Who should/could be a Bond actor?

17867877897917921189

Comments

  • FatherValentineFatherValentine England
    Posts: 737
    James Bond 007 is both a very simple character and a complex one. Each actor has brought out certain elements of the character that the other actors haven't. And I think when people suggest actors here, they acknowledge that nobody can really encapsulate every single aspect of the character perfectly. So what you get are actors who bring out particular traits more than others.

    Excellently put, @FatherValentine.

    For contrast, I never bought Moore as an ex-military man, mainly because of his lack of physical fighting skills. There are countless times, to me, where he feels like a stiff, graceless English teacher in his rough and tumbles with enemies. But he excelled in his own way in other important areas which meant the films rarely suffered as slices of entertainment in spite of that gripe.

    I think that owes a lot to what you are saying, there.

    You give with one hand, and you take away with the other, @CraigMooreOHMSS, haha. Obviously you are 100% correct that my previous comment was 'Excellently put'. Well spotted!

    Such is life, eh? ;)

    But I'm afraid I disagree about Moore.

    And I'm sure you wouldn't be alone in that! Haha! But it was always an issue for me outside of AVTAK, too. But I digress to my point that it was not his physical abilities that made his Bond so popular, so I guess it ultimately doesn't particularly matter anyway.

    It was my fault, I derailed the conversation by defending Moore! I understood your point. Yeah, Moore is better known for his comedy and lightness of touch. Though I do find a lot of his more ruthless moments are forgotten by casual fans - such as killing Sandor in TSWLM. It's so ruthless they gave the same 'move' to Daniel Craig 30 years later!

    I think a lot of where they go after Craig depends on who is available, I guess.
  • Posts: 1,550
    Moore might have played a sillier Bond, but the films were ripe for that, had already pursued it in DAF, and Moore observed well that the whole thing was absurd, so play along and have fun. Still -- he was a Bond-sized guy, so while it might seem against his image and ethos, he certainly had the size and build to knock out a Lee Marvin, with a well-placed punch !
    As for Niven, David Niven I always wondered what they'd have done about his mustache. I cannot recall him not having it, and not having it just so -- pencil thin, just above the upper lip. I looked it up online and found him clean-shaven, but quite some time ago. Otherwise -- wearing it. Would the producers just have gone with it ?
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,026
    It was my fault, I derailed the conversation by defending Moore! I understood your point. Yeah, Moore is better known for his comedy and lightness of touch. Though I do find a lot of his more ruthless moments are forgotten by casual fans - such as killing Sandor in TSWLM. It's so ruthless they gave the same 'move' to Daniel Craig 30 years later!

    I think a lot of where they go after Craig depends on who is available, I guess.

    Not fault there at all, you made valid points in return! :)

    Yes, I've decided against attaching myself to any one name that I think could possibly pull it off - there's so many variables involved both in timing and in whatever creative route they choose to take next. I was surprised when Craig was announced and later pleasantly surprised when he turned out to be good, so I wonder if that's the best way for me to approach the next casting too.
  • FatherValentineFatherValentine England
    Posts: 737
    It was my fault, I derailed the conversation by defending Moore! I understood your point. Yeah, Moore is better known for his comedy and lightness of touch. Though I do find a lot of his more ruthless moments are forgotten by casual fans - such as killing Sandor in TSWLM. It's so ruthless they gave the same 'move' to Daniel Craig 30 years later!

    I think a lot of where they go after Craig depends on who is available, I guess.

    Not fault there at all, you made valid points in return! :)

    Yes, I've decided against attaching myself to any one name that I think could possibly pull it off - there's so many variables involved both in timing and in whatever creative route they choose to take next. I was surprised when Craig was announced and later pleasantly surprised when he turned out to be good, so I wonder if that's the best way for me to approach the next casting too.

    I think one of the main reasons why we're here discussing this over and over is because of the dearth of new film material. I doubt we'll be on this thread as soon as NTTD gets released. We haven't had a new film in 6 years (and counting), and so what else are we going to talk about? I don't really follow the Dynamite comics, and so there's literally nothing else to discuss, unless to go on the NTTD board. Doing that resulted in me finding out nearly everything that happens in the film, so I don't want to go back there again.

    So I think your approach sounds sanest. Saying that, it's always fun to think about who could play the role. But it's almost pointless until Craig is properly out of the picture.

    Not that I dislike interacting with you guys...
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited April 2021 Posts: 14,918
    QsCat wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Jordo007 wrote: »
    Whoever is given the part, they need to have the gravitas of being believable as a Royal Navy Commander.

    Whether this is a part of his history now or not I don't know, but if they keep the same background as Craig's incarnation, then he needs to have been a serving SBS officer too. I am guessing Craig's Bond was both (I think SBS teams are led by either RN Commanders or Marines from what I remember reading).

