Who is the real James Bond?
November 12th, 2008 by May
With Quantum of Solace about to release in the U.S., the time is right to ask: Who is the real James Bond? Classic Bonds, new Bonds, Bond wannabes, Bond competitors, Bond parodies… Is the “new” Bond in Quantum or in another series altogether? Here’s my pick of thrilling secret-agent espionage on Jinni in the Bond series and beyond.
Dr. No (1962)
Sean Connery, considered by many to be the best Bond so far, stars in the very first Bond adventure. Featuring the unforgettable Ursula Andress in a white bikini, this movie practically launched the secret agent sub-genre, and introduced many of the familiar Bond themes we learned to love, such as the gun-sight opening shot, the theme music and the Bond girls.
The Ipcress File (1965)
Way back in 1965, this excellent Michael Caine thriller offered a more realistic, less glamorized view of the spy business than the Bond films. Caine plays Harry Palmer, a soldier who reluctantly chose to become a spy instead of going to prison. He’s investigating the disappearance of several scientists only to realize he was chosen to do everyone else’s dirty work.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
Poor George Lazenby only had one chance as Bond, replacing the retiring Connery. Some say Lazenby quit, convinced the series would become anachronistic in the next decade. Right… So Connery came to the rescue (in more than one way…) for Diamonds are Forever. Lazenby’s take is the second part in the villainous Blofeld Trilogy (played by 3 different actors, rivaled by 2 different Bonds…). This film shares with Casino Royale a rare element in the series: Bond allows himself to fall in love and tragically loses his loved one.
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
There is of course great debate among James Bond fans who is the best Bond. Although Connery usually takes the lead, Roger Moore’s Bond is really not that far behind him, and was even Ian Fleming’s favorite. In this film, considered Moore’s best Bond, our agent is matched with a Russian rival agent to track stolen submarines. But the film is memorable for the introduction of the gigantic steel-mouthed Jaws (Richard Kiel).
Licence to Kill (1989)
Timothy Dalton’s turn as the glamorous spy wasn’t glamorous at all. He can take comfort in the fact that he did twice as many Bond films as Lazenby… Licence to Kill, the better of Dalton’s attempts, plays on Bond’s sometimes ambivalent feelings towards his organization and is centered on a quest for revenge outside the Secret Service. Perhaps the darkest of the 007 films, Licence to Kill shows a previously unseen side of James Bond. Maniacal at times, ex-agent 007 detonates everything in his way on the road to revenge.
GoldenEye (1995)
The first Bond movie to star Pierce Brosnan was a success both critically and financially. The film makes the transition to a more modern image for the series. Bond’s out-of-date womanizing is presented with a feminist challenge from the newly casted Judi Dench as impenetrable M, and Samantha Bond as a wiser Moneypenny.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
The Bond series is so successful, it was bound to be mocked: from 1967’s Casino Royale to Rowan Atkinson’s Johnny English and Steve Carell’s Get Smart. But the most notable, funniest, and successful attempt that spawned a series of its own is of course the Austin Powers Trilogy - beginning with this film, in which Mike Myers makes sure not to skip any possible joke, served with his familiar crude style.
XXX (2002)
Vin Diesel was regarded briefly as James Bond – the next generation. James Bond on speed could also be a good description. Like Michael Caine, Diesel is forced to choose between being a convict or a spy. Successful enough to be followed by a (bad) sequel, this rebellious-nihilist-secret agent effort isn’t really in the same league as Bond, though it has the basic components –master villain, biochemical threat, hi-tech gadgets, cynicism, and falling for the seductive villain’s girl. However, as a stand alone, it delivers an effective 2-hour thrill ride.
Casino Royale (2006)
The most recent before Quantum of Solace, this film rebooted the entire story, and started all over again, with a different style, tone and character, arguably more suited to the contemporary environment. Following the controversy, the movie went on to be a huge critical success and the highest grossing Bond to date. Will Quantum of Solace – the first direct sequel to its predecessor - rise to expectations?
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
One of the most heated debates these days centers on who is the superior secret agent: Jason Bourne or James Bond. Some even say Quantum of Solace is a Bourne wannabe. Audiences, however, embrace both interpretations of the secret agent thriller: the slick and glamorous Bond, and the rough and rugged Bourne. The Bourne Ultimatum, the grand finale of the Bourne series, finds Bourne once again racing around the globe, desperate to uncover the secrets of his identity. His search for answers is now fueled by a desire for closure and revenge.
