tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36271824.post116674825694157770..comments2024-03-25T10:22:04.995-07:00Comments on Ed Gorman's blog: PRO-File Jack Bludis; Fred Blosser; Ed LynskeyEd Gormanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06126267358266480356noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36271824.post-1166895841912443752006-12-23T09:44:00.000-08:002006-12-23T09:44:00.000-08:00Ed: More on Bond from a film nut.The downhill slid...Ed: More on Bond from a film nut.<BR/><BR/>The downhill slide for Bond came with YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, the first of the really ridiculous films with supervillains on an island, rockets, submarines, etc.<BR/><BR/>It worsened with DIAMONDS, which nowadays is barely watchable. And I'm mean barely watchable, even though Jill St. John is continually about to spill out of her cocktail dress.<BR/><BR/>And then there's a blip of competence when they made ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, which turned out to be a TERRIFIC little Bond film. He seems to be a real, feeling, emotionally complex character, complete with fears and weaknesses. It's my second favorite after FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE. I wonder what would have happened if Lazenby had stuck with it a bit longer?<BR/><BR/>But basically after DIAMONDS, it was straight to the trash-bin for Bond. No nuance or layering to the man; just throw-away lines, supervillains on remote islands, females with suggestive names, and car chases, space chases, and idiotic plots to rule the world.<BR/><BR/>The books began their roots in Fleming's actual experiences with MI6 (trumped-up to excite the masses) but all that is lost now. CASINO ROYALE is a huge step in the right direction, but I think the big question one should ask when seeing a Bond film is this one:<BR/><BR/>Would it still work if the character's name was Bill Smith? Or Mike Johnson?<BR/><BR/>Or look at it this way: which generates more suspense, a desperate man driving a Lamborghini in a car chase, or the same man driving an old VW?<BR/><BR/>Bigger isn't always better. And it's usually not as clever, either.<BR/><BR/>My dream has always been to see a modestely-budgeted Bond film set back in the fifties, when there was SMERSH, the Cold War, and a divided Europe, all wrapped in a reasonably true to life espionage-action package. Have David Mamet write it. Have Scorcese direct it. Have Daniel Craig star in it.<BR/><BR/>Well, I ain't holding my breath on that one. Perhaps THE GOOD SHEPHERD will have to suffice for now.I. Michael Koontzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17415020954255238256noreply@blogger.com