James Bond

‘The Other Fellow’ Shows the Ordinary Lives of People Named James Bond

Ulises Duenas

As a boy, this man discovered Ian Fleming’s books about Bond’s fictitious escapades, and he created a fantasy in his head that the books were about his father who abandoned his family when he was a young boy. He convinced himself that if his father was still around, he would have taught him how to be exactly like James Bond, and so he molded his entire personality and lifestyle after the superspy.

Craig, Daniel Craig: How James Bond Was Reinvented

Ben Friedman

Director Sam Mendes’ Skyfall and Spectre capture the maturation of Daniel Craig into that of Ian Fleming’s classic character. While Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace showcase a more brutal and relentless Bond, Mendes’s direction depicts a more physically restrained Bond. The action sequences are breezier. As Craig ages, so does Bond, and thus there is a reliance on more guns, gadgets, and intelligence behind his fighting style.

'No Time to Die' Is James Bond at His Best

Forrest Hartman

In a new video, Highbrow Magazine writer and film critic Forrest Hartman discusses Daniel Craig's last turn as James Bond in 'No Time to Die." Hartman praises Craig for his performance as 007 throughout the Bon franchise, and gives his latest film 3 1/2 stars.

007 Shaken, Not Stirred, in William Boyd’s ‘Solo’

Lee Polevoi

Solo, a “James Bond Novel,” is the latest in a series of post-Ian Fleming books written by different authors (Kingsley Amis, Jeffrey Deaver, Sebastian Faulks, etc.). Now it’s William Boyd’s turn. Boyd, the hugely gifted author of Any Human Heart and the accomplished thrillers Restless and Ordinary Thunderstorms, certainly seems on paper like a great fit to extend Fleming’s legacy, breathing new life into this decades-old franchise. From the start of Solo, the tone feels different. 

‘Skyfall,’ ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower’ Arrive on DVD, Blu-ray

Forrest Hartman

If time has proven anything, however, it’s that James Bond is resilient. The movie franchise celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012 with a massive Blu-ray boxed set and the theatrical release of “Skyfall,” a film that is arguably the best in series history. Directed by Sam Mendes (“American Beauty,” “Revolutionary Road”), “Skyfall” embraces Craig’s new reading of Bond while offering plenty of nods to the franchise’s iconic trappings. 

From Alfred Hitchcock to ‘The Dark Knight’: The Best DVD Collections of 2012

Forrest Hartman

By most accounts, 2012 was a good year for movies. Not only were there more quality theatrical releases than normal, the home video offerings were very impressive. The past year was particularly strong when it came to DVD and Blu-ray boxed sets. That’s important because it’s these collections that stand apart and have the potential to convince consumers that DVDs and Blu-rays still have advantages over the increasingly popular digital download. Following are five 2012 boxed sets that rank among the best of the best.  

Skyfall: Anglophilia in the Age of Globalization

John McGovern

The latest Bond film Skyfall fills viewer’s heads with delectable, admirable views of what it means to be British. There are plenty of other explanations as to why Bond films are adored by American audiences. But some of that success must be credited to the long tradition of Anglophilia in America. The American expansionist impulse has a connection to the love of Englishness, as the United States inherited, more or less, the role of the great imperial power from Britain. 

‘Avengers,’ ‘Alfred Hitchcock - Masterpiece Collection’ Arrive on DVD, Blu-ray

Forrest Hartman

Surely writer-director Joss Whedon found himself thinking about “Batman & Robin” and similar efforts when charged with bringing the Marvel Comics superhero group The Avengers to the screen. Success would mean merging characters from several previous Marvel movies – “Iron Man,” “Captain America,” “Thor” and “The Incredible Hulk” – and introducing them to even more players. The potential for failure was immense, making it rather astonishing that Whedon not only succeeded but produced one of the best films of 2012 so far. 

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