Pete-D

I think the bigger problem for EON/MGM is the thought of an R-rated Bond film.

That could keep a lot of kids out of the theater, and I don't know if they want to take that risk.

I think they should do it, but its going to take Pierce Brosnan to really back the idea for it to work.

Maybe if they could convince MGM that it's more of a "spin-off/side-story" type of film. If Brosnan will only agree to be 007 again under his terms, then MGM might as well cash in one last time off him rather than not making this picture.

Because right now, it looks like they might be in trouble as far as getting any Bond film out by 2005 because of script troubles. So Tarintino could bail them out if he could tear out a script based on the novel fast enough.

Yeah it won't gross like a regular Bond vehicle, but give it's better than having no 007 in 2005 from the suits' point of view... I would hope anyway.

Mikel_Cooperman

This is the best move the studio could make after the last two stale Bond movies.

Mark Oates

It's more likely to be outside pressure from MGM suits than problems within EON that are scuppering Bond 21. Don't forget Teri Hatcher was forced on the team by an MGM executive when they'd already cast the role. Possibly there's a suit been chatting with Tarantino about having a go at the franchise after his recent interview where he said he'd like the opportunity.

There's absolutely no reason whatsoever why a Bond film can't still be made more "down to earth" and yet still appeal to the thud-and-blunder crowd. Having said that, since Dalton and Brosnan, the OTT elements of the Bonds have been played down. Maybe it's time to go against the accepted line and do something daft.

J Mark Oates
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Ernest Rister

The Dalton films weren't flops.

1989's License to Kill total gross (foreign and domestic): $156,167,015
1988's Die Hard total gross (foreign and domestic): $138,708,852

1987's The Living Daylights domestic gross: $51,185,897
1987's The Princess Bride domestic gross: $30,857,814

License to Kill was a sharp disappointment in the US box office, grossing just over $30 million, but it was a huge hit around the world. It was the soft US gross and other internal financial difficulties that convinced the Bond producers to dump Dalton and change course.

I like all the Brosnan Bond films, with the exception of Die Another Day -- I'm not too into the over-the-top fantasy Bond films, I'm much more of a From Russia With Love, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, For Your Eyes Only Bond fan. The Brosnan Bond films seem to walk a tightrope between plausibility and wink/wink camp (as most Bond films do). Die Another Day, like Moonraker before it, just went too far in the camp direction for my taste (lairs made of ice? A North Korean fleet of Hovercraft to get over the mine fields? Yet another sun-focusing killer satellite?)

Max Leung

I really liked OHMSS and in particular "License to Kill". The latter was darker, grittier, and the "this time it's personal" story hooked me in.

A Tarantino adaption of 007 would be fantastic...

Max Payne reminds me a little of License to Kill, by the way. Max Payne - now THAT is one movie I'd love to see (directed by - who else - John Woo). (Segue to the Metroid Movie thread - cue Twilight Zone music)

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Gameshow host: "Is taking Viagra kosher during Passover dinner?"
Whoopee Goldberg: "Not if it leads to pork."
Kermit the Frog: "Hey, that's my line!"

Rob Lutter

IMHO, if they want to keep Bond fresh... this is something they need to do. People are going to get sick of the same ol' action forumla over and over again. Doing a cool and calm Bond film in the style of the original films would be interesting to see Tarantino do and wouldn't necessarily necessitate an R-rating by him. Jez, if Kevin Smith can make a PG-13 movie... anything is possible nowadays

Kevin Leonard

Put me in the camp that thinks this would be a bad idea.

The Bond films have always had faceless direction--they've been well-made, but nothing in the movies has made me say "Oh, that's a Guy Hamilton touch," or "That was totally a John Glen movie" (to use two Bond directors). The article hints that Tarantino has no intention of straying from the formula, but I'm not buying it--something tells me he'll try to make this a Quentin Tarantino film with the Bond name, as opposed to a Bond film directed by Tarantino (yes, there is a difference). I think Jason's post was the most accurate on why something like this won't happen.

I can't help but feel if Tarantino decides to do a Bond movie, it'll wind up sticking out like a sore thumb in the franchise. It'd be like letting Takashi Miike or Lars Von Trier take on a 007 entry--sure, it sounds like a cool, "hip" idea on paper, but anyone who's seen a Bond film and knows the director's previous work can see it'll be a disaster.

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Pete-D

I just don't think MGM/EON would agree to an R-rated Bond film period.

So if Tarintino had any chance prior to that it'd probably come to a screeching halt there.

I don't think a Tarintino 007 would be a "disaster". It'd be different, sure, but in some way it probably would be truer to books since QT is a stickler for things like that.

The Bond series is already pretty diverse and different IMO, ranging from "bachelor adventure films" to campy set pieces to the more modern 1990s-era 007.

I think Tarintino would have a better chance though if the series was on "break" as it was in the early 1990s.