AJB's Recommended "New James Bond 'To Do' List" for #25

Loeffelholz · May 2016

Assuming there IS a New James Bond

...

We know that Eon doesn't pay us much mind here in the lowlands, but if you had their ear, what would you have them do by means of introducing The New Guy^TM?

* I believe they should delay showing us his face, as they did in DN, OHMSS, DAF, TLD and GE.

* I would also put him in a casino, in a tux, playing a high-stakes game of chance, straightaway---ideally, in the PTS.

Put your suggestions here -{

Jarvio · May 2016

May aswell introduce him on the toilet

Loeffelholz · May 2016

Jarvio wrote:

May aswell introduce him on the toilet

Oh, THANK you, 007!

Miles Messervy · May 2016

Loeffelholz wrote:

Assuming there IS a New James Bond ...

We know that Eon doesn't pay us much mind here in the lowlands, but if you had their ear, what would you have them do by means of introducing The New Guy^TM?

* I believe they should delay showing us his face, as they did in DN, OHMSS, DAF, TLD and GE.

* I would also put him in a casino, in a tux, playing a high-stakes game of chance, straightaway---ideally, in the PTS.

Put your suggestions here -{

So far, I'd like to watch this movie. -{

This is a minor thing, and I'm not sure how to best articulate it, but I'd like to see some reference to Bond's life outside of his work. For example, Connery and Lazenby were shown to enjoy golfing (a nice nod to Fleming). I think this part of the character was lost during the workaholic Craig years. Craig went on holiday as a cover for his job. All of the previous Bonds went on holiday because they enjoyed living a certain lifestyle. To me, that's an essential part of the cinematic Bond.

Loeffelholz · May 2016

Miles Messervy wrote:

Loeffelholz wrote:

Assuming there IS a New James Bond ...

We know that Eon doesn't pay us much mind here in the lowlands, but if you had their ear, what would you have them do by means of introducing The New Guy^TM?

* I believe they should delay showing us his face, as they did in DN, OHMSS, DAF, TLD and GE.

* I would also put him in a casino, in a tux, playing a high-stakes game of chance, straightaway---ideally, in the PTS.

Put your suggestions here -{

So far is like to watch this movie. -{

This is a minor thing, and I'm not sure how to best articulate it, but I'd like to see some reference to Bond's life outside of his work. For example, Connery and Lazenby were shown to enjoy golfing (a nice nod to Fleming). I think this part of the character was lost during the workaholic Craig years. Craig went on holiday as a cover for his job. All of the previous Bonds went on holiday because they enjoyed living a certain lifestyle. To me, that's an essential part of the cinematic Bond.

My thought would be that he's there on leisure---perhaps with Madeleine?---and I write it in a way to imply that he misses the adrenaline rush of his MI6 days (she would naturally pick up on this)...and then reality intrudes in a brutal fashion.

Chriscoop · May 2016

I'd like to see a proper espionage storyline, with bond acting on orders from M in a back to business sort of way, we've now had the agent gone rogue and personal issues.
M needs to stay in the office, tanner on the end of the line Moneypenny and q I don't mind being out in field mainly due to the actors watchability.
I'd also like more of the incidental scenes with 007, you know, in his flat, enjoying some downtime maybe, checking his hotel room for bugs. I've Always wanted the beginning of the novel of CR to be in a film.

Miles Messervy · May 2016

Loeffelholz wrote:

Miles Messervy wrote:

Loeffelholz wrote:

Assuming there IS a New James Bond ...

We know that Eon doesn't pay us much mind here in the lowlands, but if you had their ear, what would you have them do by means of introducing The New Guy^TM?

* I believe they should delay showing us his face, as they did in DN, OHMSS, DAF, TLD and GE.

* I would also put him in a casino, in a tux, playing a high-stakes game of chance, straightaway---ideally, in the PTS.

Put your suggestions here -{

So far is like to watch this movie. -{

This is a minor thing, and I'm not sure how to best articulate it, but I'd like to see some reference to Bond's life outside of his work. For example, Connery and Lazenby were shown to enjoy golfing (a nice nod to Fleming). I think this part of the character was lost during the workaholic Craig years. Craig went on holiday as a cover for his job. All of the previous Bonds went on holiday because they enjoyed living a certain lifestyle. To me, that's an essential part of the cinematic Bond.

