It’s time, Mr Bond
After a long, anticipating wait, the new James Bond No Time to Die hit cinemas this year. A 27th Bond, a last outing for Daniel Craig as well as many other firsts for 007. But it took a long time for the British secret agent to finally make it into the 21st century. A review about the world-famous double zero and why the new James Bond is anything but normal by 007 standards.
For the past year, I regularly met with two friends to watch the James Bond films from start to finish. (We didn't make it all the way through - the films are neither very content-rich nor diverse). We started with Dr. No - which came out in 1962, as the first James Bond film with Sean Connery. A film by male producers (Broccoli and Saltzman), based on a book by a male author (Ian Fleming), about a man who – according to the ideas of the 60s – could not behave in a more masculine way – what did I expect? Sean Connery, as Bond, disrespecting women non-stop, self-absorbedly putting himself above everyone else, and his arrogance dripping from the screen in each scene. I was quite shocked, my friends were completely disillusioned: toxic masculinity carried by guns and explosions while any female character is reduced to the role of a doll by the male gaze* and mansplaining**.
*The term "male gaze" describes the disproportion between the female object and the male observer, in which the woman is assigned a passive, mostly sexualised role and the man is confirmed in his supposedly superior position. Through the "male gaze", women become a commodity without autonomous emotions or thoughts that man can stare at, possess and consume.
**Mansplaining is a neologism made up of the two words "man" and "explaining". Mansplaining describes the behaviour when a man condescendingly gives an explanation (usually without being asked) about something and thus gives the impression that he knows more than his - female - counterpart.
Sean Connery as James Bond
In the third film – Goldfinger, 1964 – patriarchal arrogance reaches its peak: the female "lead" PUSSY (I mean WTF???) Galore – initially Bond's antagonist – switches to Bond's side in the final battle and thus saves his ass. His smug comment: "I must have awakened maternal feelings there" neatly encapsulates the whole scene. Watching the films became a challenge: the plot became too familiar at some point, the eternal alternation between rumpled sheets and exploding aeroplanes too mindless, and the eternally cool look of the agent on a mission for Her Majesty too dull.
My first ray of hope was the 6th film: In 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, George Lazenby is the first (and only) James Bond to bring something like emotional depth, feelings and respect for women to the screen - incidentally, it’s the only film in which Bond marries a woman (Teresa di Vicenzo). In my opinion, not only one of the best Bond actors, but also one of the best films. Unfortunately for Lazenby, his outing as Bond would remain a one-time thing – the world was not yet ready for an emotional man who treats women respectfully. The audience, it seems, wanted the sports car-driving, martini-drinking, serene, sexy, gritty, brave, cool, white and cis-male hero who saves women and shows the world what British character is all about.
Bond actor George Lazenby with Diana Rigg while filming On Her Majesty's Secret Service in 1969 © Comet Photo AG (Zürich)
Welcome, James, to the 21st century
(❗Spoiler alert: if you haven't seen the film yet, you better stop here❗).
The latest and 25th James Bond film No Time to Die paints a whole new picture of agent 007 where we get to witness so many "firsts" for our hero. James is in love, and this time it's not just an insignificant emotion that the audience has to read from his poker face, but this time it's true love. The love for which he’ll do anything, which hurts him and which makes him actually say "I love you". As always, Bond surrounds himself with many beautiful women, but only one - the right one in this case - ends up in bed with him. Bond certainly had female allies in previous films, but for the first time he also manages NOT to get them into bed after the fight.
One of my favourite moments, very small and unobtrusive, is when Bond thanks his ally in Cuba, agent Paloma, for her help and praises her, saying: "Well done" and Paloma in response, doesn't fall into his arms, nor do they merge in a passionate kiss; all she says is: "You too!". What's special about that? A woman who doesn't thank you for praise, for whom it's not weird to just return a compliment of that kind, James Bond who doesn't receive a trophy but only a verbal pat on the back?! - EVERYTHING! James is also unusually reserved, actually charming, not in an exaggerated but honest way. Is it because of his newly discovered feelings or perhaps because of the daughter he knew nothing about?Furthermore, we see Bond retire from his service to Her Majesty and we witness another premiere: agent 007 is female and old Bond quite shocked when he realises that the world keeps turning and that even the secret service won't wait for him forever.
In the grand finale, we see James Bond die for good. Heroic – in fire and thunder – the world of the white, somewhat older man is shattered by bombs and bursts into flames. He has already died many supposed deaths, but this time he does not die another day, it is finally time to die – really? Is it? – Billie Eilish tells us otherwise. The patient fan that kept sitting until the last name of the credits had disappeared, is kept on the edge of their seat: “James Bond will be back”.
But, it's not certain what is going to happen to this legendary film series in the future.The fan community is left in the dark. Daniel Craig won't be back, that much is certain, but what about James Bond and 007? Who will we see next year driving fast cars out of burning buildings, seducing women (or/ and men?) and drinking strong liquor? If only Mr Fleming knew.
