Bond, James Bond

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CineMaven
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Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by CineMaven »

Yeah. :D
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charliechaplinfan
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Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by charliechaplinfan »

I saw that when it was on, Joe has mentioned the hair, he didn't like the hair. I think he likes the action, he doesn't like the girls, perhap I'm best trying to get the Dalton Bonds for him, I don't remember him having too many girls, he was on the serious side like Daniel Craig.
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Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by Lzcutter »

MrCutter and I went to see Skyfall the other night. It is, perhaps, the best modern Bond film. Ever. The producers did the smartest thing they possibly could when filming was delayed due to the precarious financial situation MGM found itself in just prior to principal photography commencing. While they waited to see if MGM would be liquidated, they, along with director Sam Mendes and the writers, concentrated on the script. And the film and we in the audience are all the better for it.

Adele was born to sing a Bond theme and the imagery that accompanies the title song is just terrific as her voice.

This may be the most exquisitely colorful film that Roger Deakins has ever shot (and I love Deakins work especially in True Grit. The scene in Shanghai against the skyline, the entrance that Bond makes to the casino in Macau, the Turkish bazaar that the opening chase takes place in, the skyline of London, are all terrific set pieces.

And Javier Bardem is hands down my favorite Bond villain since the Connery days. He is so perfect in a role that in lesser hands would be over the top bordering on camp but in Bardem's artful hands makes you remember him for all the right reasons.

Adding to the cast, the always pitch perfect Judi Dench as M, Rory Kinnear (who keeps getting better in the role as M's assistant, Tanner), Ralph Fiennes as Gareth Mallory and Ben Whisham (from BBC's The Hour) as Q all lend terrific support. Albert Finney is wonderful in a small but pivotal role (I understand that Connery turned it down).

But the real star of this Bond film is Daniel Craig. MrC and I have been big fans of his for a long time and were thrilled to see him as Bond in Casino Royale a few years ago. His lined face notes a world weary Bond who is not only a charming lady's man but one that inhabits the lethal side of Bond in a way that few others in the role have. This Bond you believe is capable of doing dark things for M and Country. His weariness and his journey back from that weariness are at the heart of the film.

I want to get the film when it comes out on Blu not only to add to our collection but because, in addition to all of the above, the film is filled with shout-outs to other films from The Incredibles and The Dark Knight to Harry Potter and many, many more that I can't remember right now.

It is a worthy addition the Bond canon.

And I can't wait for the next one.
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movieman1957
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Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by movieman1957 »

Had not heard that about Connery. I'm not surprised he turned it down but what a glorious surprise it would have been.
Chris

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Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by CineMaven »

Nicely written review Lynn.

I went to see "SKYFALL" for the third time ( in two outings ) to join two friends. I still thought it was a solid film. One of my friends, never having seen Daniel Craig as James Bond, came away with believing his portrayal and will now look to rent his first two forays as Bond. A win-win for all three of us.
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Re: Bond, James Bond

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When I was living at MoMA during their recent JAMES BOND retrospective, I passed the kiosk selling James Bond paraphernalia ev’ry visit. I resisted for the two weeks I spent going to the museum. Oh, trust me...I stood in front of the kiosk looking at the items, ( t-shirts, toy Aston Martins, hats, cups, deck o’ cards et al ) each time I went...trying to justify justify justify. I held out. I was a good consumer. I resisted.

Image

:roll: Yeah. Uhmmmm...resistance is futile. :roll:

I bought the book on Bond's history AND the cd "BEST OF BOND...JAMES BOND: 50 YEARS - 50 TRACKS." I uploaded my iPOD with the first half of the tracks that contained the theme songs. ( 23 of them - "SKYFALL" is not included. ) I've been listening to these songs for fifty years; all of which I know by heart. Well...I can hum them by heart. You know, it's interesting just listening to them as music...just music. Here's the data I've culled from this. You can quibble about the groupings, but this is what I get:

Two films with orchestral themes :
* "Dr. No"
* "0n Her Majesty's Secret Service"

Four male sung theme songs :
* Matt Munro - "From Russia With Love"
* Tom Jones - "Thunderball"
* Louis Armstrong - "0n Her Majesty's Secret Service ( "We Have All the Time in the World" )
* Chris Connell - "Casino Royale" ( "You Know My Name" )

