Am I Easily Pleased?
jetsetwilly
Liverpool, UKPosts: 1,048MI6 Agent
(Cheap laughs out of the way? Thank you. Now read on).
Yes, it's a serious question. Am I easily pleased? When it comes to 007, will I accept anything that Eon churn out?
It's a question that's troubled me for the last eighteen months or so - since Daniel Craig was announced as Bond. Because, well, I looked at him, and I though, is that 007? With his big flowing Munich 1970s locks? Is that my Bond? I could feel the doubt welling up inside me. And then I was told there'd be no Moneypenny, no Q - that basically Bond #21 would also be Bond #1. These were all ideas that made me nervous.
And yet...
And yet, I still trusted Eon. I was genuinely excited by the prospect of CR, despite my misgivings. Not excited - thrilled. I realised that I totally, utterly trusted Babs and Mickey. I realised that even though they had foisted Tanya Roberts, a double taking pigeon, Tanya Roberts, tarzan yells, Tanya Roberts, Blofeld in drag, and Tanya Roberts on me, I utterly trusted the Bond making machine. I even forgave them for Tanya Roberts.
So my question is: do I have low critical standards? Because I sort of realised that it didn't matter what they gave me, I'd have gone to see CR. I really, really loved it, before anyone thinks that I'm Craig-bashing, but I sort of knew I would before I walked in. Like I knew I'd like DAD, and TWINE, and TND... How even when I'm rude about Bond films, and say that DAD is, all things told, not one of their finest moments, I still know that I'll happily watch it again.
So to return to my question: am I easily pleased? And am I alone in basically accepting that Babs and Mickey would have to come round, kill my family, burn down my house, and recast Tanya Roberts before I would even consider possibly not going to see their latest film?
Yes, it's a serious question. Am I easily pleased? When it comes to 007, will I accept anything that Eon churn out?
It's a question that's troubled me for the last eighteen months or so - since Daniel Craig was announced as Bond. Because, well, I looked at him, and I though, is that 007? With his big flowing Munich 1970s locks? Is that my Bond? I could feel the doubt welling up inside me. And then I was told there'd be no Moneypenny, no Q - that basically Bond #21 would also be Bond #1. These were all ideas that made me nervous.
And yet...
And yet, I still trusted Eon. I was genuinely excited by the prospect of CR, despite my misgivings. Not excited - thrilled. I realised that I totally, utterly trusted Babs and Mickey. I realised that even though they had foisted Tanya Roberts, a double taking pigeon, Tanya Roberts, tarzan yells, Tanya Roberts, Blofeld in drag, and Tanya Roberts on me, I utterly trusted the Bond making machine. I even forgave them for Tanya Roberts.
So my question is: do I have low critical standards? Because I sort of realised that it didn't matter what they gave me, I'd have gone to see CR. I really, really loved it, before anyone thinks that I'm Craig-bashing, but I sort of knew I would before I walked in. Like I knew I'd like DAD, and TWINE, and TND... How even when I'm rude about Bond films, and say that DAD is, all things told, not one of their finest moments, I still know that I'll happily watch it again.
So to return to my question: am I easily pleased? And am I alone in basically accepting that Babs and Mickey would have to come round, kill my family, burn down my house, and recast Tanya Roberts before I would even consider possibly not going to see their latest film?
Comments
If Eon churns out something that is decidedly NOT Bond (say something like 67's Casino Royale) or, in my personal guidelines, if a Bond film merits an 'R' Rating here in the States, then I most likely won't see it.
Other than that, anything is fair game IMO.
We may not agree with everything that MGW & BB and their dad before them have opted to foist upon us (Tanya Roberts, Eric Serra, and Daniel Craig being favourite bones of contention) but we'll still fork over our hard-earned to see the latest instalment then buy the DVD then the new super-duper DVD with added bells & whistles. Maybe it's the collector mindset- how would it feel to say "Yes, I've seen all the Bond films except the new one" or to look at the DVDs on the rack next to the TV and know that they're all there... except one?
It doesn't mean one has low critical standards; we all have had our turn at bashing films/actors/directors/composers (hello again, Eric Serra) etc whose contributions we feel have been below-par.
...But most of us will gladly watch our least favourites, if only to sneer at them (yet always grudgingly enjoying a moment here or there...I'm reminded of May Day's leap off the Eiffel Tower in AVTAK---this movie sucks wind, but that is a classic Bond movie stunt, IMO)...
Devotees of Sir Roger dismiss the Tarzan yell, in OP, as merely a moment easily overlooked, whilst others (like myself X-( ) feel it ruins an entire segment of the film. Similarly, detractors of (Formerly) Poor DannyTM are utterly distracted by his "Do I look like I give a damn?" in CR, as revolutionaries like myself merely smile in appreciation...
All Bond fans choose what to forgive, and what to utterly condemn; in a franchise lasting 44+ years, there's an abundance of each
Our tastes inform our reaction to these things...and they say quite a lot about the expectations we bring whenever the lights go down {[]
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I would take a rubbish Bond over most other films.
I think I am the same as you jet set. I knew I would go and see CR no matter what. I too, apparently, trust Wilson/Broccoli implicitly. I had never thought of it before but your post brought it home.
