Action Setpieces
PDJamesBond
Posts: 180MI6 Agent
After 22 films over 40+ years, I have to ask myself: is there ANY kind of action sequence that hasn't been done already, either by Bond or one of its imitators?
We've had chases via plane, train, car, jet, helicopter, motorcycle, tank, fire truck, cable car, blimp, hot air balloon, submarine, motorboat, ski, bobsled, snowboard, snowmobile, surfboard, gondola, space shuttle, horse, tanker truck, crane, oil pipeline, and hovercraft.
We’ve had action sequences set on/in volcanoes, satellite dishes, fuel cell-powered hotels, oil rigs, underwater hideaways, construction sites, elevators, ancient ruins, museums, prisons, air force bases, space stations, mines, mountains, bridges, hidden islands, submarines, palaces, horse races, circuses, cliffs, canals, ice castles, stealth ships, towers, snowscapes, deserts, and jungles.
Anyone have any ideas for some kind of action setpiece that hasn’t been done? About the only thing I can think of is a mine car chase, and Indiana Jones already took that one.
I’m sure the action scenes in future Bond films will continue to be impressive and well-made, but will we ever have the pleasure of seeing a new, innovative action setpiece again? Is there anything you’d all like to see in a Bond movie that hasn’t been done?
We've had chases via plane, train, car, jet, helicopter, motorcycle, tank, fire truck, cable car, blimp, hot air balloon, submarine, motorboat, ski, bobsled, snowboard, snowmobile, surfboard, gondola, space shuttle, horse, tanker truck, crane, oil pipeline, and hovercraft.
We’ve had action sequences set on/in volcanoes, satellite dishes, fuel cell-powered hotels, oil rigs, underwater hideaways, construction sites, elevators, ancient ruins, museums, prisons, air force bases, space stations, mines, mountains, bridges, hidden islands, submarines, palaces, horse races, circuses, cliffs, canals, ice castles, stealth ships, towers, snowscapes, deserts, and jungles.
Anyone have any ideas for some kind of action setpiece that hasn’t been done? About the only thing I can think of is a mine car chase, and Indiana Jones already took that one.
I’m sure the action scenes in future Bond films will continue to be impressive and well-made, but will we ever have the pleasure of seeing a new, innovative action setpiece again? Is there anything you’d all like to see in a Bond movie that hasn’t been done?
Comments
It's a location that Bond has not visited, yet with the "palm tree" of artificial islands there is scope for some really beautiful cinematography, and QE2, which is now in Dubai, would make a good location to include...
A couple of multi-million pound mega-yachts could add to the glamour.
I don't think that Bond has ever been in a golf-cart chase.....
And true, Bond has never been in a golf cart chase, but maybe that's just as well
Actually I cannot recall there ever been a rooftop fight in a Bond film so that could work. As long as we don't get the cheesy:
"Whoops! I've just fallen of the end of this gigantic mega-structure which is about 700ft tall to certain doom"
Eon, send me a PM! I'll work for the WGA minimum...
B-)
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
The airboats in florida,sure they've been used in a couple of movies but i'm sure the Bond stunt team come come up with something special.
In the book Licence Renewed in part of a car chase Bond drives the car without lights using Night finder Goggles, I think this would look great on film.
And how about a 4x4 chase over very rough ground, unbelievable slopes etc, With Bond out driving the villans.
Great thread idea PDJames, but for my money you forgot to mention the BEST BOND CHASE EVER.
The parkour chase near the opening Casino Royale.
Absolutely the best film chase ever I think.
Oscar Wilde
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
That's a good one. A foot chase across traffic hasn't been seen either, or maybe across a busy runway, nasty and chaotic. Though you can see the former in Tell No One, a French film.
Or a foot chase in an odd location, like the floating logs in Insomnia with Robin Williams and Al Pacino.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
And Alec, I didn't specifically use the word "parkour" but I was referring to that CR foot chase (absolutely brilliant, I agree) when I listed "construction sites" under the locations. Trust me, that is one for the ages, and I wouldn't forget it!
Now why did the scene from the Matrix trilogy with the hundred Mr Smiths just pop into my head?
Either Q Branch could fit some missiles and guns to it or Bond could out fly the villans causing them to crash, Yea I know it sounds far fetched but it would be entertaining. :007)
I'm actually a big fan of ridiculous, absurd, over-the-top action sequences (yes, I'm that one guy who enjoyed the first XxX movie), so I'd love to see that one. However, I don't think it belongs in a Daniel Craig Bond film. It's more of Pierce Brosnan's style. I have a feeling that when Craig's tenure is up, the next Bond will inevitably go back to a little bit of the RM, PB silliness, so jet packs would be perfectly at home
http://apbateman.com
Picture it: Bond is in the hospital recovering from one of his bone-crushing brawls. Little does he know that Mr. White is in the room down the hall recovering from a knee replacement. Bond sees him and Mr. White leads him on a wheelchair chase through the hospital. Down the stairs, through the cafeteria, into and out of the gift shop and finally ending when Bond forces him into a pile of garbage. Then Bond says something like, "Looks like someone needs a sponge bath."
Is anyone else seeing the possibilities with this?
Give me some time and I'll come up with some even better ideas.
Sounds a lot like Mission Impossible
Anyone have any new ideas?
Soldiers idea
Large piece to another. Leading to the inevitable ice over the waterfall scene.
Bond pulls out his piton gun as a passing army helicopter firing at him passes
Over, it hovers for a better shot. Bond fires hitting the gunner who falls, the rope
From Bond's gun acts as a winch as the gunner falls it Pulls Bond up off the ice
( as all the soldiers following fall over the waterfall ) Bond jumps in beside the pilot
Knocking him out, and changing course.
nah wouldnt work ,they would get stopped on the way out to check their contents against their receipts X-(
(sorry sir this PPK dosent seem to have been paid for if you could go to customer services ect you grt the drift)
And AlwaysShaken, it's interesting that you mention Niagra Falls because a fight underneath Niagra Falls was actually an idea written by Fleming in his journals for future story ideas.
Banks, through rivers and woods etc.
OH no don't say that ,I have actually been under Niagra falls ,there is a series of damp wet tunnels behind the water curtain
on horseshoe falls, the power and the noise of the water is mindblowing, but up top at the drop of the falls its constantly raining
(what goes up must come down )the falls are a true wonder of the world ,no pics im afraid as all photos were done turned into paper photos and not saved to the PC