From what I hear, Judi Dench wil have even more screen time than ever before in Bond 23, the third installment in the Stop! Or My M Will Shoot! trilogy in which Bond is merely a co-star. A woman named Barbara Broccoli is in charge of the franchise now, and she is determined to keep M as her mouthpiece. That way she can tell the male population what she thinks of us.
Richard
The top 7 Bond films: 1) Dr No. 2) From Russia With Love. 3) Thunderball. 4) On Her Majesty's Secret Service. 5) For Your Eyes Only. 6) The Living Daylights. 7) Licence to Kill.
Well, if you want Eon to sell Bond, best get over it! {[]
I am just saying they should be doing common sense and it's lacking at EON. All I want is for a James Bond film to be an effective thriller for the first time in 41 years. I think it's about time this series should be finally put to rest when Craig is gone.
What's lacking at EON is aptitude and talent. Creative decisions are being made by bean counters named Broccoli and Wilson. They are creatively bankrupt. They have no idea what they're doing. Their Bond films are grotesque. They are not qualified to control movies and they never have been. They need to withdraw from the creative process and decision-making. They need to stand down, and let disciplined professional film makers with a devotion to the originating films and to Fleming guide the films. I don't want to see the franchise put to rest, I want to see it continue under a different creative team.
Richard
The top 7 Bond films: 1) Dr No. 2) From Russia With Love. 3) Thunderball. 4) On Her Majesty's Secret Service. 5) For Your Eyes Only. 6) The Living Daylights. 7) Licence to Kill.
From what I hear, Judi Dench wil have even more screen time than ever before in Bond 23, the third installment in the Stop! Or My M Will Shoot! trilogy in which Bond is merely a co-star. A woman named Barbara Broccoli is in charge of the franchise now, and she is determined to keep M as her mouthpiece. That way she can tell the male population what she thinks of us.
The top 7 Bond films: 1) Dr No. 2) From Russia With Love. 3) Thunderball. 4) On Her Majesty's Secret Service. 5) For Your Eyes Only. 6) The Living Daylights. 7) Licence to Kill.
let me first put this out that I think Judi Dench has done a great job as M and is a great actress so I am not bashing her, but I was watching Dr. No for the 420th time and was reminded how much I miss the old M Bernard Lee, and the sense of intimidation that Bond had of him. I liked the fact that M was more of a boss and not trying to be a friend or equal to Bond.
So who would make a good M these days? and what are your thoughts on this?
As previously mentioned, it requires someone with little 'on-screen' duties accept to send Bond on his way with a do or die mission but have immense presence. Someone in the Anthony Hopkins mould? Ian McKellen & Brian Cox were good ideas in this thread. With the huge budget they are accustomed to - I say why not go for Sir Tony for a days shooting?
danjaq_off and Richard-W, stop with the personal insults and the gutter tactics. If you two have a personal argument, take it to private messages. If you can't talk civilly on the boards, there are other places you can go.
let me first put this out that I think Judi Dench has done a great job as M and is a great actress so I am not bashing her, but I was watching Dr. No for the 420th time and was reminded how much I miss the old M Bernard Lee, and the sense of intimidation that Bond had of him. I liked the fact that M was more of a boss and not trying to be a friend or equal to Bond.
So who would make a good M these days? and what are your thoughts on this?
As previously mentioned, it requires someone with little 'on-screen' duties accept to send Bond on his way with a do or die mission but have immense presence. Someone in the Anthony Hopkins mould? Ian McKellen & Brian Cox were good ideas in this thread. With the huge budget they are accustomed to - I say why not go for Sir Tony for a days shooting?
I'm less concerned with who should play M and more concerned with how the character is written. I don't care if M is played by a man or a woman. I want the character to have a more adult grasp of human nature and human relations so that M doesn't say abrasive and insulting things like "you're a sexist misogynist dinosaur and a relic of the Cold War." The character of M should not be used to wage a gender war against Bond. Another actress could just as easily speak the same lines. The problem is in the writing, not who plays the part.
Richard
The top 7 Bond films: 1) Dr No. 2) From Russia With Love. 3) Thunderball. 4) On Her Majesty's Secret Service. 5) For Your Eyes Only. 6) The Living Daylights. 7) Licence to Kill.
I'm less concerned with who should play M and more concerned with how the character is written. I don't care if M is played by a man or a woman. I want the character to have a more adult grasp of human nature and human relations so that M doesn't say abrasive and insulting things like "you're a sexist misogynist dinosaur and a relic of the Cold War." The character of M should not be used to wage a gender war against Bond. Another actress could just as easily speak the same lines. The problem is in the writing, not who plays the part.
Richard
If your only concern is few M's lines directly from late John Gardners film novelization and it insulted your personal gender compass so badly, i'll be shocked if you manage to find any friends
Knowing who to trust is Everything in this business.
TIS - "The moment you think you got it figured - you're wrong"
I have plenty of friends, thank you.
At least I have a gender compass.
I haven't read the novelization you refer to. I go by what's in the films. The mis-characterization of M has grown throughout the course of the recent Bonds and deeper into how the current films are written. Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace are extremely abrasive films.
Richard
The top 7 Bond films: 1) Dr No. 2) From Russia With Love. 3) Thunderball. 4) On Her Majesty's Secret Service. 5) For Your Eyes Only. 6) The Living Daylights. 7) Licence to Kill.
I have plenty of friends, thank you.
At least I have a gender compass.
I haven't read the novelization you refer to. I go by what's in the films. The mis-characterization of M has grown throughout the course of the recent Bonds and deeper into how the current films are written. Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace are extremely abrasive films.
Richard
That female M's line is directly from Gardner's novel as many other lines in the Goldeneye.
