how did Brosnan's tenure lead to such dross as Die Another Die?

Andy007Andy007 Posts: 100MI6 Agent
Does anyone know how or see mistakes from his previous films which led to such a dire entry in the series 'Die Another Day'? - when you look at Brosnan's reign, it seemed to start well with GE (which combined grit & charm in good all-round action film) although not one of my favourite Bond films. TND clearly a step back. A selection of poor characters/villains, too much techno emphasis & quick fire shooting. A musical score which leaves nothing to remember. For me TWINE was actually a good follow up to this. A better film in several ways. just seemed a better story, with more convincing characters, better music, cut out many of the needless one-liners that Brosnan used in TND (unfunny imo). But then a story & script comes along in 'Die Another Die' which is dreadful. The script was so poor that i remember watching it in the cinema & guessing the puns before they were delivered, it was so obvious. - lines like 'saved by the bell' in the opening scene! - i knew as soon as he swung off the bell he'd say it. there were others in the film too! But such poor special effects for a huge budget. The opening scene with the surfers! probably the worst image from any Bond film. - followed by Brosnan escaping on the ice scene in the glider. it's embarrassing to watch, so fake. - but what annoys me most is that Die Another Day could have been a half-decent entry in the series. The first half is actually ok. The film is a total write off once it moves to Iceland. i don't recall any Bond film having such a poor 2nd half. Brosnan is not my favourite Bond at all but his reign deserved a better film to finish. - At least the producers acted correctly & the 4-year gap to Casino Royale was so worth it. One of the best Bond films & a great start to Daniel Craig's reign. here's to more, hope Bond 23 delivers..
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Comments

  • 7700777007 Posts: 502MI6 Agent
    The series just goes through waves. There also seems to be somewhat of a pattern where it's been difficult to string two great back to back films together. If even one to begin with.
  • Mr BeechMr Beech Florida, USAPosts: 1,749MI6 Agent
    77007 wrote:
    The series just goes through waves. There also seems to be somewhat of a pattern where it's been difficult to string two great back to back films together. If even one to begin with.

    Yeah, they can't really be expected to make a library of masterpieces. We got Casino Royale and then Quantum of Solace. Great then good (but it is all subjective).
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,467MI6 Agent
    I think it may be because they went for a different director each time, so no consistency. Usually this led to a bit of underwhelming blandness, but this film it went the other way.
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • HardyboyHardyboy Posts: 5,906Chief of Staff
    Die Another Day was planned as a celebration--the producers knew it would be a 40th anniversary film and so they decided to fill the movie with references and nods to all the previous films, and they were deliberately trying to make a modern-day Bond epic like The Spy Who Loved Me. The result is a grab-bag film--in my opinion, some of it works, some doesn't--and it wasn't designed to build on what came before or signal any kind of new direction in the series. It's just a one-off, and should be taken for what it is.
    Vox clamantis in deserto
  • LexiLexi LondonPosts: 3,000MI6 Agent
    Well the ever increasing slippery CGI slope didn't help....
    She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table and you know it. ~ Mark Anthony
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    I still wonder, how these crappy CGI effects could have passed the cutting table and Mickey's approval.... 8-)

    Or did they hope, that the audience all forgot to consult their occulists ? ?:)
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • Mr BeechMr Beech Florida, USAPosts: 1,749MI6 Agent
    Bondtoys wrote:
    I still wonder, how these crappy CGI effects could have passed the cutting table and Mickey's approval.... 8-)

    Or did they hope, that the audience all forgot to consult their occulists ? ?:)

    The rule is, if you can do it practical, do it. If you must have CGI, keep it short and minimal.

    Guess they missed the rule and did a whole movie of CGI and CGI needy scenes.
  • SilentSpySilentSpy Private Exotic AreaPosts: 765MI6 Agent
    You just have to look at the Goldeneye opening to understand why we have Die Another Day. Specifically, Bond riding a motorcycle off a mountain after a plane. I don't know what the producers had in mind showing Pierce Brosnan falling from absurd heights in every single one of his Bond movies. I thought that TWINE would be a change even though Bond falls from the bankers office, the balloon, the ski slope, and dives off that building. But as soon as I saw the surfing sequence I knew we were in for more nonsense.
    "Better late than never."
  • Andy007Andy007 Posts: 100MI6 Agent
    yeah that's a good point. The opening of Goldeneye was farcical really. luckily the rest of the film didn't quite follow suit. it turned out quite a gritty action/spy film. It seems to me that Brosnan & Moore are the only 2 actors to have films ruined by absurd scenes. Bond films are meant to stretch the imagination, but there's fun & daring or stupidity. Unfortunately Brosnan's reign is stupidity. Some of Moore's scenes were too. The ending of Octopussy stands out. Bond holding on to plane upside down at massive height & air force, yet seemingly has nothing to grip on!
    Connery, Lazenby, Dalton & Craig are the more realistic films.
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    at some times, Bond movies - and general movies have been escapism - not so much realism.

