007 James Bond: No Time to Die

 

Based on the novels and characters by Ian Fleming, No Time to Die is the story Agent 007 James Bond as he is coaxed out of retirement to deal with an evil figure following the kidnapping of a scientist. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and screenplay by Fukunaga, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge from a story by Fukunaga, Purvis, and Wade, the 25th film in the James Bond film series follows the British secret agent dealing with a new world and new foes as he struggles to try and find a life outside of his majesty’s secret service as he is portrayed by Daniel Craig for his fifth and final outing as 007. Also starring Lea Seydoux, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Rory Kinnear, Billy Magnussen, Ana de Armas, Jeffrey Wright, David Dencik, Dali Benssalah, with Christoph Waltz as Blofeld and Ralph Fiennes as M. No Time to Die is a riveting and mesmerizing film from Cary Joji Fukunaga.

Five years following an assassination attempt in Italy, James Bond is coaxed out of retirement to find a scientist as it leads to something much bigger involving a mysterious figure who has gained access to biochemical weapons that would go after specific targets. It is a film in which the secret agent doesn’t just deal with a new foe who wants to go after Bond but also those close to him as well as his enemies including Ernst Stavros Blofeld whom had been involved in not just the assassination attempt on Bond but also another incident several years prior that involves this madman in Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek) who has a major grudge against Blofeld and his organization in Spectre. The film’s screenplay opens with a scene involving a young Madeleine Swann (Coline Defaud) who witnesses the murder of her mother (Mathilde Bourbin) and her own near-death experience from Safin as it then cuts to her as an adult (Lea Seydoux) who is vacationing with Bond in Italy where things went wrong as Bond believed that Swan betrayed him to Blofeld.

Much of the story takes place five years after Bond’s assassination attempt as he had retired in Jamaica when Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) asks for his help following a break-in at a MI6 lab where the Russian scientist Valdo Obruchev (David Dencik) had been kidnapped as he had created a bioweapon with nanobots for MI6 called Project Heracles that was intended as an off-the-books project in the hope that it would kill intended targets. Instead, it goes in the wrong hands where M sends Nomi (Lashana Lynch) who is the new 007 to Cuba where Bond meets the novice CIA agent Paloma (Ana de Armas) who helps him retrieve Obruchev to Leiter but something goes wrong due to Leiter’s new partner Logan Ash (Billy Magnussen) who causes trouble for Bond and Leiter leaving Obruchev to escape. The second act revolves around not just revelations for Bond about Swann, who gets an unfortunate meeting with Safin, but also what happened in Cuba in what Bond and Paloma saw as the former meets with Blofeld as they both learn that they have a shared enemy. Yet, Bond’s journey leads him back to Swann who has another surprise that only add more stakes to what Bond is facing as well as what Safin is planning in the film’s third act.

Cary Joji Fukunaga’s direction definitely has an air of style in the way he presents the different locations Bond is in but also a world that is about to be in danger once again as Bond has to save it. Shot on various locations in Norway, Italy, Jamaica, the Faroe Islands, and London with some bits shot in Pinewood Studios in Britain. Fukunaga definitely plays into a spy that has been through a lot but he is also coping with loss and betrayal as he is unsure about returning to the world in general as it is often ever-changing. Fukunaga does make the sets feel important such as the scenes at Matera in Italy that includes a big chase scene that is captured through wide and medium shots where Bond and Swann are dealing with cars and motorcycles with the Aston Martin DB5 being the weapon to deal with these assassins. The scenes set in Cuba that were shot on location at Pinewood are also filled with these medium and wide shots but also this sense of movement and where the cameras are placed as it adds that air of location where there are moments of humor from Paloma but also moments that play into the suspense.

There are also close-ups in some of the film’s emotional moments where Fukunaga play into Swann’s own fear as it relates to Safin but also this meeting between Bond and Blofeld as it adds a lot of suspense and drama. Fukunaga definitely aims for something straightforward for these non-action scenes that also includes the scene where Bond discovers a major secret from Swann which add a lot of what is at stake for Bond. Notably as Safin is someone whose background as it relates to his family and what they’ve done for Spectre shows exactly why he wants revenge and sees Bond as an equal in the fact that they’re both killers yet Safin is just trying to tidy things up for a new world. Fukunaga’s approach to Safin’s island and the factory/lab he has definitely echoes a lot of Bond films of the past while he also creates some unique tracking shots for a key scene up the stairs where Bond deals with Safin’s soldiers. The film’s climax is immense with a lot at stake but there is so much more as it relates to not just the world in general but also Bond himself as it relates to Swann as well as everything he had went through. Overall, Fukunaga crafts an exhilarating and gripping film about a spy who deals with a new foe who is creating a bioweapon that would wreak havoc on the world.

Cinematographer Linus Sandgren does incredible work with the film’s cinematography with its usage of low-key lights for some of the interior/exterior scenes in Cuba to the natural lighting for scenes in Italy as well as some stylish interior lighting for the scenes at Safin’s island. Editors Elliot Graham and Tom Cross do amazing work with the editing with its usage of jump-cuts and rhythmic cuts as well as knowing when to let shots linger as well as to help create suspenseful moments. Production designer Mark Tildesley, with set decorator Veronique Melery and senior art director Mark Harris, does brilliant work with the look of the cabin home that Madeleine lived in as a kid as well as Safin’s island as well as his lab and factory. Costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlab does excellent work with the costumes from the clothes that Bond wears as well as some of the stylish clothing of Nomi and Swann and the robes that Safin wears.

