Glad I'm not the only one who both recognises the difference and also likes the old ones better. Just before I read Spronk's post I thought of the Austin Powers films and how they would never have been made if all the Bond films had been as dark and gritty as the Craig ones are. Will be interesting if what is said here are true that the next film will be a bit more like the classics.
The thing about Bond films is that they are not meant to be generic spy flicks. And what differentiates a Bond flick from a generic spy flick is not just the Martini, shaken not stirred, hitting on Moneypenny, and some gambling. The films are formulated feel-good films. When you start watching a Bond films you've never seen before you know beforehand that Bond's going to win, the bad guy will loose and Bond will get the girl. The best Bond villains have been those that no-one would believe exist in real. Eccentric, rich, psychopaths who live on their own fortress island/submarine base/space ship, have their own private army and dream of world domination/destruction.
The only Bond film I haven't seen is Quantum of Solace, and from all I've heard of it it's regarded pretty poorly, mostly for the plot (some corporate big-wig want's to privatise the watersupply in some South American shithole so he can reap more profits IIRC). Wtf is that? The news at 10?
I think Bond films are a lot like superhero films. No-one is supposed to believe that this is real. It's not as if you walk out of a Batman film thinking Bill Gates must done a cape and fight crime in Seattle in his spare time. Doesn't make superhero films any less good (if they are well made). Same with Bond. Give me the cheesy one liners, the over the top Q gadgets, the extravagant villain and the world domination plot that only Bond can stop, the fast cars and faster women, and the tongue in cheek humour and you've got yourself a good Bond film.
The thing about Bond films is that they are not meant to be generic spy flicks. And what differentiates a Bond flick from a generic spy flick is not just the Martini, shaken not stirred, hitting on Moneypenny, and some gambling. The films are formulated feel-good films. When you start watching a Bond films you've never seen before you know beforehand that Bond's going to win, the bad guy will loose and Bond will get the girl. The best Bond villains have been those that no-one would believe exist in real. Eccentric, rich, psychopaths who live on their own fortress island/submarine base/space ship, have their own private army and dream of world domination/destruction.
The only Bond film I haven't seen is Quantum of Solace, and from all I've heard of it it's regarded pretty poorly, mostly for the plot (some corporate big-wig want's to privatise the watersupply in some South American shithole so he can reap more profits IIRC). Wtf is that? The news at 10?
I think Bond films are a lot like superhero films. No-one is supposed to believe that this is real. It's not as if you walk out of a Batman film thinking Bill Gates must done a cape and fight crime in Seattle in his spare time. Doesn't make superhero films any less good (if they are well made). Same with Bond. Give me the cheesy one liners, the over the top Q gadgets, the extravagant villain and the world domination plot that only Bond can stop, the fast cars and faster women, and the tongue in cheek humour and you've got yourself a good Bond film.