    You can be relatively young and do this (early thirties I think if you work hard and talented - so Bond would fit the mark), but you do need that gravitas.

    Something to remember when thinking of casting. It can't just be someone who is British and handsome.

    Couldn't agree more with this, well said mate
    It's one thing I think people always forget about when they suggest potential candidates. That and the actors voice, Bond should always have a commanding voice to match his presence

    Yes, voice is very important. Good point.

    And to be honest, on both points I think Brosnan falls down! :) I don't buy him as a military man at all (certainly not a special forces type), plus his voice isn't really his strong point. I don't dislike him in the role though so I think there's an awful lot that a bit of straightforward movie star charisma can just make up for, but I do agree that I prefer someone who does have those aspects, like Craig or Connery (plus the charisma of course!).

    I don't understand how PB's voice doesn't stand up. His voice as an actor is distinctive and he uses it very well. Now if you're saying his voice doesn't suggest he was a Commander in the Navy, well, we're now entering the realm of the ridiculous.
    I think Bond is similar to Lawrence of Arabia; an outsider who doesn't seem to fit in.
    eb6f96_5a08206a972c4e74b9294c535ac93eea~mv2.jpg

    If Bond were to initially appear somewhat unbelievable as having been in the Navy and Commando's, I don't think it's too much of a problem because it fulfils that outsider quality and also helps him to blend in as a spy.

    As much as I love Craig's interpretation and the change he helped bring to the franchise, I don't think its necessary for Bond to be as close as possible to a real life agent. The main thing is that he can get by on his wit and be the ruthless man of action when he needs to be- and that we believe him when he does.

    I like all the Bond's for different reasons. Next time round I'd like to see a Bond who is a bit more positive, more extrovert, who smiles now and then. I think the charisma of the actor and their watchability may actually be far more important than if they tick the right boxes. Ticking boxes can be boring. I loved Craig's Bond at first, but since Skyfall I find him pretty boring. He seems constantly depressed. Talking often even seems a challenge for him.

    Let's be thankful for what Craig brought to the series, but after NTTD, let's leave him on a golden beach, alone, with a bottle of Blackwells. There, as he thinks of Vesper, he may drink himself into the grave he longs for.

    To those of you who deride Brosnan- I don't understand you. You may think him too slight -possibly the least important fault- but what about all his positives?? I don't see how he himself could have been any better in the films he had. He worked his arse off and did a brilliant job. I think he had the best balance of all the elements, even though he's not necesserily my favourite Bond. How lucky we would be to have an actor of Brosnan's calibre next time round. I hope those of you who dislike Brosnan aren't also the ones suggesting Nicholas Hoult or Jack Lowden. @-)

    anigif_sub-buzz-19038-1475818310-2.gif?output-quality=auto&output-format=auto&downsize=360:*
    hCEnFUC.gif
    1-7.gif






    Personally, Brosnan is my least favourite, but that doesn't mean I think he is bad. In many respects he is the best thing about the films he is in. I rank GE very lowly, but not because of his performance. I think he's good in all four of his efforts. Also, personally I think he does a good job of the ex military aspect too. He carries himself with confidence. But everyone sees things differently, and that's fair.

    As I have said before, I think EON have chosen the lead actor brilliantly each and every time. The fact that the films have continued to be successful proves that. Whatever one thinks of Brosnan, or Moore, or Dalton, they each in their own way kept things going when the series was in doubt. And even in the case of Lazenby, the only instance where you could say they made an error, his performance is actually terrific for the most part, and the film now stands as one of the very best. So retrospectively it has worked out - even if has taken 50 years!

    James Bond 007 is both a very simple character and a complex one. Each actor has brought out certain elements of the character that the other actors haven't. And I think when people suggest actors here, they acknowledge that nobody can really encapsulate every single aspect of the character perfectly. So what you get are actors who bring out particular traits more than others.

    Yep that's fair. I do think Lazenby was a ball dropped and he wasn't terribly good, but equally there are other spy films in the 60s where they were attempting to rip Bond off and they have guys in the lead where you really do wonder 'what were they thinking?' when you see them giving really terrible or flat performances, and Lazenby does do a better job than some of them, so I don't think he's utterly without merit. Also I think Dalton didn't entirely work out, but part of me wonders if he'd have been better and a more complete Bond with a different director. I think purely as a casting choice though, he's a good one and if I had been in their position I'd have cast him too.
    James Bond 007 is both a very simple character and a complex one. Each actor has brought out certain elements of the character that the other actors haven't. And I think when people suggest actors here, they acknowledge that nobody can really encapsulate every single aspect of the character perfectly. So what you get are actors who bring out particular traits more than others.

    Excellently put, @FatherValentine.

    For contrast, I never bought Moore as an ex-military man, mainly because of his lack of physical fighting skills. There are countless times, to me, where he feels like a stiff, graceless English teacher in his rough and tumbles with enemies. But he excelled in his own way in other important areas which meant the films rarely suffered as slices of entertainment in spite of that gripe.