Hair and makeup designer Mark Phillips, with prosthetic makeup designer Brian Gower, does fantastic work with the look of Safin from his disfigured look as well as the look of Blofeld following what happened to him previously. Special effects supervisor Chris Corbould, along with visual effects supervisors Yael Majors and Charlie Noble, does terrific work with the effects from the stunt work and set pieces as well as some of the visual effects that involve some of the bioweapon that Safin is developing. Sound designer Brian Bowen, with sound editor James Harrison and Oliver Tarney, does superb work with the sound in the way some of the gadgets sound as well as the way explosions sound and other sparse moments.

The film’s music by Hans Zimmer is phenomenal for its soaring orchestral-based music score that also feature elements of other compositions of past movie themes including the song We Have All the Time in the World from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service while the titular song by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell that is performed by the former is this moody and somber song that is actually a really good song that does play into the drama. Music supervisor Randall Poster does create a wonderful soundtrack that includes We Have All the Time in the World as well as a French pop song from Dalida and some reggae for scenes in Jamaica.

The casting by Debbie McWilliams and Jemima McWilliams is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles from Hugh Dennis and Priyanga Buford as a couple of scientists who worked with Obruchev, Mathilde Bourbin as Madeleine’s mother, Coline Defaud as the young Madeleine, Dani Benssalah as Safin’s henchman Primo who wears a mysterious fake eye, and Lisa-Dorah Sonnet as a young girl named Mathilde. Billy Magnussen is terrific as the CIA agent Logan Ash who is Leiter’s assigned partner who annoys both Bond and Leiter as he has ulterior motives of his own. Rory Kinnear is superb as M’s chief of staff Bill Tanner who aides Bond in getting the chance to interrogate Blofeld as he also question M’s motives over the Heracles project. David Dencik is excellent as the Russian scientist Valdo Obruchev who created Heracles as someone who is this slimy yet comical villain who is willing to help Safin. Ana de Armas is fantastic in her brief role as the novice CIA agent Paloma who helps Bond in retrieving Obruchev as she has some funny lines while also being a total badass as she is just so fun to watch.

Christoph Waltz is brilliant in his brief role as Ernst Stavros Blofeld as the head of Spectre who is in prison as someone who is still running his operation as he becomes aware that he and Bond have a shared enemy as he also toys with Bond about Bond’s own motives. Ralph Fiennes is amazing as M as the head of MI6 who is reluctant to have Bond back on board while also revealing about his intentions for Heracles as he realizes that it was a bad idea as he hopes Bond can stop it from happening. Jeffrey Wright is incredible as Felix Leiter as a CIA agent and Bond’s friend who coaxes Bond out of retirement as he is aware of what Obruchev has created and hope that the project is stopped as he is also suspicious about Ash whom he’s not fond of. Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw are remarkable in their respective roles as M’s secretary Moneypenny and the quartermaster Q as the two who stick by Bond with the former being a no-nonsense secretary who knows something is up and wants Bond to handle while the latter brings a lot of wit as someone who has a love-hate relationship with Bond as he would also uncover some deep secrets that involve Safin.

Lashana Lynch is phenomenal as Nomi as the 007 who Bond meets in Jamaica as he sees her as a threat of sorts though he realizes that she is a damn good spy as well as someone who doesn’t take any shit as Bond is aware of her worth. Lea Seydoux is tremendous as Dr. Madeleine Swann as a psychiatrist who is carrying secrets about her own past and her time with Safin as well as something that adds to the stake where Seydoux brings a lot of complexity to the character that play into a woman filled with regret and loss but also some hope for Bond. Rami Malek is sensational as Lyutsifer Safin as a madman who is trying to destroy Spectre as well as see Bond as a threat as he has this creepy presence to him as someone who wants to clean up the world but through nefarious means. Finally, there’s Daniel Craig in an outstanding performance as James Bond as the famed spy who is eager for a life outside of being in her majesty’s secret service only to deal with a much more sinister plot as Craig maintains that brooding persona but also someone who has humor and knows what is at stake as it is a fitting finale in the famed role as Agent 007.

No Time to Die is a sensational film from Cary Joji Fukunaga that features a tremendous performance from Daniel Craig in his final outing as James Bond. Along with its ensemble cast, riveting suspense and action, high-grade stakes, gorgeous visuals, and an incredible music score and soundtrack. The film isn’t just this sprawling and eerie spy-suspense film but also a film that plays into a man having to save the world with much more for him to deal with as it is also one of the finest films of the James Bond film series. In the end, No Time to Die is a spectacular film from Cary Joji Fukunaga.

