Do you miss absurdity in recent Bond movies?

chrisisall · December 2012

I'm not talkin' the Tarzan yell or stuff like that, I mean the moments where your eyes widen before you suspend disbelief a bit.
Like escaping goons with a jet pack, or cutting a chase car in half with a hub cap mounted laser or driving a motorcycle at high speed while handcuffed to someone.

I found an article about it:
http://www.examiner.com/article/skyfall-james-bond-movies-have-lost-their-charm

Personally, I miss those little absurdities. It's part of what separated Bond from Bourne or Ryan.

What do you think?

Blackleiter · December 2012

Not really. It didn't bother me when it occurred in smaller doses in the Connery films (the tricked-out DB5 in Goldfinger, the jet pack in Thunderball, Little Nellie in You Only Live Twice), but as the absurdity seemed to increase with each successive film, beginning with Diamonds Are Forever and continuing throughout most of the Moore films, it became more and more annoying. That's one reason I found The Living Daylights to be such a breath of fresh air - a terrific, believable Bond in the form of Timothy Dalton, and back to the "less is more" philosophy when it comes to absurd moments. Of course that changed again when Brosnan took over the role, and the absurdity racheted up again. Now, with the Daniel Craig era, the films are not totally devoid of such moments (witness, for example, the opening pursuit in Casino Royale, especially the crane sequences), but I don't mind it.

Halcon · December 2012

Skyfall had a few of those too.

the whole komodo dragon scene, if you go back an breathe it in, is an entire unrealistic sequence of sheninegans...
that said, it was very welcome in my opinion and very different from anything we had seen Craig in.

hopefully they keep this kind of stuff up in the next one..

AdamOmega · December 2012

chrisisall wrote:

I'm not talkin' the Tarzan yell or stuff like that, I mean the moments where your eyes widen before you suspend disbelief a bit.
Like escaping goons with a jet pack, or cutting a chase car in half with a hub cap mounted laser or driving a motorcycle at high speed while handcuffed to someone.

I found an article about it:
http://www.examiner.com/article/skyfall-james-bond-movies-have-lost-their-charm

Personally, I miss those little absurdities. It's part of what separated Bond from Bourne or Ryan.

What do you think?

Very interesting question you pose, chrisisall. I'll do my best to take a stab at it.

As a staunch advocate of Roger Moore, I absolutely miss the days of the more "absurd" Bond film. However, I feel the "absurd days" of Bond have run their course for the time being, and are generally reflective of the eras in which they were being made. I think the Vietnam War and the rise of the spy spoof, for instance, played a large part in Bond going from the straight-up Cold War thrillers like From Russia With Love and Thunderball to the more comical territories of Diamonds Are Forever and Live and Let Die. This was just more acceptable for the times.

I don't think this is to say we'll never see an absurd Bond movie ever again (Skyfall even tried being absurd at times), but the movies of the Craig era are being made with modern filmgoers in mind, who want to see more origin stories and heroes in troubled times. Modern audiences want "darker" and "gritter" stuff nowadays, which they equate with good filmmaking. This isn't necessarily true... but it works for modern cinema and it works for Fleming's Bond, so it's kind of a happy balance. If EON were to force more absurd Bond movies on filmgoers who won't take it, or even forcing Daniel Craig into situations which contradict his strengths as an actor, then that poses a problem.

Lionheart · December 2012

chrisisall wrote:

I'm not talkin' the Tarzan yell or stuff like that, I mean the moments where your eyes widen before you suspend disbelief a bit. Like escaping goons with a jet pack, or cutting a chase car in half with a hub cap mounted laser or driving a motorcycle at high speed while handcuffed to someone. Personally, I miss those little absurdities. What do you think?

Well, there's always Silva's, so called, plan...

chrisisall · December 2012

AdamOmega wrote:

I don't think this is to say we'll never see an absurd Bond movie ever again

Not the whole movie(s), just certain select elements to uniquely spice it up.

Le Samourai · December 2012

Don't miss it at all. I think 'Skyfall' had about as much absurdity as I want in a Bond film. If I want the absurd, I'll watch old episodes of 'The Avengers,' which does that sort of thing far better than any Bond flick.

