Canon-Strike X: Bond, James Bond

[Dogg Thang]

That's a genuine thing where Bond, bizarrely was a family thing.

Yep. To this day, Bond is a Saturday afternoon ITV thing with all of us around the telly.

[wakka]

I have to say I think Bond films are totally family films. As much as sex (mostly implied) and violence (largely bloodless and against baddies only) are staple components, they're sufficiently uncontroversial and broad in their appeal that I think they work in that category.

[wheelaa]

I really like the two Dalton efforts. The more serious take is very welcome after the comedic guff of Moore's last efforts.

(I can already feel the rage brewing for the films after next haha!)

[teddymeow]

Moore was an awful Bond.

[Asura]

Regardless of other thoughts about the movie, this is my favourite Bond theme.

Gladys Knight's voice is wonderful, and it stikes the tone really well.

Ironically the only one I've listened to more over the years is the theme from Metal Gear Solid 3, because that managed to imitate the Bond movie theme cliches so well.

[Yakumo]

Regardless of other thoughts about the movie, this is my favourite Bond theme.

Gladys Knight's voice is wonderful, and it stikes the tone really well.

Ironically the only one I've listened to more over the years is the theme from Metal Gear Solid 3, because that managed to imitate the Bond movie theme cliches so well.

That's such a good tune. I actually own the 7" single of that which I got free by sending in 20 cadburies chocolate wrappers.. Anyone old enough to remember that campaign? Got 3 singles out of it. I must have looked like a right cheap skate picking up wrappers I saw flying down the road

[Neon Ignition]

Movie 17 - Goldeneye
No, no, it's not the film adaptation of the popular videogame! Pierce Brosnan takes over the mantle of Bond in this refresh of the franchises tone again with him unwittingly being pitted against 006 and attempting to stop the use of a powerful satellite weapon. Dalton had been set to return to film a finished scripted third film but MGM found itself embroiled in rights issues over the franchise which in turn led to years of delays. Dalton wanted to make a final film but the long gap meant that the Broccoli's needed an actor who could commit to several new installments which Dalton was unwilling to do. Paul McGann narrowly lost out to Brosnan whilst Sean Bean took the villain role after Anthony Hopkins and Alan Rickman declined. The film marked a huge uplift in the franchises popularity and remains enduringly popular to today.







Was Goldeneye the right direction for the franchise and how does it hold up to the legacy of its forebearers?

[QualityChimp]

N64 Goldeneye really improved the already thrilling film.

I had personally infiltrated and jumped off the Arkhangelsk Chemical Weapons Facility!

[QualityChimp]

Regardless of other thoughts about the movie, this is my favourite Bond theme.

Gladys Knight's voice is wonderful, and it stikes the tone really well.

Ironically the only one I've listened to more over the years is the theme from Metal Gear Solid 3, because that managed to imitate the Bond movie theme cliches so well.

I think it's one of the blandest themes that completely washes over me when it's on.

However, just by looking at that video thumb, I've had the tune rattling around my head all morning, so it's left a bigger impact than I realised!

[Asura]

Fun fact - Goldeneye's theme was written by Bono and the Edge from U2.

I think we should be happy they got Tina Turner to sing it.

[Neon Ignition]

Goldeneye, okay, has its dated elements as you'd expect from a 20+yr old film but on the whole it's effectively the most the franchise ever nailed the right balance for me. Brosnan is just in a different league when it comes to Bond actors for me. He's equally suited so humour, action, drama etc whilst being able to convince as being all about the mission but not too cold either. A huge amount of back and forth can be had about the individual films pros and cons but even at their weakest I never find Brosnan to be at fault and for me he would have hugely elevated the Craig era films had their roles been reversed whilst the idea of Goldeneye with Craig in post is depressing.

I like how Goldeneye half makes the story about the 00 agents, Bean is a memorable villain without having a gimmick and also feels like Bond's equal. The action is distinct and memorable etc. It's the right balance of all the various elements and I don't like Bono but even he managed to meet the bar with the theme which is great with Turner never getting enough recognition either for landing it either.

Many other entries have their strengths but even without the game connection Goldeneye is the finest hour from the finest Bond.

[Asura]

Yeah, I forgot to say - Brosnan is my favourite Bond, even if some of his movies aren't the best.

This comes from two things.

Firstly, that Goldeneye was the first Bond movie I ever saw, I think. It was certainly the first I saw in the cinema. I still remember being absolutely blown away by the prologue, and just loving every moment of it. This means Brosnan has the "your Doctor is the one you grew up with" vibe for me; like when I think James Bond, my mind immediately goes to Brosnan.

Secondly, though, I think Brosnan's strength was that his performance conflates the better elements of so many of the actors who came before. He has a bit of Connery's presence, a bit of Lazenby's tenderness, a bit of Moore's roguish charm and, on the rare moments the movies call for it, he can be a cold-blooded killer like Dalton.

His run is forever tainted because the movies had to "escalate" as they went on, to the point where the high-flying, overly-CGI crap of Die Another Day spoils some of what might've been quite a good premise, but I think that Goldeneye & Tommorow Never Dies are great.

[Neon Ignition]

Yep, it's another instance where it shows where the Mission Impossible sequels have succeeded where Bond has failed. There was no need for the Brosnan entries to take the direction they did but I guess that the other issue there is that it made sense at the time, it's very easy for the history books to forget that pre-Daniel Craig Die Another Day was the most successful entry

[QualityChimp]

Me and my mate still say
"For England, James?"
"No. For me."

[teddymeow]

GoldenEye is just sublime!! Brosnan is just an exceptional Bond and Bean is a brilliant baddie.

Add in a fantastic supporting cast: Famke Janssen, Isabella Scorupco, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Cummings ("I am EEEENVEEEENCIBLE!!!") and that theme song and it equals an incredible movie.

Fun fact; back when the film came out I'd just started working in Toys R Us and GoldenEye was on the in-store music playlist. My (to this day) best mate and I would walk round the shop floor singing along in our best Paul Shane style as we felt it added a certain something that Tina's incredible voice was missing.

Even now we both refer to it as a "Tannoy Classic"!!