James Bond Files: The EON Films: Dr. No - From Russia With Love - Goldfinger - Thunderball - You Only Live Twice - On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Diamonds are Forever - Live and Let Die - The Man with the Golden Gun - The Spy Who Loved Me - Moonraker - For Your Eyes Only - Octopussy - A View to a Kill - The Living Daylights - Licence to Kill - GoldenEye - Tomorrow Never Dies - The World is Not Enough - Die Another Day - Casino Royale - Quantum of Solace - Skyfall - SPECTRE

Non-EON Films: Casino Royale (Climax! TV Episode) - Casino Royale (1967 film) - Never Say Never Again

Bond Documentaries: Bond Girls are Forever - True Bond - Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007

Cary Joji Fukunaga Films: Sin Nombre - Jane Eyre (2011 film) - (Beasts of No Nation)

© thevoid99 2022

007 James Bond: SPECTRE

Based on the novels of Ian Fleming, SPECTRE is the story of James Bond trying to uncover a criminal organization that is threatening the world just as the MI6 is under threat of shutting down. Directed by Sam Mendes and screenplay by John Logan, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Jez Butterworth from a story by Logan, Purvis, and Wade, the film has Bond encounter the organization that puts the world into chaos as Daniel Craig plays Agent 007 for the fourth time. Also starring Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Monica Bellucci, Dave Bautista, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Jesper Christensen, Andrew Scott, and Ralph Fiennes as M. SPECTRE is a thrilling yet exciting film from Sam Mendes.

The film plays into not just the recent events James Bond had encountered with mysterious organization known as Quantum but it all finally ties together when he not only uncovers what Quantum is part of but who is running this secret organization. Even as it relates to not just Bond’s past but also the emergence of a new world order as MI6 is being shut down by a new organization that wants to put the entire world under total surveillance. For Bond, this new criminal threat as well as the possibility of MI6 being shut down not only prompts him to go at it alone against the advice of M but also lead him to clues as it relates to a man named Franz Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz) whom Bond had known as a child and thought had died.

The film’s script doesn’t just play with Bond coping with aspects of his past and the new threats he is dealing with. He also is forced to go alone as MI6 are unable to be directly involved as M, Q (Ben Whishaw), Moneypenny (Naomie Harris), and Bill Tanner (Rory Kinnear) are all under surveillance from this new organization that is to replace MI6 where M had to fight to keep MI6 going. While Bond would create things that would put MI6 under further scrutiny such as the film’s opening sequence in Mexico City which has him trying to go after an assassin that is related to this secret criminal organization under the orders of the previous M. He would also turn to an old nemesis in Mr. White (Jesper Christensen) who would reveal not just what Quantum had become but asked Bond to protect his daughter in Dr. Madeline Swann (Lea Seydoux) who knows some things about what her father did as she would help Bond.

The script would also play into the growing sense that the world is changing as it makes Bond and M uneasy where the latter has to deal with Max Denbigh aka C (Andrew Scott) who wants to get rid of MI6 for a joint security organization as he believes surveillance on everyone is good for the future. It plays into this conflict of the old ways vs. the new ways where Bond is a representation of the old ways as he is about trying to figure out what is going on and make the decision to pull the trigger if necessary. While M and Bond do agree that their old tactics do have faults, they at least produce results which does prompt the latter to go deeper into what he is trying to uncover and why Oberhauser is alive. Even as it becomes clear about what is trying to do and why he is targeting Bond of all people.

Sam Mendes’ direction is definitely thrilling from the film’s cold open which begins with this intricate and gripping tracking shot where Bond is at the Day of the Dead ceremony in Mexico City as he is watching out for an assassin. It definitely opens the film with a bang while it establishes what Bond is going after and what it will lead him to. Shot in several locations such as Mexico City, Rome, London, Tangiers, and the Austrian Alps, the film does play into the emergence of a new world order emerging where there are several things happening while Bond would travel by himself as he is aware that he’s being watched under the new rules forcing his associates to cover for him. While it is largely a suspense film with lots of action and extravagant set pieces, Mendes does know where to slow things down as well as play into the formula that is often expected with Bond films. There are elements of humor in the film which definitely gives a nice balance to the action as it often comes from Q and Moneypenny while infusing bits of drama and character development into the story.

Notably the relationship between Bond and Dr. Swann as the latter is hesitant to trust Bond but realizes what he is doing while being the one person that could bring some redemption for her father. Mendes’ approach to compositions with its usage of medium shots and close-ups do help build up the drama while the wide shots allow Bond to be wherever he’s at to cope with what he’s facing When the film’s third act takes place in Tangiers where Bond and Dr. Swann with Oberhauser, it is clear that something is up but also there is a lot more that is being revealed. Especially in what he is up to where some of it isn’t surprising but it does have this payoff that Bond is up for a challenge with so much at stake. Overall, Mendes crafts an enthralling and entertaining film about a spy saving the world from an evil criminal organization bent on creating a new world order.

Cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema does brilliant work with the film‘s cinematography from the usage of the exterior lights for scenes set in Rome and London as well as playing up to some of the cold atmosphere of the scenes in the Alps as well as some crafty interior lighting for scenes in Tangiers. Editor Lee Smith does excellent work with the editing as it is straightforward while knowing when not to cut while creating some unique rhythms and jump-cuts for some of the action sequences. Production designer Dennis Gassner, with set decorator Anna Pinnock and supervising art director Chris Lowe, does amazing work with the design of places where Oberhauser conducts his business and meetings as well as Bond‘s home apartment and other rooms such as Q‘s workshop.

