Heard on the new Brosnan will not be returning for the next Bond. My vote: Hugh Jackman.

Apparently, Brosnan wanted more money, Brbara Broccoli/EON are on the puts with him over it, and the scriptwriters want a younger actor. Unless there's a reconciliation and an agreement over salary, Brosnan is out.

That's too bad, I like Brosnan in the role a helluva lot and would have loved seeing a fifth film. Otoh, with DAD, they were already pushing it agewise.

The screenwriters are saying they want to lose some of the fx and gadgetry and have a Bond more in the mold of the earlier 007, which would be moving things in the right direction. I thought the balance was good with the first three Brosnans, but DAD was beginning to push the gadgets again.

Brosnan is my fav after Connery. However, I look forward to the franchise reinventing itself yet again. The last Bond film left much to be desired IMHO.

I heard this swap talk before, but I do agree with the gadgets going wild. A car with a cloaking device? That's sci-fi, not action. If it did exist it would be double secret, and they wouldn't put it on some agents car.

The screenwriters are saying they want to lose some of the fx and gadgetry and have a Bond more in the mold of the earlier 007, which would be moving things in the right direction.
I'd be delighted if that happened, but I'd be happier if it happened with Brosnan in the role. He's a great Bond, but I feel he's been overshadowed in his films by the overabundance of gunfights, action and effects. I'd love to see him AS Bond, not just as the guy running around shooting things.

Ditto that John.

I also dislike the idea of casting a younger actor. I think a "master spy" should be a guy who has been around long enough to have learned all the tricks of the trade. A young twenty-something actor would not be credible in that role. Brosnan is the right age: experienced yet able to handle himself in physically damanding situations.

Huzz

They are going to make the new Bond movie a "when he first joined" kinda thing. And the actor to play Bond: Orlando Bloom.

Just my guess.

The screenwriters are saying they want to lose some of the fx and gadgetry and have a Bond more in the mold of the earlier 007, which would be moving things in the right direction.
They tried this before (and with some success I might add) in "For Your Eyes Only." More action, less gadgetry. Blowing up the Lotus at the start of the film and having Bond being chased while driving a Citreon CV was definitely a step in the right direction. If only Roger Moore could have carried the film.

Jim

He did.

It was one of the best Bond films, ever.

Adrian Paul (of Highlander fame) has previously expressed an interest in the role. I think that he would be a good choice. It would be like going back to the earlier Connery-type Bond films.

I always thought that For Your Eyes Only was one of the superior Moor efforts, with Spy Who Loved Me being the best. Monraker was the worst.

I think casting a younger actor in the role would be a monumental mistake. Bond is an elite agent and has achieved that status through years of experience. I have no interest in seeing "the early years."

Am I alone in thinking that Timothy Dalton was a terrific Bond? Since this thread came up, I thought I'd ask. I always thought he achieved that delicate balance between toughness and aristocracy rather well. I was never convinced that Roger Moore could do any serious butt-kicking.

Timothy Dalton was cursed by the productions still being done 'roger moore style'. I liked him as Bond. If I remember right, the author liked him best too.

I loved Dalton in the role,but (as has been said) his first film was written for Moore; his second was apparently written for Bruce Willis :freak:. He'd have been a good, strong Bond if he been allowed to do a classic Bond script written just for him.

Eyes Only is my favorite Moore Bond. Real espionage, few gadgets. More believable that a bunch of real people were doing these things, rather than CG movie characters. Moore was just a tad too old-looking to believe 20-something Melina as a love interest, though. The Topol/Julain Glover subplot - old enemies finally facing each other with Bond only being incidental to their rivalry - was wonderful.

Orlando Bloom?!?! :eek:!

I might be able to take Huge Actman in the role; I like him and he's certainly capable. As long as Q (R?) doesn't fit him with retractable claws as a gag.

I always thought that For Your Eyes Only was one of the superior Moor efforts, with Spy Who Loved Me being the best. Monraker was the worst. The only thing I disagree w/his that Moonraker was his worst. I thought it was a fun film and liked that there was that element of SF thrown in w/the space shuttle and laser weapons. I mean, how many times did we see similar stuff in the Connery flix?

