Seamaster and Iago's endless rehashing Bond thread

[Iago]

I assume that you read about this:

http://www.avclub.com/articles/javier-bardem-will-be-the-new-bond-villain,63238/

[agent1a]

i instinctively hate that guy

[Iago]

Well, it seems to indicate that Blofeld is definitely out, since Bardem is a slightly different nationality. But who knows. No Country for Old Men certainly proved that he can do cold-blooded quite well.

[Seamaster]

Bardem is a good actor. But, I agree. A Hispanic Blofeld doesn't quite feel right.

[Iago]

There have been rumours about Blofeld, but I am skeptical. They still have not re-introduced Moneypenny or Q yet. They seem in no particular rush to go down well-trod paths. I am assuming that it is a completely new villian. Mind you, it would be interesting to discover in this film that Quantum was nothing more than a front for SPECTRE . . .

[Seamaster]

While that's possible, I was under the impression that Quantum was a new, alternative, super organization to the cold-war-era SPECTRE. Would SPECTRE make sense today? Of course, the name could be resurrected for nostalgic purposes.

Moneypenny was only quipped about in Casino Royale during Bond and Vesper's banter on the train. I'd prefer it stay that way for the reboot. You?

[Iago]

It may be sacrilege, but I would be perfectly happy if they never have another Moneypenny or Q -- or even any goofy gadgets, for that matter. My biggest concern is with the choice of Sam Mendes as a director. I understand the theory that having a skilled dramatic director makes sense since the action scenes are largely handled by the second unit, but every time they do that the actions scenes end up weak. (For example, Marc Forster with Quantum or Michael Apted with The World is Not Enough. My view is that you need a strong director with coherent vision for the entire film, who can also handle the actors. As far as I am concerned, Martin Campbell can direct the rest of the series for life.

[Seamaster]

Campbell should direct at least one more so he can have a Bond hat-trick.

[Iago]

At one point he was considered for Quantum. Not sure why Broccoli/Wilson went another direction. I would love to see him pull off the hat trick. Maybe they are saving him for the next time that they change actors, since he seems to be the go-to new Bond director.

[Seamaster]

Hmmm. I'm in no hurry to see Craig replaced.

[Iago]

Not what I meant. He has at least two more movies to go. It is just a mighty big coincidence that Campbell has directed both of the "new Bond" films in the last twenty years, but no others.

[Seamaster]

I knew what you I meant. I was just commenting that I like Craig as Bond.

[Iago]

Commanderbond.net appears to have set up a sub-site for Bond 23:

http://www.bond23.net/

[Seamaster]

Some odd rumours at that site!

[Iago]

Indeed. Here is a new one from Moviefone:

http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/10/25/james-bond-no-action-scenes/

No attributions to that rumor, so I would take it with an even bigger grain of salt than they did, but I got a different take-away: there is going to be a train rooftop action scene! I have loved train stunts from The General on to the only movie that Michael Crichton directed from one of his own novels: The Great Train Robbery. The stuntwork by Sean Connery is fantastic in that movie -- unlike modern actors, there were no safety cables digitally painted out!

[Seamaster]

Hmmm. That would pretty cool, if done right. Even the train chase at the beginning of The Last Crusade is fun, and that is not nearly as daring as what you described.

[Iago]

That was my favorite section of Unchartered 2, by the way. At least up until it went overboard in the last stages.

[Seamaster]

I've yet to play that game. Is it worth a go?

[Iago]

Much better than the first one, in my book. There are a couple of areas that are a bit questionable (one where the enemies keep respawning until you magically walk pass a line -- I hate that kind of design -- and a really lame final boss battle) but on the whole it was an improvement. It has a greater emphasis on stealth and less on shooting the exact same two pirates over and over again. Plus, you get to climb around on a runaway train!

[Seamaster]

Well, I've never given the series a go, so I guess I should start with the first one.

[Iago]

I thought that you had played it already. I never finished the first one because I got frustrated with the combat (I have a hard time aiming with a controller.) The combat and stealth in the second one is much more satisfying for a non-console player like me.

By the way, if you have not picked up all the Bond Blu-Rays, they are going into moratorium until an anniversary re-release to coincide with the release of Bond 23. At that time, the rest are supposed to finally come out as well. I picked all of them up save for Die Another Day, but I am not in a particularly big rush to pick that one up.

[Seamaster]

I have all the Bonds released on Blu to date. The one thing that concerns me about the Bonds being re-released with Bond 23 is that they will probably have new packaging. Because I'm anal and stupid, I will have a hard time not wanting to buy everything again so that I have a complete-looking set. Dammit.

[Iago]

No, you are probably going to lose that one. I am sure that they will have some spiffy 50th anniversary packaging.

[Seamaster]

Grumble. I wonder who will benefit from my extra copies this time?!

[Iago]

I think that I wlll be fine with any variance. But if MGM does the right thing, they may make different packaging available for those with older discs. I would not hold your breath, though.

I am excited at the thought of finally seeing OHMSS in HD.

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