tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190627334056603500.post6424644810011504480..comments2023-10-19T05:36:56.844-07:00Comments on "Let's Not Talk About Movies": Speculations in the Bond MarketUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190627334056603500.post-66050950429057551492011-04-26T08:31:32.662-07:002011-04-26T08:31:32.662-07:00Right. I think that Craig made a leap from Brosna...Right. I think that Craig made a leap from Brosnan, just as Dalton made a leap from Moore. Brosnan combined elements from everybody and had the skill and timing to pull it off, but I always saw Brosnan's Bond as "weak," even though he'd do something in every film I liked (the "bee-sting" flick of the head as bullets ricocheted nearby in "Goldeneye," the "I belong" walk through the hotel lobby, despite looking like Robinson Crusoe in "Die Another Day."). Brosnan saved the franchise, just as Moore kept it on life-support. <br /><br />I just like for Bond films to surprise me rather than placate me, and the actors playing Bond to toss the cliches—what everyone expects. Only with time and perspective will we see how Craig stacks up...but for me, he delivers even if the movie doesn't. Today, that is. ;)"Yojimbo_5"https://www.blogger.com/profile/12791996320278381516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190627334056603500.post-52164718018958941552011-04-26T00:24:10.322-07:002011-04-26T00:24:10.322-07:00We pretty much match! How funny! I think you have ...We pretty much match! How funny! I think you have alot invested in Daniel Craig. I remember at the time, everyone loved Brosnan and, as soon as CASINO ROYALE came out, everyone double-backed, and said how Brosnan was always the worst James Bond. I reckon, give a little time, we will compare Daniel Craig with Timothy Dalton because both acted with such aggressive and passionate performances. The question is, in time, who will stand up. I think Daniel Craig is not as unqiue as Dalton... I mean, Dalton completely changed the entire Bond persona to a style that, effectively pre-dated Connery... what a shame he only made two.<br /><br />You might be right on Daniel Craig... but we must wait until the next Bond before we can completely judge him on his films alone...simoncolumbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027922399726786918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190627334056603500.post-25748354807757347812010-09-12T10:13:54.826-07:002010-09-12T10:13:54.826-07:00Oh! And Scott? How's the Fam'? Still mag...Oh! And Scott? How's the Fam'? Still magical?"Yojimbo_5"https://www.blogger.com/profile/12791996320278381516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190627334056603500.post-11561189498155304132010-09-12T10:13:03.336-07:002010-09-12T10:13:03.336-07:00Hey, Scott, there's a book that's just com...Hey, Scott, there's a book that's just come out—"The Making of 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'" that should prove to be invaluable in sorting the rumors/myths about this unique (and underrated) film in the Bond series. I'll put an Amazon link to it."Yojimbo_5"https://www.blogger.com/profile/12791996320278381516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190627334056603500.post-55591041246271885722010-09-09T22:06:48.163-07:002010-09-09T22:06:48.163-07:00I duly raise my head from the chopping block to ut...I duly raise my head from the chopping block to utter my last words.<br /><br />"Agree to disagree?" I have no intention of doing any such thing. In fact, my intention all along was to jump ship after you destroyed me and join you on your side. Consider me reformed.<br /><br />And thanks for taking the time to explain all that. I will re-watch it with a keener eye.<br /><br />I do still think that a double breasted and a bowler would have been better than a kilt.... But...aside from that....<br /><br />"Forgive me. My mind was elsewhere."Scottyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01832402905998009382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190627334056603500.post-28341657852605803782010-09-04T11:44:41.095-07:002010-09-04T11:44:41.095-07:00Let me counter-punch, blow by blow (in the manner ...Let me counter-punch, blow by blow (in the manner of OHMSS' fight scenes):<br /><br />-Sean Connery (38/39 at the time) was not too old to play Bond at OHMSS (which had been planned to be filmed after "Goldfinger" AND "Thunderball." For the record Moore was older than Connery (when he did "Diamonds Are forever") when he did his first Bond.<br /><br /><br />-I'm not talking about the Hilary Bray scenes...I'm talking about the extensive re-dubbing to add laugh-lines, and replace Lazenby's on-stage work (much of which was mumbled). Almost half of Lazenby's work was replaced.<br /><br />-The Bray scenes don't comprise 2/3of Lazenby's performance. Far from it. The kilt, to me, is funny, takes a slam at Connery's Scottish roots, and allows for some mis-adventures. That Sir Hilary Bray is gay (it's implied) I like, especially considering that the director, Peter Hunt, was also gay.