Would Bond have survived & thrived into the 21st Century without Broz?

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Comments

  • IanTIanT Posts: 573MI6 Agent
    I was particularly happy when Brozzer got Bond. I thought Timmy was great in TLD. At the time, I was in two minds about LTK and I famously slagged it off to Michael G Wilson's face before he informed me that he wrote it and I felt very very silly ;% . (He was very nice about it though - lovely man).

    Brozzer was perfect for Goldeneye. No one else could have carried that off. TND was also incredibly good for Brozzer but TBH the cracks started to appear in TWINE, and as for DAD - oh dear.

    Brozzer went at the right time. Daniel Craig did an excellent job re-booting the franchise and Judi Dench made the transition seamless.

    And finally, George Lazenby was superb as a young-in-service Bond. A bit naïve and arrogant.
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 21,702MI6 Agent
    I know this could be an urban myth, but I thought Liam Neeson was offered 007
    but turned it down, ironically because he didn't want to do " Action" films. :D

    It's not a myth. Neeson said in an interview that the was "heavily persued" by the Bond producers.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Sean Bean (Who would obviously play Alec in GE) was also considered -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • JarvioJarvio EnglandPosts: 4,234MI6 Agent
    Simple answer to whether or not bond would have survived without Brosnan - Yes. Of course it would. Nothing against Brosnan, but if it wasn't for him, someone else would have succeeded just as much.
    1 - LALD, 2 - AVTAK, 3 - LTK, 4 - OP, 5 - NTTD, 6 - FYEO, 7 - SF, 8 - DN, 9 - DAF, 10 - TSWLM, 11 - OHMSS, 12 - TMWTGG, 13 - GE, 14 - MR, 15 - TLD, 16 - YOLT, 17 - GF, 18 - DAD, 19 - TWINE, 20 - SP, 21 - TND, 22 - FRWL, 23 - TB, 24 - CR, 25 - QOS

    1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
  • IanTIanT Posts: 573MI6 Agent
    Jarvio wrote:
    Simple answer to whether or not bond would have survived without Brosnan - Yes. Of course it would. Nothing against Brosnan, but if it wasn't for him, someone else would have succeeded just as much.

    You've probably right but Brozzer was really the only choice at the time. I can remember when his casting was announced I was pleased but it was hardly a surprise. I remember Sam O'Neill being suggested but I don't remember him being a firm favourite. He was probably the next on the list.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    Jarvio wrote:
    SNothing against Brosnan, but if it wasn't for him, someone else would have succeeded just as much.
    Oh boy do I disagree to that. I was around back then and heavily into the cinema thing and I remember everyone wanting and EXPECTING to see Brosnan as Bond, so when it happened we were all totally thrilled and pumped for GE as never before in my movie memory (which admittedly only starts in about 1970).
    Yes, any other competent actor could have made it work and made it successful, but IMO ONLY Brosnan could have generated that level of widespread enthusiasm AND the box office numbers associated with it.
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Like others have said, Brosnan was perfect for Bond -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    Like others have said, Brosnan was perfect for Bond -{
    Ahhh, an enlightened soul I see. -{ :))
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Strength in Numbers ;) :))
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • broadshoulderbroadshoulder Acton, London, UKPosts: 1,363MI6 Agent
    Saved the franchise
    ..
    Then ran it into the ground

