Thanks for asking, my friend. I’m very apprehensive about the whole thing. I really don’t trust anyone to take as good care of the franchise as the Broccoli family. Not that the folks at Amazon won’t include some creative minds, but they surely lack the history, experience, and especially the genuine love that Barbara and Michael bring to the table. I’m concerned that under the guidance of the Amazon tram, the Bond franchise will become just another generic action series (I realize that some folks are of the opinion that it has happened already, but I don’t share that sentiment.) I hope I’m wrong, and I will definitely be tuning in to check it out.
I'll miss seeing Michael G Wilson's cameos. Happy retirement, Michael.
In saying that, even though Barbara and Michael have stepped back from producing the films, they are in the background. We might get the odd cameo from Michael. Who knows?
Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"
Some are saying Bond is dead, and this feels like a wake, a chance for the family to get together again, catch up, or maybe even stir up old enmities. It's unusual to see @Loeffelholz and @Thunderpussy again on this board. Wonder if @LadyRose can be stirred out of retirement- but as her name isn't coming up as a link, maybe she's quit?
I feel that any new Amazon project is likely to be defined by mistakes. Frankly, I feel the last one did all that - giving Bond a kid, killing him off of course, but also while I liked Spectre, many found the whole Blofeld stepbrother retcon thing too much.
That all said, EON were good at coming up with a new angle to maintain interest.
As for the Bond universe I don't really buy it because with Bond the whole point was we identify with him, we want to be him and so on - the other hacracters are enablers, not always interesting in their own way. Kim Sherwood is trying to do something like that, the world of Bond without Bond, and I'm just not inclined to buy it. Stuff like The Strangeways Files which someone has posted if of course interesting as fan fiction but really it just sounds like any conventional tale, the kind of story that pops up on TalkingPicturesTV (deliberately creaky much-loved old UK channel devoted to nostalgia pieces, old movies and so on).
Maybe you could have a Superman movie without Superman, but how interesting would that be?
So avoiding that simple misunderstanding might be a start, along with avoiding those kind of no-going-back mistakes in the plots, stuff that can't be undone with the next movie. I suppose if there's a 2-year gap between films, there could be a concurrent TV serial of some kind that fills the gap but I don't know.
Never Say Never Again had all kinds of legal action thrown at it while it was being made - I have never been clear if the film had to be an adaptation of the book only, or a remake of the film, but the legal action undermined the movie. By the time they've pored over the script, they'd have had time to put those elements into their own film; I think The Spy Who Loved Me was accused of doing that, and it's possible Octopussy had its horseback scene included because of such one in NSNA. Legal action is often just a pretext to carry out surveillance.
That's about all we can do at this point. Personally, I'm hoping that Amazon surprises all of us and treats Bond as the prestige IP that he deserves to be. If they end up putting the right people in charge, we might all be pleasantly surprised by what emerges.
In a way, it wouldn't or shouldn't be that hard to make a proper Bond movie. I do think EON has struggled with it of late, and almost been perverse about it. But y'know, good title, gun barrel, good music and a song, exotic locations, decent star...
But put in too many of the tropes, you can get something self-conscious, almost a spoof, like NSNA imo.
One snag is there is so much past Bond product it's competing against itself a bit. In our youth, well my youth, the Moore films didn't do that as it was like the Connery films hardly existed, and with no DVD etc Would Top Gun: Maverick have done so well it there's been 20 or so movies in the interim, there are only so many variations.
I agree. After the disappointment of the last two Eon movies (IMHO) I'm going to live in hope for something better but won't be surprised if it doesn't happen.
I hope we'll get the names of the producer and screenwriters in the near future, and from that we can get an idea of how much prestige Amazon is putting into Bond and in what direction they're taking it.
I am an attorney, actually. I can tell you this—Amazon has paid billions for this IP. They won’t hesitate to spend a little more to keep everyone else away from it. Is anyone else going to want to fight an army of Amazon-funded BigLaw IP lawyers? Litigation is slow and they can tie up any potential competitor in the courts for years. I would view the Bond IP as pretty much Amazon’s sole property.