Costume designer Jany Temime does nice work with the costumes from the dresses that Dr. Swann and the other women wear to the Tom Ford suits that Bond wears. Hair designer Zoe Tahir and makeup designer Naomi Donne, with prosthetics makeup designer Mark Coulier, do terrific work with look of the characters in terms of the hair and such as well as the look of a character late in the film. Special effects supervisor Chris Corbould, along with visual effects supervisors Steven Begg and Mark Curtis, does fantastic work with the special effects as it relates to some of the action sequences along with some of the hacking devices from Q.

Sound designers Christopher Assells, Ann Scibelli, and Peter Staubi, along with sound editors Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg, do superb work with the sound to play into the many sound effects that occur in the action sequences as well as in some of the film‘s quieter moments to build up its suspenseful moments. The film’s music by Thomas Newman is wonderful for its bombastic orchestral score that play into the action and suspense while knowing when to be low-key for its drama while creating some variations of the franchise’s theme music. The film’s song Writing’s on the Wall by Sam Smith is an OK song that has its moments but Smith’s singing is just terrible.

The casting by Debbie McWilliams and Nicole Schmied is great as it features some notable appearances from Stephanie Sigman as Bond’s date in Mexico and Alessandro Cremona as the assassin Bond goes after in Mexico. Monica Bellucci is wonderful as the assassin’s widow Lucia who would give Bond some crucial information about Oberhauser while Jesper Christensen is terrific in his role as former Quantum figure Mr. White who would also reveal Bond some information as well as urging Bond to protect his daughter. Andrew Scott is fantastic as Max Denbigh aka C as a government official who wants to get rid of MI6 for a new security organization as he brings a smugness that is just fun to hate. Dave Bautista is superb as Oberhauser’s henchman Mr. Jinx as a henchman that doesn’t say anything but uses his actions and power to do the talking as he’s a fun henchman to watch.

Rory Kinnear is excellent as MI6 chief of staff member Bill Tanner who aids M in trying to keep MI6 from being shutdown while Naomie Harris is brilliant as Moneypenny as M’s secretary who helps Bond uncover some information that would relate to the secret organization. Ben Whishaw is amazing as Q as Bond’s quartermaster who provides him with some inventions and stuff while providing some witty banter that is essential to the series. Ralph Fiennes is incredible as M as Bond’s boss who copes with not just Bond’s tactics but also MI6 being shut down where he tries to deal with C and maintain his idea of the old ways.

Lea Seydoux is remarkable as Dr. Madeline Swann as Mr. White’s daughter who joins Bond in uncovering the secrets of this organization while being someone who is very smart and not afraid to throw down where Seydoux brings some depth to the character. Christoph Waltz is phenomenal as Franz Oberhauser as this mysterious man who knows Bond very well as he is the mastermind of this organization where Waltz brings a lot of charm and personality to a villain that could be Bond’s greatest opponent yet while bearing many attributes that is typical of the old ways but reinvent for a new world order. Finally, there’s Daniel Craig in a sensational performance as Agent 007 James Bond as this spy who is trying to save the world from evil where he copes with not just elements of his past but also in maintaining the role that only he knows as it’s changing for an uncertain future. It’s a performance that his Craig not only be the badass and be serious but also display some humor which shows he’s having fun as it’s definitely Craig at his best.

SPECTRE is a marvelous film from Sam Mendes that features Daniel Craig in another winning performance as Agent 007. Along with a great supporting cast that include standout performances from Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, and Ralph Fiennes as well as thrilling action sequences and sprawling technical work from its crew. The film definitely stands as one of the finest films of the James Bond franchise in terms of its entertainment value as well as provide enough intrigue for audiences to be captivated by. In the end, SPECTRE is a riveting and exciting film from Sam Mendes.

James Bond Files: The EON Films: Dr. No - From Russia With Love - Goldfinger - Thunderball - You Only Live Twice - On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Diamonds are Forever - Live and Let Die - The Man with the Golden Gun - The Spy Who Loved Me - Moonraker - For Your Eyes Only - Octopussy - A View to a Kill - The Living Daylights - Licence to Kill - GoldenEye - Tomorrow Never Dies - The World is Not Enough - Die Another Day - Casino Royale - Quantum of Solace - Skyfall - No Time to Die

Non-EON Films: Casino Royale (Climax! TV Episode) - Casino Royale (1967 film) - Never Say Never Again

Bond Documentaries: Bond Girls are Forever - True Bond - Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007

Sam Mendes Films: (American Beauty) - (Road to Perdition) - (Jarhead) - (Revolutionary Road) - (Away We Go) - (1917)

© thevoid99 2015

007 James Bond Marathon Post-Mortem Part 2

The 10 Essential James Bond Performances:

1. Sean Connery-Goldfinger

2. Sean Connery-From Russia with Love

3. Daniel Craig-Casino Royale

4. Timothy Dalton-Licence to Kill

5. Daniel Craig-Skyfall

6. Sean Connery-Dr. No

7. Roger Moore-The Spy Who Loved Me

8. Pierce Brosnan-GoldenEye

9. Timothy Dalton-The Living Daylights

10. Sean Connery-You Only Live Twice

Sean Connery’s performance in Goldfinger is the definitive example of what James Bond is and what he should be. A complete professional who can charm the ladies, be a badass, and find a way to escape certain near-death moments. Connery’s other performances in From Russia with Love, Dr. No, and You Only Live Twice are great examples of the model he would create for other actors to follow in the role of James Bond. Daniel Craig and Timothy Dalton both display an air of grit and realism to their performances as well as a bit of humor. What differentiates them in their performances is that Craig is willing to show more emotion in his role while Dalton is a bit more restrained in his approach to Bond.

