Me and James Bond

November 13, 2008

I love James Bond. And, as if I'm not geeky enough about other stuff, I can tell you way more about the whole Bond Thing than you'd ever want to know. It is one of those shallow, completely useless indulgences that act as the whipped cream on my chocolate cake of life.

I've loved the movie franchise ever since I was a teen watching them when they would occasionally come on TV. I loved the action and the romance. I adored all the exotic locations. I had opinions about which actor was my favorite from early on. It never occurred to me that these were films mostly for men. Who wouldn't want to watch those awesome chases and see Bond get out of those ridiculous scrapes and still look like a million bucks?? I quickly learned that most girls didn't. So, I dreamt of the Ultimate Man all alone. Bond and Han Solo were my crushes from the time I was about 11 years old (it never occurred to me that Bond can be seen as more than a chauvinist, but as an actual misogynist-I never was a very good feminist.)

I had no desire to be a Bond Girl-I knew I wasn't that type. But Oh how I wanted to be Moneypenny. She was the smart one that I always felt secretly that Bond knew was the right woman for him-his intellectual match who would convince him that there was another life for him. Oh the sighs.

Then I got busy with my family and Roger Moore's spoofy, almost campy humor was gone. It was the end of an era. Timothy Dalton didn't do it for me. Pierce Brosnan was gorgeous and elegant and all that, and the movies got better, but there was still something missing. The 4 Bond films that Pierce made were too slick-too dependent on CGI special effects and product placement (although the decision to cast Judi Dench as M was pure genius). So, when 2006 came and there was a new film with a new Bond, it all sort of went past me. I never actually watched Casino Royale in the theaters. I knew nothing about Daniel Craig and was satisfied to occasionlly watch the old classics on TV.

Till now my friends. As part of the build-up to the release of A Quantum of Solace, Showtime has been running Casino Royale. Daniel Craig has completely won me over as the Best Bond Ever. He's a better actor than all the others put together. I have thorougly enjoyed those electric blue eyes and the way he looks in a tux. I think DC plays Bond as so much more multi-faceted than recent attempts: He can take care of 3 bad guys with steely-eyed precision, comfort the poor crying girl so tenderly it breaks your heart, then change his shirt and be back to the poker game in less than an hour looking fabulous and perfectly calm-for a while now I haven't believed that Bond could really do all that, but DC makes it so. The movie also goes back to the spare, understated style (and a little more like the books) of some of the earlier ones-less gadgets, more cleverness.

So, more information than you needed and a really long lead-up to exclaim that I am really looking forward to seeing this new Bond film. Here's an invitation: Come watch this guy save the world instead of pining away for another week until you can watch Edward lurk in the darkness.

11 comments

  1. Better than Sean Connery? That's almost heresy, my friend. But, I agree: Daniel Craig is one AWESOME bond. I watched Casino Royale with Russell one night and was blown away by how good a movie it was. Which is not something one says about Bond movies, usually. I don't know if I'll pay to see Quantum of Solace in the theater, but I've got a spot reserved for it on my Netflix queue, for sure.

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  2. I have to agree with you on that. I love Connery, but there's something about Craig's willingness to get dirty that I just love about the character. I confess, I only saw one of the Timothy Dalton movies, and I'm not sure I ever saw any of Brosnan's (I may have to make up that deficit now), but I absolutley adored Casino Royale. I think Connery will always be the penultiimate Bond to me, but Craig is running neck and neck...

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  3. Holy cow!! He looks soooo good in that picture!! I love Casino Royale and am going to see the new one tomorrow with Chris. I guess this will hold me over until I spend my first night with Edward. I hope you're coming to the midnight show with us. You can take a nap the next day.
    Oh, I totally loved Han Solo too. Now my Harrison looks so old, and then he blew it by getting an earring.

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  4. I love James Bond too! Kellie you are awesome. I have to agree that picture is so good. I look forward to seeing the movie too. Let me know how it is.

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  5. This is something I for sure didn't know about you! I have actually never seen a James Bond movie...you maybe have convinced me to try. :)

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  6. I so so agree with you, I loved Casino Royale and I'm sorry i never shared with you mr. Daniel Craig...He to me is also the ideal james bond! He's a lot more eye candy that is seems like robert pattinson (sp) will be, but i guess i'll decide that on friday!

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  7. We should have a movie night! I've never seen Casino Royale but all my girlfriends have been raving about DC so now I'm intrigued. :) Are you coming to Twilight?

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  8. Oh my!!! I love it. I too am a HUUUUUGE Daniel Craig fan. Soo soo....well you know what I mean!

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  9. I am with you. I was totally disgusted by him when they first announced him, but now I think he's the best ever. I haven't seen the new one, but that last one was the best Bond movie ever. Can't wait to see it!

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  10. loved this post, I shared it with Matt when I glanced at it a couple of weeks ago... :)

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