My thought would be that he's there on leisure---perhaps with Madeleine?---and I write it in a way to imply that he misses the adrenaline rush of his MI6 days (she would naturally pick up on this)...and then reality intrudes in a brutal fashion.

I would prefer a "soft" reboot and to dispense with Madeleine and everything else that happened in SPECTRE. I'd like to see a SPECTRE villain, but no mention of Blofeld or the larger organization. Or perhaps no SPECTRE at all for a couple of films.

Loeffelholz · May 2016

Miles Messervy wrote:

I would prefer a "soft" reboot and to dispense with Madeleine and everything else that happened in SPECTRE. I'd like to see a SPECTRE villain, but no mention of Blofeld or the larger organization. Or perhaps no SPECTRE at all for a couple of films.

That sounds fine to me, but I've a feeling that the continuation will happen. I do hope I'm wrong about that...but we can still put him in the casino on leisure!

Loeffelholz · May 2016

Chriscoop wrote:

I'd like to see a proper espionage storyline, with bond acting on orders from M in a back to business sort of way, we've now had the agent gone rogue and personal issues.
M needs to stay in the office, tanner on the end of the line Moneypenny and q I don't mind being out in field mainly due to the actors watchability.
I'd also like more of the incidental scenes with 007, you know, in his flat, enjoying some downtime maybe, checking his hotel room for bugs. I've Always wanted the beginning of the novel of CR to be in a film.

Strongly agree on all points! I'd also like a peek at Bond's morning exercise regimen, as Fleming wrote it...something to link Actor #7 to the source material.

Miles Messervy · May 2016

That sounds fine to me, but I've a feeling that the continuation will happen. I do hope I'm wrong about that...but we can still put him in the casino on leisure!

I think it will depend on whether Memdes comes back.

But yes, he can still be enjoying himself either way! -{

Chriscoop · May 2016

I can't see Mendes returning, so hopefully we can have David Arnold back and some more/better use of the Bond theme in the soundtrack. I'd also like to see Jeff wright back as Felix, and a continuation of q's obvious hots for bond.

zaphod99 · May 2016

Chriscoop wrote:

I can't see Mendes returning, so hopefully we can have David Arnold back and some more/better use of the Bond theme in the soundtrack. I'd also like to see Jeff wright back as Felix, and a continuation of q's obvious hots for bond.

I'd like a stand alone PTS, a mission that we never see or find out about. This would give the new guy a history and establish credibility. I'd like to see him pull off something really cool and to visibly enjoy his own cunning, perhaps even a wry smile a as he enjoys driving fast or dispatching a badun, or winning a stack of cash at the tables...or heavens to Betsy bedding a beauty WHO does not die !I'm hoping for a sense of glamour to counterbalance the mayhem. It's all been a bit joyless lately.

canoe2 · May 2016

Chriscoop wrote:

I'd like to see a proper espionage storyline, with bond acting on orders from M in a back to business sort of way, we've now had the agent gone rogue and personal issues.
M needs to stay in the office, tanner on the end of the line Moneypenny and q I don't mind being out in field mainly due to the actors watchability.
I'd also like more of the incidental scenes with 007, you know, in his flat, enjoying some downtime maybe, checking his hotel room for bugs. I've Always wanted the beginning of the novel of CR to be in a film.

+1 {[]

How about Bond just doing his job as a skilled secret agent on a stand alone mission, with the support and (cautious) trust of his superiors? If they have to add a "personal" or "revenge" element, keep it at the level of GF or TLD: the bad guy killing someone Bond just met but has come to like/respect only motivates him that much more to stop the evil plan. I loved Craig's time as Bond (not completely convinced it's over yet), but I've had my fill of dead girlfriends, "Bond can't be trusted", mommy issues, and long lost psycho relatives ...

Loeffelholz · May 2016

zaphod99 wrote:

I'd like a stand alone PTS, a mission that we never see or find out about. This would give the new guy a history and establish credibility. I'd like to see him pull off something really cool and to visibly enjoy his own cunning, perhaps even a wry smile a as he enjoys driving fast or dispatching a badun, or winning a stack of cash at the tables...or heavens to Betsy bedding a beauty WHO does not die !I'm hoping for a sense of glamour to counterbalance the mayhem. It's all been a bit joyless lately.

Certainly an understandable sentiment. To that end, I'm hoping for a return to the fastidiousness with food and drink, as it was in the old days; aside from specifying the ingredients of the Vesper in CR, Craig's Bond had moved away from this (in fact it's really been given short shrift since Moore departed, IMO).