Mixed views for me, but I must admit there is excitement there.
What I personally want would be a Bond film every 2 years, and that's pretty much all I ask for. I'm not interested in spin-offs. I think they're unnecessary. They work for Star Wars, as that literally is a universe (or galaxy), but Bond, to me at least, does not seem suited to spin-offs. Just a good old adventure every 2 years, like the old days. I would love that.
It is obviously sad though that the era of eon is over.
I second this. Bond is the only big bugger franchise left that hasn't gone all to pot that I grew up with. (Star Wars, DC (film quality) , Marvel (tv saturation) and esp Star Trek I am looking at all of you! Trek I'm esp annoyed with.
I am desperatly hoping the new He-Man film tilts the scales next year.
I think a very limited number of spin-offs can work. A lego-Bond movie, maybe a animated Bond series set in the 60s a TV series where a 00-agent is working undercover in SPECTRE. Nothing that involves the cinematic Bond in any way and not more than 1-2 at any time.
Thunderbird 2East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,932MI6 Agent
This is how I feel. All the great film franchises I grew up with diluted or in pieces. Star Wars, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Trek I am especially peeved about, as the quality has gone right through the floor since 2009 and stayed down there. Even Harry Potter is about to be 'reinvented.' When I learned Bezos happily shouted in all directions - 'Who should be the next James Bond?' my heart sank like a stone. Def not the careful deliberated approach of the House Of Eon.
Bezos claims to fame are running a company that doesn't pay its taxes or know how to deliver properly, and by putting Bill Shatner briefly into sub orbit in a dildo shaped rocket ship!
@Lady Rose - are You there M'Lady? You are missed.
This is Thunderbird 2, how can I be of assistance?
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,984Quartermasters
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,984Quartermasters
No one can doubt the focus that Ernst Stavro Bezos will bring to this undertaking, to be sure. Amazon’s ownership fundamentally changes the landscape.
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Maybe there would have been a film in 2029 or 2031 - if Barbara could be bothered making it after all her other projects and if she could get over the fact that Craig was gone.
Then another two films with a five year gap until the last Boomer couldn’t go to the cinema anymore and the under-35s have to rack their brains to remember that thing their dad used to like back in the day.
But now, we will have an active franchise which could well engage audiences who, if asked about spy adventures, are more likely to think vividly of The Night Agent, The Agency, Black Doves and Reacher.
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 30,896Chief of Staff
I’m (almost) the total opposite…SPECTRE wasn’t fantastic, but not terrible, and I really liked NTTD - although I do think Safin was wasted, but I had no issue with Bond having a child…and I was particularly pleased DC was allowed to kill Bond off…and it feels like the perfect full stop for me. I’m just really down on Amazon…even though their treatment of Reacher is excellent…guess I’m always a ‘glass half empty guy’ - as my Mrs will testify too 🤣
YNWA 97
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,984Quartermasters
It seems as though we are in complete agreement(!!) on Craigger's last two films. NTTD has this fantastic gravitas to it - especially once it hits the mid-point, and SP is largely quite entertaining - although shooting the helicopter down with a Walther PPK was a bit much, and the third act feels protracted. I'm very jaded about the possibility of a 'Board-Room Bond'[TM] now that the franchise will no longer be a family affair...but I will give them an at-bat before I sling too much mud.
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Nice 🤣 I’m genuinely surprised at the amount of flak NTTD gets…it’s not perfect, but it’s bloody good ☺️ and all the films have bits we don’t like and bits we don’t agree on…
Obviously I hope I’m wrong about Amazon…like everyone else - we all have our own preferences…and mine will start when they announce the next Bond actor 👀
Comments
Cheers, Sir Miles (and the rest of the gang)!
Interested to hear your take on the news.
Thanks for asking, my friend. I’m very apprehensive about the whole thing. I really don’t trust anyone to take as good care of the franchise as the Broccoli family. Not that the folks at Amazon won’t include some creative minds, but they surely lack the history, experience, and especially the genuine love that Barbara and Michael bring to the table. I’m concerned that under the guidance of the Amazon tram, the Bond franchise will become just another generic action series (I realize that some folks are of the opinion that it has happened already, but I don’t share that sentiment.) I hope I’m wrong, and I will definitely be tuning in to check it out.
