DISCLAIMER: This is my point of view and how I perceive Daniel Craig’s Bond movies. I have not seen older versions of the franchise. The post is written to perceive the movie in a certain aspect and/or topic. I’m not degrading the work on how the movie is made, which are made spectacularly, nor demeaning the talent or hard work of the entire team who made and continue to make the Bond movies come to live. In fact, I enjoy each film and Skyfall is one of my favorite action movies.
Don’t take my opinion personal. Everyone is allowed to have different opinions and points of views.
If you haven’t watched any of Daniel Craig’s Bond films, this is a major spoiler.
The title of the post is a pun/reference on how James Bond orders his martinis "shaken, not stirred". Classic line in the Bond films.
It’s funny how the more aware you are the harder it gets to enjoy movies the way you used to.
It happened to me with James Bond… At first it was just the fact that it was ridiculous that he never died and survived all the amazing borderline death scenarios, but that's the whole point of action movies. If it were even close to reality he would die five minutes into the movie.
I do think you can enjoy movies even if they are pretty superficial... You just act ignorant for an hour and a half and then move on; but this can only be achieved if you are objective and aware of what’s happening in the movie, which not many people are. People tend to glamorize everything they see on film and believe that's how life should be and how we are supposed to act, look, have, and so on.
As a feminist, James Bond is extremely sexist and misogynistic. The only two powerful women are Judi Dench's 'M' and Moneypenny. The rest of the women who appear in Bond films are just props or the means to get the bad guy. I'm only talking about Daniel Craig's films; I haven't watched the entire series of the Bond films.
Suddenly every woman, every single time is down to sleeping with Bond, and the message it gets across the film is that Bond is THE man because of the women he gets to have sex with, plus the cars, and gadgets. Yes, we [women] are in the same level of worth as a car.
Only few people realize Bond is a lonely, alcoholic man. It's funny to me how he appears with this great ripped body and the only thing he seems to be doing is drinking martinis any chance he gets. When if it were realistic, he would be out of shape and would only last half a mile of running. But of course, it's a movie we are not supposed to see James Bond eating egg whites, going to the gym or casually taking out a bag of almonds to snack while he's waiting for the villain–It would be ridiculous.
It's obvious that is photoshop, but what was the intention of putting Daniel Craig's face on top of a woman's genitalia? see? The same old trick of objectifying a woman's body to make the man look like a "ladies man", the classic playboy and to make us, women, look one-dimensional and as sex objects.
Bond Girls
In Casino Royale Vesper Lynd is the only one who manages to make Bond fall in love. She does hold an important role and job in the film and doesn't fall in Bond's arms the first ten minutes of the movie. I like how she's blunt with him and tells him how he's ruined by his ego. She's very upfront and I believe that's why Bond falls in love with her because she’s smart. And then later on we see Vesper drowning to save Bond. So long for our strong female…
In Quantum Of Solace, I didn't feel there was a Bond girl because Bond girls end in bed with him. There's one though that meets Bond for a few moment, sleeps with him, "hates herself" for doing it so quickly, and ends up dead. The common fate for Bond girls or any women related to him, sexually of course.
 |
| Strawberry Fields |
 |
| Lead Female Character: Camille |
The lead female character in this movie, in the other hand, never sleeps with Bond (surprisingly) and just works with Bond throughout the film to seek revenge for her family. Which I thought it was refreshing she suddenly didn't need the urge to fall into his arms. They kiss goodbye but it's insignificant.
 |
| M and Moneypenny |
In Skyfall, besides M and Moneypenny... The one, who's supposed to be the Bond Girl, has around 30 lines in the whole movie, sleeps with Bond, and ends up dead. You see? Bond Girls' fate: sleep with him, help him get to the bad guy, die. I don't even think she's memorable. Plus, thinking about it I don't even know if she dies, she basically disappears in the movie and the audience never gets to know what happens to her... because she's insignificant to the plot.
 |
| Bond Girl: Skyfall |
In the last film, Spectre (not giving away any spoilers) there was these buzz that now powerful women in the film surrounded Bond. I was excited to see change! Director Sam Mendes even renamed "Bond Girls" to "Bond Women", and that Monica Bellucci was a Bond woman older and closer to Bond's age than any other bond girl has been; Even Daniel Craig didn't understand why that was a shock to anyone, because apparently she was “too old” for Bond, which Craig corrected in an interview “I think you mean the charms of a woman his own age” (The Red Bulletin).
