Post by Dino on Mar 18, 2010 3:24:20 GMT -5
Just listening to this episode now (yes I know, put down the pitchfork) and Tom's right -- this was never intended to be the last Bond film or even the last Brosnan film. His contract was up, true, but he was planning to come back for the twenty-first film. That's why when they decided to do Casino Royale as a reboot, Brosnan was pretty pissed and made public statements that he was fired from the franchise.
Tom is indeed right, all the references to previous films were because it was the twentieth film and the fortieth anniversary, not because it was the final film. I remember this fact being trumpeted a lot in the press (and I may be mistaken but I think this was the first time the Collected Editions were released on DVD).
Despite the film's financial success (highest grossing until Casino Royale), it was really controversial in Asia (North Koreans hated their portrayal as warlike, South Koreans hated their portrayal as lapdogs of the Americans, and Buddhists were offended by the lovemaking scene near a statue of Buddha) and it was critically despised. Even Roger Moore said, "I thought it just went too far — and that’s from me, the first Bond in space! Invisible cars and dodgy CGI footage? Please!"
I think Derrick might be onto something with the Bourne films, though. Those were a lot more stripped down than Die Another Day and seeing the success of that (as well as Batman Begins) combined with DAD's critical reception could have been the reason why the decision was made to reboot the franchise.
They invited me back right before I went to present that film. They said: 'We're so happy with the success, we want you to come back!' I went on the road a happy man, you know. I thought we'd get a fifth and no more. That would be it, really.
And then one day the phone rang - I was here (in Nassau shooting After the Sunset) - and my agents told me that the goal posts had moved and that they had changed their minds.
And then one day the phone rang - I was here (in Nassau shooting After the Sunset) - and my agents told me that the goal posts had moved and that they had changed their minds.
Tom is indeed right, all the references to previous films were because it was the twentieth film and the fortieth anniversary, not because it was the final film. I remember this fact being trumpeted a lot in the press (and I may be mistaken but I think this was the first time the Collected Editions were released on DVD).
Despite the film's financial success (highest grossing until Casino Royale), it was really controversial in Asia (North Koreans hated their portrayal as warlike, South Koreans hated their portrayal as lapdogs of the Americans, and Buddhists were offended by the lovemaking scene near a statue of Buddha) and it was critically despised. Even Roger Moore said, "I thought it just went too far — and that’s from me, the first Bond in space! Invisible cars and dodgy CGI footage? Please!"
I think Derrick might be onto something with the Bourne films, though. Those were a lot more stripped down than Die Another Day and seeing the success of that (as well as Batman Begins) combined with DAD's critical reception could have been the reason why the decision was made to reboot the franchise.