It shouldn't be overdone, of course, but Bond's enjoyment of breakfast; his meticulous knowledge of wines; his embrace of the sensual aspects of good food, good drink and the finer things in life is a nice thread in the tapestry of his character---and it sets him well apart from all other 'action' heroes :007)

Matt S · May 2016

Loeffelholz wrote:

zaphod99 wrote:

I'd like a stand alone PTS, a mission that we never see or find out about. This would give the new guy a history and establish credibility. I'd like to see him pull off something really cool and to visibly enjoy his own cunning, perhaps even a wry smile a as he enjoys driving fast or dispatching a badun, or winning a stack of cash at the tables...or heavens to Betsy bedding a beauty WHO does not die !I'm hoping for a sense of glamour to counterbalance the mayhem. It's all been a bit joyless lately.

Certainly an understandable sentiment. To that end, I'm hoping for a return to the fastidiousness with food and drink, as it was in the old days; aside from specifying the ingredients of the Vesper in CR, Craig's Bond had moved away from this (in fact it's really been given short shrift since Moore departed, IMO).

It shouldn't be overdone, of course, but Bond's enjoyment of breakfast; his meticulous knowledge of wines; his embrace of the sensual aspects of good food, good drink and the finer things in life is a nice thread in the tapestry of his character---and it sets him well apart from all other 'action' heroes :007)

I've really missed that. With Craig's Bond they developed the character in other ways at the expense of these. But at the same time I have a hard time picturing Craig commenting on how to drink Dom Perignon.

Loeffelholz · May 2016

And if Tom is the next Bond, that would be right in his wheelhouse---that dash of panache without falling into the 'dandy' trap. And then he brutally kicks someone's ass, and straightens his tie.

Jag · May 2016

Not quite sure why so many people want to keep Bond so old-fashioned and out of touch with the modern world. People nowadays go to casinos in shorts and thongs, not tuxedoes. Drinking champagne and eating caviar is not what it was half a century ago. Smoking is not something that makes you look cool anymore. I want to see a Bond creatively updated and moved in time to the 21st century. If I want to watch a fully classic Bond, I’ll put on Goldfinger. When I watch Bond 25, I want to be amazed the way people back in the 1960’s were when they watched Goldfinger. There is no point repeating the same old stuff all the time. There is nothing wrong with being a little self-referential, but this should be only done discretely. So I’d rather be surprised by the new Bond that tell producers what I want the new Bond to be. But if I can give a few hints – I’d like to see a few sensible and useful gadgets again – preferably something totally new and not seen before. How will they be able to fit them with the new Q, who apparently doesn’t go for exploding pens anymore? I don’t know, but it’s not my problem…

Loeffelholz · May 2016

I don't necessarily agree that it's all so only black or white, or only this or that. Bond at his best, IMO, balances between modernity and tradition, grit and humour, realism and OTT escapism...and surely there is a casino or club left where you might get turned away at the door if you show up in a tank top, cutoffs and flip-flops

) I'm certainly not saying that champagne and caviar are compulsory (and smoking is already dead, lest we forget); I was instead referring to a specific character trait that certainly isn't passe---people still enjoy good food and drink! And Bond enjoys them more than most, living each day to the fullest.

Bond is a formula, after all, built on tradition and fan expectation. But regardless, Jag, I hope you get the Bond you (sort of) asked for! Thanks for playing {[]

Jag · May 2016

Absolutely, Bond is about balance...

Unfortunately I do not think we can all get the Bond we want: controversial Bond will be divisive; a non-controversial one will be boring.

Loeffelholz · May 2016

True! Which is why we have internet fan sites -{

Higgins · May 2016

Please boot Tom Ford
Please bring Back Arnold

See, I am a simple bloke who can easily be made happy

zaphod99 · May 2016

Higgins wrote:

Please boot Tom Ford
Please bring Back Arnold

See, I am a simple bloke who can easily be made happy

Both of those are very good ideas {[]

zaphod99 · May 2016

Jag wrote:

