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Does Smoking in Bond films have a future in e-cigarettes?

sirseanisbondsirseanisbond
edited March 2014 in Bond 26 & Beyond Posts: 2,189
I have always been of a mind that smoking cigarettes is stupid because it's so bad for you, and yet I have still seen it as being a quintessentially cool practice because of how the golden age of hollywood glamorized it. When I think of cigarettes I think of those modern commercials with people speaking through a hole in there throat and similar negative ads, but when I think of smoking I see Rick Blaine in Casablanca or James Bond in Dr. No. This dichotomy if cool and stupid is interesting to me now because there are e-cigarettes that allow you to be as cool as Bond, while remaining a smart healthy individual. So I put it to this forum, have any of you smoked e-cigs, and do you think we could see Bond smoking them soon in a film?
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Comments

  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Never smoked e cigarettes, but would be cool to see Bond speaking through a hole in his throat. So smokem if you gotem, James.
  • sirseanisbondsirseanisbond
    edited March 2014 Posts: 2,189
    Thunderfinger wrote:
    Never smoked e cigarettes, but would be cool to see Bond speaking through a hole in his throat. So smokem if you gotem, James.

    Come on, I'm serious. I agree smoking cigarettes is really stupid and really dangerous but e-cigs have all the glamor and stimulating effect of a cigarette without any of the harmful side affects. So wouldn't it be cool to see Bond puffing smoke at a cart table again?
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    sirseanisbond wrote:
    e-cigs have all the glamor and stimulating effect of a cigarette without any of the harmful side affects. So wouldn't it be cool to see Bond puffing smoke at a cart table again?

    Bond should either smoke cigarettes, or nothing. An e-cig removes all the 'cool' you talk about. It's like having Bond drive at the speed limit, or wearing a hard-hat during the CR parkour chase. Personally I like my Bond to reflect the time he's in, therefore I'm happy if he doesn't smoke. But, I certainly wouldn't be averse to him lighting up a very expensive bespoke cigarette. E-cigs. No way.

  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    edited March 2014 Posts: 12,837
    E cigs are naff, they light up ffs. Bond should smoke real ones or not at all.
  • WillyGaloreWillyGalore
    Posts: 6,396
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    E cigs are naff, they light up ffs. Bond should smoke real ones or not at all.

    As someone who smokes and has tried E-Cigs, I agree with this. They are not cool. They make you look like a dick.
  • Seven_Point_Six_FiveSeven_Point_Six_Five Southern California
    edited March 2014 Posts: 1,257
    I submit there is nothing "cool" about smoking E-Cigs. In fact, Bond would look like a complete and utter doofus if he were to smoke one.
  • SandySandy Somewhere in Europe
    Posts: 4,012
    There's nothing cool in smoking e-cigarettes. Stupid invention in my opinion. I'm not a smoker and never have been but I agree completely with @thelivingroyale, Bond should smoke real ones or not at all.
  • QsAssistantQsAssistant All those moments lost in time... like tears in rain
    Posts: 1,812
    I don't think Bond should smoke at all, except maybe the occasional cigar. Back in the 60's it looked badass because it was more or less portrayed as badass. These days everyone knows how bad they are for you and more or less makes you look stupid (no offense to any smokers out there). Really when I see someone smoking a cigarette I think they look trashy, even if they're wearing a suit.
  • Seven_Point_Six_FiveSeven_Point_Six_Five Southern California
    edited March 2014 Posts: 1,257
    If we absolutely had to see an E-Cig in a Bond movie, I would at least hope the villain is the one smoking it. Villains always need that idiosyncrasy or peculiarity so it may work in that regard. It would be kind of like Le Chiffre's inhaler, I suppose
  • dramaticscenesofQOSdramaticscenesofQOS
    Posts: 1,282
    If something as recent at SF features Severine with a real cigarette, the answer is no. They might use hookah but what's appealing about that big instrument?

    E-cigs might be viewed as a water-down by old fans.
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    edited March 2014 Posts: 12,837
    Seven_Point_Six_Five wrote:
    If we absolutely had to see an E-Cig in a Bond movie, I would at least hope the villain is the one smoking it. Villains always need that idiosyncrasy or peculiarity so it may work in that regard. It would be kind of like Le Chiffre's inhaler, I suppose

    Yeah that could work. Maybe some sort of card game, where Bond (undercover) and the villain meet for the first time. The villain is smoking one and Bond takes the piss out of him with a backhanded compliment. That's the only way I see electronic cigarettes working in a Bond film. No way though should Bond smoke them.
    WillyGalore wrote:
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    E cigs are naff, they light up ffs. Bond should smoke real ones or not at all.

