Summary
Warning! This article discusses sensitive topics including domestic abuse, misogyny, racism, and torture.
TheJames Bondfranchise is one of the oldest and most enduring names in cinema, but certain elements of it have aged quite poorly since its original debut in the 60s. The premiere blockbuster giant of the spy thriller genre,James Bondhas survived many different decades of filmmaking, re-inventing itself countless times, with each new era being spearheaded by a differentJames Bond actor. Over the years, revisiting the extended catalog of films in the series can truly show the franchise’s decrepit age.
In many instances,theJames Bondfilmssimply age poorly for the same reasons that all movies might,with the standards for what is appropriate stylistically and culturally constantly shifting as years pass by. But the 007 series is particularly fraught with alarming scenes that don’t hold up well through a modern lens, dealing with themes of sexual romance, politics, and international relations, areas that are particularly likely for audiences' perspectives on to shift over time. In either case, it’s hard to watch certain old entries under the historic Bond umbrella.
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10General Misogyny
Bond isn’t known for his treatment of women
If there’s one area theJames Bondseries is famous for, it’s its general mistreatment of women.Especially early in the series life, the “Bond girls” were regulated to damsels in distress, objects of affection, and little else, having no development of their own. Even the very names of the characters could be laughably sexist, with innuendo names like Holly Goodhead and Plenty O’Toole being a common sight in the first few decades of the franchise’s life span.
Bond’s sex-crazed parody ends up treating women more respectfully than he does for the majority of his films in the Austin Powers trilogy.
Eventually,James Bond was able to change with the times, and the more modern films have largely avoided the same pitfalls when it comes to female characters.Still, that doesn’t erase the fact that inGoldfinger, Sean Connery dismisses his companion by turning her around, stating “Man talk”, and slapping her rear end, sending her on her way. Ironically, Bond’s sex-crazed parody ends up treating women more respectfully than he does for the majority of his films inthe Austin Powers trilogy.
9Sean Connery’s Controversial Legacy
Perhaps the most iconic Bond is also the most tarnished
Speaking of the franchise’s poor treatment of women,it’s impossible to revisit the oldest of the series' offerings without addressing the elephant in the room that is Sean Connery.Becoming famous for his role as the very first movie incarnation of James Bond, Sean Connery went on to foster an incredibly iconic acting career, defining franchises likeHighlanderandIndiana Jones.However, since his rise to fame, Sean Connery’s legacy has been marred by some unfortunate controversy.
In 2006, Sean Connery’s first wife, Australian actress and writer Diane Cilento detailed abuse she suffered at the hands of Connery during their marriage in an autobiography. This prompted a re-examination of some troubling comments Connery made in a 1965 interview inPlayboy, of all places, in which he sanctioned hitting women.It’s hard to watch Connery being so flippantly sexist in Bond films with the retrospective of the active misogyny he’s repeatedly demonstrated.
8Goofy Gadgets
Some Bond films walked a fine line between cleverness and science fiction
If there’s one area the modern Bond films have been sorely lacking in, it’s the gadgetry of MI6. Whereas earlier iterations of James Bond could rely on Q to whip up some awesomely clever gadgets for 007 to use on his missions, Daniel Craig’s bond pokes fun at the corniness of such devices. That being said,some Bond films went a step to far in the direction of science fiction when it came to outfitting the titular super spy.
Pierce Brosnan seemed to be at the receiving end of the most far outBond gadgets that would never work in real life.From the infamous invisible car ofDie Another Dayto the X-Ray glasses ofThe World is Not Enough,the late 90s to early 2000s Bond films veered too far on the edge of science fiction. Brosnan is far from the only Bond to be outfitted with some ludicrous gear, however, as Timothy Dalton wielded high-powered lasers inThe Living Daylightsand Sean Connery ingested a highly-radioactive tracker inThunderball.
7Uncomfortable Asian Representation
The Bond movies have been particularly unkind to East Asian cultures
Giving a 60s and 70s insight into other cultures in Bond’s adventures across the world, it’s no wonder that the series as a whole is riddled with uncomfortable stereotypes and unfortunate representations of people of color.East Asian cultures seem to have a particularly hard time with representation in the series, with some blatantly terrible examples in earlier films. This could stem from Bond author Ian Fleming’s own disturbing thoughts on Koreans in the novel version ofGoldfingerthrough the mouthpiece of James Bond.
In the movie adaptation, the villainous henchman Oddjob is characterized as a wordless, violence-minded brute with uncomfortable implications regarding his heritage.The most blatant example might be Sean Connery’s Japanese disguise inYou Only Live Twice, in which the super spy sports some unnecessarily stereotypical eye prosthetics. It’s hard to ignore this moment, in particular, as one of the worst-aged scenes in all ofJames Bond.
6The Average Age Of A Given Bond
Most Bonds are a bit old to still be playing spy
Plenty of distinguished actors from the United Kingdom have made their way into Bond’s dapper shoes, but not all have had the age to back up their supposed espionage skills.At 51 years old in No Time to Die, Daniel Craig was still very much capable and in shape.However, not every Bond actor can boast the same in their own films.
The ages of different Bond actors is one of the biggest distinguishing factors between them when it comes to how well their own films hold up over time.