 |
| Monica Bellucci |
In Spectre Monica Bellucci's "Bond Woman" does the same: helps Bond, sleeps with him VERY quickly I mean honestly... not even dinner first. Helps him get the bad guy, and you guessed it: dies. The only thing cool about Monica Bellucci's character is her age. For the first time we see a Bond Woman who's not 10 or 20 years younger than him, just someone who is contemporary with him and that to be in a Bond film means something and even for Hollywood when if you are an actress over 34, you are then typed cast as the mom (the majority of times).
 |
| Léa Seydoux |
Then Léa Seydoux was talking about how her character was Bond's equal. Even though she's portrayed as a studied, professional, very smart, outspoken, working Dr. She is still the damsel in distress. There's a scene where she shows skills by using a gun, but fails to even shoot the bad guy successfully without being slapped for the second time and falling to the ground. There's an element to her that she's very outspoken with Bond, just as Vesper Lynd was, bluntly telling him the “truth”. But all her great traits fail to the plot when they are not being used and she needs to be rescued by Bond every five seconds.
And I've read articles where they defend some of the past Bond Girls, where they show skills, have a career and hold an important role in the movie–but it's not enough when nobody remembers them and in every movie there's always a new one. At the end they probably end up dead. (Don't quote me on this because I haven't seen all BOND FILMS). Even though I don't think you have to [watch all the Bond films], to know that Bond has a rep for being a "Ladies man".
What I like about Daniel Craig's Bond is that he shows imperfections: he's lonely, alcoholic, heartbroken, and probably depressed. He might get every woman for the hour, but he ends up being alone and paranoid about what's happening next with his life. Of course, I AM aware of this, but other people just see the "fun" part about being a 24/7 assassin who wrecks shiny cars and gets it with the ladies. Even the actor himself (Daniel Craig) has stated that his character is misogynistic and sexist in several interviews, and that he wouldn't even like to be Bond in real life. He is a lonely man with outdated views.
Here’s an extract of what Craig has said:
The Red Bulletin: Speaking of women, many men admire Bond for his way with the ladies…
Daniel Craig: But let’s not forget that he’s actually a misogynist. A lot of women are drawn to him chiefly because he embodies a certain kind of danger and never sticks around for too long.
And here’s another one from Esquire UK...
“[Bond is] very fucking lonely. There’s a great sadness. He’s fucking these beautiful women, but then they leave and it’s…sad. And as a man gets older it’s not a good look…Hopefully, my Bond is not as sexist and misogynistic as [earlier incarnations]. The world has changed. I am certainly not that person. But he is, and so what does that mean? It means you cast great actresses and make the parts as good as you can for the women in the movies.”
It's not okay to aspire to be a misogynistic nor a sexist man who treats women like trophies or disposable objects.
The Mission Impossible series qualify in the same spy/action category and Ethan Hunt, Tom Cruise's character, is less misogynistic and sexist than Bond, and people pretty much love him and want to be him. He found the love of his life and even decided to settle down. Ok, at the end they don't end up together, but in the other movies following he's not hooking up with every woman he sees... In fact, part of his team has a woman in it that is equally capable and badass as him.
In the last movie, you think the female lead is going to end in a relationship with Tom Cruise's character, which ends up being the total opposite: they part ways by giving each other a hug... A HUG!
So I call bullshit when it's justified the way Bond is, and people should aspire to be like him or be with him; There is nothing wrong with change. Why can't there be a James Bond who is not a playboy? One which respects women? Apparently it shouldn't be done because Bond's essence would be lost–Great message for the world.
On a lighter note...
As I said before, putting away all the wrong factors... Daniel Craig's Bond films are extremely fun to watch and entertaining. Skyfall still holds the number one spot. He does an amazing job as James Bond and never fails to entertain, becoming one of the best James Bonds after Sean Connery. Very known for how rough and more realistic he's made the character, more human than larger-than-life, more assassin than hero.
My message is that we should be aware of the movies we watch and the message it brings, we can enjoy them, but we need to have an objective lens with the message Hollywood is sending to us and to the younger generations. To quote Daniel Craig again “Let’s not talk these films up as some kind of life-changing experience.” (The Red Bulletin).
Slowly but surely, the industry will change and it will stop being less misogynistic, sexist and even racist. It is possible, and being socially aware of the problems we deal daily as a society and incorporating it in movies and making a change DOESNT MEAN IT HAS TO BE BORING; It means we are growing as a more empathetic world.
If you are interested, you can read the interview The Red Bulletin did to Daniel Craig in its entirety here. It’s a pretty good interview and it shows how aware the actor is of his character. Daniel Craig doesn’t idolize Bond nor think he is a hero, and how he’s not someone to look up to. Bond films are about entertaining and that is it.
