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You're not a real Bond fan unless...

saunderssaunders Living in a world of avarice and deceit
edited March 2011 in Bond Movies Posts: 987
I've a friend at work who insists he's become a Bond fan, but what really grates is that he while he collects the merchandise he won't read the books and despite getting the DVD's a few months ago hasn't got round to watching them. So this got me wondering and so bearing in mind this is all very subjective, what do you think the necessary bare minimum requirements are needed to be acknowledged as a genuine Bond fan?

For me I believe to be a proper Bond fan you should have seen all the films and read all of Fleming's novels so you have a basic foundation to build your Bond knowledge from.

This could get interesting...
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Comments

  • jaguar007jaguar007
    edited March 2011 Posts: 638
    Of course there are different levels of "Bond fandom". All it takes to be a "Bond fan" is someone who likes the movies (or books) and will always go see a new one in the theater. OF course there are some of us (myself included) who practically obsess about different aspects of James Bond. That takes being a James Bond fan to a whole new level.

    Looking at it from a different point of view, I guess I could say that I am a Star Trek fan. I have all the movies on DVD, I have seen all of the episodes of TOS and TNG. I have not seen all of the episodes of DS9, Voyager and have only seen a couple episodes of Enterprise. I do not have a ST uniform and have never read a ST book or been on a ST fan forum. I cannot name every episode of any of the series yet I do enjoy watching them when they are on.
  • retrokittyretrokitty The Couv
    Posts: 380
    Why would anyone insist that they were any sort of fan? It would tick me off if someone hadn't seen the movies or read the books. Maybe he's a Bond lifestyle fan.

    I have not read all the books but most of my friends consider me a huge fan. Something about hanging out at this forum for four years and heading to London for a concert of Bond music with forum buddies might have something to do with it too, I suppose.

    I don't think one needs to see every film or read every book to be really in love with character - and be a fan... But I would think that being able to fully throw themselves into enjoying the time spent watching or reading Bond is something a fan would do.

    And, of course, you are not a true fan if you don't completely enjoy something in the Bond series that would otherwise make you want to burn the DVD. :P
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    Posts: 4,399
    amongst my friends - i am the go to guy for Bond info... even so much so, that during a game of Trivial Pursuit, one of my friends called me - when i was on the other side of the country, to help them with an answer... now, i know a considerable amount about the films themselves... but i lack in the novel department - something i am fixing at the current moment, as i am going through and reading the novels (currently on Moonraker)

    but the term "your not a real fan unless.." has always bothered me - if someone has been exposed to the material for a longer period of time, and has acquired more knowledge about said subject - i don't think that somehow makes them more of a fan over the someone just jumping in for the first time.... IMO, it's all about your passion towards the subject matter - knowledge comes with time..
  • retrokittyretrokitty The Couv
    Posts: 380
    Quoting haserot: but the term "your not a real fan unless.." has always bothered me
    .... Except for this part, right?
    Quoting retrokitty: And, of course, you are not a true fan if you don't completely enjoy something in the Bond series that would otherwise make you want to burn the DVD.

    :>
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    Posts: 4,399
    i guess i can allow that lol.
  • St_GeorgeSt_George Shuttling Drax's lovelies to the space doughnut - happy 40th, MR!
    Posts: 1,699
    I think, unless you're in your teens or an adult, and been into Bond for a a couple of years or more and haven't seen all the flicks, then it may be a little odd to call yourself a Bond fan. I mean, I remember as a child going on a teenager, it wasn't quite as easy to appropriate the movies as it is now, but it didn't take me too long to ensure I'd seen the vast majority on TV.

    Reading all the books is a different matter, perhaps. Many Bond film fans may not necessarily go on Fleming and his novels. Some certainly do though and for any enthusiast of the flicks it may take them a few years to get through all the novels. How much of a fan of anything someone is, it's maybe fair to say, is down to opinion anyway...
  • boldfingerboldfinger
    Posts: 5,767
    If we´re talking about a girl, I would suffice if she showed enthusiasm for the occasional Bond DVD evening :ar! .
  • JBFan626JBFan626
    Posts: 1,497
    Seeing all 22 EON official film is enough I think. But reading a few of the novels is key to get a grounding for the character, and really it is best to read them all if you can. The problem I had when I first got into Bond, was the novels were out of print and hard to come by. None of my local libraries had them, but I had seen all the films and had the encyclopedia, but I still thought of myself as a fan.
  • retrokittyretrokitty The Couv
    Posts: 380
    I bought two sets of the books from Ebay. One set was really cheap because it was missing the last two books. The other was complete and each book was in plastic and came with the previous owner's catalog info. If you buy them as sets, it's nice to get it done with, but I think buying them one at a time might save some money as they go quite inexpensively on their own.
  • JBFan626JBFan626
    Posts: 1,497
    I've caught up on the books since, but around 1999-2000, they were harder to come by. I was able to get a few in hard cover from ebay back then--they were black with either blue or red binding.
  • nick_007nick_007 Ville Marie
    Posts: 443
    Quoting retrokitty: I bought two sets of the books from Ebay. One set was really cheap because it was missing the last two books. The other was complete and each book was in plastic and came with the previous owner's catalog info. If you buy them as sets, it's nice to get it done with, but I think buying them one at a time might save some money as they go quite inexpensively on their own.
    I think it was you, kitty, who inspired me to search for old editions of the novels on ebay. I got most of them in one sale for around 10-15$