<br /><br />-Polyester shirt? Bond? Wha...?! <br />The Tracy gun scene is one of two Bond scenes Bond-candidates are required to "nail" when auditioning.<br /><br />-The Draco scene is more than the knife-toss...and it's Draco's scene for exposition, with Bond listening and reacting. Lazenby doesn't react much, and he mumbles his lines, with indifferent line readings ("I find her fascinating..." read in a way that isn't) and he blows the transition from dismissing Draco's marriage "deal" to speculating that Draco could help him in his investigation in exchange for romancing Tracy. That's a complex and slightly churlish transition that a better actor (or, simply, an actor) would do well to negotiate carefully so that Bond doesn't come off as a complete cad (which, frankly, he should be a bit of...Dalton was good at that). Lazenby negotiates it by being as casual as possible. Wrong.<br /><br />-"5-Star Hennessey, of course" Desperate laugh-lines.<br /><br />-"We Have All the Time in the World" has proven to be what John Barry set it out to be...<br />an "evergreen" song, with lasting appeal. It topped the UK charts some 20 years after OHMSS, after it became noticed when it was used in an ad for Guinness (heh). It was Louis Armstrong's last recording, and he was far too weak to play the trumpet part (they didn't even ask him to). I obviously fault a lot (a LOT) in Lazenby's performance. I love Rigg. Who wouldn't?<br /><br />-Laugh-lines in Bond films are either clever or make me wince. They were trying to up the "funny" quotient in OHMSS, to compenmsate. There's a lot of fine writing in OHMSS...the last minute laughs inserted aren't those. They're desperate.<br /><br />-Bond knows what a bullet in the brains does, sure. But his new bride just got shot. C'mooon!<br /><br />- The movie IS a great one, but that's the direction, not Lazenby! The direction tried to compensate for him (as composer Barry says he tried to, by amping up the score) by taking the "Bond" elements to "11," so that they didn't have to depend on Lazenby's performance to prove it was a Bond film.<br /><br />-Agree to disagree on this."Yojimbo_5"https://www.blogger.com/profile/12791996320278381516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190627334056603500.post-2460750180586037482010-09-02T21:15:12.236-07:002010-09-02T21:15:12.236-07:00Allow me just one rambling retort.
I don't th...Allow me just one rambling retort.<br /><br />I don't think that OHMSS should have been done with Connery. I think he was waaaaaaay too old even in You Only Live Twice. I'm glad to see the new blood arrive. When they went back to Connery for Diamonds Are Forever he was really waaaaaaaay tooooooo old!<br /><br />Lazenby was reportedly furious that they didn't use his voice in the Hillary Bray scenes. I have always wished they used his own voice (I think he had a great voice) instead of dubbing in the effete voice. I blame the director for that, not Lazenby. <br /><br />Also, no need to put him in the kilt and such. In the book, recall, Bond wore a double breasted suit (!!) and bowler to strike the foppish image and read the Daily Gleaner or something. I'm sure he didn't do any funny voices. Again, I blame the director for that decision, and can appreciate the rage that filled Lazenby for having to spend 2/3 of his screen time in a damn kilt (no offense, Walaka) and having his voice replaced in post.<br /><br />I think he's a fine specimen of a guy. I love how he wears those (presumably) polyester (or is that silk?) shirts with no undershirt. The scene where Rigg pulls the gun on him and he snatches her wrist and twists her arm -- I think was perfect.<br /><br />I like the office scene with Draco. "But today is the 13th, Commander." "I'm superstitious." <br /><br />The scene with the Saint Bernard. "Enough of that. Go get brandy." <br /><br />Frankly, I don't fault a single moment of his or Rigg's performance. I think that the director should have played Bray more like an Oxxford professor and less like whatever they decided to play him as. And I don't think the Louis Armstrong theme really worked well within the film. <br /><br />Some script points were poor, such as the "he branched off" line. Or the "he had a lot of guts." But that's the writer's fault, not my pal George's.<br /><br />For the death scene. I always thought that he played it as a truly defeated man. He's too intimate with death to flip out about it. He knows what a bullet in the brain does. So, he skips the shock and goes straight to nervous breakdown and denial. What else could he do? Drop to his knees, throw his fists in the air, and shout "NOOOOOOOO"?<br /><br />In summary, although I know that by the mere fact that I am arguing with you, I am clearly wrong, my own personal take was that Lazenby made far fewer mistakes than the directing team. That the movie is a great film and Lazenby's performance, a solid one. Rigg is the greatest Bond girl ever, rivaled only by Green and Andress.