Here are a couple of James Bonds I caught this week:
Diamonds are forever: the last Connery Bond, it seems awfuly like a comedy sequel. It has some great lines, mostly funny ones, but what saves the movie from being a total comedy sequel- is the great scene between Blofeld and Bond the first time they meet.
That scene is really getting back to the basics of the series, and it actualy is clever! I was surprised the first time I saw it that someone thought of the two Charles Gray's and their cats- maybe the best scene in all the movies.
I thought it was hillarious that they had Grey act as Bloefeld, when just two movies before he plays Henderson, the guy in Hong Kong who meets with Bond, trying to help him to catch Bloefeld. The only time I know of that a man played a character and his enemy.
The movie has some great lines:
Ernst Stavro Blofeld: "The satellite is now over... Kansas. Well, if we blow up Kansas the world may not hear about it for years."
Driver: "The stiff, ehm, the deceased back there... Your brother, Mr. Franks?"
James Bond (as Peter Franks): "Yes, it was."
Passenger: "I got a brother."
James Bond (as Peter Franks): "Small world."
[Plenty O'Toole is thrown out of the window by some goons perhaps from the 10th floor, and lands in the middle of the hotel's swimming pool]
James Bond:
[looking down] "Exceptionally fine shot."
Goon: "I didn't know there was a pool down there."
Tiffany Case: I'll finish dressing.
James Bond (as Peter Franks): "Oh please don't, not on my account."
And my favorite:
James Bond: "That's a nice little nothing you're almost wearing."
Tommorrow Never Dies: This James Bond is robably Brosnan's best. The movie has the best villain since Max Zorin (Christopher Walken) in Elliot Carver. Jonathan Pryce plays him perfectly- sly, egotistic, charismatic- too bad that because this is a Bond film- he has to die because of a stupid mistake.
Here are a few points I noticed:
1. Why does the count down always leave Bond just enough time to destroy the plans?
I mean, doesn't Carver realize that if the count down was for 1 minute, he would win the day quicker?
You can, of course, attribute this stupidity to the Bond legacy of dumb bad Guys. It reminded me of Fables thread 'An Evil Overlord’s to do list'.
Another real stupidity was the fact that Bond was getting beat up in the room right near the control room, where there was only man. So conviniently, one Bond beat the guys, he could just go into the next room and cut off all power.
2. I liked the classic Bond wit of the destroyed car flying right into Avis.
3. I thoght they made a mistake by having Bond kill the doctor the way they did. It made Bond much moe a cold blooded murderer- he usualy only kills people in a gun battle, or when attacked. It's not like Bond to give a one liner and shoot a man in the head at close range.
4. Noticed how he twice used the lighter trick introduced by Roger Moore in 'Live and Let Die'- that you act as if you have a lighter, and then you punch the guy out.
5. Did anyone notie that the captain of the ship at the end was the same guy who played the drunk English soldier in 'Braveheart' who tried to rape MelGibson's wife, and he also played the Nazi general in 'Indiana Jones and the last crusade'?
6. I really liked Carver making fun of Wai Lin's karate by jumping around.
He was also great in the scene where he is instructing his agencies around the world what to do about the next days news:
Elliot Carver:"Mr. Jones, are we ready to release our new software?"
Jones: "Yes, sir. As requested, it's full of bugs, which means people will be forced to upgrade for years."
Elliot Carver: "Outstanding!"
Elliot Carver:"Mr. Wallace, call the President. Tell him if he doesn't sign the bill lowering the cable rates, we will release the video of him with the cheerleader in the Chicago motel room."
Mr. Wallace: "Inspired, sir."
Elliot Carver: "And after he signs the bill, release the tape anyway."
Mr. Wallace: "Consider him slimed."
It has a few more good lines:
James Bond: "You were pretty good with that hook."
Wai-Lin: Thanks. "It comes from growing up in a rough neighborhood. You were pretty good with the bike."
James Bond: "Thank you. It comes from not growing up at all."
James Bond: "It won't look like a suicide if you shoot me from over there."
Dr. Kaufman: "I am a professor of forensic medicine. Believe me, Mr. Bond, I could shoot you from Stuttgart und still create ze proper effect."
Q: "Your new BMW. Will you be needing collision coverage?"
James Bond: "Yes."
Q: "Property damage?"
James Bond: "Definitely."
Q: "Personal injury?"
James Bond: "I hope not, but accidents do happen."
All in all- I think it is a rather good Bond, getting back to a lot of the usual formula, it's much more intelligent than the other two Brosnan's