Notably in Casino Royale where Craig would create new standards for Bond who is willing to bleed a bit more but also rely more on action. Dalton’s performance in Licence to Kill is quite cold because it’s Bond seeking vengeance but Dalton also provides a determination in the way he seeks out his goals. Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan each provide a more light-hearted approach to the Bond character. In The Spy Who Loves Me, Moore would finally find his footing as Bond where he not only makes Bond the professional secret agent who kicks ass and does his duty but also more of a lover that can woo the ladies. Brosnan provides a different balance in his approach where in GoldenEye, he would provide subtle moments of humor in his mannerisms and in his scenes with Q but also be very cunning in the way he deals with his enemies.

The Worst Bond Performance: Barry Nelson-Casino Royale (Climax! TV Episode)

For the record, George Lazenby wasn’t the worst James Bond. Nor were Peter Sellers, David Niven, or anyone else who played Bond in the 1967 parody version of Casino Royale. Barry Nelson’s performance is clearly the one performance that is definitely not what James Bond is supposed to be. Nelson doesn’t carry any of the traits that makes Bond great as well as the fact that Nelson makes the character look and feel awkward. It’s OK for someone who is Irish or Australian to play Bond but an American Bond? Yeah right.

The 10 Essential Bond Girls:

1. Vesper Lynd (Eva Green)-Casino Royale

2. Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman)-Goldfinger

3. Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi)-From Russia with Love

4. Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach)-The Spy Who Loved Me

5. Teresa di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg)-On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

6. Melina Havelock (Carole Bouquet)-For Your Eyes Only

7. Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress)-Dr. No

8. Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh)-Tomorrow Never Dies

9. Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell)-Licence to Kill

10. Natalya Simonova (Izabella Scorupco)-GoldenEye

Eva Green’s performance as Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale is truly a standard that every Bond Girl should follow in the years to come. Not only did she display the beauty and charisma of past Bond girls but also made Lynd an unforgettable character in terms of the way she would shape Bond. Early iconic Bond girls like Pussy Galore, Tatiana Romanova, and Honey Ryder are women who not only had a beauty that was truly intoxicating but also created templates for what they should be. Particularly as they would deviate from the damsel-in-distress role in which they would help Bond succeed in his mission. Diana Rigg’s performance as Terese di Vicenzo in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is definitely iconic for the fact that she bags James Bond to marry her while being a very capable driver. Yet, her fate would also be one of the most memorable.

Anya Amasova and Melina Havelock are two Bond Girls of the Roger Moore era who are both quite capable of handling themselves. Amasova is a KGB agent who can kick some ass but also charm her way to match Bond while Havelock is a lovely beauty who is smart and is very deadly with a crossfire bow. From Licence to Kill, Pam Bouvier is a very different Bond Girl who can carry a shot gun and kick some ass while displaying a very unconventional beauty that would prove to be very helpful. From the Pierce Brosnan era, Natalya Simonova, from GoldenEye, is a Bond Girl who is very good with technology in aiding Bond while displaying a beauty that hadn’t been seen in some time. Wai Lin is another rare Bond Girl who is not just beautiful but can kick some ass that even gives Bond a run for his money.

Worst Bond Girl: Christmas Jones (Denise Richards)-The World is Not Enough

There’s been some bad and useless Bond Girls like Mary Goodnight from The Man with the Golden Gun, Strawberry Fields from Quantum of Solace, Plenty O’Toole of Diamonds are Forever, Stacy Sutton of A View to a Kill, and Bibi Dahl of For Your Eyes Only. Yet, none of them could be as bad as Denise Richards as Christmas Jones in The World is Not Enough. It’s the one role that not only baffles someone into the idea of a nuclear physicist wearing a tank top and short-shorts but always seem to put Bond in a lot of danger.

The 10 Essential Bond Villains

1. Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem)-Skyfall

2. Francisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee)-The Man with the Golden Gun

3. Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Donald Pleasance)-You Only Live Twice

4. Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe)-Goldfinger

5. Karl Stromberg (Curt Jurgens)-The Spy Who Loved Me

6. Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean)-GoldenEye

7. Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi)-Licence to Kill

8. Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman)-Dr. No

9. Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen)-Casino Royale

10. Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Telly Savalas)-On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Villains are key to what makes the Bond films so much fun to watch. Yet, a new standard has been raised by Javier Bardem’s performance as Raoul Silva in Skyfall. Silva is definitely a new kind of villain who is both a charmer but also a psychopath who really knows how to make an entrance and is willing to kill at any means necessary. Other classic villains such as Blofeld show what kind of man he is who is willing to do anything to get lots of money as both Donald Pleasance and Telly Savalas each create different impressions of the character. Christopher Lee’s performance as Francisco Scaramanga is definitely one of the great villains as he’s an assassin who exudes charm but also is very deadly as he is almost an equal to Bond.

