Research Summary
The Transition Of Bond Films Into The Modern Era
For over half a century James Bond has been taking down the biggest criminals in cinema and such as in the 2012 film, Skyfall. Historically, Bond’s villainous counterparts performed the most tremendous, cunning, and extravagant plans to pull off some of the biggest heists or power grabs in film history. However, Tiago Rodriguez, known as Raoul Silva in the film, is an exception to this format. He was a former agent who was betrayed by his boss and is now seeking revenge. The only personal gain he is attempting to make is of satisfaction, not the usual monetary or goal of power like so many previous Bond villains had. Skyfall is an outlier compared to most Bond films, this makes it a very special film to study as every change is there for a reason. My research will help answer the question: “What changes were made to the classic Bond film format to bring the series into the modern era, and how were these changes made?”. Though, my adaptation will aim to extend the story from the short experience made to keep the attention of the audience. My research will help me with this as I can use how the story was created to make my extended version. Doing this, I intend to show at a further extent how Silva was turned into a monster, and what consequences become of this transformation.
“Yale Professor Comes Up With Theory To Explain A Fan Mystery In James Bond Flick ‘Skyfall’”
This Article focuses on how subtle details may not just be added for suspense or effect, but may hidden meanings too. The author of the article, Kristen Acuna, states that the originator of many findings, Stephen Carter, shows the evidence of:
The original message "THINK ON YOUR SINS" is supposedly an anagram for "YOUR SON ISNT IN HK." … Silva, thought to be in Hong Kong, was M's son -- adopted, possibly, but undeniably her son. (Why adopted? Because otherwise we can make no sense of M's comment to Bond that orphans make the best recruits. Yes, Bond was an orphan, but the poignancy and faraway gaze as M says the words tell us she is thinking of somebody else.) This theory will help my project to explain how Silva’s betrayal turned him into a monster. This article will also help me to explain why it was impossible for Silva to kill M, and why he eventually wished to have M carry out the act on them both.
“Shaking and Stirring James Bond: Age, Gender, and the Resilient Agent in Skyfall (2012)”*
This article focuses on how real-life events are used to influence events in the film Skyfall. Author, Klaus Dodds shows this by with his comparison between a real-life event and actions by the Silva, saying:
For British viewers, moreover, Skyfall may well be akin to distinctly post-7/7 movie, a chronological invention that highlights the emotive and material consequences of four near simultaneous attacks on the London transport system resulting in the death of more than 50 people, including the four British-born suicide bombers on 7 July 2005. … The fiend-ish Silva shows repeatedly a well-honed field capacity to use the underground not only to disrupt the integrity of the network but also to navigate through the crowds disguised as a policeman.
Dodds’ comparison will influence my project by helping to show how Skyfall uses modern fears and anxieties to entertain a modern audience. It will also show the Bond format has been changed to resemble a more modern threat.
“How The Evil Tech In James Bond Films Evolved Alongside Real-World Fears”
This article focuses on how real-world fears are used to help influence, create, and update Bond films. Author Dave Mosher explains how earlier films such as On Her Majesty's Secret Service used current events explained: “The 1969 movie starring George Lazenby stays true to the novel, which has a villain brainwash beautiful women into a trance-like state, and then distribute livestock- and crop-killing bacterial weapons around the world.” This is then shown with the example of Skyfall with the example of “the prolific activity of Anonymous. The hacktivista group originated in 2003 in an online forum.” This article will help my project as it will help to explain how modern fears are used in Bond films and how these fears have evolved over time to become what they are now.
