Should the new Bond ie DC smoke

always shaken · February 2013

Do you agree /disagree that Bond should smoke

Mr Beech · February 2013

He doesn't need to and I would find it somewhat unrealistic these days since many people who are physically active, especially in their work, avoid smoking due to its effects on breathing capabilities, circulation, and other health risks.

James Bill · February 2013

Connery's Bond could afford to smoke. But Craig's crane jumping, constantly running Bond would look too much of a superhuman if he could do all those athletic feats while being a smoker. Plus, I don't know how it worked in the sixties but smelling like an ashtray doesn't make you very attractive nowadays.

Lexi · February 2013

This has been discussed in another thread somewhere.... but can't find it...

I think today it would seem wrong to smoke... (although it's interesting to see that he can still drink, and heavily - drinking can be just as damaging, but that's another discussion I guess)

For me it would be a turn off....and would not add to his character.... so happy he doesn't.
(although in Connery's day, it was the norm, or rather, seen as a suave thing to do, so suits his Bond)

NeverSayDie · February 2013

It's not that often you see a character smoke in a film anymore.
I thought it was really unusual to see the Bond girl smoke in Skyfall but it worked for her character.

Also as daft as it sounds people try and emulate their heroes (kids especially) it's probably best not to show the hero smoking.
When Die Another Day came out I tried cigars! Never smoked in my life but I started smoking cigars because of Bond in the film. Yes stupid I know! I will never be influenced by a movie again!

Now where did I put my bottle of heineken?

always shaken · February 2013

My own opinion ,as i asked the question,
i think Bond and his cigar are part and parcel of his
character ,the Delectardos in DAD ,the cohiba in LALD
but im glad DC/ Bond isnt puffin on his fags,
and as Agent Beech quite rightly says due to health reasons
Bond would have failed the tough special forces tests/medical
if he did smoke ,for the record im a Romeo y julieta fan

Le Samourai · February 2013

Leaving aside the health and realism aspects (which are both totally valid and I completely agree with), at this point it wouldn't make sense for Craig's Bond to smoke cigarettes. After all, he hasn't smoked them in three films. It would be jarring for him to start in his fourth. It would imply he either: 1. Went cold turkey a long time and then relapsed; or 2. He took up smoking very late in life!

Napoleon Plural · February 2013

A celebratory smoke is fine, ie a cigar as with Brozzer in DAD, and Moore had a few too.

DEFIANT 74205 · February 2013

Short answer is yes. Why? Because James Bond is a chain smoker.

Blackleiter · February 2013

I agree 100%.

Le Samourai wrote:

Leaving aside the health and realism aspects (which are both totally valid and I completely agree with), at this point it wouldn't make sense for Craig's Bond to smoke cigarettes. After all, he hasn't smoked them in three films. It would be jarring for him to start in his fourth. It would imply he either: 1. Went cold turkey a long time and then relapsed; or 2. He took up smoking very late in life!

Polynikes · February 2013

Mr Beech wrote:

He doesn't need to and I would find it somewhat unrealistic these days since many people who are physically active, especially in their work, avoid smoking due to its effects on breathing capabilities, circulation, and other health risks.

I agree although there are always freaks who remain impossibly fit despite smoking. My old platoon sgt smoked 20 a day and got into the SAS. An occasional cigar wouldn't destroy a physical bond's credibity.IMO

Mr Beech · February 2013

Polynikes wrote:

Mr Beech wrote:

He doesn't need to and I would find it somewhat unrealistic these days since many people who are physically active, especially in their work, avoid smoking due to its effects on breathing capabilities, circulation, and other health risks.

I agree although there are always freaks who remain impossibly fit despite smoking. My old platoon sgt smoked 20 a day and got into the SAS. An occasional cigar wouldn't destroy a physical bond's credibity.IMO

Indulging in an occasional cigar doesn't make someone a smoker, to me. So Craig picking up a cigar in one of his films wouldn't throw off the smoking issue.

Silhouette Man · February 2013

No, I would say, although Brosnan did smoke in DAD of course, after the "filthy habit" of TND pre-titles sequence. I think in our Enlightened Age (supposedly) Bond doesn't need to smoke any more. It adds nothing to his character, IMHO.

DEFIANT 74205 · February 2013

Silhouette Man wrote:

It adds nothing to his character, IMHO.

I disagree. Like every other man, Bond has his vices, and smoking is one of them. I think it is important to show that Bond isn't an ideal role model at all - he is the man who kills people for a living, and smokes (and drinks) his humanity away.

Fleming did not create James Bond to be a super-fit elite athlete.

Silhouette Man · February 2013

DEFIANT 74205 wrote:

Silhouette Man wrote:

It adds nothing to his character, IMHO.

I disagree. Like every other man, Bond has his vices, and smoking is one of them. I think it is important to show that Bond isn't an ideal role model at all - he is the man who kills people for a living, and smokes (and drinks) his humanity away.

Fleming did not create James Bond to be a super-fit elite athlete.

Yes, but like the John Gardner Continuation Bonds, he'd have learned that "Smoking Kills" and would have stubbed this deadly habit out long ago IMHO.

DEFIANT 74205 · February 2013

Silhouette Man wrote:

DEFIANT 74205 wrote:

Silhouette Man wrote:

It adds nothing to his character, IMHO.

I disagree. Like every other man, Bond has his vices, and smoking is one of them. I think it is important to show that Bond isn't an ideal role model at all - he is the man who kills people for a living, and smokes (and drinks) his humanity away.

Fleming did not create James Bond to be a super-fit elite athlete.

Yes, but like the John Gardner Continuation Bonds, he'd have learned that "Smoking Kills" and would have stubbed this deadly habit out long ago IMHO.

I'm not so sure about that either. Fleming's Bond seemed to follow Fleming's adage of living for the present rather than wasting his days in trying to prolong them. Maybe I'm getting confused between character and author, but as the character mirrors the author in many ways, based on my interpretation I don't think Bond wanted to die a dependent old man.

Should the new Bond ie DC smoke

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