Non-Smoking Bond... have you noticed?

J-B-007 · November 2006

Well, have you? Bond doesn't smoke and that's a very nice improvement in this movie! I hope lots of fans will quit doing this.

... and I also think that that fits Bond - he's much more sport type than all other Bonds together, don't you think so?

Your opinion.

highhopes · November 2006

There's been a good deal of arguing back and forth on this point. Some say it's integral to the character because the literary Bond smokes 60 Morelands a day. But I don't think Fleming really considered just how difficult some of the stuff he demanded of his character would be on three packs a day (which is practically chain-smoking). As a former longtime, two-pack a day smoker I can say he would not, even as a young man. I don't miss the fact that Bond doesn't smoke and I'd just as soon keep it that way. CR is, after all, a 21st century Bond.

Krassno Granitski · November 2006

The literary Bond, likes to live life on the edge and live every moment as if it was his last, he is not worried about the harmful effects of smoking because like Fleming he does not want to live forever and giving his profession he will not live long anyway. This is a very important characteristic and should be displayed when portraying James Bond, this is a fictional character after all.

The producers have lost loved ones because of cancer therefore Bond will never smoke on screen again. Remember kids smoking is bad for you.

Agent Wade · November 2006

Consider this. Would we really believe that a chain-smoking Bond could run down Mollaka the way he did through the construction yard and the embassy? If Bond never smoked again, I'd be none too disappointed either. I've seen it kill to many people I've cared about.

Virgil · November 2006

Agent Wade wrote:

Consider this. Would we really believe that a chain-smoking Bond could run down Mollaka the way he did through the construction yard and the embassy? If Bond never smoked again, I'd be none too disappointed either. I've seen it kill to many people I've cared about.

I love the books and I used to think that to adapt the character faithfully, Bond should smoke. I even started a topic asking for opinions on whether Bond should smoke in CR or not.
After seeing the movie, I didn´t miss at all the smoking. It´s Ian Fleming´s Casino Royale as it is.

007-Z · May 2007

I dunno...but with such a stress filled life of looking over your shoulder, hoping the next corner won't bring you a shot to the head. Or that sweet broad at the bar...isn't there to poison your drink. No true friends...no one to trust.
Lots of alcohol and cigarettes to dull the pain. Trust me...it sure helps.

scottmu65 · May 2007

Personally I don't see a non-smoking Bond is a major issue. Fair enough the literary 007 is a heavy smoker and to be honest I think that when 007 smokes it just gives him that edge and charisma, for example in Dr No when we first see James Bond and he lights his cigarette and says those those three immortal words. Having said that it just isn't that important to me.

Random question, in Die Another Day am I right in thinking that in one scene while Bond is in Cuba, Bond is seen smoking a cuban cigar?

Tee Hee · May 2007

scottmu65 wrote:

Random question, in Die Another Day am I right in thinking that in one scene while Bond is in Cuba, Bond is seen smoking a cuban cigar?

You are right! :007)

7289 · May 2007

I can appreciate that as a role model it makes sense that Bond should not smoke. As far as the Casino Royale movie goes I did not miss the smoking.

But, Bond is a rather self-destructive charecter (like Fleming) and it would be an interesting dimension if in later films Craig's oo7 were to start smoking (and drinking), and have it brought out during the course of the movie that his health is compromised.

After all, double-o agents have a very short life expectancy.

DEFIANT 74205 · May 2007

I think one of the attractions of James Bond is that he has his flaws, and smoking is one of them. The literary Bond didn't glorify smoking: he knew full well that smoking was bad for his health, it was just one of those bad habits that he either couldn't kick or couldn't be bothered to kick. M, in particular, has chastised him about his health, and ordered him to Shrublands.

I think this aspect of Bond makes him more human, that he is prone to making mistakes and bad choices just like the rest of us. Bring back the smoking Bond, make him lose a few fights because of his health, have M order him to get his health in order or strip him of 00 status.

emtiem · May 2007

DEFIANT 74205 wrote:

I think one of the attractions of James Bond is that he has his flaws, and smoking is one of them. The literary Bond didn't glorify smoking: he knew full well that smoking was bad for his health,

Did he know all that well, though? As much as a man in the 21st century knows it's bad for him? I dunno.

A more accurate Fleming adaptation would have him smoking, but it'd have him in the 50's with a big scar down his face and a huge open-topped car. Not that there's anything inherently wrong or silly about doing those things, but it's still Bond in Casino Royale without them.

superado · May 2007

In the books, Bond has laid off the vice in preparation for a two mile swim, or raid, etc.

For the most part, however, I don't think that the clock could ever be turned back to capture the literary Bond in his full glory, as it's been said and I'm not hoping or making any expectations for that to happen. The literary Bond does nothing near what his film counterpart does in terms of physical demanding acts, at least not at the intesity of the Madagascar chase.

glidrose · May 2007

superado wrote:

In the books, Bond has laid off the vice in preparation for a two mile swim, or raid, etc.

For the most part, however, I don't think that the clock could ever be turned back to capture the literary Bond in his full glory, as it's been said and I'm not hoping or making any expectations for that to happen. The literary Bond does nothing near what his film counterpart does in terms of physical demanding acts, at least not at the intesity of the Madagascar chase.

I agree, even if I would like to see Bond smoke in the films.

If they really wanted the Bond of the films to inhabit the literary version, he would also be taking Benzedrine drugs too before a mission.

And like Supes said, the Madagascar scene alone would not be possible with a man smoking 70 a day.

spy009 · May 2007

Smoking is bad for you no question,but we lose some of Flemings charator,where do we go next,driving fast is also dangerous,maybe Bond should follow all the speed limits,In Casino Royale he drinks his martini then drives off in a chace,maybe one cigarette would be OK...

superado · May 2007

glidrose wrote:

superado wrote:

In the books, Bond has laid off the vice in preparation for a two mile swim, or raid, etc.