Not quite sure why so many people want to keep Bond so old-fashioned and out of touch with the modern world. People nowadays go to casinos in shorts and thongs, not tuxedoes. Drinking champagne and eating caviar is not what it was half a century ago. Smoking is not something that makes you look cool anymore. I want to see a Bond creatively updated and moved in time to the 21st century. If I want to watch a fully classic Bond, I’ll put on Goldfinger. When I watch Bond 25, I want to be amazed the way people back in the 1960’s were when they watched Goldfinger. There is no point repeating the same old stuff all the time. There is nothing wrong with being a little self-referential, but this should be only done discretely. So I’d rather be surprised by the new Bond that tell producers what I want the new Bond to be. But if I can give a few hints – I’d like to see a few sensible and useful gadgets again – preferably something totally new and not seen before. How will they be able to fit them with the new Q, who apparently doesn’t go for exploding pens anymore? I don’t know, but it’s not my problem…

Getting the balance will be tricky. I want Bond to be a modern man and not fossilised. Bond for me is not an everyman, there is an aspirational element.to his lifestyle. Bond's missions were a bit of an escape for him as well as for us, from the mundane drudgery of everyday work and life. He did not live like a playboy when not on a mission. I would not want Bonds joyless life of late, once again I'm hoping for a balance of real tension, toughness and escapism. It's not going to be easy to pull off...

Loeffelholz · May 2016

zaphod99 wrote:

Higgins wrote:

Please boot Tom Ford
Please bring Back Arnold

See, I am a simple bloke who can easily be made happy

Both of those are very good ideas {[]

They are indeed

Jag · May 2016

Higgins wrote:

Please boot Tom Ford
Please bring Back Arnold

See, I am a simple bloke who can easily be made happy

We certainly agree on that! I missed the Italian suits.

superdaddy · May 2016

Jag wrote:

Not quite sure why so many people want to keep Bond so old-fashioned and out of touch with the modern world. People nowadays go to casinos in shorts and thongs, not tuxedoes. Drinking champagne and eating caviar is not what it was half a century ago. Smoking is not something that makes you look cool anymore. I want to see a Bond creatively updated and moved in time to the 21st century. If I want to watch a fully classic Bond, I’ll put on Goldfinger. When I watch Bond 25, I want to be amazed the way people back in the 1960’s were when they watched Goldfinger. There is no point repeating the same old stuff all the time. There is nothing wrong with being a little self-referential, but this should be only done discretely. So I’d rather be surprised by the new Bond that tell producers what I want the new Bond to be. But if I can give a few hints – I’d like to see a few sensible and useful gadgets again – preferably something totally new and not seen before. How will they be able to fit them with the new Q, who apparently doesn’t go for exploding pens anymore? I don’t know, but it’s not my problem…

Do you think TH could rock a man bun and thong

)

Number24 · May 2016

If Craig quits now the new actor should keep the current MI6 staff and the SPECTRE storyline/Blofeld, because it's simply too soon to drop it. Lazenby continued Connery's SPECTRE storyline and both he and Moore inherited Connery's MI6 staff.

There should be less time spent on Bond's personal history and more on his personal life (girls and other types of leasure activities, food, wine, hobbies).

It would be great to see more movies where M gives 007 a mission and Bond simply carried it out. Ideally Bond is sent on a mission seemingly unrelated to previous events, but he later discovers it's a SPECTRE ploy to free Blofeld.

Thunderpussy · May 2016

Agreed, I too want less personal history for Bond. With M sending
Bond off to defend the realm on a mission or two. With a new 007
I'll be expecting a big "jaw dropping" opening sequence.
I do like the Craig era films, so have done a 180 on Bond being so
Fussy over his food and wine ( we can take it as read, that he expects
the best and gets it )
Keep the humour at the Skyfall level, I do prefer a harder edged 007, and
Keep giving Bond a hard time occasionally, a good torture scene every now
And then, to remind the audience that Bond's job is dangerous and hard.
Also agree that Hopefully Blofeld will escape , perhaps news of this at
The end of Bond 25, ( giving a chance to change actors, if Waltz doesn't want
to return ) setting up Bond 26.

Matt S · May 2016

I too want less of a personal history for Bond. Character development should be in the present story and from telling a story from the past. Fleming did that well in his stories.

Number24 · May 2016

I want the biggest and most impressive action scene in the last act of the movie, preferably in a set/location worthy of Ken Adam :007)

Matt S · May 2016

Jag wrote:

Higgins wrote:

Please boot Tom Ford
Please bring Back Arnold

See, I am a simple bloke who can easily be made happy

We certainly agree on that! I missed the Italian suits.

No Italian suits! Tom Ford is closer to Bond's Mayfair-tailored roots than Brioni. Keep Tom Ford, boot Jany Temime!

AJB's Recommended "New James Bond 'To Do' List" for #25

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