u/False_Strawberry6145

It’s a pretty obvious thing that we all associate and even define the character of Thomas Shelby is because Cillian Murphy mastered it all. And I don’t know whether or not this was a official story or just a stupid rumour… but i have read many times that when Steven Knight was casting for the show and finding the lead for Thomas Shelby, he had also considered very close to have Jason Statham play Thomas Shelby were Cillian Insisted on being cast as Thomas Shelby because he was actually an actor - unlike Jason Statham that is more kind of the same kind of character in most of his work. Jason Statham had actually worked with Steven Knight prior to Peaky Blinders doing The action film “Redemption” with Jason Statham in the lead. It was praised by many fans of Statham for actually have him act Diffrently or give off more emotions than usual for this role.

Now I probably gonna get those comments that either say “Why!!! Jason Statham is a big nothing burger abd just a Action star, not an actor like Cillian… he would’ve ruined the whole show eeeeehjhhhh” or “this is just a stupid rumour on the internet nothing serious gjgjgjhgk”. And while these are also fair points. Let’s try to look at it this way. If Jason Statham had said yes to star as Thomas Shelby and Cillian Murphy was never cast anyway as Thomas Shelby. Do you think it would still hold up?

For my money - I think there are parts of the character he would nail, I am a pretty big Jason Statham - even though i dont defend the critique that he essentially plays the same character and has basically done that for 20 years or so. But i wouldn’t deny that Jason Statham does have a imposing and intimidating aura over him, but weirdly enough… I actually think he fits more Arthur Shelby than Thomas. Because there are more aspects of Thomas Shelby Im more doubtful whether or not Jason Statham could commit to that. Also because he has talked about that he is more dedicated to do his Action films more than legit Drama work.

They are soon to release Season 4 of Reacher, and is also in the doing of also doing Spin-offs (like with soon to be released Neagley) there are more than 20+ books to be adapted, and while they could maybe do it… I don’t think it’s likely we’re gonna get 30+ seasons adapting each all the novels. But in some way - I don’t think we’re neither gonna only get like say 6 seasons.

But how many seasons do you think we’re gonna get in total.

I actually think we could get up to 8-10 seasons, or maybe a bit more

He is a German Director that started out directing a lot of German Projects, but turned over to direct more Hollywood TV Productions - like The Terror, Patrick Melrose and Your Honor. Not really much have I heard people talk about these shows in general. But he got his first really big acclaim after making the German WWII Netflix War film Im Westen nichts Neues (All Quiet on the Western Front) and then followed it up with another Academy Nominated Film Conclave (2024) his latest project Ballad of a Small Player from last year, I haven’t heard many talk about it - other than it was released to Netflix starring Colin Farrell. He is set to direct a Jason Bourne Reboot film - were there are plans to recast the role of Jason Bourne or just shift main character again.

I actually think his kind of status allign more with how Marc Forster and Sam Mendes career was pre their Bond films. I actually think he could do a Bond film after Villeneuve. What are your guys thoughts

This is a pretty discussed topic on this Thread, but I still want to hear all people that has watched the show - how they felt about the ending and Season 4 as a whole compared to the rest of the show. But also just generally.

For me personally - it’s easily my least favourite Season of them all. I love this show to death, but it actually sometimes make me a bit sad how this could’ve easily been maybe the most underrated perfect show (Imo) from start to finish. But I think they made Season 4 a bit too much about something I wasn’t very interested in, and made that be the main focus - instead of focusing on more exciting things instead. Like instead of having Season 4 be about Hood trying to find Job - but also go up against the Neo Nazi’s, we get instead a Murder Mystery that leads into this random satanic cult that I really don’t care much for as a main storyline. But also it just ends a bit abruptly for me, like are we just gonna ignore the beef between Proctor and Hood. I always saw it as the show being cancelled by Cinemax, but they got the chance to do like a forced final season to properly end the show.

- but Jonathan Tropper said that the decision of ending the show on Season 4 was entirely based on his own decision, because he was focused on wanting to end the show while it was still loved and not just continued too long for the fans to feel like it used to be good. And while I respect his opinion, I still think it wasn’t as Naturally an ending for the show as he felt. It felt more forced to me, than natural. I also hear him state that they originally had a 5 season Outline, and after hearing that - it was obvious to me that the show should’ve been at least 5 season’s long. Like were we had Season 4 be more as I wished. Focused more on the Neo Nazi’s and getting Job Back, and then have maybe the Murder Mystery as a secondary storyline or entirely scrap it (or save it for Season 5) and then have Season 5 be a Proctor Vs Hood season to end it all of with.

I saw the show as being better for every season, but still loving every season up till Season 4. It was the only season that wasn’t better than the prior. But overall there is still things to like about it, but for Banshee’s standards it was underwhelming for me.

How about you Guys, what are your thoughts?

Im not particularly good at pointing out certain fighting styles.

I know that John Wick uses BJJ

But does James Bond have a Signature fighting style like John Wick, or is it very Cerebral his fighting style

Im not counting from Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig’s Era.

I think more between Terence Young that directed Dr. No, From Russia with Love and Thunderball. Guy Hamilton that directed Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die and The Man with The Golden Gun. Lewis Gilbert that directed You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. And then Peter R. Hunt that only directed On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, but was involved as a Second Unit Director and Editor for the prior James Bond to her Directorial Debut On Her Majesty’s Secret Service - that was the first thing he directed as the main Director. And lastly John Glen that directed For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill. Like Peter R. Hunt, John Glen was also heavily involved in the Prior Bond Productions prior to his Debut as a Bond Director. He was a Second Unit Director and Editor on On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker like Peter R. Hunt prior to their Directing Roles In the Bond franchise.

I would say Terence Young was the best one at establishing Tone and create more straight up Espionage films, than the more larger Action spectacle that was introduced later on. But he had also some pacing issues with some of his films, that might date his work for newer Bond viewers.

Guy Hamilton was one that was good at making James Bond films that blended in different cultures, but also doing more Campy or Entertaining Bond Films overall. But his films for some could maybe get a bit too much campy for some.

Lewis Gilbert was the best one to do larger Aspects and larger set pieces as a Director. I would say that I think he doesn’t have really a inherent issue with him, other than sometimes he would maybe be a better technical Director than Storyteller.

Peter R. Hunt was overall a Director that I think had the best Visual Imagery and had the best Director’s flair were you could see he had a certain style that he implemented in to his Film. I respect if people would put him in the top spot. But for me personally, I think that his fight scenes is a bit dated for my own taste with the quick cuts and zooms he did. I also believe he did some speed up shots during some action scenes.

And lastly John Glen that is might the best Action Director of them all. But I think his films did have some strong themes, but at the same time his style was not as inherent as maybe Peter R. Hunt or Lewis Gilbert. So for some, despite defining a Era of Bond with doing Bond Movies in the 80’s. He might lack some flavour that others maybe had more.

Personally, I would say that I enjoyed Guy Hamilton’s movies more. But I think that there are things that I enjoy about Lewis Gilbert and Peter R. Hunt’s Directors Trademarks also. I might be honest and say that I don’t really find Terence Young to be that great of an Director, even though I respect his character work. And I also like John Glen for his action set pieces.

What are your guys opinion?

Now I haven’t read the book (not much of a Book reader) so by some quick points i could get out of Wikipedia and the official Fandom site for James Bond. But if someone that has read the book can maybe help me understand the parallels and differences between the Book from the film, I would be glad about that.

So I have watched Live and Let Die multiple times over the course of the week, I don’t know why (it’s just one of those times I guess) but what I really like about the film is how the movie also kind of takes inspiration from the back then Blaxploitation movies like Shaft and try to blend it in very well with the usual Bond formula. It’s like a Bond film meets a Gangster film from the 70’s.

I love, love LOVE the music both the music composed by George Martin, but also Paul McCartney’s Track number “Live and Let Die” is iconic (even though it would be nice if they also had broad in a Black Artist from the 70’s that could make a Bond track that was more imbedded in the Blaxploitation kind of style - like Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Isaac Hayes, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, James Brown or Barry White) but both the track and the score has really begun to be one of my favourites.

I also think that Roger Moore’s Debut is very fun and he seems to blend right into the character.

The Villains are also extraordinary in my mind. I like Yaphet Kotto as Kananga and Mr. Big. I find Tee Hee to be an iconic Villain. And the Hat wearing Voodoo Man is also a bit fun along side Whisper is a fun Villain.

Im also a big defender of Sheriff J.W. Pepper, I find him to be very entertaining.

Overall a fun Bond film.

But I think for some of the things that I have learned of the book, some of the things Im happy they modernised or changed. Some things I would’ve liked that they were like they were in the novel. I specially look at the ending, Felix’s Involvement and the scene were James Bond gets his finger Broken.

There is also some part of me that want a real adaptation of Live and Let Die, but maybe modernise or change some of the things for the better. Just to see how it would turn out as good as the film