179 replies to this topic

[Tim007]

Just came across the official Sony German website for Casino Royale, but can't find the information on the English website.

Translation of what it says:

JAMES BOND

Born: West Berlin, 1968

...

Education: Until he turned 12 James Bond visited private schools in Germany and Switzerland, where his father was based as a commanding officer of "Vickers". After the tragig death of his parents, he was educated by his aunt Miss Charmain Bond in Pett Bottom, Kent.

12-13: Eton. (Expulsion because of a story with a maid)

13-17: Fettes. Won a lot of athletic competitions. Was a boxer. Founder of the first intermural judo league for public schools.

17-30: Royal Navy.

30-: MI6.

...

Relationships: Has never been married. A lot of relationships with girls and women but never had some deep relationship so far.

Huh???

Born in West Berlin in 1968? Why again a German place (after Wattenscheid)? 1968? Isn't that exactly Daniel Craigs year of birth?

Does that speak for Lee Tamahori's codename theory?

And what about his relationships? Tracey, anyone?

Only at MI6 since 1998?

What is this all about?

[medrecess]

yes they cant have bod born in 40 or 50 can they ?

[dinovelvet]

Huh???

Born in West Berlin in 1968? Why again a German place (after Wattenscheid)? 1968? Isn't that exactly Daniel Craigs year of birth?

Does that speak for Lee Tamahori's codename theory?

And what about his relationships? Tracey, anyone?

Only at MI6 since 1998?

What is this all about?

Unless you've been living under a rock...Casino Royale is a prequel/reboot. Think Batman Begins or the Samuel L. Jackson version of Shaft.

[David Schofield]

Unless you've been living under a rock...Casino Royale is a prequel/reboot. Think Batman Begins or the Samuel L. Jackson version of Shaft.

Don't think the Samuel version of Shaft is a good example to prove your point: doesn't the original John Shaft actually appear in the movie as Jackson's uncle in the role of... the original John Shaft?

[marktmurphy]

What is this all about?

Well someone's been paying attention obviously.....

[spynovelfan]

What is this all about?

Oh do pay attention, Tim007!

Mark, I fixed your post for you.

[Agent Spriggan Ominae]

This goes with the whole reboot/restart angle. This is his CV reflecting evrything leading up to Bond becoming a "00". Since Casino Royale is supposed to be his first mission it impossible for Bond to have marrried Tracey at this point in his life. That doesn't mean it won't happen somewhere down the line even if we don't get to see it. At least that's how I look at it. And this isn't the first time a Bond has had a different date of birth. I believe both Dalton and Brosnan's Bond's had the actors birth year as that of Bonds. This is just the first time they have been so overt about it.

[dinovelvet]

Unless you've been living under a rock...Casino Royale is a prequel/reboot. Think Batman Begins or the Samuel L. Jackson version of Shaft.

Don't think the Samuel version of Shaft is a good example to prove your point: doesn't the original John Shaft actually appear in the movie as Jackson's uncle in the role of... the original John Shaft?

Richard Roundtree's presence is akin to Judi Dench appearing in CR, its still for all intents and purposes a "wipe the slate clean and start over" reboot film.

...awaiting the inevitable "Why is Judi Dench in this one then?" question...

[David Schofield]

Unless you've been living under a rock...Casino Royale is a prequel/reboot. Think Batman Begins or the Samuel L. Jackson version of Shaft.

Don't think the Samuel version of Shaft is a good example to prove your point: doesn't the original John Shaft actually appear in the movie as Jackson's uncle in the role of... the original John Shaft?

Richard Roundtree's presence is akin to Judi Dench appearing in CR, its still for all intents and purposes a "wipe the slate clean and start over" reboot film.

...awaiting the inevitable "Why is Judi Dench in this one then?" question...

Mm, but isn't Roundree in Jackson's Shaft still meant to be the John Shaft who'd had all those adventures in the three films of the 70s, whereas Judi Dench is clearly not meant to be the same M in CR as she was in GE to DAD?

[Santa]

I think it's just one of those situations where you have to use the 'suspension of disbelief' facility, see the travelling timeline theory. However, this is one of the reasons I don't like to be given so much information about Bond's background, it puts a spoke in the wheel of such theories, so I don't tend to read that stuff. I just accept that Bond's age is static, he exists in whichever era I am watching/reading him in, and I'd rather there were no evidence to contradict it.

[dinovelvet]

Unless you've been living under a rock...Casino Royale is a prequel/reboot. Think Batman Begins or the Samuel L. Jackson version of Shaft.