Having said that, I rather like the idea of less SF-type gadgetry involved in Bond flix. A little in each movie is kinda kewel or one movie w/a major gadget or two is also kinda kewel. "Moonraker", tho, was admittedly a bit over the top - upon a bit more reflection. Fun, but over the top.
I think casting a younger actor in the role would be a monumental mistake. Bond is an elite agent and has achieved that status through years of experience. I have no interest in seeing "the early years." "90210 In Her Majesty's Secret Service"...? :rolleyes:
Am I alone in thinking that Timothy Dalton was a terrific Bond? Since this thread came up, I thought I'd ask. I always thought he achieved that delicate balance between toughness and aristocracy rather well. I thought Dalton was great as Bond! Especially in "License to Kill". He was Bond Unleashed & Without Sanction. Using his wits alone and whatever weapons he could pick up along the way and kick backside every step he took. I was actually somewhat disappointed when Q should up and gave him some gadgets, as I'd have loved to see how resourceful Bond - and the writers! - could have really been.
I was never convinced that Roger Moore could do any serious butt-kicking.Yeah. Much as I enjoyed Moore when I was growing up, I always felt he was too much the "wuss" to really be dangerous. Not that I feel he was a horrid Bond, just not a dangerous individual. Especially not in hand-to-hand. He sort of looked like he was afraid he'd break a nail or something.... :D

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The one thing that irritates me most, starting with Diamonds Are Forever, is that everybody knows who Bond is. Like he's a celebrity. "Wow! You're James Bond!"

Am I the only one one liked Lazenby? I'll go back in my corner now.

Timothy Dalton was cursed by the productions still being done 'roger moore style'. I liked him as Bond. If I remember right, the author liked him best too.
Ian Fleming (1909-1964) .... when was the seance held?

I honestly can't see UGLY Bloom being cast.
Clive Owen isn't that top flight handsome all the other Bonds been either.
Jackman & Jude Law are much more successful bigscreen actors than any of the other Bonds before they were invited to the big show.
AICN says Eric Bana.
I'm not a Bond fan tho' I've seen most of 'em.
I've got nothing against Brosnan but in "Goldeneye" and "TND", he runs like a girl.

Well then, somebody said that Fleming would have liked Dalton best, or something.

Ever notice that Q always gives Bond exactly the right gadgets for the mission? How does he know?

Ian Fleming (1909-1964) .... when was the seance held?
Supposedly, Dalton was approached long before he actually accepted the role (probably back following The Lion in Winter), but he apparently thought he was too young at the time. He was probably right.

I always think it is a ploy whenever this "casting a younger actor" rumor surfaces. I believe EON Productions knows that is really not a good way to go. I suspect they throw this out for bargaining power. I hope Brosnan will return for one more.

Qapla'

SSB

Ever notice that Q always gives Bond exactly the right gadgets for the mission? How does he know?
If he told you, he'd have to kill you. ;)

Qapla'

SSB

Well, Dalton was only 18 when Fleming died, and hadn't made a film yet. Lion in Winter, his second film, was made in 1968.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001096/

Actually, Fleming wanted David Niven as Bond. Just because someone is the creator of a work doesn't mean they have the best ideas. Remember, before INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE came out, Anne Rice was trashing it and Tom Cruise. She was throwing her support behind EXIT TO EDEN. Until the films were completed. Then for some reason she did a 180 degree turn.

Ian Fleming (1909-1964) .... when was the seance held?Nice catch.

Hated Dalton (hated him in about everything he did - except possibly "The Rocketeer"). Just too smarmy and smooth.

"Moonraker" was pretty bad but you have to give it thumbs up for really good shuttle liftoff sequences filmed before the real space shuttle left the ground.

Personally, I'd be happy with a new Bond film that doesn't have the words "die" or "never" in the title. Something that actually means something would be nice.

Anyone confirm the rumor that the next one would be a "Casino Royale" 'remake?'

Jim

There was talk about Quentin Tarantino doing a CASINO ROYALE remake, but I don't think it ever got out of the "that would be fun to do" phase.

RW -

I also liked Lazenby in the role. While he may never have any Oscars on his mantle, he did a capable job and definitely looked the part.

As a side note, I had the pleasure of spending some time with Lazenby a couple of years back when he was in San Francisco. He was 62 at the time and I swear the guy could have walked right back on the set and donned the tuxedo. I can only hope to still look that fit when I'm his age. He was a truly nice guy and very down to earth.

Some years ago I heard that EON had finally bought the Casino Royale rights from Columbia. Can anyone confirm this? At the time there was talk of an EON Casino Royale. EON also has the film rights to all the John Gardner novels. This was grandfathered in under the original deal with Fleming/Gildrose. EON also has rights to Colonel Sun(haven't read this since first published, in print?). Also, if they use Gardner novels they can use Blofeld's daughter and the new S.P.E.C.T.R.E. If I understand the court settlement correctly, McClory owns the names Blofeld and SPECTRE, but EON can still use them if they appeared in the novel the film is named after. That is if Austin Powers hasn't made the whole Blofeld/SPECTRE scenario too ridiculous to be taken seriously.

