The Sum of Its Parts
When Movie Posters Mattered. MGM Studios

The Sum of Its Parts

Even lesser James Bond movies have good points. Quantum of Solace has been on cable lately. I can sit through most of that. It wasn't as good as Casino Royale. Far from it.

Spending a weekend with random Bond films on different stations- the opening scenes are always interesting. They are a short film in themselves. Die Another Day pops up on cable occasionally. There are good and bad points even to the most maligned Bond films.

Bringing me to Moonraker. This is a middle of the pack film. The wretched excess pales in comparison to what the Daniel Craig movies became.

The next film has to go back to basics. Hire Martin Campbell for the hat trick. Goldeneye is easily Pierce Brosnan's best Bond film and Casino Royale propelled the series to new heights.

Which they messed up by making continued stories. Before I compare the monogamous James Bond to Brexit in terms of massive failures, Moonraker has its faults. Product placement should entail Aston Martin, Dom Perignon and Omega watches. Not awkwardly placed billboards for 7 Up and British Airways.

Jaws returned and was not menacing as he was in The Spy Who Loved Me. That scene where he rips the roof off a van that cannot accelerate is a great moment in henchman history. Flapping his arms trying to fly only to have his fall broken by a strategically placed circus tent? Not so much.

His romance, while more plausible than sacrificing everything for Madeline Swann (that isn't even a cool Bond girl name), is clunky and how did she end up on the space station? Amidst the flaws are Ken Adam's design and John Barry's music. Those always enhanced the proceedings.

Diamonds Are Forever was also run in this cycle. Another flawed film with lesser henchmen. The funeral home Ken Adam designed was magnificent. Back to Moonraker, it is amazing how many female pilots there are in the Bond films. The helicopter pilot was given the chance.

Pussy Galore's Flying Circus was another example of females of flight as was Caroline Munro in The Spy Who Loved Me. It is plausible that these women can fly helicopters.

They don't have to be eye candy. Roger Moore is notorious for not doing stunts. Richard Kiel was obviously not on a hang glider. For the most expensive Bond film to that time they did not even try creating the illusion he was in the air. Lois Chiles was an effective female lead. American Bond Women are hit or miss. Jill St. John, Lois Chiles and Halle Berry did well. Tanya Roberts and Denise Richards? Not everyone is Bond material.

There have been weekends where less progress was made. Watching movies I have seen many times before and will enjoy again- that is another flaw of the bloated Daniel Craig movies. I can watch Skyfall any time. The next two do not interest me.

They might in the future. The sooner the next Bond film is made the better. Normally it happens one year after an announcement. At this point the Mission: Impossible and The Fast and the Furious franchises fill the void. James Bond will outlast those although they need to make movies every two years as was the frequency for most of the past sixty years.

Martin Wright

Using my proven knowledge/expertise in Administration to the advantage of a Great Employer. Unfluencer??

2 å¹´

I think you are being a little cruel about Moonraker. The special effects were Oscar- nominated in a year with very strong competition. Derek Meddings stated that his Shuttles took off and on time and under budget. Shuttle pilots cite that is the only film to correctly show how the flight path and orientation actually proceed. I admit the pigeon was a mistake. Ken Adams production design was a bit grey but the parachute sequence at the start was largely shot for real (with stunt doubles of course):and had the record for the most parachute drops to film a sequence. First Bond film to be recorded in Dolby Stereo.

赞
回复

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Thomas Jackson的更多文章

  • More Like Poor Dash

    More Like Poor Dash

    I never used Doordash or any of the meal services. I haven't had a pizza delivered in years.

  • First Name Initial

    First Name Initial

    Lately it has been pointed out that people who use their first name and last initial are not making themselves visible…

  • Writing With A.I.

    Writing With A.I.

    Many have been waiting for me to write with AI. I could add duress to the electrical grid as they change my verbiage…

    2 条评论
  • Work Lessons From Plan Nine From Outer Space

    Work Lessons From Plan Nine From Outer Space

    Is this really the worst movie ever made? The films of Edward D Wood Jr would not have endured if not for The Golden…

  • Not Everyone Is Against Me

    Not Everyone Is Against Me

    A few screamers can make a position feel abusive. In my first year on the job there were many who yelled at me.

  • Read the Magazine, Look at the Ads

    Read the Magazine, Look at the Ads

    Ads on the internet are annoying. Never once did I find one effective.

  • How Will Southwest Airlines Stand Out Now?

    How Will Southwest Airlines Stand Out Now?

    I have flown Southwest. At one point I frequently flew Air Tran which merged with Southwest.

  • Not Worth the Notification

    Not Worth the Notification

    The algorithm benefits no one. Many have their posts suppressed for no good reason.

  • Work Lessons From One From the Heart

    Work Lessons From One From the Heart

    What do I know about creative control? While no one finds any LinkedIn posts in any format anymore, I have creative…

  • Vernacular in the Workplace: Part Nine

    Vernacular in the Workplace: Part Nine

    The job won't get old if I find new variations on themes. While talking in jargon is confusing- what I make up has to…

    2 条评论

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了