For the most part, however, I don't think that the clock could ever be turned back to capture the literary Bond in his full glory, as it's been said and I'm not hoping or making any expectations for that to happen. The literary Bond does nothing near what his film counterpart does in terms of physical demanding acts, at least not at the intesity of the Madagascar chase.

I agree, even if I would like to see Bond smoke in the films.

If they really wanted the Bond of the films to inhabit the literary version, he would also be taking Benzedrine drugs too before a mission.

And like Supes said, the Madagascar scene alone would not be possible with a man smoking 70 a day.

Along those lines, I postulated some time ago how Bond's teeth looking something like this with a 3 pack a day habit:

emtiem · May 2007

spy009 wrote:

Smoking is bad for you no question,but we lose some of Flemings charator,where do we go next,driving fast is also dangerous,maybe Bond should follow all the speed limits,In Casino Royale he drinks his martini then drives off in a chace,maybe one cigarette would be OK...

Well he stopped smoking 12 years ago; have we lost the character in that time?

Son Of Barbel · May 2007

You can't possibly be saying that a chain smoking Bond wouldn't be able to kill a giant squid while armed only with a small table knife and a bit of wire?

darenhat · May 2007

There's a news story on Fox News today that the US film rating association is leaning towards weighing adult-smoking scenes towards a film's R rating. Previously teen smoking garnered an R rating, but not adult smoking.

Keeping Bond smoke-free is a big factor if EON wants to keep the film open to a larger young US audience.

s96024 · May 2007

Do people seriously go out and start smoking because they see an actor smoking. Come on most of it's peer pressure when your young. If you want to stop people smoking it's simple. Make it illegal!

Dan Same · May 2007

s96024 wrote:

If you want to stop people smoking it's simple. Make it illegal!

Making smoking illegal won't stop people smoking. It didn't work with alcohol and it doesn't work with drugs.

Dan Same · May 2007

darenhat wrote:

There's a news story on Fox News today that the US film rating association is leaning towards weighing adult-smoking scenes towards a film's R rating. Previously teen smoking garnered an R rating, but not adult smoking.

I read about that. Apparently smoking will count against a film if it isn't required by the plot.

Loeffelholz · May 2007

One must wonder whether Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon---not to mention all of the classic Bonds---ought to be retro-fitted with an 'R' rating 8-)

Willie Garvin · May 2007

And if such retroactive ratings come to pass,Turner Classic Movies will be an entirely "R" rated channel.:o

s96024 · May 2007

Dan Same wrote:

s96024 wrote:

If you want to stop people smoking it's simple. Make it illegal!

Making smoking illegal won't stop people smoking. It didn't work with alcohol and it doesn't work with drugs.

It would. Obviously you get some people who will obtain it illegally. But to supply the whole population with enough cigarettes. You would have to import billions of cigarettes which is impossible. Alcohol is a totally different thing. If all drugs were made legal, you would have way more people using them. Just look at the Netherlands. The fact is there is way too much tax involved.

Dan Same · May 2007

s96024 wrote:

It would. Obviously you get some people who will obtain it illegally. But to supply the whole population with enough cigarettes. You would have to import billions of cigarettes which is impossible. Alcohol is a totally different thing. If all drugs were made legal, you would have way more people using them. Just look at the Netherlands. The fact is there is way too much tax involved.

This is off topic but I don't agree with that. I don't have statistics at hand on how many people take drugs in The Netherlands versus America, but my suspicion is that if drugs were legal, it could be treated as a medical problem rather than a legal one. It must also be noted, that some of my friends have had no problem whatsoever getting drugs, even though it is illegal.

I don't love the idea of usimg banning as a solution to social problems. Smoking is a huge problem, although less people smoke now than they once did, but I don't think making it illegal is the answer. Especially since I think that adults should have a right to do what they want with their own bodies.

Dan Same · May 2007

Loeffelholz wrote:

One must wonder whether Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon---not to mention all of the classic Bonds---ought to be retro-fitted with an 'R' rating 8-)

I don't think they are talking about the Bond films. I would imagine that they are talking about American Pie 4 or any other teen film which has attained a fair degree of success.

s96024 · May 2007

The problem is it doesn't only affect the smoker themselves.

Dan Same · May 2007

s96024 wrote:

The problem is it doesn't only affect the smoker themselves.

True, but I still don't think that smoking should be banned.

Loeffelholz · May 2007

Dan Same wrote:

Loeffelholz wrote:

One must wonder whether Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon---not to mention all of the classic Bonds---ought to be retro-fitted with an 'R' rating 8-)

I don't think they are talking about the Bond films. I would imagine that they are talking about American Pie 4 or any other teen film which has attained a fair degree of success.

I'm guesing that American Pie 4, or other so-called 'teen films,' will have other, more valid, reasons for an 'R' rating ;%

This smoking thing, IMO, is politically correct nonsense---a minor symptom of a much larger problem.

superado · May 2007

Dan Same wrote:

It must also be noted, that some of my friends have had no problem whatsoever getting drugs, even though it is illegal.

Hey Dan, what a coincidence! I also had friends who enjoyed illegal drugs! Does anyone else here similarly "have friends" of the mellow persuasion? Maybe we can form a virtual circle.

Loeffelholz · May 2007

superado wrote:

...what a coincidence! I also had friends who enjoyed illegal drugs! Does anyone else here similarly "have friends" of the mellow persuasion? Maybe we can form a virtual circle.

The coincidence widens...I, too, "have friends" of this nature---and they are similarly unaffected by various laws currently on the books B-)

Non-Smoking Bond... have you noticed?

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