DISCLAIMER: This is my point of view and how I perceive Daniel Craig’s Bond movies. I have not seen older versions of the franchise. The post is written to perceive the movie in a certain aspect and/or topic. I’m not degrading the work on how the movie is made, which are made spectacularly, nor demeaning the talent or hard work of the entire team who made and continue to make the Bond movies come to live. In fact, I enjoy each film and Skyfall is one of my favorite action movies.
Don’t take my opinion personal. Everyone is allowed to have different opinions and points of views.
If you haven’t watched any of Daniel Craig’s Bond films, this is a major spoiler.
The title of the post is a pun/reference on how James Bond orders his martinis "shaken, not stirred". Classic line in the Bond films.
It’s funny how the more aware you are the harder it gets to enjoy movies the way you used to.
It happened to me with James Bond… At first it was just the fact that it was ridiculous that he never died and survived all the amazing borderline death scenarios, but that's the whole point of action movies. If it were even close to reality he would die five minutes into the movie.
I do think you can enjoy movies even if they are pretty superficial... You just act ignorant for an hour and a half and then move on; but this can only be achieved if you are objective and aware of what’s happening in the movie, which not many people are. People tend to glamorize everything they see on film and believe that's how life should be and how we are supposed to act, look, have, and so on.
As a feminist, James Bond is extremely sexist and misogynistic. The only two powerful women are Judi Dench's 'M' and Moneypenny. The rest of the women who appear in Bond films are just props or the means to get the bad guy. I'm only talking about Daniel Craig's films; I haven't watched the entire series of the Bond films.
Suddenly every woman, every single time is down to sleeping with Bond, and the message it gets across the film is that Bond is THE man because of the women he gets to have sex with, plus the cars, and gadgets. Yes, we [women] are in the same level of worth as a car.
Only few people realize Bond is a lonely, alcoholic man. It's funny to me how he appears with this great ripped body and the only thing he seems to be doing is drinking martinis any chance he gets. When if it were realistic, he would be out of shape and would only last half a mile of running. But of course, it's a movie we are not supposed to see James Bond eating egg whites, going to the gym or casually taking out a bag of almonds to snack while he's waiting for the villain–It would be ridiculous.
It's obvious that is photoshop, but what was the intention of putting Daniel Craig's face on top of a woman's genitalia? see? The same old trick of objectifying a woman's body to make the man look like a "ladies man", the classic playboy and to make us, women, look one-dimensional and as sex objects.
Bond Girls
In Casino Royale Vesper Lynd is the only one who manages to make Bond fall in love. She does hold an important role and job in the film and doesn't fall in Bond's arms the first ten minutes of the movie. I like how she's blunt with him and tells him how he's ruined by his ego. She's very upfront and I believe that's why Bond falls in love with her because she’s smart. And then later on we see Vesper drowning to save Bond. So long for our strong female…
In Quantum Of Solace, I didn't feel there was a Bond girl because Bond girls end in bed with him. There's one though that meets Bond for a few moment, sleeps with him, "hates herself" for doing it so quickly, and ends up dead. The common fate for Bond girls or any women related to him, sexually of course.
|
| Strawberry Fields |
|
| Lead Female Character: Camille |
The lead female character in this movie, in the other hand, never sleeps with Bond (surprisingly) and just works with Bond throughout the film to seek revenge for her family. Which I thought it was refreshing she suddenly didn't need the urge to fall into his arms. They kiss goodbye but it's insignificant.
|
| M and Moneypenny |
In Skyfall, besides M and Moneypenny... The one, who's supposed to be the Bond Girl, has around 30 lines in the whole movie, sleeps with Bond, and ends up dead. You see? Bond Girls' fate: sleep with him, help him get to the bad guy, die. I don't even think she's memorable. Plus, thinking about it I don't even know if she dies, she basically disappears in the movie and the audience never gets to know what happens to her... because she's insignificant to the plot.
|
| Bond Girl: Skyfall |
In the last film, Spectre (not giving away any spoilers) there was these buzz that now powerful women in the film surrounded Bond. I was excited to see change! Director Sam Mendes even renamed "Bond Girls" to "Bond Women", and that Monica Bellucci was a Bond woman older and closer to Bond's age than any other bond girl has been; Even Daniel Craig didn't understand why that was a shock to anyone, because apparently she was “too old” for Bond, which Craig corrected in an interview “I think you mean the charms of a woman his own age” (The Red Bulletin).