The earliest Bonds in particular never seemed to retire, with Sean Connery and Roger Moore outstaying their welcome as believable super spies capable of taking down world-spanning terrorism plots. InA View To A Kill,Roger Moore was 57, and very much felt older than Craig’s 51, somehow seducing a Bond girl over 20 years his junior.Theages of different Bond actorsis one of the biggest distinguishing factors between them when it comes to how well their own films hold up over time.
5Choppy Editing Of The 60s, 70s, And Early 2000s
Filmmaking practices have come a long way since the original Bond films
It’s not only the cultural aspects of James Bond that have aged less than gracefully as the franchise continues to endure.Its very filmmaking foundations have also suffered from some outdated practices in the older entries. The 60s, 70s, and early 2000s were inundated with questionable editing choices that seem far outdated by modern techniques and styles.
In 1971’sDiamonds Are Forever,a few sections of dialogue sound comically sped-up, marred by the odd, outdated editing of the decade.But it’s not only the earlier films that suffer from poor editing choices. In 2008,Quantum of Solaceput forth a final cut that can feel like a mess at times, particularly in its opening moments. From the awkward sped up ADR of the 70s to the nauseating action shaky cam of the mid-2000s, theBondfranchise can, at times, feel a little too indicative of the filmmaking styles of their era.
4Villains With Facial Differences
James Bond is obsessed with visual indicators of evil
If there’s one thing that keeps the James Bond franchise memorable, it’s the villains.From leaders to secretive terrorist organizations to private media moguls with lofty ideals of world domination, the forces MI6 find themselves up against can sometimes end up being more compelling than Bond and company. But for as great asthe best Bond villains are, it’s hard to ignore the fact that the series seems bent on signifying how evil they are with some kind of facial difference.
It’d be nice to see a heroic figure with a different-looking face for a change.
While Blofeld’s original scarred visage is an iconic enough sight to inspire parody with the likes of Dr. Evil ofAustin Powersfame, most examples of this can be found in the most recent films. Every villain in Daniel Craig’s run as Bond seems to have some sort of facial difference that’s supposed to make them look menacing and evil, from Raoul Silva’s missing jaw segment and sunken eye socket to Safin’s burn scars,the modern movies are surprisingly simplistic in their villain’s physical characteristics. It’d be nice to see a heroic figure with a different-looking face for a change.
3Alarming Political References
Some of Bond’s world politics haven’t aged the best
As a series focused on espionage that takes place in a world analogous to our own, with real-world countries and governments at stake, theJames Bondfranchise often dips its toes into the tense waters of international relations.Watching these political references can sometimes feel like walking on eggshells, particularly in regard to Russia, the United States' classic rival in the Cold War era.Real history can sometimes unfold in a way that isn’t flattering to older Bond films.
The most alarming example by far remains in Timothy Dalton’sThe Living Daylights,an often-overlooked entry in the long-winded Bond saga. In this film, Afghanistan’s Mujahideen fighters help Bond against the U.S.S.R.’s government, which is hard to take seriously with present-day knowledge. In hindsight,the Mujahideen ended up forming the basis for the Taliban terrorist organization, an infamous enemy of the U.S.
2Unnecessary Torture Scenes
The Bond series has ways of making the viewer cringe
Torture is simply one of the harsh realities that spies in both the real world and theJames Bondfranchise must learn to face.There are many films in which Bond is able to mount a last-minute escape just before being set into by whatever villain of the month has him cornered. In others, unfortunately, he isn’t so lucky.
It’s hard to even watch these brutal scenes, which can dramatically arrest the otherwise fun spectacle and intrigue of a given Bond film to briefly turn it into a snuff piece.
These scenes can often feel unnecessary in their gratuitous violence, even in an action series likeJames Bond.By far the cruelest isDaniel Craig’s torture scene inCasino Royale, in which he’s stripped naked, tied to a chain, and repeatedly beaten in the groin with a hefty knot of rope. It’s hard to even watch these brutal scenes, which can dramatically arrest the otherwise fun spectacle and intrigue of a given Bond film to briefly turn it into a snuff piece.
1Needless Universe Building
A plague affecting modern filmmaking
If there’s one thing that’s had an unwieldy amount of influence on nearly every major action movie franchise,it’s the Marvel Cinematic Universe.While the comic book series has been effective at what it set out to do, its success ended up inspiring other studios to attempt to copy the formula. Lately, Daniel Craig’s Bond movies have been yet another casualty of the cinematic universe craze.
InSpectre, it’s revealed that not only is Blofeld’s relation to James Bond much deeper than it initially seems, but he was personally behind the events of every other Daniel Craig Bond film. This needless amount of MCU-ification was noted and criticized by most. In the years to come, it’s sure that this trope will go on to be seen as a signature of blockbuster films from the late 2010s to early 2020s, aging theJames Bondfranchise even further.
James Bond
The James Bond franchise follows the adventures of British secret agent 007 as he combats global threats. With a license to kill, Bond faces off against various villains and criminal organizations, employing high-tech gadgets, espionage, and charm. The series spans multiple films, featuring exotic locations, thrilling action sequences, and memorable characters. Bond’s mission to protect the world and uphold justice remains central, making the franchise an enduring icon in the spy genre.
