# Bad News: Mendes to Direct Next Bond **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 11, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237 "2013-07-11T17:19:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/1 "2013-07-11T17:19:54Z")
Sam Mendes, who directed the mess that is _Skyfall_ will [direct the next installment](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23268463). Hopefully it will not feature a complete inexplicable and ridiculous plot and a female protagonist that Bond can actually have sexy time with without making you feel disgusted. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/2 "2013-07-11T17:25:39Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Sam Mendes, who directed the mess that is _Skyfall_ That’s like… your opinion, man. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/3 "2013-07-11T17:28:07Z")
I thought the direction was the only redeeming feature of _Skyfall_. The movie looked gorgeous, but I would blame the writer(s) and producers for the silly mess that they called a story. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/4 "2013-07-11T17:38:54Z")
Bond’s dalliances are supposed to be gritty and non gushy/romantic. That’s a small part of why I enjoyed Skyfall and why I was irritated with that Vesper tramp in Casino Royal. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/5 "2013-07-11T17:53:28Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Bond’s dalliances are supposed to be gritty and non gushy/romantic. That’s a small part of why I enjoyed Skyfall and why I was irritated with that Vesper tramp in Casino Royal. It’s not that the dalliances are gritty, its that the woman is a sex-slave and Bond still comes on to her, because…Bond. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/6 "2013-07-11T17:58:13Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > It’s not that the dalliances are gritty, its that the woman is a sex-slave and Bond still comes on to her, because…Bond. I know. Awesome, right?! 😃 Seems women are largely disposable to Bond. What’s more disposable than a sex slave? Also, I’m too lazy to go back and review the various other Bond girls through history but something tells me she’s not the first disposable sex slave in the franchise. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/7 "2013-07-11T18:32:54Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > a female protagonist that Bond can actually have sexy time with without making you feel disgusted. Why start now? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/8 "2013-07-11T18:48:27Z")
I take it you guys watch movies and don’t read books. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/9 "2013-07-11T18:52:33Z")
What’s a “books”? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/10 "2013-07-11T18:54:43Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I take it you guys watch movies and don’t read books. 🙂 Or watch Bond movies. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/11 "2013-07-11T19:01:41Z")
> [@quicksilver](#): > > what’s a “books”? nm. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/12 "2013-07-11T19:47:26Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Sam Mendes, who directed the mess that is _Skyfall_ … Hmm…really? Over a $ billion in ticket sales and rave reviews… I suppose you are still pissed off that Peter Jackson’s LOTR and Hobbit were also such colossal flops. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/13 "2013-07-11T19:52:41Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > Hmm…really? > Over a $ billion in ticket sales and rave reviews… > > I suppose you are still pissed off that Peter Jackson’s LOTR and Hobbit were also such colossal flops. I don’t think he called it a flop, just a mess. I disagree, as I rather liked Skyfall, but still. I think it was worse than Casino Royale, but slightly bigger than the very underrated Quantum of Solace. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/14 "2013-07-11T20:01:16Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I don’t think he called it a flop, just a mess. I disagree, as I rather liked Skyfall, but still. I think it was worse than Casino Royale, but slightly bigger than the very underrated Quantum of Solace. They’re flops (to me) as far as bond movies go. They’re good movies on their own, but I want super cheesy, over-the-top Bond things to happen, all while wearing a tuxedo. The only time Bond should bleed is when Ivana Onatopp gets too freaky and bites his lip too hard. Not in an interrogation chair coupled with testicular trauma. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/15 "2013-07-11T20:02:57Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Seems women are largely disposable to Bond. What’s more disposable than a sex slave? Also, I’m too lazy to go back and review the various other Bond girls through history but something tells me she’s not the first disposable sex slave in the franchise. Bond promised his protection to two women in _Skyfall_ and they both wound up getting killed. Not a great track record for a super spy. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/16 "2013-07-11T20:06:24Z")
> [@pancakes3](#): > > The only time Bond should bleed is when Ivana Onatopp gets too freaky and bites his lip too hard. Not in an interrogation chair coupled with testicular trauma. Right from the novel. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/17 "2013-07-11T20:28:02Z")
> [@Mrs.Cake](#): > > I thought the direction was the only redeeming feature of _Skyfall_. The movie looked gorgeous, but I would blame the writer(s) and producers for the silly mess that they called a story. The “look” of a movie is generally more the responsibility of the cinematographer (in this case, the esteemed Roger Deakins who had been the d.p. for the Coen Brothers since Fargo and many other well-regarded films) and the production designer (Dennis Gassner, also a frequent Coen collaborator). The director is responsible for coordinating the actors and crew, providing overall “vision” for how scenes are executed, and making judgments about when the story and dialogue do not work in execution. While it is sometimes the case that the director is hired simply to execute a script with minimal creative input it seems unlikely that Mendes–recruited from outside the Eon Productions stable to bring fresh talent–had no input into the story. And regardless of how beautiful the film was, the story and pacing was a complete mess, with a film that was easily thirty minutes longer than it needed to be, a cold open that was possibly the least exciting chase scene in a Bond film since the Roger Moore era, and a bunch of inclusions that were clearly just sops to the fans (such as the DB-5 tricked out with machine guns and ejector seat…why would the modern Bond have such a thing?) In fact, the entire plot seemed to be a convolution of two of the worst Bond movies ever made: _The Man With The Golden Gun_ and _The World Is Not Enough_. If you are going to crib from prior movies in the franchise, at least pick some decent films. Sure, it made a lot of money, but then, so did the _Transformers_ movies, and no one is suggesting that these have elevated the quality of modern blockbusters. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/18 "2013-07-11T20:30:40Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > a bunch of inclusions that were clearly just sops to the fans (such as the DB-5 tricked out with machine guns and ejector seat…why would the modern Bond have such a thing?) Aw, man! ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/19 "2013-07-11T20:36:29Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Bond promised his protection to two women in _Skyfall_ and they both wound up getting killed. Not a great track record for a super spy. Oh, like he was actually going to call them the next day! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237/20 "2013-07-11T20:46:29Z")
You mean computer hackers _can’t_ program office buildings to blow up? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-news-mendes-to-direct-next-bond/663237.md?page=2)