James Bond franchise--the return of SPECTRE and Blofeld?
- Thread starter Turtletrekker
- Start date
I haven't read any of the non-Fleming books, but didn't one guy make him a submariner at some point--like it was supposed to be a nod to Connery/Ramius.
doubleohfive
Fleet Admiral
Bond in the original novels was a decorated British navy officer before becoming part of the 00 section. I think he even later gets knighted in the non-Fleming books.
I know he was in the Navy. The point of the discussion is it's never been clear just what he did for the Navy, since Godfrey was obviously Fleming's inspiration for M and his own job seems too mundane for Bond. And he characterized Bond after several guys he knew during his intelligence days, but they were already spies.
And the movies have always kept his Naval career a mystery outside of the three or four times he's appeared in uniform.
And the movies have always kept his Naval career a mystery outside of the three or four times he's appeared in uniform.
doubleohfive
Fleet Admiral
Ah. Well that's what I get for only reading the two or three posts before mine. My bad! 
All good.
I think that's the case. I'm sure when Bond was on missions he would get into combat and probably even kill, but I always took it that in order to get into the double oh section you had to be specifically sent out to kill someone, just like Bond's mission in 'The Living Daylights" started out as, before he uncovered the true plot.
Please no glacial wind surfing!
doubleohfive
Fleet Admiral
The last time we saw Bond in uniform was, I believe, Tomorrow Never Dies. To date, Craig hasn't appeared in any kind of uniform outside the traditonal Bond garb of fancy suits and tuxedoes in any of his three outings.
That said, it's made quite clear in Skyfall that he is still referred to as a commander and retains his Royal Navy decoration as a Companion of the Order of St. Michael & St. George, per his obituary penned by M:
A more clear version of the text can be seen here.
That said, it's made quite clear in Skyfall that he is still referred to as a commander and retains his Royal Navy decoration as a Companion of the Order of St. Michael & St. George, per his obituary penned by M:
A more clear version of the text can be seen here.
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I'm glad they clarified DC Bond's naval roots in Skyfall, prior to this there'd only been Vesper's vague comment to the effect that MI6 recruited "former SAS types"
I think it's perfectly plausible that the guy in the toilet at the start of Casino Royale is the first person Bond has actually killed, certainly his reaction seems to indicate that. Even if he was SBS and been involved in combat operations its possible he'd never actually killed someone before, or at least never been certain he'd killed someone and never in such close quarters.
I think it's perfectly plausible that the guy in the toilet at the start of Casino Royale is the first person Bond has actually killed, certainly his reaction seems to indicate that. Even if he was SBS and been involved in combat operations its possible he'd never actually killed someone before, or at least never been certain he'd killed someone and never in such close quarters.
While the outcome is the same and some might quibble that it's a weak distinction, to me there's a pretty big difference in how you'd feel killing someone in conventional combat and how you'd feel assassinating someone by lying in wait and murdering them, even if it is state sanctioned and (possibly) morally justifiable. I think Bond could have possibly killed many others while in combat in the Navy and still feel extremely conflicted about assassinating a British head of station at his desk (and killing his contact in a brutal fight).
Yes. Considerably.
Greene was in charge of Quantum, but he was eliminated by Bond giving him motor oil to drink.
It is, and I think that it fits the 21st century better.
M told Bond that Greene had been shot, and we know it wasn't by Bond. He had apparently drunk the motor oil first of his own free will, though (or anyway, it played to me like he had gotten that thirsty). Evidently Quantum had already found a successor by the time they put a hit on Greene, or Greene wasn't actually the top man.
Greene was definitely never the top man. Top men don't make in-person cash deliveries to murderous warlords, as Greene did in his very first CR scene. Also, Bond explicitly says that his superiors would be coming after him in Bolivia to kill him for his failure. Try again. 