    I think that owes a lot to what you are saying, there.

    You give with one hand, and you take away with the other, @CraigMooreOHMSS, haha. Obviously you are 100% correct that my previous comment was 'Excellently put'. Well spotted!

    But I'm afraid I disagree about Moore. If you look at AVTAK maybe, but in LALD, TMWTGG and the fight in Octopussy's bedroom he's good. I think you have to judge his fight scenes alongside other fight scenes in films made around the same time, rather than against how film fights look now. If you do that they compare very well to what was in contemporaneous cinemas.

    Also, his gun handling is pretty good overall too. Look at him in The Wild Geese and North Sea Hijack for more evidence of that. Also, he does remind me of ex naval men I have met. He's got a gravitas and looks comfortable among other naval men in TSWLM, for example. He also had a National Service background too, so had some military experience.

    Obviously, we all have a different takes on things, but you've touched a nerve with this one haha!

    Yes I absolutely agree with that: there's a confidence there with Roger which does suggest 'officer', if perhaps not the sort of more commando grunt which Bond really is (even in the books).
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,980
    Not sure if it was addressed earlier: regarding Bond and his commander rank, Sony created a pretty detailed dossier for Casino Royale.

    Linked at bottom of this page.
    https://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/bond_21_007_dossier1.php3
    • James Bond's Dossier - History
    • James Bond's Dossier - Military Record
    • James Bond's Dossier - Psychological Report
    • James Bond's Dossier - Service Record
  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    Posts: 1,351
    Not sure if it was addressed earlier: regarding Bond and his commander rank, Sony created a pretty detailed dossier for Casino Royale.

    Linked at bottom of this page.
    https://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/bond_21_007_dossier1.php3
    • James Bond's Dossier - History
    • James Bond's Dossier - Military Record
    • James Bond's Dossier - Psychological Report
    • James Bond's Dossier - Service Record

    Great, thanks! So Defense Intelligence is the missing link between SBS and MI6 and between Lieutenant-Commander and Commander. Could have thought of that...
    Although of course not canon for film/Craig Bond, that is mentioned in Carte Blanche, now that I think of it. Bond went into DI after his military service, but soon requests a more "hands on" role and is recruited by M for the Overseas Development Group.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,918
    That's interesting, I'd not heard of DI before.
  • FatherValentineFatherValentine England
    Posts: 737
    Not sure if it was addressed earlier: regarding Bond and his commander rank, Sony created a pretty detailed dossier for Casino Royale.

    Linked at bottom of this page.
    https://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/bond_21_007_dossier1.php3
    • James Bond's Dossier - History
    • James Bond's Dossier - Military Record
    • James Bond's Dossier - Psychological Report
    • James Bond's Dossier - Service Record

    Thank you very much. I had read this before and it is great to go through again.

    I hope they keep this as the background for the new actor.
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    edited April 2021 Posts: 2,507
    Not sure if it was addressed earlier: regarding Bond and his commander rank, Sony created a pretty detailed dossier for Casino Royale.

    Linked at bottom of this page.
    https://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/bond_21_007_dossier1.php3
    • James Bond's Dossier - History
    • James Bond's Dossier - Military Record
    • James Bond's Dossier - Psychological Report
    • James Bond's Dossier - Service Record

    That's great, I've never seen this before. Thanks for sharing mate

    Bond’s one strong relationship with an adult from his teens and early twenties — one Hannes Oberhauser
    That caught my eye when I read it. I wonder if there was always a plan to bring that character in?
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited April 2021 Posts: 14,918
    Jordo007 wrote: »
    Not sure if it was addressed earlier: regarding Bond and his commander rank, Sony created a pretty detailed dossier for Casino Royale.

    Linked at bottom of this page.
    https://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/bond_21_007_dossier1.php3
    • James Bond's Dossier - History
    • James Bond's Dossier - Military Record
    • James Bond's Dossier - Psychological Report
    • James Bond's Dossier - Service Record

    That's great, I've never seen this before. Thanks for sharing mate

    Bond’s one strong relationship with an adult from his teens and early twenties — one Hannes Oberhauser
    That caught my eye when I read it. I wonder if there was always a plan to bring that character in?

    Good spot, it might well have been something they'd had their eye on.

    I do think, if you wanted to have a shady figure from Bond's past turn up to wreak vengeance, it's actually not a bad idea to give Oberhauser an estranged/jealous son. Raymond Benson had Bond face off against his old school bully in one of his books, and the Oberhauser thing is way better than that! :)
    The problem was making that extra leap and turning him into Blofeld- just too much.
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,026
    The Psychological Report there is a good read.
  • Posts: 14,816
    mtm wrote: »
    Jordo007 wrote: »
    Not sure if it was addressed earlier: regarding Bond and his commander rank, Sony created a pretty detailed dossier for Casino Royale.

