Current Events > Should the James Bond series end? SPOILERS FOR NO TIME TO DIE AND SPECTRE

(+) Yeah! (+)

With the last film finally killing off Jame Bond once and for all, it seems like a fitting end for the character, not just in this universe but as a film series as a whole. The series, in its book form, was written as a reaction to the waning influence of the British empire in the 50s, something which is ancient history by today's standards. The films themselves are products of the Cold War era and there was debate if the series could even continue after that ended. The series has tried to reinvent itself several times, but at this point, it has resorted to either meta-analysises of the series's history as a whole (you can't make a whole series trying to reinvent the character in every film) or resorting back to old trope and cliches after promising something new and fresh.

In an early interview, Daniel Craig said that due to Austin Powers, the series could never be goofy and a parody of itself again. Then, in his 4th outing, a twist from the 3rd Austin Powers film became part of official James Bond canon.

The series has been pushed as far as he can go. 25 films and 50+ years is amazing. Isn't that good enough?

No.

They need to reboot the series. A modern attempt at a retro-style Bond movie would be interesting.

Yes

maybe give the franchise a break, but it's now a cultural staple that means a lot to many people.

new directors, actors, eras, etc. can continue showing how much it has to offer.

No. I'd love a miniseries based on the books either directly or just based on tone and setting. Do that or just go back to the old loose continuity. I never much cared for the idea of rebooting Bond when they did it and overall the Craig era was kind of a lame waste even though there were a couple of good movies. The old formula worked for 40 years. I don't see why it wouldn't work today if done right.

no, they need to redeem themselves after NTTD.

Lion_of_Gemini posted...

Daniel Craig said that due to Austin Powers, the series could never be goofy and a parody of itself again.

When did he say this? Goldmember was 20 years ago, the character has become almost completely irrelevant to the public pop culture consciousness. >_>

Lion_of_Gemini posted...

In an early interview, Daniel Craig said that due to Austin Powers, the series could never be goofy and a parody of itself again.

The Flint movies and other goofy spy shit never hurt the Bond movies.

Shishiwakamaru posted...

They need to reboot the series. A modern attempt at a retro-style Bond movie would be interesting.

This. Casino Royale again, set in 1953. Then do the rest of the novels in order.

Anyway Flint and Harry Palmer should make some kind of attempt for a come back.

Yeah I also want a new Bond movie set in the 50s/60s.

They could even do a duel timeline thing with a new agent in the modern era if they want.

Bond is always influenced by current trends in blockbusters. So may as well increase the scope and see if there's room for a cinematic universe type thing.

Punished_Blinx posted...

Bond is always influenced by current trends in blockbusters.

Imagine if this "multiverse" shit took off like, ten years earlier. What are the odds they would've found some way to shove the previous Bond actors on screen together?

Could've finally given Connery his dream of killing Bond. >_>

The last two Bond movies were garbage, Skyfall was the last good Bond movie in recent years.

I also think they need to rest the franchise for a time until they can put out a decent movie that lets Bond be himself and not try and fit into PC culture.

I'd be fine if they just set it back during the Cold War again. They can maybe reuse characters and concepts, but I don't think they necessarily have to either. I'd rather have something new than just a reboot of all of Fleming's Bond stories.

I did think No Time to Die was good though. And with 3/5 of the Craig movies being good I'd say his tenure as Bond was pretty successful. So they could also keep doing a modern Bond and it would probably work. It just wouldn't be my preference.

definitely a reboot with a new style. get far away from everything craig bond.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Same exact exchange between M and Elektra King in The World is Not enough.

they should try making a good one

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


I liked it in Casino Royale when the girl says, "you know Mr. Bond, we really are in Casino Royale".

For the people saying bring the series back into the cold war...cause that's what we need. More nostalgia in our media.

I don't see why it can't be goofy/campy again. Bond films are usually at their best when they're not taking themselves too seriously. I like Casino Royale and Skyfall, but the Craig movies in general are way too serious.

Its more of a cultural thing now. Theres no end in sight, and there doesnt need to be one. Someone else picks up the mantle for a needed spy-action movie and we all clock out to enjoy it. Why would it need to end?

We need no Bond no more, we have Kingsman now.

I would be in favor of Bond going on hiatus for a while.

They've fought an uphill battle for the past two decades to make Bond into something he's not. The baseline appeal of the character for four decades was that he was an audience stand-in who traveled the globe sleeping with beautiful women and beating up bad men. He's not crafted to be a character who has no friends, no sex drive, no desire for cards or fancy drinks, no fashion sense, and a chip on his shoulder the size of England herself. He's not Batman. He's not Jason Bourne.

Until the time when he can carry on the legacy of Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan, I say let the character rest.

Well it should sure as hell be a lot more fun and entertaining than it has been for the last 15 years.

I'd like to see Bond reimagined in a more culturally relevant context with more realistic spy action. Tone down some of the gadgets, and have Bond meeting with more allies & informants. Michael Bay level blockbuster action should be toned down. Goldfinger is generally considered one of the better movies and it didn't have any of the crazy shit like the Craig movies did.

Lion_of_Gemini posted...

For the people saying bring the series back into the cold war...cause that's what we need. More nostalgia in our media.

So setting any media in a historical era is appealing to nostalgia now?

AmishDoinks420 posted...

Its more of a cultural thing now. Theres no end in sight, and there doesnt need to be one. Someone else picks up the mantle for a needed spy-action movie and we all clock out to enjoy it. Why would it need to end?

Where else can the series really go at this point?

Probably should put it on Hiatus. Current events and technology which are the Bond Films staples haven't changed much since Casino Royale. Don't think they can make another film that would wow audiences for at least another 20 years.

Maninstagnate posted...

Probably should put it on Hiatus. Current events and technology which are the Bond Films staples haven't changed much since Casino Royale. Don't think they can make another film that would wow audiences for at least another 20 years.

I dunno, I'd like to see a new Bond movie featuring a villain who manipulates the global crypto / NFT economy, I think that could be really pffthaha couldn't get through that one with a straight face.

I agree with many here that they should reboot it again and leave Bond, or at least restart him, in the 60's.

For me, the reason being is that Bond in the modern era suffers a little bit from all the technological advancements. Like in Dr. No, Bond had to do some detective work. This lead leads to that lead leads to this person leads to this location etc. In the newer movies everything can be solved with technology. Hack this, satellite that, microchip this, electronic surveillance that etc.

Putting him back in the old era would make it fun again because Bond would rely more on instincts and investigations.

Ryven posted...

I agree with many here that they should reboot it again and leave Bond, or at least restart him, in the 60's.

For me, the reason being is that Bond in the modern era suffers a little bit from all the technological advancements. Like in Dr. No, Bond had to do some detective work. This lead leads to that lead leads to this person leads to this location etc. In the newer movies everything can be solved with technology. Hack this, satellite that, microchip this, electronic surveillance that etc.

Putting him back in the old era would make it fun again because Bond would rely more on instincts and investigations.

I agree. Technology kind of simplifies things a bit too much. Plus spy stuff and the cold war era go together like chocolate and peanut butter even if he doesn't necessarily have to go against Russia or other communist nations. I really agree about Dr. No and despite some roughness, it's one of my favorites because of the investigation and spy aspects. It's very close to literary Bond and the book itself.

They could always do movies that take place in the past. they are obviously not going to kill off a major cash cow. or my personal theory is we'll see what really happened and bond gets on some jet skies right before the missles hit. this way he gets out of having to be a dad.