Rewatching Bond films

[Guest 85555]

Well, no - Dr No in the film is a classic yellow peril villain, of a tradition going back decades in films and novels, right down to being played by a white guy, and of course being foiled by another white chap. Han in EtD doesn’t rip him off, he’s an actual Chinese villain played by a Chinese guy in a Chinese setting and opposed by a Chinese hero.

I am not seeing how this makes it less of a rip off. The character is clearly inspired by Dr. No (down to the missing hand and operating on a remote island). It may be less problematic than Dr. No by today's standards, but that is a separate issue from whether the character was inspired by the Bond villain. I am not saying Han isn't a great character as well. And they make excellent use of the prosthetics in the fight sequences. I love Enter the Dragon, but it is unmistakable that they are drawing on Dr. No and trying to blend the kung fu genre with a Bond premise (which worked brilliantly in my view). None of that takes away from Enter the Dragon.

I still think Dr. No is a very cool character. Probably one of my favorite Bond villains. I would expect them to hire an Asian actor to play him today, but in a film made in 1962 was less likely to have that kind of casting (though it is worth noting that Dr. No was, if I recall correctly, half German and half Chinese in the movie).

 

[Morrus]

I still think Dr. No is a very cool character. Probably one of my favorite Bond villains.

Huh. I think he's one of the weakest Bond villains. He's not particularly interesting, or intimidating--and his evil plot is a bit meh.

 

[Morrus]

OK... For Your Eyes Only.

This was refreshing! The comedy dialled right back, it's a more grounded Bond film which you could easily imagine Sean Connery in. It's a spy film not a comedy. Maybe a little too dialled back-- there's No M, no gadgets, the villain is just after a code machine for nuclear subs. Sadly too much underwater action which I always find it's impossible to make exciting. But otherwise quite a solid flick--the ski sequences are good, especially.

There's not much to say about this one. It's serviceable, doesn't make me cringe too much (except Bond Girl #2, the young ice skater which just feels wrong from the start--especially as Moore is really starting to look old.)

I'll give it a solid 005. Since the low point of Golden Gun, the films have been very slowly improving again, though this is the first since Live & Let Die I'd actually call (mildly) good.

Next is... Octopussy. Then the question is do I divert into the Connery-starring but unofficial Never Say Never Again?

 

[Starmaster]

Then the question is do I divert into the Connery-starring but unofficial Never Say Never Again?

Please do. I'm interested in hearing what you think about it.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

except Bond Girl #2, the young ice skater which just feels wrong from the start--especially as Moore is really starting to look old.

This is a bit of lampshading I think. Bond turns her down.

 

[Starmaster]

there's No M, no gadgets

Clearly others don't like this bit of camp, but I've always loved the days of sports cars with missiles and oil slick generators, magnetic watches, poisoned shoe knives, and such. What fun!

 

[Morrus]

Clearly others don't like this bit of camp, but I've always loved the days of sports cars with missiles and oil slick generators, magnetic watches, poisoned shoe knives, and such. What fun!

Oh don’t get me wrong. I like the gadgets (within reason)! I just don’t like it when the film is a full-on comedy. It’s more the constant slapstick, pratfalls, and no let-up in quips to allow for even a moment of tension that I had problems with in a couple of the previous films. I missed the complete lack of gadgets in this one.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The 2CV does the slapstick and pratfalls.

 

[MarkB]

This is a bit of lampshading I think. Bond turns her down.

As I recall, that was all Moore's decision. The script called for Bond to be into her, but he pushed back as the age difference made him very uncomfortable.

 

[Morrus]

The 2CV does the slapstick and pratfalls.

I don’t mind some of that humour. It’s when it’s the entire film it becomes a problem for me.