<br /><br />You said your list always generates controversy, so I didn't want to let you get away without at least a little bit of a fight.Scottyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01832402905998009382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190627334056603500.post-82559289921213173912010-09-01T20:09:43.812-07:002010-09-01T20:09:43.812-07:00Andrew, my friend: Jude Law is a fine character ac...Andrew, my friend: Jude Law is a fine character actor, but I've yet to see him "carry" a movie—"Cold Mountain" is the closest he's come yet. And I thought he did good work in that sci-fi Corporate Organ movie this year. But Bond? Slight, male-model Law as James Bond? Ewwwwww!<br /><br />Scotty: Much thanks for your faithful following, and your comment. Ramble away. God knows, I do!<br /><br />But Lazenby? He's the BIG flaw in a fine film. He was given GREAT material and did passably with it (those scenes I mentioned notwithstanding), and when I say he was set up to fail, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.<br /><br />But I don't think you can use the fight scenes to defend him...Hunt (who'd previously given the Bonds their jagged edge editing style) shot them to be edited in hard-punching snippets, as opposed to the Young/Hamilton style of long shots-with coverage inserts. When all you've gotta do is throw one punch, then go on to the next set-up, you can make anybody look good..and athletic. I think Lazenby ruined the scene with Marc-Ange Draco, Tracy's father, and the man is just too glib throughout most of the movie. And Hunt (probably at the directive of Harry Saltzman who had problems with accents and was "dub-happy") created a lot of Lazenby's line-readings in the dubbing stage. And I've never bought Lazenby's final scene...sorry...never have. Should have had more shock, and Lazenby played as if he was "in shock." (Granted, the first take, where Lazenby actually produced tears might have been the better selection...we'll never know). I think the producers were trying to match Connery to relieve audience expectations, and in that, they might have cost Lazenby more of a chance to make Bond "his own." At any rate, Connery should have played it...but he wanted to be a partner with Broccoli and Satlzman and both those men thought here was one partner too many already.<br />(And you thought YOU were rambling!)"Yojimbo_5"https://www.blogger.com/profile/12791996320278381516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190627334056603500.post-67281308859679478652010-09-01T17:03:22.009-07:002010-09-01T17:03:22.009-07:00This is well written, and on the money. But, the ...This is well written, and on the money. But, the thing is, I don't judge Lazenby as harshly as you do. As I read along, and agreed so enthusiastically with your other points, I began saying, "well, maybe I'M missing something."<br /><br />Lazenby sounds like a bit of a jerk, who took the role with the intention of doing only one film and being catapulted to glory. Which obviously didn't work.<br /><br />But his performance, I think, was fantastic. No block of wood, although, I can see the point. I thought he was feral and real. Great fight scenes. Lots of emotion creeps into that story and his relationship with Rigg.<br /><br />I, too, despise the "other feller" line. But in general, of all the Bond movies, I rank OHMSS as number 2 or 3. And of the Bonds I CERTAINLY rank Lazenby above Moore. <br /><br />Moore is the worst, hands down.<br /><br />I don't think that Lazenby was set up to fail. I think that he was fighting an uphill battle (as was Craig) but made the situation worse instead of better. But his Bond, was sleek, sexy, tough, compassionate, rebellious, and funny. <br /><br />I like him more than you.<br /><br />Sorry to ramble, and no time to go back and rewrite.<br /><br />Just wanna say, I follow your blog faithfully, and appreciate your work!<br /><br />ScottyScottyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01832402905998009382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190627334056603500.post-31264054085981962252010-09-01T14:03:47.950-07:002010-09-01T14:03:47.950-07:00Hey, what's wrong with Jude Law?Hey, what's wrong with Jude Law?Andrew K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01104647944747041277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190627334056603500.post-50184958234109419812010-08-28T15:32:04.395-07:002010-08-28T15:32:04.395-07:00Jude Law or Ewan McGregor? Ewwww!
And as far as...Jude Law or Ewan McGregor? Ewwww!<br /><br />And as far as Dalton, except for "Sextette," yes."Yojimbo_5"https://www.blogger.com/profile/12791996320278381516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190627334056603500.post-19453433182759880022010-08-28T14:30:02.725-07:002010-08-28T14:30:02.725-07:00I have no feeling about Bond really. Sure, when th...I have no feeling about Bond really. Sure, when they dangled the possibility of Jude Law or Ewan McGregor taking up the role I was all ears, but other than nothing. Timothy Dalton is good in it, but isn't he always?Andrew K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01104647944747041277noreply@blogger.com