Comments on: Blond. James Blond. http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond I solder the body electric « Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:48:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Mark http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond#comment-18945 Mark Tue, 12 Dec 2006 20:54:24 +0000 http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond/#comment-18945 Well-said start to finish, Rob! Bond: "Vodka martini." Waiter: "Shaken or stirred?" Bond: "Do I look like I give a damn?" I liked most of the Bond films but I think Ian Fleming would definitely agree that this one is much truer to his books- the sources of it all. In stories of any medium I've always been most interested in <em>the journey and struggle of a hero, not the inevitable destination</em>. Bond's vulnerability in this flick was part of what made it so compellingly fantastic for me. With that said, I do agree that the departure from the mold, the gritty realism and jaggedness of James Bond are precisely what will kill the sequal- or at least the relative quality of it. Nevertheless I will still be pulling for it and will probably see it. From Royale with love... Well-said start to finish, Rob!

Bond: “Vodka martini.”
Waiter: “Shaken or stirred?”
Bond: “Do I look like I give a damn?”

I liked most of the Bond films but I think Ian Fleming would definitely agree that this one is much truer to his books- the sources of it all. In stories of any medium I’ve always been most interested in the journey and struggle of a hero, not the inevitable destination. Bond’s vulnerability in this flick was part of what made it so compellingly fantastic for me. With that said, I do agree that the departure from the mold, the gritty realism and jaggedness of James Bond are precisely what will kill the sequal- or at least the relative quality of it. Nevertheless I will still be pulling for it and will probably see it. From Royale with love…

]]> By: Jules http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond#comment-18425 Jules Wed, 29 Nov 2006 14:08:57 +0000 http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond/#comment-18425 Karen is a big Bond fan. She sees them all at the theatre. She said she liked Casino but it isn't her favorite. She really missed the gadgets. Karen is a big Bond fan. She sees them all at the theatre. She said she liked Casino but it isn’t her favorite. She really missed the gadgets.

]]> By: Carl V. http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond#comment-18399 Carl V. Tue, 28 Nov 2006 13:12:05 +0000 http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond/#comment-18399 I'm with you there, I'm not a big fan of Supes for the same reason. I did enjoy this latest Superman movie but it hasn't really changed the way I feel about the character. I’m with you there, I’m not a big fan of Supes for the same reason. I did enjoy this latest Superman movie but it hasn’t really changed the way I feel about the character.

]]> By: Rob http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond#comment-18379 Rob Mon, 27 Nov 2006 17:31:36 +0000 http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond/#comment-18379 What I disliked the most about the previous was Bond's perfection. He was just too good. It's the same reason why I like Superman, but I don't love him. In the end, you know he'll win without any permanent damage. Batman however is just a man with cool toys. And the best Batmans have been the ones that get hurt, where his choices have real consequences. This Bond had internal conflicts, doubts, and weaknesses. That's always a good thing for creating believable struggle. What I disliked the most about the previous was Bond’s perfection. He was just too good. It’s the same reason why I like Superman, but I don’t love him. In the end, you know he’ll win without any permanent damage. Batman however is just a man with cool toys. And the best Batmans have been the ones that get hurt, where his choices have real consequences.

This Bond had internal conflicts, doubts, and weaknesses. That’s always a good thing for creating believable struggle.

]]> By: Carl V. http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond#comment-18378 Carl V. Mon, 27 Nov 2006 17:13:46 +0000 http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond/#comment-18378 Glad you liked it, excellent review. I plan on reading this novel sometime soon as the reviews I've read of it seem to mirror this film...that it is the only Bond story where he really questions the morality of what he is doing, etc. Not sure why you don't understand the appeal of the Bond films...the style of the films and the basic story structure seem to be successful in many genres...as with everything some films are well done, others aren't. I admit that I was tired of the old Bond formula, which is originally why I didn't want to see this one as I thought it would be more of the same. But all the things you listed actually make movies like the Bond movies appealing...I think the problem with the more recent ones wasn't the actor or the use of the old cliches but that the stories were just so weak. I'm actually looking forward to the next film with Craig just to see what they do with him and with the franchise. I think if they continue to rely on modern day technology and don't get back to the gadgets and continue to keep him slightly gritty that they can actually go back to some of the old Bond staples and still make a good film. I guess that remains to be seen. As for now I will definitely say that this is my favorite of all the Bond films and the only one I'm likely to see multiple times. Sorry we missed you guys the other day. I hope you give the D's a little advanced warning next time. It would be nice to meet your wife...and of course see you as well. ;) Glad you liked it, excellent review. I plan on reading this novel sometime soon as the reviews I’ve read of it seem to mirror this film…that it is the only Bond story where he really questions the morality of what he is doing, etc.

