Where Bond fears to tread...
Napoleon Plural
LondonPosts: 10,304MI6 Agent
I remember Wade and Purvis saying, around the time of TWINE, that Bond had gone everywhere really.
But I'm not sure that's true. There are whole swathes he's never been to... Why is that?
All of Scandinavia, for instance. Although Bond's second kill in the novel Casion Royale, the one that got him his double 0, took place in Stockholm and was very messy indeed (as it was in the film, though was that in Stockholm? I'm not sure.
Perhaps it's too melacholic a continent. Harry Palmer went there in his third film, it all got a bit heavy going, gets dark at 3pm and you turn to vodka. Mind you, Craig's Bond would look like a native alright!
Other places: anywhere in Poland, Romania, most of Spain except Bilbao in TWINE and the bullfight I guess in OHMSS (not sure where that was, it wasn't Barcelona). Moscow. Rome.
Marc Forster has said that the tourist trail is no biggie these days, what with cheap flights. All the same, there are still exotic locations in the films, incl the next one. I think Bond 22 will look as good as CR, but think of some rubbish locations in the Brosnan years, and it seems a shame. Hamburg, anyone? The Ice Palace?
But I'm not sure that's true. There are whole swathes he's never been to... Why is that?
All of Scandinavia, for instance. Although Bond's second kill in the novel Casion Royale, the one that got him his double 0, took place in Stockholm and was very messy indeed (as it was in the film, though was that in Stockholm? I'm not sure.
Perhaps it's too melacholic a continent. Harry Palmer went there in his third film, it all got a bit heavy going, gets dark at 3pm and you turn to vodka. Mind you, Craig's Bond would look like a native alright!
Other places: anywhere in Poland, Romania, most of Spain except Bilbao in TWINE and the bullfight I guess in OHMSS (not sure where that was, it wasn't Barcelona). Moscow. Rome.
Marc Forster has said that the tourist trail is no biggie these days, what with cheap flights. All the same, there are still exotic locations in the films, incl the next one. I think Bond 22 will look as good as CR, but think of some rubbish locations in the Brosnan years, and it seems a shame. Hamburg, anyone? The Ice Palace?
"This is where we leave you Mr Bond."
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Comments
Draco is head of the Unione Corse, which Fleming likend to a French Mafia. I thought Draco's base in the opening descriptions of OHMSS the novel was set around Marseilles (I could be wrong, I havent checked). If so that would suggest the bullfight scene more likely taking place in the deep South of France, around Perpignon etc, where bullfighting is still very commom. Very Basque country.
In terms of where can Bond travel to next....
1. I agree, anywhere in Scandanavia
2. South Africa
3. Sri Lanka
4. Mexico
5. China
6. Cananda, I am thinking Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver
7. Spain, good choice
8. any eastern European country post iron curtain
9. Dubai
10. The Phillipines
Just a selection, I reckon there are lots more
I must admit I'm tying this in with The Ian Fleming Companion book (the exact name escapes me) of the last two years. It lists all the Fleming haunts, and most of them show up in the books. But I'm not sure if he ever went to Scandinavia or Australia or any of these. He didn't seem to go to India either, but they put that in Octopussy well enough.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
OK, you've lost me now, Nap.
Granted, with the world getting smaller, it's a bit more of a challenge to have Bond locations continue to be exotic and exciting...which is why, as I've repeatedly said, he needs to go to the moon :v Seriously...
Japan is due for another visit, IMO---hopefully in The Death Collector, the third film of Craig's arc
Or, for something really remarkable, they could stage an action sequence at City Hall in San Francisco
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
James Bond in The Battle For Iraq
Hilly, Hilly, where are you?!
Guess what I was saying is that decades after his death, Ian Fleming's travels (and lack of them in certain areas) still seem to be defining the on-screen itinerary of 007.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Top spot in the world, Hill.
If Hollywood can film a blockbuster like Mission: Impossible 2 in Sydney, then the people at Eon have no such excuses.
So far, Bond has never done a "picture postcard" tour of Europe, so it would be nice if a Bond film did one.
Other places in the world which (IMO) would be interesting in a Bond film are Africa, Latin America, and the Arctic (I would enjoy seeing Bond mixing it up with the wildlife! B-)).
I think there are plenty of interesting locations for Bond to visit, although I'm not sure Australia is one of them as commonly suggested (cities too modern, lacking the 'mysterious' factor). There are several Eastern European locations which still have a sense of mystique and the quality of being somewhat undiscovered. Bond did visit Montenegro (the Czech Republic doubling) in Casino Royale, however many of the cities in the recent EU countries have some absolutely magnificent architecture and would look fantastic on screen. I'm thinking specifically of Bucharest, Budapest and Sofia (in Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria respectively). The first is known as the Paris of the East, and it would look great in a Bond film.
