I think it's pretty safe to say that a Bond remake won't happen as long as a Broccoli is in charge, they love the franchise too much. Which is great, every Bond movie works best in the time period it was created.
BIG TAMWrexham, North Wales, UK.Posts: 773MI6 Agent
I don't think they should specifically remake titles but they can carry on using elements from the books not already filmed. And I agree they could certainly use the plot of MOONRAKER. I also wouldn't have a problem with them reintroducing characters from previous titles, e.g. Mary Goodnight but in a different context.
Movies that I think could be remade: Diamonds Are Forever - Better acting all around, and make perhaps make it a Craig-ish serious film about the harm of diamond smuggling Man with the Golden Gun - Make it a serious movie to fit the serious concept of Bond counterpart assassin. Also, put more emphasis on the fighting maze. Moonraker - Stick to Fleming's book. Nuff said.
I agree with all three of your choices. All of them rank somewhat lowly in my opinion, and would've been far better had they actually taken more of Fleming's novels onto the big screen. Especially Moonraker. That was a masterpiece by Fleming, and I think it's a damn shame that the film of the same name didn't take much (if at all) from it.
RM was more then capable of pulling off the sad Ending of OHMSS.
I agree--but not in the persona we tend to remember him in.
Prob would have looked into the camera winked and said "Plenty more fish in the sea" {:)
Moore was pretty good at the serious moments though, even though there weren't many of them in his movies. He's a Bond who genuinely cares about people and you can feel his anger when innocent people's lives are threatened.
I like your criteria, but have you actually read Fleming's Moonraker? It's awful.
'Awful'? Sounds to me like YOU didn't actually read it. )
Ah geez, don't even get me started on this turkey…
As a whole I found Moonraker novel to be fairly disappointing. A top-secret nuclear warhead project run completely of Germans? Hmm very, VERY suspicious. In fact it was no surprise whatsoever they turned out to be anti-England. Especially so soon after WWII. The shaved heads and mustaches was silly. I can only imagine how comical that would look on film.
The substance abuse in this one is shocking, bordering on parody. Before his (excruciatingly slow) bridge game with Drax, Bond drank 2 bottles of champagne, did shots of vodka, spiked his own drink with amphetamines, drank coffee, and smoked cigarettes. Honestly, if I consumed all that in one evening I would probably die.
It also bugged me that Bond spotted Drax's method for cheating (shiner) but didn't call him out on it.
Unlike in say the Octopussy film where Bond wins by using Kamal's lucky dice. However, I was pleased to find the origin of the line "Spend the money quickly, Mr. Bond"
The double murder was highly unlikely and very stupid. Why not create a work related injury instead of sacrificing one of your best employees in the process? Like just push him off a ladder or something.
What were the secret coordinates on the map that Bond found in the dead man's room? Was that ever resolved?
As for Gala Brand I found her a bit irritating. She swiped Drax's secret black notebook and raced into the hotel to inspect it and estimated the Moonraker might actually be aimed at France. Ok!!! Next step: Call the police. Call Bond. Call the PM. Do anything except hop back into the car with Drax!!! She almost went to the grave with that little tidbit of information. And why wasn't Bond following them? I thought he was supposed to be tailing Drax on his way to London. That ditsy moment by Gala reminded me of Mary Goodnight circa 1974.
When Drax and Krebs are being tailed by Bond at night and manage to smash Bond's car in what appears to be a freak accident they should have just left it at that. Instead they do a U-turn and go back to the crime scene, kidnap Bond, remove his license plates and escape despite several witnesses pouring down towards the crash. That was simply unbelievable!
Bond and Gala tied up in their office chairs seemed a bit of a cliche. Reminded me of that funny scene in The Man Who Knew Too Little where Bill Murray manages to knock out both guards while being tied to his chair.
Overall, not a very cool Bond adventure compared to Goldfinger or Diamonds Are Forever. I'm surprised many hold this one in such high regard. Go ahead, remake it as faithfully as possible, it will be terrible.
My current 10 favorite:
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
The notion of German scientists working on the Moonraker was totally realistic at the time. The V1 and V2 rockets used during the final phases of WW2 were advanced for their time, and the Russians and Americans both snapped up German specialists to work on their respective projects. Fleming extrapolises on this.
The bridge game between Bond and Drax is one of the highlights and centrepieces of Fleming's Bond. Either you get this or you don't. The substance abuse is intended to border on parody.
The map co-ordinates do get explained. 007 isn't following Drax, Krebs and Gala since he's reporting back to M and Vallance (Gala's boss).
