I'm starting to like Die Another Day....

MilleniumForceMilleniumForce LondonPosts: 1,214MI6 Agent
edited March 2015 in The James Bond Films
By all means, it's not a good Bond movie, but I just find it so enjoyable to watch. It's easy to watch, the CGI is so bad it's worth watching for a laugh, it has two good villains (Zao and Frost), the Vanquish is cool, the fencing scene is great and the car chase is so good. The cars are great in this, one of my favourites being the Ford Thunderbird, and it is a film I find myself watching quite often. Take out the idea of changing DNA, invisible car and the tsunami surfing and the bad CGI of the plane scene, and this film would be a bit higher on my list.

This is Brosnan's Moonraker - It's clearly just rehashing elements of previous Bond films, aand is incredibly stupid, but both are fun to watch.

BUT - Moonraker is a Moore film, so the silliness does not affect the film as much as it would if this was, say, a Connery film.
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Comments

  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,292MI6 Agent
    Call an ambulance - quick!
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  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    I enjoyed Die Another Day from the second I first watched it.

    It's gonna get it's time to shine. But for now, we're in the high-definition super-serious realism phase, and DAD has to lay low for a while.
  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,292MI6 Agent
    Its kind of like two films put together. Two very different halves
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  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    I think I enjoy Moonraker in the same way you enjoy Die Another Day. I don't feel the same way about Die Another Day. I think I've watched it only twice, whilst I've watched Moonraker at least ten times. I don't find Die Another Day to be as consistent in its quality, and it doesn't always seem to know what its trying to do. Moonraker, on the other hand, is very successful and consistent at what it tries to be: a light-hearted, campy adventure film. Die Another Day doesn't have as good a pacing either and doesn't flow as well from scene to scene. I think it has little merit in comparison to other Bond films. Few Bond films can compare with Moonraker's brilliant locations and level of campiness (whether or not you think that's a good thing). Unlike you, I don't care at all for the villains, the cars (my least favourite Aston Martin of the series, not to mention the awful invisibility) or the car chase. But I agree that the fencing scene is great and the CGI is good for a laugh.
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  • broadshoulderbroadshoulder Acton, London, UKPosts: 1,363MI6 Agent
    edited March 2015
    Quick! nurse! The screens!
    1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 26,417Chief of Staff
    welshboy78 wrote:
    Its kind of like two films put together. Two very different halves

    Which is this films biggest problem...the first half is great but the second half tends to spoil it all...hence I tend to switch off at that point...
    YNWA 97
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    It may not be my favourite Bond Outing, but it has a special Place in Heart due to it being the first Bond I saw in Cinemas :)
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    I'm glad to see that this particular bandwagon is rolling to a stop. It's not even close to being a classic Bond film, but it doesn't deserve the unadulterated vitriol it has recieved.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    As many, many have pointed out " First half good, second half bad" ;) but I do think
    Brosnan is very good in it. -{ and unlike some I think Toby Stephens was a great villain.
    When he takes his shirt off at the start of the sword fight, he looks very muscular, if I'd
    Been Bond at that point I'd have told him, I was only joking about the fight ! :D
    Too big a reliance on ( bad) CGI , but as with all Bonds it is entertaining, and is easy to
    Watch.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    I'm glad to see that this particular bandwagon is rolling to a stop. It's not even close to being a classic Bond film, but it doesn't deserve the unadulterated vitriol it has recieved.

    Agreed 100%
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    I'm glad to see that this particular bandwagon is rolling to a stop. It's not even close to being a classic Bond film, but it doesn't deserve the unadulterated vitriol it has recieved.

    ^^^
    This
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    I'm glad to see that this particular bandwagon is rolling to a stop. It's not even close to being a classic Bond film, but it doesn't deserve the unadulterated vitriol it has recieved.
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    welshboy78 wrote:
    Its kind of like two films put together. Two very different halves

    I would say Die Another Day is a mixed bag from start to finish. Some of the best scenes occurring in the second half, while some of the worst being in the first half.
    This is Brosnan's Moonraker

    This is a popular cliche that holds very little truth.
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  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,292MI6 Agent
    edited March 2015
    Well I certainly prefer the first half, enjoyed the PTS, Halle Berry / Cuba section (bar the dodgy CGI Berry Dive) and then it kind of went a little crazy after. The second half had some nice little ideas, Ice Palace, Rosemund Pike etc Graves was annoying in a good way (I really did hate him immensely for some reason, I guess he was realistically smug) However the car, Cleese, kite surfing and plane finale is prob one of the worst parts in the series for me however I'm not a total hater, can be entertaining in a guilty pleasure way when in the mood. Oh I forgot Madonnas cameo made me cringe (she's a terrible actress even with two lines!)

    I guess the film could have gone in a completely different direction at half way point but someone really did hit the turbo button!!!!

