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Originally Posted by BreakABone
I always wondered... is there ever a point where cinema Bond becomes the real Bond and book Bond becomes the basis.
I mean more people are familar with cinema Bond than book Bond, and would find the books to be a bit different than the movies. There are those who complain the movies are too different from the book, but in this case I think that the movies have outlasted the books make them more of the definitive version.
But alas, I am still awesome.
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I agree..the movies HAVE outlasted the books. On the other hand...I think Fleming is a fantastically underrated writer. There are probably more outstanding Fleming novels than there are outstanding Bond films. I mean...if you break down the Bond films, there are only 5 or 6 really good films (excluding Casino Royale).
The thing is, Fleming is long dead. Had he continued to write the books maybe he would have outlasted his film series. But, I still think not. Films like Dr. No, Goldfinger, and From Russia With Love became iconic cinema pieces and popular culture works.
Anyway, to get to your question...Sean Connery's Bond definitely had some moments where he became "the real Bond" in my opinion. Unfortunately, as time moved forward the direction of the Bond films was for more one liners, more sight gags, more crazy exotic locations, more over-the-top gadgets, and more ludicrous plots. By the time Roger Moore was starring as Bond, the films had started to become a parody of themselves.
Goldeneye is THE exception...it's a great fucking film, and I love Pierce Brosnan as Bond. Unfortunately, the rest of the Pierce films are walking parodies of themselves. I mean, they didn't even need to make Austin Powers...just go watch Die Another Day. What a horrible, horrible, hilarious film.
There's a great gag in Austin Powers:
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[Austin and Vanessa see a man decapitated]
Austin Powers: Not the time to lose one's head.
Vanessa Kensington: No.
Austin Powers: That's not the way to get ahead in life.
Vanessa Kensington: No.
Austin Powers: It's a shame he wasn't more headstrong.
Vanessa Kensington: Hmm.
Austin Powers: He'll never be the head of a major corporation.
Vanessa Kensington: Okay, that'll do.
Austin Powers: Okay.
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Apparently the Bond guys didn't get the memo, because they took the joke too far.
Anyway, Casino Royale is a much needed reboot for the Bond franchise. I don't think Craig is Connery...but I think Craig is a bit closer to the book version of Bond that Connery was. So maybe that is a good thing.
As for the people who act all high and mighty by bringing up Fleming's Bond? Honestly, cinema Bond is THE James Bond. We live in a day of age where people who read think they are the exception, and I think there is some arrogance with their opinion.
Anyway...as for me. I said there are 5 or 6 really good Bond films...the rest are pretty horrible, but I enjoy the campiness. I actually thought Die Another Day was a horrible but fun film...as was Moonraker and Live and Let Die.
For me...cinema is the ultimate form of mindless escapism. And, I enjoy the womanizing, one-liner-cracking Bond. I think the new Bond franchise is just a tad bit cold (at the moment). I thought the same thing about Batman Begins, but The Dark Knight was the step forward that I needed. So...hopefully Bond will be a little more happy in Quantum of Solace.