7 Reasons I love watching a James Bond movie
Taking a little detour here from the usual footballing stuff. I recently finished the entire James Bond series, starting from Dr. No (1962) to No Time To Die (2021). It’s a sum total of 26 movies involving six different actors donning the hat of 007. The one not included in this list is Casino Royale (1967) since it was more of a parody as per my understanding.
I was initially skeptical about starting a series of spy movies that began six decades ago. But it has mostly been a pleasant ride. There’s so much to love about these adaptations of Ian Flemming’s work, that I decided to make a list of them. Here are some reasons why I love a Bond flick -
#1 The Opening Sequence
Blinking white dots from left to right, forming the inside of a gun barrel focusing on James Bond, who walks a few steps before taking a shot at you. You know what I am talking about. The iconic gun barrel sequence is synonymous with the name James Bond itself. As is Monty Norman’s legendary theme music, which one can’t help but sing along with when playing. With the exception of Star Wars, I can’t think of any other set of films that give you goosebumps even before the story begins.
#2 Exotic Locations
From the beaches of the Caribbean to the bazaars of North Africa. From skiing in the Alps to riding horses across Afghanistan. From gambling at a casino in Vegas to driving a tank through Saint Petersburg. There are very few places in the world that 007 hasn't been to, and through his movies, hasn’t taken us. His adventures across exotic locations are part of what makes the character so fascinating. And these movies being shot across multiple decades add another dimension to the viewing experience, as we get to see how different parts of the world were at different times. I wonder why they have never shown him in Australia though.
#3 Chemistry with Moneypenny
There are a host of recurring side characters in the Bond series which grab your interest. We have Bond’s CIA counterpart Felix Leiter, who often ends up clearing the mess left by 007, or the tech guru ‘Q’, who (futilely) keeps asking Bond to return his gadgets back in one piece. But my favorite has always been Ms. Moneypenny. Despite being surrounded by women throughout, Moneypenny seems to be the only constant female presence in Bond’s life. Along with the romantic tension, it’s their strong camaraderie that elevates her over the odd-Bond Girl status. Moneypenny only has a few scenes in every movie, but all of them are gold. Lois Maxwell, who portrayed the character in 14 different Bond movies, is my favorite actor/actress across the entire series.
#4 The Puns
I feel this is the most subjective part of the whole list. Bond is known for his quirky sense of humor. But his cheeky puns often take it to the limit. Take this one from Live and Let Die (1973)-
Bond unzips a girl with a magnet. The Girl — ‘Such a delicate touch.’ Bond — ‘Sheer magnetism darling’.
Or this one from Die Another Day (2002)-
Henchman — ‘I’m Mr. Kil’. Bond — ‘Now there’s a name to die for.’
Even the villain joins in sometimes, like in this case from Octopussy (1983)-
Kamal Khan — ‘Mr. Bond is indeed a very rare breed, soon to be made extinct.’
Can’t say about others but I personally love each one of them, even the corniest of the lot.
#5 The Women
We can’t talk about James Bond without mentioning the Bond Girls. Former Miss Worlds, Oscar Winners, Pop-stars, and even an X-Men, the list of women who have been part of Bond movies is extraordinary. It’s a double-edged sword, to be honest. Not all actresses who starred in these movies went on to have successful careers. And the way some of these women have been portrayed, especially during the early days, is quite questionable. That being said, when done right the impact is immense. Honey Ryder, Pussy Galore, Tracy Bond, Anya Amasova, Xenia Onatopp, and Vesper Lynd, are all cinema icons in their own right. One of my personal favorites was Michelle Yeoh’s portrayal of Wai Lin in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). Such was Yeoh’s work in the role that it even opened a conversation about a woman playing Bond in the future.
#6 The Henchmen
From Auric Goldfinger in Goldfinger (1964) to Le Chiffre in Casino Royale (2006), James Bond movies have had some legendary antagonists. But even more eye-catching have been their henchmen, who come in all shapes and sizes (quite literally). We saw Oddjob, a Korean bodyguard with a razor-rimmed hat in Goldfinger (1964); Jaws, a 7 feet tall giant with steel teeth in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979); Nick Nack, a dwarf in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974); and quite recently, Dave Bautista as Mr. Hinx in Spectre (2015) to name a few. And then there are the (hench)women too, MayDay in A View to a Kill (1985), Fatima Blush in Never Say Never Again (1983), and Xenia Onatopp in Goldeneye (1995) among others. The stronger (and weirder) the adversary, the more fun it is to watch Bond tackle them.
#7 Bond himself
‘I admire your courage, Miss…’
‘Trench. Sylvia Trench. I admire your luck, Mister…’
‘Bond. James Bond’
And with this little conversation in Dr. No (1962), we got introduced to one of the most celebrated characters in cinema history. Confident, charming, magnetic, witty, unflinching, the list of adjectives can go on and on if we try to describe the man known as James Bond. Adapting literary work into movies can often be hit-and-miss. But EON Productions struck gold in the very first attempt with Sean Connery and Dr. No (1962). Since then, generations have passed, eras have changed and different actors have come and gone. But the character itself has stayed true to its core and continues captivating audience members with his magic.
What I’ve mentioned are just some of the reasons why I enjoy watching a Bond flick so much. There is a lot else to like about these movies too - iconic songs, futuristic gadgets, action sequences, car chases, and so on. Also, I’m not saying these movies have always been perfect. Far from it, they have had some major snags. But we can keep that for another list.