    That's what many forget here. In the 70s up to Rambo noone was really interested in realistic movies. If Bond would have followed Fleming during these times, the franchise would be dead!
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • 7700777007 Posts: 502MI6 Agent
    Andy007 wrote:
    It seems to me that Brosnan & Moore are the only 2 actors to have films ruined by absurd scenes.
    The rig popping a wheelie in LTK is as bad or worse than anything in the entire series.
  • Mr BeechMr Beech Florida, USAPosts: 1,749MI6 Agent
    I hope they bring Q back, but not with gadgets and sic fi, just as the weapons and tech director for MI6. He would be responsible for his weapons, the devices (like the defibrillator in the car), the cars, and the phone. He could simply brief him on all the stuff he has been upgraded to, the car he can get when he arrives at his mission, etc. He isn't necessary, but it would be a nice surprise if he weren't in the trailers and suddenly popped up in an MI6 scene in the theater...

    But that's besides the point. My point is, I want them to stick to more believable and physical like with Craig, though I understand it needs some room to get less realistic if they want to get back to some more traditional Bond ventures next time...
  • LexiLexi LondonPosts: 3,000MI6 Agent
    SilentSpy wrote:
    You just have to look at the Goldeneye opening to understand why we have Die Another Day. Specifically, Bond riding a motorcycle off a mountain after a plane. I don't know what the producers had in mind showing Pierce Brosnan falling from absurd heights in every single one of his Bond movies. I thought that TWINE would be a change even though Bond falls from the bankers office, the balloon, the ski slope, and dives off that building. But as soon as I saw the surfing sequence I knew we were in for more nonsense.

    Yep... I mean the bungee jump was quite cool (although the close up of Bond at the end, firing the grappler was poor) that free-fall was just too farfetched... I'm surprised that it hasn't got more flak to be honest... but there you go. Not really surprising that we got that paragliding scene really... I mean where else did it have to go?

    Shame... as there were some great lines, and delivered really, really well... :D
    She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table and you know it. ~ Mark Anthony
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,757Chief of Staff
    SilentSpy wrote:
    You just have to look at the Goldeneye opening to understand why we have Die Another Day. Specifically, Bond riding a motorcycle off a mountain after a plane. I don't know what the producers had in mind showing Pierce Brosnan falling from absurd heights in every single one of his Bond movies. I thought that TWINE would be a change even though Bond falls from the bankers office, the balloon, the ski slope, and dives off that building. But as soon as I saw the surfing sequence I knew we were in for more nonsense.

    I have to hold my hands up here and say I absolutely LOVED the opening to Goldeye...yes it's far fetched...yes it doesn't make much sense...but it's blooming brilliant stuff :D
    YNWA 97
  • SilentSpySilentSpy Private Exotic AreaPosts: 765MI6 Agent
    Andy007 wrote:
    The ending of Octopussy stands out. Bond holding on to plane upside down at massive height & air force, yet seemingly has nothing to grip on!

    I think there are some rails or something on the sides of the plane. I'll check tonight. I'm in my fun Bond mood. I just watched A View to a Kill a few days ago. I still like it.
    77007 wrote:
    The rig popping a wheelie in LTK is as bad or worse than anything in the entire series.

    Strangely, I tried to do this stunt many times when I was younger...
    Sir Miles wrote:
    I have to hold my hands up here and say I absolutely LOVED the opening to Goldeye...yes it's far fetched...yes it doesn't make much sense...but it's blooming brilliant stuff :D

    I love the OP of Goldeneye right until Bond goes over the mountain in the motorcycle. I remember people laughing at that scene in the theater. Also, I'm not a physics expert but my mind immediately thought that this can't work. I've seen cartoons with characters like Batman catch up to people who are falling. But never a person catch up to a falling plane. Even if the pilot is attempting to pull up that motorcycle shoots by the plane in that scene.
    "Better late than never."
  • pyratpyrat Posts: 260MI6 Agent
    SilentSpy wrote:
    I love the OP of Goldeneye right until Bond goes over the mountain in the motorcycle. I remember people laughing at that scene in the theater. Also, I'm not a physics expert but my mind immediately thought that this can't work. I've seen cartoons with characters like Batman catch up to people who are falling. But never a person catch up to a falling plane. Even if the pilot is attempting to pull up that motorcycle shoots by the plane in that scene.

