Bring Back James Bond!

I was extremely disappointed by "Quantum". It reminded me of Bond before this wonderful film, "Casino Royale". It was like they took a script from a rejected 90's Bond film, and gave it to a rejected 90's Bond director. Bond hardly talks at all. He may have less lines than M. They're both great actors, but this film was a huge step back for Bond.

The Bond of the Doctor No movie was pretty close to the way I pictured him in the books. But that didn't last with the gadgets becoming the star of the movie. I remember in the books, Fleming aways gave the women a slight defect of some sort to make them more real. He also made Bond human. He felt fear and regret the way people do. That wouldn't go well with Hollywood though. Look at how the movie going audience responded to the book ending of On Her Madjesty's Secret Service with Bond's wife being killed and with him not getting even. They hated it!
Bond died with Ian Fleming and I suppose that's the way it should be. Authors writing new Bond novels, trying to revive James Bond should know better. He was a character of his time 1953-1964. Rest in Peace!

Daniel Craig's Bond, with his simmering good looks and close-to-the-surface emotional pain - and the connection he's developed with the brilliant Judi Dench's M - is the only one I'd pay to see. I hope they keep the current cast and dark filmic tone for a long time.

Okay, let's be honest: How many guys who who think James Bond movies are great are going to have the intellect to understand the phrase "Quantum of Solace"?

I don't think Bond movies necessarily have to deal with today's terrorism. To be honest, it's sometimes difficult for me to tell differestnces between modern bond movies and other action films such as M.I., and Twenty-Four. In my opinion, stories of BOnd movies should be of Cold War. The Good Shepherd, for instance, is a story of Cold War, yet it made a great success even today. So why not Bond movies deal with Cold War only? What I want to see in Bond movies is spy vs spy, country vs country, and European elegance of good old days, not spy vs terrorists nor crude manners.

I don't think Bond movies necessarily have to deal with today's terrorism. To be honest, it's sometimes difficult for me to tell differestnces between modern bond movies and other action films such as M.I., and Twenty-Four. In my opinion, stories of BOnd movies should be of Cold War. The Good Shepherd, for instance, is a story of Cold War, yet it made a great success even today. So why not Bond movies deal with Cold War only? What I want to see in Bond movies is spy vs spy, country vs country, and European elegance of good old days, not spy vs terrorists nor crude manners.

Hey, even 'GWTW' didn't follow the book. Neither did '2001'. So what. Everybody needs to stop taking movies so seriously.

I agree with kshortsd...Craig is the best Bond yet...I have seen Casino Royale so many times it's sick....I have been a fan since the Sean Connery days, from reading the books to seeing all the movies Craig is more like the book, the best Bond so far!

The Bond of the books may be different from the Bond of the films, but Fleming himself was a friend of the movie franchise. Though he wasn't pleased with Connery's casting at first, once he saw Dr. No, he became a fan. So demanding a return of "true" Bond is ridiculous when the guy who created him had no problems with the films (at least the early ones). And to revisit the original source material (which is what Mr. Barry is whining about), all one needs to do is visit the library.

Your description of Fleming's short story (a.k.a. "QOS") was as perfect and succint as one could write. What a wonderful gift you have!

I admit I haven't read the books, but I always enjoyed the Bond movies while growing up. Now that I've gotten a glimse of the more stoic, brutal Bond that Craig has brought to the screen, I don't think I'll be able to enjoy the older movies the same way. Hopefully, we'll get plenty more 007 movies with Daniel Craig!

Has Barry even read Fleming's books? Bond is no bureaucrat--fighting, flying, jumping, screwing, drinking, taking drugs, gambling, kiling. Please. Where does Newsweek get these people?

Has Mr. Barry even read the Fleming novels? Dear Lord, Bond was anything but a civil servant, jetting to and fro, beating people and getting beaten within an inch of his life, bedding anything was soft and compliant (nearly all women in Fleming's books). Agent of the government, yes. Bureaucrat? Hardly. Craig's Bond is closer to anything Fleming imagined as Bond than anyone but Connery and he had his detractors from the start. Barry is out of it.

I agree, though I do see the reasoning behind the difference. I enjoy the books thoroughly, and as in other stories, the movies being different, I enjoy them differently. matto and amuscularguy, you aren't even close to missing the point, it's obviously beyond you.

I couldn't dissagree more. James Bond has evolved. Why go back to the past boring James Bond movies of old? The James Bond movie franchise was failing before they brought in Daniel Craig and now Marc Forester. Gone are the campy movies of old with Pierce Brosnan and finally we have a hard/cold James Bond that practices his "diplomacy" like a bad _ss!! This isn't a chick movie....if you don't like it stay home. Ohh...and the comparison's to the Bourne movies are ridiculous. Unlike the Bourne movies which shake the cammera every time there is a fight scene (which ruins the movie), one can actually make out what happens in the fight scenes when watching the Bond movies.

While your article is interesting, it makes a reader wonder if you actually saw the movie because while the title is borrowed, it refers to the organization "Quantum" and its Solace by Bond.

I agree wholeheartedly. I started reading the Bond novels as a teenager and still reread them to this day.

The movie-Bond has swung from the suave Connery to the ludicrous Roger Moore. In Goldfinger the buzzsaw of the book which was to cut Bond in two became a laser beam in the film. The gadgets rule the day ...

I too would dearly love a period adaptation of say Diamonds are Forever or Live and Let Die. Sigh. Most people can't imagine the world of the Cold War. Just look at what was done with the remake of Day of the Jackal. What happened to Charles de Gaulle? :)