Twelve female sung theme songs :
* Shirley Bassey - "Goldfinger"
* Nancy Sinatra - "You 0nly Live Twice"
* Lulu - "The Man With the Golden Gun"
* Shirley Bassey - "Diamonds Are Forever"
* Carly Simon - "The Spy Who Loved Me"
* Shirley Bassey - "Moonraker"
* Sheena Easton - "For Your Eyes Only"
* Rita Coolidge - "Octopussy" ( "All Time High" )
* Gladys Knight - "Licence to Kill"
* Tina Turner - "Goldeneye"
* Sheryl Crow - "Tomorrow Never Dies"
* Madonna - "Die Another Day"
* Adele - "Skyfall"

( I am absolutely lovin' that Shirley has the hat trick of Bond singers. Wish they'd ask her to do one more...please. )

Five songs sung by groups / duo :
* Paul McCartney & Wings - "Live and Let Die"
* Duran Duran - "A View to a Kill"
* A-ha - "The Living Daylights"
* Garbage - "The World Is Not Enough"
* Jack White & Alicia Keys - "Quantum of Solace" ( "Another Way to Die" )

Here are some recent appearances of the iconic Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones singing their hit Bond theme songs:

[youtube][/youtube] [youtube][/youtube]

No, their voices may not quite be their voices of olde. But they are iconic figures in the Bond musical mythology. You can’t take that away from them.

As I've been listening to the music, I do have pictures of Bond running through my head. Some of the songs I still like, some I don't care for anymore. And then again songs that I hated when I sat in the theatre so many years ago...I now really like. Go figure. Hollywood's picking singers based on box office and Billboard and what will sell. ( Yeah, they probably always did. ) But there were some pretty good voices that have been honored to sing the theme song for a James Bond film. You can click on the singer’s photo if you need a reminder of the Bond theme song. Everybody has their own favorites. Here's what I think of all the Bond theme songs. I'll start off with these five:

“FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE” ( 1962 )

Image Image

“Still my tongue-tied
young pride
would not let
my love for
you show.
In case you said ‘no’...”


Matt Munro has the smoky easy romantic sound of a Sinatra or Andy Williams or Mel "The Velvet Fog" Torme. ( He holds his final note for an amazing twelve-seconds. ) Aahhh...I hear the strains of Mother Russia in the song's melody. I see a candlelit dinner. I see skyscrapers dotted with boxes of light through a dim restaurant's window. I like the song better now than then.

* * * * * * * * *

“GOLDFINGER” ( 1963 )

Image Image

“But his lies
can’t disguise
what you fear...”


WHO can name that song in two notes???

Ha...probably THE most recognizable song in all the James Bond canon. Here we have the first ( of three ) time the great Shirley Bassey sings that song. She’s my girl for all time. She has a big soaring voice. She and the song are bombastic and blaring. This is an announcement...a pronouncement. Hear those trumpets herald the Villain? Now that it has your attention, it quiets slightly. She has something important to say: GOLDFINGER!!!!! And here are the admonitions: “a spider’s touch” “enter his web of sin” “this heart is cold” “the kiss of death.” What more do you need? I love its descriptiveness. And it weaves a little of the James Bond theme in the melody. At the end Bassey sings six times: “he loves only gold”"only gold" "HE...LOVES...GOLD!" Can you get any clearer than that? Pretty girl, you have been warned.

But when do women ever listen?

* * * * * * * * *

“THUNDERBALL” ( 1965 )

Image Image

“Any woman he wants
he’ll get.
He will break
any heart
without regret...”


That could go for Tom Jones too, but let me stay on task.. A-hem! Another blaring announcement, ever so slightly muted. Tom Jones is the definitive masculine voice of James Bond. Rich & open, bass and powerful. I hear those drums again...and the blaring trumpets. Jones is the exact flip side to Shirley Bassey, ( they both are Welsh ) and his voice goes right to the marrow holding that last note a good strong solid twelve seconds. I love John Barry’s orchestration. In this song, Bond’s traits are described: “his needs are more so he gives less” “the winner who takes all” the lyrics illustrates a man of action. He takes what he wants. I like the halting way the music goes after the lyrics “so he strikes....” wait for it “like Thunder - Ballllllll.” I wish I had more command of the language of music. But you know what I mean. You know what I mean.

I was a junior in high school when Tom Jones had his variety show. Me and my girlfriends used to just talk him up the next day in school. I guess Gino Vanelli had more pouffy hair than Tom...and he had a pretty decent voice too...but there's only one Tom Jones, and no male voice matches his, singing a Bond song. John Barry...you were blessed. And this is my favorite film, and song.

