In your opinion, what should have the Craig era ended on?
Posted Nov 2, 2021, 4:19 PM UTC
217
Skyfall would have been a great way to end and keep the new MI6 cast.
10
Skyfall
9
Ok you may have a point
1
Honestly I might agree with this
1
Skyfall. That would've been a masterful ending imo.
5
I like Spectres ending with him having a happy ever after with Madeline but NTTD is a better film.
3
Is Casino Royale an option? Pulling a Lazenby and having one film which is acknowledged to be among the best isn't a bad thing.
2
I totally understand where you’re coming from, and I’d agree that CR (a) would work brilliantly as a standalone, and (b) is probably Craig’s best film.
But can we really say that we regret, or didn’t derive major iconic moments from, the rest of his tenure? The reappearance of the DB5 in Skyfall; the bond with M in Skyfall; the opening sequence in Spectre; the Cuba sequence in NTTD?
To be clear, I fully respect your opinion and I can totally see how, more than any other film, CR would work as a total standalone introducing and encapsulating the essential bond mythology but I do think there are great parts (if not wholes) in the rest of his tenure
5
I hated his run. Absolutely hated it. Call me inflexible, and I certainly appreciate your respect given how temperamental this subreddit is regarding Craig dislike, but I think his run was awful. His Bond was an inept rogue who littered his trail with the bodies of his allies. That is when he wasn't off moping somewhere and drinking too much.
I believe Bond is fun escapism. Giving the Alan Moore/ Frank Miller treatment to Bond was a bad, bad idea. Now, I can't argue with the money they made. And many were beautifully filmed.
I don't go to Bond to think or have feelings or give a damn. I want to see cool stunts, practical effects, gonzo sets, exotic locations, beautiful women, and crazy plots. It's a fantasy. It is why little boys get into it when they are a kid and keep watching when they grow up. What ten year old is going to want to be James Bond after seeing Quantum of Solace?
I want to go on record that I hated the Brosnan films also. Too much metacommentary and a lead actor who kept winking at the screen. So I guess Bond, for me, ends with Dalton.
-3
I didn't see a Skyfall option so I went with NTTD
2
Skyfall
2
Skyfall.
2
Why is Skyfall not an option?!
1
Of those two, Spectre. Give Bond his peaceful retirement. He earned it.
1
Skyfall
1
It should have ended on a much better film than either of those: one that stuck with the grounded, realistic feel of the first two films, that allowed us to see this version of Bond at his best rather than a rookie or a worn out veteran, one that tied up the story elements in a clever and logical way and gave him a truly satisfying character arc, ending with either a well-earned happily ever after with a believable love interest to match Vesper Lynd, or a well-written, genuinely moving death scene after fighting like a tiger to bring down the most terrifying and threatening antagonist he's ever faced.
In short, a film that was worthy of Daniel Craig's great acting talent and the wonderful, fascinating James Bond that held so much potential in Casino Royale. We didn't quite get that though.
1
I agree with all of this!
2
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If there has been one constant in the 007 franchise it has been bad producing. From the original days of hiring sub par directors, to shoe horning Bond into whatever the new fad was of the day, what should be the gold standard setting the bar always seems instead to be overly reactionary.
I'd be in favor of more one-off adventures after enjoying the Craig era but having some criticisms or the interconnected elements between films.