Shaken Identity: The Ontological Crisis of James Bond

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In November, I procured a set of James Bond movies (on traditional formats), and since then, I’ve been making my way through them. The shifts in appearance, atmosphere, and time period are quite noticeable, yet they all revolve around a British secret agent who leads a perilous life filled with captivating women and exquisite champagne.

Later on, I stumbled upon one of my trio of YouTube influencers, who often watch shows like “Star Wars The Acolyte” for me, discussing the current standoff between the owner of the Bond franchise (Barbara Broccoli) and Amazon’s executive team.

Instead of spending 20 minutes on Disparu’s segment, it seems there’s a disagreement between parties over how progressive Bond should be, yet they can’t seem to agree on what specific form of progressiveness suits best.

This event triggered a thought about the conflicts in Battlestar Galactica and the study of ontology. In layman’s terms, it makes me wonder: At what point do modifications transform an object so much that it ceases to be the same object it once was?

Whoa. Heavy stuff, I know.

Identity Chaos

The extreme nature of identity politics has been firmly criticized, not just in the recent election, but throughout society. People are growing tired of it. Those who believe that biology can be altered while sexual orientation is unchangeable may be deceiving themselves or require professional help. This isn’t a case of quantum uncertainty, where indistinct information leaves room for various outcomes. Ellen Page can change her name and modify her physical appearance, but she cannot rewrite her genetic code, skeletal structure, or internal organs. She might “identify” as male, but she remains (severely altered and emotionally scarred) female, and those responsible for such alterations should be held accountable for harming this precious individual.

Just as with James Bond, altering his characteristics significantly results in a distinctly new character. His upbringing as a British individual – the institutions he attended, meals he consumed, etiquette he learned, and abilities he acquired through training – forms his foundation. Transforming him into a female character introduces an entirely different set of life experiences.

The Bond character is intriguing due to some notable alterations in his portrayal. In the books, Bond is English, yet on screen, we’ve seen a Scot (Connery), an Australian (Lazenby), Irishmen (Moore and Brosnan), a Welshman (Dalton), and only recently, an Englishman (Craig), who some might argue falls short compared to his predecessors. There are also numerous parody versions, but they must retain the essence of the original Bond for the joke to work. For instance, you could create a lesbian cowboy version, but the humor lies in acknowledging that this is not the traditional Bond and finding amusement in the differences.

From a movie enthusiast’s perspective, it’s clear that while there’s room for some creative license in casting, the core essence of the character as distinctly British was preserved. The choice of George Lazenby, who wasn’t British, stirred quite a bit of controversy among fans, as they felt an Australian Bond seemed a stretch. Moreover, it’s safe to say that casting an American would be unthinkable, and I can only imagine the confusion of the woke when they realize that the term “white” encompasses significant distinctions.

Shakespeare Without The Shakespeare

Occasionally, I ponder if the challenges of life might’ve been less daunting and more enjoyable if modern Hollywood had employed diversity in storytelling using the works of William Shakespeare as a blueprint. Let’s give it a spin, mix up the characters, and have some fun! For instance, imagine Othello starring Denzel Washington with Viola Davis as Desdemona, or perhaps a gender-swapped Hamlet featuring Emma Watson as the melancholy prince. Some productions are already doing this quite well – Ian McKellen’s 1930s take on Richard III is fantastic, while Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet remains an excellent example of this approach.

As a seasoned movie critic, I’ve come to appreciate the versatility that timeless characters like Hamlet offer. Over centuries, we’ve grown familiar with him, making it essential for each actor to infuse their unique interpretation. For instance, one could imaginatively reimagine Hamlet in the gritty world of an outlaw biker gang, akin to the riveting drama depicted in “Sons of Anarchy.” This creative adaptation breathes new life into the timeless tale while still resonating with audiences who recognize the classic character.

A more natural way of expressing this could be: “The issue with Hollywood lies in transforming the fundamental essence of characters instead of creating new versions or variations of them.

No, Please, Not Battlestar Galactica Again!

I’m returning to this topic because it encapsulates the essence of “altering the essential qualities” of a character. Starbuck possesses certain unchanging traits that define him. He is a male fighter pilot, a womanizer, enjoys smoking and drinking, and often takes the path of least resistance. Despite humanity’s desperate struggle for survival, he still appreciates the finer things in life. Simultaneously, he is an accomplished and dangerous adversary and shows deep loyalty towards his companions, particularly Boomer and Apollo.

If you switch “he” to “she”, you end up with an entirely different character, and I find it intriguing how “Kara Thrace” keeps being mentioned in the conversation since she bore little resemblance to Starbuck. Starbuck, portrayed by Dirk Benedict, is not the same character as Kara Thrace, who was brought to life by Katee Sackhoff. This distinction is evident as one character lacks any other defining traits, while the other has descriptive attributes attached to her. This disparity stems from their distinct personalities.

In simpler terms, she went by “Starbuck” and enjoyed playing cards and smoking cigars, but these were just surface-level similarities. The fact that the new Battlestar Galactica switched Boomer’s gender underscored how this version was an entirely distinct series with a brand-new cast. Essentially, the dynamics between three men are fundamentally unique compared to those between a man and two women.

Only the willfully obtuse can disagree with this. Everyone else knows it is true.

Conditioning Failure

A significant part of the disagreement over Bond involves Amazon Prime’s movie division showing little concern for profitability. They often take established billion-dollar franchises and diminish their worth repeatedly. Unfortunately, almost every promising Amazon Original title eventually fails, not just damaging current viewership but also erasing potential future interest in the series as well.

If your entire strategy revolves around attracting viewers to exclusive content, it’s a risky approach. Many productions have had promising beginnings, only to falter in their execution or be terminated prematurely before reaching their full potential.

This strategy ensures that viewers avoid your series until the entire season is aired, bypassing traditional indicators of success such as consistent viewership throughout. Currently, streaming platforms like Amazon (and others) find themselves in a predicament where they must either fund the full run or cancel shows after just one season since few people watch them.

As a seasoned movie critic, I must admit that even the presence of top-tier acting talent or iconic franchises no longer automatically guarantees a masterpiece. Consider the recent transformations of Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings under Disney and Amazon respectively. Once upon a time, these brands were synonymous with cinematic success, drawing millions to the theaters. However, today’s audiences approach such productions with cautious skepticism. The fear is that the shows will disappoint, so why invest valuable time in watching? To rephrase this thought, the allure of James Bond may entice viewers initially, but Amazon’s “midas touch” seems to overshadow any potential benefits, often leading to less than stellar outcomes.

Cable TV 2.0

Due to a decrease in subscriptions, Amazon has been compelled to incorporate advertisements into their service, which appears to lower the quality of their offering even more. It seems that all streaming channels are resembling old cable networks, featuring less-than-exceptional original content as well. This aligns with Justine Bateman’s viewpoint that Hollywood is creatively stagnant in the 20th Century, opting to recycle ideas instead of innovating.

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I find myself reflecting on the iconic figure of James Bond, who stands as a symbol of enduring popularity. Regrettably, it seems the creators behind this beloved franchise struggle to bring fresh installments that resonate with fans, each for their own unique reasons.

Fans now feel more at ease expressing their sentiments by stating: “This isn’t what I enjoyed before, it’s something new under the same title, and I won’t be watching it.

That of course brings us to the ontology of failure, which we’ll see a lot of this year.

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2025-01-14 15:45