    Linked at bottom of this page.
    https://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/bond_21_007_dossier1.php3
    • James Bond's Dossier - History
    • James Bond's Dossier - Military Record
    • James Bond's Dossier - Psychological Report
    • James Bond's Dossier - Service Record

    That's great, I've never seen this before. Thanks for sharing mate

    Bond’s one strong relationship with an adult from his teens and early twenties — one Hannes Oberhauser
    That caught my eye when I read it. I wonder if there was always a plan to bring that character in?

    Good spot, it might well have been something they'd had their eye on.

    I do think, if you wanted to have a shady figure from Bond's past turn up to wreak vengeance, it's actually not a bad idea to give Oberhauser an estranged/jealous son. Raymond Benson had Bond face off against his old school bully in one of his books, and the Oberhauser thing is way better than that! :)
    The problem was making that extra leap and turning him into Blofeld- just too much.

    I always wondered had they decided to either: a)make Franz his father's murderer, but not Blofekd himself (Blofeld's right hand man perhaps?) or b)make Blofeld the murderer of Hannes Oberhauser, but not his son, if people here would have accepted it better. Both would have been contrived coincidences, but perhaps less implausible in a fictitious universe.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited April 2021 Posts: 14,918
    Ludovico wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Jordo007 wrote: »
    Not sure if it was addressed earlier: regarding Bond and his commander rank, Sony created a pretty detailed dossier for Casino Royale.

    Linked at bottom of this page.
    https://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/bond_21_007_dossier1.php3
    • James Bond's Dossier - History
    • James Bond's Dossier - Military Record
    • James Bond's Dossier - Psychological Report
    • James Bond's Dossier - Service Record

    That's great, I've never seen this before. Thanks for sharing mate

    Bond’s one strong relationship with an adult from his teens and early twenties — one Hannes Oberhauser
    That caught my eye when I read it. I wonder if there was always a plan to bring that character in?

    Good spot, it might well have been something they'd had their eye on.

    I do think, if you wanted to have a shady figure from Bond's past turn up to wreak vengeance, it's actually not a bad idea to give Oberhauser an estranged/jealous son. Raymond Benson had Bond face off against his old school bully in one of his books, and the Oberhauser thing is way better than that! :)
    The problem was making that extra leap and turning him into Blofeld- just too much.

    I always wondered had they decided to either: a)make Franz his father's murderer, but not Blofekd himself (Blofeld's right hand man perhaps?) or b)make Blofeld the murderer of Hannes Oberhauser, but not his son, if people here would have accepted it better. Both would have been contrived coincidences, but perhaps less implausible in a fictitious universe.

    Yes I think you're right, either would be better. I think it would be easier to swallow if Franz wasn't in Spectre (i.e. coincidentally the exact same line of work which Bond ended up in) but had perhaps been recruited by Spectre (or maybe stumbled across them) because he already had his personal beef with Bond and it was something they were keen to exploit.
    I know that makes the whole thing messier and it streamlines the whole plot and the drama to make Franz and Blofeld one and the same, but it might make the thing easier to swallow.

    How about you have C actually turning out to be Franz, and Blofeld (who has been using Bond to destroy his rivals like Quantum) has placed him in that position in the Government to finish Bond off? So Blofeld becomes pushed to the background a little more (although keep the Rome meeting and the crater base) and C becomes more of the main villain on the ground who wants Bond dead (so at least M and Bond are fighting the same guy). And get someone better to play him- like Hugh Grant.
    Doesn't quite hang together and I feel like there's a few holes there, but it might be a bit easier to swallow.
  • Posts: 14,816
    I don't think C being Franz would have worked either. One is German, the other British, for one. And while I'm not the biggest Andrew Scott fan I'd certainly not want Hugh Grant to play any sort of Bond villain!
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited April 2021 Posts: 5,869
    The use of Oberhauser in the Craig-era was inspired but the execution was lacking. I personally think they should've stopped the buck at Hannes, and created a new original villain connected in some way to him or one inspired by Dexter Smythe. That's personal enough for a story without needing said villain to also be connected to our hero in some way.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,918
    Ludovico wrote: »
    I don't think C being Franz would have worked either.

    Yeah I’m not 100% sure about the idea- just coming up with it as I wrote! :)

    Ludovico wrote: »
    And while I'm not the biggest Andrew Scott fan I'd certainly not want Hugh Grant to play any sort of Bond villain!

    Really? Why not? Did you see A Very English Scandal? He’s amazing.
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    Posts: 2,507
    Denbigh wrote: »
    The use of Oberhauser in the Craig-era was inspired but the execution was lacking. I personally think they should've stopped the buck at Hannes, and created a new original villain connected in some way to him or one inspired by Dexter Smythe. That's personal enough for a story without needing said villain to also be connected to our hero in some way.

