CNN on Bond
highhopes
Posts: 1,358MI6 Agent
Author Simon Winder say old Bonds should be remade
(There's appears to be video to this as well, but I'm not a subscriber, so I don't know what it's about. There's a link on the story)
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/14/bond.phenonmenon/
[line]
James Bond: The world's favorite spy
By Simon Hooper for CNN
(CNN) -- In 1962 a low-budget adaptation of a paperback thriller by a former British intelligence officer enjoyed a modest reception from critics and cinema audiences in the UK and the U.S.
Starring a relatively unknown jobbing Scottish actor, "Dr. No" had been largely forgotten by the time the following year's Academy Awards came around, when another British film, the 18th century romp "Tom Jones," took best picture honors.
Forty-four years later, Tuesday's all-star London premiere for James Bond's latest adventure -- the 21st official film in the second most lucrative movie franchise in history (after Star Wars) -- is likely to be a rather different affair.
The series spawned by Ian Fleming's novels has out-lasted the character's creator and his books, five lead actors and the era of Cold War paranoia in which the British secret agent was cast as the last barrier between Western civilisation and both Soviet domination and the psychopathic ambitions of assorted crazed megalomaniacs.
While "Dr. No" may have introduced Bond to the big screen, it was the spiraling success of Sean Connery's subsequent films "From Russia With Love," "Goldfinger," and "Thunderball" -- each tapping into the mid-60s appetite for taut espionage-themed thrillers -- that transformed him into a universally recognized icon of popular culture.
Bond films have rarely deviated too far from the stock script: A set-piece pre-credit stunt sequence; a villain as cunning, ruthless and stylish as the hero; a succession of beautiful, amoral women with ambiguous motives; gadget-packed cars, vodka martinis and secret island bases.
Yet, with Daniel Craig becoming the latest actor to don the 007 tuxedo in "Casino Royale," Bond appears to be in no danger of having his licence to kill revoked any time soon.
Bond expert Simon Winder, author of "The Man Who Saved Britain," said that even approaching the 50th anniversary of his screen debut, the character still had a "ruthless ability to regenerate himself" for contemporary audiences.
"He's left over from an earlier era yet somehow, like Superman, he's been consistently reinvented," Winder told CNN. "Sometimes he's taken a disastrous wrong turn -- like in some of the later Roger Moore movies -- but somehow the strength of the character has always pulled him through."
In fact the new film, more than just introducing a new lead man, represents a regeneration of the series, taking Bond back to the start of his career as an agent.
"Casino Royale" was Fleming's first story and the film features a harder, grittier character than the one portrayed by Pierce Brosnan in 2002's "Die Another Day," a special effects-laden commercial success but critical flop.
Although the basis for Bond's first-ever screen appearance, a 1954 American television adaptation starring Barry Nelson, and an ill-conceived spoof featuring Peter Sellars, David Niven, Orson Welles and Woody Allen in 1967, the novel has never previously formed part of the official screen canon.
Winder said returning to Fleming's original Bond storylines was a smart move, adding that Bond's longevity as a character -- as other action heroes have gone in and out of fashion -- was largely due to the tight plotting of the original novels.
"They'd been floundering -- though not financially -- and 'Die Another Day' left such a bad taste in the mouth because it was so poor. The new one is miles better," he said.
"Bonds movies slough off their skin and come up fresh again, whereas 'Mission Impossible' without Tom Cruise is inconceivable. Even the less successful Bonds like [George] Lazenby and [Timothy] Dalton have not been total disasters. They may not have a place in people hearts but they've been perfectly satisfactory."
While Bond may once have battled to save the world from Communism, a new threat to global security from terrorism may also have given Bond a new lease of life, said Winder: "The war on terror has provided a fresh backdrop. We're half a century into Bond and I think we are only in the foothills of the experience."
With Craig already signed up for two more Bond outings, Winder said "Casino Royale" had created a "great opportunity" to re-make some of the earlier stories for another age.
First up for a makeover, should Winder's vision be realized, would be Fleming's second novel, "Live and Let Die," initially made in 1973 in Moore's first appearance in the lead role -- something that would likely only raise eyebrows among Moore connoisseurs and fans of the original's epic Wings title track.
"I would just go through each book in turn. They can remake them all. They've got a fantastic new Bond in Daniel Craig who I think does it fantastically well. Embarrassingly I'd say he's almost better than Connery -- I never thought I'd say it... but he is incredibly good."
(There's appears to be video to this as well, but I'm not a subscriber, so I don't know what it's about. There's a link on the story)
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/14/bond.phenonmenon/
[line]
James Bond: The world's favorite spy
By Simon Hooper for CNN
(CNN) -- In 1962 a low-budget adaptation of a paperback thriller by a former British intelligence officer enjoyed a modest reception from critics and cinema audiences in the UK and the U.S.
Starring a relatively unknown jobbing Scottish actor, "Dr. No" had been largely forgotten by the time the following year's Academy Awards came around, when another British film, the 18th century romp "Tom Jones," took best picture honors.
Forty-four years later, Tuesday's all-star London premiere for James Bond's latest adventure -- the 21st official film in the second most lucrative movie franchise in history (after Star Wars) -- is likely to be a rather different affair.
