Danielle, aka Hoshichan. Writer and 
I knew, just looking at the title, that this article was going to annoy irritate frustrate vex annoy me. I’m far too big of a Bond fan to feel otherwise, I admit it. Yes, they’re campy, yes they’re clichéd and sexist and almost always contain enormously improbable feats. Guess what? I still love them. If I wanted something totally realistic and true to the ways of the world, I’d watch a documentary or something equally non-fiction. The point being, Bond is fiction. Some might say terribly, terribly written fiction. It depends on what kind of elitist literary critic viewer you are, I suppose. And I suppose this article comes as no surprise, given the author’s opinions on sci-fi television series: basically, that everything is sub-par, except the new Battlestar Galactica series. Babylon 5, perhaps the finest writing I’ve ever watched and definitely the best sci-fi show I’ve encountered, sucks because it was “not the type of show that could inspire people to pursue space or technology careers.” His words.
I’d like to take this time to express how deeply relieved I am that I can enjoy science fiction without worrying about whether or not it influences young people in the best interest of the science and tech industries. Thank God.
As for the Bond article, all the author demonstrates within it is his almost total inability to take pleasure and/or amusement in anything unless it produces droves of young Einsteins and is absolutely, stunningly technically correct, as well as adhering strictly to all current social, cultural and political climates of the present. Don’t get me wrong, I like to see clever, contemporary writing, but I’m not so high-seated that I can’t enjoy a bit of entertainment, designed to _ENTERTAIN_ me, even if it is a bit silly. Bond movies tend to be more than a little silly. Moonraker, while rendering me hissing and spitting (in a cheerful, MST3K sense) for the opening scene, is one of my favorite Bond movies, precisely because it is silly. ProFOUNDly silly, in fact. I love it. Especially when Bond and Dr. Goodhead outrun the exhaust blast of the SRBs, despite her “wooden” acting (I agree with him there. Head is about all she gave to that role.)
In short, it is my firm opinion that the author wouldn’t recognize willing suspense of disbelief if it struck him on the head, attached to a large mallet.
12 responses so far ↓
1 Kotetsu // Jan 10, 2007 at 11:38 pm
Waitaminute… Somebody is upset that James Bond books/movies aren’t scientifically sound, technically correct, staggeringly well-written, progressive masterpieces of deep and meaningful fiction?
What, has he been living under a rock?
2 Brad // Jan 11, 2007 at 3:59 am
He should watch Batman and Robin sometime. (freezegun)
3 Ris // Jan 11, 2007 at 7:12 am
Matt and I love ‘thinking’ and ‘deep’ movies but he also owns 4 Pauly Shore movies on DVD. I guess we are just idiots though. Who knew I was supposed to sit down after a hard day of work, with some popcorn and iced tea, and wrack my brain analyzing every moment of the movie I was watching to see if it was realistic and made me want to pursue a career, and maybe take some notes on it…instead of, oh I dunno, relaxing and just enjoying myself???
4 Hoshichan // Jan 11, 2007 at 11:05 am
Kotetsu: Yeah, I know. My sentiments exactly. Excuse me while I go watch my Bond movies and thereby lower my IQ.
Brad: I haven’t seen B&R, although I’ve heard admirably bad things about it. :D
Ris: We’re the same way, and have a fine collection of comedy that I’m sure is below his viewing level. I have a soft spot for many so-so movies, but that doesn’t mean I can’t watch and appreciate something good…. (And thank GOD there’s no spaceflight in Lord of the Rings, one shudders to think of his opinions. I don’t think I could stand it, those are far and away my favorite movies of all time.)
His bashes on B5 are so hard to bear; without a doubt it is the one of the finest sci-fi shows ever written, certainly the best I’ve ever seen, and the plot and characters can grip you in unbelievable ways. It can make you watch it even if you’re ambivalent about sci-fi (as Lenneth is.)
5 Brad // Jan 11, 2007 at 4:17 pm
B & R is enjoyable. Just don’t go into it expecting Batman Returns (loved that movie) or Batman Begins. It’s more like a high budget version of that show from the 70s.
Uma Thurman rules though. Great Poison Ivy, though a G rated one.
6 Hoshichan // Jan 11, 2007 at 4:22 pm
I like BR and BB as well. LOL at the 70s show, once in a while I’ll watch it for purely entertainment purposes. BIFF! POW! ZAP!
7 Brad // Jan 12, 2007 at 4:01 am
I’m curious to know what you thought of the Catwoman movie. I rather liked it personally though it had a very different feel than I thought it would. Loved all the cat manerism like slipping through bars etc.
Being a huge Batgirl fan (the original Barbara Gordon one) I loved seeing her as a baby in BB but REALLY want them to introduce her in this new series of Batman movies they’re making. She needs to be done justice.
8 Hoshichan // Jan 12, 2007 at 10:35 am
I haven’t seen it, I’m not a big fan of Halle Berry. ^^; I don’t watch a lot of movies, really, unless they’re something I really want to see (LotR, Narnia, Harry Potter, Bond… ) All the commercials, cellphones, kids and hassle hardly makes going to the movie theater worthwhile, anymore.
[is a movie recluse! ^^;; ]
9 Brad // Jan 13, 2007 at 5:56 pm
I’m like that in Japan now. It’s too frickin organised to be fun here plus it’s the price of a DVD anyway so I just buy a disk instead. ;)
10 Hoshichan // Jan 15, 2007 at 10:41 am
Ouch, that much? (That’s saying something. @_@; ) But we’re the same way, if we want something we’ll just wait and buy it, less hassle all around.
11 Brad // Jan 17, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Plus also by the time it comes out in theatres in Japan the DVD release in Region 1 or 4 is normally a few weeks away or has been on sale a few years ago. Mrs Henderson Presents was just released in theatres this week for crying out loud.
12 Hoshichan // Jan 17, 2007 at 6:09 pm
(I’m assuming R4 is Australia.) True, true, but do you have a R1/R4 player to play them on? We bought a wonderfully cheap DVD player ($40 USD) that switches regions easily, so we can play R2 DVDs whenever we want. (Hence my purchasing of all those BSSM DVDs….)
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