BONDage: a 007 Thread in Anticipation of SKYFALL

A new 007 movie is always an event, and I'm very much looking forward to Skyfall. Since I'm re-watching all the Bond films now (got the set on Blu-Ray a couple of weeks back), I thought I'd start a thread with random Bond topics.

FIRST TOPIC: 10 GREAT THINGS ABOUT 'ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE'

A common sentiment about OHMSS is that this film--the first non-Connery outing--is somehow substandard.

It really isn't. In fact, it's arguably one of the better films in the series. It's currently pulling an 81% Fresh rating among critics on RottenTomatoes.com. So here, in no particular order, are 10 great things about the film...

1. Diana Rigg as Tracy di Vicenzo. The Avengers star plays a troubled woman living on the edge, just the kind our favorite British secret agent might fall for.



2. Moneypenny, broken-hearted at Bond's wedding. That small scene where she catches Bond's eye and he tosses his hat to her--reminiscent of all those times he came in the office--makes me mist up every time. Lois Maxwell plays that moment beautifully.



3. John Barry's terrific Bond theme.

[wyt=Bond Theme from OHMSS]FbqQcnybyJI[/wyt]

4. Best Bond quip ever. Being chased on skis by Blofeld's henchmen, Bond pushes one into a snowplough. When the machine spits out red snow, Bond says "He had a lot of guts."



5. Bond resigns and Moneypenny's intervention--apparently substituting a vacation request--saves his job. When M thanks Moneypenny, we realize that the chief was aware Bond was going to resign...and is hugely relieved that he didn't. Also note the items from previous missions that Bond has in his desk: Honey's knife and belt from Dr. No, the underwater re-breather from Thunderball, etc.



6. That ending. So sudden, so poignant, so unlike every other Bond movie. Tracy is dead, and Bond tells himself "We have all the time in the world."

[wyt=Tracy's Death]bxDRVE-UfHk[/wyt]

7. Blofeld's Angels of Death, the unwitting carriers of Blofeld's biological weapon.



8. Piz Gloria, Blofeld's magnificent base in the Swiss Alps. And the aerial camera work done around the peak, particularly for the attack in the climax, is simply stunning.



9. Telly Savalas as Blofeld. A very memorable villain, charismatic and menacing.



10. George Lazenby. Let's face it: the guy had some incredibly big shoes to fill. And he actually does a very decent job.



[wyt=OHMSS Trailer]xrSh08f8Nas[/wyt]

This show him doing some physical stuff. Love his uppercuts; they go so high! And I find his "breaking the fourth wall" at the end very amusing. With a little seasoning, who knows? Lazenby could've been much more well-remembered than he is.

[wyt=Bond on the Beach]L1DhrrFTjE8[/wyt]

Could he act? Here's the scene in which he proposes to Tracy. You tell me.

[wyt=Bond proposes to Tracy]HCMMbtnkRHM[/wyt]


So, if you haven't checked this one out--or it's been awhile--give it a watch. You might find you're pleasantly surprised at just how good it really is.

Some interesting Bond trivia.

In 1983, Roger Moore was balking at returning at 007. The producers considered an American--James Brolin (father of Josh)--for the role and were all ready to sign him, when Moore agreed to return.

Apparently, the plan was to offer up Brolin as Bond with NO explanation for his non-British accent, even though 007 was to remain British.

[wyt=Brolin Screentest for 007 #1]LhkUWMJoccQ[/wyt]
[wyt=Brolin Screentest for 007 #2]ksjXilVYIxw[/wyt]

Another actor considered was Kiwi Sam Neill, who had been successful in the Reilly: Ace of Spies TV series.



John Gavin (best known for his role in Psycho) was another American who was this close to being Bond. He was actually hired, but Connery decided to come back for Diamonds are Forever.

Skyfall = Masterpiece. That is all.

Saw it yesterday. Probably the best Bond movie I've seen.

Can't recommend it enough.

OHMSS is my favourite Bond movie. It's a masterpiece.

True Bond aficionados understand this.

I will be seeing Skyfall in the next couple of days. Pray that I do not spoil it for you all.

Saw it last night. Casino Royale probably still shades it for me.

The pre-title sequence was perfunctory instead of innovative and some of the CGI was a bit ropey. And I didn't care for the final act when [-]Bruce[/-] Bond returns to [-]Wayne Manor[/-] Skyfall. Bond's interaction with [-]Alfred [/-]Albert Finney were great however.

The bulk of the film is excellent, and to see my city and locations I am very familiar with was thrilling. Javier Bardem is over the top without becoming a Roger Moore era villain; Q and MI6's HQ are note perfect; the humour is just right. I also like some of the familiar changes at the end, although not all fans will.

And Judy Dench cements her place the greatest Bond 'girl'.

The best actor - thus far - never to have played Bond IMO.
I think he would have been excellent.

Paladin I agree with each and every point you made except the last. Lazenby is the reason that OHMSS will never be a masterpiece. He's simply not a good enough actor, as evidenced by his dialogue being dubbed for a good portion of the film. For that reason I'd be more than willing to see a retake on the story with Craig.

Well now I'm very excited for this and will have to go see it soon. Also, I reminded that I need to get back on my Bond reading -- made it about half-way through and then dropped the ball.

Damn it! It doesn't open till the 9th, how did you limeys see it already?

I'm a massive Bond fan and take a lot of flak from friends about it. It is a fucking crime that Skyfall opens two weeks early in Britain. Who do they think they are anyway?

I had the privilege of visiting Piz Gloria earlier this year. It was on my first full day of my Europe trip. By the time I got back to the village below (Murren) where I was staying I had the flu and wasn't operational again until Paris.

Here are some photos I snapped...while I could still stand:

I've gotten sucked into a vortex of Bond clips on YouTube. I know I've seen all the movies, but some I have virtually no memory of.

