They can’t keep making those films forever, can they?
So how, when, and why will they stop making Bond films?
Well, he’s regenerated four times now, and we know he can only do it a total of twelve, so … oh no, wait, that’s Doctor Who.
Well… losing the principal actor doesn’t stop them, they just hire another one. Running out of Ian Fleming stories to adapt hasn’t stopped them. What could stop them? Only something like the movie-going public losing its taste for action movies with big explosions and hot women in bikinis. Anybody see this happening? Anybody?
I think at this point it’s become like Sherlock Holmes movies. Right now they’ve fallen off from their peak but one does still trickle out every few years…
When 2 in a row fail to make money. Then they’ll pull the plug.
I can’t remember ever being excited about a new Bond movie though. I’ll probably see this one, but I’m looking forward to The Two Towers, Harry Potter, and Daredevil far more.
Most movie genres have had cyclic popularity, and when they’re on the downward slope they’ve been written off, only to see a revival later on. The same is likely to apply to action/adventure films too. I’ve read criticisms of Bond films recently that their impact is less these days because there are so many other films of a similar nature, or that depend on the same ingredients to sell them. Films like the Austin Powers ones may either encourage people to watch the Bond films, or may mean that people can’t take them seriously even on their own terms.
See how these films rate in terms of global gross takings (stats from The Movie Times):
Title Budget Box Office
# 18 Mission: Impossible 2 $125 $545.4
# 31 Mission: Impossible $ 75 $467.0
# 56 True Lies $100 $365.3
# 68 The World Is Not Enough $120 $352.0 (#149 in USA)
# 69 Goldeneye $ 60 $351.3 (#220 in USA)
# 78 Tomorrow Never Dies $110 $346.6 (#157 in USA)
#112 Minority Report $102 $296.6 (#136 in USA)
#??? Lara Croft: Tomb Raider $ 80 $224.6 (#137 in USA)
#??? XXX $ 85 $251.0 (#117 in USA)
If the public ever decides that it prefers Diesel to Brosnan, or a tattooed, bare-armed American action hero to a tuxedoed British one, or a female action heroine to a male one, and if that preference shows up in the box office (especially more than once), then they’ll stop making Bonds - until someone decides the time is right for a revival.
Boy, Goldeneye is looking pretty good.
I copied those figures from two separate tables, and of course, I ought to have put Lara Croft and XXX in reverse order.
Here’s the official site for Die Another Day if anyone’s interested. It opens tonight in the UK and Friday in the USA (which is unusual in itself).
Seven. Seven times.
Doctor Who’s regenerated seven times, Bond’s only regenerated four times. Unless you count Casino Royale, or the TV show. Which I don’t. And you can’t make me.
Simple. He’ll get too old to keep hitting home runs, and he’ll retire to become, first, batting coach for the San Francisco Giants, then General Manager.
Probably one or more of his kids will be a home run king, next.
What’s that?
James Bond?
[sub]oops.[/sub]
Beats me. IMHO, they should have ended the damn thing when everybody died at the end of Casino Royale. It’s not like they didn’t have a perfect excuse.
Bond will be around for a long, long time.
It is almost a genre by itself - the perfect mix:
Action, good vs. evil, exotic locations, wit and sex.
The day that stops selling is the day they stop making movies.
It almost certainly won’t end this way, but it should:
“Before you kill me, Blofeld, Just how were you going to destroy the Internet, blow up three major world cities, and stel the world’s supply of oxygen?”
"“I was going to tell you, Mr. Bond, before I lowered you into this tank full of alligators and sharks in a cage with water-soluble bars. But I think I’ll do this instead.”
(Shoots Bond several times and decapitates him.)
Are we talking incarnations or regenerations, as there are, of course, five official Bond incarnations.
I’m still waiting for the porno spoof of that one: Browneye: Lace AND Leather 
HIV
which means he regenerated four times. original plus four regens equals five. just like eight official Doctors 9BBC says count the TV movie guy as number 8 Doctor, 7th regen)
When will Bond movies end? [fundie] The Rapture! [/fundie]
the one time I don’t use preview… :smack:
When he’s forced into bankruptcy from all the sexual harassment suits lodged against him and has to sell his tuxedo collection.
And a stake through the heart, please. And erect a pyramid larger than Cheops’ over his grave, so he won’t come back.
GOD, I’m sick of James Bond movies. They haven’t been hip or fun since 1965.
(kaylasdad99: brilliant use of the spoiler tag, my hat’s off to you)
Bond films are popular because they epitomize every mans dream:
-Meaningless sex with hot chicks
-Cool electronic toys you never have to pay for
-Sweet ride
-Exotic travel
-Guns
-Alchohol (and an ability to drink on the job)
-No real boss to report to (just M who simply huffs and puffs and hands you a manilla folder before letting you go on your way)
-A license to kill anyone who looks at you cockeyed
What’s not to love?