My criteria for re-making a 007 movie:
1. It should be a sharply different take on the original movie - not merely an update with a bigger budget. At the end of the day we should say that there's merit in both movies.
2. It should be for movies that didn't achieve classic status. There's no way to re-make From Russia With Love or Goldfinger without it falling in the shadow of the original.
Movies that I think could be remade: Diamonds Are Forever - Better acting all around, and make perhaps make it a Craig-ish serious film about the harm of diamond smuggling Man with the Golden Gun - Make it a serious movie to fit the serious concept of Bond counterpart assassin. Also, put more emphasis on the fighting maze. Moonraker - Stick to Fleming's book. Nuff said.
I agree in general terms with what you say. But I wouldn't rule out the remake or rather re-interpretation of a classic. No sacred cows for me.
Moonraker will always remain my favorite of Flemings Work. Hugo Drax is such a well crafted Antagonist, with his red Hair, Mustache and brutish Background along with his desire for Revenge -{
1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
Comments
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Flemings Moonraker 'Awful'? To the Gallows with you!
I agree with all three of your choices. All of them rank somewhat lowly in my opinion, and would've been far better had they actually taken more of Fleming's novels onto the big screen. Especially Moonraker. That was a masterpiece by Fleming, and I think it's a damn shame that the film of the same name didn't take much (if at all) from it.
I agree Moonraker is a great Bond book. One of my faves. -{
Moore was pretty good at the serious moments though, even though there weren't many of them in his movies. He's a Bond who genuinely cares about people and you can feel his anger when innocent people's lives are threatened.
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
I agree 100%. {[]
Yes to this. {[]
Ah geez, don't even get me started on this turkey…
As a whole I found Moonraker novel to be fairly disappointing. A top-secret nuclear warhead project run completely of Germans? Hmm very, VERY suspicious. In fact it was no surprise whatsoever they turned out to be anti-England. Especially so soon after WWII. The shaved heads and mustaches was silly. I can only imagine how comical that would look on film.
The substance abuse in this one is shocking, bordering on parody. Before his (excruciatingly slow) bridge game with Drax, Bond drank 2 bottles of champagne, did shots of vodka, spiked his own drink with amphetamines, drank coffee, and smoked cigarettes. Honestly, if I consumed all that in one evening I would probably die.
It also bugged me that Bond spotted Drax's method for cheating (shiner) but didn't call him out on it.
Unlike in say the Octopussy film where Bond wins by using Kamal's lucky dice. However, I was pleased to find the origin of the line "Spend the money quickly, Mr. Bond"
The double murder was highly unlikely and very stupid. Why not create a work related injury instead of sacrificing one of your best employees in the process? Like just push him off a ladder or something.
What were the secret coordinates on the map that Bond found in the dead man's room? Was that ever resolved?
As for Gala Brand I found her a bit irritating. She swiped Drax's secret black notebook and raced into the hotel to inspect it and estimated the Moonraker might actually be aimed at France. Ok!!! Next step: Call the police. Call Bond. Call the PM. Do anything except hop back into the car with Drax!!! She almost went to the grave with that little tidbit of information. And why wasn't Bond following them? I thought he was supposed to be tailing Drax on his way to London. That ditsy moment by Gala reminded me of Mary Goodnight circa 1974.
When Drax and Krebs are being tailed by Bond at night and manage to smash Bond's car in what appears to be a freak accident they should have just left it at that. Instead they do a U-turn and go back to the crime scene, kidnap Bond, remove his license plates and escape despite several witnesses pouring down towards the crash. That was simply unbelievable!
Bond and Gala tied up in their office chairs seemed a bit of a cliche. Reminded me of that funny scene in The Man Who Knew Too Little where Bill Murray manages to knock out both guards while being tied to his chair.
Overall, not a very cool Bond adventure compared to Goldfinger or Diamonds Are Forever. I'm surprised many hold this one in such high regard. Go ahead, remake it as faithfully as possible, it will be terrible.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
The notion of German scientists working on the Moonraker was totally realistic at the time. The V1 and V2 rockets used during the final phases of WW2 were advanced for their time, and the Russians and Americans both snapped up German specialists to work on their respective projects. Fleming extrapolises on this.
The bridge game between Bond and Drax is one of the highlights and centrepieces of Fleming's Bond. Either you get this or you don't. The substance abuse is intended to border on parody.
The map co-ordinates do get explained. 007 isn't following Drax, Krebs and Gala since he's reporting back to M and Vallance (Gala's boss).
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I agree in general terms with what you say. But I wouldn't rule out the remake or rather re-interpretation of a classic. No sacred cows for me.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS