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A topic for the youngest Bond fans among us! (18 or younger)
I am very curious what the young Bond fans of today think of the three Daniel Craig Bond films so far. I was 8 when I saw my first Bond film 'Licence To Kill' in 1989. So I was immediatelly 'grown up' considering the violence of that film :-O. Still, my best memories as a kid where the Pierce Brosnan movies. Now I am 31, but in the 1990's I enjoyed the Bond films differently. I was way more focussed on action, on the gunbarrel sequence and the hilariously cheesy stunts.
But how is it with today's young Bond fans? This topic is for you boys & girls :-P. If you are 18 or younger, I am curious how you are experiencing the recent Bond films 'Casino Royale', 'Quantum Of Solace' and 'Skyfall'. But you are also welcome to post if you were 18 or younger in the past ;-).
But how is it with today's young Bond fans? This topic is for you boys & girls :-P. If you are 18 or younger, I am curious how you are experiencing the recent Bond films 'Casino Royale', 'Quantum Of Solace' and 'Skyfall'. But you are also welcome to post if you were 18 or younger in the past ;-).
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Comments
1) 'GoldenEye': My first Bond film with the whole family. At that time I was 14 years old. Both mum and dad were laughing like they were dying :)). That did it for me.
2) 'Skyfall': A unique Bond experience so far for me as a 31 year old 'boy'. I saw it again with my mum and dad. And I truly believe I heard a lot of laughter again hehe :-). And it must be my 'Thunderball' moment.
3) 'Licence To Kill': First Bond film I ever saw in cinema with a schoolkid and my dad. I was terrified actually! I can only recall the face that was blown up (Milton Krest). I was 8 then, but can't remember that much of it anymore.
4) 'Casino Royale': Also unique. I was in London in 2006 for an internship and I bought the novel 'Casino Royale' and the comic books at Waterstones. I was really preparing, as I knew it would be my first and last Bond novel adaptation in cinema.
5) 'Tomorrow Never Dies': From all 8 Bond films in this TOP 8 I thought this film had the best and most Bond-esque car chase. Combined with the music the whole audience was laughing.
6) 'The World Is Not Enough': A return to a more serious Bond in this one. Great opening sequence in London.
7) 'Quantum Of Solace': Really, this is true. My parents loved this one, because it had 'good action' hehe. I kinda disliked it. Only saw it once in cinema in 2008.
8) 'Die Another Day': Damn, this was bad. I watched it with a female friend who said to me during the movie "Can we leave?". I didn't want to really, but I quickly understood why.
Yeah everyone here knows that i've did not watched all of the Bond films yet and i feel ashamed for that, but i've already entered Connery and Moore's areas with FRWL and TSWLM. Both are great.
Actually i joined Bond's world by GE64. Then, the movie was to be shown on TV. that's why my first Bond movie was GE, and i've loved it. My favourite Bond film until today (didn't see Skyfall yet, but i think my opinion will change after it)
Then, my second movie was TWINE, then TND and DAD. I loved all of the 3, but when i've watched DAD again recently, i've thought... This Sucks. The only good parts from DAD are the beggining and the ice car chase.
TWINE was my 2nd favourite since then. TND was the 3rd, i like them all a lot.
Back at 2007, i've watched CR and it was good, but at my first watching, it was VERY strange. I thought, "Where is Brosnan in this? I can't accept another 007!! Brosnan, be back please!" And then, only at that year i've known that there were already 6 actors in the role of 007. I've had to understand it.
in '08, i've gone to the cinemas to watch QoS. I completely loved it, my 5th favourite Bond film. 4th turned to be CR.
the 6th favourite became as TSWLM, when i've watched it last year. It's a great film.
This year i've watched FRWL and i've completely loved it. The 60's, the style, the action... I could completely see why many people think Connery will always be the best Bond.
No way Connery could be the worst, because HE introducted, and then, He made the standard style for all of the others.
Of the earlier actors I think Connery, of course, is at the top together with Dalton. My favorites among the earlier movies include (GE, TLD, OHMSS, GF, LALD).
