" and nothing more.

The old rumor is that Fleming saw Roger in The Saint and thought he'd make a good Bond for Dr No. The dates don't line up though because Dr. No was already shooting when The Saint premiered. I think people get confused with Cubby and Harry. It's true that they considered Roger, as they had known him for a long time at that point, but not Fleming. I'm not sure how seriously they considered him at the time, as he technically would have just signed for The Saint, but Harry liked to play up in interviews for Live and Let Die that Roger was always on their minds. Probably a mix of the truth and him trying to promote the current Bond.

It's looking like $1 billion might not be out of the question. Initially I figured a worldwide run of $850 million or so would be about right, but now I'm second guessing. The box office for this film still amazes me.

[Georgy Zhukov]

If you look at the weekend drop it is only 13% which is not bad. I would say realistically it would hit $950 million. $1 billion is still a huge possibility. Give it a few weeks before The Hobbit knocks it out of the park. Looks like Twilight has already delfated. If the drop keeps at a slow pace, I wouldn't doubt this will make past 950 million. As long they keep promoting the film and the WOM is strong.

I watched the documentary on Harry, his kids must have had the best childhood. They got to meet three of the James Bonds, as well as Peter Sellers, Mick Jagger, Michael Caine. One of the daughters friends feinted at the sight of them. Who feints anymore?

Edited November 28, 2012 by Georgy Zhukov

[James Bond]

$900 million is a certainty, anything else is a bonus. It's done very well in any event. If the existing markets push it past $900 million, as Box Office Mojo says, it'll be up to Japan and China to push it over $1 billion.

Imagine that though, all those celebrities are more or less your neighbors who come to visit regularly.

I found a Dr. No reference in Skyfall from reading around:

The painting that the guy Patrice kills is looking at is Amedeo Modigliani's Woman with a Fan which was stolen from Museum of Modern Art in Paris in May of 2010. This is likely a reference to Dr. No having the famous Goya Duke of Wellington portrait in his lair which had been stolen previously. A little in-joke with the producers that Dr. No was the one who had stolen it.

[Georgy Zhukov]

Nice reference!

I didn't know it didn't open in Japan yet. Japan has a huge market. I don't know how much box office China is, but Skyfall is politically safe for China.

I never noticed how unBond the flower shirt Daniel Craig wore in the beginning of Casino Royale. In Skyfall he was more Bond style.

Edited November 28, 2012 by Georgy Zhukov