Turn Your Friends Into Fans In Time For Skyfall!
i expect u2 die
LondonPosts: 583MI6 Agent
Do you ever feel alone? Isolated in your Bond fandom? Not sure who you’re going to take with you to the Skyfall premier? Never fear, I have the answer! In the last ten weeks, I have successfully converted my housemates at University into raging Bond fans. I thought I would share the process with you all. So here it is, the ultimate guide to creating an army of fellow fanatics in time for Skyfall, in ten simple steps:
Step 1: Be a fan yourself.
This may sound obvious, but it is essential! If you don’t rave about Bond yourself, your friends will have no incentive to take the plunge. Mine are all aware of my obsession, it is a running joke. And it gives them a reason to watch their first Bond film. To them it’s a bit of a laugh, they are humoring you. They don’t realise that YOU are in control, sowing those all-important seeds...
Step 2: Start with Casino Royale.
It’s a no-brainer. CR is modern, rich, thrilling and emotional. Craig is superb. They will tell you “I didn’t release Bond films were that good!”. You will know, of course, that they’re not all as brilliant as Casino Royale. But their curiosity has been tickled...
Step 3: Hold a James Bond party.
January 11th 2012 was my birthday. My 21st, the one year I decided to indulge myself and hold an all-out Bond bash. It was fantastic fun; crazy costumes, Bond themes blaring, martinis flowing, posters everywhere (girls too). Make an effort. Everyone will enjoy it, guaranteed. But your chosen victims are already starting to get the bug...
Step 4: Introduce them to Roger Moore.
Things can’t stay serious for long. You need to show them the funnier side of Bond. Be prepared to laugh at Roger the Codger as his Bond becomes an old-aged pensioner. Start with TSWLM, one of the most entertaining Bond films out there. My friends loved it, and were quoting our favourite line (“When one is in Egypt, one must delve deeply into its treasures”) with tea-towels on their heads all week. Then show them Moonraker. They’ll laugh again at Rodge’s one-liners (“Can I interest you in anything?” “I’m tempted to say immediately!”) and of course the double-taking pigeon will earn itself a re-wind. It’s working though, they’re laughing with, rather than cringing at, the most farcical era of the series. Keep them keen with the promise of AVTAK on the horizon. They’ll watch it for the sheer spectacle of Roger at his oldest. They’ll laugh their socks off at the final shower scene with Tanya Roberts (“That’s not the soap!”). But no more Roger after that. It’s time to move on...
Step 5: Connery Time.
This is make-or-break time. You won them over with the hilarious Moore era but it’s time to show them the other end of the spectrum: FRWL. “Are they really part of the same series?” they’ll exclaim afterwards. Feed them Goldfinger after that, and they’ll see what happens when the humour and thriller aspects come together. If this step is successful, you’re well on your way to victory; they’re appreciating the variety of the series.
Step 6: The Twist
Tell them they haven’t yet seen the best Bond film. ‘Better than Casino Royale?!” they’ll ask. By now they’re hooked...
Step 7: True Grit.
Show them Licence to Kill, a controversial yet essential entry. This will divide them. Some will insist that Dalton has none of Connery’s charisma. Others will argue that they loved its grittiness. Either way, you’ll have a debate on your hands. Then give them Quantum of Solace, which will spark a similar discussion. Sit back and watch your almost-Bond fans argue like members of these forums themselves.
Step 8: Give them a break. Almost.
It’s time to give them some breathing space. Use this time to talk about Skyfall. Remind them of the huge talent involved: Mendes, Craig, Fiennes, Finney, Wishaw etc. If you’re not too spoiler-sensitive, give them some exciting nuggets of filming detail. Tell them it’s the first Bond film to be shown in IMAX. And of course, re-iterate that they’re yet to see the best Bond film ever made...
Step 9: The Finale.
It’s time, they’re ready. Sit them down. Make sure they’ve eaten and had plenty of rest. Then dim the lights, and place OHMSS into the disk tray. I was amazed by the reaction. They loved it; the music, the directing, Tracy, and they absolutely loved Lazenby. The ladies in particular. Never could I have imagined that my friends would see the beauty of OHMSS. If I’d shown it to them at the beginning, they’d certainly have dismissed it. But no, it was a fitting finale. They’re now insisting on accompanying me to the IMAX come Skyfall’s release.