    Yep I totally agree mate

    I wish they would have never made Bond and Oberhauser step brothers, they only spent one or two winters together but it felt like they were trying too hard to give them a history.
    It's poor in concept on two levels, one it takes away a key component from Bond, his lone wolf trait. We don't know about his family, his backstory or his feelings on it. We just know his parents died in a climbing accident and someone else brought him up for a couple of years, that should be it.
    The second level is that it makes Bond a terrible spy. The man causing him all this grief and all this pain was his "brother" that's never been brought up until now. I mean that's what makes it Austin Powers, it was his brother this whole time
    Apologies about the long post guys, brought up some feelings 😅

    Back on topic, Aidan Turner or Richard Madden for Bond 26
  • FatherValentineFatherValentine England
    Posts: 737
    Jordo007 wrote: »
    Denbigh wrote: »
    The use of Oberhauser in the Craig-era was inspired but the execution was lacking. I personally think they should've stopped the buck at Hannes, and created a new original villain connected in some way to him or one inspired by Dexter Smythe. That's personal enough for a story without needing said villain to also be connected to our hero in some way.

    Yep I totally agree mate

    I wish they would have never made Bond and Oberhauser step brothers, they only spent one or two winters together but it felt like they were trying too hard to give them a history.
    It's poor in concept on two levels, one it takes away a key component from Bond, his lone wolf trait. We don't know about his family, his backstory or his feelings on it. We just know his parents died in a climbing accident and someone else brought him up for a couple of years, that should be it.
    The second level is that it makes Bond a terrible spy. The man causing him all this grief and all this pain was his "brother" that's never been brought up until now. I mean that's what makes it Austin Powers, it was his brother this whole time
    Apologies about the long post guys, brought up some feelings 😅

    Back on topic, Aidan Turner or Richard Madden for Bond 26

    Agreed, it makes Bond a massive security risk. Mi6 will have regretted hiring him.
  • Posts: 14,816
    mtm wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    I don't think C being Franz would have worked either.

    Yeah I’m not 100% sure about the idea- just coming up with it as I wrote! :)

    Ludovico wrote: »
    And while I'm not the biggest Andrew Scott fan I'd certainly not want Hugh Grant to play any sort of Bond villain!

    Really? Why not? Did you see A Very English Scandal? He’s amazing.

    No I haven't, but his presence would be a distraction. He can be good in some roles, but overall he's not good enough for Bond imo. Not as Bond as he was suggested by some people outside the fanbase back in the 90s. And not as other characters.
  • QsCatQsCat London
    edited April 2021 Posts: 251
    Ludovico wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    I don't think C being Franz would have worked either.

    Yeah I’m not 100% sure about the idea- just coming up with it as I wrote! :)

    Ludovico wrote: »
    And while I'm not the biggest Andrew Scott fan I'd certainly not want Hugh Grant to play any sort of Bond villain!

    Really? Why not? Did you see A Very English Scandal? He’s amazing.

    No I haven't, but his presence would be a distraction. He can be good in some roles, but overall he's not good enough for Bond imo. Not as Bond as he was suggested by some people outside the fanbase back in the 90s. And not as other characters.

    Well if they had other double 0's showing up in future films, I could see him fitting that. Only if sat at a desk though...

    I'd say he was too good for Bond though if anything... in that I can't see him playing a leading part and he's casting-wise too good for a small role. He's also too good of an actor to be wasted on a small role. Plus, you're right, it could be somewhat distracting.
    Then again, maybe future films could have well known actors making such appearances? Why not? It's a bit of a shame that a better known actor wasn't chosen for Nomi in NTTD.

    Anyway. As we are already deviating from who would play Bond himself, I'd like to see Michael Shannon in a Bond film one day..
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    Posts: 2,507
    Whoever Eon pick as the next actor, I just hope they keep the character along the lines they have with Daniel and Sean in that (pardon the french) he's a bit of a bastard
    I don't want to see Bond go back to the camp, self knowing, eyebrow raising character he was because I think those days are gone. That's no dig at Sir Roger or Pierce, although I think they worked in that time they were made, but you need Bond to be top of his game, assured, but still be able to vulnerable in certain moments
    They need to walk that tightrope between him being Dalton level cruel and Daniel level tough for me. He should have a dry and dark sense of humour but not constantly making puns and quips for the sake of it
    I can't see them going for the less personal route with Bond 26 but I hope they steer clear of Bond's origin and backstory. Eon did it well up until Skyfall, Spectre was a bit too much for my taste, hopefully NTTD just keeps it to a minimum
    Sorry for another long post, I just think we all talk about who we want as the next actor but not so much about the direction of the next film
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited April 2021 Posts: 14,918
    Jordo007 wrote: »
    Denbigh wrote: »
    The use of Oberhauser in the Craig-era was inspired but the execution was lacking. I personally think they should've stopped the buck at Hannes, and created a new original villain connected in some way to him or one inspired by Dexter Smythe. That's personal enough for a story without needing said villain to also be connected to our hero in some way.

