Best Bond?

[Meta not Meta]

I saw the new one last night.

Quite a bold film – but whether you like it or not will very much depend on how you feel about the radical departure of the Craig years in general, with all the soul-searching angst and attempts at psychological complexity that were completely absent (give or take a moment or two) in the escapist fun of the first twenty films, from Connery to Brosnan.

If nothing else No Time to Die is bound to be the most debated film in the series ….

But for one or two quibbles, I mostly loved it!

 

[charmer_]

I assume that is sarcasm lol

Why sarcasm? It's a great and typical title for a Bond movie.

 

[TheJames101]

Why sarcasm? It's a great and typical title for a Bond movie.

It's a lazy generic title for a Bond movie.

 

[Skym]

Idris Elba, imo

 

[Meta not Meta]

Idris Elba, imo

Funnily enough, there's an Idris Elba lookalike in the new one, which must be an in-joke reference to all the talk of him becoming Bond, I would think ... but in truth, he'll be way too old for any future reboot.

 

[Meta not Meta]

Why sarcasm? It's a great and typical title for a Bond movie.

And it makes perfect and very specific sense in the context of the film.

 

[Carmine Falcone]

I saw the new one last night.

Quite a bold film – but whether you like it or not will very much depend on how you feel about the radical departure of the Craig years in general, with all the soul-searching angst and attempts at psychological complexity that were completely absent (give or take a moment or two) in the escapist fun of the first twenty films, from Connery to Brosnan.

If nothing else No Time to Die is bound to be the most debated film in the series ….

But for one or two quibbles, I mostly loved it!

Thought it was a LOT better than Spectre. There are some radical Bond departures specific to the character, but I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

Overall, it calls back a whole lot to a previous fan favorite. A bunch of music from this past movie was in No Time To Die, as well as themes from that movie. It even upends a main plot point from this movie. If you haven't caught the hints from the first scenes with Bond & Madeline of what the previous movie was, it will be very obvious by the time you see the second classic Aston Martin.
Oh the Billie Eilish song was very throwaway. Definitely not one of the memorable Bond theme songs.

Finally, Ana De Armas was lovely as always. Since she's yummy, you should know she was topless in some Netflix movie where she & some other woman torture Keanu Reeves (can't remember the name of the movie right now)

 

[charmer_]

Finally, Ana De Armas was lovely as always. Since she's yummy, you should know she was topless in some Netflix movie where she & some other woman torture Keanu Reeves (can't remember the name of the movie right now)

Movie is Knock Knock and I guess I'll be watching it now, lol

The sequence with Armas was probably the "funnest" part of the whole movie, with Craig donning the tux in typical Bond fashion.

Probably the riskiest Bond movie ever, with me having issues with some of the choices as I left the theatre. But the more I thought about the risks they took afterwards, the more I liked it.

Will probably check it out again in theatres, if I get a chance.

 

[TheJames101]

I'm going to need a second viewing of this film. Also, will rewatch OHMSS.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Are you guys comparing to OHMSS? OHMSS is an underrated Bond film, often cast aside because it was the only George Lazenby film, but it had many positive attributes.

 

[Meta not Meta]

Are you guys comparing to OHMSS? OHMSS is an underrated Bond film, often cast aside because it was the only George Lazenby film, but it had many positive attributes.

It's a direct influence on the new one, in both tone & plot, including explicit callbacks in the dialogue & music.

 

[charmer_]

Are you guys comparing to OHMSS? OHMSS is an underrated Bond film, often cast aside because it was the only George Lazenby film, but it had many positive attributes.

I think they are, and all of you are absolutely right. OHMSS is a great film that had some major changes happen to Bond. Lazenby was actually not bad at all and played a more vulnerable Bond. It was just his misfortune to have to follow Connery. Was easier to just go with somebody totally different from Connery (Moore) in order for ppl to accept a new Bond.

OHMSS had the most shake ups at that time, but No Time to Die goes way beyond that. It isn't perfect, but I definitely enjoyed the film and serves as a suitable end to Craig's fabulous run as Bond.

 

[Flabert]

If Dalton didn't nail Lowell, he wasted his Bond cred. She is my #1 ATF due to that film alone. That dress and smile when he's winning at BJ is what every guy dreams about:

In a hetero relationship isn`t every man winning while getting a BJ?