I can see any of those cities making a superb spy location with a hint of romanticism (similar to Istanbul in From Russia with Love).
I have to agree there. Its the same reason you wouldnt set a Bond in Houston, Auckland or Minneapolis - the cities are too modern and arent mysterious. Sydney is a top city but not sure what stories you could do there. The Mission Impossible II was a predictable germ warfare story. You could do that anywhere. And Australia is a long way from spy stories that you can do in Europe and the Middle East.
I think Marc Foster is wrong about the travel details. One of the highlights of CR was that they showed you scenic Venice and Montenegro (Cz Rep). Seeing Rio on the big screen as a kid inspired me to go to Brazil as an adult. And I've been back four times.
Suggestions for locations
1. Africa - Tanzania, Kenya and opening up of Uganda. You could do a good "meglomaniac in the wilderness up to no good here" and the cities of Dar es Salaam and Cape Town are pretty cinematic
2 Jordan - Not just Petra but the desert at Wadi Rum and diving at Aqaba
3 Dubai - right in the action of the middle east. Good photogenic modern architecture too
4. Argentina - Buenos Aires is a supberb Bondian city with ski fields in the Andes
5 - Nepal - spectacular Himlalayas and interesting Asian intrigue. Close to Afghanistan and Iraq too..
I think the use of Rio in Moonraker is one of the strongest uses of a location in a Bond film. The city really does come alive and they convey the energy of the place brilliantly.
I feel that the locations in the Brosnan films were not really used to their full advantage. Hamburg looks good in Tommorow Never Dies, but apart from that there is little to write home about (if they used locations at all: the less said about the Korean temple that looks suspiciously situated on the Devonsire coast the better!). By contrast, the use of locations in Casino Royale gave the film a very classy feel, and where they doubled up locations they did at least feel fairly authentic (Bahamas doubling for Madagascar, the previously mentioned Czech Republic doubling for Montenegro).
Agreed. There are lots of possibilities in these areas, with some stunning imagery that would transfer beautifully to the big screen.
Again, this could make an excellent Bond location. Buenos Aries is a fairly Euroepan looking city (isn't it called the Paris of the South or something?) and the surrounding area could be utilised also.
Yeah -- Houston, Minneapolis and Auckland are too modern, but Dubai's got so much Old World charm.
And judging from L880's photos (which are beautiful) it seems that we need baroque architecture and other "European" influences in Bond's locales. Nothing like the same old same old...
Namibia, particularly the Skeleton Coast and the Succulent Karoo area of the Kalahari Desert. If filming in Namibia, it would have to include a sunset. Cricket was cut out of Casino Royale, Bond at a game in Windhoek wouldn't be out of place.
Libya, a nation normalising relations with the west and keen to capitalise on it's incredibly rich history to boost tourism. The old quarter of Tripoli, Greek and Roman ruins, and the Mediterranean coastline.
Asia
China, but specifically Shanghai. 'Nuff said.
South America
Argentina, for the picturesque capital of Buenos Airies as mentioned above. Or for something a little different, nip across the border to Montevideo in Uruguay.
Falklands. It's been mentioned that MI6 has an evaluation centre there, now wouldn't that be a fun PTS? It's wild, rocky, stormy, remote with a heavy British military presence.
European Union
Malta, in and around Valetta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or further east in the Med, Cyprus. The United Kingdom retains the Sovereign Base Areas Akrotiri and Dhekelia, in which I'm sure British Forces Cyprus could accommodate MI6. But the UN-controlled Green Line splitting Nicosia could be the source of some action.
Spain Madrid is a vastly underrated city and one I'd very much like to see explored in a Bond film.
Scotland. Hey, so I'm biased, shoot me.
Asia:The Philippines, and Malaysia based what I have seen on the Travel and Discovery channels they both have a very colorful look to them.
Africa: Kenya, Namibia, It is a shame that more Western film productions don't use this continent more.
Canada, Whistler, British Columbia I skied there last January, and felt like it would be perfect place for Bond to get in some skiing, or backwoods hikeing with the two mountains right next to each other.
Croatia could be a good "generic European" shooting location, considering how gorgeous it is and how relatively inexpensive compared to Italy.
An action scene in the Lake District or the Scottish Highlands perhaps.
I sometimes think the producers forget we have great locations over here