😎
I guess it is possible that Amazon could hire Gregg Wilson in some capacity to continue the family feel.
I'll miss seeing Michael G Wilson's cameos. Happy retirement, Michael.
In saying that, even though Barbara and Michael have stepped back from producing the films, they are in the background. We might get the odd cameo from Michael. Who knows?
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
Given the amount of money Amazon has shelled out for Bond, I suspect they'll Milk it for all it's worth. Which is understandable, it is a Business
after all. Like Disney and Star Wars I expect many series of the secondary characters and office staff.
Digital stand-in.
Some are saying Bond is dead, and this feels like a wake, a chance for the family to get together again, catch up, or maybe even stir up old enmities. It's unusual to see @Loeffelholz and @Thunderpussy again on this board. Wonder if @LadyRose can be stirred out of retirement- but as her name isn't coming up as a link, maybe she's quit?
I feel that any new Amazon project is likely to be defined by mistakes. Frankly, I feel the last one did all that - giving Bond a kid, killing him off of course, but also while I liked Spectre, many found the whole Blofeld stepbrother retcon thing too much.
That all said, EON were good at coming up with a new angle to maintain interest.
As for the Bond universe I don't really buy it because with Bond the whole point was we identify with him, we want to be him and so on - the other hacracters are enablers, not always interesting in their own way. Kim Sherwood is trying to do something like that, the world of Bond without Bond, and I'm just not inclined to buy it. Stuff like The Strangeways Files which someone has posted if of course interesting as fan fiction but really it just sounds like any conventional tale, the kind of story that pops up on TalkingPicturesTV (deliberately creaky much-loved old UK channel devoted to nostalgia pieces, old movies and so on).
Maybe you could have a Superman movie without Superman, but how interesting would that be?
So avoiding that simple misunderstanding might be a start, along with avoiding those kind of no-going-back mistakes in the plots, stuff that can't be undone with the next movie. I suppose if there's a 2-year gap between films, there could be a concurrent TV serial of some kind that fills the gap but I don't know.
Never Say Never Again had all kinds of legal action thrown at it while it was being made - I have never been clear if the film had to be an adaptation of the book only, or a remake of the film, but the legal action undermined the movie. By the time they've pored over the script, they'd have had time to put those elements into their own film; I think The Spy Who Loved Me was accused of doing that, and it's possible Octopussy had its horseback scene included because of such one in NSNA. Legal action is often just a pretext to carry out surveillance.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
@Napoleon Plural try this - @Lady Rose
Hope for the best, expect the worst.
That's about all we can do at this point. Personally, I'm hoping that Amazon surprises all of us and treats Bond as the prestige IP that he deserves to be. If they end up putting the right people in charge, we might all be pleasantly surprised by what emerges.
In a way, it wouldn't or shouldn't be that hard to make a proper Bond movie. I do think EON has struggled with it of late, and almost been perverse about it. But y'know, good title, gun barrel, good music and a song, exotic locations, decent star...
But put in too many of the tropes, you can get something self-conscious, almost a spoof, like NSNA imo.
One snag is there is so much past Bond product it's competing against itself a bit. In our youth, well my youth, the Moore films didn't do that as it was like the Connery films hardly existed, and with no DVD etc Would Top Gun: Maverick have done so well it there's been 20 or so movies in the interim, there are only so many variations.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I agree. After the disappointment of the last two Eon movies (IMHO) I'm going to live in hope for something better but won't be surprised if it doesn't happen.
I hope we'll get the names of the producer and screenwriters in the near future, and from that we can get an idea of how much prestige Amazon is putting into Bond and in what direction they're taking it.
+1 for adapting the Gardner novels. There’s a ton of untapped material to work with there—some of it quite relevant.
I am an attorney, actually. I can tell you this—Amazon has paid billions for this IP. They won’t hesitate to spend a little more to keep everyone else away from it. Is anyone else going to want to fight an army of Amazon-funded BigLaw IP lawyers? Litigation is slow and they can tie up any potential competitor in the courts for years. I would view the Bond IP as pretty much Amazon’s sole property.
