Bond as a Villain

Following the muddying of Bond's character in CR I think in the next film he should become a freelance mercenary who is hired by MI6 from time to time when noone else can do the job. And in the film after that he should change sides completely and become a full on villain. Eon should create a new young secret agent from scratch who is hip and 21st century - probably black, female and bisexual - and who defeats the evil dirty rotten Bond. It's a slippery slope...
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Comments

  • Klaus HergescheimerKlaus Hergescheimer Posts: 332MI6 Agent
    As the great Bill Lumbergh said,

    "Yeah... Umm... I'm going to have to go ahead and sort of disagree with you there."
  • glidroseglidrose Posts: 138MI6 Agent
    delicious wrote:
    Following the muddying of Bond's character in CR I think in the next film he should become a freelance mercenary who is hired by MI6 from time to time when noone else can do the job. And in the film after that he should change sides completely and become a full on villain. Eon should create a new young secret agent from scratch who is hip and 21st century - probably black, female and bisexual - and who defeats the evil dirty rotten Bond. It's a slippery slope...

    Tell me, have you visited planet earth recently....
  • drwinstonoboogiedrwinstonoboogie Posts: 2MI6 Agent
    in true glaswegian venacular..'aye right!'
  • dimchdimch Posts: 19MI6 Agent
    Now I'm ashamed to be a Sydney-sider.
  • positivelyshockingpositivelyshocking Posts: 53MI6 Agent
    I would say that the Bond character has been redefined by CR rather than muddied. With a 20 film history that has varied wildly, we now know exactly where we stand in terms of Bonds character after the events of CR.

    I can't agree with delicious at all!
  • JohmssJohmss Posts: 274MI6 Agent
    delicious wrote:
    Following the muddying of Bond's character in CR I think in the next film he should become a freelance mercenary who is hired by MI6 from time to time when noone else can do the job. And in the film after that he should change sides completely and become a full on villain. Eon should create a new young secret agent from scratch who is hip and 21st century - probably black, female and bisexual - and who defeats the evil dirty rotten Bond. It's a slippery slope...

    As Dr. Evil says: ...R...ight...
  • Slyguy3129Slyguy3129 Posts: 58MI6 Agent
    I still say we should have the Terminator style story that was discussed a while back.

    "In the early 25th century, a machine created by a defense network computer, which became sentinel, will be sent back through time to destroy the worlds greatest Secret Agent before he was ever born. Join Bond has he not only travels the world but through decades of history in attemtps to destroy what can not be destroyed. the ultimate showdown between man and machine. At the end who will remain standing? His future is in his hands."

    Hey.....I'd go see it.........once.......maybe.......:s
  • highhopeshighhopes Posts: 1,358MI6 Agent
    delicious wrote:
    Following the muddying of Bond's character in CR I think in the next film he should become a freelance mercenary who is hired by MI6 from time to time when noone else can do the job. And in the film after that he should change sides completely and become a full on villain. Eon should create a new young secret agent from scratch who is hip and 21st century - probably black, female and bisexual - and who defeats the evil dirty rotten Bond. It's a slippery slope...

    Casino Royale didn't "muddy" Bond in the least. On the contrary, it clarified him, stripping away the layers of extraneous bull**** the character had accumulated over four decades to get to his core: a serious man dedicated to furthering the interests of Queen and country with every tool, both subtle and not-so-subtle, at his disposal.
  • Moore Not LessMoore Not Less Posts: 1,095MI6 Agent
    delicious wrote:
    And in the film after that he should change sides completely and become a full on villain.

    Somehow, I can't see Bond change sides completely and become a full on villain. However, it's always possible that he could pose as a villain. Should that be the case then Daniel Craig would be the right man for the job. Before Casino Royale I saw him more as a villain than I did as Bond.
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    edited January 2007
    delicious wrote:
    Following the muddying of Bond's character in CR I think in the next film he should become a freelance mercenary who is hired by MI6 from time to time when noone else can do the job. And in the film after that he should change sides completely and become a full on villain. Eon should create a new young secret agent from scratch who is hip and 21st century - probably black, female and bisexual - and who defeats the evil dirty rotten Bond. It's a slippery slope...

