I like Bond, James Bond.
Unlike Batman, Bond shows his face, grace under pressure and yes, his penchant for “work hard play hard”. But don’t ever doubt his loyalty and commitment to serve the Queen.
The franchise still commands a huge audience with formula that works: Bond got a mission, Bond got captured, and finally Bond (good) triumphs over the force of Evil.
Even in his worst day (often in captivity), he manages to carry himself with dignity.
Throughout the heated exchange, we can still detect the mutual respect one enemy has for the other, since they are both cut out of the same cloth (sometime with the same training if it’s a mold).
In this multi-polar world, the makers of the Bond series are scratching their heads to fit the square Cold-War stick into today’s round hole.
We got the tech nerd, the unflinching boss, the girls, and the side kick.
Most importantly, the villain? It is commented that already the latest Bond character is portrayed with some dark elements (he is more vicious in seeking revenge for his accountant lover – at one point, his boss had to cancel his credit card – no more gambling!)
What ever personification of Evil in our next Bond film, we know the producer has plenty (location and lyrics) to choose from. Just look at the headlines. Read the cables. Peruse the now declassified materials (from the Nixon era backward).
The reason you and I like Bond films is because it set us up (first with the playful teaser, then it drops us cold into the situation e.g. kidnapping etc…which demands immediate ransom or resolution). The window of opportunity is small, very small and the urgency is great. Just don’t question Bond’s resolve, and ours in this case – because fifteen minutes into the film, we already suspend of disbelief.
Every few years, they held a casting call to select a new face to play Bond, James Bond.
For us, loyal fan, we took this occasion to renew our faith in Rousseau‘s Social Contract, in the Golden Rule, quid pro quo and non-zero sum game. Just “good triumphs over evil” formula, Bond or Batman.
Thang Nguyen 555 