Auric Goldfinger and Le Chiffre may not be physically-threatening villains but they’re both quite deadly. Goldfinger always have deadly plans to get his way such as the way he killed Jill Masterson while Le Chiffre has other people doing dirty work while torturing Bond in a gruesome way. Karl Stromberg is a megalomaniac who wants to create a world of his own as he is a formidable villain for Bond as is Alec Trevelyan who is a former 00 agent and an equal to Bond. Franz Sanchez is a ruthless drug lord who proves to be a great match for Bond in terms of connection and getting what he wants. Dr. No may not be one of the stronger villains but he certainly has an amazing presence as he’s a man of great intelligence and determination that allows Bond to realize that he’s just part of a bigger picture.

The Worst Bond Villain: Gustav Graves/Colonel Moon (Toby Stevens/Will Yun Lee)-Die Another Day

Many of the villains in the Bond films had always been memorable as there’s very few that don’t really standout such as Kamal Khan of Octopussy and Dominic Greene of Quantum of Solace. Yet, it’s Gustav Graves/Colonel Moon that really stands out as the worst villain. There’s nothing about him that is intimidating as he has to rely on gadgets and machines to get rid of his enemies. The bigger twist about Graves is that he’s really a rogue North Korean colonel who had supposedly died and transformed himself to be a billionaire. Lame!

Top 10 Q Gadgets

1. Aston Martin DB5-Goldfinger/Skyfall
 

2. Lotus Esprit-The Spy Who Loved Me

3. Little Nellie-You Only Live Twice

4. Bell Rocket Belt-Thunderball

5. The briefcase-From Russia with Love

6. Wrist dart gun-Moonraker 

7. Electro-Magnetic RPM Controller-Diamonds are Forever

8. Identigraph-For Your Eyes Only

9. Exploding pen-GoldenEye

10. Philips Keychain-The Living Daylights

If there’s someone Bond needs to make sure that he gets the job done, it’s Q. Next to James Bond, Q is the best character of the Bond series as he creates gadgets that can help Bond out in any way. The Aston Martin DB5 is easily the coolest car/gadget of them all for the fact that it has all sorts of weapons like machine guns and ejector seats. So cool that it allowed fans to mark out when it reappeared in Skyfall. The Lotus Espirit is another cool car that has cool gadgets but it’s also a submarine that can fire rockets into the sky. The Little Nellie mini-helicopter is another cool machine that also can fire rockets and get Bond out of a bad situation. Smaller weapons like the exploding pen and the Phillips keychain were also effective to get Bond out in situations.

The briefcase in From Russia with Love is a truly cool invention that has all sorts of things Bond needs as a traveling man while the wrist dart gun is quite deadly in getting Bond out of other dire situations. The Identigraph is another effective machine that can help Bond identify an enemy he’s looking for as it’s really an early take in the computers. And then there’s the little Electro-Magnetic RPM Controller that Q uses to win at slot machines.

Worst Invention: Aston Martin Vanquish-Die Another Day

If there’s one invention that never should’ve been made, it’s the Aston Martin Vanquish aka the invisible car. It’s just pretty damn stupid. All it is simply is bad CGI cloaking a car that does all sorts of things where it doesn’t really work some of the time when it gets shot and it requires to suspense too much belief.

The Top 10 Bond Theme Songs (That Isn’t the James Bond Theme by Monty Norman)

1. Nobody Does It Better by Carly Simon (Marvin Hamlisch & Carole Bayer Sager)-The Spy Who Loved Me



2. You Only Live Twice by Nancy Sinatra (Leslie Bricusse & John Barry)-You Only Live Twice



3. A View to a Kill by Duran Duran (Duran Duran & John Barry)-A View to a Kill



4. For Your Eyes Only by Sheena Easton (Bill Conti & Michael Leeson)-For Your Eyes Only



5. We Have All the Time in the World by Louis Armstrong (John Barry & Hal David)-On Her Majesty’s Secret Service



6. Live and Let Die by Paul McCartney & Wings (Paul and Linda McCartney)-Live and Let Die



7. Goldfinger by Shirley Bassey (Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley, & John Barry)-Goldfinger



8. The Man with the Golden Gun by Lulu (John Barry & Don Black)-The Man with the Golden Gun



9. Skyfall by Adele (Adele & Paul Epworth)-Skyfall



10. Thunderball by Tom Jones (John Barry & Don Black)-Thunderball



One of the key elements that is needed in the Bond movies is a good song to kick things off. Aside from the theme that everyone knows and love, it’s the song that has to be there to establish what audiences are in for. Carly Simon’s Nobody Does It Better is a prime example as it’s a truly gorgeous love ballad that exemplifies Bond as a lover and sometimes, a fighter. You Only Live Twice and We Have All The Time in the World are definitive Bond songs for the lushness that is carried in the string arrangements courtesy of regular Bond score composer John Barry. Duran Duran’s A View to a Kill is definitely the best example of how to fuse Barry’s bombastic orchestra with a new wave sensibility where it has something for young audiences to enjoy as well as an older audience. Sheena Easton’s For Your Eyes Only is another example of a modern take in Bond love ballad with its sumptuous electronic arrangements and classical piano arrangements.