    Oookay.
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • bondgrl007bondgrl007 Posts: 21MI6 Agent
    Well technically if you think about it, Bond already is a villian to those people that he is trying to fight. To us they are the villians, but to them Bond is the villian.
  • deliciousdelicious SydneyPosts: 371MI6 Agent
    glidrose wrote:
    delicious wrote:
    Following the muddying of Bond's character in CR I think in the next film he should become a freelance mercenary who is hired by MI6 from time to time when noone else can do the job. And in the film after that he should change sides completely and become a full on villain. Eon should create a new young secret agent from scratch who is hip and 21st century - probably black, female and bisexual - and who defeats the evil dirty rotten Bond. It's a slippery slope...

    Tell me, have you visited planet earth recently....

    No actually, can you give me directions?
  • Willie GarvinWillie Garvin Posts: 1,412MI6 Agent
    edited January 2007
    Guys,let's all please be civil while disagreeing with each other.When you're really upset with someone contact them via PM.

    This thread is not going to devolve into one where posters call each another names.It'll be shut down if that occurs.
  • NightshooterNightshooter In bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
    I thought he was joking.
  • Willie GarvinWillie Garvin Posts: 1,412MI6 Agent
    edited January 2007
    I thought he was joking.

    You're right.I probably overreacted here.My apologies.The thing is,we've recently had arguments begin over much lesser issues and they're never any fun to deal with.But you guys aren't doing that.

    Everybody,carry on...:)
  • glidroseglidrose Posts: 138MI6 Agent
    delicious wrote:
    glidrose wrote:
    delicious wrote:
    Following the muddying of Bond's character in CR I think in the next film he should become a freelance mercenary who is hired by MI6 from time to time when noone else can do the job. And in the film after that he should change sides completely and become a full on villain. Eon should create a new young secret agent from scratch who is hip and 21st century - probably black, female and bisexual - and who defeats the evil dirty rotten Bond. It's a slippery slope...

    Tell me, have you visited planet earth recently....

    No actually, can you give me directions?

    Straight on through the galaxy, turn left at Mars, then go on for a few thousand miles as you are, then right at Jupiter (you may have to ask for directions when you get here) and then follow the bend for a few thousand miles until you see Moon on your left. Once you get there it isn't too far from there. Go right down the hill, and follow it until you see a great big wall in the distance (there's a good Chinese restaurant nearby if you are hungry). Cross a big area of water, and keep going for a few thousand miles (past a few small islands - one does good Sushi if you get hungry again) until you reach a big bush. Walk on past it (ignoring the funny-looking creatures hopping around with boxing gloves) until you reach a bridge that looks like a coathanger.....then you should be home! ;)
  • deliciousdelicious SydneyPosts: 371MI6 Agent
    thanks gildrose
  • JADE66JADE66 Posts: 238MI6 Agent
    I really think that delicious was being ironic.
    I hope no one actually took that post seriously.
    Bond's character has not been muddied. If anything, he has become the Bond he always should have been. Ian Fleming's novels and short stories were intended for adults. Invisible, rocket-launching cars, laser beam wristwatches and steel toothed henchmen are for kids.
    The Bond Fleming created was a killer, ruthless, tough and smart. Fleming's Bond was more undercover commando than twinkle-eyed spy with a lot of toys. But he was never and will never be a villain.;)
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    edited January 2007
    JADE66 wrote:
    Ian Fleming's novels and short stories were intended for adults. Invisible, rocket-launching cars, laser beam wristwatches and steel toothed henchmen are for kids.
    Well, I don't think that LALD (laser beam wristwatches) or TSWLM (steel toothed henchmen) were for kids. I think that both films, like most Bond films, were very 'adult' in trms of their content and the way their content was presented. Some Bond films may be more 'adult' than others, but I don't think it means that they are automatically better. LTK is probably more 'adult' than TSWLM, yet I think that TSWLM is a much better film. CR is a very 'adult' film yet I think it is highly flawed. So, really, while I don't agree that LALD or TSWLM were for kids, I also don't think it makes any difference in terms of quality wether a Bond film is more 'adult' than another.
    JADE66 wrote:
    The Bond Fleming created was a killer, ruthless, tough and smart. Fleming's Bond was more undercover commando than twinkle-eyed spy with a lot of toys.
    Well, I don't kow abut Fleming, but IMO the Bond that existed from DN to DAD was absolutely fine. ;) (He was a killer, ruthless, tough and smart, but he was also a suave and sophisticated gentleman who utilised some pretty cool gadgets. While Craig's Bond is not completely different to the older Bond, he is taking it down a road which I am not particularly happy about. For one thing, IMO, he isn't suave.)
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
  • Moore Not LessMoore Not Less Posts: 1,095MI6 Agent
    Dan Same wrote:
    While Craig's Bond is not completely different to the older Bond, he is taking it down a road which I am not particularly happy about. For one thing, IMO, he isn't suave.)

    I tend to agree that Daniel Craig's Bond lacked suaveness in Casino Royale. Having said that, his Bond is not the finished article, he's a "rookie" agent. I'm certainly giving Craig the benefit of the doubt for now. As the character of his Bond develops over the next couple of films the suaveness may well become more evident.
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    I tend to agree that Daniel Craig's Bond lacked suaveness in Casino Royale. Having said that, his Bond is not the finished article, he's a "rookie" agent. I'm certainly giving Craig the benefit of the doubt for now. As the character of his Bond develops over the next couple of films the suaveness may well become more evident.
    I wish I could give Craig the benefit of the doubt like you. ;) Unfortunately, I just can't believe that a 38 year-old man has to learn how to be suave. If it is the intention of the reboot that he become suave in later films, then it just strikes me as incredibly false.
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
  • Moore Not LessMoore Not Less Posts: 1,095MI6 Agent
    edited January 2007
    Dan Same wrote:
    I wish I could give Craig the benefit of the doubt like you. ;) Unfortunately, I just can't believe that a 38 year-old man has to learn how to be suave. If it is the intention of the reboot that he become suave in later films, then it just strikes me as incredibly false.

    Dan, I see where you are coming from, but I don't believe for a moment the intention of the re-boot is that Craig's Bond becomes suave later on. The intention of the re-boot is that he's not the complete package in Casino Royale, he's "rough round the edges" As his character develops in the next couple of films suaveness may or may not become more evident. It wouldn't strike me as incredibly false if it did.
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    edited January 2007
    Dan, I see where you are coming from, but I don't believe for a moment the intention of the re-boot is that Craig's Bond becomes suave later on. The intention of the re-boot is that he's not the complete package in Casino Royale, he's "rough round the edges" As his character develops in the next couple of films suaveness may or may not become more evident. It wouldn't strike me as incredibly false if it did.
    Yeh, that's my problem though with the reboot. I don't particularly like the idea that he's 'rough around the edges' or not the complete package as I would prefer that (like Connery in DN) he encompass all of the characteristics that I love about Bond.

    The other thing is that in terms of suaveness, it's a lose-lose situation for me; if he doesn't become suave in the next few films, then that will mean he will not have one of IMO the most important Bondian characteristics, and if he does become suave, then his becoming suave (even though he's 38 years old) does indeed strike me as false.

    I guess it comes down to wether or not one likes this whole idea of a reboot. I don't. However to show that I'm not simply a party pooper ;), I want to say that I think that Caterina Murino is a very beautiful woman. :D
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
  • Moore Not LessMoore Not Less Posts: 1,095MI6 Agent
    Dan Same wrote:
    Dan, I see where you are coming from, but I don't believe for a moment the intention of the re-boot is that Craig's Bond becomes suave later on. The intention of the re-boot is that he's not the complete package in Casino Royale, he's "rough round the edges" As his character develops in the next couple of films suaveness may or may not become more evident. It wouldn't strike me as incredibly false if it did.
    Yeh, that's my problem though with the reboot. I don't particularly like the idea that he's 'rough around the edges' or not the complete package as I would prefer that (like Connery in DN) he encompass all of the characteristics that I love about Bond.

    I didn't mind the idea of Bond being "rough around the edges" or not the complete package in Casino Royale. My problems with the re-boot (prior to CR's release) were Judi Dench as M and Daniel Craig as a "rookie" Bond. As far as I was concerned, if Eon do a re-boot then they should do it properly. Which meant no Dench. Which also mean't no Craig unless the "rookie" element was dropped.

    Watching Casino Royale, I found it surprisingly easy to believe in Judi Dench as M. It didn't occur to me at any time that she didn't belong. I could already accept Maud Adams and numerous others who have appeared as seperate characters in seperate films, so it didn't require a huge leap of faith to accept Judi Dench as M.