I read years and years ago that Ian Fleming based Bond's physical appearence on his friend musician Hoagy Carmichael.
http://advancing.indiana.edu/img/content/carmichael.jpg


Back when I read Fleming religiously I always thought Donald Sutherland would be a great Bond. That sounds odd unless you realize I'm talking about Sutherland as he was in "Klute", Bond was supposed to be a little tall, gangly, and melancholy, first time I saw "Klute" back in the seventies I thought "Now that guy's James Bond...."
http://sharu-m.hp.infoseek.co.jp/myfavorite/klute.jpg

http://www.americanphoto.co.jp/pages/eiga/KO/Previews/Plans-35698.jpg

The actor I always thought would have been pretty good as Bond : Rod Taylor. Whenever I watch Fantastic Voyage I always picture Stephan Boyd as Bond.

David Niven was Bond, in Casino Royale, with Woody Allen as Jimmy Bond.

Donald Sutherland was an excellent spy in Eye of the Needle. A switchblade was his only gadget.

I read years and years ago that Ian Fleming based Bond's physical appearence on his friend musician Hoagy Carmichael.
I only know him from his Flintstones guest appearance
http://www.dlib.indiana.edu:8080/collections/hoagy/jsp/HoagyView.jsp?id=ATM-MC2-7-1-1-19

http://nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com/photos/hoagy.gif

Fleming described him in each novel as resembling Hoagy Carmichael but with a cruel mouth and cold eyes.

Dalton...loved him as bringing the Fleming character to life, after what Moore did to him. Still, he never could get a handle on Bond's sense of humor. Brosnan does that well...not always the lines, but the delivery. Dalton gave Bond a range of emotions we hadn't seen before, as well as being a credible hardass when needed. Gotta agree withJohn - it's a real shame we never got even one film with him that was written as a Bond espionage flick with Dalton's more mature portrayal in mind.

Lazenby is quite good, and OHMSS is one of the very best of the series. I think some audiences may have been confused by the script having Bond spend so much time masquerading as Hillary Bray - Lazenby would have been better served by introducing him in a film where audiences would see him as the suave debonair tough guy instead of watching him playing a "ponce" for a major portion of screen time.

The Moore era...began with the miserable direction of Guy Hamilton, who also delivered the awful Diamonds are Forever (just how Goldfinger turned out so good under Hamilton, I'll never know). People complain of the horrible camp of the Moore era, and blame Moore himself while letting the other culprits off the hook - culprits who may be more guilty than Moore.

First, Guy Hamilton's love of high camp, bad scripts, and tasteless broad stereotypes. You see the stereotypes in Goldfinger, though at least the movie maintains an evenhanded tone throughout. The rest - the taseteless gags, the camp, the bad scripts all kick into top gear with Diamonds are Forever, a campfest to rival the lowest of Moore's offerings. It must have been what audiences of the day wanted, because it was a success, and Hamilton was kept for the next two.

As campy as the first two Moores were, there are still scenes where Bond shows a ruthless side. That changed with Spy WHo Loved Me, when it was director Lewis Gilbert who felt that Moore was being misused as a tough guy...and instead of molding the actor to the role, he altered the role to fit the actor, and made Bond an agent with a softer, lighter, more whimsical touch. Gilbert did that two films in a row. As much as I love TSWLM as the best of the more fantastical OTT outings, I blame him for convincing Moore that it was the way to go in future entries.

Worst Moore, I gotta vote for both Moonraker and View to a Kill - with the proviso that I actually kinda enjoy Moonraker as a guilty pleasure, in the right mood.

As for age...sorry, I have to disagree with you guys about older Bonds. Don't misunderstand, I don't want a twentysomething, either. Late thirties to mid-forties seems to me to be in keeping with the novels, and is how I imagine the character. Remember, he exists filmically in a nebulous, ageless way - no growth in any regard.

Connery was already looking too old by You Only Live Twice, and in DaF just wasn't Bond in any way. Not in looks, not in character. Yeah, that's largely Connery's dislike for the role playing out in attempting to make the character more palatable to himself...but the age factor was also damaging. Nuts, that whole film was a bust but for the John Barry score and titles sequence. My nominee for worst Bond ever, alongside Moonraker and AVtaK.

