59 replies to this topic

[DaveBond21]

[quote name='Judo chop' post='803569' date='6 December 2007 - 06:15']Extrapolating from a very small sample size, I

[MkB]

By the way, I recently watched the last season premiere episode of Nip/Tuck (season 5, and yes I'm a bit late ) and there's a reference to James Bond. As Sean & Christian are watching a TV show, Christian says "Who does he think he is, James Bond?", talking about a character seducing over-easily a woman in the show. I felt it was like winking at the audience, after all the rumours about Julian McMahon being cast as James Bond a couple of years ago.

[Professor Dent]

In an article about the Led Zeppelin reunion concert, here is how the O2 Arena was described in the USAToday.

The venue: O2 Arena may be best known outside Britain as Pierce Brosnan's soft-top landing site after a high-speed chase down the Thames to open the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough.

[DaveBond21]

In an article about the Led Zeppelin reunion concert, here is how the O2 Arena was described in the USAToday.

The venue: O2 Arena may be best known outside Britain as Pierce Brosnan's soft-top landing site after a high-speed chase down the Thames to open the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough.

That's cool. And in Britain, The Millenium Dome was known as a bit of a joke for years as it was a disastrous idea initially. Good to see it finally being put to good use.

[DLibrasnow]

In an article about the Led Zeppelin reunion concert, here is how the O2 Arena was described in the USAToday.

The venue: O2 Arena may be best known outside Britain as Pierce Brosnan's soft-top landing site after a high-speed chase down the Thames to open the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough.

That's cool. And in Britain, The Millenium Dome was known as a bit of a joke for years as it was a disastrous idea initially. Good to see it finally being put to good use.

I remember in the movie theater that when the Millenium Dome first appeared on the screen the girl in front of me turned to her date and said, "What the hell is that?"

[DaveBond21]

In an article about the Led Zeppelin reunion concert, here is how the O2 Arena was described in the USAToday.

The venue: O2 Arena may be best known outside Britain as Pierce Brosnan's soft-top landing site after a high-speed chase down the Thames to open the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough.

That's cool. And in Britain, The Millenium Dome was known as a bit of a joke for years as it was a disastrous idea initially. Good to see it finally being put to good use.

I remember in the movie theater that when the Millenium Dome first appeared on the screen the girl in front of me turned to her date and said, "What the hell is that?"

LOL. At the time it was one of the most famous buildings in Britain even though it didn't open until 1/1/2000. I always liked the fact that we see it first depicted on the computer map on the dashboard of Bond's boat before we see the real thing as the boat smashes into the bowl of strawberries and lands in the Thames to the James Bond Theme!! Classic Bond!

[MkB]

That's cool. And in Britain, The Millenium Dome was known as a bit of a joke for years as it was a disastrous idea initially. Good to see it finally being put to good use.

True! I can't remember my source unfortunately, but I read that in an early draft of TWINE, after Bond was saved by his landing on the Millenium Dome, he was supposed to say something like "Well, in the end, this thing is not completely useless...". I guess it was thought to be such a private/British joke that it wouldn't be understandable worldwide

[DaveBond21]

That's cool. And in Britain, The Millenium Dome was known as a bit of a joke for years as it was a disastrous idea initially. Good to see it finally being put to good use.

True! I can't remember my source unfortunately, but I read that in an early draft of TWINE, after Bond was saved by his landing on the Millenium Dome, he was supposed to say something like "Well, in the end, this thing is not completely useless...". I guess it was thought to be such a private/British joke that it wouldn't be understandable worldwide

Hmmm...well it wasn't thought of as a complete disaster until after it opened, which was after TWINE came out, although there were plenty who predicted its fate.

[FlemingBond]

Bond is very popular here, and referenced in the culture a lot. It's hard for me to compare it to England, because i don't live there. I would say Bond is probably referenced here more than any other movie ("it's like something out of a James Bond movie"....)Movies here are so kid and teen driven though that there's always something new. I go to the movies, and some times everyone seems to be 16.

[DLibrasnow]

Hmmm...well it wasn't thought of as a complete disaster until after it opened, which was after TWINE came out, although there were plenty who predicted its fate.

I thought I read recently that the Dome has changed it's name and now hosts a number of different events.

[MkB]

I thought I read recently that the Dome has changed it's name and now hosts a number of different events.

Yes: it's now The O2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_O2

By the way, it would be fun to have a concert of "The artist formerly known as Prince" in "The place formerly known as Millenium Dome"...

[Professor Dent]

By the way, it would be fun to have a concert of "The artist formerly known as Prince" in "The place formerly known as Millenium Dome"...

LOL.

[DaveBond21]

Bond is very popular here, and referenced in the culture a lot. It's hard for me to compare it to England, because i don't live there. I would say Bond is probably referenced here more than any other movie ("it's like something out of a James Bond movie"....)Movies here are so kid and teen driven though that there's always something new. I go to the movies, and some times everyone seems to be 16.

That is good to hear. Yes, Bond is very popular in the UK, and Bond documentaries always seem to come out at the same time as a new Bond movie. The best were the 2002 Tribute to Bond by Michael Parkinson with lots of old stars in the audience, and Roger Moore's Best of Bond show, all very popular.

[e.s.blofeld]

I agree Bond is popular in the US, although likely not as popular as in the UK.

We do get lots of references to it here in general conversations as well as in the media. I have seen a few TV programs that have been about Bond -- 'Modern Marvels' has had shows dedicated to 'real life Bond gadgets' and so on. 'Mythbusters' has their upcoming two part show on Bond myths. I was watching another show where the referenced martinis and of course had to add a comment about 'stirred not shaken, sorry James Bond...'