* * * * * * * * *

“YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE” ( 1967 )

Image Image

“And love is a stranger
who’ll
beckon you on.
Don’t think of the danger
pr the stranger
is gone...”


Nancy has a weak voice.

But her voice is literally PERFECT for this song. She doesn't stray far up the scale. She's in the middle, the lovely middle notes. I love her plaintive sound. I love the romantic melancholic melody this song has. Shirley Bassey is my girl. But I’m not sure even she could pull off Nancy’s haunting sound. The song is so delicate. A lot of lush strings and the hint of the Orient in his music. Maurice Binder’s title credits are nice, giving a hint of the Asian beauties darkly silhouetted against the raging volcano. This is really the prettiest of all the Bond songs. John Barry evokes different emotions with all his songs. This song, the violins...the strings at the end, the way he holds them...break my heart. What a pretty song.

* * * * * * * * *

“ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE” ( 1969 )

If you wish, you can listen to the Barry orchestra perform "We Have All the Time in the World." A beautiful song:

[youtube][/youtube]

Image Image

IS IT ME? Could Diana Rigg have been the successor to Vivien Leigh? Oh I admit her eyes don’t dance and sparkle like Vivling's, but Rigg has got something...something that came to mind in this small clip from the movie. You can click on both pictures above to see a clip. I've had a difficult time with this movie AND this song. Sorry, Louis. His trumpet playing is incomparable. But his voice seemed wrong for this love song; like sandpaper. Then of course some miraculous change came over the song after all these years. :roll: Awwwright, okay...I guess in me. I now like the juxtaposition of Louis' raspy voice, with the sweet sadness of this song. I still have to work on the movie. The last time I saw it, I just pretended that I wasn't even looking at a Bond movie. Somehow that worked.
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MissGoddess
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Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by MissGoddess »

What a fun way to start my morning, I really enjoyed your review of the music. And what a cute box set you got! They picked the best picture. :D

I have a "Best of" cd that I've about worn out. To me, the songs are great listening on their own and you captured their flavor beautifully with your words. I knew exactly what you meant and could hear them each so clearly even without clicking through. It's surprising how some of the 007 movies had these lovely melodious ballads and not just a driving, forceful theme. A very nice mix for an incredible run of films like no other.

And thanks for pointing out that both Tom and Shirley are Welsh! I knew it about Tom but not Shirley. Cool.

Now I need to upload some of these onto my phone. I already have the main 007 theme as my ringer.
:D
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Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by JackFavell »

I love that you came to the movies from a different side this time! The songs are so iconic that I think we take them for granted, so it's refreshing to see a review of them, bringing them back into the spotlight.

I REALLY like Adele's SKYFALL song (even though I've heard a bazillion times, thanks to Alice's birthday present - an ipod docking station), it incorporates those famous notes and switches them around, making it sound modern and retro at the same time. Her voice is perfect - smoky, sad, triumphant.
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Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by CineMaven »

[color=#8000BF][u]Miss[/u] [u]Goddess[/u][/color] wrote:What a fun way to start my morning, I really enjoyed your review of the music. And what a cute box set you got! They picked the best picture... :D
[u][color=#BF0040]Jack[/u][/color] [u][color=#BF0080]Favell[/color][/u] wrote:I love that you came to the movies from a different side this time! The songs are so iconic that I think we take them for granted, so it's refreshing to see a review of them, bringing them back into the spotlight...
:) HELLO MONEYPENNIES!!! And Good Morning. :)
Thanx so much for checking out my post. I'm actually holding the book I bought on Bond's history in the movies. Loads of pix and color. The cd of the music looks like a girl painted in gold, with a gun in her hand. Isn't John Barry just a wonderful composer? He did mix it up in the Bond flix, to have the urgency and the lilting romance...depending on what the scene required. You have 007 on your phone, Miss G? Ha-ha. Distinctive. Now we've just got to get you within ringing distance of Daniel Craig. And what a cool gift for Alice, the soundtrack to "Skyfall" or is the song on a recent Adele album, Jack? That song is fabulous. The last time I saw the movie ( my third time ) I sat in what I call postage stamp seats. My friends wanted to sit in the balcony area ( ack! Something about being too close gives them headaches. ( ACK!!!! ) Being 100 miles away ( well it wasn't...but it felt like it ) I could see the entire screen in a glance, rather than in my usual third row center seat. It was a different perspective ( I never sit far back. ) Well this time watching the movie and the credits, I really felt Adele's voice pulling me down into the abyss. I took very few breaths during the whole sequence. I watched as the title sequence told the whole story of the movie. And Adele's voice was chilling. Actually, I like how you put it better, Jaxxon: "smoky, sad, triumphant." It's wild, but by then end of her singing, and we see crumbling stags and a house on fire and flying dragons and his blonde eyelashes...I felt quite breathless. I felt like I went through...something.

