Is Bond an intellectual/scholar ?

In the books, he does have the higher education...

Connery seemed more animalistic than intellectual, although he does brag to Goodnight about his prowess in Oriental languages (Which he demonstrates by saying "Arigato" haha)

Lazenby does impersonate Hillary Bray

Moore seemed to be the most "intellectual" by constantly being a wisea$$ when M asked him if he knew anything about the subject of the mission.....His Bond seemed the most "read", and by the same token, the least physical

Dalton.......tough question, although I think of him as being the most serious and ruthless

Brosnan ? He seemed too hedonistic looking

Craig ? Very physical, but seems to have a knack for modern day electronics (bypassing security systems, etc....)

Opinions on whether or not Bond is an Intellectual or should he be ?

Comments

  • StrangewaysStrangeways London, UKPosts: 1,469MI6 Agent
    I think he's a reluctant academic. Needed the education to progress his career, so it was a means to an end not an end in itself.
  • agent 00agent 00 Univex Station L Netherlands Posts: 340MI6 Agent
    Bond is a blund instrument...
    Jan

    " Sono Topolino, e tu chi saresti? ".
    http://www.facebook.com/agent00univex
  • Le SamouraiLe Samourai Honolulu, HIPosts: 573MI6 Agent
    Not at all. Fleming made it clear that Bond has no taste in art, music, theater, or film and little knowledge of politics. His reading material seems to consist of only popular thrillers and the sorts of books he needs to read for work. He doesn't seem to really know much about anything not related to his job or sensual pleasures.

    I tend to agree with Kingsley Amis that Bond would be a terribly dull dining companion. What on earth would he talk about?

    On the other hand, I think dinner with Len Deighton's nameless secret agent from 'The IPCRESS File' (called Harry Palmer in the film) would be great.
    —Le Samourai

    A Gent in Training.... A blog about my continuing efforts to be improve myself, be a better person, and lead a good life. It incorporates such far flung topics as fitness, self defense, music, style, food and drink, and personal philosophy.
    Agent In Training
  • UltimateTruthUltimateTruth Posts: 140MI6 Agent
    Not at all. Fleming made it clear that Bond has no taste in art, music, theater, or film and little knowledge of politics. His reading material seems to consist of only popular thrillers and the sorts of books he needs to read for work. He doesn't seem to really know much about anything not related to his job or sensual pleasures.

    I tend to agree with Kingsley Amis that Bond would be a terribly dull dining companion. What on earth would he talk about?

    On the other hand, I think dinner with Len Deighton's nameless secret agent from 'The IPCRESS File' (called Harry Palmer in the film) would be great.
    But in the novel TMWTGG, Bond relaxes by reading JFK's "Profiles in Courage"
  • Gassy ManGassy Man USAPosts: 2,972MI6 Agent
    edited December 2013
    Bond is highly intelligent, but he does not have the intellectual mindset and definitely is not an academic. Bond's mind lacks depth, for lack of a better term -- he is an analyst and strategist, but his thinking stays almost entirely in the moment. This makes him more a classic "man of action" than a brooding intellectual. I will say that the Bond of the books, despite his often classicist and racist tendencies, is still a deeper thinker than the Bond of the films.
  • always shakenalways shaken LondonPosts: 6,287MI6 Agent
    Not at all. Fleming made it clear that Bond has no taste in art, music, theater, or film and little knowledge of politics. His reading material seems to consist of only popular thrillers and the sorts of books he needs to read for work. He doesn't seem to really know much about anything not related to his job or sensual pleasures.

    I tend to agree with Kingsley Amis that Bond would be a terribly dull dining companion. What on earth would he talk about?

    On the other hand, I think dinner with Len Deighton's nameless secret agent from 'The IPCRESS File' (called Harry Palmer in the film) would be great.

    Hi Le Samourai man, just interested to know if the book character differs wildly from the one portrayed so marvellously by Sir Micheal,as ive sadly never read it ,
    By the way, did I tell you, I was "Mad"?
  • DEFIANT 74205DEFIANT 74205 Perth, AustraliaPosts: 1,881MI6 Agent
    although he does brag to Goodnight about his prowess in Oriental languages (Which he demonstrates by saying "Arigato" haha)

    Nitpick.

    He brags to Moneypenny.

    And, as someone who once studied Japanese, his Japanese (what little of it he says on screen) is correct but he has a terrible accent :p

    But to answer the question, no I do not believe James Bond is either an intellectual or a scholar. But there is no question as to his intelligence.

    Was it not true that Bond was expelled from Eton? So while there is no doubt that he is intelligent, it would appear that he does not have the drive to put his intelligence to use in study.
    "Watch the birdie, you bastard!"
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    For me at least, Bond is a man of intelligent action not an intellectual. :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Sign In or Register to comment.