 

[Bbw hunter]

I think they are, and all of you are absolutely right. OHMSS is a great film that had some major changes happen to Bond. Lazenby was actually not bad at all and played a more vulnerable Bond. It was just his misfortune to have to follow Connery. Was easier to just go with somebody totally different from Connery (Moore) in order for ppl to accept a new Bond.

OHMSS had the most shake ups at that time, but No Time to Die goes way beyond that. It isn't perfect, but I definitely enjoyed the film and serves as a suitable end to Craig's fabulous run as Bond.

It's funny to be reading this now. I just watched OHMSS again last night. Definitely one of my faves...always liked the way they weave the moving love story into this big action-packed spectacle. The Swiss scenery is gorgeous, and the ski chase scenes are still exciting half a century later. Lazenby was pretty good, especially in the fight scenes.

 

[Meta not Meta]

Thought it was a LOT better than Spectre. There are some radical Bond departures specific to the character, but I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

Overall, it calls back a whole lot to a previous fan favorite. A bunch of music from this past movie was in No Time To Die, as well as themes from that movie. It even upends a main plot point from this movie. If you haven't caught the hints from the first scenes with Bond & Madeline of what the previous movie was, it will be very obvious by the time you see the second classic Aston Martin.
Oh the Billie Eilish song was very throwaway. Definitely not one of the memorable Bond theme songs.

Finally, Ana De Armas was lovely as always. Since she's yummy, you should know she was topless in some Netflix movie where she & some other woman torture Keanu Reeves (can't remember the name of the movie right now)

I liked a lot of Spectre, right up to the last 30 minutes, really, when it kind of fell apart ... which is definitely not the case here.

Controversially, the return of Lea Seydoux's character in NTTD worked well for me and I bought the nearly unprecedented, more 'mature' relationship that she has with Bond - you know, one based on a mutual past full of painful memories, essential distrust & emotional loss. "Why would I betray you!" is a key line.

She's the first primary Bond Girl character to return from one film to the next. And it makes sense for this Bond, who is retired and well into 50s. I know a lot of fans would have liked the Ana de Armas character in a more substantial role, even as the primary Bond Girl. But while she's completely wonderful in her small amount of screen time that was just never going to work here. And so like a great SP, she leaves us wanting even more ...

 

[Meta not Meta]

It's funny to be reading this now. I just watched OHMSS again last night. Definitely one of my faves...always liked the way they weave the moving love story into this big action-packed spectacle. The Swiss scenery is gorgeous, and the ski chase scenes are still exciting half a century later. Lazenby was pretty good, especially in the fight scenes.

Completely agree! And there's some great action in NTTD, especially in the early scene in Matera, with probably my favorite use of the DB5 ever ...

 

[charmer_]

my favorite use of the DB5 ever ...

It's my favorite "modern" use of the DB5 (since there've been many Bond films in the last 20 years to bring it back for nostalgia).

Of course, the use of the DB5 in Goldfinger will always remain the most classic.

 

[charmer_]

If Dalton didn't nail Lowell, he wasted his Bond cred. She is my #1 ATF due to that film alone

I can't stand Lowell...she was so annoying in License to Kill, lol.

A much better Bond girl in that film was Talisa Soto. She was scorching hot (and sexy)!

 

[charmer_]

Controversially, the return of Lea Seydoux's character in NTTD worked well for me and I bought the nearly unprecedented, more 'mature' relationship that she has with Bond - you know, one based on a mutual past full of painful memories, essential distrust & emotional loss. "Why would I betray you!" is a key line.

She's the first primary Bond Girl character to return from one film to the next. And it makes sense for this Bond, who is retired and well into 50s.

That's definitely one of the big changes for this run of Bond, and it totally works. The whole point of the Craig films was to add more depth and realism to the franchise. And him getting over Vespa was the thread that went through (almost) all of the Craig Bond movies. Seydoux was great in both Spectre and this film, in that you can see the connection between her and Bond.

I really liked the Craig era of Bond films. It has a definite beginning and a definite end, and NTTD was a much better way to end his run than Spectre (although I liked that film as well).

I hope when they finally reboot the franchise (again), they go in a similar route with their next Bond and have an actor just as good as Craig was.

 

[Meta not Meta]

I can't stand Lowell...she was so annoying in License to Kill, lol.

A much better Bond girl in that film was Talisa Soto. She was scorching hot (and sexy)!

Really, haha!? Certainly Talisa would do in a pinch! But I'll have me some Carey Lowell, maybe my favorite Bond Girl of the 80s Her hand gestures in the casino scene while saying "shaken .. not stirred" does it for me every time.