Spectre

[vintage68]

So I'm sure most of us have heard that the 24th installment of the James Bond franchise will be called Spectre, and will make it's debut next November.

I had a thought this morning that perhaps one of the qualities that make the movies so enduring is that Bond and assorted cast members all dress like adults, and we have few examples of that in cinema these days. Most men appear in the movies (and real life) to be still incubating, even up to and past middle age, wearing shorts, t-shirts and sweats as normal every-day attire.

What are your thoughts about what make the Bond franchise a cultural icon?

 

[Doctor Strange]

Although it's being reported wrong nearly everywhere (though not in the official announcement), it should be written SPECTRE.

It's an acronym: SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion!

 

[scotrace]

I think they have a timeless feel to them, or at least the best of them do, even when we are seeing the very latest gadgetry being employed. Bond is always Bond, always pulling off the impossible with elegance. Even the latest films, with a grittier, darker, more flawed Bond, have this quality.
And there are always impossibly sexy women, fast cars, amazing chases and a good fight or twenty.

Perhaps the biggest contributor to their success is the quality of the novels themselves.

 

[fedoralover]

I've always liked the 007 movies. One thing I miss though, is some of the tongue in cheek humor the older ones had that the new ones seem to be missing. Or maybe my humor meter is behind the times and I"m just not picking up on it.

fedoralover

 

[vintage68]

I've always liked the 007 movies. One thing I miss though, is some of the tongue in cheek humor the older ones had that the new ones seem to be missing. Or maybe my humor meter is behind the times and I"m just not picking up on it.

fedoralover

Craig has said that he wants Spectre to "bring back some of the old irony" so maybe we will see that in the new movie...

 

[Fading Fast]

Perhaps the biggest contributor to their success is the quality of the novels themselves.

I think this is why Craig's first Bond movie, "Casino Royale" was also his best - it was based on an original novel and not a new screenplay.

 

[Harp]

And there are always impossibly sexy women...

Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell). :love:

 

[vintage68]

My favorite of the Craig Bond films has been Skyfall. Really looking forward to Spectre. But I also thought Royale was excellent, Quantum less so...

 

[Seb Lucas]

I liked Bond films as a kid but they aren't all that interesting as you get older and the various Bonds wither and die. I liked Lazenby's film a great deal and a couple of Connery's, but Moore, Brosnan and Craig's incarnations didn't do it for me. The director makes as much difference if not more than than the star in these things. I understand that Craig's films were a reboot, but they were pretty dull efforts to my taste - clearly an attempt to go "back to the source" and be a bit harder, but really, the Bond novels were pretty awful to begin with ( I've read most of them quite happily as disposable trash) and the films were never meant to be art just money earners. Which is perfectly fine.

 

[vintage68]

The director makes as much difference if not more than than the star in these things.

Craig asked Mendes to direct Skyfall, and will be directing Spectre as well. I think he's a terrific director. They worked together on Road to Perdition which I thought was also excellent.

 

[AmateisGal]

Oh, I'm a HUGE fan of Craig as Bond. Next to Connery, I think he's done an absolute spot-on job playing Bond as Fleming portrayed him in the books.

I'm looking forward to SPECTRE - and I'm especially looking forward to it considering just how well Mendes did with Skyfall. I thought it was quite brilliant.

And on a related subject, I will be in London when SPECTRE debuts - I'm thinking of going to the premiere...well, I won't actually get to WATCH it, but I wouldn't mind being outside and getting to watch Daniel Craig and all the rest of the cast arrive on the red carpet. Once in a lifetime thing, that!

 

[Big J]

Bond does dress like an adult, but I can't help but always wonder where his clothes come from? He never has a suitcase nor time to go shopping, but always seems to have a nice wardrobe selection on hand, uncreased.
The impossibility of this depresses me deeply.

 

[pawineguy]

I loved in Casino Royale that they swapped the male / female roles in the beach scene. Daniel Craig coming out of the water and "Solange" on the horse instead of vise versa. Very smartly the franchise has remained PG-13, with all sex implied, so that I can bring my now 13 year old to see these films and a new generation can get hooked. (He and my 11 year old twins have already expressed excitement that it's coming out.) They are great entertainment, not made to win Oscars, just a couple of hours of guilty pleasure.

 

[AmateisGal]

I loved in Casino Royale that they swapped the male / female roles in the beach scene. Daniel Craig coming out of the water and "Solange" on the horse instead of vise versa. Very smartly the franchise has remained PG-13, with all sex implied, so that I can bring my now 13 year old to see these films and a new generation can get hooked. (He and my 11 year old twins have already expressed excitement that it's coming out.) They are great entertainment, not made to win Oscars, just a couple of hours of guilty pleasure.

I agree. I also like where Craig has taken the franchise. The Pierce Brosnan Era was almost comical.

 

[pawineguy]

I agree. I also like where Craig has taken the franchise. The Pierce Brosnan Era was almost comical.

As have I, he took a dying brand and totally resurrected it. While I think Connery was the right man at the right time, the current movies are set in the modern era, and to me, Craig is perfect as the "modern" spy. I really like his tortured grit and fallibility.

 

[AmateisGal]

As have I, he took a dying brand and totally resurrected it. While I think Connery was the right man at the right time, the current movies are set in the modern era, and to me, Craig is perfect as the "modern" spy. I really like his tortured grit and fallibility.

Absolutely agree with you.

 

[PHIL1959]

Craig is perfect as Bond. that said, in their time, so were all the other Great actors that have preceded him.
Cant wait for this films release!