James Bond: Super Hero or Anti Hero?
RogueAgent007
Corn-fed central USPosts: 154MI6 Agent
OK, so, as I have been reading all of your posts, I have noticed certain trends of thought which has brought me to realize that there are many different takes on who Bond is. This is to be expected, as we all have different perspectives on it. I think, though, that I can narrow these down to two basic character types which are blended in various ways and then we can discuss them and the various permutations accordingly.
1) Bond the Super Hero: This aspect of Bond seems to appear more in the movies. Bond is indestructible, untouchable, always cool, always in control. Bond is so cool, in fact, he can face death-defying situations with a smile on his face and a quip on his tongue. Bond can handle any circumstance, with or without gadgets. Bond is the expert on everything, from fine wines, caviar, and brandy to rare orchids and butterflies. The ultimate weapon himself, Bond is an expert with all weapons, close combat, sniper, and commando tactics. Bond is ruthless, yet concerned. Independent, yet loyal. Fierce, yet surprisingly tender at times. For examples, please see Bond as depicted in films like GE, TWINE, TND, GF, TB, FYEO, and OP
2) Bond the Anti Hero: Obviously, Bond has some bad habits, like drinking too much, smoking, and is quite the womanizer. Much like the Punisher from Marvel Comics, though, this Bond also has a Huge Dark Side. This Bond lets nothing stand in his way. More determined, more focused, yet flawed. This Bond is still imminently capable, yet makes mistakes. This Bond doesn't always see the big picture, doesn't always follow orders, yet somehow gets the Job done every time. Both Bond's are relentless, but this one doesn't consider collateral damage to be a problem if the objective is met. This Bond can be wounded, beaten, or tortured, yet will not stop. This Bond is more brutal, more violent, showing little or no feeling regarding either his targets or his love affairs. He may have the feelings, but he has shut them off until the mission is complete, then buries them in substance abuse. Sometimes described as more human, or more realistic, this Bond can be seen most plainly in the films DN, OHMSS, LTK, CR06, QOS, and SF. It is also more the Bond of the books.
First of all, am I even halfway accurate in these analysis? I'm sure I've missed some things, so feel free to add to the descriptions. I also realize that aspects of both show up in each and every one of the films and the books. But each actor has struck his own balance between these two.
But, ultimately, If Bond were a Vesper Martini, how would you mix him up? Would the Super Hero be your Gordon's or your Kina Lillet?
1) Bond the Super Hero: This aspect of Bond seems to appear more in the movies. Bond is indestructible, untouchable, always cool, always in control. Bond is so cool, in fact, he can face death-defying situations with a smile on his face and a quip on his tongue. Bond can handle any circumstance, with or without gadgets. Bond is the expert on everything, from fine wines, caviar, and brandy to rare orchids and butterflies. The ultimate weapon himself, Bond is an expert with all weapons, close combat, sniper, and commando tactics. Bond is ruthless, yet concerned. Independent, yet loyal. Fierce, yet surprisingly tender at times. For examples, please see Bond as depicted in films like GE, TWINE, TND, GF, TB, FYEO, and OP
2) Bond the Anti Hero: Obviously, Bond has some bad habits, like drinking too much, smoking, and is quite the womanizer. Much like the Punisher from Marvel Comics, though, this Bond also has a Huge Dark Side. This Bond lets nothing stand in his way. More determined, more focused, yet flawed. This Bond is still imminently capable, yet makes mistakes. This Bond doesn't always see the big picture, doesn't always follow orders, yet somehow gets the Job done every time. Both Bond's are relentless, but this one doesn't consider collateral damage to be a problem if the objective is met. This Bond can be wounded, beaten, or tortured, yet will not stop. This Bond is more brutal, more violent, showing little or no feeling regarding either his targets or his love affairs. He may have the feelings, but he has shut them off until the mission is complete, then buries them in substance abuse. Sometimes described as more human, or more realistic, this Bond can be seen most plainly in the films DN, OHMSS, LTK, CR06, QOS, and SF. It is also more the Bond of the books.
First of all, am I even halfway accurate in these analysis? I'm sure I've missed some things, so feel free to add to the descriptions. I also realize that aspects of both show up in each and every one of the films and the books. But each actor has struck his own balance between these two.
