The James Bond Franchise Movies - Essay Example

The James Bond Franchise Movies Introduction The James Bond films franchise is a British series of spy movies. The movies of the franchise are premised on the fictional character of James Bond. The film franchise has existed for a quite long time since its inception in the year 1962. Its long existence makes it quite rich in terms of the history of America in terms of identity and experience (Rubin 43). The franchise has been able to sustain the turbulence within the movie industry over the many years to remain a going concern business franchise. The James Bond movie franchise presents the American experience and identity that has been shifting and transforming over time. The movies produced in the James Bond franchise strongly reflect the changing American identity and experience. Development of the James Bond Movie Franchise The start of James Bond Films began with the purchase of rights from Ian Fleming by the American CBS television network, to turn the novel, Casino Royale, into a television adventure that would last for one hour (Rubin 23). The television adventure was adapted for screen by Anthony Ellis and Charles Bennett. It starred the American actor, Barry Nelson, as Bond. The movie franchise then developed over time under the auspices of Eon Productions, expanding in terms of business revenues and performance. It currently takes pride as the world’s one of the most experienced and lasting film organization in the world. Most of its movies espouse the events that mark the American experience and identity (Rubin 27). A number of these movies are highlighted below to show how they show and strongly reflect the identity and experience of America. From Russia with Love (1964) From Russia with Love (1964) was the second movie done by the James Bond Film franchise. It was produced by the Eon Productions. The producers of the film were Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman while the director of the movie was Terence Young. The movie was premised and informed by a novel that had the same title done by Ian Fleming. The movie’s story centers on the mission that James Bond is sent to accomplish, which is to help in the defection of Soviet consulate clerk in Turkey. SPECTRE has arrangements for revenging the killing of Dr. No by Bond (Dodd 125). Red tells Bond “The first one wont kill you; not the second, not even the third... not till you crawl over here and you KISS MY FOOT!” (Young). The film is quite informative about the experience and identity of America. An analysis of the film presents a picture of how America was during the days and the transformation that had taken effect in the movie industry by then. Its early release and the fact that it has stayed on up to this time makes it one of the best archival films that people would love to watch as they refresh and recollect the memories of the historical experiences of America and their early identity. The United Artists wanted a second film from James Bond, after the success of Dr. No in terms of finance. The producers of this film chose it after learning that President Kennedy had enlisted its novel written by Ian Fleming as one of his favorite books. The movie was able to bring up new conventions in the film world, which would later become important elements of the James Bond movie franchise. The film involves various things that make it more interesting to the viewer. They include a secret weapon gadget for Bond, a helicopter sequence, a postscript action scene that comes after the main climax as well as a theme song with its lyrics (Dodds 126). Most of the scenes in the movie was shot in Istanbul, Turkey. The locations in the film include include the Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia and the Sirkeci Station that was also used for the Belgrade and Zagreb railway stations. These locations were chosen because they fit into the overall theme that the film portrays. London and New York are connected as major cities in the US and England and by using London, for instance the M16 office in the film helps in terms of comparison purposes. These use of various scenes helps to create a background for action that goes on in the film. Using one scene only would have made the film boring and uninteresting for a film that has a lot of action and depiction of violence Watching the movie, one gets the aspect of realism that the director, Terence, puts in the film. The movie is one of the top films of the James Bond franchise and indicates the state of the production industry in America as at then. Moreover, it also presents the events that were present in America during the time it was shot, that is, in the year 1964. From Russia with Love (1964) is a film that had merits not witnessed in any other of the James Bond movies. One such merit was that the film has an intelligent script that retains the very content of the novel of Ian Fleming, which formed the basis of the entire movie. It at the same time tones down the excess Cold War politics of the 1964 such as the Cuban Missile Crisis that had taken place one year before the film was done. The movie is good despite its amazingly tough as well as gritty and is refreshingly free of the gimmickry that is evident in other James Bond franchise films. Its characters, Connery and Bianchi, play as real people hence brought up the aspect of realism in the movie industry for the first time. It is one real film that tells a lot about the American experience and identity (Dodds 126). Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) is the eighteenth of the list of the James Bond franchise films. The film was done in the year 1997 and was the second to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional M16 agent James Bond. The director of this movie is Roger Spottiwoode. Its screenplay was written by Bruce Feirstein. The basic story of the film is following Bond as he tries to stop a power-crazy media businessperson from making world events meant to start World War III. The producers of this film are Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. The end credits of the film are a tribute dedicated to the deceased, Albert Broccoli. It gives the American feeling and the development that had taken place in the American film industry by the year 1997. It is quite true to say that an analysis of the film shows that it is perfect reflection of the identity and experience of America (Chapman 34). During the time of shooting the movie, Teri Hatcher was pregnant but managed to play in the film as Paris Carver. There was a raft of other notable characters in the film who maintained the record set at the movie franchise of James Bond, which is realism. They played real actions that left many amazed. Filming for the movie started in 1997 with the shooting of the pre-credits within the French Pyrenese. The scenes were then shot in Portsmouth where the Royal Navy is ready to engage the Chinese. It is an informative film that again brings out the American experience and identity well. for instance, Bond says “[Whilst being in bed with his Scandinavian language tutor] I always enjoyed learning a new tongue” (Spottiswoode). This shows that Bond is a foreigner. It is recognized by many people and was the first among the James Bond movies to receive to a book adaptation. Casino Royale (2006) It is yet another James Bond film that has rich information about the development of the American experience and identity. It is the first 21st century movie for the James Bond films