Step 10: Introduce them to the forums.
This step is optional.
Step 1: Be a fan yourself.
This may sound obvious, but it is essential! If you don’t rave about Bond yourself, your friends will have no incentive to take the plunge. Mine are all aware of my obsession, it is a running joke. And it gives them a reason to watch their first Bond film. To them it’s a bit of a laugh, they are humoring you. They don’t realise that YOU are in control, sowing those all-important seeds...
Step 2: Start with Casino Royale.
It’s a no-brainer. CR is modern, rich, thrilling and emotional. Craig is superb. They will tell you “I didn’t release Bond films were that good!”. You will know, of course, that they’re not all as brilliant as Casino Royale. But their curiosity has been tickled...
Step 3: Hold a James Bond party.
January 11th 2012 was my birthday. My 21st, the one year I decided to indulge myself and hold an all-out Bond bash. It was fantastic fun; crazy costumes, Bond themes blaring, martinis flowing, posters everywhere (girls too). Make an effort. Everyone will enjoy it, guaranteed. But your chosen victims are already starting to get the bug...
Step 4: Introduce them to Roger Moore.
Things can’t stay serious for long. You need to show them the funnier side of Bond. Be prepared to laugh at Roger the Codger as his Bond becomes an old-aged pensioner. Start with TSWLM, one of the most entertaining Bond films out there. My friends loved it, and were quoting our favourite line (“When one is in Egypt, one must delve deeply into its treasures”) with tea-towels on their heads all week. Then show them Moonraker. They’ll laugh again at Rodge’s one-liners (“Can I interest you in anything?” “I’m tempted to say immediately!”) and of course the double-taking pigeon will earn itself a re-wind. It’s working though, they’re laughing with, rather than cringing at, the most farcical era of the series. Keep them keen with the promise of AVTAK on the horizon. They’ll watch it for the sheer spectacle of Roger at his oldest. They’ll laugh their socks off at the final shower scene with Tanya Roberts (“That’s not the soap!”). But no more Roger after that. It’s time to move on...
Step 5: Connery Time.
This is make-or-break time. You won them over with the hilarious Moore era but it’s time to show them the other end of the spectrum: FRWL. “Are they really part of the same series?” they’ll exclaim afterwards. Feed them Goldfinger after that, and they’ll see what happens when the humour and thriller aspects come together. If this step is successful, you’re well on your way to victory; they’re appreciating the variety of the series.
Step 6: The Twist
Tell them they haven’t yet seen the best Bond film. ‘Better than Casino Royale?!” they’ll ask. By now they’re hooked...
Step 7: True Grit.
Show them Licence to Kill, a controversial yet essential entry. This will divide them. Some will insist that Dalton has none of Connery’s charisma. Others will argue that they loved its grittiness. Either way, you’ll have a debate on your hands. Then give them Quantum of Solace, which will spark a similar discussion. Sit back and watch your almost-Bond fans argue like members of these forums themselves.
Step 8: Give them a break. Almost.
It’s time to give them some breathing space. Use this time to talk about Skyfall. Remind them of the huge talent involved: Mendes, Craig, Fiennes, Finney, Wishaw etc. If you’re not too spoiler-sensitive, give them some exciting nuggets of filming detail. Tell them it’s the first Bond film to be shown in IMAX. And of course, re-iterate that they’re yet to see the best Bond film ever made...
Step 9: The Finale.
It’s time, they’re ready. Sit them down. Make sure they’ve eaten and had plenty of rest. Then dim the lights, and place OHMSS into the disk tray. I was amazed by the reaction. They loved it; the music, the directing, Tracy, and they absolutely loved Lazenby. The ladies in particular. Never could I have imagined that my friends would see the beauty of OHMSS. If I’d shown it to them at the beginning, they’d certainly have dismissed it. But no, it was a fitting finale. They’re now insisting on accompanying me to the IMAX come Skyfall’s release.
Step 10: Introduce them to the forums.
This step is optional.
Comments
Ahh yes, your Bond-a-thon video on YouTube emphasized this scene quite well
1. GoldenEye 2. Goldfinger 3. Skyfall 4. OHMSS 5. TWINE
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Roger Moore 1927-2017
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
On a serious note I would only show the better Moore films first and then move on - all Moore films might be a tad too much, "Ohhh James" lol
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