New 007 movie to depict a psychologically troubled Bond
By John Simmons
The new Bond movie, due to be released later this year, will show the famous spy with a more dark and troubled mind.
Directing the 23rd instalment of the Bond saga is Oscar winning Director Sam Mendes, who has explored emotional meltdowns and troubled personalities before in works such as “American Beauty” and “Revolutionary Road”.
For inspiration, Mendes went back to the original novels by Ian Fleming where, Mendes said, Bond experienced a “combination of lassitude, boredom, depression and difficulty with what he’s chosen to do for a living, which is to kill. That makes him a much more interesting character, and some of those things are explored in this movie, because Daniel [Craig] as an actor is capable of exploring them.”
We are all used to the almost un-destroyable 007, saving the world without a crease in his shirt or even breaking a sweat, but “what Fleming created (said Mendes) was a very conflicted character”; frustrated, stressed, depressed and in conflict with the demands of his job.
Since Daniel Craig took the role, we have seen a darker, more introspective, human and not so faultless side of James Bond which is probably a reflection of the times we are living in. However, none of the usual Bond film traits have been missing: fast cars, beautiful women, spy gadgets etc., and they are not going to be missing in the new installment “Skyfall”.
If a “psychologically troubled” Bond is a better Bond, we all have to wait and see; though it will be sad to see that even a fictional hero, winner of numerous battles has to face his inner demons.