On a slightly different note, I have been absolutely addicted to watching the CRITERION COLLECTION of trailers for their DVD releases. Watching trailers of movies I haven't seen is interesting but watching their trailers for movies I HAVE seen, is a different experience altogether. I found this one stunning. Laughton is such a pixie in one of the clips! ( Sorry if I'm talking about stuff you already know about. Just call me a kid in a candy store...with an old lady's body. )

[youtube][/youtube]

( How I got an old lady's body. I'll never know... )
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JackFavell
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Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by JackFavell »

I just love those Criterion 3 reasons vids, they are so compelling! I spent a morning going through them myself just a month ago. Laughton is wonderful because he can be funny at the same time as chilling.

The best Bond songs are very interesting because they encompass a strange feeling of danger, sexiness, sadness, and rising power all at the same time.
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Re: Bond, James Bond

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You have 007 on your phone, Miss G? Ha-ha. Distinctive. Now we've just got to get you within ringing distance of Daniel Craig.

He can give me a call any time. :D

[youtube][/youtube]
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Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by RedRiver »

The best Bond songs are very interesting because they encompass a strange feeling of danger, sexiness, sadness, and rising power all at the same time.

Yes they do, Wendy. That's the best description I've ever heard.

(YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE) This is really the prettiest of all the Bond songs. John Barry evokes different emotions with all his songs. This song, the violins...the strings at the end, the way he holds them...break my heart. What a pretty song.

Indeed. It sounds like a thrilling, but apprehensive dream. What's going to happen? I'm not sure. But I can't wait to find out! This is a beautiful, delicate song.

Tom Jones is the definitive masculine voice of James Bond

I was in a music store and "The Green, Green Grass of Home" was playing. A pair of very young gentlemen commented on the power of the vocal. A verse later one of them said, "Listen to this guy! He's ripping his heart to shreds. Who is that guy?" I told them it was unmistakably Tom Jones. Of course, they'd never heard of him. But I'll bet a singer would be honored by that reaction all the same.

(GOLDFINGER) WHO can name that song in two notes???

Even FRAZIER's family can sing this classic! The best known song, and movie, of this phenomenal 50 year run.

To think it all started with this little ditty.

Underneath the mango tree
Me honey and me can watch for the moon
Underneath the mango tree
Me honey and me make boolooloop soon
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MissGoddess
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Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by MissGoddess »

Even FRAZIER's family can sing this classic!
Ha!!!
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Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by movieman1957 »

With all the Bond themes I won't mind if I never hear "Nobody Does It Better" again. I guess it was so overplayed back in 1977 I'm still worn out on it. "All Time High" may be the one I care for the least.

One I really like because it has a good rhythm and an interesting hook is "The World Is Not Enough." But I think the catalog is so interesting over the years. A wide range of music and talent.
Chris

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Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by Rita Hayworth »

Spy Who Loved Me ... Carly Simon

Nobody does it better

[youtube][/youtube]

Nobody does it better
Makes me feel sad for the rest
Nobody does it half as good as you
Baby, you're the best

I wasn't lookin', but somehow you found me
I tried to hide from your love light
But like heaven above me
The spy who loved me
Is keeping all my secrets safe tonight

And nobody does it better
Though sometimes I wish someone could
Nobody does it quite the way you do
Why'd you have to be so good?


The way that you hold me
Whenever you hold me
There's some kind of magic inside you
That keeps me from runnin'
But just keep it comin'
How'd you learn to do the things you do?

And nobody does it better
Makes me feel sad for the rest
Nobody does it half as good as you
Baby, baby
Darling, you're the best
Baby, you're the best
Baby, you're the best


Lyrics in bold ... always gave me goosebumps when I hear it ... Every Week I listen to this You Tube and in my mind ... the lyrics in bold is how I feel about 007 James Bond ... The Ultimate Super Spy. There is nobody does it better ... and this is my Number 1 James Bond Theme Song of All Time ... I love Carly Simon and I heard her sing this once and I was so happy that day.

I just dig it ...
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