The series spawned by Ian Fleming's novels has out-lasted the character's creator and his books, five lead actors and the era of Cold War paranoia in which the British secret agent was cast as the last barrier between Western civilisation and both Soviet domination and the psychopathic ambitions of assorted crazed megalomaniacs.
While "Dr. No" may have introduced Bond to the big screen, it was the spiraling success of Sean Connery's subsequent films "From Russia With Love," "Goldfinger," and "Thunderball" -- each tapping into the mid-60s appetite for taut espionage-themed thrillers -- that transformed him into a universally recognized icon of popular culture.
Bond films have rarely deviated too far from the stock script: A set-piece pre-credit stunt sequence; a villain as cunning, ruthless and stylish as the hero; a succession of beautiful, amoral women with ambiguous motives; gadget-packed cars, vodka martinis and secret island bases.
Yet, with Daniel Craig becoming the latest actor to don the 007 tuxedo in "Casino Royale," Bond appears to be in no danger of having his licence to kill revoked any time soon.
Bond expert Simon Winder, author of "The Man Who Saved Britain," said that even approaching the 50th anniversary of his screen debut, the character still had a "ruthless ability to regenerate himself" for contemporary audiences.
"He's left over from an earlier era yet somehow, like Superman, he's been consistently reinvented," Winder told CNN. "Sometimes he's taken a disastrous wrong turn -- like in some of the later Roger Moore movies -- but somehow the strength of the character has always pulled him through."
In fact the new film, more than just introducing a new lead man, represents a regeneration of the series, taking Bond back to the start of his career as an agent.
"Casino Royale" was Fleming's first story and the film features a harder, grittier character than the one portrayed by Pierce Brosnan in 2002's "Die Another Day," a special effects-laden commercial success but critical flop.
Although the basis for Bond's first-ever screen appearance, a 1954 American television adaptation starring Barry Nelson, and an ill-conceived spoof featuring Peter Sellars, David Niven, Orson Welles and Woody Allen in 1967, the novel has never previously formed part of the official screen canon.
Winder said returning to Fleming's original Bond storylines was a smart move, adding that Bond's longevity as a character -- as other action heroes have gone in and out of fashion -- was largely due to the tight plotting of the original novels.
"They'd been floundering -- though not financially -- and 'Die Another Day' left such a bad taste in the mouth because it was so poor. The new one is miles better," he said.
"Bonds movies slough off their skin and come up fresh again, whereas 'Mission Impossible' without Tom Cruise is inconceivable. Even the less successful Bonds like [George] Lazenby and [Timothy] Dalton have not been total disasters. They may not have a place in people hearts but they've been perfectly satisfactory."
While Bond may once have battled to save the world from Communism, a new threat to global security from terrorism may also have given Bond a new lease of life, said Winder: "The war on terror has provided a fresh backdrop. We're half a century into Bond and I think we are only in the foothills of the experience."
With Craig already signed up for two more Bond outings, Winder said "Casino Royale" had created a "great opportunity" to re-make some of the earlier stories for another age.
First up for a makeover, should Winder's vision be realized, would be Fleming's second novel, "Live and Let Die," initially made in 1973 in Moore's first appearance in the lead role -- something that would likely only raise eyebrows among Moore connoisseurs and fans of the original's epic Wings title track.
"I would just go through each book in turn. They can remake them all. They've got a fantastic new Bond in Daniel Craig who I think does it fantastically well. Embarrassingly I'd say he's almost better than Connery -- I never thought I'd say it... but he is incredibly good."
Comments
A lot of critics, I note, seem to have attended the same crash course on Bond in that they note he's a character rooted in some past time. That's strange to me because I've found that Bond's basic characteristics can be found in any number of "heroes" in literature past and present. The fact that the stories often reflect a Cold War sensibility is one thing, but the character himself -- other than his more sadistic qualities -- has many of the basic qualities of the classic hero.
It won't happen, though. I just hope Eon continue to mine the books for plot ingredients...
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
They have pretty much taken all the good stuff, though. What's left in Live & Let Die that LALD, FYEO and LTK didn't use? You can hardly have another Solitare etc.- it's been done.
What have we got left? Shatterhand's garden and Scaramanga's toy train ride? You can do those bits, but I'm sure the writers can come up with better ideas.
I rather like the theft of priceless pirate treasure (LALD) to finance terror...the TSWLM novel's plot as a story element (or PTS)...the same would apply to Quantum of Solace and/or The Hildebrand Rarity...the notion of MAGIC 44 (from YOLT) as some sort of fool-proof way to infiltrate world-wide ports and shipping hubs...the many unused bits from DAF (a jockey who's thrown a race being scalded with hot mud
...May the housekeeper...more of Bond's fastidious nature...his morning exercise routine...Loelia Posonby...a social night out with M, which leads to the meeting of a villain...
Just off the top of my head
...and of course I would indeed add Dr. Shatterhand's Garden to the mix B-)
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I'm sure there are several talented writers with great ideas that can write a Fleming-type story. Plus this reboot, the character and plotlines can develop in numerous possible directions.
More like "remaking FRWL would be as big a crime as remaking Casablanca."
After all, like Casablanca, there's no way you can adjust FRWL to be a present-day story, given the setting-specific influence on the story.
In terms of quality, I think that remaking GF and FRWL would be as big a crime as remaking Citizen Kane, Casablanca and The Godfather.