franchise and starred Daniel Craig for the first time. Daniel Craig is the fictional M16 agent James Bond. The film is also an adaptation of the Ian Fleming’s novel of the same title written in the year 1953. It was directed by one Martin Campbell. The film’s script was written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. The film is set at the start of Bond’s career as Agent 007 as he is earning his license to kill. Bond falls in love with Vesper Lynd after managing to combat a terrorist attack at the Miami International Airport. These incidents set the story of the entire movie rolling. The external expressions and events within the movie have their rather literal meanings, but the film entails strong internal connotations that have effect on the knowledge about the American experience and identity that need a sharp thinking capacity to unravel them. Casino Royale (2006) is a film that reboots the series by setting a new timeline and story approach that was not meant to precede or even substitute any Bond movie. The film portrays a less experienced and quite weak Bond. The movie conspicuously omits Miss Moneypenny from its list of characters. The film has several scenes showing issues of femininity and masculinity, for instance, where James Bond says, “True…by wearing slightly masculine clothing. Being more aggressive than her female colleagues. Which gives her a somewhat demeanor” (Campbell). It is also worthy to note here that the location shooting of the movie began in the Czech Republic, Italy, Bahamas and the United Kingdom. The graphic designer of the credit sequence for the film was largely inspired by the cover of the 1953 British first edition of the Casino Royale book. The film also employs realistic styles and character actions (Dodds 116). It is indeed a film that represents a reflection of the American experience and identity6 in a special way. Skyfall (2012) The Skyfall (2012) is yet another movie under the James Bond franchise produced the Eon Productions. The movie features Daniel Craig for the third performing as James Bond. The film was directed by Sam Mendes and its script written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan. It, like all other Bond films, features soundtrack song sung by Adele. Skyfall (2012) is one of the latest films by the James Bond franchise, which represents a development in the movie industry and a strong reflection of the American experience and identity. The main narrative of the entire film is largely based on the investigation by Bond, on the attack on M16. The attack is an arrangement by the former M16 agent Raoul Silva to humiliate, discredit and extinguish M as revenge against her for betraying him. The principal villain of the film is Javier Bardem, playing as Raoul Silva, who is out to revenge against those he views as responsible for betraying him. The main protagonist is Daniel Craig acting as Bond (Dodds 267). Skyfall (2012) just like all the other movies produced by the James Bond franchise, is a strong representation of the developments that the movie industry has undergone over time. It also strongly presents a reflection of the American experience and identity. It can be recollected that America was indeed characterized by incidences of war and this took center stage in all films shot. The attacks seen in the films of the James Bond franchise represent the state of affairs in a real American society where war and attacks have been very much witnessed over time. To show the action in the film, James Bond says, “The whole office goes up in smoke and that bloody thing survives” (Mendes). The possession and use of guns has been rampant in the American society and this is replicated in the films produced. In conclusion, the James Bond films franchise is a British series of spy movies that has a lot of action and violence. The movies of the franchise are based on the fictional character of James Bond. Examples of the films in this franchise included in this analysis are From Paris with Love (1964), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Casino Royale (2006) and Skyfall (2012). All these films capture the shift in American Identity through time, for instance through consideration of aspects such as violence, technology and industries. Aspects such as lighting, settings and character development have been used in the four movies to develop the themes in depicting the shift in American identity over time. Works Cited Casino Royal. Dir. Martin Campbell. Perf. Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen. 2006. Eon Productions, 2006. Film. Chapman, James. Licence to thrill: A cultural history of the James Bond films. New York: Columbia University Press. 2000. Print. Dodds, Klaus. "Licensed to stereotype: geopolitics, James Bond and the spectre of Balkanism." Geopolitics 8.2 (2003): 125-156. Dodds, Klaus. "Screening geopolitics: James Bond and the early Cold War films (1962–1967)." Geopolitics 10.2 (2005): 266-289. Dodds, Klaus. "Shaking and Stirring James Bond: Age, Gender, and Resilience in Skyfall (2012)." Journal of Popular Film and Television 42.3 (2014): 116-130. From Russia with Love. Dir. Young, Terrence. [Motion picture]. United Kingdom: United Artists. 1963.Film Rubin, Steven. The complete James Bond movie encyclopedia (p. 97). Randolph, Chicago: Contemporary Books. 2003. Print. Tomorrow Never Dies. Dir. Roger Spottiswoode. Perf. James Bond, Jonathan Pryce, Michelle Yeoh. 1997. Eon Productions, 1997. Film. Skyfall. Dir. Sam Mendes. Perf. Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes. 2012. Eon Productions, 2012. Film. Addendum From Russia with Love (1964) This shot has been included to show aesthetical importance of the film and how lighting contributes to it This screenshot has been included to show the concept of editing employed in the film for clarity purposes. This shot has been included to show how lighting contributes to the mood of the film and aspects such as dress code which all add up to the American identity. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) This shot has been included to capture high-key shot as an aspect of cinematography supporting the violence that goes on in the film. This screenshot has been included to show an aspect of camera angle when shooting the film and this scene shows beauty an aspect of American architecture and relaxation. This screenshot has been include to show an aspect of aesthetics in the film also seen in American identity Casino Royale (2006) This screenshot has been included to capture the theme of love in the film, which is an aspect of American identity This screenshot has been included to show an aspect of cinematography in the film especially focus of the camera. This screenshot has been included to show the development of the theme of violence in the film which was an aspect of American identity especially in the streets Skyfall (2012) This screenshot has been included to show an aspect of low key lighting and concentration in terms of camera angle employed by the cinematographer This shot has been included to capture an aspect of outdoor camera shot and its overall contribution of the clarity in a film and captures the aspect of American environment as well. This screenshot has been included to show how lighting contributes to the overall thematic structure of scenes, for instance, here the darkness serves to create a feeling of anticipation of on-coming action, thereby building the theme of violence characteristic of the streets at a point in American history Read More