Wow, you may be the youngest on this community. :)
And quite possibly one of the most mature. It's rare you meet a 13 year old with grammar, courtesy, and competence such as that.
Age is just a number.
As for QoS, the film and I have had a complicated relationship. When I first saw it I found it to be revolting, a travesty to follow up such a stupendous film such as CR. Then, as time went on and our relationship grew more prosperous, I saw what a magnificent little gem it is. I graded it on being a sequel instead of it simply being its own wonderful film. When I told myself that it could never be CR, I was able to analyze it on its own merits, and I had my eyes opened wide to all it had to offer. It wasn't the masterpiece CR is, no, but what other Bond film is? Yet, what a nice little film it is. A short romp that never stops for a breather. The cast is largely back to the fray, and hold up just as well. Dan carries the film with his talent. The hurt Bond masks from Vesper's betrayal is visible on Dan's face and in his eyes, and you too share his broken heartedness. The way Bond sneaks away Vesper's photo during his talk with M in Sienna shows that no matter how much he tries to tell others and himself how little she meant to him, he can't escape her for all she meant to him. For the first time Bond opened his cold and distanced heart to a woman who he wasn't fully prepared for, and she too let him into her world. To comfort her in times of distress and shock. To be the man she went to her death for, just to keep him safe from harm. This theme of Vesper's lasting effect on Bond is constant throughout the rest of the film, and is some of the best it has to offer. Seeing Bond trying to drink away his sorrows, unable to sleep in a mixed stupor of what seems to be insomnia and denial, hurts. Dan plays it perfectly, as he does in every single scene, making emotional impact every time Vesper is reflected upon and more. Seeing Vesper still have that effect on Bond shows just how much she got to him, and how much he will always love her, no matter what she did during her time in this world of the living.
Another great element in QoS is the theme of trust/distrust/and loyalty. We see this with Bond and M as well, but also quite deeply with Felix and Beam. It is in this film where we see a great friendship flourish between Felix and Bond, more so that the friendly alliance they had in CR. And to see it grow so much is refreshing. In this film we see Felix with Beam in bed with the villainous Greene and Medrano, trying to secure American oil rights in Bolivia. It is here that we get concerned about Felix, wondering how trustworthy he is if he is willing to meet with men of their malevolence. But, tried and true, Felix makes the right call and gives Bond the intelligence he needs to stop Greene and Medrano, proving his constant loyalty to 007. And with that, "the right people kept their jobs", and Felix gets a deserved promotion for his efforts. I hope to see Wright return again as Felix in the Craig era to thrills us even more with his expert portrayal.
As for Greene and Medrano, they obviously aren't the strongest villains types we have seen, but they offer an interesting view into the villainy that plagues our world today. The bad guys aren't maniacal men in Nehru suits that live on private islands hatching plans that push nations to the boiling point. They are people in suits, working in high ranks and pulling strings behind the shadows. I thought that was an interesting thing to explore in this film, and something I liked. It felt more in touch with current affairs than any over the top villainy that ruled the late 60s and 70s of Bond, stretching even further into impossibility in the rest of the Moore era and in DAD. The scene where Greene is meeting with other Quantum members of Tosca shows all the key players (including White), and plays it realistically. It is simply people doing deals in the shadows of their world, no nonsensical world ending plots.
And what of the main Bond girl? I truly enjoy Camille. She is the strong female type that doesn't feel the need to impress Bond as his equal. She is in it for herself to take out Medrano, but as time goes on she grows a respect for Bond that grows them together as partners. I love this aspect of the film, and also that Bond doesn't sleep with Camille. I think Bond simply sleeps with Fields to get his mind of Vesper, but sees that it helps him none what so ever, and leaves the girl dead. He sees what happens when women grow a dangerous attraction to him, and he doesn't want the same thing to happen to Camille. To put it simply, their relationship is more about respect than romantic adoration. It simply wouldn't fit their two characters and what they have been through, so I am glad they didn't sleep together. A simple peck on the mouth, a "thank you" for what they had done for each other was all that was needed. It would be great to see Olga return to continue the growth in Bond and Camille's relationship in future films.