    Im guessing the way the Brosnan films became progressively OTT it was the only outcome for this film and I suppose naturally the next film had nowhere to go but tone things back down (Casino Royale). Although it was a huge box office success, could Bond have handled another Brosnan film in this direction?? I dont think they had anywhere else to go but come back down to earth :D
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  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    Firemass wrote:
    This is Brosnan's Moonraker

    This is a popular cliche that holds very little truth.

    Why does it hold little truth? They were two of the most outlandish Bond films. Both films prompted the series to go to a "back-to-basics" approach in the following films. They were each actor's forth Bond film. They were each actor's highest-grossing Bond film. Both films use elements from the Moonraker novel.
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  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    Die Another Day is more creative and imaginative than Moonraker on every level.
  • broadshoulderbroadshoulder Acton, London, UKPosts: 1,363MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    I'm glad to see that this particular bandwagon is rolling to a stop. It's not even close to being a classic Bond film, but it doesn't deserve the unadulterated vitriol it has recieved.

    Dear Barbel,

    Sorry but you feel that all this DAD bashing is a "bandwagon". I am afraid those of us who don't like DAD feel like this.I have been a Bond fan since 1977 and never before had I come out the movies wishing they had stopped. The awfulness of DAD is there for all to see. The first shot is terrible and I truly believe the first half is as bad as the second half.

    You know me - I tend to stick up for the lesser efforts since as DAF,MR,QoS but DAD defeated me. What would make a good documentary? The making of DAD? Where Tamahori went wrong? After seeing the film I was amazed by the films name and read good reviews in the newspapers.

    I am sorry that you think we are "bandwagon jumping" but please allow us to express these views..

    and also post views which contradict them. -{
    1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Dear broadshoulder

    Of course you can express your dislike of this or any other movie here! Post away on how you feel about DAD or whatever, however much it contradicts mine or anyone else's opinion.
    I do feel that there has developed an automatic tendency to bash this film in whatever context turns up, and that this is often unfair. As I said earlier, it isn't a top 007 adventure but it isn't as dreadful as it's too frequently made out to be.
    I personally enjoy the first half very much (well, ok, I could do without Madonna in any of her three jobs... all of them,.actually) and can see why people would have problems with the second part.
    I also appreciate that the little bits of Fleming and earlier Bond movie lore will only be of interest to some but the filmmakers put them in for our benefit (eg, the book Bond picks up).
    And what's wrong with the first shot? It's just a beach.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    The whole Ice Palace Design is still breathtaking though -{

    And the Film took Elements of the MR Novel as well.
    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
    Barbel wrote:
    Dear broadshoulder

    Of course you can express your dislike of this or any other movie here! Post away on how you feel about DAD or whatever, however much it contradicts mine or anyone else's opinion.
    I do feel that there has developed an automatic tendency to bash this film in whatever context turns up, and that this is often unfair. As I said earlier, it isn't a top 007 adventure but it isn't as dreadful as it's too frequently made out to be.
    I personally enjoy the first half very much (well, ok, I could do without Madonna in any of her three jobs... all of them,.actually) and can see why people would have problems with the second part.
    I also appreciate that the little bits of Fleming and earlier Bond movie lore will only be of interest to some but the filmmakers put them in for our benefit (eg, the book Bond picks up).
    And what's wrong with the first shot? It's just a beach.

    The shooting of Bond through the barrel of a gun. He's such a good shot that he can destroy you through the barrel of a gun.

    Also I will feel free to express my annoyance with this film - feel free to contradict me
    1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    Ah, that kind of shot. Yeah, that was unnecessary but it isn't on the same scale as moving the entire gunbarrel sequence... though that's a different argument.
  • always shakenalways shaken LondonPosts: 6,287MI6 Agent
    AAAAARRRGGHHH how can any one not like DAD , Brozzers walking along in Havana in that blue shirt ,chomping on a huge cigar ,leaning nonchalantly against the bar with mojito in hand, then replying to HB they feast ,im sorry it doesn't get better ,
    but then as my signature says (bye the way)
    By the way, did I tell you, I was "Mad"?
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Like Barbel has said, the CGI Bullet in the Gunbarrel was not really needed.
    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
    They went CGI mad with DAD, in fact most of the extra weight on Brosnan was
    CGI'ed on to him. :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • broadshoulderbroadshoulder Acton, London, UKPosts: 1,363MI6 Agent
    They went CGI mad with DAD, in fact most of the extra weight on Brosnan was
    CGI'ed on to him. :D

    :)) :)) :)) :))
    1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    They went CGI mad with DAD, in fact most of the extra weight on Brosnan was
    CGI'ed on to him. :D

    Little-known fact - Madonna wasn't in DAD. Yep - CGI! :))
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    And her Acting couldn't have been any worse, CGI or not :D
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • PeppermillPeppermill DelftPosts: 2,860MI6 Agent
    Die Another Day is my least favorite Bond movie and it has been from the first time I saw it. However, it is still a Bond movie so I don't hate it. It is just my least favorite film in my favorite movie franchise. But to each his own.
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  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Is the Novelization by Raymond Benson any good?
    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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