    Yep I totally agree mate

    I wish they would have never made Bond and Oberhauser step brothers, they only spent one or two winters together but it felt like they were trying too hard to give them a history.
    It's poor in concept on two levels, one it takes away a key component from Bond, his lone wolf trait. We don't know about his family, his backstory or his feelings on it. We just know his parents died in a climbing accident and someone else brought him up for a couple of years, that should be it.
    The second level is that it makes Bond a terrible spy. The man causing him all this grief and all this pain was his "brother" that's never been brought up until now. I mean that's what makes it Austin Powers, it was his brother this whole time
    Apologies about the long post guys, brought up some feelings 😅

    Back on topic, Aidan Turner or Richard Madden for Bond 26

    Agreed, it makes Bond a massive security risk. Mi6 will have regretted hiring him.

    True, although I guess in a way that sort of applies to the Octopussy short story too. Fleming doing a ‘this time it’s personal’ story! :)
    Ludovico wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    I don't think C being Franz would have worked either.

    Yeah I’m not 100% sure about the idea- just coming up with it as I wrote! :)

    Ludovico wrote: »
    And while I'm not the biggest Andrew Scott fan I'd certainly not want Hugh Grant to play any sort of Bond villain!

    Really? Why not? Did you see A Very English Scandal? He’s amazing.

    No I haven't, but his presence would be a distraction. He can be good in some roles, but overall he's not good enough for Bond imo. Not as Bond as he was suggested by some people outside the fanbase back in the 90s. And not as other characters.

    He’s brilliant in anything he’s been in in the last ten or so years I’d say; I’m not sure which performances you’re thinking of? Not all Bond villains are BAFTA winners/nominees. He’d be as much a distraction as he is in any film he’s in: I don’t quite see why it would be worse in a Bond.
  • Posts: 14,816
    mtm wrote: »
    Jordo007 wrote: »
    Denbigh wrote: »
    The use of Oberhauser in the Craig-era was inspired but the execution was lacking. I personally think they should've stopped the buck at Hannes, and created a new original villain connected in some way to him or one inspired by Dexter Smythe. That's personal enough for a story without needing said villain to also be connected to our hero in some way.

    Yep I totally agree mate

    I wish they would have never made Bond and Oberhauser step brothers, they only spent one or two winters together but it felt like they were trying too hard to give them a history.
    It's poor in concept on two levels, one it takes away a key component from Bond, his lone wolf trait. We don't know about his family, his backstory or his feelings on it. We just know his parents died in a climbing accident and someone else brought him up for a couple of years, that should be it.
    The second level is that it makes Bond a terrible spy. The man causing him all this grief and all this pain was his "brother" that's never been brought up until now. I mean that's what makes it Austin Powers, it was his brother this whole time
    Apologies about the long post guys, brought up some feelings 😅

    Back on topic, Aidan Turner or Richard Madden for Bond 26

    Agreed, it makes Bond a massive security risk. Mi6 will have regretted hiring him.

    True, although I guess in a way that sort of applies to the Octopussy short story too. Fleming doing a ‘this time it’s personal’ story! :)
    Ludovico wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    I don't think C being Franz would have worked either.

    Yeah I’m not 100% sure about the idea- just coming up with it as I wrote! :)

    Ludovico wrote: »
    And while I'm not the biggest Andrew Scott fan I'd certainly not want Hugh Grant to play any sort of Bond villain!

    Really? Why not? Did you see A Very English Scandal? He’s amazing.

    No I haven't, but his presence would be a distraction. He can be good in some roles, but overall he's not good enough for Bond imo. Not as Bond as he was suggested by some people outside the fanbase back in the 90s. And not as other characters.

    He’s brilliant in anything he’s been in in the last ten or so years I’d say; I’m not sure which performances you’re thinking of? Not all Bond villains are BAFTA winners/nominees. He’d be as much a distraction as he is in any film he’s in: I don’t quite see why it would be worse in a Bond.

    Hugh Grant is a comedy actor. He's good for what he can do, but he's not a great actor. There is not a single role in a Bond movie where I would have rather have Grant than whoever got the role. Even Gustav Graves, a character I hated, I think was served better by Toby Stephens. And Grant would have been a joke as Bond (not that I think he ever was seriously considered, but he was rumoured before the Brosnan and Craig era.)
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited April 2021 Posts: 14,918
    Ludovico wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Jordo007 wrote: »
    Denbigh wrote: »
    The use of Oberhauser in the Craig-era was inspired but the execution was lacking. I personally think they should've stopped the buck at Hannes, and created a new original villain connected in some way to him or one inspired by Dexter Smythe. That's personal enough for a story without needing said villain to also be connected to our hero in some way.

