Skyfall: action and violence or classic Bond?

edited February 2012 in Bond Movies Posts: 162
These days, action movies are the most succesful in the film industry becuase that seems to be what entertains people. We have seen what can happen to a Bond film which trys to include too much action (QoS,DAD). Many of the more recent Bonds have included too much in my opinion. So, should Skyfall go back to the classic spy elements in order to be more succesful or would it benefit from having the action in this day and age?

Comments

  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    Why not equal amounts of both, a la FRWL.
  • Why not equal amounts of both, a la FRWL.

    FRWL had action but not cars exploding, many gunfights and endless amounts of other action as the more modern Bonds seem to have.
  • Some people today crave Action and Violence from their movies, Yes the recent Bond films have given us that, and I think a return to the 'Classic Bond' or early Connery days are simply a thing of the past. You know as it's the 50th anniversary and all and such a big event they will want to attract as wide an audience they can so I'm guessing we'll get something that follows on from before. It'll be fancy stunts, big bangs and fireworks and such one would imagine, Action and whatever amount of violence they include will surely be the order of the day
  • Posts: 5,745
    Why not equal amounts of both, a la FRWL.

    FRWL had action but not cars exploding, many gunfights and endless amounts of other action as the more modern Bonds seem to have.

    You have to understand, action today isn't going to be action of FRWL times.

    Exploding cars is a VERY minor advancement in the action drama.

    I would like to see a balance of story substance with action as perfectly presented in FRWL though.. not QoS, which was VERY unbalanced.

  • I think Casino Royale had a storyline that outwieghed the action sequences and the more tense and quiet seens made that movie shine for me.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,355
    I would cut down on the action, yes. It seems in Skyfall, it too will contain a lot but if done right, it may work to be a strength of this Bond film.
  • It just needs to be toned down and it can't be too ridiculous. QoS was just insane at the end, Bond blowing up a hotel and killing everyone without any worry, it didn't feel right.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    It just needs to be toned down and it can't be too ridiculous. QoS was just insane at the end, Bond blowing up a hotel and killing everyone without any worry, it didn't feel right.

    I'm sorry, but the hotel was burning after the tank burst, not Bond "blowing it up" all in one shot at the tank. It was realistic for a burning hotel sequence. And when isn't Bond killing everyone without worry? He was there to stop Greene, and he succeeded, while also getting vengeance for Mathis.
  • Posts: 612
    I want OHMSS action. That fight at the beginning of the movie, was brutally amazing. Very believable. And I always like a big set-piece fight scene at the end, just not overboard like TSWLM. OHMSS did a great job of the climax fight.
  • When I watch Bond movies, the scenes I love watching the most are the non-action scenes. How Bond deals with his boss, his enemies, his love interests, the bad situations, the environment he is in interest me more. I also love seeing how Bond spends his leisure time away from work. I would prefer if Skyfall have From Russia with Love/North by Northwest/OHMSS type of pacing.
  • M_BaljeM_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
    edited February 2012 Posts: 4,492
    If Skyfall having some thrill of CR but more carefull with the action/soundmix/music and more classic like QOS iam happy. No ambesy destroying, No 24 elements action and no laugh on DC his face when killing emeny on airport. No Airplane like QOS. The last realy good villian lair end whas Goldeneye. TMND and Twine not be in a villian lair, like it but no so good as GE. DAD with the ice palace give it a try. Like to see there take some time again to destroy a villian lair. With Quantum i don't see any problem to created/introduce some lair in one movie and destroy it in another one.

    Shanghai like TMND, India like Octopussy or The Bahamas/Madagascar of CR

    Shanghai in Miami Airport (I dislike) style is what i expect, with already another composer and the same production designer of QOS i hope it wil feel difrent already. With Shanghai like TMND i mean there wil no action but like The Carver Media group introducing in TMND or theater from QOS.
  • edited February 2012 Posts: 3,273
    Many of the more recent Bonds have included too much in my opinion.
    CR only had two action setpieces: Madagascar and Miami (I wouldn't call the Venice-scenes an action setpiece), but it worked okay.

    For me, a Bond movie should have at least three huge action setpieces.