    As someone who smokes and has tried E-Cigs, I agree with this. They are not cool. They make you look like a dick.

    I gave up a few years ago but I have nothing against people who still smoke. If I see somebody having a fag then I don't care. I don't understand people who go up to smokers and tell them how bad it is for them. Everyone knows the risks of smoking nowadays, if people still want to then it's their choice and I don't see the point in having a go at them for it. Like it or not it's still legal and they're allowed to do it if they want to. Let smokers smoke, that's what I think.

    However, when I see somebody smoking an E cig (which thankfully isn't very often), it does make me think they're a twat.
  • boldfingerboldfinger
    Posts: 5,767
    Smoking an E cig looks like a crutch to get off smoking. In other words, not in control. Bond is in control.
    Seven_Point_Six_Five wrote:
    If we absolutely had to see an E-Cig in a Bond movie, I would at least hope the villain is the one smoking it. Villains always need that idiosyncrasy or peculiarity so it may work in that regard. It would be kind of like Le Chiffre's inhaler, I suppose
    If a villain had some kind of E cig that injects him with some mystical chemical, that would be cool.

  • 4662089264869540287846620892648695402878
    Posts: 60
    Cigarettes are disgusting and the people who smoke them look silly. It's 2014 and you're in a casino. I'm looking at you, mother. Why are we talking to M start smoking again, too, because we all be so bold about it? I'm tired.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    I smoke cigarettes and find e-cigs laughable. I'm smoking the real thing or nothing at all, as should Bond. But, I don't see smoking in Bond's future; they missed their chance in SF.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    No glamour in e-cigs. My dad uses them-nope, not glamorous.
    I remember a promo pic of Daniel as Bond before CR where he lights up a smoke, anyone remember the picture I talk about? I guess they ditched that idea as too old-fashioned.
  • 00130013
    Posts: 1,817
    E-cigs would be seen in James Bond as a sign of weekness: can't control the habit but still doesn't have the "does it look like I give a damn" attitude for smoking real cigarettes.
    Craig's Bond seems too athetic to smoke regularly and nowadays wouldn't looked glamorous if he did. But I don't condemn it, being a cigarette smoker myself.
    I find it interesting that I didn't see any complain about Severine smoking in SF. Now, if I have to give an explanation, I wouldn't call it a tolerant attitude, but more an accepted stereotype about sexual-workers. So if smoking continues to be present in Bond films it will be in the villains and in the marginalized peoples, I think.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,183
    I'm not a smoker, never have been, never will be. That said, I do not disrespect smokers; I only try to discourage people into picking up the habit.

    But... Fleming's Bond smokes and in the Fleming universe, smoking is perfectly fine! So if Bond must smoke, at least let him go at it for real. He's Bond, he's indestructible. In the Bond universe, e-cigs are for wimps.

    As an analogy, I don't drink, never have, never will. But if Bond's going to drink, I want him to get a Vodka Martini, not a Heineken diluted with coca cola.
  • boldfingerboldfinger
    Posts: 5,767
    DarthDimi wrote:
    He's Bond, he's indestructible.
    That´s the point. There hasn´t been a realistic Bond film, and it stands to reason wether such an idea would make sense.
    There have been attempts here and there to give Bond a dark side. Depending on where Eon decide to go with that, it could make sense to have Bond have one or the other really mean and unhealthy habit. Probably depends on the success of the next Sin City movie ;-).

  • 00130013
    Posts: 1,817
    The "enjoying death" time in SF was the perfect moment for him to smoke. If he didn't then, I doubt he'll do it later. They could have even insinuate his lack of physical level was partially because of retaking the habit, so health authorities couldn't complain.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    0013 wrote:
    The "enjoying death" time in SF was the perfect moment for him to smoke. If he didn't then, I doubt he'll do it later. They could have even insinuate his lack of physical level was partially because of retaking the habit, so health authorities couldn't complain.

