James Bond: 007 - Spectre - Part 5

[Black Narcissus]

I rewatched The World Is Not Enough. It wasn't that bad to be honest. Denise Richards can't act, but she sure perrrty to look at. Her name is just really lazy and funny. Lawd.

Maria Grazia Cucinotta is still Fiiine. With a capital 'F'. I have the hunch that role was for Ms. Bellucci.

Sophie Marceau one of the most beautiful Bond girls of all time. I really liked all those winks to OHMSS. The last film of Desmond Llewelyn as well. One of my favorite Bond songs evah. Not bad at all.

 

[The Joker]

The biggest waste of The World is Not Enough is Renard. What a lousy villain. Robert Carlyle is a great actor but he never gets a moment in the whole movie to really shine as a bad ass. The whole thing of the bullet in his brain making him immune to pain was so lame. Elektra is a the real villain of the movie, and for my money Marceau carries the whole film and is basically the only reason to watch it.

Poor John Cleese. Introduced as the new Q in this, and was basically retired one movie later. Cleese Q, we hardly knew ye.

 

[Roose Bolton]

A villain with a terminal illness or condition could be pretty cool, but Renard was a glorified henchman, and while Robert Carlyle is a beast of an actor, he didn't have the physical presence needed for a man who supposedly could push himself beyond physical limits.

 

[chamber-music]

I liked Renard. Robert Carlyle isn't a big guy but he does have an imposing presence about him.

Skyfall had the better revenge against M plot.

 

[Airwings]

There have been Bonds born in every decade, from 20s Moore to 60s Craig.
Should they go for one from the seventies this time. Rhys-Meyers would be my favorite then.
Or should they just skip that decade in favour of younger actors?

One "joke rumour" suggests Freddie Highmore. After next year's SPECTRE, Craig will do a fith film and Highmore won't take over before 2020, so calm down.
The question is if he will suit the role in six years' time.

Now, should we get a 70s born Bond next time, or an 80s guy?
Could the mentioned Rhys-Meyers work for a couple of films?

What qualities will the next actor bring with him? Could we get a more elegant version after Craig's departure?

 

[Rocketman]

Holy crap... I actually like the Freddie Highmore idea.

Seriously, wait 6 years, cut his hair, and make him lift weights for a month, and he's actually a damn good choice.

 

[Airwings]

Holy crap... I actually like the Freddie Highmore idea.

Seriously, wait 6 years, cut his hair, and make him lift weights for a month, and he's actually a damn good choice.

Yes, if his looks matures the way it should. Then he will be a good candidate.
Possibly one of the tallest Bonds too.

By looking at the Magazine pic above, his version could be the one who's more into modern fashion than traditional. Every new actor brings something different to the role, you know.
I can also see Highmore to pull off a lighter version than Craig.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Craig still has a chance to have 3 consecutive high quality Bond films with Skyfall, Spectre, and his fifth (last?) Bond movie. I hope it happens with him.

Connery had four consecutive high quality Bond movies for me (Dr. No- Thunderball).

Dr. No is good, it's just 2/3's of it are great but once they get captured by Dr. No the movie kind of slows down for me.

Personally, Craig should end it the movie after Spectre.

 

[Black Narcissus]

A villain with a terminal illness or condition could be pretty cool, but Renard was a glorified henchman, and while Robert Carlyle is a beast of an actor, he didn't have the physical presence needed for a man who supposedly could push himself beyond physical limits.

I saw some parallels to Dark Knight Rises.

 

[DKDetective]

Yes, if his looks matures the way it should. Then he will be a good candidate.
Possibly one of the tallest Bonds too.

By looking at the Magazine pic above, his version could be the one who's more into modern fashion than traditional. Every new actor brings something different to the role, you know.
I can also see Highmore to pull off a lighter version than Craig.

That is already Craig under Mendes and costumer designer Jany Temime. Bond's suits and apparel in general was very fashionable in Skyfall and set photos from Spectre seem to indicate a continuation of that trend. And Bond should never dress overly fashionably, he is by definition an experienced professional in his late 30s/early 40s. Men that age don't need to nor do they dress fashionably. Well-dressed men of that age have developed a personal style and know what works for them and their body types. Timeless = beyond cool, fashion = cringeworthy safari suits, bellbottoms, 90's geometric ties, and laughably skinny suits that look like they shrunk in the wash.

EDIT:
Also, I highly doubt that Highmore will fill out or grow up the way many are thinking. Child stars like Highmore are selected because they look and can play younger than they look. As a result, with the exception of Christian Bale, they also seem to grow up to be manlets (ie. short and narrow-shouldered, eg. Daniel Radcliffe, Elijah Wood, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, etc.)

 

[Bruce Malone]

I just read a recent interview with Elba talking about how he'd love to take on the Bond role after Craig. However leaving race aside (hard for some here), I think his age is the biggest hindrance as he's only a few years younger than Craig and there's not an official date set yet as to when he'd leave the role.


The oldest actor cast to play Bond was Moore at 45 and that'd probably the earliest age we'd expect Elba to be able to take over and even that's unlikely.


I think if Elba were 5-10 years younger he'd probably be a shoo-in.

 

[Roose Bolton]

I saw some parallels to Dark Knight Rises.

Sophie would have been a great Talia

 

[Airwings]

That is already Craig under Mendes and costumer designer Jany Temime. Bond's suits and apparel in general was very fashionable in Skyfall and set photos from Spectre seem to indicate a continuation of that trend. And Bond should never dress overly fashionably, he is by definition an experienced professional in his late 30s/early 40s. Men that age don't need to nor do they dress fashionably. Well-dressed men of that age have developed a personal style and know what works for them and their body types. Timeless = beyond cool, fashion = cringeworthy safari suits, bellbottoms, 90's geometric ties, and laughably skinny suits that look like they shrunk in the wash.

