The following speaks more specifically to my general movie going preferences, but when I was thinking about that I figured I'd try to fit that into my Bond preferences also. Unless it's hit-me-over-the-head obvious that it's the movie's intent and overall goal, I don't particularly enjoy wondering if at any point they (the filmmakers) are attempting to break the "4th wall" by practically winking at the camera. There's all kinds of genres for that. There are several moments in the Bond series, especially the Moore era, and sometimes the Brosnan as well, that I interpret as coming dangerously close to just that or perhaps they very intentionally do. The Austin Powers movies latched onto that and ramped it up to hilarious, comedic levels. That's why I prefer this new direction to the franchise. I don't like to give other people the chance to make fun of, that which I take serious. That doesn't mean I can't appreciate that approach to moviemaking, the comedy genre (obviously) and today's animated movies do it all the time. Airplane, Shrek and several Pixar or Dreamworks movies come to mind. This is an abbreviated reason why I feel that filmmakers have to be incredibly careful with easter eggs, product placement, subliminal references to past movies or characters, etc. It can come off as cheesy and devalue the whole sum of the movie. I don't want to be a stick in the mud or to invalidate Huey's or anyone else's feelings or opinions on the Bond movies, just pointing out some of what goes thru my head when watching all movies and what make some appeal to me more than others.