One of the difficulties in creating a Bond theme song is to always keep up with the times but Adele’s Skyfall is an example of going back to the basics without trying to employ any ideas that are considered trendy. Live and Let Die and The Man with the Golden Gun are great examples of how to fuse rock with orchestral bombast as they’re both very exciting songs. Finally, Goldfinger and Thunderball are among the definitive blueprints of what a Bond theme song should be as it have amazing orchestral arrangements, memorable hooks, and singers that can actually belt it out.

Worst Bond Song: Die Another Day by Madonna (Madonna & Mirwais Ahmadzai)-Die Another Day

Not every Bond song is a hit as there’s a few misses like the Alicia Keys/Jack White collaboration Another Way to Die from Quantum of Solace. Still, nothing tops the horror that is Madonna’s Die Another Day which sounds like machines farting out awful noises while Madonna tries to sound like a robot. To spare the listeners from damaging their eardrums, there will not be a clip of this horrendous garbage.

The Top 5 Lists

Top 5 Henchman/Henchwomen

1. Jaws (Richard Kiel)-The Spy Who Loved Me/Moonraker

2. Donald “Red” Grant (Robert Shaw)-From Russia with Love

3. Oddjob (Harold Sakata)-Goldfinger

4. Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen)-GoldenEye

5. Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi)-Thunderball

Every villain needs someone to back them up. Whether it’s Jaws with his metallic teeth or Oddjob throwing his hat to cut people’s heads off. Then there’s Red Grant who is a physical presence who is very smart and deadly and is almost an equal to Bond. Then there’s the henchwomen who are very beautiful but not the kind of women to bring home to your mother. Xenia Onatopp does love to squeeze men but it comes with a price while Fiona Volpe can kill with her motorcycle filled with rocket launchers.

Top 5 Bond Allies (non-regular)

1. Tiger Tanaka (Tetsuro Tamba)-You Only Live Twice

2. Marc-Ange Draco (Gabriele Ferzetti)-On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

3. Milos Columbo (Chaim Topol)-For Your Eyes Only

4. Ali Kerim Bey (Pedro Armendariz)-From Russia with Love

5. Kincade (Albert Finney)-Skyfall

Whenever Bond is in different locations, he needs someone who can have his back. Tiger Tanaka is a great example of someone who can show Bond the ropes of what to do in Japan while being there to fight off SPECTRE. Marc-Ange Draco and Miles Columbo are men who are rich and powerful while providing Bond with some kind of backup to help him fight off foes. Kerim Bey is another unique individual who would help Bond show him what is happening in Turkey while is also an excellent shooter. Finally, there’s Kincade from Skyfall who is an old gamekeeper that is very good with guns and is willing to show that when all else fails, go back to basics.

Top 5 Semi-regular Bond Allies

1. General Anatal Alexis Gogol (Walter Gottel) The Spy Who Loved Me-The Living Daylights

2. Sir Fredrick Gray (Geoffrey Keen)-The Spy Who Loved Me-The Living Daylights

3. Bill Tanner (Rory Kinnear)-Quantum of Solace/Skyfall

4. Charles Robinson (Colin Salmon)-Tomorrow Never Dies-Die Another Day

5. Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky-GoldenEye/The World is Not Enough

Bond needs people who he can always count on not matter how bad the situations are. Even if they’re people that aren’t really fond of him like Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky yet is willing to help Bond any way he can. General Gogol maybe an opponent of Bond as far as the Cold War is concerned yet is willing to aid Bond and the MI6 if both sides are threatened. Sir Fredrick Gray and Charles Robinson are members of the MI6 who definitely provide some information for Bond as well as being a key ally. The Bill Tanner character has been played by numerous actors over the years but Rory Kinnear has so made Tanner a very memorable character no matter how small the role is.

Top 5 M Moments

1. M’s final words-Skyfall

2. M backing Bond up and ensuring he doesn’t mess up again-Moonraker

3. M telling Bond that he‘s a misogynistic dinosaur-GoldenEye

4. M’s briefing with Bond after Vesper’s death-Casino Royale

5. M briefing Bond for his mess-up in Miami-Goldfinger

There’s been three actors who played M in its official series yet two of them stand out in creating their own stamp on the character. Judi Dench is definitely the most memorable as she brought a new take on the character starting with 1995’s Goldfinger where she despises Bond while bringing a sense of maternal warmth to Bond in Casino Royale despite her issues with him. And then there’s Skyfall where Dench gives her greatest performance of the character as her parting words is among one of the most heartbreaking moments of the series. Bernard Lee’s portrayal of Bond from Dr. No to Moonraker are memorable as he plays a leader who is stern but also fair and always know when to back Bond up if he is aware something isn’t right. With Ralph Fiennes now set to play the role, let’s hope he can provide something that his predecessor can be proud of.

Top 5 Q Moments (Desmond Llewelyn Tribute list)

1. Q arriving at Isthmus City to help Bond-Licence to Kill

2. Q showing Bond how to work the Aston Martin DB5-Goldfinger

3. Q briefing Bond on the BMW 750i as Bond plays around with it-Tomorrow Never Dies

4. Q responding to Bond’s line about the destruction of inventions by saying “frequently”-The Spy Who Loved Me

5. Q’s farewell-The World is Not Enough

Honorable Mention: Q introduces himself to Bond-Skyfall

Q is a character that is beloved by Bond fans as he’s a man that brings a lot of humor to the series and moments that are unforgettable. Desmond Llewelyn’s performance as the character provides a lot of the attributes the Bond film needs such as Bond’s lack of attention towards Q’s machines or the fact that Bond always does something bad to Q’s inventions, unintentionally. Yet, Q is always the guy that Bond can always count on to save him from anything. Now that Ben Whishaw is playing the role and creates his own take on the character, let’s hope he can bring that same rapport with Bond that fans know and love.

