Why depict an aging Bond?

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Comments

  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I agree -{ I think they were trying to show Bond as " burnt out " rather than old.
    The mission ( as with the novel , TMWTGG) would either kill or cure Bond.
    In my opinion Skyfall ends with a Bond eager to get on.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • 007yler007yler Posts: 21MI6 Agent
    Very interesting. If anything, I think Goldeneye, more than Skyfall actually suggested a significant time lapse. After the teaser and theme song in GE, "9 years later" is stated, yet Bond doesn't look "depicted" as a day older than in the openin teaser.

    It didn't seem he was depicted as "aging" significantly in Skyfall, but instead, had a period where his loyalty was at a low point (getting drunk on the beach) before ultimately gaining it back again and going back into service.

    When he returns to M's apartment, is tested in the gym, and appears very scruffy in Shanghai, could be viewed as aging, but more so a temporary downfall and low point of the character. When he arrives at the casino in Macau, and shaved, he retains the clean, more youthful look.

    In M's new office, Bond saying "with pleasure M, with pleasure", suggests if anything, he will be embarking on many more missions. Although I initially disliked the addition of this scene at the end, this topic seems to reaffirm that he will at it for quite some time.
    "Did you ever ask why? Why we topple all those dictators, undermine all those regimes, only to come home, well done, good job, but sorry old boy, everything you've risked your life for has changed"...
    "...It was the job we were chosen for"...
  • Gassy ManGassy Man USAPosts: 2,972MI6 Agent
    I thought it was too soon to have this version of Bond, though I would have been okay with simply a "burnt out" one since we've seen this to some degree before.

    When I saw SF the first time, I kept thinking it was cribbing from The Wrath of Khan, where Kirk is going through a mid-life crisis and while distracted gets bested (at least initially) by an enemy from 15 years earlier, only to lose someone close to him in the climax that leads to Kirk's "re-birth" at the end. On re-watching SF, I see even more of that now, right down to some of the camera shots at the end. As told, SF could have been Craig's 5th or 6th Bond, and it would have worked out fine. But his aging seemed to service the plot rather than incorporate it more naturally, as was the case in The Wrath of Khan.
  • LexiLexi LondonPosts: 3,000MI6 Agent

    I mean, how DO you explain a bloke having gone from 38 to 65 in 6 years?

    :s :))

    A messy breakup, and a highly charged sexual affair with Rachel Weisz...oh and then getting married. That'll do it :))
    She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table and you know it. ~ Mark Anthony
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    David Schofield wrote :
    I mean, how DO you explain a bloke having gone from 38 to 65 in 6 years?

    Lexi wrote :
    A messy breakup, and a highly charged sexual affair with Rachel Weisz...oh and then getting married. That'll do it

    :)) I don't even have that excuse ! :#
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • CmdrAtticusCmdrAtticus United StatesPosts: 1,102MI6 Agent
    I don't think they were going for "aging", rather than they were going for "burned out". It's obvious that this mission is supposed to take place a few years on after QOS, but not certainly near the end of Bond's service.

    The stubble and craggy look after he gets back to London is to show what a near death fall/drowning/chest shot/drugged up/out of shape agent would look like. Having him look any better would not have been believable to me.
    "A shower wouldn't hurt" ...loved that line.
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    I don't think they were going for "aging", rather than they were going for "burned out". It's obvious that this mission is supposed to take place a few years on after QOS, but not certainly near the end of Bond's service.

    The stubble and craggy look after he gets back to London is to show what a near death fall/drowning/chest shot/drugged up/out of shape agent would look like. Having him look any better would not have been believable to me.
    "A shower wouldn't hurt" ...loved that line.

    +1
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • always shakenalways shaken LondonPosts: 6,287MI6 Agent
    I was on a combined service operation years ago, and I would say that most of us where in our 30-40 age
    all the spooks where 45-55 and all the SAS lads were 20+, so personaly never seen a young spy (intelligence officer)
    By the way, did I tell you, I was "Mad"?
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    You never see a young spy. What about James Bond Jr :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Gala BrandGala Brand Posts: 1,172MI6 Agent
    I thought the whole age thing had to do with Bond being obsolete in the modern world of espionage through technology. He's the old battleship ready to be towed away for scrap, out of date in the modern age. He's not chonologically too old, it's just that there's no place for him. That's why he looks worn out.
  • CmdrAtticusCmdrAtticus United StatesPosts: 1,102MI6 Agent
    I was on a combined service operation years ago, and I would say that most of us where in our 30-40 age
    all the spooks where 45-55 and all the SAS lads were 20+, so personaly never seen a young spy (intelligence officer)