But, ultimately, If Bond were a Vesper Martini, how would you mix him up? Would the Super Hero be your Gordon's or your Kina Lillet?
Beg your pardon, forgot to knock...
Comments
I feel Bond started out as a civil servant in Dr No (a stupid policeman, as he was called) and this continued in FRWL. In Goldfinger, he is becoming more of a super hero. Even in OHMSS, where he is more human and vulnerable, he is still a bit of a super hero. By the time DAF and then the Moore era rolled around, he was a full blown super hero that was pretty industructible and would come out of a fight just straightening his tie.
Even when FYEO and the later Moore films brought him back to Earth (literally after Moonraker), he was maybe less of a super hero and more of a comic book hero. Nothing wrong about that. I enjoy that period quite a bit.
Dalton returned him to reality, but Bond's world was still larger than life. Brosnan returned him to an extent to being a superhero, I think.
One quality of the super Bond that you missed is the ability to drive any vehicle he comes across: T-55 tank, excavator, front end loader, fighter jet, etc...
I tend to enjoy the various interpretations of Bond. However, I do take issue with the Superman Bond seen in the Goldeneye PTS..mainly the freefall after the plane. There has to be some limit of his skills.
Dalton claimed his Bond was NOT a Superman, yet he still managed to pull off superhuman feats far and above the capabilities of any normal secret agent.
Most importantly, the missions should pose a challenge for Bond, not just a cakewalk where he can put forth minimal effort to thwart the villains. I like when there's a sense of danger and urgency. Octopussy does this well.
I still greatly admire Roger Moore's Bond in A View to a Kill for his more human, more realistic approach.
A gentleman spy with a code of honor. Can cook dinner and re-connect telephone lines. Opts to sleep in a chair than hop into bed with the girl. Always one-step behind the villain without ever getting the upper hand until the very end.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
My mixture of all the elements you mentioned would probably result in something almost identical to Pierce Brosnan in TWINE. I wish Michael Apted would have directed more 007 films. -{
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Antihero- someone doing something bad for good reason.
Think Al Pacino in Godfather. He is a good man who sucked into the crime world to protect his father and becomes corrupt.
Superhero- has powers that a human could not have. Eg. Flight like superman.
Batman is a comic book hero not s superhero as he is just a man in a suit, a very wealthy, very highly skilled man in a suit. It's the same for Bond.
Bond is a hero, the protagonist of the story.
But isn't killing people an anti hero trait? Bond consistently does bad things to promote good. And many of his habits are not desirable qualities. And doesn't he show some superhuman abilities? The ability to come out of a fist fight without bloody knuckles and maybe some blood in the corner of his mouth, for instance. Sure, he can't fly, but neither can Luke Cage, the man with unbreakable skin in Marvel Comics, and Luke is considered a superhero. I also think you might be the only person I've ever heard describe Batman as not being a superhero. I think Bond is often portrayed with these attributes, and I'm asking how you like them mixed up.
For the record, I think PB's Bond leaned heavily on the Superhero side, as did Moore. But for me the perfect balance of the two came from SC. You see more of the antisocial, dark side, anti hero aspect, but forgive him his vices because he's just so cool.
I'm with NeverSayDie on this. You could maybe make the argument that Bond is a superhero at times but I think LTK is the only example where you could say Bond is an anti-hero.
11- TB. 12- OP. 13- LALD. 14- TMWTGG. 15- FYEO. 16- YOLT. 17- TND. 18- QoS.
19- TWINE. 20- AVTAK. 21- MR. 22- DAF. 23- DAD.
Bond may be at his darkest in LTK, but I question his label as an Anti-hero. How many people did Bond actually kill in that movie? Killifer, for sure, who deserved it. Clive, who also deserved it for killing Sharkey. The guy shooting at him outside the Barrelhead Bar, self defense. Braun and Perez, who were shooting at him, again, self-defense, and of course, Sanchez, who i think we can all agree had it coming.
Everyone else who dies is killed by Sanchez. He sets up the doubt which leads to it, but still doesn't actually kill Krest, Heller, and Truman-Lodge.
Bond has bad habits. He drinks, smokes, and is a womanizer, but they're flaws, and don't really affect his status of a hero in my eyes.