    To date they are my favourite set but I can't reread them because they're getting close to falling apart.
  • TommyTommy
    Posts: 4
    I'd consider myself a novel fan -- reread Moonraker while I was in hospital recently and was reminded how good the books we were. Haven't watched one of the filmo in almost 4 years though!
  • saunderssaunders Living in a world of avarice and deceit
    Posts: 987
    I was giving this some thought today and it struck me that while I've read all the books and seen all the films and consider myself a fully paid up member of Bond fandom, I haven't actually ever played a James Bond video game and considering how many fans in the past two decades have been introduced to James Bond through this medium is there a case for saying "Saunders you sad loser, your not a real Bond fan unless you've played the games"?
  • RogueThunderballRogueThunderball
    Posts: 306
    Quoting JBFan626: Seeing all 22 EON official film is enough I think. But reading a few of the novels is key to get a grounding for the character, and really it is best to read them all if you can.
    I agree with this. Although I would add that a true fan doesn't just watch the movies once and call it good. You have to watch them all multiple times to get a really good feel about everything and create a solid reference base for yourself.
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    When you play 007 Nightfire, you continue to re-start the level Enemies Vanquished until your car comes out with barely a scratch, your health is still relatively plausible, and the methods you chose to take out your enemies was undeniably Bond.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,359
    When you own multiple copies of every James Bond film on VHS.
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    Posts: 12,837
    You're not a Bond fan unless you've seen at least one of the films/read at least one of the books.
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    Murdock wrote:
    When you own multiple copies of every James Bond film on VHS.

    Hahahahahahaha, YES!! I too own copies on both VHS and DVD, and even though I hardly ever watch them on VHS, it's the collecting fun of it that draws me to them, the fact that they are rare/vintage now, and the fact that they look awesome propped up next to my TV in my room!
  • forgotmyusernameforgotmyusername
    Posts: 2,782
    You bicker on threads on this bond forum.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,359
    00Beast wrote:
    Murdock wrote:
    When you own multiple copies of every James Bond film on VHS.

    Hahahahahahaha, YES!! I too own copies on both VHS and DVD, and even though I hardly ever watch them on VHS, it's the collecting fun of it that draws me to them, the fact that they are rare/vintage now, and the fact that they look awesome propped up next to my TV in my room!

    Yeah, I have almost over 70 VHS tapes that are all Bond movies. It's really nice too because of the alternate cover arts, I got releases from MGM, CBS FOX and almost all the VHS tapes from 1988. I have most of the DVD's just need 7 more before I have all of em on DVD.
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    Murdock wrote:
    00Beast wrote:
    Murdock wrote:
    When you own multiple copies of every James Bond film on VHS.

    Hahahahahahaha, YES!! I too own copies on both VHS and DVD, and even though I hardly ever watch them on VHS, it's the collecting fun of it that draws me to them, the fact that they are rare/vintage now, and the fact that they look awesome propped up next to my TV in my room!

    Yeah, I have almost over 70 VHS tapes that are all Bond movies. It's really nice too because of the alternate cover arts, I got releases from MGM, CBS FOX and almost all the VHS tapes from 1988. I have most of the DVD's just need 7 more before I have all of em on DVD.

    Ah that's nifty! I've got a lot of the 1995/1996 MGM releases, DN, GF, TB, YOLT, OHMSS, DAF, LALD, MR, GE, and to be exact. As for the CBS FOX, I only have AVTAK so far. For the 1988 releases, I've got TSWLM as a part of the Moore Classics Collection. The only other that I have is FRWL on a 1992 MGM release, with the original poster as the cover art.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,359
    00Beast wrote:
    Murdock wrote:
    00Beast wrote:
    Murdock wrote:
    When you own multiple copies of every James Bond film on VHS.

