Pierce Brosnan’s lastJames Bondmovie,Die Another Day,was a box-office bomb and a disappointing farewell, but without it we never would have got Daniel Craig’s new iteration of the character. It has been argued by many commentators thatBrosnan’s James Bond movieshad potential but never did him justice. Brosnan’s first 007 movie,GoldenEye, was rated 80% positive on Rotten Tomatoes, and virtually every aspect was praised, setting the bar high. While Brosnan’s next two Bond movies were considered middling entries,Die Another Daywas described as ludicrouson a different level, prompting a total James Bond reboot.
Casino Royale’sblack and white opening scene reset James Bond for the Daniel Craig era.
When Daniel Craig was announced asthe seventh actor to play James Bond, there was initial backlash. The most minor complaints rejected a “blond Bond”, while the more credible pointed out that Craig was mostly known for gritty action movies and playing criminals or soldiers, not the sophisticated, more subtle character that James Bond has always been. However,Craig’s James Bond erahas been regarded as one of the best of all time, and thoughCraig’s franchise reboot could not be further fromDie Another Day, it could not have happened without it.
Daniel Craig Took James Bond Back In Time (In A Good Way)
Die Another Dayrepresented a radical departure from what had previously been the Brosnan era’s strengths.GoldenEyeintroduced Brosnan’s Bond with a heartstopping dam jump, followed by Tina Turner’s dramaticGoldenEyetheme. By contrast,Die Another Dayjuxtaposes a graphic scene of torture with Madonna’s jarring electronic track. It was a sign of the movie to come, which tried and failed to bring modernity to the franchise through outlandish technology. Althoughdirector Lee Tamahori defended James Bond’s use of gadgets,Die Another Day’s gadgets appeared closer to science fiction than Bond.
What If Pierce Brosnan Had Been James Bond In Casino Royale?
Had Pierce Brosnan starred in Casino Royale, Martin Campbell’s Bond 21 would have been vastly different from Daniel Craig’s take on the character.
In a major improvement,Casino Royale’sopening scenereset James Bond for the Daniel Craig era, resembling a black-and-white film noir before exploding into Chris Cornell’s theme song.Casino Royale’s plot provides a safety net for any mistakes: Craig’s Bond has just received “00” status - he is new to being 007, andCasino Royalere-introduced James Bond tropes like martinis with Bond discovering them for the first time.Taking Bond back in time made this new portrayal believableand underlined the fact that this movie would be a total departure from the hyper-futuristic themes that madeDie Another Dayfail.
Daniel Craig’s James Bond Era Was A Reaction To Die Another Day’s Failure
One Key Scene Failed In Die Another Day, But Worked In Casino Royale
The James Bond franchise can be a little formulaic, but the right writers and cast can make an overdone concept feel new.Die Another Day’s main faultwas amplifying the core “007"features while leaving characterization, plot, and dialogue as secondary considerations. This leftDie Another Dayfeeling like a caricature of James Bond,in a different genre, and with none of Brosnan’s charm and personality. Stripping the James Bond franchise back to basics and taking it in a completely different direction with an unexpected actor was the only way to avoid James Bond movies continuing into self-parody.
It is thought to be Daniel Craig’s portrayal of the reluctant gangster known as XXXX in Layer Cake, that secured him the role of James Bond.
Die Another Day’s uncharacteristically gritty torture scene did not suit Brosnan’s Bond, whose strength was in his sophistication and comedic timing, but introduced the idea that James Bond could find himself in genuinely disturbing situations. A better actor for a scene like this was Craig, andCasino Royale’s torture scene(in which James Bond is brutally beaten with a knotted rope, yet still manages to remain in control) is a different way of showing his strength. This relative darkness that defined Craig’s James Bond era was the response needed to reboot the 007 franchise afterDie Another Day’s failure.
What The Next James Bond Movie Can Learn From Die Another Day
The Next Bond Movie Must Embrace The Individuality Of The Actor Playing 007
Bangs, explosions, and gadgets can make a fun movie, but not necessarily a great movie, andprioritizing effects over characterization, asDie Another Daydid, is a recipe for disaster.Die Another Dayappeared to assume that a James Bond movie would remain successful with the same formula, despite Brosnan’s previous Bond movies being criticized for precisely this approach.The next James Bond moviemust focus on continuing the development of James Bond as a character, and not be afraid to break with tradition and embrace the attributes that the new Bond actor will bring to the007franchise.
2 Iconic James Bond Moments Were Written For A Different 007 Actor
Two of Pierce Brosnan’s most famous James Bond scenes were not written for him at all, but for the previous Bond actor, Timothy Dalton.
Every actor who has played James Bond has brought something new to the franchise. IfDie Another Dayhad allowed Brosnan to shine on his own merit, showcasing his own take on James Bond, without the lasers and the invisible car,Die Another Daymight have been a more successful Bond movie.Casino Royaleintroduced Craig’s new James Bond perfectly, with scenes that embracedCraig’s experience in darker action movies, even if that changed theJames Bondfranchise a little, setting him up for a successful era.
James Bond
The James Bond franchise follows the adventures of British secret agent 007 as he combats global threats. With a license to kill, Bond faces off against various villains and criminal organizations, employing high-tech gadgets, espionage, and charm. The series spans multiple films, featuring exotic locations, thrilling action sequences, and memorable characters. Bond’s mission to protect the world and uphold justice remains central, making the franchise an enduring icon in the spy genre.