Age also was an issue for Moore. Moore's best two were Spy and Eyes Only, Spy for the best fantasy Bond and Eyes as his only decent serious 007 film. Still, Eyes is not perfect. Moore is a little too old for me in it, among other problems ("it's a nose, Q, not a banana.")

DaD was a very mixed bag for me, with much that I liked and much that didn't work. Brosnan still looked good, but was right on the ege of too old for the role...if he makes the next film, I expect he'll be into the same territory as Connery with DaF and Moore with FYEO.

How about going the other way...

Casting Connery as a post-retirement Bond who gets called back in to solve M's murder?

Could do kind of a "Robin and Marion" humor piece with that.

[QUOTE=John P]I loved Dalton in the role,but (as has been said) his first film was written for Moore; his second was apparently written for Bruce Willis :freak:. He'd have been a good, strong Bond if he been allowed to do a classic Bond script written just for him.]
[QUOTE]


No, LIVING DAYLIGHTS was written for a generic to be cast Bond who would NOT be Moore. Maibaum and the other writer (stepson of the producer) have both commented on this a few times.

On the other hand, LICENCE TO KILL was written precisely to fit Dalton's talents and inclinations. Unfortunately those didn't coincide with popular tastes in 89, at least with the way the film was shamefully mismarketed.

I think Dalton's hairline issues and a certain DELIBERATE lack of charisma doomed him in terms of popular acceptance, but as somebody who loves the Fleming novels, I find Dalton to be electrifying and exceptional as Bond. Sean Connery is the icon, and super-impressive in his first few outings, but Dalton was closest to being the man on the printed page.

If they had done a more typical globetrotting Bond for Dalton's third go-round, I think it might have made more money, but I doubt it would have been memorable in any good sort of way. While Brosnan can hold his head up as he suffers through bad scripts (witness TOMORROW NEVER DIES and DIE ANOTHER DAY), I think integrity issues would really mess with Dalton's performance if he were in films that lame. Brosnan's best Bond - TAILOR OF PANAMA!

Some years ago I heard that EON had finally bought the Casino Royale rights from Columbia. Can anyone confirm this? At the time there was talk of an EON Casino Royale. EON also has the film rights to all the John Gardner novels. This was grandfathered in under the original deal with Fleming/Gildrose. EON also has rights to Colonel Sun(haven't read this since first published, in print?). Also, if they use Gardner novels they can use Blofeld's daughter and the new S.P.E.C.T.R.E. If I understand the court settlement correctly, McClory owns the names Blofeld and SPECTRE, but EON can still use them if they appeared in the novel the film is named after. That is if Austin Powers hasn't made the whole Blofeld/SPECTRE scenario too ridiculous to be taken seriously.

Yes, in a gross miscarriage of justice, Eon owns all rights to THUNDERBALL and the McClory/Bond stuff now, leaving Kevin McClory out in the cold yet again. Eon also owns CASINO ROYALE, but that isn't the loss. Obviously the company with the biggest lawyers wins. McClory does not own spectre or anything anymore, and it is a crying shame.

I haven't listened to the commentaries on the Bond films yet, but Living Daylights was written with a light, campy touch which is still somewhat evident in the finished film (so very happy the "flying carpet" gag was cut!). Whatever thought went into the writing, Brosnan was hired straight off the presumed-cancelled Remington Steel - where he had exactly the light comic touch that Moore had had as Bond. We have statemeents from many involved that the Daylights script had to be retuned to fit Dalton, so it's an easy if uninformed guess that Brosnan was intended to continue the same kind of light touch as Moore and the Remington character - serious stories, same dumb jokes and camp tone.

My thought has always been that Dalton deserves more credit for forcing the series to move away from the lighter touch - or at least, pushing in that direction farther than the producers and writers were ready to go in spite of their hype. The writers always said that was their own plan, but their results seemed more like half-measures...e.g., Octopussy.

I think a younger Bond is a good idea so they can stay with the role longer and be more believable in physical stunts. George Lazenby (a fine Bond) was only 29 when he filmed OHMSS!!! And Connery started in his early 30's. You just need to find an actor who looks and acts mature for his age (no easy task, but worth the undertaking).

Oh, and please, please bring back John Barry to do the score before it's too late.

