The Spy Whom We Loved

 

Bond, James Bond.

      Ah the epitome of the swaggering, mysterious, dangerous and civilized man, I can barely hold my emotions as I speak about this character and everything that he represents. Created by British writer Ian Fleming, he is a byproduct of the cold war, brutal yet sleek who means absolute business followed by being a ladies’ man. Although I had read the classic books, in my opinion, the films have done a greater deal for the rise of the popularity of our beloved spy. Spanning over twenty-five films and played by six prominent actors of their own eras, it has created a great dent in the history of pop culture.  

 

      Who hasn’t worn their first coat and looked at themselves in the mirror, without clicking their tongue saying, “the name's Bond, James Bond”? The British gentleman who would consider his job a mere leisure while living his life in all its arrogance is surely a life we would dream of. Also do not forget to learn enough puns to levitate tricky situations.

 

      Now if you ask me and most Bond fans who their favorite Bond is you’d probably get the answer, Sean Connery. Being the first face of Bond on the big screen in Dr. No (1962) His portrayal shows us a rugged British man who has faced enough hardships in his life, yet is refined and comfortable in the finer things of life. We have Pierce Brosnan who gives a late 1990s take on the Bond, giving it a modern touch, giving a more charming representation of the character. The last Bond, Daniel Craig has a more postmodern take on the character, although which couldn’t be as successful as its predecessors.

        If you do not know anything about Bond, in short, the bond movies basically tell the adventures of the British spy James Bond as he goes around the world putting a hiccup to evil globe conquering plans of governments, secret organizations, running into beautiful women and driving around in a fully combat equipped Aston Martin. The stories generally follow the basic plot, but it manages to keep you entertained for two hours regardless. 

      Either way, being one of the longest running franchises in the history of filmmaking, it should be noted how it has been adapted and portrayed not to hurt the sensibilities of the time too much. The earlier versions of Bond find no trouble using any methods to extract information or save his own skin regardless of morality, since it was what he was, a ruthless spy below a façade of civilized appearance and nature. The earlier films also have subtle hints of racism, sexism whatnot. Because of this, one could easily find fault with him and be absolutely right with their opinion.

 

     With that out of the way, I would like to move my attention to the ‘Bond Villain’ archetype. Bond villains have been so popular that, if you observe any classic Indian action film, there are many elements borrowed straight from Bond films. There's even an old film in Malayalam, which comically copied the whole film of Dr No with a new title! Back to Bond Villain. The mysterious man sitting on a throne, with a large imposing desk, in a large decorated room, with a mechanized door and booby traps is an antithesis of the refined and charming hero. You know exactly what is going to happen. He is going to trap our Bond, say his elaborate plan, give a few laughs and promptly leaves without making sure Bond is dead, so as to give him a chance to escape. It should be observed how determined they are, and how intense their characters are shown, despite their comic failures.

 

    At the end of the day, James Bond succeeds in doing what it does best, a male power fantasy of escapades and globe trotting adventures, and it either appeals to you or it doesn’t. Sure, you have to switch off your brain for two hours, but when you do, it takes you to a fantastical world, away from the monotonous nature of real life, where you see someone who aspires you to be something beyond the face of reality.

 

    Now I would not recommend reading the books, since in my opinion the films have done greater justice to the character than the books. However, if you plan on taking the endeavor of binge watching all twenty-five films back-to-back, then good luck dear reader, you are in for a journey. So suit up in your best tuxedos, go driving in your Aston Martin, and get yourself a vodka martini, shaken not stirred.

Let me know your thoughts!

Until next time dear reader…

Lan