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I think the general public surely has a "general" idea of Bond (super spy the ladies love, to be overly succinct), but there is much more to him and that does come across in several films and certainly the novels. Because of the complexity that is inherently there (whether that shows easily in some films or not), Bond does give the screenwriters a chance to go in many directions, I agree.
1) He is expert in his field, yet conflicted - not a cardboard, one dimensional cartoon character.
2) Nostalgia is a factor for me. Because I fell for the novels and the world of Bond on film via DAF, it broadened my horizons. So nostalgia for the 60s mixed with opening my eyes to other worlds. For one thing, I discovered other spy novels, especially John LeCarre, and it all made me even more fond of England than I already was. (I'm a Beatles baby and totally wanted to move to London in the swinging sixties. My parents would not uproot, though; drat!).
3) Bond developed and changed enough to stay interesting AND a role model in some ways for me. Through the novels, you see and feel him change, mature, become depressed and bitter at times, burnt out, yet endured. He developed thru the films in a different way for sure. Because of the number of films and the full range of novels we have (not even counting continuation authors), Bond is a well fleshed-out character who had many things weighing on him at times, some regrets, yet his inner core remained strong. I always liked him being fully human, though so genuinely heroic and patriotic.
4) Fleming's detailed world - the sense of it we get, from that scent and smoke and sweat of a casino 3:00 in the morning, to Bond's lightly scrambled eggs or figs with yoghurt for breakfast, to his choice of Champagne, to his fashion in clothes, and of course his cars ... that whole detailed world that was never a part of my own reality. I like the flavor and whole ambiance Fleming gives us - and the films visually take us to wonderful, sometimes truly exotic, always interesting places. They bring this world to life.
5) The Bond actors - all of them through the years, kept this character alive for me. Sean was absolutely the best person on the planet to introduce Bond in the cinema.
Without him, it may have stalled right there. And from Roger thru Daniel, each actor brought something fresh and exciting and uniquely themselves into the Bond films. As different as they were from each other, they were believable as Bond for me. That says good things about the character itself (not locked in to exactly one type of portrayal or looks). The only Bond actor I never cared for at all is Lazenby (not a surprise to those of you who know me), and I appreciate the film when I can zero in on the film and not him (I do try as it is beautifully filmed, most of it). I actually never believed him as Bond (read my old review in this thread); that was my sticking point. But my point here is that the actors who have portrayed Bond kept this series going, keeps Bond alive and relevant to us even in 2018. They are the most important factor in the films.
There you go, my top 5 reasons why I care about Bond. And I do - for decades, more than any other character in film or novel series. It's easy to care when someone, even just a character, changes your life in a good way.
Beautifully said. I quite enjoy hearing about others' experiences in how they became fans, especially those who were around for the early days.
There's so much good, unused but very "usable" stuff in Moonraker. I wish they would incorporate it somehow. Same, by the way, with YOLT and TMWTGG.
I still love Dr. No, Live & Let Die, and From Russia With Love as the best Fleming for me. @chrisisall, I guess Moonraker is my 4th favorite novel. I like it a lot. Then Casino Royale probably fifth for me.
And it's fun to see a Bond film and get the Fleming reference, or even to think 'Oh, I wish they had added this or that from the novel'.
So yes, I think for some of us our appreciation of Fleming's writing does add a definite layer to why we care about James Bond at all, including of course the films.
Meanwhile, let's do a quick and fun one ... ;)
Female Villains
Since this is now being talked about due to rumor that Angelina Jolie is being considered as a female villain, I thought that the Originals (and all others welcome, too) could tackle this. But with a twist:
Put a former Bond female villain into Bond 25 aha!
~ All previous female villains, even those who turn out to be good (dear Pussy), including of course sidekicks (hello, helicopter pilot Naomi!), or sickos (Xenia).
~ Take one and put it in the next Bond film. Give us a brief story for this. You are all creative; you can do it. Just a few sentences or a paragraph.
For example, like Volpe ... how would you see her matched against Craig and in what kind of story, for Bond 25? Would they have chemistry? How do you picture that playing out?
I think this could be fun. Go on, use your imagination & let us know your scenarios.
Cheers!
Yes, this is not a serious "let's write the plot" attempt. Just popping a previous female villain into Bond 25 for fun.
