James Bond will return, but his Skyfall director has decided not to join him. Sam Mendes has confirmed that he will not be returning to direct the yet untitled Bond 24, taking time instead to focus on other projects.
In an article with EmpireOnline.com, Mendes stated that it was a difficult decision for him to pass up the Skyfall sequel. Mendes said, “Directing Skyfallwas one of the best experiences of my professional life, but I have theatre and other commitments, including productions of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and King Lear, that need my complete focus over the next year and beyond.”
As of now, the only other creative member from the Skyfall team set to return is John Logan, the screenwriter of movies like Hugo and The Last Samurai. It’s been rumored that Bond 24 and Bond 25 will be a film in two parts.
Who would you like to see direct the next James Bond movie? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. As for me, I have my fingers crossed that Christopher Nolan has some time on his hands now that his Batman trilogy is over.
I have a theory that the last James Bond movie an actor does is always the worst. As soon as the cast/crew realizes that they’re making the last Bond movie they just…give up. Case in point: Diamonds are Forever. Second case in point: You Only Live Twice.
In Connery’s fifth 007 outing, James Bond dies…only to come back to life, somehow (My best guess is bad screenwriting) to track down the evil organization known as SPECTRE who played a key role in three of Connery’s movies (Goldfinger being the exception).
This movie isn’t terrible insomuch as what it does is establish a plot trend for future Bond movies: a big maniacal villain with plans to take over the world.
However, it does have a good villain: we finally get to see the head of the menacing SPECTRE organization, Ernst Stavro Blofeld (played by Donald Pleasance).
Even the cat looks evil.
A cold-hearted sadistic mad man who has no hesitance to kill his own employees if he sees no further use for them. The true essence of a good Bond villain. Pleasance plays the role perfectly.
Ultimately, in my opinion, this movie feels bloated, the script and story feel rushed (Even though the story was written by Roald Dahl. Yes, that Roald Dahl who wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). I say that I watch this movie with the fast forward button on so that I can skip the boring parts to get to some of the good ones.
14) Licence to Kill (1989)
Let me start this review off by saying I really enjoyed Timothy Dalton’s performance as Bond. To me, he really personifies the essence of Ian Fleming’s Bond more so than any of the other actors. The humorless attitude, dark story-line and very down-to-earth elements make Dalton’s performance as Bond very Fleming-esque. The only other actor to get close to Fleming’s character is Daniel Craig, in my opinion.
I find Dalton’s second outing practically unwatchable because of the incredibly dark tone (especially when one of the villains dies by having his head explode in an air compression chamber). James Bond goes on a revenge mission to avenge his friend Felix Leiter is mutilated after his wedding and his wife is killed by drug lord Franz Sanchez (played by Robert Davi).
In doing so, his vendetta directly contradicts his orders with MI-6, and, thus, Bond goes rogue. This trail of revenge leads to Sanchez’s drug distribution network in which the cocaine they distribute is converted into gasoline. Interesting plot idea, but it feels underwhelming. None of the Bond girls (Carey Lowell and Talisa Soto) are particularly memorable and add nothing to the plot. The same can be said of the villain, who isn’t particularly memorable either. I do, however, enjoy Dalton’s attempt in the movie because he feels like he’s actually trying to bring something to the role. Ultimately, however, this movie ended up feeling like a Die Hard movie.
What’s sad is the fact that this movie could have been so much more. But it’s ultimately undone by a weak story and bland performances. But it’s still a watchable movie, either way. It does have a cool tanker chase at the end. So stay and watch that part.
13) Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
I’ll start this review off and say that Tomorrow Never Dies is a guilty pleasure of mine. I can’t explain it, I enjoy it, even though it’s not a great Bond movie.
James Bond investigates media mogul Eliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce) who might have been involved in the sinking of a British naval vessel. In the process, Bond uncovers a plot to pit both Britain and China at war with each other so as to allow Carver worldwide broadcasting rights. An overly complicated plot and, ultimately, a cartoonish villain to boot. But, for whatever reason, I really love this movie. But I can’t put it any higher in this list.
My favorite part of this movie, however, can be summed up in two words: Michelle Yeoh.
Go ahead. Make her day.
Forget Teri Hatcher’s Bond girl (although she was decent in the movie). What makes Yeoh’s character (a Chinese agent named Wai Lin) so unique is that, for the first time in Bond history, she feels like a character who could be equal to Bond in terms of being able to take care of herself. Her character was refreshing because for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel like a damsel-in-distress. Plus, all of her fight scenes were choreographed herself.
Unlike some of the previous Bond movies in this countdown, this one has a few good set pieces and action scenes, including a really cool car chase midway through the movie, in which Bond pilots a remote controlled BMW:
It should also be noted that David Arnold (who has composed the the last few Bond movies, with the exception of Skyfall) took over for the score duties for this movie. And, in my opinion, his score for Tomorrow Never Dies is amazing. Let’s hope that he comes back for Bond 24.
This movie feels like it’s trying to do something interesting with Bond, but ultimately, fails. However, there are moments in this movie that are totally worth watching. I recommend that anyone at least rent this one.
As always, stay tuned as I count down the remaining twelve James Bond movies. And feel free to leave a comment below and let me know what you think.
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