Why a James Bond movie is still a major cinema event after nearly 60 years of the franchise
The latest instalment of the James Bond series is finally here, and if you’re not locked down you can see No Time To Die in cinemas from today.
It’s the 25th Bond – and incidentally the seventh to refer in its title to either ‘living’ or ‘dying’. While the British have taken ownership of him, three of the films have been directed by New Zealanders.
This release of this particular film has been delayed and delayed and delayed because of Covid lockdowns around the world – it’s a cinematic release and not to be shunted straight to a small screen.
TV3 film critic Kate Rodger would normally be on the Bond junket, as she has been for so many others … but she hasn’t even seen a preview. She’s stuck in Auckland.
“Just don’t get me started – I cannot tell you how heartbreaking this is!” she laughs.
“I don’t even know how to describe how anxious and annoyed I am!”
Today on The Detail she talks all things Bond with Emile Donovan, including the unusual way she got into watching early versions of them featuring Sean Connery.
“This is the longest-running film franchise in history,” she says.
“The character of Bond – all of the iconic parts of what a James Bond film is, from the cars to the gadgets, to the double entendres and the one-liners … every couple of years we’ve had a Bond film.
“There’s been a big stretch when there were legal disputes and Covid’s had a big impact on No Time To Die, but we can always expect that there’s going to be a Bond coming around. And it creates a very, very special feeling among the fan base.”
Yes, the early Bonds were “sexist, misogynist, dinosaur(s)” as M told Pierce Brosnan’s incarnation … but ..
“He was the first of his kind,” says Rodger, “and I think it’s really important to acknowledge the impact and the tentacles that come out from the base DNA of who James Bond was on cinema.”
Bond was the germ of such heroes such as Jason Bourne and Ethan Hunt of Mission Impossible, and also spawned the parodies – Johnny English and Austin Powers.
“You think of all of the different parts of pop culture that have leveraged or taken part of Bond and either spun it on its head or done a version of it.”
It’s been a good solid 50 to 70 years of seeing him on the big screen and Rodger says that longevity is part of its popularity.
“For a long time he was it, there was nothing to compete with him.”
Rodger admits the quality of the films has been patchy.
“Casino Royale is stunning. Absolutely loved every moment of it, the action’s fantastic, the delivery of the new Bond (Daniel Craig), we knew we were in for a grittier, messier … kind of far more brutal … I loved everything about it.
“Quantum of Solace, massive dive in quality. It was the middle of the writers’ strike, they started filming before they had a script… ... coherently it wasn’t great.
“And then you get Skyfall. What a stunning film. That and Casino Royale are the best of the Daniel Craigs, so emotional.”
No Time To Die will be the last of the Daniel Craigs. The merits of the next actor to take up the Bond mantle will be debated far and wide.
In today’s podcast, Rodger names her number one choice for the next 007 – and tells us why it shouldn’t be a woman.
