James Bond Movie

Some movie franchises are more than movies; they are events and receive a lot of hype. A James Bond movie is always eagerly awaited. That's just as well for the producers because they are one of the most expensive films to make, with special effects and exotic locations.

The films are adapted from the books written by Ian Fleming, who had served as a Naval Intelligence officer in World War II. Unlike other writers like John Le Carre, he didn't want to portray his secret agent in a realistic light. He wanted to show a larger than life character. Men wanted to be Bond and women wanted to be with him. The recently released Casino Royale is the twenty first James Bond movie. New stories will have to be written, as all the original stories from Fleming have now been filmed.

Everyone has their favorite Bond, with most fans citing Sean Connery as the best. He was a good hybrid of tongue in cheek charm and macho ruthlessness. Roger Moore brought a more laid back vibe, too shallow for some. Poor George Lazenby only played the part once and not because he was fired. He was wrongly advised and told that Bond had no future and he shouldn't tie himself to a contract.

Timothy Dalton was a little humorless and didn't last long. Then came Pierce Brosnan, a worthy successor to the Connery throne and many James Bond movie fans were sorry to see him go after three films. There was a vacancy again and Daniel Craig was the surprise choice. Blonde with craggy looks, his debut has brought back some early grittiness and the critical and public reaction has been very good.

There was some criticism in some quarters that the films had become too reliant on effects and gadgets, to the detriment of the narrative. However, a James Bond movie without a little bit of Q demonstrating his latest invention to Bond would not be the same. The cars, weapons and espionage equipment all add to the fun.

Bond has had to move with the times and reflect modern sensibilities. Women are not mere eye candy anymore, something to hang on his arm. They are seen as equals, whether they are on his side or they are working against him. Of course, he always gets the girl at some point. The storylines change too, with the end of the Cold War, and terrorism and plain old-fashioned crime are the enemies now.

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