US films have also been influenced by Bond. Austin Powers, anyone? I saw an interview with the director for the 'Bourne Identity' and he spent a lot of time comparing his movie to the Bond franchise.

On the other hand, I'm guessing he is more of an icon in the UK simply due to the national identity. I imagine he wouldn't be as popular in the UK if he was an American as he was in the TV version of Casino Royale back in the '50s.

[David_M]

I think Bond has penetrated the US culture maybe more deeply than we think, by which I mean it goes farther than "shaken not stirred" jokes and "that gadget's really 'James Bond', isn't it?"

Allow me to share a quick story. I've worked in various capacities at a University where at one point or other I've had to demonstrate the operation of everything from slide projectors to portable video switchers and live streaming devices. Every time I show someone how to open anything that looks even remotely like a suitcase, I always say, "Now remember to open both latches at the same time, or the tear gas will go off."

I've used this tired joke for 15 years on faculty, staff and students from all backgrounds and all age groups and every single time it gets a laugh. Frankly, I would have considered that one of the more obscure Bond references.

[Judo chop]

Allow me to share a quick story. I've worked in various capacities at a University where at one point or other I've had to demonstrate the operation of everything from slide projectors to portable video switchers and live streaming devices. Every time I show someone how to open anything that looks even remotely like a suitcase, I always say, "Now remember to open both latches at the same time, or the tear gas will go off."

I've used this tired joke for 15 years on faculty, staff and students from all backgrounds and all age groups and every single time it gets a laugh. Frankly, I would have considered that one of the more obscure Bond references.

They laugh

[Professor Dent]

Did anyone catch American Dad last night? They did a spy spoof episode that was heavily Bond themed. The opening sequence was an homage to The Spy Who Loved Me & there was even a gunbarrel. Very funny in a Seth McFarlane way.

[David_M]

[quote]If folks do indeed recognize that scene from FRWL, I am surprised and overjoyed. It

[DaveBond21]

[quote name='David_M' post='822725' date='15 January 2008 - 14:41'][quote]If folks do indeed recognize that scene from FRWL, I am surprised and overjoyed. It

[Donovan]

I remember when the Timothy Dalton films came out, no one seemed to care. On the day that Licence to Kill came out, there was a huge line around the theater...waiting to see Batman which was in its 3rd or 4th week of release.

When the Brosnan films came out, American audiences had already accepted him as Bond ever since Remington Steele. Plus, GoldenEye was more of a mainstream action film playing up to Bond's established formula.

But the video games at the time were a big boon for Bond's popularity in the US. GoldenEye is still one of the most popular games for a generation. I was out somewhere wearing a crew jacket with the 007 logo on it, and some kid came up to me and asked if I was involved with the video games.

[DaveBond21]

When the Brosnan films came out, American audiences had already accepted him as Bond ever since Remington Steele. Plus, GoldenEye was more of a mainstream action film playing up to Bond's established formula.

Yeah, makes sense. I think that was a worldwide phenomenon with Brosnan.

[Unit II]

I hear the name thrown around whenever a new movie is soon to come out, but other than that it's rare to hear people talking about bond. Unless you're at my house where bond is everywhere.

[HH007]

Pretty much everyone in this country knows what your talking about when you say "James Bond." For whatever that's worth.

[Unit II]

Pretty much everyone in this country knows what your talking about when you say "James Bond." For whatever that's worth.

Most definately. I have never met any other bond fanatics, though. Unlike Star Wars, where almost everybody BUT me is a huge fan...

[Single-O-Seven]

I'm hoping that one day we get James Bond movies in Canada.

[HH007]

Pretty much everyone in this country knows what your talking about when you say "James Bond." For whatever that's worth.

Most definately. I have never met any other bond fanatics, though. Unlike Star Wars, where almost everybody BUT me is a huge fan...

Well, Sci-fi/Fantasy tends to lend itself to an obsessive fan base more so than the spy genre. (Take Star Wars, Dungeons and Dragons, Lord Of The Rings, ect.)

[kjk437]

I know this is an old topic (and my first post), but anyway, this was on the front page of cnn.com.

Travel like 007
http://www.budgettra...8051502899.html

Also, I have not met a single person in the U.S. that has not seen at least one Bond movie. Granted, they're not as involved in the franchise as I am, but they're still familiar with the character.

[Agent Kino]

Question for all the Americans on here. Just how popular is James Bond in the USA?

In the UK, and to a certain extent here in Australia, you will hear 007 mentioned every now and then in conversation. Does this happen in the US?

For example if someone has a hi-tech gadget, often you'll hear someone say it "looks like something from a Bond movie" or if someone does an evil laugh, then you'll hear "sounds like a Bond baddie".

Do you get that there too?

I don't hear that from many people, but I do say a lot of those lines to my friends and family.

[OmarB]

Anywhere in the world you go you'll find people who are very aware of everything Bond and those who just don't know. At the same bar I hang out at I've gotten into deep Bond literary conversations, but I've also had people stumble over and say things like "Bond, you are talking about a movie?" Or, "They made more after Connery?" Or some such ignorance. I've even got "Why read the book when you can watch the movie," but I will say that something like that is the statement of someone who's lazy and has nothing to do with Bond and more to do with developing a lazy habit of watching the movie rather than reading the book ... as if it's ever worked for a book report.

Bond's pretty popular here but the fact is there are enough (millions) of people ignorant enough to miss references to him in popular culture or conversation. Just like people sometimes miss half the jokes on The Simpsons because if references something they don't know.

Oh, plus here in the US the dominant heroes are Superman, Batman (my hero), Spider Man, Captain America.

[Agent OO3]

Not many people in my area are James Bond fans. They tend to go for the generically engineered superheroes like Spiderman and all that crap.