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Bond formula shifts 50 years later
If you really want to understand the vast changes that have occurred in America over the past 50 years, all you have to do is watch James Bond. Back in 1962, the first Bond movie, “Dr. No,” was released, catapulting Sean Connery to international stardom. Even President John F. Kennedy expressed admiration for Ian Fleming’s fictional British secret agent.
Connery’s Bond was ultra-suave but amazingly politically incorrect. The guy smoked constantly, drank, gambled and womanized without remorse. He was a rogue and couldn’t care less what anyone thought. He was also brutal, liberally exercising his license to kill in the cause of justice, of course.
Now we live in a new age, and we have a different James Bond: Daniel Craig. His Bond is a much more sensitive soul than was Connery’s. In the 23rd Bond film, “Skyfall,” Craig rarely smiles, goes about his business with grim determination and looks like he’s in the gym quite often. While Connery’s Bond spent his spare time chasing ladies and drinking martinis, Craig’s is apparently training for the triathlon.
However, the biggest difference between Connery and Craig is that the former seemed to be having fun racing around the world doing the bidding of the British government. Craig does not seem to be having a lot of laughs. In fact, Craig is a major brooder, and so is his boss, played by Judi Dench. Watching these two have a conversation is like watching Dr. Phil yell at some guy who just abandoned his family.
Nevertheless, “Skyfall” is a huge moneymaker, especially overseas. The formula is this: Blow things up every 10 minutes. It’s kinda like the old Elvis movies where The King broke into song every eight minutes no matter what was happening in the storyline. They needed to fill up an album, so Elvis sang on cue.
Perhaps the biggest difference between “Dr. No” and “Skyfall” is the subordinate casting. Ursula Andress was the femme fatale in “Dr. No.” She spent the entire film in a bikini except for about three minutes when she wore a robe. Ursula, a Swiss actress, did not say very much. But she liked James; that much was clear.
The women in “Skyfall” also like James. I think. But they were shuttled in and out of the film so quickly, it was hard to tell. Dealing with the opposite sex cuts into Craig’s brooding time, and we can’t have that.
Also, the villains say something about our changing world. Joseph Wiseman played “Dr. No.” Yes, he was a mean guy, but he wasn’t very menacing. The worst thing he did was give a henchman a tarantula to put in Bond’s bed. That could never happen today because PETA would picket.
In “Skyfall,” Javier Bardem is the bad guy, and the script implies that he may be gay. But it’s not really clear. What is certain is that Javier is a computer wiz bent on killing Dench. While Dr. No wanted to dominate space, Bardem simply wants a little revenge for a past slight, a hallmark of many bloggers.
My sentiment lies with Connery. Craig is better than Pierce Brosnan, but he doesn’t have Connery’s charisma. The old guy wins.
Bill O’Reilly is host of the Fox News Show, “The O’Reilly Factor” and author of the book “Pinheads and Patriots: Where You Stand in the Age of Obama.”
Discussion | 10 comments
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G-ManDecember 10, 2012 - 7:12 am
Perhaps Billy Boy should watch the new Daniel Craig's Bond flicks...Craig puts away Vespers like a sailor on Shore Leave..and while Connery will always be my fav..Craig is a damn good replacement.
Reply |CD BrooksDecember 10, 2012 - 7:33 am
Mornin G-Man! I was never really a Bond fan but I liked Roger Moore in the role. I wasn't a Connery-as-Bond fan at all, but appreciated much of his other work. I have not seen any of the new films starring Craig.
Reply |James Bond 007 Gun Barrels 1962 - 2008December 10, 2012 - 7:46 am
********http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IdDl-pHeDw
Reply |Brosnan's Bond - ALL Bond Villain DeathsDecember 10, 2012 - 7:51 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6UZDTpC6fY
Reply |Things have changedDecember 10, 2012 - 8:01 am
*****http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9EKqQWPjyo
Reply |lyricsDecember 10, 2012 - 10:13 am
A worried man with a worried mind... No one in front of me and nothing behind... There's a woman on my lap and she's drinking champagne... Got white skin, got assassin's eyes... I'm looking up into the sapphire tinted skies... I'm well dressed, waiting on the last train... [Bridge #1:] Standing on the gallows with my head in a noose... Any minute now I'm expecting all hell to break loose.... [Chorus] People are crazy and times are strange... I'm locked in tight, I'm out of range... I used to care, but things have changed... This place ain't doing me any good... I'm in the wrong town, I should be in Hollywood... Just for a second there I thought I saw something move... Gonna take dancing lessons do the jitterbug rag... Ain't no shortcuts, gonna dress in drag... Only a fool in here would think he's got anything to prove... [Bridge #2] Lot of water under the bridge, Lot of other stuff too... Don't get up gentlemen, I'm only passing through... [chorus] I've been walking forty miles of bad road... If the bible is right, the world will explode... I've been trying to get as far away from myself as I can.... Some things are too hot to touch... The human mind can only stand so much... You can't win with a losing hand.... [Bridge #3] Feel like falling in love with the first woman I meet..... Putting her in a wheel barrow and wheeling her down the street..... [chorus] I hurt easy, I just don't show it... You can hurt someone and not even know it... The next sixty seconds could be like an eternity... Gonna get low down, gonna fly high... All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie... I'm love with a woman who don't even appeal to me... [Bridge #4] Mr. Jinx and Miss Lucy, they jumped in the lake.... I'm not that eager to make a mistake... [chorus]............Confusing say......No matter where you go....There you are.
Reply |CD BrooksDecember 10, 2012 - 8:02 am
Brosnan's Bond - ALL Bond Villain Deaths, yeah I was never a real fan of Brosnan but liked him in Thomas Crown. Never saw him as Bond.
Reply |Good One....Dennis MillerDecember 10, 2012 - 2:14 pm
Lord Christopher Monckton - speaking against Agenda 21, on the Dennis Miller show at this time!
Reply |Also On FM 650.....w/Dennis MillerDecember 10, 2012 - 2:22 pm
The radio home of the morning show Armstrong and Getty , those weird, wonderful and oh so entertaining radio hosts. For some fun check out their website.
Reply |Stupid MistakeDecember 10, 2012 - 2:24 pm
I meant AM that is AM 650
Reply |