    Wrong people in charge in the brosnan era
    1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    Saved the franchise
    ..
    Then ran it into the ground
    I love Brosnan, and though his movies might have not been all they COULD have been, what Bond movies really WERE???
    FRWL... Okay.
    Maybe GF...
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    IMO yes the franchise would have gone on & been just as successful. Had Brosnan not taken up the role they would have found someone else who no doubt would have made the part his own.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Dalton was contracted for three Films (Maybe he would have done a fourth?)
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    It's hard to explain, They got Brosnan ( their #1 choice) then basically
    Didn't do anything with him, script wise, but basically made variations
    Of previous films.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    edited April 2015
    It's hard to explain, They got Brosnan ( their #1 choice) then basically
    Didn't do anything with him, script wise, but basically made variations
    Of previous films.
    Now, imagine the same thing done with an actor the public WASN'T straining at the bits to see as Bond... ?:)
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    But Brosnan WAS the one that was wanted by the public at the time- and rightly so!
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    But Brosnan WAS the one that was wanted by the public at the time- and rightly so!
    {[]
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    When I went to see Goldeneye for the first time I hardly knew Brosnan at all. Yet, he made Bond his own and carried the series beyond the Cold War and into the 21 century, though Clive Owen would have been just as good (in fact, he could probably make a great Bond even now, after Craig). I just enjoy seeing a mature Bond, after all what he does requires not only youthful physical endurance, but experience and skills as well. Lots of members here appear rather dismissive about Brosnan, but I think his legacy will be more and more appreciated as time passes.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Clive Owen would have made a brilliant Bond -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    Jag wrote:
    Clive Owen would have been just as good
    Clive or Jason Isaacs were my first two picks for Bond after Brosnan, actually.
    Lots of members here appear rather dismissive about Brosnan, but I think his legacy will be more and more appreciated as time passes.
    I agree, especially when we get Andrew Garfield after Craig (I have seen this via The Force) and then people will drone on and on, "Wow, Brosnan was really good! I can't believe now that I was so hard on him during the Craig years!" :))
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • Xfire2k15Xfire2k15 Posts: 31MI6 Agent
    It maybe would have survived but I don't think it would have been as successful without PB In my opinon
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Welcome to AJB, Xfire2k15, please take a moment to check out our introduction for new members: http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/45180/introduction-how-to-use-the-forum/
  • Xfire2k15Xfire2k15 Posts: 31MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    Welcome to AJB, Xfire2k15, please take a moment to check out our introduction for new members: http://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/45180/introduction-how-to-use-the-forum/

    Thanks! :)
  • IanTIanT Posts: 573MI6 Agent
    I still remember GE when Broz made his first screen appearance and he WAS Bond. He moved how we expected Bond to move, he looked the part, and he was the public's choice.

    I also remember DC being announced and wishing Brozzer would do another. For me, Brozzer was Bond. I had wanted him to be Bond forever, even after the mess of DAD. But then I saw DC and the reboot and knew that it was absolutely the right decision to end the Brosnan era.

    Sadly, as Brozzer got older there seemed to be more reliance on gadgets.
  • Gassy ManGassy Man USAPosts: 2,972MI6 Agent
    It's hard to explain, They got Brosnan ( their #1 choice) then basically
    Didn't do anything with him, script wise, but basically made variations
    Of previous films.
    {[]

    In answer to the original question, there's no doubt that Pierce Brosnan brought the franchise back to the public eye. At the same time, how quickly he's faded now that Craig is in the role is testament to whether he has lasting quality as 007. In other words, for people -- particularly those who were kids or teens -- during his tenure, he was James Bond. Not so much for everyone else. He lacks the iconic qualities of Sean Connery or even Roger Moore (though the argument could be made he didn't make as many films). That he's remembered more than Timothy Dalton or George Lazenby isn't saying much.

    Thunderpussy's observation is exactly right. With Brosnan, we got an actor who should have done more with the role. Instead, he and the films are basically "caretaker Bonds." That is, they kept the franchise going in a slightly better than middling way, neither pushing the franchise toward anything new or daring nor committing any fatal errors that brought everything to a halt. They come across as largely committee-driven, marketing-inspired compromises existing primarily on cliche and formula and the fact that Brosnan, at least on paper, seemed a made-to-order Bond. But, the 90s in particular, were a good decade for that.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    But his Films Are no where near terrible, not even DAD -{

    In fact, I'd say that TND is a bit underrated.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I love TND, I remember feeling very excited seeing Bond getting his instructions
    in M's car. Really gives the impression, Britain is gearing up for a war and it's down
    to Bond to stop it.
    Not to mention the fantastic performance from a certain AJBer :v :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    That Performance was worthy of a Golden Raspberry :D
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I still think the idea of having Bond drive his car by remote control from the backseat
    Was a fantastic idea. -{ Whenever I'm driving in a multistorey car park, I can't help but
    Imagine I'm driving the BMW, myself. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    And when he does the Hand Thing -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
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