Are these sequels?

[bigred760]

Are the James Bond movies, post-Dr. No, a sequel? I've thought about this for some time and can't quite make up my mind.

I mean, there is no specific number to these, like "James Bond 3: Goldfinger." It's really not necessary to watch a previous Bond movie to know what's going on in another. There is a small exception: his wife's death - but it's really not a necessity for most of them.

What do people think?

[Ted Pikul]

Not so much sequels as variations on a theme.

[max zorin]

Originally posted by Ted Pikul
Not so much sequels as variations on a theme.

For the most part I agree with Ted, rarely do they mention or make reference to a previous Bond film....other than the fore mentioned Death of his wife.

They could be considered sequels if we look at how often SPECTRE and Blofeld showed up in the films:

Dr. No
From Russia with Love
You Only Live Twice
Diamonds are Forever
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
For your Eyes only: Beginning sequence Bond kills Blofeld,

Since Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan took the Bond Roles, all films since would have to be considered variations on the theme...

Interesting to think about....:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Ted Pikul]

OHMSS was virtually disowned by EON until being belatedly acknowledged years later in For Your Eyes Only so even Bond being married & widowed can't be taken as a given in historical & certainly not sequential terms.

[max zorin]

Originally posted by Ted Pikul
OHMSS was virtually disowned by EON until being belatedly acknowledged years later in For Your Eyes Only so even Bond being married & widowed can't be taken as a given in historical & certainly not sequential terms.

True...but don't forget Theresa de Vicenzo aka Tracy Bond was given some form of mention in two other Bond films besides being a key character in OHMSS.

Roger Moore visits her grave at the beginning of For Your Eyes Only.

License to Kill, Lighter makes mention of Bond being married once.

I don't think it should be viewed as being sequential, but it does give the audience a quick reminder that Bond has a tragic past. Parents killed in a mountain climbing accident, (Goldeneye) wife murdered moments after the wedding ceremony. (OHMSS). Makes you feel for the guy. I'm getting all choked up thinking about it...

As for EON disowning OHMSS...do you blame them?

[Ted Pikul]

Definitely.

It's a brilliant film. The only Bond film which works as a stand alone entry in my view.

[bob]

Originally posted by Ted Pikul
Definitely.

It's a brilliant film. The only Bond film which works as a stand alone entry in my view.

I think Goldfinger and Dr. No would work by their lonesome wonderfully, but I agree that OHMSS was quite good, especially Diana Rigg.

Seriously, was any woman in the sixties the same mixture of Classy and ridiculously hot?

[max zorin]

Originally posted by bob
I think Goldfinger and Dr. No would work by their lonesome wonderfully, but I agree that OHMSS was quite good, especially Diana Rigg.

Seriously, was any woman in the sixties the same mixture of Classy and ridiculously hot?

I agree with Bob, Diana Rigg is seriously hot...loved the cat suit from the Avengers...ouch..

Are the Bond films sequential?
With what has been said so far in this thread I would have to say No.

I agree OHMSS, although not my favourite, could stand alone, as is the case for Goldfinger and Dr No as pointed out by Bob.

TSWLM, License to Kill, Goldeneye, and Russia with Love could very easily stand alone also.

With that said, I'm going to put on OHMSS, pour myself a beer and watch the movie again and appreciate it for what it is....

Cheers

[Ted Pikul]

Licence To Kill is a strange film.

Timothy Dalton is brilliant in it but it just feels like a generic revenge thriller of the sort Charlie Bronson would churn out.

Michael Kamen's score doesn't help either as you keep thinking you're stuck in the middle of a Lethal Weapon film.

[bob]

Yeah, when looking at the Bond films I tend to agree with the "variations on a theme" theory, as each actor has kind of had their way with the character to make the films more unique...the films as well as the character change often enough so the series doesn't suffer from sequelitis and get stale.