In general, I prefer my action thrillers to be more on the gritty side than on the absurd side. Hence my fondness for the Bourne trilogy, Michael Mann films, 'Bulitt,' 'Ronin,' the first two Harry Palmer films, 'Marathon Man,' etc.

AdamOmega · December 2012

chrisisall wrote:

AdamOmega wrote:

I don't think this is to say we'll never see an absurd Bond movie ever again

Not the whole movie(s), just certain select elements to uniquely spice it up.

I felt Skyfall had those elements (Komodo dragon scene and DB5 especially), but like the article points out, these elements are derivative of previous Bond films that are far more outrageous. Additionally, I'm unsure as to whether or not these elements "worked" in the film; the part of me that prefers the larger-than-life Bond movie in the tradition of The Spy Who Loved Me or Moonraker would say yes, but the part of me that sees Casino Royale as an appropriate template for Daniel Craig as Bond would say not at all.

I think a repeat viewing or two will settle this debacle once and for all!

chrisisall · December 2012

I think what I miss the most is cars doing outrageous stuff like turning sub or outrigger, or firing missiles or flat out blowing up when some jerk tries to bust the window...

)

chrisisall · December 2012

Speaking of absurd...
I've been wondering about this idea: after Blofeld was injured in OHMSS, he was partially paralysed, and spent all of his fortune creating his folicled doubles & setting forth the scheme shown in DAF, and later, when nearly broke and minionless, he made that lame, last ditch attempt at Bond's life in the FYEO's PTS as an act of final vengeance, only to get dumped down a smokestack for his troubles (ranting like a lunatic I might add).
Is this something cinema Bond fans here can accept?

AdamOmega · December 2012

chrisisall wrote:

Speaking of absurd...
I've been wondering about this idea: after Blofeld was injured in OHMSS, he was partially paralysed, and spent all of his fortune creating his folicled doubles & setting forth the scheme shown in DAF, and later, when nearly broke and minionless, he made that lame, last ditch attempt at Bond's life in the FYEO's PTS as an act of final vengeance, only to get dumped down a smokestack for his troubles (ranting like a lunatic I might add).
Is this something cinema Bond fans here can accept?

Makes no difference to me. I'm not a fan of the film incarnation of Blofeld (with the sole exception being Telly Savalas).

chrisisall · December 2012

AdamOmega wrote:

I'm not a fan of the film incarnation of Blofeld (with the sole exception being Telly Savalas).

"Who loves ya, Bond?"

)

AdamOmega · December 2012

chrisisall wrote:

AdamOmega wrote:

I'm not a fan of the film incarnation of Blofeld (with the sole exception being Telly Savalas).

"Who loves ya, Bond?" )

I could legit see him going into an evil monologue with purple-sucker-in-hand. That would have been awesome.

chrisisall · December 2012

AdamOmega wrote:

I could legit see him going into an evil monologue with purple-sucker-in-hand. That would have been awesome.

Ho yeah, way better than that ciggie holder Charles used in DAF... that was so poseur posh.

AdamOmega · December 2012

Just re-watched Octopussy.

Yep. I miss the absurdity.

AdamOmega · December 2012

Having said that... that Tarzan yell really sucked.

)

DEFIANT 74205 · December 2012

No, I don't miss it at all, and I hope that absurdity never comes back ... at least, not to the levels we saw in Die Another Day.

Keep it simple. If it wasn't in the Fleming novels, chances are I don't want it in a Bond film.

Thunderpussy · December 2012

Just my opinon but I think we've had a little of the "absurdity" back.
The Komodo Dragon scene

I wouldn't like to see too much although the odd scene which puts a
smile on your face, is fun.

)

Moore Than · December 2012

I miss a little of the fantasy element, I miss the henchmen/women with memorable traits such as, Oddjob, Jaws, and Xenia Onatopp. I miss the fun element, I'd like to see Daniel Craig's Bond enjoy himself a little more. That's one of the reasons why I like Roger Moore's Bond so much. He really enjoys the women, the high living etc, in the knowledge that he has a short life expectancy.

