patrick_y[PuristSPro Moderator]
28404
A toast!
Oct 05, 2022,18:55 PM
I will toast the Bond Franchise the next time I have a Martini. Probably a Vesper Martini. I remember watching most of these films as a child and being so impressed. As a child I immediately saw the DNA of a Bond film; the titular character, the Bond Girl, how the Bond Girl would be forced to be a double agent but would generally defect and side with Bond in the end. This taught me about branding, and it amazed me how a formula could be repeated so often that it would be so predictable and yet never really lose its appeal. Also, they inspired me to travel and see the world. An amazing character. Bravo Broccoli family and bravo Ian Fleming!
I have to be slightly critical though... The most recent Bond films have become too politically correct. Bond is supposed to be a flawed womanizing, alcoholic, smoking, debonair, and playboy-ish spy according to the Ian Fleming books (he's also supposed to drive a Bentley and wear a Rolex). The recent movies have portrayed him as a much more health conscious and conservative individual with tons of product placement. Supposedly in the latest film, No Time to Die, the product placement fees funded a huge percentage of the entire cost to make the entire film. Supposedly product placement revenue was over $100M and the movie production costs were around $250M to $300M plus marketing expenses and additional interest costs for the delays. I don't know what's going on, but I hope that the Broccoli family goes back to the original prescribed formula and slightly less product placements.
But a toast to this wonderful character! Bravo to Bond!