Mixed views for me, but I must admit there is excitement there.
What I personally want would be a Bond film every 2 years, and that's pretty much all I ask for. I'm not interested in spin-offs. I think they're unnecessary. They work for Star Wars, as that literally is a universe (or galaxy), but Bond, to me at least, does not seem suited to spin-offs. Just a good old adventure every 2 years, like the old days. I would love that.
It is obviously sad though that the era of eon is over.
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
I second this. Bond is the only big bugger franchise left that hasn't gone all to pot that I grew up with. (Star Wars, DC (film quality) , Marvel (tv saturation) and esp Star Trek I am looking at all of you! Trek I'm esp annoyed with.
I am desperatly hoping the new He-Man film tilts the scales next year.
@Blackleiter @Thunderpussy Good to see you both Home. I hope You are both well?
@Lady Rose Scuse me, are you there M'Lady?
I think a very limited number of spin-offs can work. A lego-Bond movie, maybe a animated Bond series set in the 60s a TV series where a 00-agent is working undercover in SPECTRE. Nothing that involves the cinematic Bond in any way and not more than 1-2 at any time.
This is how I feel. All the great film franchises I grew up with diluted or in pieces. Star Wars, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Trek I am especially peeved about, as the quality has gone right through the floor since 2009 and stayed down there. Even Harry Potter is about to be 'reinvented.' When I learned Bezos happily shouted in all directions - 'Who should be the next James Bond?' my heart sank like a stone. Def not the careful deliberated approach of the House Of Eon.
Bezos claims to fame are running a company that doesn't pay its taxes or know how to deliver properly, and by putting Bill Shatner briefly into sub orbit in a dildo shaped rocket ship!
On the up side @Blackleiter @Thunderpussy I'm Very Pleased to see you both home.
@Lady Rose - are You there M'Lady? You are missed.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
No one can doubt the focus that Ernst Stavro Bezos will bring to this undertaking, to be sure. Amazon’s ownership fundamentally changes the landscape.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Oh VERY good! 🤣🤣🤣
The tagline that NTTD had, "the film that will change everything" or whatever it was, rings truer than ever now
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
Exellent, Loeffelholz! 🤣
There was barely any future for Bond under Eon.
Maybe there would have been a film in 2029 or 2031 - if Barbara could be bothered making it after all her other projects and if she could get over the fact that Craig was gone.
Then another two films with a five year gap until the last Boomer couldn’t go to the cinema anymore and the under-35s have to rack their brains to remember that thing their dad used to like back in the day.
But now, we will have an active franchise which could well engage audiences who, if asked about spy adventures, are more likely to think vividly of The Night Agent, The Agency, Black Doves and Reacher.
I’m (almost) the total opposite…SPECTRE wasn’t fantastic, but not terrible, and I really liked NTTD - although I do think Safin was wasted, but I had no issue with Bond having a child…and I was particularly pleased DC was allowed to kill Bond off…and it feels like the perfect full stop for me. I’m just really down on Amazon…even though their treatment of Reacher is excellent…guess I’m always a ‘glass half empty guy’ - as my Mrs will testify too 🤣
It seems as though we are in complete agreement(!!) on Craigger's last two films. NTTD has this fantastic gravitas to it - especially once it hits the mid-point, and SP is largely quite entertaining - although shooting the helicopter down with a Walther PPK was a bit much, and the third act feels protracted. I'm very jaded about the possibility of a 'Board-Room Bond'[TM] now that the franchise will no longer be a family affair...but I will give them an at-bat before I sling too much mud.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Interested to head @Asp9mm thoughts on the news, I remember him saying something to the effect of EON wanting to sell a few years back.
Nice 🤣 I’m genuinely surprised at the amount of flak NTTD gets…it’s not perfect, but it’s bloody good ☺️ and all the films have bits we don’t like and bits we don’t agree on…
Obviously I hope I’m wrong about Amazon…like everyone else - we all have our own preferences…and mine will start when they announce the next Bond actor 👀