|
| Monica Bellucci |
In Spectre Monica Bellucci's "Bond Woman" does the same: helps Bond, sleeps with him VERY quickly I mean honestly... not even dinner first. Helps him get the bad guy, and you guessed it: dies. The only thing cool about Monica Bellucci's character is her age. For the first time we see a Bond Woman who's not 10 or 20 years younger than him, just someone who is contemporary with him and that to be in a Bond film means something and even for Hollywood when if you are an actress over 34, you are then typed cast as the mom (the majority of times).
|
| Léa Seydoux |
Then Léa Seydoux was talking about how her character was Bond's equal. Even though she's portrayed as a studied, professional, very smart, outspoken, working Dr. She is still the damsel in distress. There's a scene where she shows skills by using a gun, but fails to even shoot the bad guy successfully without being slapped for the second time and falling to the ground. There's an element to her that she's very outspoken with Bond, just as Vesper Lynd was, bluntly telling him the “truth”. But all her great traits fail to the plot when they are not being used and she needs to be rescued by Bond every five seconds.
And I've read articles where they defend some of the past Bond Girls, where they show skills, have a career and hold an important role in the movie–but it's not enough when nobody remembers them and in every movie there's always a new one. At the end they probably end up dead. (Don't quote me on this because I haven't seen all BOND FILMS). Even though I don't think you have to [watch all the Bond films], to know that Bond has a rep for being a "Ladies man".
What I like about Daniel Craig's Bond is that he shows imperfections: he's lonely, alcoholic, heartbroken, and probably depressed. He might get every woman for the hour, but he ends up being alone and paranoid about what's happening next with his life. Of course, I AM aware of this, but other people just see the "fun" part about being a 24/7 assassin who wrecks shiny cars and gets it with the ladies. Even the actor himself (Daniel Craig) has stated that his character is misogynistic and sexist in several interviews, and that he wouldn't even like to be Bond in real life. He is a lonely man with outdated views.
Here’s an extract of what Craig has said:
The Red Bulletin: Speaking of women, many men admire Bond for his way with the ladies…
Daniel Craig: But let’s not forget that he’s actually a misogynist. A lot of women are drawn to him chiefly because he embodies a certain kind of danger and never sticks around for too long.
And here’s another one from Esquire UK...
“[Bond is] very fucking lonely. There’s a great sadness. He’s fucking these beautiful women, but then they leave and it’s…sad. And as a man gets older it’s not a good look…Hopefully, my Bond is not as sexist and misogynistic as [earlier incarnations]. The world has changed. I am certainly not that person. But he is, and so what does that mean? It means you cast great actresses and make the parts as good as you can for the women in the movies.”
It's not okay to aspire to be a misogynistic nor a sexist man who treats women like trophies or disposable objects.
The Mission Impossible series qualify in the same spy/action category and Ethan Hunt, Tom Cruise's character, is less misogynistic and sexist than Bond, and people pretty much love him and want to be him. He found the love of his life and even decided to settle down. Ok, at the end they don't end up together, but in the other movies following he's not hooking up with every woman he sees... In fact, part of his team has a woman in it that is equally capable and badass as him.
In the last movie, you think the female lead is going to end in a relationship with Tom Cruise's character, which ends up being the total opposite: they part ways by giving each other a hug... A HUG!
So I call bullshit when it's justified the way Bond is, and people should aspire to be like him or be with him; There is nothing wrong with change. Why can't there be a James Bond who is not a playboy? One which respects women? Apparently it shouldn't be done because Bond's essence would be lost–Great message for the world.
On a lighter note...
As I said before, putting away all the wrong factors... Daniel Craig's Bond films are extremely fun to watch and entertaining. Skyfall still holds the number one spot. He does an amazing job as James Bond and never fails to entertain, becoming one of the best James Bonds after Sean Connery. Very known for how rough and more realistic he's made the character, more human than larger-than-life, more assassin than hero.
My message is that we should be aware of the movies we watch and the message it brings, we can enjoy them, but we need to have an objective lens with the message Hollywood is sending to us and to the younger generations. To quote Daniel Craig again “Let’s not talk these films up as some kind of life-changing experience.” (The Red Bulletin).
Slowly but surely, the industry will change and it will stop being less misogynistic, sexist and even racist. It is possible, and being socially aware of the problems we deal daily as a society and incorporating it in movies and making a change DOESNT MEAN IT HAS TO BE BORING; It means we are growing as a more empathetic world.
If you are interested, you can read the interview The Red Bulletin did to Daniel Craig in its entirety here. It’s a pretty good interview and it shows how aware the actor is of his character. Daniel Craig doesn’t idolize Bond nor think he is a hero, and how he’s not someone to look up to. Bond films are about entertaining and that is it.