I had my doubts about Craig, no Moneypenny, no Q etc and yet I knew it would be OK. I think the only time I ever seriously doubted them was after seeing DAD and I've long got over that.
The answer is...yes, you are easily pleased.
The answer also is...that's not a bad thing, and I certainly hope you don't think it is.
You're a Bond fan. "Fan" is derived from "fanatic" which by itself implies that logic is often thrown out the window.
We often talk about the films on their individual merits, but (for me, at least) it's impossible to compartmentalize totally. The EON films have blended into one another, through six lead actors, nine directors, and five decades; from Fleming-based to de novo material; and with fans ranging in age from 10 to 80. Personally, my dislike for DAD is far outweighed by the broader body of work.
Everyone has their own take, which is what makes this passion so much fun. We have blueman, whose spirits are renewed after what he felt was a long Dark Age. We have Tee Hee, who is currently wondering what has happened to the franchise he has come to know and love. We have Dan Same, whose attribute-by-attribute scorecarding leaves him somewhere in the middle. What I am guessing binds all three of them (and just about all of us here) is that they could easily sit through even their lower-rated films and enjoy themselves.
As producers of artistic material go, EON are like family to many of us. We may not always like what they do, but we support them loyally in the end.
Let me see if I get this straight: You are a life-long Bond fan who is questioning your capacity to be critically objective about 007?
To paraphrase a line from Stromberg: "You're deluded, jetsetwilly."
My friend, it is beyond the laws of sub-atomic physics to be objective about 007 once you have...relished the exhiliration of the James Bond universe.
Doubts about CR and Eon in general?
No problem, as Vijay in OP, would say.
Eon has become a magnificent machine (designed by Cubby and Harry) to survive ALL obstacles with one purpose in mind: make Bond movies.
When you consider it, Eon is one the greatest success stories in the history of the film industry (with no end in sight!).
THE prototype model on how to build and maintain a franchise, Eon has pulverized all competition in terms of longevity and quality. (Still waiting for Indy 4/5/6/7.....)
Oh sure, Eon is not infallible (DAD anyone?) but to start to question if Babs and Co. can deliver the goods at this stage of the game is not really an issue in my books.
Bond has been and, mark my words on this, will ALWAYS be a constant in the film industry. As Cubby said once, when asked about how long Bond movies would last: "Until doomsday."
In an unprecedented move, Cubby set up Eon to be a family-owned business. The result? Babs in charge for decades to come. Talk about stability.
To finish up, somebody will be making Bond movies for as long as movies are made. Period.
Why?
Bond. James Bond.
Pound-for-pound, still the coolest hero in the movies.
Are we easily pleased, jetsetwilly? Not if you're a fan of 007.
Bonds come and go and styles change, but whatever happens, a true Bond-fan will dodge laser beams and steel-rimmed hats to see a new Bond film.
(So even the implication that anyone in this forum would NOT see a Bond film is slightly hysterical).
Admit it, jetsetwilly, you're a Bond-fan.
And Bond fans, as we well know, are slightly less than objective when it comes to their favorite secret agent.
"World domination. Same old dream."
The Bond films are different; even the worst ones have elements which I like. They are all much more enjoyable than some other films that I've seen, and while I'm not going to rush out to see AVTA, TLD and DAD, again anytime soon, I wouldn't object to rewatching them should I have no choice.
There are times when I question and may not even like Eon's decisions (the casting of Crag, the reboot and the elimination of Q and Moneypenny.) But regardless of my feelings, I will continue to see every Bond film. Usually I love the Bond film, but when I do not, I am assured that I am likely to do so the next time around.
You echo my thoughts beautifully, Lady Rose. -{
It appears that just when I think they have gone too far - for me anyway - they rein it back in and I get a film that suits me better. As said above, even a poor Bond film has it's merits and good segments - and they always entertain !
One thing EON has done well is, continue the series. DAD, as much as many dislike it, was a box office champ, the kind of film that generated a lot of butts in seats. So be it. But, isn't it nice--with CR--to have something so very swell to call a Bond film? And to look forward to the next with the expectation, can it be as good? Better even? As opposed to...jeez, I hope they pull their butts outta their nether areas with the next one, the theatre may be full but my heart is cold and empty.
Yes, jsw, maybe you're easily pleased although I went to CR hoping for the best and it didn't work out.
Being, I suppose, a tad neurotic about it all, I'm either very chuffed with a Bond film or it's never quite right.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Wow..film after dreadful film. Now there's a Bond fan if I ever saw one.
It's not hard to make a decent genre film, I don't know why I've believed EON would eventually get around to making another one. When you latch onto something in your childhood, it can be hard to let it go. I can appreciate that the spirit of Bond has been living on (much like the spirit of the first "Pirates" film has been flopping around in its two sequels) but that doesn't mean the films themselves have been what they should be. IMHO. But like JSW, there's a part of me that was satisified enough with what little EON dished out, not ashamed to say I ate of that dish over and over, lol.
And anyway, if they didn't want such harsh criticism they should never have made FRWL or OHMSS in the first place, lol. It's all EON's fault any way you slice it.