Cherished Bonds
It's only a few days away from the Manila showing of the latest James Bond flick, Die Another Day with Pierce Brosnan reprising the role of Agent 007. Noticeably getting considerable billing is Oscar-award winner Halle Berry, who plays the part of Jinx, an beautiful and fickle American NSA agent. I've read good reviews, calling DAD the 'best Bond film in a long, long time'. I hope so. The series has seen lots of better days... in fact, I have to say I became a lukewarm Bond fan since Mr. Brosnan donned the tux and started guzzling those martinis.
I don't blame Brosnan; I still think he DOES have the perfect look of a Bond, as much as either Roger Moore or Sean Connery (I still think Connery was the best Bond, with Moore second if only for his great, enjoyable films). However, the 'real-life' direction of the Bond films, which started with Timothy Dalton's tour of duty, really took away the FUN of the series for me (guess who my WORST Bond is...)
I don't care if that was the way of the original books by Ian Fleming. I want large-scale plots. I want armies of thugs. I want the evil, twisted masterminds. I want the scary henchman with the weird schticks. That's James Bond! WHERE IS SPECTRE!?! Bring Ernst Stavros Blofeld back to kick the ass out of Dr. Evil!
Anyway, the Dalton flicks were horrible. I HATE Dalton's dull, expressionless, monotone-voiced Bond. I hated License to Kill, with it's attempt at real-world plots. Colombian drug lords? BORING!!! The only good thing there was Carey Lowell in a swimsuit. Otherwise, CRAP. Don't even get me started on Living Daylights. Speaking of incomprehensible plots, can anyone tell me what The World Is Not Enough was all about? I can never watch that horrible excuse for a Bond film. Not even Denise Richards' tank top could save that stinker. And who was the villain? Looked like Mini-me, only taller and less dangerous.
I have to say those are my hated Bond films. Stinkers, the lot of them. Almost made me forget that I love this series. Of course, all I need to do is recall the golden moments of Bond.
The Spy Who Loved Me. Ah. Mad billionaires with underwater cities. Richard Kiel's Jaws was unforgettable. The battle in the tanker was action end-to-end (something that is matched only by the Moonraker finale). Another favorite is Goldfinger, probably the quintessential Bond film. Oddjob and that incredible hat. Pussy Galore. And how more classic can you get with a plot that concerns robbing Fort Knox?
Another favorite is Thunderball, if only for the definitive Spectre presence. Rounding the list off are You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only and From Russia With Love. Dr. No is an honorable mention if only for Honey Rider.
Bond is a legend. He's an archetype. You don't try to update and force-fit him into current events. He has his own world, dammit! GAH!
Anyway, the best new Bonds was probably Tomorrow Never Dies for an over-the-top villain in media mogul Peter Carver. Michelle Yeoh wasn't sexy at all here, though. Just doesn't do it for me. I liked Goldeneye's bad girl Xenia Onatopp a lot better. If only her fight scene with Bond was a lot more... involved. Heh.
Hm. Well, after all that, I guess I am really looking forward to the next Bond. I really hope I dig it, but I am lowering my expectations just in case. I still long for the old Bond magic back. Maybe someday. Someday...
It's only a few days away from the Manila showing of the latest James Bond flick, Die Another Day with Pierce Brosnan reprising the role of Agent 007. Noticeably getting considerable billing is Oscar-award winner Halle Berry, who plays the part of Jinx, an beautiful and fickle American NSA agent. I've read good reviews, calling DAD the 'best Bond film in a long, long time'. I hope so. The series has seen lots of better days... in fact, I have to say I became a lukewarm Bond fan since Mr. Brosnan donned the tux and started guzzling those martinis.
I don't blame Brosnan; I still think he DOES have the perfect look of a Bond, as much as either Roger Moore or Sean Connery (I still think Connery was the best Bond, with Moore second if only for his great, enjoyable films). However, the 'real-life' direction of the Bond films, which started with Timothy Dalton's tour of duty, really took away the FUN of the series for me (guess who my WORST Bond is...)
I don't care if that was the way of the original books by Ian Fleming. I want large-scale plots. I want armies of thugs. I want the evil, twisted masterminds. I want the scary henchman with the weird schticks. That's James Bond! WHERE IS SPECTRE!?! Bring Ernst Stavros Blofeld back to kick the ass out of Dr. Evil!
Anyway, the Dalton flicks were horrible. I HATE Dalton's dull, expressionless, monotone-voiced Bond. I hated License to Kill, with it's attempt at real-world plots. Colombian drug lords? BORING!!! The only good thing there was Carey Lowell in a swimsuit. Otherwise, CRAP. Don't even get me started on Living Daylights. Speaking of incomprehensible plots, can anyone tell me what The World Is Not Enough was all about? I can never watch that horrible excuse for a Bond film. Not even Denise Richards' tank top could save that stinker. And who was the villain? Looked like Mini-me, only taller and less dangerous.
I have to say those are my hated Bond films. Stinkers, the lot of them. Almost made me forget that I love this series. Of course, all I need to do is recall the golden moments of Bond.
The Spy Who Loved Me. Ah. Mad billionaires with underwater cities. Richard Kiel's Jaws was unforgettable. The battle in the tanker was action end-to-end (something that is matched only by the Moonraker finale). Another favorite is Goldfinger, probably the quintessential Bond film. Oddjob and that incredible hat. Pussy Galore. And how more classic can you get with a plot that concerns robbing Fort Knox?
Another favorite is Thunderball, if only for the definitive Spectre presence. Rounding the list off are You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only and From Russia With Love. Dr. No is an honorable mention if only for Honey Rider.
Bond is a legend. He's an archetype. You don't try to update and force-fit him into current events. He has his own world, dammit! GAH!
Anyway, the best new Bonds was probably Tomorrow Never Dies for an over-the-top villain in media mogul Peter Carver. Michelle Yeoh wasn't sexy at all here, though. Just doesn't do it for me. I liked Goldeneye's bad girl Xenia Onatopp a lot better. If only her fight scene with Bond was a lot more... involved. Heh.
Hm. Well, after all that, I guess I am really looking forward to the next Bond. I really hope I dig it, but I am lowering my expectations just in case. I still long for the old Bond magic back. Maybe someday. Someday...
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