Shallow Men, some insignificant updates
Posted by lordpinoy on August 15, 2006
— I —
I purchased Casino Royale or PhP 20 at Booksale. This november, when the movie is released, its price will likely climb up to PhP 120 in bargain bins or as high as PhP 350 is mainstream bookstores.
Casino Royale, of course, is Ian Fleming’s seminal work, introducing his famous masterspy, James Bond, also known as 007.
Unfortunately, as with many, we are introduced to the Bond phenomena through film. Through the years, through some 20 - or so outings, each more gimmicky than the last, about the only things that changed with the times, is the actor playing the lead, the obligatory bond-girls, megalomaniac enemies, cars, gadgets, clip remarks. Where some elements might have given it some "grace", such as reprising the James Bond part (again and again), the lead would be lucky if the press didnot castigate him for wooden acting. His enemies, although coming across nutty and whacked-out (deliberately chosen from among the numerous variations of delusion — grand or otherwise), often produce more interesting displays.
I never figured 007 for a deep character. He is shallow and that was the end of it. That is, until I’ve read some of Ian Fleming’s originals. For instance, in 20 outings, only in a few films does he show enough character or "substance". In the novel (Casino Royale), there were episodes that flesh this out for the reader.
One might argue that books never translate (satisfactorily) to films. However, even with a basic comparison between the two media, one will be tempted to say that the characters in both are different as black is to white. As if it wasn’t James Bond (007) all along. Some other guy fooling around with all those girls, guns, and martini. Someone who thought of borrowing the name, like it was the only thing that mattered to make it big time (in terms of box-office returns). Everything else is unnecessary — the "spirit" that drives him to pursue (and elminate) the threats that made spies spies and evil men evil.
(Note: At least the moder films in the franchise treat women with a bit more dignity than the previous releases. Bond in the novels has what you may call "utter contempt" for women, even going so far as to call them "bitch" — Judi Dench (Goldeneye, 1995) was right in calling him a misogynist, sexist dinosaur, a relic of the cold war, as Ian Fleming probably was)
Perhaps, it is a feature of today’s entertainment, that gimmicks should drive the story and create cardboard characters in the process. I certainly hope that the November reboot of the franchise
would yield better results.
"Better" is relative of course.
— II —
Recent events:
a) … been to two consecutive science camps.
b) … Alotta new book acquisitions.
365: Great stories from history
The Last Temptation of the Christ
2 Books by HP Lovecraft
Ender’s Game (for 95 bucks!)
Dune Messiah (25 Bucks!)
Star Wars Gamebook (15 bucks!)
Casino Royale.
c) SPP Paper-writing. 2 down, 1 to go.
… Hey, I made that website!
The counter shows 160 - that means I’m the worst offender of established deadlines.
… The rest of this entry is history (still) in the making.