Top 5 Miss Moneypenny Moments

1. Moneypenny telling Bond the code-You Only Live Twice

2. Moneypenny asking for a gift in diamonds-Diamonds are Forever

3. Moneypenny catching Bond’s hat-On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

4. Moneypenny using the recreational simulator to create her Bond fantasy-Die Another Day

5. Moneypenny officially introducing herself to Bond-Skyfall

Miss Moneypenny is the woman who always seem to flirt with Bond but never really gets the chance to bag him. Still, she always maintain some kind of professionalism that is needed as Lois Maxwell always provide something that is a standard of what Moneypenny should be. Samantha Bond adds a new energy to the character in the Pierce Brosnan era as she is the closest to finally nab Bond. Now there’s a new Moneypenny in Naomie Harris who is a different Moneypenny who can drive and shoot but also maintain a sense of professionalism in her relationship with Bond.

Top 5 Felix Leiter moments

1. Leiter helping Bond out with providing him the money to beat Le Chiffre-Casino Royale

2. Leiter being tortured and telling Sanchez that he’ll see him in hell-Licence to Kill

3. Leiter showing Bond Largo’s boat via telescope-Never Say Never Again

4. Leiter telling Bond that Goldfinger is in Miami-Goldfinger

5. Leiter providing Bond information about Dominic Greene’s whereabouts-Quantum of Solace

If the U.S. is involved and they need someone to help Bond, they call on Felix Leiter. There’s been many actors who played the character yet so far, Jeffrey Wright provides the most memorable portrayal of the character in both Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace as he adds a sense of cool to the character. David Hedison played Leiter twice in both Live and Let Die and Licence to Kill where he has a very memorable moment in the latter where he is kidnapped and being fed to the sharks where he manages to survive. Cee Linder’s performance in Goldfinger is memorable for the fact that he displays what kind of friendship he and Bond have. Bernie Casey is another highlight of the character where he not only helps Bond defeat Largo but also chill out with him in Never Say Never Again.

Top 5 Bond Action Sequences

1. The parkour chase in Africa-Casino Royale

2. Bond diving off a snowy cliff and parachute-The Spy Who Loved Me

3. Bond on a truck chase against Sanchez-Licence to Kill

4. Bond driving a tank through Moscow-GoldenEye

5. Bond and Tracy driving through the snow and a stock car race-On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

With James Bond, the films always have to something to keep fans excited. Scenes such as Bond chasing someone through buildings in Africa where it involves a lot of parkour movements or Bond diving off a cliff in skis and then unveil a Union Jack parachute. Bond going after a villain in a truck where he has to evade missiles and other things. Bond driving a tank through Moscow and adjust his tie or Bond in a stock car race with a girl and embarrass his enemies.

Top 5 Deaths/Kills

1. Bond stabbing Raoul Silva with a knife in the back-Skyfall

2. Tatiana Romanova shooting Rosa Klebb in the chest-From Russia with Love

3. Bond dropping Alec Trevelyan from the top of dish as it later falls on Trevelyan-GoldenEye

4. Bond dropping Dario into the cocaine grinder-Licence to Kill

5. Bond dropping Blofeld into an industrial chimney-For Your Eyes Only

One of the moments that is expected in a Bond film is that someone has to die. Yet, it’s the villains that everyone wants to make sure are put in their place. Silva’s death in Skyfall is an example that if all else fails, throw a knife in the back to bring him in down. Rosa Klebb’s death is definitely memorable for the fact that she almost kills Bond only to be shot by Romanova in the heat of the moment. Trevelyan’s death is definitely the most elaborate as is Blofeld’s death in For Your Eyes Only as he begs for his life. The most gruesome is the henchman Dario as he falls into a cocaine grinder.

Top 5 Bond Locations

1. Shanghai-Skyfall

2. Miami-Goldfinger

3. Venice-From Russia with Love

4. Japan-You Only Live Twice

5. Nassau-Casino Royale

Another aspect of the Bond film that always keeps the audience are the locations. Whether it’s those posh hotels such as the Fountainbleu Hotel in Miami or the beaches in Nassau. There’s Venice where Bond is on the gondola with Romanova or in Japan where Bond is entranced by the world and learns how to be Japanese. And of course, the array of bright colored lights that surrounds Bond in his fight with Patrice in Skyfall.

Well, that is it for the marathon. 23 official films. 3 documentaries. Two unofficial films and one TV episode. It’s been a wild ride exploring the evolution of James Bond. Yet, it’s one of the reasons why the franchise has been so enduring. It always finds a way to be fresh for the times as it always deflates the question about its relevancy in the world. As long as there’s bad guys around, James Bond will be there to fight for the good of the world. After all, it’s time to say goodbye for now as we’ll return to the world of Bond when Bond 24 will come out. Until then…

Part 1

© thevoid99 2012