    As for Daniel Craig. He made it easy for me to believe in him as the "rookie" Bond through the sheer quality of his performance, even though he's 38 going on fourty something.
  • deliciousdelicious SydneyPosts: 371MI6 Agent
    On the topic os suaveness, the literay Bond was never suave in the first place. This side of Bond was introduced in the movie versions from our very first sight of Bond at the casino in Dr No. The literary Bond has far more in common with Philip Marlowe the PI in Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep. Bond gets top hob-nob with thje rich and famous only because he is undercover and trying to infiltrate. In the literary Moonraker M invites him to his club to play cards against Drax because Bond is best card player in MI6. Bond know his way around expensive places but he is not born to them or even addicted to them. In the movies however he is turned into a gourmand/voluptuary/decadent though he rarely loses his head. He just needs to know enough to blend in when necessary in the books.
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    edited January 2007
    I didn't mind the idea of Bond being "rough around the edges" or not the complete package in Casino Royale. My problems with the re-boot (prior to CR's release) were Judi Dench as M and Daniel Craig as a "rookie" Bond. As far as I was concerned, if Eon do a re-boot then they should do it properly. Which meant no Dench. Which also mean't no Craig unless the "rookie" element was dropped.
    Well, putting aside the fact that I really quite dislike the idea of a reboot, I think that it would have been much cleaner if Dench hadn't been cast. You mentioned how you can accept the same actress playing different characters and so you can accept Dench; well, in my case, I can accept Maud Adams playing different characters, however I can not accept the same actress playing the same character in both the original series as well as the reboot. I guess this comes down to what one can and can not accept. ;)
    As for Daniel Craig. He made it easy for me to believe in him as the "rookie" Bond through the sheer quality of his performance, even though he's 38 going on fourty something.
    Well, at the risk of angering certain members of this site :D, I will say that there were times when Craig IMO looked like he was 48 going on 50. I really couldn't see what all those women at the resort saw in him. {:)

    BTW, how come you didn't comment on my controversial description of Caterina Murino as very beautiful? :D
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
  • Moore Not LessMoore Not Less Posts: 1,095MI6 Agent
    Dan Same wrote:
    Well, putting aside the fact that I really quite dislike the idea of a reboot, I think that it would have been much cleaner if Dench hadn't been cast. You mentioned how you can accept the same actress playing different characters and so you can accept Dench; well, in my case, I can accept Maud Adams playing different characters, however I can not accept the same actress playing the same character in both the original series as well as the reboot. I guess this comes down to what one can and can not accept. ;)

    Yes, it does come down to what one can and cannot accept. There's no particular logic to it really. For me, the more I enjoy a film the more I tend to forgive any flaws it may have in concept or execution. I enjoyed Casino Royale so much that it became surprisingly easy for me to accept Judi Dench. However, if CR had been a poor film I likely would have found it much harder to accept her.
    Dan Same wrote:
    BTW, how come you didn't comment on my controversial description of Caterina Murino as very beautiful? :D

    Because I didn't feel like it. :p

    Caterina's a real beauty that's for sure. Shame she was only on screen for barely five minutes in CR.
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    edited January 2007
    Because I didn't feel like it. :p .
    Thanks. :D
    Shame she was only on screen for barely five minutes in CR.
    How true. :'(
    Fish1941 wrote:
    I still don't buy your argument that Craig's Bond was suave. His Bond was not an experienced 00-agent to me . . . that's all.
    Which argument is that? ?:) I don't consider Craig's Bond to be suave so is your objection that you do consider him to be suave?
    Fish1941 wrote:
    And quite frankly, I couldn't care less whether he was suave or not. To me, it's mere shallowness to expect or desire that Bond or any other character be suave. It's a minor point to me.
    I don't think it's shallow in the sligtest and nor do I cosider it to be a minor point. Suaveness is IMO an essential Bondian quality and is just as important as characteristics like ruthlessness, toughness and other essential Bondian qualities. Craig IMO isn't suave which I think is like a eagle without its wings. I think it's fundamental to the character.
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
  • glidroseglidrose Posts: 138MI6 Agent
    Dan Same wrote:
    Suaveness is IMO an essential Bondian quality and is just as important as characteristics like ruthlessness, toughness and other essential Bondian qualities. Craig IMO isn't suave which I think is like a eagle without its wings. I think it's fundamental to the character.

    The character Craig played in the film wasn't suave, something that was done deliberately by the scriptwriters. To say Craig isn't suave is wrong. He is an actor (and a damn good actor at that) so can play any side to the character he wants. It's just that CR dictated that Bond was not to be suave in this particular film. But I think this will change for Bond 22.
  • NightshooterNightshooter In bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
    How was Craig not suave? Look at the way he talks to the woman in the hotel and finds out Demetrius's name. Incredibly suave.
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