Want more thrilling secret agent espionage? Search on Jinni.com for:
Secret Agent * Based on novel * Thrilling * Slick * Espionage * Spy * Wannabe * Mistaken Identities * Rough * Master villain * On-the-run * Uncover truth * Heroic mission * Undercover * Humorous * Suspenseful
What’s your take?
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November 12th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Interesting list! I think Austin Powers is much more than a parody. It stands on its own as great entertainment even for people (like me) who don’t even like James Bond much, old or new.
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November 12th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Yes, the debate about the “authentic” Bond is neverending. This article should give the debaters plenty of fuel!
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November 12th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I really disliked “Casino Royale”, even though it had some fantastic action scenes… I disliked it because it did feel like it was licensing the Bond name to make a competing “Bourne” film - and when it thought it had to be more Bond-like, then they threw in dull poker and terribly dull dialogue.
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November 13th, 2008 at 3:44 am
Austin Powers! This comment made m e laugh more than the movie. RUBBISH!
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November 13th, 2008 at 4:18 am
well i’ve just seen quantum and it is a massive improvement over casino in all aspects so kudos to everyone involved.however for me Bourne is king of the agents,there is just summit about Jay Bourne that bond can’t touch, but i believe it is a class thing.being a scot the everyman will always win out,as much fun as bond is the upper middle class attitude still kind irks to a certain extent, but then it is only a movie.
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November 13th, 2008 at 4:56 am
The only *real* one is of course the US-American ornithologist James Bond, whose name was used by Ian Fleming for his secret agent.
In “Die Another Day” Pierce Brosnan uses James Bond’s book “Birds of the West Indies” to disguise himself as ornithologist.
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November 13th, 2008 at 5:06 am
Wow, I thought Casino Royalle was the best.
jess
http://web-anonymity.vze.com
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November 13th, 2008 at 5:32 am
Roger Moore was Ian Fleming’s favourite Bond? Maybe his favourite choice to play Bond in the beginning but Fleming died in 1964, 9 years before Live And Let Die…
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November 13th, 2008 at 7:07 am
What about Jason Statham in the Transporter? Very clearly heavily Bond inspired (read blatant ripoff). And of course there is the fact that Fleming based a lot of Bond off of a Canadian secret agent and his own career as an intelligence operative.
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November 13th, 2008 at 7:32 am
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November 13th, 2008 at 7:35 am
Jason Statham was definitely great in the transporter which is a cool movie with great stunts, too bad he only went downhill from there. And no he couldn’t have been James bond. All the point of James bond is that he is a phlegmatic killer, in other words… a brit.
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November 13th, 2008 at 8:47 am
The original release date internationally was Nov. 7. This included the US.
However, the wonderful studio gods decided to shift it back a week for Europe and shift it forward a week for the US, etc.
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November 13th, 2008 at 9:38 am
[...] Who Is The Real James Bond - [Jinni] [...]
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November 13th, 2008 at 10:18 am
You need to check out OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
It’s a revamping of an old french spy character (who appeared before any Ian Fleming novel, I believe) and has been turned into a parody of James Bond and is set in Cairo in the 50’s.
Hilarious!
Here’s the trailer.
http://oss117movie.com/
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November 13th, 2008 at 11:27 am
I’m not entirely fond of the Bourne/Bond comparison. Bond is an agent. Bourne is an assasin.
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November 13th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Um, “Steve Carell’s Get Smart” - are you on drugs?
I think this ‘may’ have been based on the TV series of the same name, started in the 60’s…
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November 14th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Really nice “Bond” collection :) Most fav are with Sir Thomas Sean Connery :) He knew how to do the job :D
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November 14th, 2008 at 7:39 am
I’m rather partial to the Homeless James Bond at break.com
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November 14th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
There was only one ‘real’ james bond, and his name was Dusko Popov. Ian Fleming was so impresed by Mr Popov’s womanizing, style, and risk taking while in the secret service, that he wrote a novel about him; hence, James Bond 007 was born.
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December 16th, 2008 at 2:28 am
I would pick Roger Moore, he’s the real James Bond. He played it well.
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December 30th, 2008 at 6:07 am
i am reading a book at the mo ,James Bond The Authorized Biography by John Pearson very interesting u will find the truth.
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March 18th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Sean Connery was and is the best James Bond in my opinion. Ok Austin Powers is also not bad ;)
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March 23rd, 2009 at 9:08 am
The new James Bond is not bad at all, but the Quantum of Solace story was so horrible.
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March 30th, 2009 at 8:15 am
serious, austin powers - the true james bond :)
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April 21st, 2009 at 6:56 am
The real one was Roger Moore.
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June 7th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Great post! Just wanted to let you know you have a new subscriber- me!
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