Bond appealed (and still does) to me as he's a loner, but still manages to function within society. He's a chamelion, something I recognise. He's got his principles and sticks to them, even though they are sometimes shaken, or they make his life far more difficult then if he'd break them. Still he pushes through. In that he's been an example for me.
Perhaps on this basis you'll understand that the literary Bond is, for me, the 'real' Bond. As such the continuation novels have been a dissapointment, perhaps because the continuation writers just didn't have this line of thinking in their systems.
The films are just a fun, glamorised version of Bond, which sometimes make it all just very superficial, sometimes just hit the right note. This is one of the reasons I love QoS so much, and hold TLD in high regard. These films show Bond struggeling with his own principles and convictions, but still hang on to them and seeing it all through.
For a newbie I'd Always reccomend Dr. No. That film was so successfull it validated the stories into the franchise it became. Or, even though it isn't my favorite by far, Goldfinger, which started the full 'mania' after all. None of other recommandations from my side will be without influence of what I wrote in the first two paragraphs, so won't be any help at all.
And to the last question: I am so much a fan of Lucianna's Volpe, that I'd put her foreward whomever would play Bond. She's the epitomy of a villainness. Hot as hell, smolderingly sexy, and unfathomable for Bond/ the good guy.
If the pictures online are recent, I bet she could still play an evil mastermind. And to me that would be the coolest thing ever, connecting the first Bonds to the current ones.
Dr. No for a newcomer to Bond is essential, I agree. I think the first 3 films are really important in giving us the fuller Bond portrayal, the blueprint for the rest of the series. Then Roger added lighter humor, but with respect for his character always, so the series continued to grow new wings, so to speak. Dalton was a wonderful, grounded Bond and how I wish we had about 2 more from him.
And thanks for saying Volpe could fit into any Bond film - I definitely agree! She is that formidable, gorgeous, strong and not falling under Bond's spell. She'd go toe to toe with Craig, I could see that. Bring her back now, at her age? Well, that is interesting and I'd actually go for that! Her essence would still come thru, that vitality.
So I was just musing on Bond ... holidays ... locations ...
New topic is this: Have you ever visited any Bond locations? B-)
Places from film OR the novels, short stories. Include a photo if you can; that would be great! (But I cannot share personal photos here, alas)
Personally, I have visited London, Las Vegas (at age 5 - ha!), Japan (oh yes), and I grew up in Florida. It blew my mind that the first Bond novel I read was Live and Let Die. Reading Fleming name streets correctly and describe my hometown was a huge shock (I was 14 or 15 ys old at the time).
So please take a moment and share your stories here. Brief summary is fine; any photos would be excellent. Thanks! Calling all Originals and all members for this thread. Where in the Bondian world have you visited? Cheers! :-bd
Bond should visit Brussels, I guess. Oh wait, yeah, "Brexit". We're the enemy now. ;)
And "Only London" actually covers a whole lot, Dimi. ;) I never tire of London. I would live there if I could.
Where I would love to go: Greece (FYEO) and Jamaica. I've been to the Bahamas, though, yes. Never been to Paris yet. Sigh ...
http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/f/For-Your-Eyes-Only.php
- Amsterdam
- Paris
- Rome
- Venice,
so I'm doing much better than I had thought. ;-)
Where I'd love to go sometime? Ah well, Japan, Scotland, Jamaica and Nassau and of course outer space itself. ;-)
Oh, Eiffel Tower I guess that counts.
I was in London when the bridge was closed off to film the finale to Spectre. And also the scene with M, MP and Q in the restaurant. I knew they were filming but couldn't be arsed to go down in the middle of the night to take a look.
Some Bond fan I am.
The hollowed out volcano ranks very high on my list, but I must admit that Blofeld's desert lair from SP looks awesome too. (Or does it exist? I'm confused sometimes.) Then of course Atlantis, Piz Gloria, DN's hideout on Crab Key, ...
If that Dune hotel from QOS really exists, I'd love to go there too.
I'll narrow it to 8 choices of where I want to go.
For me, as I said, I have only been to London, Florida, Las Vegas, and Japan.
I seriously want to visit: Scotland, Greece (FYEO locations), Switzerland (Piz Gloria), Italy (Turino and Rome), Paris, Jamaica, the pyramids in Egypt, and Amsterdam.
Being realistic and prioritizing, I'll take Italy, Paris, Scotland, and Switzerland. Those I want to see the most. I hope to visit Italy in 2 years, actually.