Sage mentoring advice from MI6
As you may have guessed, I am referring to Bond, James Bond! Here in Malaysia, we currently have a channel dedicated to playing all old Bond movies!! Our satellite provider created a channel to whet our appetite in time for the premiere of the latest Bond film in our cinemas. The channel is available for 3 weeks and it has become a talking point during social gatherings. Today is the last day. Sigh!
What a treat it has been! Walking down memory lane to catch up on Bond’s antics. I was not always on the edge of my seat. To be honest, the older Bond movies, sent me to sleep. They were a tad slow, boring if I might add, and rather sexist.
What is a treat is how Bond and the action have evolved with time. Entertainment at its best. Some scenes are far-fetched but it is forgivable because it’s Bond. It is what Bond does! Whilst watching one scene with Pierce Brosnan, I couldn’t help but wonder if there could be Bond-like spies in the real world. I know, lucky imagination is limitless!
Bond espouses competence. He can fly planes, snow ski, ski-dive, disarm enemies in one move, run fast and long, look sharp in a tuxedo whilst always remaining cool and calm. All for Queen and country. Though there have been other Bond-like movies, Bond has withstood the test of time. I think this is partly due to its evolution. The other part is the imagination that goes into its creation.
I always look forward to the latest gadgets in a new Bond movie. What new creations will Bond have to play with this time. The modified cars, the multi-function watch, the x-ray sunglasses, tiny devices that do so much more.
But Bond, the character, has evolved too. First played by the late Sean Connery to the present Daniel Craig. During Sean Connery’s era, Bond was more macho and arrogant. Roger Moore was slick and fighting Russia, the era of the cold war. Now, Daniel Craig brings a new twist to Bond. He is a little rough around the edges but strong, more human, and vulnerable. Fewer gadgets more cyber technology, making Bond more realistic, personal, and emotional. Let’s not forget Pierce Brosnan, the suave, model-like, Bond who had some amazing gadgets. The transition from Brosnan to Craig took a while. I wasn’t sure about Casino Royale. But I must say the ‘realness’ of Bond has grown on me. Skyfall is my favourite.
The rerun of Bond got me curious about Ian Fleming. Did you know that there are parallels between Fleming’s professional (and personal) life and Bond?
Michael Lee Simpson in his article says that during the firestorms of World War II in 1939, Admiral John Godfrey, Director of Naval Intelligence of the Royal Navy, recruited the 31-year-old to become his personal assistant. Godfrey soon assigned Fleming the codename 17F and sent him to Spain to orchestrate a mission called Operation Goldeneye. Launching sabotage operations against the Nazis while maintaining an intelligence framework in the event of an invasion, this led to a collaboration on writing the blueprint for the Office of the Coordinator of Information, which turned into the Office of Strategic Services and eventually the formation of the CIA. The article has more about Fleming’s personal life.
But Bond will not be Bond without the women, music, and dialogue. The roles of the leading women have evolved too. Thankfully. As has the music. Each movie showcases a British talent. I forgot that Duran Duran contributed their magic (or not according to some) to Bond! Last but not the least, the superb dialogue and British wit. My brother, a die-hard Bond fan, can quote lines from each movie verbatim. It still amazes me!
Certain conversations caught my attention as I watched the replays. However, unlike my brother, I cannot recall them verbatim. But one that comes to mind now is from Casino Royale when M (Judi Dench) asks Bond (Craig) about what went wrong in Madagascar. He gives his judgement of the situation to which M’s advice is, ‘arrogance and self-awareness seldom go hand in hand. I want you to take your ego out of the equation and to judge the situation dispassionately.’ Now, that’s advice we could all use!
Love it or not, 007 will have a place in our hearts and we have Ian Fleming, the original spy, to thank for its outstanding entertainment value. As Daniel Craig steps down, I wonder who will play Bond next. He will have tough shoes to fill as he says, ‘the name’s Bond, James Bond!’
As always, you can reach me at yoga@yoganesadurai.com for more sage advice.
The name’s Nesadurai, Yoga Nesadurai!