Daniel Craig: Blame Austin Powers for the Super-Serious James Bond Fil

Absolutely_Cart

https://www.yahoo.com/movies/daniel-craig-blame-austin-powers-for-the-super-104242883007.html

Interesting take. For those who want the quick version, Craig feels like the Austin Powers parody took something away from James Bond and had he continued the goofy spy route then it would have become a self-parody. So he did more serious films for a while. But now that we're past Austin Powers, perhaps the more goofy movies can come back.

DEFIANT 74205

I sincerely hope not. I don't want gags in a Bond film. I want the film to be a serious adult adventure, played with a straight face, as it should be. I have so far liked Craig's films because they have been serious adult adventures. If it went back to the campiness of the 1970s I would find that extremely disappointing.

Thunderpussy

Not going to happen )

AlphaOmegaSin

I personally don't think Craig would fit well into an outlandish Film.

superado

I hope they track down that wine-chugging bystander and the trained double-taking pigeons! )

Blackleiter

Absolutely_Cart wrote:

https://www.yahoo.com/movies/daniel-craig-blame-austin-powers-for-the-super-104242883007.html

Interesting take. For those who want the quick version, Craig feels like the Austin Powers parody took something away from James Bond and had he continued the goofy spy route then it would have become a self-parody. So he did more serious films for a while. But now that we're past Austin Powers, perhaps the more goofy movies can come back.

Nope! I don't mind a touch of humor now and then in the form of the occasional witty quip like in the old Connery films. But back to "goofy" Bond movies? Never! X-(

Thunderpussy

As far as I'm concerned they got the balance of humour just right
With SF, as BL says. The odd cruel one liner or quip is all that's needed )

Gassy Man

There's a big difference between silly and fun. You can have elaborate lairs, colorful villains, exotic locations, cheeky humor, and fantastic plots without being silly -- think the Indiana Jones films, for instance (which owe so much to the original James Bond movies). It's all in the execution. That's another thing that makes the old Bond films so much more sophisticated -- they knew where the line was drawn. In many cases, they drew the line.

DEFIANT 74205

Blackleiter wrote:

Nope! I don't mind a touch of humor now and then in the form of the occassional witty quip like in the old Connery films.

To what extent, though? Thunderball and Diamonds Are Forever had quite a lot more quips than say, From Russia With Love. Personally, I prefer the latter. Bond should be played with a straight face.

Gassy Man

A little clever wit goes a long way. It's not the quantity but the quality.

AlphaOmegaSin

Talking of Austin Powers, whatever happened to the fourth Film that was rumored?

DEFIANT 74205

Gassy Man wrote:

A little clever wit goes a long way. It's not the quantity but the quality.

Absolutely. I agree with this. Hell, even Fleming incorporated one or two in his novels. But I guess where we differ is where to draw the line. I do find the inclusion of wit in Connery's first two films have the balance just about right, and Casino Royale too. For example, lines like these are great:

"The girl left in hysterics."
"Found your technique too violent?"

or

"That doesn't matter. All I want is that Lektor."
"All? Are you sure that's all you want?"

or

"That last hand nearly killed me."


Lines like these are, in my view, cringeworthy:

"I thought Christmas only comes once a year."

or

"Allow me to broaden your vocabulary."

CmdrAtticus

I was so glad to read Craig's thoughts on this. It shows he knows that the Power's films grew out from the EON entries that had already made a parody of the character starting with DAF and then with the YOLT remake TSWLM.

I'm glad he is mining the Fleming novels for storylines and to try to keep getting into Bond's character.

As far as the humor, I think they're getting the balance right. I haven't groaned over any quips in the reboots yet.

broadshoulder

Haven't Austin Powers died a death. Another enemy beaten off. X-(

I did notice the little sprat on the EoN DVD.

Absolutely_Cart

AlphaOmegaSin wrote:

Talking of Austin Powers, whatever happened to the fourth Film that was rumored?

I dunno. Austin Powers already did its thing and achieved what it wanted to do. I wouldn't tamper with a complete thought.

LPFilms

Gassy Man wrote:

There's a big difference between silly and fun. You can have elaborate lairs, colorful villains, exotic locations, cheeky humor, and fantastic plots without being silly -- think the Indiana Jones films, for instance (which owe so much to the original James Bond movies). It's all in the execution. That's another thing that makes the old Bond films so much more sophisticated -- they knew where the line was drawn. In many cases, they drew the line.

Exactly (though DAF, TMWTGG, MR, and DAD didn't seem to know where to draw that line hahaha). YOLT has many over the top aspects to it that go without mentioning, but it's taken seriously in the world of the film. All of the characters take a volcano lair as if it's actually UN-laughably feasible in their world. TSWLM as well, with Atlantis, the Lotus, Jaws, and Strombrerg's goal. Since there's no winking to the camera, and since it's not looked at in a ridiculous manner by the characters in the film, we the audience know it's over the top but accept it. It ends up feeling more larger-than-life and adventurous rather than just plain silly.