Why is the Bondala scene so hated?
MilleniumForce
LondonPosts: 1,214MI6 Agent
It's one of the most hated - or at least regarded as silliest - scenes in the entire series, but why? Firstly, the scene is from Moonraker. The entire film is essentially a self parody of Bond, so if there's any film where a scene like this works, it would be here. Secondly, yes, Bond is supposed to be a spy and the Bondola is hardly inconspicuous, but how is it any different from driving a Lotus out of the sea onto a crowded beach? Plus, Bond was some sort of secretly celebrity in the 70's films, being known by many and having a reputation. Finally, it's not even that impractical of a gadget for Bond. It's on the same level as the Lotus in terms of being realistic, and considering Moonraker re hashes a lot of moments from TSWLM, the Bondala is, essentially, supposed to be the Lotus submarine of Moonraker.
1.LTK 2.AVTAK 3.OP 4.FYEO 5.TND 6.LALD 7.GE 8.GF 9.TSWLM 10.SPECTRE 11.SF 12.MR 13.YOLT 14.TLD 15.CR (06) 16.TMWTGG 17.TB 18.FRWL 19.TWINE 20.OHMSS 21.DAF 22.DAD 23.QoS 24.NSNA 25.DN 26.CR (67)
Comments
Following GF, almost all Bond films turned into a parody of itself - so I don't think MR is necessarily suddenly an odd one out here because of its more grandiose style...
As much as I love MR the Bondola scene is annoying to me because it's really unnecessary and it's a step too far in order to just make a joke. The Lotus in TSWLM is a joke too - but it has a useful (and epic) purpose, hiding from the chopper, shooting it with a missile and then inspecting the underwater elements.
IMO the Bondola is fine all the way up until it inflates and ends up on the square, he could've just inflated it (faster) and got up the steps at least and then jump out - that would be better...
"Better make that two."
I mean, c'mon. It's one thing for Q branch to devise an underwater car - which admittedly only comes into a use in and adventure where there is a lot sea about - but another to devise a gadget strewn bondola vehicle when they can't even equip it with a bullet-proof Lady Penelope car-style transparent wind shield.
But defending it is like saying, 'Well, for the D-day landings preparation, the forces covertly developed all kinds of landing gear for the beaches, one in particular utilising hovercraft technology, so it's not that implausible...'
Roger Moore 1927-2017
- Bondola
- Cable Car
- Ambulance ride with product placement
- Snake
The other action sequences are enjoyable and suspenseful, these ones are just annoying.
"Better make that two."
The Bondala square sequence is proceeded by a very average and unexciting boat chase which is already campy and ridiculous and is only made worse once the transformation happens and it ends up in the square. And that double take pigeon? Spare me! The Lotus is obviously over the top as well but it works in context, which is why it is funny. Imagine being at the beach and seeing a car come out of the water? There's humour there. Imagine being in a restaurant square and some muppet floats past in a hovercraft Gondala. Oh the hilarity. 8-) Rubbish -{
100% agree. TSWLM gets this so right, MR pushes it too far - and the ironic thing is, MR is already pushing things very far and would probably get away with more without this!
"Better make that two."
Everything about the chase sequence is funny to me. The knife thrower who dies back in his coffin, the coffin getting clipped by the bridge, smoker who gets rid of his cig upon seeing the coffin. The young couple who continues making out after their gondola is split in half. Then the frustration of the henchman once the Bondola goes up on land. The reoccurring guy who checks his bottle. A director cameo and a great spectacle of Venice.
For me it's overall a better and more clever boat chase than LALD and TMWTGG.
My only complaint is Moonraker has two boat chases and no car chase.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
I like the cake, just not the "icing".
"Better make that two."
Haha, just curious how would you have decided to end the boat chase?
In all fairness, I admit there was no real need for the Bondola since it didn't lead to anything. Unlike the Lotus turning into a submarine which led to some great underwater action.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Good question - the ending of it really has a lot to do with topping all the gags before it (which I agree are funny). There are a few options:
- The baddie could've crashed in a bombastic way, Bond could just slip away.
- Bond could've pulled up closely to the square and just jumped out based on how busy it was and blend in (like OP in the market).
- Bond could've gone down a really narrow canal?
Not sure, but Bondola is just too silly
"Better make that two."
