"Do you expect me to talk?"
"No Mr. Bond I expect you to do what you've been doing for 60 years!"
And that's kind of the problem.
Let me just preface this by saying I like bond movies, I've read most of the books including the excellent young bond series from Charlie Higson. I'm not an expert on the character but I know enough. Each era of Bond has its highs and lows and we all like to debate who the best Bond is (Connery obviously) but in my opinion there really isn't anything fresh in the franchise and I'm becoming less and less interested in watching them. This is a problem as I’d imagine I’m in the demographic these moves target and from what I see and read I’m not alone.
My top five Bond movies in no particular order are:
Goldfinger
From Russia with Love
Goldeneye
Skyfall
Moonraker (because Jaws, lasers and the fact that it's mental)
Oh and it's got a pigeon that does a double take!
I realize that listed above is Skyfall which is one of the newer entries in the series so I'm clearly full of crap right? The thing is, that movie played like a love letter to 60's Bond right down to the fantastic song from Adele so I think my point still stands.
But what is my point? Am I just venting here? Taking a few shots at 007 (he’s survived worse) or just being an Internet douche bag? Well, my general doucheiness aside what I would like to discuss here is a constructive solution which I think would make Bond interesting again.
Historically Bond has been very loosely set in a semi coherent universe. Some story and character elements carry over between movies however they are in no way locked into a strong continuity. Which is something I want the makers of Bond to fully embrace.
Stop making Bond in this creatively restrictive continuum which has so little steam left. Stop trying to develop the character, Bond is never going to retire he’s never going to settle down or quit, we all know that this not the final movie so all of that carries no dramatic weight. Why waste time on that?
So here is how I think Bond can be interesting again. Why not say from here on in Bond will exist in a series of self-contained "one shot" movies? Invite guest writers, actors and directors to have a stab at it with very little or no creative restrictions. Imagine Nolan, Tarantino, Abrams, Lin, Gunn or whoever you like helming their own Bond movie? Imagine the freedom to cast Idris Elba, Gillian Anderson, Nicholas Hoult, Tom Hiddleston or whoever fits the creative vision as Bond?! With no need to lock an actor into a multi picture deal it would be easier to entice them in as well. Heck it could become to a lesser degree like Hamlett with actors wanting to portray the character and put their stamp on it. Man, woman, black, white and everything in between is insignificant it’s about the character and the story.
Each time it's just one movie so who cares if it shakes up the status quo? Be brave, be creative.
Imagine a movie where Bond could die? We'd have actual stakes.
Imagine bringing back Dalton as Bond for a Die Hard style adventure where an older field retired Bond is at a state event and things go south forcing him to take action. Imagine a Bond set during World War 2 or in the future or in any scenario or in any era of history. Go on, there are no limits. What would you do with Bond and who would you have play the role?
Imagine how exciting it would be when at the end of the movie the words “JAMES BOND WILL RETURN” appear on screen and then it fades into a 30 second sting introducing the next movie and the next Bond and each time it could go anywhere?
