Bond retrospective: Part 1 – The
film.
It was in 1952 in Jamaica. A man was
sitting idle on his balcony. His eyes were cold and relentless. He looked at a
martini glass in his hand and ponders on his life. His life is changing. The
world was trembling with a cold war. The dominance of Great Britain is shaken
as the power struggle between the American and Russian goes on.
And worst of it all. He’s getting
married.
It’s not that he don’t know how to
handle stress. The war time teach him well. But this was something else. His
adventure days are soon to be over. No more thrilled and excitement of war. No
more days of meeting and gasping of pleasure from beauty of London. He’s going
to be just another retired British spy.
He can’t handle it.
He needs some escape.
So he finished his drink and went to
his private study and write. The book was finish in 1953. His wife hates it but
it sells pretty well.
The book is called ‘Casino Royale’.
==
Well, the new James Bond film is
coming up pretty soon. As a long time James Bond fan, I’m pretty excited about
it. But as month comes by and spy movie came in and out, we have a good
deconstruction film like ‘Spy’ or even Bond-ish film than Skyfall like
‘Kingsmen’. I began to question something to myself?
“What will become of James Bond
film?”
While ‘James Bonds will return’ until
MGM become bankrupt, I still think it might be a good idea to reflex on what
James Bond really is. When I was a kid he was kind of a guy I like to be. But
when I grow older and ‘Casino Royale’ came by, my perspective began to change.
Bond is no longer a hero I thought he was. As I watch the old film my question begins to grow. Is he a classic gentleman hero? Is
he man who sees woman only as sexual object or he was only keeps them out of
his life so that they can be safe? Is he British patriot or he just a guy who
traps in his job?
Or the most important: “Is he the
world hero or just British’s?”
So I decide to sit down and write
something a bit for myself. A reflection of my part-time study on the history
of James Bond.
While I did not read all the books
and some of my information might be inaccurate, I hope that you might get
something from it.
But first, let get back in time.
===
The tough beginning
Ian Fleming writes Casino Royale, the
first James Bond book, in 1953. Like any good book nowadays, Casino Royale
license was bought immediately by CBS in 1954 for one hour TV series. At that time, Americans
were not ready for British anti-hero that Daniel Craig portray today. So CBS
decided to make the most Americanized Bond ever. James Bond became CIA agent
‘Jimmy’ Bond who was play by…..Willie Nelson.
Suffice to say that it’s not accurate
adaptation.
 |
| Barry Nelson as 'Jimmy' Bond. |
For some reason, Fleming also sold Casino Royale license to another
studio in 1954 which complete 1968. This time it’s a parody. And as for the
accuracy of the film………………….
The word inaccurately can’t even
describe it.
 |
| Seriously, this is not from Austin Power. |
The day Bond became an icon.
Fortunately, a guy name Harry
Saltzman got another license from Fleming. He partner up with Albert R.
Broccoli for another adaptation. This time they got publish by United Artist.
Unlike other adaptation, the main lead was no name whose only work is in
commercial. Ian Fleming even unimpressed with the guy.
The name of that guy was Sean Connery
The film name was Dr. No.
Surprisingly, Dr No becomes a
smashing hit. With the subsequent success of 'from Russia with Love' and
'Goldfinger, Connery change Bond perception from Cold sadist British Spy to
charming Womanizer superspy we' know today.
 |
| The one that start it all. |
Six shade of Bond
As years gone by and actors came in
and out of role, each one gave their unique taste.
Sean Connery’s Bond was a charming
dangerous secret agent who throw woman around like a toilet paper. Sexist role models that people that people
love even on this very day.
 |
| The adventurer |
George Lazenby, with only film he
made, was Connery clone with less sexism and sentimental heart for his tragic
wife.
 |
| The tragic hero |
Roger Moore’s was a satanic playboy
who casually toss bad guy down the cliff while making a fool of himself.
 |
| The genius fool. |
Timothy Dalton’s was Daniel Craig’s prototype,
dry angry man who hated his job and look down upon woman. Yet, despite his
brooding nature, he’s loyal to his friend and some sentimental spot for his
girl.
 |
| The impulse. |
Pierce Brosnan’s was a boy with toys
who have the best trait of all four. He has muscularity of Connery with Moore’s
comedic line along with Dalton’s ruthlessness and Lazenby’s vulnerability for
pretty broken bird.
 |
| The charmer. |
Daniel Craig’s Bond was considered to
be the closest to Ian Fleming’s James Bond. A sad man who hide his sadness
beneath his cold and ruthless exterior.
 |
| The blunt instrument. |
As you can see Bond’s concept have
change by the time. After all these year did original Bond finally come back? But
how much each new film closes to the original source? What did the original
Bond looks like anyway? People forgot him for ages until Daniel Craig came up.
Is it really matter? Does it worth at
all that we try to get Bond’s character back to original?
We can only know these answers by the
looking at the source material, and the man who start it all.
Ian Fleming.
