The Bond One-Liner Discussion

chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
in General James Bond Chat
Early Connery's Bond perfected the dark-irony one-liner fairly early on. Other movies & actors would go on to copy the idea, and most of them unsuccessfully IMO. The Eighties in particular was chock full of them.
Anyone remember "Stick around" from Arnie? He was smirking when he said it. And that's the key to a perfect Bondian one-liner; Bond isn't saying it to be funny.
If a Bond one-liner makes you laugh out loud, then it's Moore or Brosnan probably delivering it, and in that case it's been morphed from its original intention. Other non-Bond movies copying the idea usually miss it too.
Take the 'shocking' line in Goldfinger. It makes you smile, in a dark way, but have you ever actually chuckled at it (I mean after you were a kid)? Kids think it's funny because it's directly making fun of the death from electrocution. But the reason it's clever is because it's actually Bond commenting on the girl's lack of character. Bondian one-liners have more than one meaning. Take the 'waterloo' line from TLD, not funny, just darkly ironic. I've heard some say that Dalton wasn't funny as Bond, well...YEAH. You want Dalton's comedic timing, watch The Rocketeer or The Beautician and the Beast. "He got the boot" or "he came to a a dead end" aren't funny because Bond isn't a comedian. Or at least, he shouldn't be.

Thoughts on this?
Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
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Comments

  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I think with the Craig films they have gone back to the more dark one liners of the
    Early days. A couple of Craig's like " It's the circle of life " I found dark but very
    Funny and cold. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    edited June 2014
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    " It's the circle of life " I found dark but very
    Funny and cold. :))
    Yes, an example of a perfect Bond one-liner! -{
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,863Chief of Staff
    Connery once said (and I paraphrase) that he always entered Bond through the serious door and exited through the comic one, while Moore did the exact opposite. With that in mind, Brosnan followed the Moore route while Dalton and Craig follow the Connery one. Craig didn't smirk on the line "I don't think he smoked", for example, in QoS.
  • Gassy ManGassy Man USAPosts: 2,972MI6 Agent
    The difference between Connery and Craig, though, is that Connery seems to enjoy or appreciate the line most, if not all, of the time. Craig on the other hand just seems so incredibly dour every time he says something funny, it takes the joy out of any line that might have been funny. Craig just does not do the humor justice. Sometimes he comes close, as in Skyfall when he said "M" to "bitch" and "I liked that part" or whatever when she said he was a testament to British fortitude, or whatever. He needs to relax more.
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 22,334MI6 Agent
    I actually think Craig gets the humor of Bond. Used sparingly, usually smart and sometimes cruel.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I'm sure there's a lot of pressure on any actor taking on Bond and I'd say even harder when
    They're also rebooting the series ! I think DC has passed that stage and seems very comfortable
    In the role, more relaxed. The one liners ( for me at least ) he delivers well -{ very much in the Connery
    Style. He also has the same smirk and swagger, for me this shows Bond is back to having fun
    With us the audience. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • DEFIANT 74205DEFIANT 74205 Perth, AustraliaPosts: 1,881MI6 Agent
    chrisisall wrote:
    Early Connery's Bond perfected the dark-irony one-liner fairly early on. Other movies & actors would go on to copy the idea, and most of them unsuccessfully IMO. The Eighties in particular was chock full of them.
    Anyone remember "Stick around" from Arnie? He was smirking when he said it. And that's the key to a perfect Bondian one-liner; Bond isn't saying it to be funny.
    If a Bond one-liner makes you laugh out loud, then it's Moore or Brosnan probably delivering it, and in that case it's been morphed from its original intention. Other non-Bond movies copying the idea usually miss it too.
    Take the 'shocking' line in Goldfinger. It makes you smile, in a dark way, but have you ever actually chuckled at it (I mean after you were a kid)? Kids think it's funny because it's directly making fun of the death from electrocution. But the reason it's clever is because it's actually Bond commenting on the girl's lack of character. Bondian one-liners have more than one meaning.

    Not to mention my personal favourite, "I think he got the point".

    I agree with your post completely. -{
    "Watch the birdie, you bastard!"
  • DelicatessenInSteelDelicatessenInSteel Posts: 181MI6 Agent
    I still to this day am still angry at Casino Royale for the lost opportunity of "Nailed Him" when he shot the guy in the eye with a nail gun.
    1.MoonRaker 2.OHMSS 3.LALD 4.OP 5.FYEO 6.DR. NO 7.YOLT 8.LTK 9.CR 10.AVTAK
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    -{ very funny line, but it was in the middle of a long
    tension filled sequence, were I don't think it would've
    worked.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • hehadlotsofgutshehadlotsofguts Durham England Posts: 2,112MI6 Agent
    TD had decent one liners. He didn't have the delivery to pull them off though.
    Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"

    " I don't listen to hip hop!"
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    hehadlotsofguts wrote:
    TD had decent one liners. He didn't have the delivery to pull them off though.
    "He got the boot" was perfectly delivered IMHO. -{
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • hehadlotsofgutshehadlotsofguts Durham England Posts: 2,112MI6 Agent
    I've always liked "switch the bloody machine off" as well :)
    Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"

    " I don't listen to hip hop!"
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    hehadlotsofguts wrote:
    I've always liked "switch the bloody machine off" as well :)
    Possibly the best one liner in the franchise. -{
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,752Chief of Staff
    hehadlotsofguts wrote:
    TD had decent one liners. He didn't have the delivery to pull them off though.