So overall, QoS is a hell of a Bond film in my eyes. Not the best, but I love it, and it truly gives me satisfaction as credits roll. In it is intense drama following the continuing tale of a rookie Bond with more experience in the field, yet also more a more shattered interior. QoS contains some of the greatest scenes in the franchise as well. The Tosca scene at the opera house in Bregenz is one of the most beautifully shot scenes we've seen. The visuals are striking, the action intense. As Bond walks down the stairs to meet another set of stares (har har) from Greene and his boys, your heart pumps. The scene turns to silence as Bond fights his way through the chaos. Just beautiful. And the scene shows just how sharp White is. He knows Bond has stormed the place to crash the party, and while all the Quantum members are exiting the opera house to avoid being photographed, White knows that makes them all an easy target. So, he blends in and stays seated as Bond walks right past him farther in frame.
Mathis's death scene is heart wrenching. Here we see Bond connecting with a man he once thought to be against him, and at his last moments Mathis is true to Bond. Both men share a respect for each other that they gained during their missions together for however brief a time. As Bond pulls him close, your throat lumps, and Bond's pain is visible, clearly written on his face. It is quite striking as Bond dumps Mathis's body. Bond mutters "he wouldn't care", showing the inevitability of the job. Friends you are close to will die, and Bond had to worry about the mission at hand, having no time to deal with the body. It is the crushing reality of what he faces as an agent to his country, where even your dearest friends are second to the security of the nation.
Another notable scene is the fight with Bond and Slate. It is a magnificent scene that establishes the brutal nature of the job. It shows that if Bond isn't fully on his game another agent/assassin can just as easily take him out if he missteps. The sheer fast paced nature of the fight mirrors the deadly reality of a messy scuffle in the line of duty against an equally capable adversary. It is a wonderfully vicious scene that adds to the reality of the film.
And of course, there is the resolution, my favorite scene of the film. We see Bond, having grown so much as a man and as an agent, faced with meeting the man who helped lead Vesper to her death. He finds Yusef luring another girl with a love knot, and you can see the anger fuming inside him as he confronts the monster. As the scene cuts to a shot of Bond exiting the building, we are left wondering. Just what did Bond say? But, that is the magic of QoS. It is Bond's business what he said to Yusef and it is his personal fight to deal with his feelings for Vesper. The scene is stronger for not showing us what was said between the two. All we need to see is Bond exiting the flat, having not bloodied his hands. It is here that we see just how much Bond has changed since CR. The Bond from CR would have killed Yusef without hesitation for what he had done. But the Bond from QoS has grown from his experiences, and knows that Vesper would never want him to kill in her name. As he shares with Camille, "I don't think the dead care about vengeance." All that would bring him is more trouble, and killing Yusef wouldn't bring Vesper back. Bond knows that suffering through justice is better punishment for Yusef's evil than a quick death by a bullet. And further more, Bond stops more girls from being drawn in by Yusef/Quantum as he lets the law take care of it. As he meets M outside of the flat, the growth in their relationship is visible. M trusted him when everyone else abandoned hope, and no matter what Bond did she trusted him to stay true to his mission and never diverge. He proves his loyalty to her with a simple sentence: "I never left". Even filled to the brim with anger, he never went in search of revenge. He kept his feet planted and centered on the mission at hand, never compromising M or his country for his own personal infuriation. As he tosses Vesper's love knot I feel he is truly able to recognize and appreciate all Vesper meant and all she gave for him. While the necklace lays in the snow, Bond can now move on from Vesper, with her forever in his heart. She is an inescapable part of his past, yes, but not one that has to haunt him for the rest of his mortal life.
I will save my full thoughts on Skyfall for later (as I have already written a novel here), but just let me state how pleased I am with it. As I walked out of my viewings of it I felt deep satisfaction. Bond's future is brighter than ever, and this film was the most emotional Bond film for me hands down. The film was fantastic, and showed a shattered Bond picking up the pieces of his life to save M and his country. To see him racing to save her with everything he has left in his battered body, M giving her recitation of Tennyson to the tune of Newman's powerful score, I can't help but tear up. It is in this moment that I am proudest of Bond. Prouder than I have ever been of him in his entire 50 year history. It is in this scene that we see all that Bond is. Through it all, he stays loyal to those he loves (M), and to the country he has given his service to.
So, with Dan we have had some of the greatest Bond moments to behold in CR, QoS and Skyfall, or as I call it, the M trilogy. It is in these films that we find some of the greatest exposition in film. We see Bond grow from a rookie to an accomplished and methodical agent, and the three films really feel like a satisfying journey of maturity for 007. If you were to watch CR, QoS and Skyfall back to back you would truly see the progression of Bond as man and agent. We also see the rough relationship between him and M flourish. Her respect and trust for him grows, and she never gives up faith in him, no matter the stakes. Not when she was worried if he would seek revenge for Vesper. Not when he was thought to have gone rouge. And not when he failed his tests to re-enter the field. She had that trust invested in him, that hope that he would do what was right, and he never let her down. And now in Skyfall, we see the full picture. M's best agent showing his supreme loyalty to her, the woman who has been like the mother he needed so much of in his life. It is with a heavy heart that I proclaim Dan's era to be a Bond masterpiece. :)>-
I'm seeing Dan's era being so much appreciated in the future. It's a truly a masterpiece. I want to see CR, QoS and Skyfall, especially QoS, and the other movies that we haven't seen yet being praised, much more than they are today.
I love the good old lads (even you, Mr. Lazenby) and it would be fantastic to have the opportunity to live every past Bond era, but... I don't even care. Dan makes up for that. I will never forget the feeling when I left the cinema after seeing Skyfall and thinking "I'm so glad to be alive".
Thanks, guys! :D
You just brightened up my horrible day. :)
Let me guess... Did you gave up when you saw DAD? :>
'Licence To Kill' be my first movie i remember on Video 2000 i saw in 1992 as 11-12 year old. I whas 15 when i saw GE and 17 when i saw TMND and a better start you can't have. Tomorrow Never Dies for me must grow on me like some people mabey wil have this with QOS, i like QOS from the start because i am a fan for years.
Now iam 32 years old and sometimes have the feeling the Skyfall/ the beginning of a new kind of Bond fan or better say a end of that is coming. The social element that always hang a litle bit on Bond for me.
I majorly got into bond in September 2006 when I was 11 (I'm now 17) when I went round a friends house who had all the Sean Connery '95 VHS tapes. I borrowed Goldfinger first followed by FRWL and then DAF. After that I built my collection up with LALD and TSWLM starting my DVD's off.
When Casino Royale got to cinemas I thought it was great, yet it didn't strike me as the best Bond ever (I wouldnt have been able to tell you which one). I don't think I appreciated the character development as much at that age. Let me confess that 2 years later when Quantum of Solace came out, I loved it. In fact, I saw it twice. I got what I'd always wanted to see - James Bond cutting loose. As I get older I see its flaws more although I still do not understand why some people hate it.
Then of course this year we got Skyfall in which in my opinion, Daniel Craig actually became Bond. The humour was there, the sophistication was there. I felt like I was watching a proper Bond film. Craig cemented himself as my favourite Bond with this movie, and I'm off to see it for a third time tomorrow.
I've only seen it twice, my dad refuses to take me a third time. Still, the DVD comes out in February :)) . I, like you, am a young bond Fan, am 13. I got into it about a couple of years ago, and i have now seen them all :). Unfortunately i had to do it the hard way and wait for them to come on every Saturday at 3:00 on ITV4. I only have seven on DVD. I agree, that although QOS is given a lot of negative reviews, I quite like it. The script and plot line had a lot to be improved, but the acting was so incredible, it made it work! Where as if you had Robert Pattinson as James Bond and Kristen Stewart as Camille Montes, I dont think it would work so well.