TMWTGG: What could have been

jonnybond78jonnybond78 Posts: 35MI6 Agent
in The James Bond Films
After watching the much maligned TMWTGG the other day. It dawned on me that the first hour of the film is quite decent. Moores performance is very hard, especially when he's interogating Andrea Anders for information. The feel of the film is quite gritty and dark and has the makings of a good thriller. Obviously this is all spoilt with the unforgivable return of Sheriff Pepper and the 2 school girls beating the crap out of an entire karate school. So a film of 2 halves maybe? Any thoughts?

Comments

  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    There was going to be an Elephant Stampede in there originally. Thousands of Elephant Shoes were even ordered -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • jonnybond78jonnybond78 Posts: 35MI6 Agent
    AlphaOmegaSin wrote:
    There was going to be an Elephant Stampede in there originally. Thousands of Elephant Shoes were even ordered -{
    Would have been better than Pepper :))
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    jonnybond78 wrote:
    Obviously this is all spoilt with the unforgivable return of Sheriff Pepper and the 2 school girls beating the crap out of an entire karate school. So a film of 2 halves maybe? Any thoughts?

    Obviously not! Don't let some bad comic relief scenes ruin the entire film for you. There's some really great stuff in TMWTGG.
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    Fan here of Pepper's appearances.
    I find him hilarious and he was quite popular back then -{
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • danjaq_0ffdanjaq_0ff The SwampsPosts: 7,283MI6 Agent
    BOY, you sure are ugly :D
  • Brosnan_fanBrosnan_fan Sydney, AustraliaPosts: 521MI6 Agent
    I used to dislike this film a considerable amount; it used to be on my bottom 3 or 4 Bond films for a while. Having re-watched it a couple of times, its risen from those ranks and I find it not too bad now.

    I find Christopher Lee to be a charismatic villain, Maud Adams is quite attractive and I like the Asian locations, which I find picturesque. I don't mind Clifton James' J.W. Pepper; he does bring a smile to my face.

    The slide whistle doesn't bother me in the slightest, as it does for many here. I also find myself wishing I had a seaplane like Bond used in the film. -{
    "Well, he certainly left with his tails between his legs."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    TMWTGG has it's Flaws, but it will always be in my Top Ten -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I remember when I was much younger. My Father and his mates thought
    Sheriff JW , was hilarious. :)) as kid I thought he was funny too. :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    Pepper should of had his own Spinoff :))
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • jonnybond78jonnybond78 Posts: 35MI6 Agent
    I think Pepper was good for Live and Let Die (one of my fav Bond films). But for me is too over the top in TMWTGG. But my opinion for what it's worth
  • Gassy ManGassy Man USAPosts: 2,972MI6 Agent
    It's an odd little film. The early Moore films are anemic compared to the Connery ones -- everything is scaled down, and they just don't seem to be trying too hard. The notion that Bond is on a "personal" mission, and therefore the movie can be smaller, is silly to me. Today, grit is in, but even in those days, it was the sign of a cheap movie.

    It's not very glamorous either, though one could argue that that really started with Diamonds are Forever, which has a bigger scale but a similar washed out look. The Man with the Golden Gun has mid 1970s written all over it,
  • BIG TAMBIG TAM Wrexham, North Wales, UK.Posts: 773MI6 Agent
    LALD has a better consistency of overall tone. JW Pepper's an idiotic character but he just about cuts it.
    TMWTGG is definitely a film of two halves. The first is terrific, the second almost childlike. But its first half also features some of Moore's best work as 007. I disagree with those who say the tough stuff doesn't suit him. I think it does very well.
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    jonnybond78 wrote:
    AlphaOmegaSin wrote:
    There was going to be an Elephant Stampede in there originally. Thousands of Elephant Shoes were even ordered -{
    Would have been better than Pepper :))

    Almost anything would be better than Sheriff Pepper, in my opinion. I guess it's no secret that I'm not a fan - I just don't find him to be very amusing.
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    I actually find JW kinda funny in TMWTGG. "Now, if you pointy-heads would get out of them pajamas, you wouldn't be late for work!"
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • BodieBodie Posts: 211MI6 Agent
    I find TMWTGG like OP in that they could both have been great Bond movies if they had been played for thrills rather than laughs.

    If you take out JW Pepper, and have Goodnight played as a competent MI6 officer rather than a blonde bimbo, then up to the time Bond arrives at Scaramanga's island you have a good movie.

    After Bond arrives at the island the whole movie falls apart.

    The duel with Scaramanga is long and boring with absolutely no hint of danger as there was in previous fights with the likes of Grant and Oddjob.

    The retrieval of the Solex with Goodnight's arse posing more of a threat to Bond than Scaramanga ever did is overlong and unnecessary.

    The final fight with Nic Nak is cringingly embarrassing.
  • GrindelwaldGrindelwald Posts: 1,341MI6 Agent
    40 today -{
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    Always a supporter for JWP and the movie, I wished that they'd extended the (cut-off) beach battle scenes and cut a bit the lengthy scenes in the funhouse.

    I also agree on the karate girls but that silliness had to be there in the happy 70s! {[]
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • broadshoulderbroadshoulder Acton, London, UKPosts: 1,363MI6 Agent
    I like it
    1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    The extended cut of the beach fight would have been fantastic. As
    In the trailer you can see Bond making a petrol bomb ! :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
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