These comments are really great. And, I really understand the reluctance to accept remaking any of the the old Bond films.
However, I just wanted to make the case further for LALD as Bond 22.
SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T READ LALD THE NOVEL.
The novel involves set pieces that have already been filmed. Leiter's near death by shark has been in LTK, and the keel hauling we have seen in FYEO. And of course, the characters of Solitare and Mr. Big, Tee Hee, etc. we have seen in the film LALD. So, I am totally in agreement with those people who feel that to include these scenes and characters in Bond 22 would probably not be a good idea.
But, hear me out!
There are other plot elements in LALD the novel that have not been filmed.
- there is a train that is bombed. Now, I could very well imagine the scriptwriters working with this. For example, a train explosion would tie in very well (almost too well perhaps) with the idea of Bond versus terrorism. Perhaps expanding the train explosion into a terrorist attack might be a way of making this part of LALD relevant.
- there is a scene where Bond is tortured: this time, his little finger is broken by Tee Hee. Now, we did see a lighter version of this (sans broken finger) in the Roger Moore film. But, to have a broken finger scene in the next movie would probably be the "carpet beater" scene. This is not to say that every Bond film subsequent needs to have a torture scene. But, this kind of scene would give Daniel Craig something to do as an actor. Also, the broken finger might be good because it's a slight connection with the dialogue between Vesper and bond in CR (If all that's left of you is your smile and your little finger, you'd still be more of a man than anybody I know--That's because you know what I can do with my little finger). Now, this is a very tenuous connection, but there might be something there.
- the LALD book gives a lot of time to the Bond-Leiter relationship. This is something i would love to see. As I said previously, jeffrey wright is an amazing actor and the chemistry between him and Craig is excellent.
- I have read that CRaig wants to continue exploring the Bond character. the LALD novel would allow him to do this. He would have to react to the news about Leiter. The last sentence in the chapter with the keel hauling has Bond crying for the first time since he was a child. This is an amazing moment for Bond the character, and I would love to see an actor like Craig handle a moment like this.
Now, instead of adhering strictly to the book, of course there should be changes made. Perhaps it might be worthwile to make changes like the following:
- Change the main villain. Don't have him be Mr. Big. Maybe have him be this French Algerian boyfriend of Vesper's. Maybe have him be some kind of head of some gang or something, analogous to Mr. Big's organization in LALD. Instead of black Harlem, perhaps Algeria as the backdrop.
- Don't include the keel-hauling scene or the Leiter/shark scene. In CR the book, there were scenes (like the two men in straw hats bomb scene and the cane/knife from behind attack in the casino scene) that were changed for the film. I suggest that these sorts of changes be made to LALD. Perhaps have Leiter injured in some kind of attack. This would again make the terrorism more of a palpable and real threat in the film.
- the Title: I personally would love to have the new film, if based on LALD, be called Live and Let Die. I understand, though, the reluctance people might have to this. So, perhaps a title that has not been used, such as Risico or The Portrait of a Lady or Quantum of Solace, and incorporate elements of those short stories into the plot. But, to have LALD as the title would be wonderful.
Finally, I would consider such a film to be not a "remake" of the original LALD, since the novel is different and distinguishable from the film.
Don't get me wrong: I love Bond films. It's just that seeing CR made me feel that it's the Bond of the books that is a more interesting character to me than the Bond of the films.
What do you guys think?