Emag.co.uk Entertainment News Leader
John Cleese is not happy at the way the recent James Bond films have been made, branding them “humourless”.
The comedy legend appeared in the last two Bond movies starring Pierce Brosnan before he was replaced in the iconic 007 role by Daniel Craig.
Cleese appeared as Desmond Llewelyn’s assistant in The World is Not Enough before starring as Q in the follow up Die Another Day.
Yet film makers decided to take a different path after Die Another Day was panned by critics and Bond fans alike for its “ridiculous” gadgets and computer generated images.
The character of Q did not appear in Craig’s first two outings in the highly acclaimed Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. The much loved character re-appeared in Skyfall but starring Ben Whishaw.
Now Cleese says they have gone too much down the path of trying to copy the Bourne series and not sticking to the formula which has lasted since the first Bond movie Dr No in 1962.
Cleese said: “I did two James Bond movies and then I believe that they decided that the tone they needed was that of the Bourne action movies, which are very gritty and humourless.
“Also the big money was coming from Asia, from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, where the audiences go to watch the action sequences, and that’s why in my opinion the action sequences go on for too long , and it’s a fundamental flaw.
“The audiences in Asia are not going for the subtle British humour or the class jokes.”
Despite Cleese’s reservations, Skyfall proved to be the highest grossing 007 movie of all time, making over $1 billion from the global box office.
The 24th Bond movie is due to start filming next year with Craig again as 007, Whishaw returning as Q, Ralph Riennes as M and Penelope Cruz rumoured to star.
