Daniel Craig, the most recent “James Bond,” is hanging up his handgun and retiring after the October 8th release of the film “No Time to Die.” However, Mr. Bond is not going quiet.
Speaking with Radio Times, Craig, when asked whether the new James Bond should be a woman, strongly opposed the idea stating “there should simply be better parts for women and actors of color.”
Accordingly, Pierce Morgan, English journalist and tv personality, has also expressed displeasure with the woke casting, writing “most (real) men have yearned to be like Bond, and most (real) women have yearned to bed him.” Morgan went on to tear into the movie makers’ decision, ultimately telling women to “create your own bloody spies, ladies.”
Despite the former James Bond’s comment and Pierce’s article, the franchise already announced that agent Nomi, played by Lashana Lynch, will be taking over in the next films as 007, starting with “No Time to Die.” And since her casting, Lashana has reported unprecedented amounts of racial abuse on top of misogynistic qualms.
In addition, within the past 2 weeks, the new movie’s director has labeled previous James Bonds, especially Sean Connery’s portrayal, as a “rapist.” This version often was misogynistic and egotistical, going as far as to force sex upon a woman who repeatedly told him “no, no, no.”
Like the character himself, it appears that the white men who grew up with 007 have also adopted this misogynistic trait. For years, James Bond has been played by a white man, one of which is prosperous and has groups of women to take advantage of at his disposal. While this is Morgan’s role model, this kind of man doesn’t fly in the 21st century. We arguably need a modernized change of pace and a new version of James Bond for men, like Pierce, to idolize. Even so, while men have had this “badass” role model to look up to, no writer has taken the courtesy to embody a similar female character.
Thus, instead of mourning the outdated idealization of what “real men” yearn to be, empathize with those little girls whose only possible role model in the movies was a pretty woman in a short dress being raped.
October 14, 2021 at 2:44 pm
I really liked your take, and I agree with what you are saying. The information you provided was new to me as I have not watched or kept up with all of the James Bond movies. I think having women portrayed in movies that children are more adept to watch is important because it gives younger girls role models. Especially in the past these role models did not exist. I can remember watching Marvel movies that never had a movie with a main female lead for many years, and when the female was a lead, for a while she was just sexualized. This is common for many movies, including James Bond. In the future, I hope girls get to experience movies with strong and independent female leads.
October 16, 2021 at 12:03 am
Your argument, especially your closing line, really resonated with me. I have seen some of the James Bond films myself and was struck by the glaring inequity in the portrayals of men and women. I agree that it is time for our role models in film and media reflect the ideals of the 21st century. I have watched a lot of television from the 50s, 60s, and 70s where women are portrayed as house-makers and mothers alone, ignoring the fact that women were capable of being intellectuals and workers. I think that we would all benefit from having more representative role models in our film and media.