    Spot on. They really missed their chance with this. I would love for Bond to resort to smoking again: it's one of the many things that made the character, and like others have said, he's indestructible: why can't he smoke and kick ass as well?
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,351
    Birdleson wrote:
    Welcome to 21st Century filmmaking. Utter bullshit.
    My Bruce Murdock character smokes. ;) Though I only have those dummy novelty cigarettes which I'll be using when I get around to making my movie. :))

  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    Birdleson wrote:
    Because the studios would never get behind and iconic, now contemporary hero, smoking. They'd get a lot of shit for it. Corporate control and PC up the ass. Welcome to 21st Century filmmaking. Utter bullshit.
    In the 60's they had Doctors telling you smoking was good for you, now you're told it's a death sentence. The truth is that like anything else, you will suffer from abuse.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    chrisisall wrote:
    Birdleson wrote:
    Because the studios would never get behind and iconic, now contemporary hero, smoking. They'd get a lot of shit for it. Corporate control and PC up the ass. Welcome to 21st Century filmmaking. Utter bullshit.
    In the 60's they had Doctors telling you smoking was good for you, now you're told it's a death sentence. The truth is that like anything else, you will suffer from abuse.

    I think literally anything can and will kill you these days. You're safe from nothing. The character started out smoking, I would love to see him smoke once more. It's been 12 years now.
  • BeatlesSansEarmuffsBeatlesSansEarmuffs
    Posts: 3,566
    Just for the record, I won't mind it when (not if) Bond does indeed light up again at some point in the future. The way Craig's Bond goes in for running the marathons, I don't expect him to do it anytime soon -- but when the next guy comes around (and one obviously will, sooner or later) I wouldn't be surprised to see this edict change. I suspect this is the kind of decision that gets left to the actor that has taken on the role. If the new one already smokes he may be up for it, he doesn't (or is trying to quit) then he certainly has every right to decline.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    @BeatlesSansEarmuffs, I know Craig's Bond is a lot more physical and brutal than past Bond's, but I'm fairly certain he was a smoker in real life and he's smoked in films he did after CR, so I'm guessing it wasn't his decision when CR came along.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    edited March 2014 Posts: 40,976
    @Birdleson, your thoughts may be right, excluding that last line that was completely unnecessary.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    Birdleson wrote:
    I won't argue. Sensitivities.

    I can handle any kind of language, just pointing out that your last line wasn't necessary and would get you in trouble. Thanks for deleting it.

    Now, on topic and to what you said, I don't want to believe it, but I'm sure you're right. They had the perfect opportunity to re-introduce Bond smoking and they didn't take it. If it does happen, it would have to start with a new actor at this point, as I don't see a reason for Bond picking up smoking now. A while back I thought it was a possibility after M's death, but he seemed fine at the end of the film. Plus, if he didn't start smoking after Vesper's death, I don't think Craig's Bond ever will.
  • BeatlesSansEarmuffsBeatlesSansEarmuffs
    Posts: 3,566
    Bond can kill, Bond can drink, Bond can shag all he wants, but the PowersThatBe in Hollywood won't let him smoke? Because of somebody's sensitivities? Sorry, but I don't buy such selective sensitivities. The last time Bond smoked cigarettes regularly was because Timothy Dalton (the Fleming purist) insisted on it, and his last time smoking period was during Pierce Brosnan's tenure and Bond had a cigar because that was Brosnan's delivery system of choice. At some point in the future Bond will smoke again and his smoke of choice will depend on the tastes of the actor portraying him at the time. If the Lazenby of 1969 could be transported to the year 2020, we just might see Bond with a blunt!
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    @BeatlesSansEarmuffs, if you're referring to @Birdleson's 'sensitives' comment, it was something he said that he edited and deleted.

    @Birdleson, that's a fairly new thing, isn't it, putting 'smoking' as one of the warnings when it comes to film ratings? I'll never, ever understand why that warrants any form of warning or higher rating, especially if you can see it just by stepping outside.

    "Don't look, little Johnny, that man is smoking. You're too young to see someone smoking!"
  • BeatlesSansEarmuffsBeatlesSansEarmuffs
    Posts: 3,566
    Creasy47 wrote:
    @BeatlesSansEarmuffs, if you're referring to @Birdleson's 'sensitives' comment, it was something he said that he edited and deleted.

    In the same sense of sensitivity, I'd suggest some other euphemism for beastiality, but whatever floats his boat I suppose...

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