Roger Moore 1927-2017
But, come on people, is it really worse than the "California Girls" scene? Talk about the bottom of the barrel...
The Bondola scene is more entertaining. The California Girls scene bothers me more because the music ruins what could have been a decent moment. The Bondola isn't a ruined sequence because the whole thing is absurd.
there didn't need to be two major action sequences during the Venice scenes, but I suppose the canal chase allowed them to show off the scenery, whereas the glass factory was probably filmed in a studio
so its good to let us see those canals, but I think the plot would work exactly the same if that whole gondola sequence could be snipped out
much like the pointless fire engine chase in A View to a Kill, which immediately follows the thrilling and essential elevator escape
comparing to the Lotus sequence in Spy, that scene also allows Bond and Anya to get a closer look at the villains headquarters from below, advancing the plot, and the dialog builds the rivalry between the two spies, so it serves a couple purposes beyond looking cool
Spy might not make so much sense if you edited out the underwater Lotus scene
As I noted above, one of the issues I have with MR is that there are too many action sequences one after the other in the middle of the film.
"Better make that two."
Bond ends up in a dead end as the villain's speedboat bears down on him. He shoots the one steering, then leaps up to grab a railing and swing to the pavement. The villain's boat crashes into the gondola and "boom".
These types of rip s*it and bust action sequences are only really able to be completed in the CGI heavy Craig era!!
"Better make that two."
I kind of like how Bond doesn't kill his pursuers in the film. Not everyone has to die.
Barbel: Personally, I dislike that I was forced to shoot Russian soldiers in the "Goldeneye: Reloaded" video game. Would have much preferred to outwit them non-lethally as in the movie. Yes, admittedly, it's a "gritty" Daniel Craig era retelling, but I spent the entire previous level carefully karate chopping everyone. Then in the next one they throw every single soldier within a square mile at me and there's no other choice.
Respectfully disagree. While this scene is terrible - Moonraker overall is brilliant in its technical achievement, key performances, soundtrack, production values and the tightness of the plot. It's entertaining and at the same time quite dark - one of the most awful of schemes. There certainly are weaknesses to the film (chemistry, overdone jokes, overindulgence) but these are common issues in many of the Bond films - including the ones considered greater than this!
"Let's be real", Bond was going to head into space at some point (he nearly did in YOLT as someone has already pointed out) and Moonraker was opportune at the time. Others have already pointed out in this thread that MR doesn't take itself too seriously - if it did, I don't think the space elements would work as well as they do...
"Better make that two."
I have to agree here. I think Moonraker makes the many unbelievable aspects work because it doesn't take itself seriously at all. I think it is one of the most enjoyable Bond films to watch.
One of the things I like about Moonraker is the number of action sequences in the middle of the film are worthy of being a pre-title sequence. This higher standard is why the chase needed a big finale like the Bondola. (Or Bond hang-gliding off a waterfall etc)
Moonraker pushes itself to the limit and delivers the most entertainment out of any Bond film.
Also, for those saying the Bondola is the inverse of the Lotus: Don't compare it to the Lotus driving up on the beach, but rather diving off the dock which was indeed a surprise.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Pathetic scene in a pathetic film. It was that contrived it was embarrassing.
Seriously, the Moore Bond films were when they were at their lowest point. I like Moore - don't get me wrong, it's not his fault but Moonraker should consider itself lucky the 'Golden Raspberry Awards' weren't around then or it would have won more 'awards' than Ben-Hur, Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King all put together.
Pathetic statement I say!
You clearly have no idea how a 1980 blockbuster movie looked like!
MR was by a mile an extremely successful movie and shed loads of cash to EON - highest grossing movie of the year worldwide!!!!
Those movies have been made for the time and for the big screens.
They have not been done for Nerds, who politically correct dissect every detail by pause-playing those masterpieces at home and compare them with movies that have been done 35 years later - after tastes and situations have changed dramatically several times!!
Compare the Bondola to some stunts that were in the cinema around 1980 and you'll take your statements back.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Yeah heard it all before mate, nothing beats the 60s, nothing beats Sean. Give me a break.
"Better make that two."
Give you a break about what? What would you prefer, somebody to be a yes man and just agree with everything you and Higgins say? How many times have people voiced their opinion more than once on a film, Bond etc that may not be to your liking? Or am I the only one?