[Spotlight Post] Bond. James Bond.
So, this week I’m doing a slightly non-traditional spotlight post. We went to see Skyfall last night… and I have to talk about James Bond. I really do. Though if Alan J. Porter’s book had been done by now… ah, well, maybe next year.
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James Bond has played a significant role in my life. There were two forms of entertainment that I could always count on in my family – Star Trek and James Bond. My dad LOVES James Bond (and Dirk Pitt and other spy/adventurers), but really James Bond. Growing up – no matter how financially challenged or stressed or busy or whatever – there were two things I could count on…going to the movies the opening weekend of any Star Trek or James Bond movie.
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In the Connery vs. Moore Debate, I always came down firmly on the Connery side. Nothing against Roger Moore, but Sean Connery…woof. I preferred Timothy Dalton over Pierce Brosnin – and totally feel Dalton got a raw deal on his movies…everyone knew the franchise wanted Brosnin but couldn’t get him because of NBC, so the fact Dalton was given the weaker scripts and pretty thrown to the wolves as a flat-out “second choiceâ€. Lazenby’s one off has gone by me.
But now there’s Daniel Craig, and we’ve come full circle back to “woofâ€. I’ve read some of the books. We found a set of the original paperbacks at a garage sale one year for my dad, and I’ve been known to pilfer my parents’ library…and I totally agree with the reviews of Craig’s portrayal of being the most accurate, gritty James Bond.
And Skyfall, whoa, way to go back to the classics, and I’m not just talking about bringing back the original car. But all of it. The comedically evil villain that makes you shiver. Explosions. Geekness. Tuxedos. Martinis. The girl who is associated with the villain and doesn’t survive. The girl that does survive. Oh, and they totally introduce an “assistant†character that totally be Gregg Clarkson’s little British Brother (Clarkson as Coulson, that is). I hope they do more with him.
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It felt like a reboot without being an actual reboot – which is very refreshing in this day and age of “just make it againâ€. Oh, and they just leave it with “James Bond Will Returnâ€. Such a great way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this franchise.