Don't think the Samuel version of Shaft is a good example to prove your point: doesn't the original John Shaft actually appear in the movie as Jackson's uncle in the role of... the original John Shaft?

Richard Roundtree's presence is akin to Judi Dench appearing in CR, its still for all intents and purposes a "wipe the slate clean and start over" reboot film.

...awaiting the inevitable "Why is Judi Dench in this one then?" question...

Mm, but isn't Roundree in Jackson's Shaft still meant to be the John Shaft who'd had all those adventures in the three films of the 70s, whereas Judi Dench is clearly not meant to be the same M in CR as she was in GE to DAD?

I'll take your word for it re: the Shaft scenario. I have no idea what's going on with Judi Dench's M, but one could go quite mad trying to figure it out.

[David Schofield]

I'll take your word for it re: the Shaft scenario. I have no idea what's going on with Judi Dench's M, but one could go quite mad trying to figure it out.

Indeed.

[Flash1087]

I think it's just one of those situations where you have to use the 'suspension of disbelief' facility, see the travelling timeline theory. However, this is one of the reasons I don't like to be given so much information about Bond's background, it puts a spoke in the wheel of such theories, so I don't tend to read that stuff. I just accept that Bond's age is static, he exists in whichever era I am watching/reading him in, and I'd rather there were no evidence to contradict it.

That's actually how I look at it. James Bond is perpetually in his early 30's and I don't pay much mind to the matter after that.

[Santa]

Exactly, although I put him in his late thirties. Equally, I know that I look just like Angelina Jolie. A mirror would provide contradictory evidence so I avoid them and live on in ignorant bliss . Life is pleasantly simple if you don't look into these things too deeply.

[Vodka Martino]

I think it's just one of those situations where you have to use the 'suspension of disbelief' facility, see the travelling timeline theory. However, this is one of the reasons I don't like to be given so much information about Bond's background, it puts a spoke in the wheel of such theories, so I don't tend to read that stuff. I just accept that Bond's age is static, he exists in whichever era I am watching/reading him in, and I'd rather there were no evidence to contradict it.

Exactly. Well said, santajosep. Ya just gotta take the Bond films in the context of the actor playing him and basically wipe the slate clean whenever a new actor is cast.
And definitely forget Lee Tamahori's notion of 'James Bond' being a code name. What a crock!!

VM

That's actually how I look at it. James Bond is perpetually in his early 30's and I don't pay much mind to the matter after that.

You're right, Flash1087, although I'm in santajosep's camp about Bond's age. He's always struck me as a late 30s kind of guy.
With regards to Judi Dench as M, I think that EON just felt that she was perfect for the role and they wanted to make the most of her, regardless of how confusing it would be to the audience...or how mind-bogglingly, excrutiatingly, frustrating it would be to some Bond fans.

Vodka M

[marktmurphy]

I believe both Dalton and Brosnan's Bond's had the actors birth year as that of Bonds. This is just the first time they have been so overt about it.

I think Pierce's Bond was born a few years after Pierce, from memory....

[Vodka Martino]

Just came across the official Sony German website for Casino Royale, but can't find the information on the English website.

Hey Tim007, I found it on the Sony website where it lists Bond's history with MI6, his psychological evaluation and other relevant-...ahh, what the hell, here's the link;

http://www.sonypictu...ssier/index.php


VM

[David Schofield]

With regards to Judi Dench as M, I think that EON just felt that she was perfect for the role and they wanted to make the most of her, regardless of how confusing it would be to the audience...or how mind-bogglingly, excrutiatingly, frustrating it would be to some Bond fans.

Vodka M

Yup, between GE and DAD, Dench played Barbara Mawdsley, M.#
In CR, Dench plays Melissa Messervy, M.

[spynovelfan]

Hey Tim007, I found it on the Sony website where it lists Bond's history with MI6, his psychological evaluation and other relevant-...ahh, what the hell, here's the link;

http://www.sonypictu...ssier/index.php

MEMORANDUM
FAO: VALENCE

EYES ONLY

NOT TO LEAVE THIS DEPARTMENT

Re: JAMES BOND

Valence, I'm afraid your file on Bond needs a fair bit of revision. The way you've ordered it, it's hard to make out if it is he or his father who was born in Glencoe. Presumably his father - but are you sure Bond was born in West Berlin? I can't remember that being raised in his vetting, and you know what trouble we've had in the past with agents whose early childhoods we failed to check out properly. I can't see his birth certificate on record - could you follow up? Might be useful if he could obtain German nationality. I can't remember what their rules are on dual citizenship, but it might come in a sight more handy than Swiss.

