Movies - TV
The Three Rules Sam Mendes Says Every James Bond Film Should Follow
By WITNEY SEIBOLD
A product of the Cold War, MI6’s dashing, martini-drinking spy James Bond has had 25 official movies since his creation and has seemingly cemented his place as a pop culture icon. Sam Mendes, director of “Skyfall” and “Spectre,” says there are three things that every Bond movie needs to have to be a success.
“There needs to be a female contingent that interacts with Bond in a way that verges on the racy side. Which is number one,” according to Mendes. One of the recurring features in the films is the “Bond Girl,” who falls for and/or seduces the handsome, charming spy and serves to highlight Bond’s sex appeal to the audience.
Filmmakers should remember that James Bond is a fictional character; as Mendes pointed out, Bond “doesn’t live entirely in the real world, in the sense that you can’t put him on the street.” Witnessing the secret agent doing everyday things like grocery shopping would go against his character; he exists in a world where these things aren’t necessary for him.
While many help Bond in his missions, the hero is a lone wolf — Bond isn’t reliant on a team member to get him out of a situation, nor does he have close colleagues he would go out of his way to help. Mendes said, “You can’t have a buddy. There’s this constant tension where he only has relationships with his senior figures in MI6 — and women.”