    Hahahahahahaha, YES!! I too own copies on both VHS and DVD, and even though I hardly ever watch them on VHS, it's the collecting fun of it that draws me to them, the fact that they are rare/vintage now, and the fact that they look awesome propped up next to my TV in my room!

    Yeah, I have almost over 70 VHS tapes that are all Bond movies. It's really nice too because of the alternate cover arts, I got releases from MGM, CBS FOX and almost all the VHS tapes from 1988. I have most of the DVD's just need 7 more before I have all of em on DVD.

    Ah that's nifty! I've got a lot of the 1995/1996 MGM releases, DN, GF, TB, YOLT, OHMSS, DAF, LALD, MR, GE, and to be exact. As for the CBS FOX, I only have AVTAK so far. For the 1988 releases, I've got TSWLM as a part of the Moore Classics Collection. The only other that I have is FRWL on a 1992 MGM release, with the original poster as the cover art.

    Awesome! ^_^
  • X3MSonicXX3MSonicX https://www.behance.net/gallery/86760163/Fa-Posteres-de-007-No-Time-To-Die
    Posts: 2,635
    I can actually say that i'm not one of the greatest fans ever. I just saw TSWLM, GE-to-QoS, never read the books or had the chance to do it. But i still admire this universe that Bond has.
  • Baltimore_007Baltimore_007
    Posts: 5,634
    You don't need to be a 'real Bond fan' to participate on these pages. Even if your interest is minimal or only seen a movie or two, still welcome to get involved
  • SaintMarkSaintMark
    Posts: 7,653
    You are a real Bondfan if you confess to being one. The level of fanhood does not come into that equation imho. O:-)
  • imranbecksimranbecks Singapore
    edited July 2012 Posts: 984
    You're not a real Bond fan unless you know the mythology that is Bond, try to wear on occasions similar looking attires that he wears in the movies and must have at least seen all the Bond movies even though you have probably never read the books. I'm describing myself there...hahaha
  • Baltimore_007Baltimore_007
    Posts: 5,634
    Bond attire doesn't come into it for me. Seen all the movies for sure, inside out and back to front more times than I can recall, except Casino Royale 67, which I saw a handful of times and didn't care much for it, much prefer NSNA as a Bond spoof. Haven't read all the novels either, but not to say I won't. More Movie Bond than Book Bond, as with a fair many others doubtless, don't always have the time to read
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    edited July 2012 Posts: 9,117
    .
    00Beast wrote:
    When you play 007 Nightfire, you continue to re-start the level Enemies Vanquished until your car comes out with barely a scratch, your health is still relatively plausible, and the methods you chose to take out your enemies was undeniably Bond.

    00Beast raises an interesting existential point here; namely is a die hard fan of one medium a more worthy fan than one of another medium?

    My natural inclination is to say that if you are a hardcore fan of the Bond games and the Brozza films but have never read one of the books then you are an idiot, and I would stand by this as to be a true fan you have to have an appreciation of Fleming.

    However we stray onto rather murky moral ground if you say you are merely a fan of the films. Does a fan of only the films have the moral right to be superior to a fan of the games? They both use the same character but in a different medium to that which the creator originally intended.
    Well again I would argue yes if we are talking the early films which are based heavily on Fleming. But if someone has been weaned on Bond from 95 (this seems to be Bonds ‘premier league’ moment from which some young fans think Bond started) and bases their fandom on GE to DAD (but doesn’t like the Craig era) is this any more valid than a fan who gets their Bond fix through EON and Nightfire?

    To sum up Bond fluctuates in style so widely through the various media it is rather difficult to be just a ‘Bond fan’ in general, without disliking some aspect of what has been done to the character.

    People perhaps should be categorised by such terms as Fleming Bond fan, over the top Lewis Gilbert type Bond fan, Sean fan, Rog fan and yes Bond game fan. Does being one type of Bond fan make you any more of less a fan than someone else? I have my own answer to that question which I’m sure some of you can guess at but I’ll leave it to others to debate it for now.


  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    This whole argument is pointless. If you like any media with Bond apart of it, whether it is the novels, the films, or the games, who cares? You are a fan then, and are no lesser one than anyone else, no matter how die hard they are.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    This whole argument is pointless. If you like any media with Bond apart of it, whether it is the novels, the films, or the games, who cares? You are a fan then, and are no lesser one than anyone else, no matter how die hard they are.


    Hmm. I'll agree with you up to a point but lines in the sand have to be drawn.
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