I need to reread the books. Read them way back in high school. Still need to see OHMSS. Hot to see "Skyfall" but torn, as I've decided movie tickets are too expensive so I'm only going to second run places (in theory). Went to "Batman" and it was over ten bucks for one ticket, no concessions at 4pm(!) Conversely if I wait I can see it for four and have a beer and a decent slice of pizza.

In point of fact, the only part where Lazenby's dialog is dubbed is when Bond is posing as Sir Hillary.

That was the good portion I meant. It didn't help that the actor dubbing for Bond became a relatively well known tv detective hailing from our version of the Appalachians.

I didn't disparage it, I even said so in rep.

NEXT TOPIC: BEST BOND THEMES

Here's my list...

1. [wyt=The World is not Enough]jRPWFzONm88[/wyt]
2. [wyt=You Know my Name (Casino Royale)]OzX14t4dCQ0[/wyt]
3. [wyt=Goldfinger]Fy_PJODH3p0[/wyt]
4. [wyt=Nobody Does it Better (The Spy Who Loved Me)]Wy-c8aAntWA[/wyt]
5. [wyt=Surrender (Tomorrow Never Dies)]6zIbOL8SSCY[/wyt]
(Note: this song by k.d. lang, far superior IMHO to the Sheryl Crow song used in the actual intro, was played over the closing credits.)

6. [wyt=For Your Eyes Only]Ke2RlC1Vjig[/wyt]
7. [wyt=Diamonds are Forever]qPeSPB68i2c[/wyt]
8. [wyt=Live and Let Die]qKRh0rMixzM[/wyt]
9. [wyt=A View to a Kill]hWVbVT3igdw[/wyt]
10. [wyt=Thunderball]sT0x7QiJI1g[/wyt]

I do agree that Lazenby's legend is the reason OHMSS will never be a masterpiece. I think if it had been Connery, then it would be considered greater than Goldfinger. Sad to say. The overdubbing was ridiculous. I'm not sure I blame Lazenby. I blame the producers for coming up with such an odd plot device. Changing 007's voice and nothing else is a disguise people will buy? Bull shit.

I have a bone to pick w/ Garbage's The World is Not Enough. Compare it to this song, Superstar, by Sonic Youth which predates TWINE by about five years:

[yt=Sonic Youth Superstar]Y21VecIIdBI[/yt]

Lazenby faked his resume when auditioning for the role. He had zero previous acting experience and had no business being in the role, and it showed. The story was decent enough, but you're absolutely right that Lazenby was one of the downfalls of the movie.

And the Goldeneye theme is vastly superior, especially with the accompanying video symbolizing the downfall of the USSR. Written by Bono and the Edge and performed by Tina Turner.

[yt=Goldeneye]qGPBFvDz_HM[/yt]

But the score to Goldeneye is elevator music.

You're thinking of the video game.

[yt=Goldeneye 64, Full Soundtrack]SLKiB7I3vb0[/yt]

I play this soundtrack when making love.

I don't think that's true. The producers knew his acting experience was essentially limited to a single commercial; his real vocation was male model.

Given how much time and effort the producers put into finding each Bond, there's no way Lazenby could've "faked" his way in. In any event, he was screen-tested and the tests were good.

I guess we see different things. I'm amazed at how good he is, ESPECIALLY considering he has no real acting experience.

Well, I challenge that. I know that's the popular impression, but I think that the movie and Lazenby are considerably better than the credit they're typically given.

Other than a few notes, I don't hear a whole lot of similarity.

And, that song is MUCH older than Sonic Youth's version....

[yt=The Carpenters' Superstar]7-nlLQEfxx8[/yt]

Tonight's flick was The Living Daylights, so...

NEXT TOPIC: TIMOTHY DALTON

1. Timothy Dalton was approached to play Bond on several occasions, the earliest being 1968(!!!) when Sean Connery left the role. Dalton apparently felt he was too young for the part at the time. Another opportunity came again in 1980, when it looked like Roger Moore would not return for For Your Eyes Only; Moore eventually worked a deal with the producers and remained.

2. Timothy Dalton appeared in the 1968 film The Lion in Winter, which starred Peter O'Toole, Katherine Hepburn, and another up-and-coming young actor, Anthony Hopkins (as Prince Richard, the future Lionheart).



3. Dalton once appeared on the British TV show Sat'day While Sunday, starring alongside a young Malcolm McDowell.

4. Dalton was the voice of Mr. Prinklepants, the hedgehog who thinks of himself as a master thespian.



5. On the Charlie's Angels episode "Fallen Angel," Jill (Farrah Fawcett) returns with a jewel thief boyfriend played by Dalton, who is described on several occasions as being like James Bond. Check out the following clip at the 5:25 mark...

[yt=Charlie's Angels]e8KBPyKj4a8[/yt]

6. Dalton has a child with Oksana Grigorieva, the Russian pianist with whom Mel Gibson had a recent relationship...and who secretly recorded his angry rants toward her.

7. Dalton took on the role of Rhett Butler in Scarlett, a miniseries based on the authorized sequel to Gone with the Wind.



8. Timothy Dalton played heroic Prince Barin in the 1980 cult classic Flash Gordon.



[wyt=Flash vs. Barin]fUdMBciScd0[/wyt]

9. Dalton has been romantically linked to Vanessa Redgrave and Whoopi Goldberg(!!!).

10. Dalton has said that the chase in Hot Fuzz is the most fun he's ever had doing a movie.

[wyt=Hot Fuzz]CsZUGoa3JHc[/wyt]

Dalton was the most drastically underused Bond. He was given crap material but is such a fine actor.

You didn't just invoke Goldeneye, did you?

Out, damned heathen! Begone from this thread!