  • Posts: 11,425
    Madagascar and Miami both felt tacked on.
  • zebrafishzebrafish <°)))< in Octopussy's garden in the shade
    Posts: 4,338
    Personally, explosions and machine guns are what I associate with cheap movies or those targeted to the thick-in-the-head adolescent male. I want my Bond to be sleek, efficient, undercover and with a PPK.
    Explosions are really only tolerated when used to destroy a villain's lair, but otherwise should be kept to a minimum. And I never again want to see Bond killing people with a machine gun (like Brosnan did a felt 100 times) - that's simply not Bond for me.
  • Posts: 3,273
    @zebrafish

    So the Bond movies, which all have explosions, are only for "thick-in-the-head adolescent males"?

    Thank you very much!

    Personally I would be bored, if a Bond movie only contained Bond sneaking around carrying a PPK. I want huge action setpieces!
  • Posts: 297
    I think even FRWL did one action scene too much with the helicopter chase and the boat chase. They should have done just one, not both.

    SF will most likely have the same amount of action the last two had. Meaning at least one big gunfight-explosion combo too much for my tastes.
  • zebrafishzebrafish <°)))< in Octopussy's garden in the shade
    edited February 2012 Posts: 4,338
    @Zekidk

    Sorry mate, no offence, but I am not thinking about the Bond series here (and I certainly do not think Bond fans are "thick-in-the-head adolescent males"), in which explosions are traditionally moderate (with a few exceptions in the 90s). I am bothered by movies in which cars explode every 5 minutes and people are seemingly shot at random. Basically these movies cater to a taste for violence, which the Bond series should avoid. Instead, I want intelligent entertainment with moderate violence.
    And explosions are so common nowadays that a Bond movie might as well avoid them entirely or do them right, i.e. no CGI but real and only 1-2 in the entire film.
  • Posts: 3,273
    @ zebrafish.

    Oh... you were referring to the CGI and Michael Bay-ish kind of action movies? Agree - can't have that in a Bond series. I do like explosions, small or big, and pyrotechnics however, if done right.
  • 002002
    Posts: 581
    if Skyfall is like Goldeneye and Casino Royale ill be very happy

    actually studying the new image of Craig- it evokes a sort of feel of TND and the never made Timothy Dalton Property of a lady (which was set in Shanghai) and yeah looks promising but we need a trailer
  • Posts: 12,526
    I thought the story and action was pretty well balanced in CR. So i am hoping for the same in Skyfall! Going on what we know at the moment? I would say they plan on striking that same balance given the cast?
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    Posts: 4,399
    RogueAgent wrote:
    I thought the story and action was pretty well balanced in CR. So i am hoping for the same in Skyfall! Going on what we know at the moment? I would say they plan on striking that same balance given the cast?

    i would agree with that...

    given the overall praise of CR, and lukewarm response to QOS - i'd imagine that the producers will look towards CR as being their template from now on moving forward.

  • Posts: 12,526
    I know some here disagree which i respect. But i didn't think CR was either too long or too short? I came out the cinema thinking? My god! Is that really the time?!!! That's how engrossed that film got me! :-bd
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    Posts: 4,399
    RogueAgent wrote:
    I know some here disagree which i respect. But i didn't think CR was either too long or too short? I came out the cinema thinking? My god! Is that really the time?!!! That's how engrossed that film got me! :-bd

    same with me - for as long of a movie as it is, it's paced remarkably well, and holds your interest....

    only with repeated viewings do i see where perhaps they could've shaved off a couple minutes, but it's not bad.

  • Posts: 289
    yeah agreed CR tends to fly by....
  • Posts: 4,762
    I'd say a good blend of both, and the best Bonds to demonstrate this are FYEO, OP, TLD, GE, and CR, at least in my opinion.
  • Posts: 4,622
    SF might very well be one awesome espionage action suspense film - possibly a combination of more Bourne/QoS style action with a big dollop of Le Carre inspired intrigue. I might even pay to see it 5x in cinema for its pure awesome entertainment value.
    However, I'm really wondering if it can truly be a Bond film in the style and vibe of the classic era. Might be wishful thinking on MGW's part.
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