    Yep I totally agree mate

    I wish they would have never made Bond and Oberhauser step brothers, they only spent one or two winters together but it felt like they were trying too hard to give them a history.
    It's poor in concept on two levels, one it takes away a key component from Bond, his lone wolf trait. We don't know about his family, his backstory or his feelings on it. We just know his parents died in a climbing accident and someone else brought him up for a couple of years, that should be it.
    The second level is that it makes Bond a terrible spy. The man causing him all this grief and all this pain was his "brother" that's never been brought up until now. I mean that's what makes it Austin Powers, it was his brother this whole time
    Apologies about the long post guys, brought up some feelings 😅

    Back on topic, Aidan Turner or Richard Madden for Bond 26

    Agreed, it makes Bond a massive security risk. Mi6 will have regretted hiring him.

    True, although I guess in a way that sort of applies to the Octopussy short story too. Fleming doing a ‘this time it’s personal’ story! :)
    Ludovico wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    I don't think C being Franz would have worked either.

    Yeah I’m not 100% sure about the idea- just coming up with it as I wrote! :)

    Ludovico wrote: »
    And while I'm not the biggest Andrew Scott fan I'd certainly not want Hugh Grant to play any sort of Bond villain!

    Really? Why not? Did you see A Very English Scandal? He’s amazing.

    No I haven't, but his presence would be a distraction. He can be good in some roles, but overall he's not good enough for Bond imo. Not as Bond as he was suggested by some people outside the fanbase back in the 90s. And not as other characters.

    He’s brilliant in anything he’s been in in the last ten or so years I’d say; I’m not sure which performances you’re thinking of? Not all Bond villains are BAFTA winners/nominees. He’d be as much a distraction as he is in any film he’s in: I don’t quite see why it would be worse in a Bond.

    Hugh Grant is a comedy actor. He's good for what he can do, but he's not a great actor.

    I think if you haven't watched him act dramatically you can't really say that. Watch Very English Scandal or The Undoing (BAFTA/Emmy/SAG/Golden Globe-nominated for both).
    He'd have been much better as C I think.
  • QsCatQsCat London
    Posts: 251
    mtm wrote: »
    Jordo007 wrote: »
    Whoever is given the part, they need to have the gravitas of being believable as a Royal Navy Commander.

    Whether this is a part of his history now or not I don't know, but if they keep the same background as Craig's incarnation, then he needs to have been a serving SBS officer too. I am guessing Craig's Bond was both (I think SBS teams are led by either RN Commanders or Marines from what I remember reading).

    You can be relatively young and do this (early thirties I think if you work hard and talented - so Bond would fit the mark), but you do need that gravitas.

    Something to remember when thinking of casting. It can't just be someone who is British and handsome.

    Couldn't agree more with this, well said mate
    It's one thing I think people always forget about when they suggest potential candidates. That and the actors voice, Bond should always have a commanding voice to match his presence

    Yes, voice is very important. Good point.

    And to be honest, on both points I think Brosnan falls down! :) I don't buy him as a military man at all (certainly not a special forces type), plus his voice isn't really his strong point. I don't dislike him in the role though so I think there's an awful lot that a bit of straightforward movie star charisma can just make up for, but I do agree that I prefer someone who does have those aspects, like Craig or Connery (plus the charisma of course!).

    I don't understand how PB's voice doesn't stand up. His voice as an actor is distinctive and he uses it very well. Now if you're saying his voice doesn't suggest he was a Commander in the Navy, well, we're now entering the realm of the ridiculous.

    I think Bond is similar to Lawrence of Arabia; an outsider who doesn't seem to fit in.
    eb6f96_5a08206a972c4e74b9294c535ac93eea~mv2.jpg

    If Bond were to initially appear somewhat unbelievable as having been in the Navy and Commando's, I don't think it's too much of a problem because it fulfil's that outsider quality and also helps him to blend in as a spy.

    As much as I love Craig's interpretation and the change he helped bring to the franchise, I don't think its necessary for Bond to be as close as possible to a real life agent. The main thing is that he can get by on his wit and be the ruthless man of action when he needs to be- and that we believe him when he does.

    I like all the Bond's for different reasons. Next time round I'd like to see a Bond who is a bit more positive, more extrovert, who smiles now and then. I think the charisma of the actor and their watchability may actually be far more important than if they tick the right boxes. Ticking boxes can be boring. I loved Craig's Bond at first, but since Skyfall I find him pretty boring. He seems constantly depressed. Talking often even seems a challenge for him.

    Let's be thankful for what Craig brought to the series, but after NTTD, let's leave him on a golden beach, alone, with a bottle of Blackwells. There, as he thinks of Vesper, he may drink himself into the grave he longs for.

