Was The Living Daylights the last of the 'classic' Bond movies?

chrisisall · September 2012

The obvious last thread in the series was John Barry. The next movie would be filmed almost entirely not in the UK with a score by popular 80's Die Hard composer Michael Kamen & a non cold war/reasonably realistic villain. Then the Brosnan films with an update to the character & times. Then Craig's uber serious 'Bourne-like' update to the franchise in general.

IMO, TLD was the final connection to movies like DN or OHMSS in any way.

Opinions?

Blackleiter · September 2012

I tend to agree.

Le Samourai · September 2012

I agree, though one could make an argument for LTK being the real last 'classic' Bond, complete with the final Maurice Binder sequence and the final appearance of four time M Robert Brown. Also the last of the films directed by John Glen.

Essentially, GE was a 'soft' reboot and CR was a 'hard' reboot. Not that I'm objecting. I welcomed the changes as a breath of fresh air.

GordoLeiter · September 2012

CR was a hard reboot due to the fact it left out many Bond trademarks, especially in the sequel. The people working on Skyfall stated that SF will be a "Connery era" style Bond movie. So far the only clue to that is the Ashton Martin from Goldfinger returning.

chrisisall · September 2012

Le Samourai wrote:

I agree, though one could make an argument for LTK being the real last 'classic' Bond, complete with the final Maurice Binder sequence and the final appearance of four time M Robert Brown. Also the last of the films directed by John Glen.

Hmmm, yes, that's a grey area, I suppose... I'll personally call it the 'transitional' film then. :007)

chrisisall · September 2012

GordoLeiter wrote:

The people working on Skyfall stated that SF will be a "Connery era" style Bond movie.

*tries to hide enthusiasm*

)

GordoLeiter · September 2012

chrisisall wrote:

GordoLeiter wrote:

The people working on Skyfall stated that SF will be a "Connery era" style Bond movie.

*tries to hide enthusiasm*
)

Well it was on a Screenrant article so it may or may not be true

chrisisall · September 2012

GordoLeiter wrote:

Well it was on a Screenrant article so it may or may not be true

From the trailer I saw, I think it may be true. I predict Skyfall will rock.

Golrush007 · September 2012

In a sense, yes, The Living Daylights may be the last 'classic' Bond. Although in some ways a departure from the Moore era, it stills fits comfortably into being grouped with the John Glen-directed Moore films. It has largely the same crew, still has a lot of tongue-in-cheek and has a more glamourous feel than LTK. And of course the last Barry score as others have mentioned. In some ways it also feels like the last Cubby Broccoli film, as he had to leave the production during LTK due to his health.

BIG TAM · September 2012

GOLDENEYE feels much more of a 'traditional' Bond than LICENCE TO KILL, which for me is the radical departure of the series. And there's certainly a world of difference between the two Daltons.

As an aside, I feel THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS is a better debut for Dalton than GOLDENEYE is for Brosnan.

But yes, you may be right in your analysis of THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS being the last 'classic' Bond in many respects.

SilentSpy · September 2012

I would probably agree that Living Daylights is the last classic Bond. Even though I like LTK. It does try to stray from the formula. Goldeneye is where the action fest Bond movies start. With Casino Royale, they were really close to getting the classic Bond film with a surprising origin of Bond. If the classic Bond films are 90-100 range, Casino Royale is in the 80-85 range.

chrisisall · September 2012

BIG TAM wrote:

As an aside, I feel THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS is a better debut for Dalton than GOLDENEYE is for Brosnan.

Interesting. I think I agree, but I don't figure many others here would....

GordoLeiter · September 2012

And i think its safe to assume that the Moore era was sort of a "break" from the tradtional Bond style films.

chrisisall · September 2012

GordoLeiter wrote:

And i think its safe to assume that the Moore era was sort of a "break" from the tradtional Bond style films.

Personally, although I like Moore, he just was never Bond to me. He was The Saint standing in for Bond. Dub in "Templar. Simon Templar" and I'd not mind.

)

GordoLeiter · September 2012

chrisisall wrote:

GordoLeiter wrote:

And i think its safe to assume that the Moore era was sort of a "break" from the tradtional Bond style films.

Personally, although I like Moore, he just was never Bond to me. He was The Saint standing in for Bond. Dub in "Templar. Simon Templar" and I'd not mind. )

You know ive always tried to imagine how the films would be like if the eras were switched around. Like how would Goldfinger be like in Moore's era

chrisisall · September 2012

Moore tongue in cheek.

)

Blackleiter · September 2012

I'm one who agrees.

chrisisall wrote:

BIG TAM wrote:

As an aside, I feel THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS is a better debut for Dalton than GOLDENEYE is for Brosnan.

Interesting. I think I agree, but I don't figure many others here would....

chrisisall · September 2012

Blackleiter wrote:

I'm one who agrees.

Wow, I was under the impression that Goldeneye was considered something of a peerless classic in Borsnan's era (I admit to preferring TND myself).
I just watched TLD last night for the fourth time since I bought it, and I find myself liking it better each time. So many subtle little things in the movie that I suspect Dalton was responsible for- little glances, reactions and such. -{ IMO you have to go back at least 18 years prior to it to find a Bond movie as good...

Q-Branch_2012 · September 2012

I agree with TLD being the last classic Bond, and I also agree that Dalton debut was better than the Brosnan. To me TLD was a great movie and Dalton nailed the role. ...and those exploding milk bottles

zaphod · September 2012

Blackleiter wrote:

I'm one who agrees.

chrisisall wrote:

BIG TAM wrote:

As an aside, I feel THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS is a better debut for Dalton than GOLDENEYE is for Brosnan.

Interesting. I think I agree, but I don't figure many others here would....

If it is, it is because of just how good Dalton is and not a feature of the script or production. Apparently there was little time to modify the script for TD or prepare as he came straight of the back of another shoot to his first day ( the excellent GIbralta opening)
I think the finished product bears this out as the film although great and a breath of fresh air after AVTAK bears a number of moments more suited to the Moore era. The best they could do for TLD was to leave stuff out.
GE was much more tailored to Brosnan and despite being prepared for Dalton in early draft. They also had the luxury of time.

I like both films, but feel that Dalton triumphs despite the script and production and not because of it.

chrisisall · September 2012

zaphod wrote:

I like both films, but feel that Dalton triumphs despite the script and production and not because of it.

I agree with all you say here. B-)

Mr Magnusson · October 2013

I tend to see TMWTGG as the last of the classics. Just because all of the films up to TMWTGH were just Bond films without anything else. Bondfilms were also up to 1977 the largest and most popular franchise, so there were no real competition. The films in the Broccoli/Saltzman era had a laid back charm over them.

Then came TSWLM and the "quasi classics came" which IMO stretches from 1977 to 2002. We're the films started to become huge events and when every film became larger them the one before. We get to the absolute pinnacle in DAD and after that the new era starts in 2006.

Any thoughts?

ZorinIndustries · October 2013

I feel that way as well. For the longest time, I still considered LTK to be one of the "classics," but now I recognize how different, out-of-the-ordinary that film was compared with the Bond formula. Although it kept some continuity (Felix's Leiter's involvement, and reference to Tracy), it just stands separate from the others.

So, overall, yes. I think that it was the last "classic" Bond film.

Thunderpussy · October 2013

Not to sound too argumentative, But I regard them as still being made. {:)
CR was Beautifully filmed, Nice mix of action and drama, same with Skyfall.
Even QOS had its moments, IHMO they failed at some things But they were
trying to push the series forward for a new century.

Blackleiter · October 2013

Thunderpussy wrote:

Not to sound too argumentative, But I regard them as still being made. {:)
CR was Beautifully filmed, Nice mix of action and drama, same with Skyfall.
Even QOS had its moments, IHMO they failed at some things But they were
trying to push the series forward for a new century.

Well I'm not trying to be argumentative either, but I agree with you and.......No, wait! I'm agreeing with you, so I'm not being argumentative! Carry on!

)

Sir Miles · October 2013

Up to this point...I do think TLD was the last of the 'classic' Bond films...Brosnan was semi-let down with his scripts and NOBODY can really replicate that Barry sound...with DC they have gone down a 'different' route - a route I love - but its more 'real world' than 'Bond world'...if that makes sense to anybody else

)

chrisisall · October 2013

Sir Miles wrote:

with DC they have gone down a 'different' route - a route I love - but its more 'real world' than 'Bond world'...if that makes sense to anybody else )

Yeah, I get that. -{

Firemass · October 2013

chrisisall wrote:

Sir Miles wrote:

with DC they have gone down a 'different' route - a route I love - but its more 'real world' than 'Bond world'...if that makes sense to anybody else )

Yeah, I get that. -{

As Roger Ebert put it in his review of QoS:

Dominic Greene lacks a headquarters on the moon, or on the floor of the sea. He operates out of an ordinary shipping warehouse with loading docks. His evil transport is provided by fork lifts and pickup trucks. Bond doesn't have to creep out on the ledge of an underground volcano to spy on him. He just walks up to the chain-link fence and peers through. Greene could get useful security tips from Wal-Mart.

chrisisall · October 2013

Firemass wrote:

Greene could get useful security tips from Wal-Mart.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

)

Jarvio · October 2013

Last of the 'classics?' Licence To Kill for sure

Thunderpussy · October 2013

In my view the only Classic Bonds are Dr No to OHMSS. After that changes were made, more humor, bigger stunts etc, along with the character of Bond himself changing.

Was The Living Daylights the last of the 'classic' Bond movies?

Comments