    Exactly. Terminal velocity is terminal velocity. I agree with your analysis, spot on.

    As to Die Another Day, I enjoyed the references to the past, reminded me of the scene in OHMSS where Bond was cleaning out his desk. My favorite was the watch comment Q makes.

    The Vanish was no more outlandish than the laser gun battle and in fact Q's explanation of the technology behind the Vanish was a fairly concise description of the attempts to develop this type of camouflage at the time.

    Me too, 77007, the wheelie in LTK always makes me groan, but as others have pointed out these typs of gags were what kept the franchise alive at the time, so if it came down to Bond being a bit silly at times or no Bond, I can live with the periodic silliness. ;)
    Pyrat
    Reflections in a double bourbon...
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    I remember someone mentioning, that the wheelie was possible but in my opinion, some "realistic" things don't work in the movie.

    Under the same category falls the invisible Vanquish
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,467MI6 Agent
    Lexi wrote:
    Shame... as there were some great lines, and delivered really, really well... :D

    There were some great lines in DAD, but oddly I've found the soundtrack a bit muffled, I had to strain to hear them, feeling rather disassociated from the film. "Just surviving..." and "Don't worry, I haven't come to take it back!" (about Hong Kong) were two...
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • DFGTYODLTTMFOATLGTTDCQDFGTYODLTTMFOATLGTTDCQ Posts: 45MI6 Agent
    best Brosnan feature was The World Is Not Enough I think, DAD was OK up to when Bond leaves for Cuba, then I just usually turn it off, Brosnan tries to act and sound all Latino in awful shirts and I fast forward to when he arrives in Iceland.

    The Madonna (song) effort was pure garbage, simple as that, even made an ill advised cameo at the fencing club

    Craig would of fitted in better for this 2002 release and with a better soundtrack this movie could of gone places

    It's still recognized by many as the worst Bond ever along with A View To A Kill and Moonraker.
  • SilentSpySilentSpy Private Exotic AreaPosts: 765MI6 Agent
    Andy007 wrote:
    The ending of Octopussy stands out. Bond holding on to plane upside down at massive height & air force, yet seemingly has nothing to grip on!

    Bond does hold on to some rails on the sides of the plane. I've been enjoying Octopussy this weekend. Still a fun Bond film. On my third watch/listening right now. I probably should make the upgrade to a DVD/Blu-ray version. I only have the VHS version!
    "Better late than never."
  • LexiLexi LondonPosts: 3,000MI6 Agent

    The Madonna (song) effort was pure garbage, simple as that, even made an ill advised cameo at the fencing club

    Craig would of fitted in better for this 2002 release and with a better soundtrack this movie could of gone places

    It's still recognized by many as the worst Bond ever along with A View To A Kill and Moonraker.

    The Madonna track fitted in perfectly with the credits, although I really enjoyed it as a standalone song too. But the title sequence, with the ice and flames, along with the back story of Bond being tortured, was one of the best.

    I also thought that 'Another way to die' was brilliant too.... but like Sir Miles has said, there are very few people who enjoyed to song, ah well - can't please all the people all the time ;)
    She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table and you know it. ~ Mark Anthony
  • Andy007Andy007 Posts: 100MI6 Agent
    i would challenge anyone who names a worse Bond film than Diamonds Are Forever & Die Another Die.
    There are none. These 2 are the worst in the series.
  • Kissy SuzukiKissy Suzuki IrelandPosts: 66MI6 Agent
    I'd agree with the previous poster who said DAD is actually an okay film till the action shifts to Iceland, and then it's just downhill all the way.

    Brosnan's beard and scraggly hair after his North Korean prison stint are hilarious though - he looks like Tommy Saxondale! :))
  • Agent SidewinderAgent Sidewinder Posts: 223MI6 Agent
    Andy007 wrote:
    i would challenge anyone who names a worse Bond film than Diamonds Are Forever & Die Another Die.
    There are none. These 2 are the worst in the series.

    Licence to Kill. BANG! I defeat your challenge....the only honourable thing for you to do now is to deactivate your account and withdraw from Bonddom forever. Like a non-lethal, non-bloody, non-stabby, internet version of seppuku. (Sorry, just finished reading YOLT).
  • DFGTYODLTTMFOATLGTTDCQDFGTYODLTTMFOATLGTTDCQ Posts: 45MI6 Agent
    worst ever were Moonraker and Die Another Day

    James Bond 007 flies off into outer space and later drives an Invisible Car

    discussion closed
  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,320MI6 Agent
    edited September 2011
    Interesting - Quantum of Solace (I think its not bad but not great) gets a lot of stick on here however after recently re-visiting the Brosnan back catalogue it dawned on me how better it is then prob all of them bar Goldeneye.

    In fact I can't imagine Bond 23 being possibly worse then any of Brosnans last 3 films.

    (not trying to start a Brosnan V Craig debate here as I love both but I have not seen any of Brosnan's films since the cinema and they have dated pretty awful and quite actually weak)

    Realism obviously plays a part here, of course Bond has always had over the top moments (and hope that carries on) however things were pushed too far, too frequently in Brosnans films and I feel the script writers were well short of ideas (maybe a scenario of pushing them out too quickly)

    In summary - I wish Brosnan had been given better films to work with as he was such a great slick Bond
    Instagram - bondclothes007
  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,320MI6 Agent
    worst ever were Moonraker and Die Another Day

    James Bond 007 flies off into outer space and later drives an Invisible Car

    discussion closed

    It just goes to show how different the films are nowadays. I can't imagine Daniel Craig would even accept such ideas. Of course DC era is noted as being too serious, I guess a happy medium is needed however I cannot see too much changing from DCs previous films apart from maybe some more verbal humour
    Instagram - bondclothes007
  • 7700777007 Posts: 502MI6 Agent
    The DC films are fine with the verbal humor. It's an area where the happy medium was reached. I'm not sure why people can't hear the verbal humor in CR and QOS? It's not over the top 70s-90s Bond humor. Craig's not gonna talk one liners to himself, or say jokes too often.

    Really amazes me that alot of the time the same people that put down Moore and Brosnan films for their cheesy jokes and gags think DCs films need more humor. I put some blame on the fans and their schitzo brains for confusing the franchise direction over the years.

    "I want a serious Bond film" "But not like that. that's too serious" " There needs to be less humor" " No that's not enough humor, we need more" Jesus. You can't win.
  • zaphodzaphod Posts: 1,183MI6 Agent
    77007 wrote:
    The DC films are fine with the verbal humor. It's an area where the happy medium was reached. I'm not sure why people can't hear the verbal humor in CR and QOS? It's not over the top 70s-90s Bond humor. Craig's not gonna talk one liners to himself, or say jokes too often.

    Really amazes me that alot of the time the same people that put down Moore and Brosnan films for their cheesy jokes and gags think DCs films need more humor. I put some blame on the fans and their schitzo brains for confusing the franchise direction over the years.

    "I want a serious Bond film" "But not like that. that's too serious" " There needs to be less humor" " No that's not enough humor, we need more" Jesus. You can't win.

    Yep,we are a difficult and demanding lot and no mistake. But that's what keeps it interesting.
    For what it's worth on the humour thing...I think it is more analogue than binary in as much as it's not humour vs no humour, but a spectrum along which the series occupies various points at different times. I do think that the DC era is developing it's own take, and agree that some lighter elements are there, but still feel that it is finding it's unique voice, and personally look forward to that in developing further in 23. The 'harder vs softer' debate is similar, as it is another spectrum. In some ways the darker the film, the more it would benefit from the counterpoint of lighter and more amusing moments, otherwise our boy has no fun at all which seems a bit unfair.
  • SilentSpySilentSpy Private Exotic AreaPosts: 765MI6 Agent
    Die Another Day was on TV last night. Although, I still can't watch the full movie even when the broadcast itself is cut. The movie is fun when viewed as a comedy. All of the punchlines are cool. The Jaguar vs Aston Martin is still awesome. As anyone who has ever played around with cars in the snow would probably do many of the same slides and stuff without the weapons. I still will never buy Die Another Day (or Quantum of Solace) except as part of a box set. But I'm leaning to thinking that it is now better than Quantum of Solace (which was also on this weekend). Main reason being is that I can watch Die Another Day up to the big plane battle. However, I stop watching Quantum of Solace usually after the opera scene. And that is just to hear the music during the scene. So, Quantum of Solace holds the worst Bond movie spot.
    "Better late than never."
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