Lexi · December 2012

I don't miss the absurdity, DAD was ruined by that IMO...but I am looking fwd to Bond being back on track. Although I have disagreed with Perdogg in another thread about Bond not enjoying himself, I do think its time we see Craig's Bond lighten up a bit

)

We've seen him deal with fairly heavy emotions...and now that Dench's M is gone, let's get him back to being a bit more light hearted and cheeky!

But please, no absurdity...I liked the Komodo dragon scene, and found it almost believable...but that is as far as it should go...IMO -{

Agent82 · December 2012

No, I do not miss the absurdity, particularly the varieties of absurdity found in the Moore and late-Brosnan eras. I think that while Skyfall harkens back to the Moore era excesses, it does a pretty good job keeping the absurdity in check.

Now, when the invisible Aston Martin returns I'm going to puke. Why make such a beautiful car invisible? Were they trying to save money on rental days or something?

chrisisall · December 2012

AdamOmega wrote:

Having said that... that Tarzan yell really sucked. )

I thought the same thing in Return Of The Jedi...

chrisisall · December 2012

Thunderpussy wrote:

I wouldn't like to see too much although the odd scene which puts a
smile on your face, is fun. )

-{
I feel every Bond should contain one situational absurdity (like using a cello case as a toboggan) and one Bond ability or gadget absurdity (like a hub cap laser cutting a pursuing car in half)- TLD was a perfect example IMO.

moonraker84 · December 2012

Moore Than wrote:

I'd like to see Daniel Craig's Bond enjoy himself a little more.

This is true, i think all of Craigs Bond films are great (even to a lesser extent QOS) but i agree he needs to lighten up a bit, say what you want about Moore (who i am a big fan), he knew how to have a blast.

lahaine · December 2012

moonraker84 wrote:

Moore Than wrote:

I'd like to see Daniel Craig's Bond enjoy himself a little more.

This is true, i think all of Craigs Bond films are great (even to a lesser extent QOS) but i agree he needs to lighten up a bit, say what you want about Moore (who i am a big fan), he knew how to have a blast.

Nah Craig's Bond is a massive success i think thanks to the fact he isn't a jokey Bond but a more serious Bond with the odd joke here and there. I don't miss the overdose of absurity which ruined a lot of Moore's and Brosnan's films. I think Craigs Bond had a bit of a blast in Skyfall and thats as close as i think you get with the Jokey stuff with Craig. Thank god cause its tough as hell to watch Moore's and Brosnan's Bond films cause of the overdose of absurdity. Don't mess with a winning formula. Craig's Bond has hit a nerve with an audience.

L Jones · December 2012

No, I don't miss it at all, and I hope that absurdity never comes back ... at least, not to the levels we saw in Die Another Day.

No, I don't miss it all. But for me, that high level of absurdity was in Diamonds Are Forever. Hell, I could take the invisible car over Tiffany Case being familiar with Bond's name.

AlphaOmegaSin · December 2012

I think Moore perfected the OTT aspects of the later Films after Connery left.

CmdrAtticus · December 2012

"Exploding pens...we really don't go in for that kind of thing anymore". I think that sums it all up. I realize that the absurd moments in the series past are enjoyed whether done just right (and when overdone make us cringe) and will always be with us digitally, but I think with that line the producers were saying to the current and future audience they are leaving those moments to the past. Today's audience is so well informed by technology and 24 hour news that any attempt now of shovelling in such fantasy will seem too much out of place in the realistic direction the films have taken. The days of the jetpacks and invisible cars and laser wristwatches I think are officially over.

Agent007jamest · December 2012

No it wouldn't work with DC's portrayal of Bond. Looking back at TD I find Joe Don Bakers performance and the semi chase scene feel out of place in two serious films. I think if they try to shoe horn in those over the top moments into a DC film they would stand out as well.

Though I did like the dragon scene in the casino....so forget everything I just wrote! That's what I get for being a child during RM's OO7

chrisisall · December 2012

Agent007jamest wrote:

Though I did like the dragon scene in the casino....so forget everything I just wrote! That's what I get for being a child during RM's OO7

No worries mate, running across alligators left its mark on us all....

)

Do you miss absurdity in recent Bond movies?

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