Yes! Bring back Barry! It doesn't seem ther same without him. I have never liked the non-Barry scores going all the way back to Live And Let Die. To me , he's the only one who can get it right. Yea, some of the theme songs may not have been that great, but the theme itself, played throughout the film is great. Even his non-Bond stuff is great, and has the Bond feel to it. The Chase, Ipcress File, Midnight Cowboy, Out of Africa, Dances with Wolves, Raise the Titanic, Somewhere in Time. The one song I hate is Born Free, but the film's score itself is great. How old is he now?
A Bond song he DIDN'T write sums it up best- "Nobody Does It Better"

Connery was already looking too old by You Only Live Twice, and in DaF just wasn't Bond in any way. Not in looks, not in character. Yeah, that's largely Connery's dislike for the role playing out in attempting to make the character more palatable to himself...but the age factor was also damaging. Nuts, that whole film was a bust but for the John Barry score and titles sequence. My nominee for worst Bond ever, alongside Moonraker and AVtaK.
I kind of enjoy Diamonds are Forever, but mainly for this reason:

http://www.sol.no/multimedia/archive/02115/jill-st-john_2115738a.jpg
http://www.tiscali.co.uk/gambling/galleries/bondgirls/images/large/bondgirl12.jpg

There isn't a single thing I DON'T like about Jilll St. John, and I can watch her aaaallllll day, no matter HOW bad the film might be.

Let's not forget Lana Wood. Real name Svetlana Nikolaevna Zakharenko

Measurements: 36C/D-24-35 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Said that she had to stand on a box during most of her scenes with Sean Connery in "Diamonds Are Forever" because even with high heels she was too short to fit into the camera frame with him.

She was also in both 1979 Captain Americas'.

Not even one photo at IMDb.

Here's one exuding confidence;

http://www.jamesbond007.net/galerie/Lana2.html

... and sister of Natalie Wood, I believe. Very confident girl!

I didn't know there was a pool down there. :lol:

... and sister of Natalie Wood, I believe. Very confident girl!
OH yes. Natalie is very high on my list of favorite actresses, and one of the most beautiful women, like, ever.

If you really like Lana Wood, and feel industrious, track down a December '71 Playboy. There is an article on Diamonds Are Forever and nude photos of Miss Wood.

Wanna laugh?

Over at Trebbs (dot com) they're discussing this (in the general SF/F section). The thread is currently in a huge tangent about racism, 'cause someone suggested a black actor be cast as Bond. Almost the instant someone said Bond isn't black, he's white, the accusations of racism started flying.

Let's, uh ... not do that here, 'kay?

please, please bring back John Barry to do the score before it's too late.
Barry wasn't dropped from the Bond "team" -- he left of his own accord. I suspect he'd be welcomed back if he wanted to return.

Qapla'

SSB

If you really like Lana Wood, and feel industrious, track down a December '71 Playboy. There is an article on Diamonds Are Forever and nude photos of Miss Wood.

There's a bad low budget movie called "Succubis" where Lana Wood has a fairly memorable hot tub scene, Joe Bob Briggs had it on his show once.

I'm not sure that Brosnan was getting too old for the role, but I am sure that there's been a visible age mismatch when it comes to who plays the Bond Girl. IMHO the producers are too quick to cast the "it" girl and pay no attention that their casting choice makes their leading man look bad. As hot and as talented as she is, Halle Berry was too young-looking to play opposite Brosnan, and the choice to use Denise Richards was extremely ridiculous, her inability to act notwithstanding.

Because of that, I think that the suspension of disbelief for the audience is seriously tested. "I can believe the invisible car AND the laser-guided missile hidden in the watch, but I can't believe Denise Richards would go out with that old man".

José

but I can't believe Denise Richards would go out with that old man".

José

I found Denise Richards as a nuclear physicist a much harder leap...

but I can't believe Denise Richards would go out with that old man".

José
Hell, she married Charlie Sheen. He's probably about 60 in party years.

I found Denise Richards as a nuclear physicist a much harder leap...

Well, again, her inability to act notwithstanding. I can believe real-life nuclear physicists to be Denise Richard's age. I can't believe her as a nuclear physicist. It was obvious that she was miscast, and the gap in age just made it stand out that much more. She probably got the role because Denise was "it" at the time.

Hell, she married Charlie Sheen. He's probably about 60 in party years.

:lol: I'd put it closer to 90 in party years :tongue:

José

My favorite Bond was Woody Allen... only film with a repeat Bond girl, too... and no complaints from me!

I can believe real-life nuclear physicists to be Denise Richard's age.
Not likely, unless she was a prodigy. I don't know how old she actually was at the time, but she looked like she would be barely out of grad school, if that. Even if she were out of school, she would hardly have the job responsibilities she has in the film that quickly.

Qapla'

SSB

So far we've had Denise Richards play a brilliant space pilot, and a brilliant nuclear scientist. Yoiks!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000612/
Born in 1971. At the time of TWINE she was 28. :freak: