Hey, Scott, long-time reader, first-time e-mailer. Something I've been thinking of, might be worth sharing with the blog: Have you ever thought of certain actors as right for certain movie franchises? I was re-reading a review of "Die Hard" that talked about "Hans Gruber is the best Bond villain not in a Bond movie" and realized Alan Rickman would kill it as a Bond bad guy. I've always found it ironic that they cast Christopher Walken as a Bond villain before he entered his batshit over the top acting period and Bardem was great in "Skyfall" too.
I know sometimes offbeat is best (Look at how Marvel movies work with Downey, Evans and Hemsworth) but ever thought of some guys who should be used in certain franchises? Personally, I'm shocked the "Fast & the Furious" guys haven't found a way to get Samuel L. Jackson a role, he'd be fantastic in those. And hoping "Expendables 3" realizes Nicolas Cage would be a good fit there.
Any options to you?
Michael Weyer
First off, Mike, I know you sent this one to Scott, but I think he sent it to me because it's more my area. So, apologies if you're bummed that Homer As Krusty The Clown came to your birthday as opposed to the real Krusty. When I saw the subject line in my inbox, I thought Scott was sending me some kinda movie-audition press release. For a second I thought it was finally my chance to play Barry Burton from Resident Evil.
Honestly, I think the reason that people say Gruber would be a great Bond villain is because of his accent, and because of the fact he could talk about men's suits and industrialization all day. Gruber wouldn't fit in the Bond world, because all he wanted was money. He didn't want to carve "Bond is Gay" into the face of the moon, or send a nuke to the center of the Earth in order resurrect a bunch of Nazi-Zombies, or turn a clean-energy device into a nuke bomb and pack it around in 3 different trucks while Batm---oh wait.
Jackson would work in the Fast series, because then he could wild out and be the Sam Jackson from the 90's, and not have to bring the reigns in, per Star Wars & Marvel films. I'd like to see Scott Adkins [He was the guy who fought Statham in Ex 2, he's also been in a slew of other pretty decent films] in the series as well. Playing up the completely insane, martial arts bad-ass.Action movies are always best when there's a character like that. Matter of fact, team him up with Mel Gibson for Fast 10. That'd be an awesome combo. Really, I don't get the clamoring for Nick Cage to be in EX3. Unless he's going to play Cameron Poe, with the hair and all, I'm not all that interested. Now Seagal? I'll create a kickstarter fund just to get his fee paid if it means he'll be in the next one. I got to live out a dream by seeing Van Damme back on the big screen, being a bad-ass, and finally getting his due with EX2, now I'm hoping the same for Seagal. I'd also love to see Sho Kosugi, but that's a long shot if there ever was one.
I've never seen you as Homer/Krusty.
ReplyDeleteYou're more Barney filling in at Kamp Krusty...
"Well, what do you think? I slapped a clown suit on some wino?"
"Yeah Bart, I am SO Krunchy the Klown!"
SO Ronda Rousey in Expendables 3. Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteI'd vote for that. Angelina Jolie should be in it too (no matter how high-minded she thinks she is, she's basically an action movie actress.)
ReplyDeleteI'd be insulted if that wasn't so funny
ReplyDeleteMeh. That Carla girl is in it so far too, I believe. Honestly, they need to quit throwing in these flash in a pan types. If they're going to give us action chicks, give us the real action chicks. Sigourney, Kate Beckensale, and dammit, Cynthia Rothrock, even though I'll be the only one who geeks out.
ReplyDeleteOh, snap. I love Cynthia Rothrock. The last thing I remember seeing her in was Hercules: Legendary Journeys, but I bet she can still go.
ReplyDeleteWow, someone else who knows who she is. Dude, high-five for Rothrock.
ReplyDeleteEverytime someone mentions Nicholas Cage, someone watches CAGE RAGE!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP1-oquwoL8
Several James Bond villains only wanted money (Auric Goldfinger, Dr. Kananga, Franz Sanchez and Le Chiffre for example.) However, I'd agree that Gruber wouldn't be a very good pick. The best Bond villains are distorted reflections of the main character (Red Grant, Scaramanga, Sanchez again, Silva.) There isn't a trace of James Bond in that slimeball. If anything, Gruber would be a Dominic Greene-like character, and he was a pretty lousy villain in "Quantum of Solace."
ReplyDeleteI never would have wanted to see a great actor like Robert Downey Jr wasted in a kids movie like iron man, but goddamnit if his portrayal of tony stark wasn't really interesting. He singlehandedly made that movie watchable for me. Now if they'd only get rid of the iron man scenes they might have a good movie
ReplyDeleteBoth Expendables movies are so, so bad.
ReplyDeleteI liked the first one a lot but hated the CGI effects. If they made that a smaller movie with pratical special effects it'd be a quality homage to 80s action.
ReplyDeleteNOt excited. I like her bouts (armBAR!) but I think this feels a little too "girl-power" forced. I agree with the below that they should've put a Mack truck full of gold bars in front of Sigourney Weaver.
ReplyDeleteI think Gruber would be fine, but with his German background and love of money, too similar to Goldfinger.
ReplyDeleteMichael Fassbender's Magneto (sans superpowers) would be a good foil - and in fact - a good Bond.
What's the best bond movie in your opinion? My faves are Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only, and Thunderball.
ReplyDeleteThey gotta put Kurt Russell in the next Expendables; he's the only 80s action star that hasn't appeared in one yet. Plus, then I can make Tango and Cash jokes when he and Stallone do scenes together .
ReplyDeleteI have to go with Craig's Casino Royale. Not only do I think it's the best Bond film, I flat out think it's one of the best action movies I've ever seen. It's absolutely fantastic. Goldeneye was another great one, as was From Russia With Love.
ReplyDeleteYou know, they didn't use much CGI, only in a few spots, but I do agree that it looked really out of place in the film and they should have just gone for the practical effects. Thankfully the only CGI they had in part 2 was when the motorcycle crashed into the helicopter.
ReplyDeleteSeagal was pretty bad ass in Machete.
ReplyDeleteWhich reminds me that 'm really looking forward to Machete Kills!
It was the blood for me in the first one. Every time, CG Blood Splatter. Is it too difficult to fill some condoms with red paint here, folks?
ReplyDeleteYeah, they used a fair amount of CG blood, which bothered me a bit, but thankfully it wasn't over-used. At least they used practical effects when they blew the pirate in half. That was fantastic.
ReplyDeleteShe's still the best female martial arts actor in north america, but with the hardon hollywood has for CGI and excessive wire work that doesn't count for much anymore. I would like to see just a cameo by Jija Yanin for afight scene
ReplyDeletehttp://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=EFL8s1U8iWg
All of those and liked Spy Who Loved Me, great action bits and thought "For Your Eyes Only" underrated, more low-tech and the one moment where Moore's Bond is a true bad-ass when he kicks a bad guy's car off a cliff. Plus, Goldeneye and Skyfall.
ReplyDeleteSaw a recent interview with Rothrock, still in great shape and sure she could totally kick ass if need be, loving if they ever sign her on.
ReplyDeleteAnd hey, why not throw another '90's action star a bone and get Don "The Dragon" Wilson?
God Nicholas Cage was on fire in the mid '90s with Con Air, Face/Off and The Rock..
ReplyDeleteLinda Hamilton.
ReplyDeleteThey totally need to cast Robert Z'Dar to play one of the henchman. That guy never gets enough praise. Very hard working character actor who has done more than his share of shitty movies but his performances are usually the only saving grace of said shitty movies. He also had by far the best performance in "Tango & Cash". If anybody deserves another shot at the big screen, it's him.
ReplyDeleteAll of those films were great but I would have to go with "License To Kill" because of Robert Davi's great over the top performance and also because of Timothy Dalton being a criminally underrated Bond (not in the same league as Connery and Craig but definitely better than Moore and Brosnan).
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that it took most people about 20 years to realize that he was actually a damn good Bond after all. He brought a darker, more serious edge to the character that only Daniel Craig has otherwise done whereas Connery and Moore's portrayals had a nice balance between serious and over the top campy while Brosnan turned Bond into a total cartoon character before Daniel Craig took over and saved the franchise from extinction.
And I would love for Clive Owen to be cast as a villain in a Bond movie just because of the irony. Clive's clearly still pissed about being passed over which is why he's done nothing but spy movies for the last 10 years. I guess he figures he'll get to be James Bond someday. Unfortunately for him, by the time Daniel Craig finishes up, Clive will likely be in his 60s and thus he will be way too old for the role. He needs to just accept that it's never going to happen. That said, he would be a great Bond villain for sure.
Don would be a great choice as long as you don't give him any dialogue. Just make him the calm, silent type and all is well. Speaking of great 90's stars, Bruce Payne needs to be a villain in this franchise like yesterday.
ReplyDeleteYou might as well throw $$$ at Helen Mirren while you're at it.
ReplyDeleteSaw this on another message board....the best/funniest villain for Fast & Furious 8 would be to have Nicolas Cage playing Memphis Raines.
ReplyDelete