Why James Bond is eternal!
The James Bond sequences have been attracting generations of fans — both young and old — since the publication of the first novel in the franchise, Casino Royale, in 1953.
Writer Ian Fleming featured James Bond’s character in twelve novels and two short-story collections. A suite of talented actors has portrayed the charismatic British Spy on-screen from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig.
What attracts legions of fans to this series is the multi-faceted storyline —the thrilling plot, the witty remarks, the dangerously snazzy villains, the strong supporting characters that are well-written, the adventures in exotic locations around the world, the arsenal, the machinery, the luxury cars, the outmaneuvers, the death-defying stunts, and, of course, the eponymous and the enigmatic British Spy himself.
Then, there are the alluring cinematic accompaniments, such as the signature James Bond Theme, written and composed by Monty Norman. Every fan can relate to the music, which has played a vital role in every Bond movie since Sean Connery’s appearance in Dr. No (1962 film).
The layers which make the series compelling are also the depth and detailing in Ian Fleming’s novels. Ian Fleming, the author, had a strong background in the military, having played key roles in planning strategic military operations during the Second World War. His wartime service and associated journalistic endeavors provided the groundwork for the successful novels, which laid the foundation for all the Bond movies.
Prominently, the Bond movies are notable for capturing the technological innovations spanning across decades. The films have adapted to and integrated critical innovations into the fabric of the storyline. While Sean Connery’s James Bond improvises as he manually intercepts a disruptive radioactive beam program, Daniel Craig’s James Bond travels in a make-shift glider plane, which is essentially a submarine, to subvert a nanobot infiltrated genocide.
Interestingly, despite all the progressive technological gimmicks running in the background, James Bond is a gratifyingly old-school constant — an empathic and a patriotic spy who uses his exhaustive repertoire of war skills to get the job done. We see it all play through his eyes and his narratives. If he suspects, we suspect. If he dodges a stream of bullets, we root for him and are captivated by his improvisations time and again. He has the ‘license to kill, but he bases it on his instincts whether to kill or not.
And, he does this without wearing a bulletproof vest or a face shield to block bullets. It is all raw and macho power on display!
The Bond movies’ themes have concurrently moved on from large-scale espionage missions (Dr. No) to core themes such as old heroics in the face of modern technology (SkyFall) and relationships and family (No Time to die). These themes are intriguing because they capture bond’s emotions as a Spy as he toils through numerous escapades. In Skyfall, we are shown the more humane side of the character, which we were just shown glimpses of in the past (Casino Royale).
Some of these themes strike a chord with humanity at large, as we, as differing peoples, strive to navigate through varied chaos in the face of insurmountable odds. James Bond, in theory, if not in practice, can serve as an escape. His powering through constant struggles may be an echo of the everyday battles which diverse peoples fight. In that sense, James Bond is an eternal figure.
This eternity in the face of trying and ever-changing odds was captured in the riveting scene wherein M quotes relevant lines from Tennyson’s Ulysses-
“Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield”
No time to Die, 2021 film, is a fitting ode to the first-ever bond movie to grace the screens — Dr. No (1962 film). The cast has used the same stylistic components that were used in Dr.No. There were frequent callbacks to plots and elements wherein Daniel Craig’s James Bond had to disrupt the base mass-manufacturing the nanobots manually just as Sean Connery’s did in Dr. No. Jamaican locales were used for filming. ‘No Time to Die’ beautifully closes out on the loose ends.
While fans bid adieu to Daniel Craig’s James Bond in ‘No Time To Die,’ we are left craving for more. We are left craving for one last glimpse of that enigmatic figure to emerge out of the shadows just before the credits roll — just one last time.
What a way to exit gracefully!
