James Bond

If you have been enamelled by Bruce Lee and idolised him, you are not alone. He gave the underdogs hope and Chinese people pride. He was at the peak of his art, an art form he founded by combining various virtues of different arts combining them to its greatest advantage. If you remember Bruce, you would not forget Ian Fleming's 007.

From Dr. No, Goldfinger till today's Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, all Bond films are of high budget, have great hi-tech gadgetries - cars that submerged in the sea, thwart enemy attacks, shoot with sophisticated weaponry, pens that could kill, watches that exploded, mountains that opened up and swallowed helicopters.

They also came with queer baddies with interesting names. Even the title of each has always been interesting. Dr. No, Moonraker, Live and Let Die, Octopussy, etc. For the uninitiated, they may even think that Octopussy is the private part of some sotong or their Octopus cousins. Oops! M18 or is it NC16? Anyway, the young today knew more than we do at the same age. We have one where the villain femme fatale was one nmaed Xenia Onatopp who crushed her enemy to death with her thighs. Ha, what a name (Xenia On Top) and what a way to be left breathless and dead. That is why I simply love Mike Meyers and his Austin Powers spoofs. What about the bevy of beauties and morsels in distress? The classic one where you had Ursula Andress walking up from the sea in bikinis left many breathless at the time that's why she went by the moniker Usually Undressed.

Then finally, we have The James Bond Theme with Bond walking and turnly to shoot. It is also a trademark classic not forgetting that each Bond has its own theme song.

In the meantime, let us look at the various Bonds - the actors.

Sean Connery who is Scottish is my all time favourite Bond. He has such charisma and screen presence. His steely gaze and cold blooded ways, making a kill then proceeding for dinner after adjusting his bow tie made for a realistic secret agent. The worst Bond has to be George Lazenby (Australian). Perhaps, during the time there was a shortage of manpower and quality candidates. Roger Moore who is English and of "The Saint" fame on TV makes for a light hearted Bond with his cool smiles. Timothy Dalton who is Welsh would actually make a better stage actor than be Bond and his cleft chin could not have saved him. Pierce Brosnan (Remington Steele on TV) was suave and look way too good.

When they first introduced Daniel Craig (English), many were quick to pass judgement saying that he could not make the cut and some even suggested he looked more like a construction worker. I caught Casino Royale and I was impressed. Here was a Bond, James Bond who has feelings, was violent and to me certainly has the potential to be the closest thing since Sean Connery or may be even eclipse Sean some day.

The filming in exotic locations, violence, exciting car chases, stylish fight choreography, queer names, bevy of beauties, dangerous nemesis of Bond and hi-tech weaponry will ensure Bond fans of different generations have something to look forward to in the world of secret agents, the one with a licence to kill not those at Geylang who are cigarette agents.

Finally, the high budget to produce the movie alone is worth the ticket price.
Bond Apetite!

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