Discuss: Should They Keep the Line "Bond, James Bond"?
Filed under: Action, Fandom, Newsstand, James Bond, Remakes and Sequels, Daniel Craig
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It pains me that I can't go into every little fantastic detail when it comes to my recent Bond-related trip across the pond, but trust me when I say Quantum of Solace will definitely be one film you won't want to miss this fall. And if I go any further, the studio might just serve my head on a platter during the flick's premiere after party. But would I taste like chicken? Anyway, as we shared with you yesterday, Daniel Craig and Marc Forster were making the international rounds over in London late last week (where we sat down for a chat) and the Independent learned from Forster that a couple classic Bond one-liners will not be included in the upcoming Quantum of Solace.
Missing from the film will be the lines, "Bond, James Bond" and "Shaken ... not stirred." Forster says, "There was a 'Bond, James Bond' in the script. There are several places where we shot it as well, but it never worked as we hoped. I just felt we should cut it out, and Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson [the film's producers] agreed, and Daniel [Craig, who plays Bond] agreed, too. It's nice to be open-minded about the Bond formula. You can always go back to them later on." Some would argue it isn't a James Bond film unless the secret agent utters at least one of those lines at some point during his adventure. Me? I don't mind as much.
What do you Bond fanatics think? Are these two lines really that important in a Bond film? Does it bother you to know they won't be included this time around?
Quantum of Solace hits theaters on November 14.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-23-2008 @ 11:52AM
Riley Freeman said...
they couldnt fit the line where he says his name? are they idiot? im still gonna watch it but i think they shouldnt be allowed to make a bond film without him saying his name
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9-23-2008 @ 12:30PM
Dick Movie said...
I'm still going to read, but I think Riley shouldn't be allowed to post a comment without using proper grammar. Is he idiot?
9-23-2008 @ 12:16PM
Rich said...
Hopefully QoS will be better than Casino Royal. It started off great, then completely lost it towards the end.
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9-23-2008 @ 12:32PM
filmsuki said...
I guess it is a little cheesy to keep using those lines...yet at the same time, how many iconic sayings and symbols can you remove before James Bond degenerates into a generic action character?
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9-23-2008 @ 12:33PM
Riley Freeman said...
go to hell i type this while doing other stuff. i wswear internet people bitch about the dumbest shit. ur not a client of mine so i dont care i run through it. when at work i type with the appropriate grammar
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9-23-2008 @ 12:55PM
Clark said...
It's not that I'm mad... Just disapointed.
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9-23-2008 @ 12:56PM
William said...
While a part of me is a little sad about the lines not being in the movie, I think I'm OK with it.
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9-23-2008 @ 1:02PM
malren said...
There's no excuse for not being able to work it into the script. This is just pure hubris on the part of the folks that rescued the Bond franchise. They fix it with Casino Royale, now they think they can just do whatever and people can like it or go to hell.
filmsuki has it right. How many minor changes get made before he's just a British guy with a gun?
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9-23-2008 @ 1:06PM
BondsBabe said...
Bond didn't always use 'the line' in the novels or the films. The same goes for shaken not stirred for films. I have no problem with these being left out. I'd rather they left it out than try to squeeze it in there for the sake of it.
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9-23-2008 @ 1:07PM
NP said...
I think this is a new and different Bond than previous incarnations so it's not such a big deal if those lines were not worked in, and the fact that both the director and the producers felt the lines didn't work when attempted to be fit in, just speaks to the fact that this Bond is a different animal.
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9-23-2008 @ 1:07PM
Christian M. Howell said...
I always thought that was corny anyway. I could never understand why he would use his real name. Besides, it's really hard to make either line work generally.
I mean when are MI7 guys formally introduced and the bartender would ask if he wanted it shaken.
Martini. Shaken.
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9-23-2008 @ 1:11PM
Dan said...
Riley, you just redeemed yourself there, buddy.
As for the line, we know what it looks like when they try to force every element of a "Bond movie" into a Bond movie, it's called Die Another Day. If it didn't fit, then tough nuggies, I'm sure it's not gone forever. Given that Craig's first outing yielded the amazing Casino Royale, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
From Russia with Love is still the best Bond movie, though.
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9-23-2008 @ 1:35PM
ML said...
Do I need a lot tired phrases to remind me that I'm watching Bond? No. If a character seems compelled to repeat his own name ... well, "Denny Crane." I don't watch that show.
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9-23-2008 @ 1:44PM
indecks said...
Well, I don't think it really matters because honestly this looks like it's going to be just as bad as Casino Royale, aka "Not-Bond: The Movie". They should just call this one "Not-Bond 2: Back with more Crap."
I thought it was funny how in the first Not-Bond movie he drives his car for exactly 20 seconds and then wrecks it. And that it's not a James Bond movie in the slightest. And that he doesn't womanize. And that he doesn't use cool gadgets (oh cool a defib!! woowowow). And that in the world of SuperExpensive High Roller Gambling - they play Texas HoldEm. AWESOME JOB NOT-BOND CREW!
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9-23-2008 @ 1:45PM
Mr.R said...
It doesn't matter if the whole film by itself is good, who cares? I do however find it reasonably smart to keep a certain funny cheese in there, that is one of the reasons the franchise has made it this far. Can a Star Wars movie not have the "may the force be with you" line? No. Can there be an Indiana Jones where he doesn't goof one stunt we expect to be perfect? No. So I really don't care but I can see why some would and I respect that.
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9-23-2008 @ 3:07PM
Monika said...
I'll add it to the list of flicks that don't put in the classic music, especially when it would fit so damned well (Speed Racer, most notably).
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9-23-2008 @ 2:34PM
Tyler said...
it was a mistake for them not to use those lines, i think. I mean the bond franchise is one of the only thriller franchises that is so well respected, I mean they could go on making bond films forever and people would love it. And those lines have never caused any problems before, it's one of the only things that ties all the films together, makes all the different bonds seem united. now I've never been the biggest fan of the bond films in general but I still feel that it comes down to, if it ain't broke, dont't fix it.
And how could they not find a spot for him to say that.
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9-23-2008 @ 2:48PM
Richard said...
i think it is stupid no to find a place where to put the most known line in the whole wide world...wtf??? i mean....it´s not james bond if the guy doesn´t say BOND, JAMES BOND!!!
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9-23-2008 @ 3:18PM
ML said...
I guess what it comes down to is that there's a fine line between mystique and cliche and where that line falls depends on the beholder.
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9-23-2008 @ 3:32PM
pAT said...
Good riddance! Casino Royale was a good re-boot of a tired (and frankly, stupid) franchise. I say, let Craig redefine Bond and if that means he's not drinking or screwing every ten minutes and telling every cliched baddie his name, so be it.
Did Jason Bourne go around telling everyone his name (once he knew it again)? No! Who's the bigger bad-ass? Bourne! Thank you! Done! Next window please!
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