    I don't agree with you - I thought he delivered them perfectly -{

    But each to their own :)
    YNWA 97
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I thought Dalton had a very natural delivery -{ , such as his
    " Farewell to arms " line. Maybe not to everyone's taste but then
    Again. Harry Hill's delivery of a joke is very different to Emo Philips
    Although they're both funny. :))
    ( I've probably explained that very badly :)) )
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    I thought Dalton had a very natural delivery -{ , such as his " Farewell to arms " line.
    I feel so as well.
    Uh-oh!
    Bondtots should be commenting on this VERY soon! :p
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • DaltonFan1DaltonFan1 The West of IrelandPosts: 503MI6 Agent
    chrisisall wrote:
    hehadlotsofguts wrote:
    TD had decent one liners. He didn't have the delivery to pull them off though.
    "He got the boot" was perfectly delivered IMHO. -{
    I love how his tone of voice changes on "boot" as he notices the plane is about to crash. Very authentic and believable.
    “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to a better understanding of ourselves.” - Carl Jung
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Agreed as I've posted. Dalton's dilevery is completly natural.
    Helping to show how good a Bond he really was ! {[]
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    Helping to show how good a Bond he really was ! {[]
    He was the best. The others were & are great, but Dalton was just in a different league. -{ :007)
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • BIG TAMBIG TAM Wrexham, North Wales, UK.Posts: 773MI6 Agent
    DaltonFan1 wrote:
    chrisisall wrote:
    hehadlotsofguts wrote:
    TD had decent one liners. He didn't have the delivery to pull them off though.
    "He got the boot" was perfectly delivered IMHO. -{
    I love how his tone of voice changes on "boot" as he notices the plane is about to crash. Very authentic and believable.

    Dalton utters one of my favourite one-liners to Pam Bouvier on the conveyor belt in LTK - "Switch the bloody machine off!" It's not funny per se but is apt to the moment & Dalton's exasperated cry makes it most comical. But it doesn't detract from the danger of the situation which is why it stands out for me.
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    chrisisall wrote:
    If a Bond one-liner makes you laugh out loud, then it's Moore or Brosnan probably delivering it, and in that case it's been morphed from its original intention.

    What kind of moron would actually laugh-out-loud at a Bond one-liner…
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I have to hold my hand up to that One. ;% :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    I have to hold my hand up to that One. ;% :))
    "So that's what I've been doing wrong all these years" makes me LOL every time. :))
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    " This guy, cracks me up " :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    Sorry to be so predictable, but no one nails the one-liner as perfectly as Connery. From the smoothness of his delivery to the nonchalant expression on his face, Connery makes it all seem so natural and effortless. The others have their moments, but some times they seem to be trying too hard. I think Craig is coming into his own, though, and that is particularly evident in SF. I'm looking forward to more of that sort of low-key humor in Bond 24.
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Blackleiter wrote:
    Sorry to be so predictable, but no one nails the one-liner as perfectly as Connery.
    Well, he was one of the creators of it...
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,752Chief of Staff
    chrisisall wrote:
    Blackleiter wrote:
    Sorry to be so predictable, but no one nails the one-liner as perfectly as Connery.
    Well, he was one of the creators of it...

    Certainly was...plus he had the advantage of 'better' one-liners...sometimes it feels as though the scriptwriters crowbar the 'gags' in :(
    YNWA 97
  • hehadlotsofgutshehadlotsofguts Durham England Posts: 2,112MI6 Agent
    "I think they were on their way to a funeral!" :)) Natural, effortless and hilarious. One of the reasons why Connery is my favourite Bond.
    Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"

    " I don't listen to hip hop!"
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I agree with BL that the humour in Skyfall seemed to flow very naturally,
    Reminiscent of the Connery days -{ , we don't need a joke in every scene
    But a few well placed one-liners ( that term always sounds to me like a posh
    Female hygiene product :)) ). Can really work well.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    Sir Miles wrote:
    chrisisall wrote:
    Blackleiter wrote:
    Sorry to be so predictable, but no one nails the one-liner as perfectly as Connery.
    Well, he was one of the creators of it...

    Certainly was...plus he had the advantage of 'better' one-liners...sometimes it feels as though the scriptwriters crowbar the 'gags' in :(

    No doubt the writing certainly helps. But one cannot write that delivery! :D
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
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