You also note that he does not race cars - can I just ask where you got that from, as I remember in his interview we had a nice chat about how he used to do precisely that, albeit on the fringes of the circuit.

Yours,

PLOMER

[Bon-san]

I think it's just one of those situations where you have to use the 'suspension of disbelief' facility, see the travelling timeline theory. However, this is one of the reasons I don't like to be given so much information about Bond's background, it puts a spoke in the wheel of such theories, so I don't tend to read that stuff. I just accept that Bond's age is static, he exists in whichever era I am watching/reading him in, and I'd rather there were no evidence to contradict it.

Brilliant.

Cutting and pasting this for use in all future discussions of:

Continuity
Timeline
Codename Theory

A small trust fund has been established for your future children, sj.

[Santa]

Thanks. They'll need it.

[Loomis]

Huh???

You have been following the production of CASINO ROYALE, haven't you? All of this was discussed on CBn and other sites months ago.

Did you know that Judi Dench is coming back as M too? It's shocking.

Isn't that exactly Daniel Craigs year of birth?

Same year, but different month and day - I think a fan figured out the significance of the chosen date a while back, but I forget what it was. Something along the lines of "same month and day DR. NO opened", perhaps.

Does that speak for Lee Tamahori's codename theory?

Yes, it does. However, no one is duty bound to accept it, and it's quite possible to fanwank one's way out of it, e.g. "Bond had a different date on his passport in OCTOPUSSY, but since it was fake ID anyway it wasn't his actual birthdate".

And what about his relationships? Tracey, anyone?

Haven't happened (yet).

Only at MI6 since 1998?

Well, what do you want? Craig's Bond to have been at MI6 since, oh, I don't know, 1972? I mean, you don't think Dalton's Bond in THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS is the exact same guy who went up against Dr. No in '62, do you?

What is this all about?

It's the exact same continuity-mangling rebootery that the Eon series has always traded in, just more blatant this time round.

[DLibrasnow]

Born in West Berlin in 1968? Why again a German place (after Wattenscheid)? 1968? Isn't that exactly Daniel Craigs year of birth?

Does that speak for Lee Tamahori's codename theory?

And what about his relationships? Tracey, anyone?

Only at MI6 since 1998?

What is this all about?

Tim...

It's a reboot, a restart.

This isn't supposed to be the same James Bond that battled DR NO in 1962.

[Skudor]

I think it's just one of those situations where you have to use the 'suspension of disbelief' facility, see the travelling timeline theory. However, this is one of the reasons I don't like to be given so much information about Bond's background, it puts a spoke in the wheel of such theories, so I don't tend to read that stuff. I just accept that Bond's age is static, he exists in whichever era I am watching/reading him in, and I'd rather there were no evidence to contradict it.

Agree - they are giving too much information. They should just leave it - no background nonsense.

[spynovelfan]

This isn't supposed to be the same James Bond that battled DR NO in 1962.

Shame. I quite like the idea of a minus-six-year-old secret agent.

[Roebuck]

After years of James Bond being older than me, he

[DLibrasnow]

Agree - they are giving too much information. They should just leave it - no background nonsense.

Still, as this is the official website then we must accept it.

I don't think this gives any credence to the codename theory. It's simply a restart. The James Bond in Casino Royale has not yet met Tracy.

[spynovelfan]

Agree - they are giving too much information. They should just leave it - no background nonsense.

Still, as this is the official website then we must accept it.

I don't think this gives any credence to the codename theory. It's simply a restart. The James Bond in Casino Royale has not yet met Tracy.

Well, they've changed his place of birth too. The James Bond of DR NO couldn't have been born in 'West Berlin' because such a place did not exist until 1949, and he looks a bit older than 13 in the film (five o'clock shadow's a giveaway! ). So it must contradict that. So you have two versions of James Bond, born in different places.

If that doesn't make 'James Bond' a codename, what does?

I have to agree with the general sentiment that adding to the existing information we have in this way causes problems.

[David Schofield]

Dunno what all this rubbish "this Bond couldn't have been the same one that battled Dr No" is all about.

Don't you lot know that CR takes place BEFORE Dr No.

[Skudor]

Giving too much information like this just makes it sound like they are desperately trying to make Bond realistic. A very silly endevour. He originally had a back story of sorts, which now makes little sense. In fact, it hasn't made sense for a while (is Pierce Brosnan old enough to have served in WWII??).

There is no need for this and I choose to just ignore it as a silly marketing ploy aimed at over-excited fanboys.