My Not So Humble Opinions

When I was a child, there were certain big events that sent the atmosphere shimmering.  The new Bond, being one of them.  (Or, Bond being the Big Christmas Day Movie on the telly).  The ‘new Bond’ didn’t mean a new actor playing Bond, that was unthinkable at the time.  It meant the cinema release of a new Bond movie.  Hotly anticipated since reading, in the end credits of the previous Bond film, ‘James Bond will return in…’. 

When Roger Moore took over from Sean Connery, it was tantamount to a day of national mourning.  Roger was unfanciable.  IMHO, the main reason women my generation enjoyed Bond movies was glamour.  Glamour; a James Bond you could fancy, fabulous frocks, jewels and up-dos, (up-dos were big in the sixties).  Although many of the female characters appeared slightly psychopathic, they were also strong-minded, female spies, until they met Sean of course.  Roger wore beige trousers.  With creased seams.  Too much Nicolas Parsons, not enough Sean Connery.  The 1970’s, where true Glamour died.

There wasn’t another memorable James Bond until Pierce.  Bond needs that Celtic panther look.  If Daniel were on Star Trek, he’d be wearing the red jumper.  Not enough cachet.  Victim eyes.  Audiences have to believe Bond’s dangerous enough to kill, even the people he’s kissing. Daniel doesn’t have that cruel, side-eye glance. No surprise his Bond went soft and got killed off. 

People go to see Bond for escape, and bad puns, not to be depressed.  For that, we have the news.  Huge plot error in the last Bond. 

Huge.

Next?  Well, he’s too young yet, but once he is old enough to make Commander rank, Timothy Chalamet has all the sparkling gifts to be a great James Bond.  Dune II established that.

Fingers crossed the next writers are Bond fans.