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99 Bond  

Posted by Benjie in , , , , ,



Noted author Ian Fleming, who introduced the world to James Bond in 1953 with Casino Royale would have turned 99 today. I must admit that most of my exposure to Fleming and his work has been on the silver screen. The difference between books about bond and the films based on them is that the books are edgier, darker if you please. Last year’s adaptation of the first Bond novel actually held more true to the book than any of the others I have had the opportunity to read and/or see.

Many people are unaware that Fleming also brought us that wonderful flying car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The stories appeared in 1964 and were dedicated to the “original” Chitty Chitty Bang Bang built in 1920 according to Fleming. I procured a reprint of the original stories a few years ago and fell in love all over again with Caracticus Pott and his magical car.

As with Bond the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang stories and movies have very little in common. I would say that the similarities end almost as quickly as the movies begin. In the case of Fleming books and the movies “based” on them, I would not hazard to indicate one is superior to the other because of this departure. Instead I would say consider them as separately qualified and separately entertaining. Enjoy the books; enjoy the films; and don’t bother trying to unite the two.

And happy birthday Mr. Fleming.

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(2)007  

Posted by Benjie in

Now for my take on the Year of Bond to help you vote (if you haven't already):

Connery -- defined Bond for most of the world. He has a little of the edginess depicted by Ian Fleming in the novels.

Moore -- got the job because of his popularity in TV's The Saint. Most Bond fans dismiss Roger because of he seems not to take the job seriously enough. One thing that he did add to the role was a more light-hearted look at the master-spy. With Moore we were able to fall in love with the British love for puns.

Lazenby -- the one-Bond wonder. Admittedly one of the best Bond scripts allowed us to see the human side of 007. He was dismissed as being too stiff for the role. Poor George never got a real chance.

Dalton -- brought some of the coldness back to the role. I thought I'd like Dalton and he did a fair job, but he had some sorry scripts.

Brosnan -- looked the part. When I read the novels, I picture Brosnan. Again plagued by bad scripts. Some liked Halle Berry as the Bond girl in Die Another Day; I thought her character made Bond look like a wimp and that she overpowered the script. The Russians called this one "Die, but not Today". I thought it died today.

Craig -- newest Bond as the oldest Bond. Using a script from the first appearance of Bond, Craig became characteristically what I saw when I read Casino Royale the first time. He seems to have captured the heartless wrecklessness that is James Bond.

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The Year of Bond?  

Posted by Benjie in ,

I declare that 2007 - by virtue of the fact that it is "007" - is The Year of Bond. Therefore, vote for your favorite Bond.


Sean Connery

Roger Moore

George Lazenby

Timothy Dalton



Pierce Brosnan

Daniel Craig

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