James Bond

Everyone knows the iconic secret agent known as 007. James Bond has been a cultural icon for generations, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. I'll be honest, Bond is one of my favorite entertainment figures. I've seen every one of the Bond movies and I plan on reading all of Ian Flemings books at some point. It's interesting to know that the iconic name of Bond was actually intended by Ian Fleming to be the blandest name he could think of, yet it grew into one of the most well known names in entertainment history. There's just something about a smooth, suave, and witty secret agent foiling the plots of genius villains that captures all of our imaginations. It's hard for me to say which portrayal of James Bond is my favorite. My sentimental side would have to go with Pierce Brosnan because he was the first bond that I was introduced to when I saw Goldeneye for the first time. Few would consider the Irish actor to be the best, but he was the first Bond that I knew, and because of that he remains iconic in my own viewpoint. Many would say Connery, the first Bond, is the best, and I'd say a case could definitely be made for that, but Roger Moore is also one that I would say could be the best. Of course we have the current Bond, Daniel Craig, and while he has done a good job of bringing the character into the modern age, I could just never see him as a bonafide Bond. Never the less, I'm looking forward to finding out who is going to be playing the famous secret agent next. What makes James Bond so appealing as a character? In my opinion, at least for me, as well as many other men I'm sure, it's that I wish I could be Bond. He's a hero that always knows what to say, always gets the girl, and always ends up on top, who wouldn't want to be that? Of course it's no mystery why women like the character; Bond is the epitome of suave and is always played by objectively attractive actors. It's that nature of women wanting him and men wanting to be him that makes James Bond such an iconic character. However, that's not the only thing that makes him so significant, there's also the patriotic and loyal nature that he employs. Bond is a man of conviction that believes in the causes that he is defending, and there's something very honorable and admirable about that. Yes we all know 007's a fictional character, and that real espionage is seldom as action filled and romanticized as it is portrayed in film, but that doesn't change the fact that it will always be enjoyable to live vicariously through and let our imaginations run wild while watching these incredibly enjoyable films and reading the books that inspired them. I wish I could imagine into an existence a character that has as much of a massive cultural impact as James Bond, because even though Ian Fleming is gone, his creation has essentially immortalized him in popular culture.