Bond as a character needed a face-lift after DAD, which he had in Casino Royale,
however it somehow disappeared in the sequel. Just my opinion, but if they would have wanted change M's character to another, they would have let that Mitchell dude shoot bullet between her eyes in the beginning of QoS.
Knowing who to trust is Everything in this business.
TIS - "The moment you think you got it figured - you're wrong"
I really like Patrick Stewart for the part - then someone suggested Dumbledore. Yeah! Even better! As long as he keeps the cod-Irish accent, of course.
I really like Patrick Stewart for the part - then someone suggested Dumbledore. Yeah! Even better! As long as he keeps the cod-Irish accent, of course.
Both Patrick Stewart and Michael Gambon are fine choices. Both actors have a commanding screen presence in strong, authoritative roles.
That said, my pick would be Maurice Roeves who plyed Colonel Munro in the 1992's Last of the Mohicans. Roeves is not an A-List star but he does have a strong presence on screen and would be well-suited for the relatively small but important role of M. Plus, he's at the right age to play the crusty, retired Sir Miles.
I really like Patrick Stewart for the part - then someone suggested Dumbledore. Yeah! Even better! As long as he keeps the cod-Irish accent, of course.
Both Patrick Stewart and Michael Gambon are fine choices. Both actors have a commanding screen presence in strong, authoritative roles.
That said, my pick would be Maurice Roeves who plyed Colonel Munro in the 1992's Last of the Mohicans. Roeves is not an A-List star but he does have a strong presence on screen and would be well-suited for the relatively small but important role of M. Plus, he's at the right age to play the crusty, retired Sir Miles.
Just a thought. B-)
Had to look that one up as it rang no bells - you're spot on, he's got great presence and has done some fine work, I saw Roeves in 'Tutti Frutti' back in 1987 and have seen him in bits recently. He is a great candidate, a hard edgy character actor with menace in his eyes - he'd certainly take no nonsense from Bond. Good call.
Mr MartiniThat nice house in the sky.Posts: 2,707MI6 Agent
I don't think I've responded to this thread yet, but what about re-hiring Colin Salmon for Bond 24 and have him play M? By the time Bond 24 comes out he'll be in his Mid-50's. Or is that to young?
Some people would complain even if you hang them with a new rope
I have no problem with a female M, and I think Judi Dench was great in the role. However, I wish they had re-cast the role for the Daniel Craig Bonds. If they decide to go wtih a female again, I could easily see Helen Mirren in the role. However, I agree with those who suggest that M's screen time has grown too much. If the producers agree with that view and go back to one or two scenes where M explains the mission to Bond and appears in a wrap-up scene at the end, then I think Mirren would be wasted (and probably too expensive). How about the older, wiser Timothy Dalton? (A long shot, I know!) My other choices are Christopher Plummer, Albert Finney or Alan Bates.
Comments
Richard
What's lacking at EON is aptitude and talent. Creative decisions are being made by bean counters named Broccoli and Wilson. They are creatively bankrupt. They have no idea what they're doing. Their Bond films are grotesque. They are not qualified to control movies and they never have been. They need to withdraw from the creative process and decision-making. They need to stand down, and let disciplined professional film makers with a devotion to the originating films and to Fleming guide the films. I don't want to see the franchise put to rest, I want to see it continue under a different creative team.
Richard
EDITED
Richard
As previously mentioned, it requires someone with little 'on-screen' duties accept to send Bond on his way with a do or die mission but have immense presence. Someone in the Anthony Hopkins mould? Ian McKellen & Brian Cox were good ideas in this thread. With the huge budget they are accustomed to - I say why not go for Sir Tony for a days shooting?
I'm less concerned with who should play M and more concerned with how the character is written. I don't care if M is played by a man or a woman. I want the character to have a more adult grasp of human nature and human relations so that M doesn't say abrasive and insulting things like "you're a sexist misogynist dinosaur and a relic of the Cold War." The character of M should not be used to wage a gender war against Bond. Another actress could just as easily speak the same lines. The problem is in the writing, not who plays the part.
Richard
If your only concern is few M's lines directly from late John Gardners film novelization and it insulted your personal gender compass so badly, i'll be shocked if you manage to find any friends
TIS - "The moment you think you got it figured - you're wrong"
Formerly known as Teppo
At least I have a gender compass.
I haven't read the novelization you refer to. I go by what's in the films. The mis-characterization of M has grown throughout the course of the recent Bonds and deeper into how the current films are written. Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace are extremely abrasive films.
Richard
That female M's line is directly from Gardner's novel as many other lines in the Goldeneye.
Bond as a character needed a face-lift after DAD, which he had in Casino Royale,
however it somehow disappeared in the sequel. Just my opinion, but if they would have wanted change M's character to another, they would have let that Mitchell dude shoot bullet between her eyes in the beginning of QoS.
TIS - "The moment you think you got it figured - you're wrong"
Formerly known as Teppo
Both Patrick Stewart and Michael Gambon are fine choices. Both actors have a commanding screen presence in strong, authoritative roles.
That said, my pick would be Maurice Roeves who plyed Colonel Munro in the 1992's Last of the Mohicans. Roeves is not an A-List star but he does have a strong presence on screen and would be well-suited for the relatively small but important role of M. Plus, he's at the right age to play the crusty, retired Sir Miles.
Just a thought. B-)
Had to look that one up as it rang no bells - you're spot on, he's got great presence and has done some fine work, I saw Roeves in 'Tutti Frutti' back in 1987 and have seen him in bits recently. He is a great candidate, a hard edgy character actor with menace in his eyes - he'd certainly take no nonsense from Bond. Good call.