    To those of you who deride Brosnan- I don't understand you. You may think him too slight -possibly the least important fault- but what about all his positives?? I don't see how he himself could have been any better in the films he had. He worked his arse off and did a brilliant job. How lucky we would be to have an actor of Brosnan's calibre next time round. I hope those of you who dislike Brosnan aren't also the ones suggesting Nicholas Hoult or Jack Lowden. @-)
    mtm wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Jordo007 wrote: »
    Denbigh wrote: »
    The use of Oberhauser in the Craig-era was inspired but the execution was lacking. I personally think they should've stopped the buck at Hannes, and created a new original villain connected in some way to him or one inspired by Dexter Smythe. That's personal enough for a story without needing said villain to also be connected to our hero in some way.

    Yep I totally agree mate

    I wish they would have never made Bond and Oberhauser step brothers, they only spent one or two winters together but it felt like they were trying too hard to give them a history.
    It's poor in concept on two levels, one it takes away a key component from Bond, his lone wolf trait. We don't know about his family, his backstory or his feelings on it. We just know his parents died in a climbing accident and someone else brought him up for a couple of years, that should be it.
    The second level is that it makes Bond a terrible spy. The man causing him all this grief and all this pain was his "brother" that's never been brought up until now. I mean that's what makes it Austin Powers, it was his brother this whole time
    Apologies about the long post guys, brought up some feelings 😅

    Back on topic, Aidan Turner or Richard Madden for Bond 26

    Agreed, it makes Bond a massive security risk. Mi6 will have regretted hiring him.

    True, although I guess in a way that sort of applies to the Octopussy short story too. Fleming doing a ‘this time it’s personal’ story! :)
    Ludovico wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    I don't think C being Franz would have worked either.

    Yeah I’m not 100% sure about the idea- just coming up with it as I wrote! :)

    Ludovico wrote: »
    And while I'm not the biggest Andrew Scott fan I'd certainly not want Hugh Grant to play any sort of Bond villain!

    Really? Why not? Did you see A Very English Scandal? He’s amazing.

    No I haven't, but his presence would be a distraction. He can be good in some roles, but overall he's not good enough for Bond imo. Not as Bond as he was suggested by some people outside the fanbase back in the 90s. And not as other characters.

    He’s brilliant in anything he’s been in in the last ten or so years I’d say; I’m not sure which performances you’re thinking of? Not all Bond villains are BAFTA winners/nominees. He’d be as much a distraction as he is in any film he’s in: I don’t quite see why it would be worse in a Bond.

    Hugh Grant is a comedy actor. He's good for what he can do, but he's not a great actor.

    I think if you haven't watched him act dramatically you can't really say that. Watch Very English Scandal or The Undoing (BAFTA/Emmy/SAG/Golden Globe-nominated for both).
    He'd have been much better as C I think.

    I think C would have been a perfect fit! Andrew Scott was obviously not to be trusted from the moment you saw him.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 7,953
    I’m on vacation in Punt Cana, Dominican Republic and just flipped on the television; MI:Fallout is on. I’ve seen it several times but watched it again for a while, focusing on Henry Cavill. I really want to like him ; his looks are ideal for Bond , but damn his acting is so stilted; it’s as if I can see him contemplating every word and every mannerism before he delivers a line.

    Perhaps with his own voice he would do better, but he seems to do “American “ in most things. Maybe he’s having to concentrate on the accent.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,918
    I agree entirely, and I think Fallout is actually one of his better performances! :)
  • sandbagger1sandbagger1 Sussex
    Posts: 716
    talos7 wrote: »
    I’m on vacation in Punt Cana, Dominican Republic and just flipped on the television; MI:Fallout is on. I’ve seen it several times but watched it again for a while, focusing on Henry Cavill. I really want to like him ; his looks are ideal for Bond , but damn his acting is so stilted; it’s as if I can see him contemplating every word and every mannerism before he delivers a line.

    Perhaps with his own voice he would do better, but he seems to do “American “ in most things. Maybe he’s having to concentrate on the accent.
    I've been a proponent of Cavill's for the Bond role, as I thought he was okay in many things I've seen him in, however...

    I watched Night Hunter on Netflix a few months ago. The writer/director was largely responsible for the movie being poor overall, but despite this there were some good performances in the film, just not from Cavill; he was (inexplicably) using his own accent, and I though he was shockingly wooden. Perhaps whoever said he needed a good director to take the extra time to micromanage his performance was on the money.

  • I've never wanted Cavill and have made it known on here numerous times. He absolutely looks the part, but he is just so wooden and one-dimensional. I almost feel that those that want him are disrespecting the role of Bond. Bond deserves better than an actor of his calibre. I'm not looking for the next Daniel Day-Lewis, just someone that can emote, have layers and be a commanding presence; we, and the franchise, deserve it.
Sign In or Register to comment.