Thanks for stopping by, everyone!
We’re celebrating James Bond this month and it’s been interesting to say the least, but a lot of fun as well!
I hear often how unpopular James Bond is with some due to his “exploitation”, for the lack of a better word, of women. The ability to charm about every female in every movie into his arms. A part I like, and I remember when the politically correct Bond presented in the 1990s, I wasn’t happy at all. It wasn’t my kind of thing. Bond needed to be arrogant, cheeky, sexy and charming!
So this week we’re talking sidekicks! Bond Girls.
Of course, for many it’s Ursula Andress and Halle Barry that come to mind. The bikini scenes, right? Yes, I have to admit, they were my first thought as well. Not necessarily my favourite ones though. Then there was a lousy Teri Hatcher, the underperforming Sophie Marceau, the icy, but very interesting Rosamund Pike and Eva Green, playing Vesper Lynd, the one trying not to fall for Bond’s charm.
My favourite “Bond Girl” (see in quotes!) was Grace Jones. OMG, she was as bad as a girl could be and sexy as hell. In her very manly way that is. And then there was the over-indulgent Xenia Onatopp played by Famke Janssen. I loved her character as well.
But I could list more or all of them, yet IMHO, none of the above, and none of the once that didn’t get a mention here was as noteworthy and memorable as MISS MONEYPENNY!
Great Post, Iris! I can’t envision any you mentioned (for obvious reasons), but I enjoyed your take on them!
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Thanks Janette.
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Gosh, I must have missed more of the Bond films that I thought! I didn’t recognize most of the names you mentioned. Teri Hatcher was a Bond girl? which film was she in?
Good grief, I must have missed half of these movies.
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Jeff,Teri Hatcher was James Bond’s former, (and again), lover, wife of Jonathan Pryce’s character in “Tomorrow Never Dies”. She is memorable to me for her necklace! I am not a big jewelry fan, but her diamond necklace stole the show.
Grace Jones was a frightening human being just standing there in real life, as far as I was concerned.
Gotta get going on my view of Bond girls.I am enjoying everyone’s take on all-things-Bond, but I can’t wait to see who turns the Hound’s head!
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Ah, there were SEVERAL Bond girls who turned the Hound’s head.
And you’ll learn their names on Thurs.
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I’m disappointed, Jeff! Really! You’re missing all the good ones 😉
Did you know Madonna was in one of the Bond flicks as well ?????
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Madonna? in a bond film? No, I didn’t know that
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See … the things you learn from me 😉
She had a cameo in Die Another Day as a fencing instructor. She also sang the title song.
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I like Miss Moneypenny too! I loved how she wasn’t swayed in the least by James’ charm! That lady was all business! 🙂
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She was great! And had a few good lines as well 🙂 Thanks for taking part in our Bond-month, Lisa!
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I don’t have a favourite Bond Girl and I don’t remember the women in the movies really, unless I already know the name, like Halle Berry. So I’ll pick Judi Dench, who wasn’t a Bond Girl, but was great in all the movies.
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Agree …. she made the later JB movies! Such a shame she’s no more … as in “M” of course. Thanks for coming over, Lily!
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I read an interview with Judi Dench that said her husband more than encouraged her to take the role of “M”; she thought he liked the idea of telling people that he was married to a Bond Girl!
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I quite like Diana Rigg’s Tracey (AKA Mrs Bond–albeit only very briefly Mrs Bond) and I’m keen on Olga Kurylenko’s Camille in Quantum of Solace. They were complex characters who held their own–and saved Bond’s bacon.
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Diana Rigg was another great Bond Girl, I agree. She had style in any movie she was in! I’ve only seen QOS once and didn’t really like it that much, so I’m not familiar with Olga Kurylenko! I’d better read up on her 😉
Thanks for stopping by, Sandra. Much appreciated!
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Got this one via twitter and wanted to share:
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High five for giving props to Miss Moneypenny! I’m not sure who my all time favorite Bond girl is, but like you and someone else mentioned, Judi Dench as M deserve to be the ultimate Bond girls if only for their longevity in Bond’s life.
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Isn’t it funny that Judi Dench has made such an impact as M, whereas I couldn’t even remember any of the previous ones …..
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Bernard Lee … and he was terrific
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I had to google him 😦
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