Agent 007: Bond.... James Bond
UPDATED: I posted this blog a while back but wanted to updated it to celebrate the new James Bond movie that opens tomorrow. Besides Iron Man, Quantum of Solace is the only movie that is on my "must see" list. When I first posted about the new James Bond, Daniel Craig wasn't even on the short list. I wasn't sure about him but he did win me over and now I am once again a 007 fanatic. I do believe this film will have all of the ingredients we all expect in a Bond movie:
(1) Awesome chase seen in exoctic locale.
(1) Shagged hottie in the first 15 minutes
(5) High-tech spy gadgets
(20) Bad guys killed in the first 10 minutes of the film
(300) Additional bad guys killed in a variety of cool ways.
(7) Exoctic cars
End the movie shagging a hottie in an exoctic location with lots of blue water around.
Now, in Casino Royale, bond response when asked how his drink should be made was, "Do I look like I give a damn". This is not the usual "shaken, not stirred" that one would expect. I am hopeful that he has upped his sophiticate and utter that famous phrase. There actually is some scientic reason for that request:
Scientists, specifically biochemists, and martini connoisseurs have investigated the difference between a martini shaken and a martini stirred. According to a study at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Western Ontario in Canada to determine if the preparation of a martini has an influence on their antioxidant capacity, the shaken gin martinis were able to break down hydrogen peroxide and leave only 0.072% of the peroxide behind, versus the stirred gin martini which left behind 0.157% of the peroxide.[7] The study was done at the time because moderate consumption of alcohol appears to reduce the risk of cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and stroke, none of which afflict the fictional James Bond. Source
Go figure. Anyway, I am looking forward to the movies and will be in the theater tomorrow to watch!!!
PAST BLOG POST BELOW
There aren’t many characters in the movies that men of all ages and race wish they could be, if only for a moment. But, Bond… James Bond is no ordinary man. He is the embodiment of what we wish we were. Good looking, charming, mysteries, brave, a lady killer and able to kick ass with pull of a laser flashlight and an exploding tube of toothpaste and drive away in a $300,000 car with the bad guy’s girl on our lap.
There isn’t a man alive that wouldn’t want to embark on a journey of saving the world while bedding a few good looking dames in the process. Bond is a man… Bond is a hero… Bond is an ICON.
That is why the next James Bond must carry on the tradition of mackin’ broads, defying authority, saving the world and riding off into the sunset leaving the carnage of bad guys and broken hearts in his wake.
There are several actors ready to take the reigns. Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Jude Law, Heath Ledger, Clive Owen and Orlando Bloom are the frontrunners. I’m not sure either but if I had to pick I’d go with Clive Owens. He has a more mature look and the others are a little too young and pretty for my taste. James Bond is not a pretty boy.
Before we move on to the next Bond, let’s honor the men that portrayed one of the greatest heroes of the 20th Century.
Sean Connery – The original James Bond on which all others are measured. Connery was the best. Connery had a certain charisma, wit and way with the ladies as well as the cold-blooded, calculated mentality that you expect from the world’s greatest super-spy.
Dr. No
From Russia With Love
Thunderball
You Only Live Twice
Diamonds are Forever
ROGER MOORE
Roger Moore – I was introduced to Roger Moore before I saw Sean Connery. Roger was not as cold-blooded as Connery. I guess you could call him the family friendly spy. He didn’t kill that much and when he did, it more spectacular than just walking behind the bad guy and breaking his neck. What Roger Moore’s Bond brought to the movies was the anticipation of the Bond Girl, the Bond Ride and the Bond Gadgets. If those were on point you knew you were in for a good movie.
He Starred In:
Live and Let Die
The Man With the Golden Gun
The Spy Who Loved Me
Moonraker
For Your Eyes Only
Octopussy
A View To Kill
TIMOTHY DOLTON
Timothy Dolton – He was ok, and I have to admit that ‘License to Kill’ was tight. But I just didn’t feel him. Too dark, no wit and I didn’t get the feeling that he was a playa on the level Moore and Connery. His two movies were more action-thriller and lacked the light-heartedness of previous Bond movies. I won’t rag on him – he was cool.
He Starred In:
The Living Daylight
License To Kill
PIERCE BRONSON
Pierce Bronson – Truthfully, I wasn’t sure about this cat in the beginning. Although I was a fan of Remington Steele, that didn’t automatically translate to liking him as 007. However, after the first movie, Goldeneye, I became a fan. He took it back to the Connery era – witty, ladies man and dark at the same time.
He Starred In:
Goldeneye
Tomorrow Never Dies
The World Is Not Enough
Die Another Day
6:15 AM I like Pierce, but I thought he got in the game a little to late.
Did you say 'orlando bloom'....
Hahahaha...
If you pick a brother then you have to have one a little more suave...I can't think of a mainstream black actor now that would fit the part of being cool, can work a tux, and has a charisma.
7:21 AM I think Morris Chestnut could pull it off. Wesley Snipes is a good black action actor. I'll have to think about that. It would be nice to see a brother get the role.
1:25 PM Morris, maybe, he still does have enough suave...
Wesley is more of a brute force actor, subtley isn't his strong suit.
I always see James Bond as a silk smooth masculinity, as opposed to a 'ill kick your ass' type...
For example, a young Sidney Poiter could pull it off...
1:34 PM Yeah, I see what you mean. So, w're looking for a mack you Billie Dee Williams, smooth talk you like young Sidney Poiter, slap Halle Berry around like Wesley Snip type of brother. That is a challenge. I'm going to look real hard and present a list.
2:24 AM Roger Moore was the best out of all of them, forget Sean Connery!
I think Morris would pull it off. But Hollywood doesn't want to see him with a white leading lady, so there would be more roles for more up-and-coming Black women.
solitaire
12:30 PM I always thought Pierce was just physically much too small to be Bond, not imposing enough. And if Wesley could channel his character from the bar with Angela Bassett in "Waiting to Exhale" he would be perfect. That minute role was his best work ever, I thought. He was witty, suave, confident, cool. He ought to can that few minutes and carry it around with him as his crowning performance. Ok, either that or his “To Wong Foo” role.
Psyche.
4:09 AM Great site, I found several topics very well done. Um, one thing... Under Agent 007, you forgot to list what is arguably the best Bond film (critics, not me...) "Goldfinger" for Sean Connery.
4:12 AM I think your way off the mark with your next Bond predictions. I think you would not go far wrong by putting your money on Daniel Craig (of Layer Cake fame).
8:15 AM what does the 7 in 007 mean.
3:34 PM I don't think that Sean Connery was the best James Bond. I think he was simply a good James Bond, like the other five actors who have portrayed the role.
I get a little weary of Connery being perceived as the best Bond, because he was the first actor to be successful in the role.
8:12 AM James, on your original post, you did omit an actor: George Lazenby, starred in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Of course I had to Google to find the guy's name and it's only one movie, so forgetting him is ok.
Other than that, I've been lagging on my 007, so I'll have to get caught back up.
3:42 PM Connery DID set the standard, and I still enjoy watching him. I was very fond of Brosnan. I was sorry to see him go. I still think Pierce is hot. I have not seen Craig yet, but I am anxious to check him out.
With this post, you got my complete attention! Great topic.
3:33 PM Craig did an excellent job in quantum solace. Morris Chestnut is perfect for the role of James Bond. He can be sexy and bad at the same time.