Not sure why you don’t understand the appeal of the Bond films…the style of the films and the basic story structure seem to be successful in many genres…as with everything some films are well done, others aren’t. I admit that I was tired of the old Bond formula, which is originally why I didn’t want to see this one as I thought it would be more of the same. But all the things you listed actually make movies like the Bond movies appealing…I think the problem with the more recent ones wasn’t the actor or the use of the old cliches but that the stories were just so weak. I’m actually looking forward to the next film with Craig just to see what they do with him and with the franchise. I think if they continue to rely on modern day technology and don’t get back to the gadgets and continue to keep him slightly gritty that they can actually go back to some of the old Bond staples and still make a good film. I guess that remains to be seen. As for now I will definitely say that this is my favorite of all the Bond films and the only one I’m likely to see multiple times.

Sorry we missed you guys the other day. I hope you give the D’s a little advanced warning next time. It would be nice to meet your wife…and of course see you as well. ;)

]]> By: Rob http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond#comment-18357 Rob Sun, 26 Nov 2006 20:56:46 +0000 http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond/#comment-18357 We loved the visit too. It was great as usual to hang out with your fam! We loved the visit too. It was great as usual to hang out with your fam!

]]> By: Jules http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond#comment-18354 Jules Sun, 26 Nov 2006 19:03:42 +0000 http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond/#comment-18354 Rob, we saw Bond last night with Carl, Mary, Tom and Karen. We all really enjoyed it. I held my breath a lot!!! The scenes were so fun! We enjoyed your visit. I get excitable when you guys visit. Karen teased me last night! I can't seem to keep it under control when girlfriends come over. Rob, we saw Bond last night with Carl, Mary, Tom and Karen. We all really enjoyed it. I held my breath a lot!!! The scenes were so fun!

We enjoyed your visit. I get excitable when you guys visit. Karen teased me last night! I can’t seem to keep it under control when girlfriends come over.

]]> By: Angela http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond#comment-18193 Angela Mon, 20 Nov 2006 13:28:23 +0000 http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond/#comment-18193 Yeah.. I called the guy he chased at the beginning of the movie the "African Spider-Man." I swear his legs had to have springs in them. Great review.. for someone who's not a Bond fan. I loved them all, save for the original Casino Royale and the last 2 Brosnan films. Yeah.. I called the guy he chased at the beginning of the movie the “African Spider-Man.” I swear his legs had to have springs in them.
Great review.. for someone who’s not a Bond fan.
I loved them all, save for the original Casino Royale and the last 2 Brosnan films.

]]> By: Nate H. http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond#comment-18191 Nate H. Mon, 20 Nov 2006 13:20:34 +0000 http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond/#comment-18191 Never liked James Bond?! I thought there was a Man Law against saying things like that... ;) BTW, L4yer Cak3 was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Never liked James Bond?! I thought there was a Man Law against saying things like that… ;)

BTW, L4yer Cak3 was one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time.

]]> By: James http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond#comment-18161 James Sun, 19 Nov 2006 15:31:21 +0000 http://www.electrolund.com/2006/11/blond-james-blond/#comment-18161 Excellent review, Rob. I was just telling Julie this morning how much I missed your movie reviews/comparisons. Excellent review, Rob.

I was just telling Julie this morning how much I missed your movie reviews/comparisons.

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