EDIT:
Also, I highly doubt that Highmore will fill out or grow up the way many are thinking. Child stars like Highmore are selected because they look and can play younger than they look. As a result, with the exception of Christian Bale, they also seem to grow up to be manlets (ie. short and narrow-shouldered, eg. Daniel Radcliffe, Elijah Wood, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, etc.)

The suit worn by Highmore is perhaps too fashionable. But then I think, why can't Bond try something different next time?
The way you describe the character goes for all the previous actors. They were/are all traditional and classy. Maybe it's time to do something else now. Just like everyone from Connery to Brosnan was the "same" agent and then Craig beacame a different Bond with no shared backstory.

Even if a future Bond will have an over-the-top sense of the latest fashion, it doesn't take away that he is elegant and upper class.
I don't care if it will look oudated in a short time.

EDIT. Take a look at Moore's dinner suit in Golden Gun.

There needs to be a distinctive difference between every Bond actor. I can't see someone trying to be even more serious and gritty than Craig. They will need to go in another direction.

As for former child stars, maybe Highmore is one of the very few who can replace the current 007? Who knows?
Don't use his age against him. Craig won't leave before 2020. And you know what, Highmore has changed a lot during the last 5/6 years. I believe he will continue to grow into an adult man.

 

[Rocketman]

Off topic, but right around 1995-1997, I used to think Pierce Brosnan and Dylan McDermott were the same person. I used to think, "Oh cool! James Bond is on The Practice!" When I realized they were NOT the same person, I was like, "DUDE, Dylan McDermott should play James Bond!!" But, alas, he's American.

 

[StevieNicks1988]

Just finished reading through the December 1st draft of the script. All of my fears have been tossed out. The changes made are changes entirely for the better and I have total faith in this film. It completely ups the ante of Casino Royale and Skyfall imho.

 

[Warhammer]

The day a modern incarnation of Bond is played by an American, the world will flip unholy s***. It's not a big deal at all, but many will make it one.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

That highmoore dude looks weak as hell. Looks like he will snap like a dry candle if you touch him. His jawline will make women jealous.

The day a modern incarnation of Bond is played by an American, the world will flip unholy s***.

Meanwhile, no one gave a toss that Batman and Spidey were Brits, or that Superman is currently one.

 

[StevieNicks1988]

That highmoore dude looks weak as hell. Looks like he will snap like a dry candle if you touch him. His jawline will make women jealous.



Meanwhile, no one gave a toss that Batman and Spidey were Brits, or that Superman is currently one.

Except British actors can pull off an American accent quite nicely bar the now and again terrible Southern accent. However, the other way around is usually quite terrible.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

I'm sure there is someone......

Joaquin Phoenix?

 

[Airwings]

That highmoore dude looks weak as hell. Looks like he will snap like a dry candle if you touch him. His jawline will make women jealous.

Christian Bale went from being almost a skeleton in The Machinist to a muscular dude in Batman Begins. It's possible to change a body that way, you know.

I fear that Rhys-Meyers, which is my favorite for the role, will get too old before Bond will be re-cast.
Such a shame. I've liked to see how he would have played the role.
Either with an effeminate touch but still a dangerous spy, or like a total lunatic with a psychotic stare. He can do both!

EDIT Isn't Patrick Bateman (played by Bale) a combination of those traits? Could that be what we would have gotten with Rhys-Meyers? You tell me!

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Christian Bale went from being almost a skeleton in The Machinist to a muscular dude in Batman Begins. It's possible to change a body that way, you know.

Not everyone is as crazy as Bale is though. And "normal" Bale is still much wider than this guy.

 

[SpitCurl]

Not everyone is as crazy as Bale is though. And "normal" Bale is still much wider than this guy.

Was just about to say this. Also, it's not simply physical build - Justin Beiber started lifting weights but now just looks like a female bodybuilder instead of a 13 year-old girl (so...improvement?).

Some actors just never really grow into that "mature" look until way, way later if at all (I defy anyone to look at a picture of Jared Leto and guess his age without looking it up or knowing it before hand). Bale even played older than his actual age by a few years in American Psycho, I believe.

 

[chamber-music]

I'm not against a American actor to play Bond but like others have said the talent pool of
American actors who can do a good English accent without it sounding like a caricature is slim.

 

[Loki882]

The biggest waste of The World is Not Enough is Renard. What a lousy villain. Robert Carlyle is a great actor but he never gets a moment in the whole movie to really shine as a bad ass. The whole thing of the bullet in his brain making him immune to pain was so lame. Elektra is a the real villain of the movie, and for my money Marceau carries the whole film and is basically the only reason to watch it.

Poor John Cleese. Introduced as the new Q in this, and was basically retired one movie later. Cleese Q, we hardly knew ye.

To be fair, I kind of like the idea of that twist at least. The execution, well that was kind of meh. I actually thought that they telegraphed it way too much beforehand, so it wasn't really a surprise when Elektra turned out to be evil. The big bad terrorist/anarchist turns out to be a pawn in someone else's game. And I'm always interested in seeing more female main villains. Plus, I thought that Sophie Marceau was really good in that film, definitely my second favorite Brosnan-era villain (after Alec Trevelyn).

 

[The Joker]

I love a good female villain, too. I adore the likes of Rosa Klebb, Fiona Volpe, and Xenia Onatopp. But they did not come at the expense of the other villain who could have the potential to be equally as good. Renard was just so dull. They build him up as some big psycho unstoppable anarchist who is immune to pain, and then when we finally meet him he's just a bore of a character who's swooning over Elektra. Such a waste of Carlyle's talents.

Elektra could have carried the villain reins on her own. Heck she practically did.