“Old Dog, New Tricks”: Resurrection of James Bond in Skyfall”
This article focuses on how the villains in Bond films, specifically Skyfall are able to gain power over their foes. Author Linda Wight shows, “In the films The World Is Not Enough (Michael Apted, 1999) and Skyfall, the headquarters of MI6 itself comes under attack.” as example. The antagonist is able to attack what was previously thought safe. This causes fear because it makes people question what they can trust. Also Britain’s waning strength is alluded to with, “Fear of obsolescence is not unique to Skyfall; the Bond series as a whole – both novels and films – is marked by anxiety about Britain’s waning power and influence on the global stage.” This quote shows how Britain’s waning strength is compared to the waning strength of MI6 and its seeming inability to catch the bad guy. This article will help to show how modern events shape how Bond films and villains alike are created.
“How James Bond Villains Reflect the Fears and Paranoia of Their Era”
As the name of this article implies, it is about how Bond villains reflect current fears and anxieties of the time when they are produced. As author Ryan Gilbey explains:
In the early 1970s, the series engaged with the modern but un-Bond-like subject of drugs in Live and Let Die. The plot hatched by the film's villain, Kananga (Yaphet Kotto), to flood the world's drugs market with free heroin, driving his competitors out of business and producing millions of addicts. ...Recently, Casino Royale featured a villain, Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), who funds international terrorism, and apparently did very nicely out of 9/11.
This Source will again help me to explain how Bond villains use modern fears and anxieties in their films to entertain modern audiences. Also, it will help show how these fears have changed over time to come to what they are now.
“007 - The Most Fashionable Man on the Big Screen”*
This article helps to show how the character’s outfits in Bond films have come to represent the modern age. Author Lee Marshal explains:
Some of Craig's best outfits are the casual ones: a vintage Levi's brown leather jacket, blue Adidas Gazelle II sneakers, an army green Barbour sports jacket. But dressing down also coincides with being vulnerable, appearing lonely, or collapsing from physical exhaustion. Further, when he arrives at Silva's abandoned island wearing a slightly unbuttoned shirt without a tie, he is prey to Silva's roaming hands. A full suit is Bond's armour: it shields and reinforces his strength . … Unlike scantily clad Bond girls from past movies, Sévérine (Bérénice Marlohe) is remarkably covered up. This article will help to show how Bond films, and especially their villains, have evolved over time to represent the modern era and appeal more to a modern audience. It also will help show how and why specifically these changes are made to each character.
Acuna, Kirsten. “Yale Professor Comes Up With Theory To Explain A Fan Mystery In
James Bond Flick 'Skyfall'.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 11 Nov. 2013, www.businessinsider.com/silva-is-m-son-skyfall-theory-2013-11.
Dodds, Klaus. “Shaking and Stirring James Bond: Age, Gender, and Resilience in
Skyfall (2012).” Journal of Popular Film & Television, vol. 42, no. 3, July 2014, p. 116. EBSCOhost, libraries.maine.edu/mainedatabases/authmaine.asp?url=https://search-ebscohost-com.ursus-proxy-10.ursus.maine.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,uid&db=edb&AN=98605350&site=eds-live.
Gilbey, Ryan. “How James Bond Villains Reflect the Fears and Paranoia of Their Era |
Ryan Gilbey.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 1 Aug. 2012, www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/aug/01/bond-villains-javier-bardem-fears-era.
Marshall, Lee. “007: The Most Fashionable Man on the Big Screen.” Queen’s
Quarterly, no. 1, 2013, p. 8. EBSCOhost, libraries.maine.edu/mainedatabases/authmaine.asp?url=https://search-ebscohost-com.ursus-proxy-10.ursus.maine.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,uid&db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.326659511&site=eds-live.
Mosher, Dave. “How The Evil Tech In James Bond Films Evolved Alongside Real-
World Fears.” Popular Science, 8 Nov. 2012, www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-11/5-fictional-tech-threats-james-bond-meddle-real-history#page-4.
Wight, Linda. “‘Old Dog, New Tricks’: Resurrecting James Bond in Skyfall.” Bright
Lights Film Journal, Bright Lights Film Journal, 25 Apr. 2014, brightlightsfilm.com/wp-content/cache/all/old-dog-new-tricks-resurrecting-james-bond-skyfall/#.XA51dYxOmhB.