    Yes..I knew a SEAL when I was in the Navy and he was 32. He spoke fluent Russian..which was fun because he taught me some of it. He had done missions in Vietnam just a few years (shows you my age) before I had me him. Interacted with Naval Intel officers and they were also in their 30's and 40's. I also never met someone in intel/security/special services that were younger than 30.
  • always shakenalways shaken LondonPosts: 6,287MI6 Agent
    I was on a combined service operation years ago, and I would say that most of us where in our 30-40 age
    all the spooks where 45-55 and all the SAS lads were 20+, so personaly never seen a young spy (intelligence officer)

    Yes..I knew a SEAL when I was in the Navy and he was 32. He spoke fluent Russian..which was fun because he taught me some of it. He had done missions in Vietnam just a few years (shows you my age) before I had me him. Interacted with Naval Intel officers and they were also in their 30's and 40's. I also never met someone in intel/security/special services that were younger than 30.

    A good example of non agesist spy films is Micheal Caines 4th protocol with Mr Brosnan
    a good boots on the ground intell film in fact I might watch it now :)
    By the way, did I tell you, I was "Mad"?
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    -{ It's one of my favourites too. :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • screenamescreename Posts: 388MI6 Agent
    As it's been said before, I think trying to make him look burned out backfired and made him look like Moore. I personally don't like this depiction of him, but I can see why they did it. Just hopefully they'll bring back a better look for him in Bond 24, slightly longer hair, maybe about %3-5 more body fat... And for God's sake a suit that fits! For me, that made him look the oldest of all. Like an old man trying to be "cool". I'd rather watch Mallory doing all the action! :))
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    screename wrote:
    As it's been said before, I think trying to make him look burned out backfired and made him look like Moore. I personally don't like this depiction of him, but I can see why they did it. Just hopefully they'll bring back a better look for him in Bond 24, slightly longer hair, maybe about %3-5 more body fat... And for God's sake a suit that fits! For me, that made him look the oldest of all. Like an old man trying to be "cool". I'd rather watch Mallory doing all the action! :))

    Seeing that SF is the most successful Bond ever in terms of box office, and it was generally critically acclaimed as well, in what sense did it backfire?
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • screenamescreename Posts: 388MI6 Agent
    In the sense that now we see it him as "aged" rather than "burnt out" in the way that many military men are. Hence why this discussion is happening.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    To me Skyfall ended with Bond having a new lease on life and
    eager to get back to work. :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • screenamescreename Posts: 388MI6 Agent
    To me Skyfall ended with Bond having a new lease on life and
    eager to get back to work. :D
    +1 Let's just hope they keep it that way! I had the same feeling after Quantum, he's over Vesper so now he's going to be James Bond. Then again I only saw Quantum for the first time about six months before Skyfall cane out.
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    screename wrote:
    In the sense that now we see it him as "aged" rather than "burnt out" in the way that many military men are. Hence why this discussion is happening.

    Perhaps I'm in the minority, then, because I saw a "burnt out" Bond, not necessarily an "aged" Bond.
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • superdaddysuperdaddy englandPosts: 917MI6 Agent
    David Schofield wrote :
    I mean, how DO you explain a bloke having gone from 38 to 65 in 6 years?

    Lexi wrote :
    A messy breakup, and a highly charged sexual affair with Rachel Weisz...oh and then getting married. That'll do it

    :)) I don't even have that excuse ! :#
    so the rumours about you and Rachel Weisz are not true then TP :))
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    :))
    That pesky restraining order ............. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • CmdrAtticusCmdrAtticus United StatesPosts: 1,102MI6 Agent
    screename wrote:
    In the sense that now we see it him as "aged" rather than "burnt out" in the way that many military men are. Hence why this discussion is happening.

    Perhaps I'm in the minority, then, because I saw a "burnt out" Bond, not necessarily an "aged" Bond.

    Then that puts me in the minority opinion with you!
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Agreed -{ , It was the Bullet causing Bond to Be "Sick" and look burnt out. Once he removed
    it he was "Tickety Boo " agin. :)) Only acting Burnt out to fool Silva. ( the old devil ) :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
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