How do you like your Bond?

Today's Tusk piece:

How do you like your Bond?
By Ben Flanagan
Ben Around
November 14, 2008

The name's Bond. Jason Bond. Er, I mean James Bourne. Uh, James … Bond? Got it!

Today, MGM releases its latest explosion into the canon of one of film's most celebrated global film franchises, the new James Bond movie 'Quantum of Solace.' Last time, producer Barbara Broccoli and the other folks that line the braintrust of the franchise decided their hero had trailed off into a muddled malaise of silliness (2002's 'Die Another Day') that even Roger Moore would disapprove of, and thought a revamp of the series was the right direction to take and essential.

This realization sparked the conception of 2006's highly touted 'Casino Royale,' which boasted a fresher, brawnier and blonder Bond, with a little more depth behind Daniel Craig's tender blue eyes. Broccoli deserves a hefty amount of respect, because the latter years of Pierce Brosnan's run at 007 were working financially. The uncomfortable 'Die Another Day' grossed a domestic total of $160 million, which if you're in the movie business, you rinse and repeat, and fast.

But they obviously knew something was off. The charm of their iconic hero had been compromised in the naughtiest of ways. But leave it to the people who have delivered between 15 and 20 solid spy thrillers in the past 40 years to catch themselves before they fall, to understand that they had drifted into a losing streak, even if Brosnan had eased nicely into the role and given the franchise one of its best entries ever ('GoldenEye').

Lucky for us Bond geeks, and general fans of spy thrillers, Craig came along to pulverize us with his new, more realistic hitman who wanted the audience to hurt just as much as his victims. The new Bond and his film kicked and strangled their way to become the highest grosser of the franchise.

There are a few of us out there, though, who liked the movie (sans the painful Chris Cornell theme song and tiresome running time), but have a sneaking suspicion some of its impressive action cues were influenced by another secret agent hero of the same initials, Mr. Jason Bourne. I must stress that the influence came from the two films that Paul Greengrass helmed ('Bourne Supremacy' and 'Bourne Ultimatum'), which brought a frenetic, handheld brutality and realism to fistfights and car chases that left us happy and hurting.

Is this such a bad thing, that the dominant franchise of the spy movie genre, in dire need of an overdue retooling, took a few pointers from a rookie phenom? It's as if Greengrass and his 'Bourne' movies said, 'This is how action is done, and that's that,' and the Bond folks said, 'Okay, we're fine with that. Can we play, too?'

Understand that while I've enjoyed all of them to a great extent, I don't feel those 'Bourne' movies are flawless. Personally, I'll always pick Bond over Bourne. There's just something about the tradition or mystique with this franchise that will never get old, and forever be as cool and suave as its debonair and dangerous hero. Fast cars, beautiful women, nifty gadgets and unashamedly silly puns all surrounding one of film's most purely bad-ass characters is a template no other series can match.

Even if nerds on the online message boards were labeling today's release 'The Bourne Solace' based on its initial trailers and footage, who cares? If you take a closer look at it, the Craig features have maintained a rather stylish, steady hand without resorting to a shaky, jumbled presentation.

And there's that title, too. 'Quantum of Solace' may be the single most scrutinized and bashed movie title I've heard in all my years of watching movies and following the online forums. Yes, if there is a single entertainment figure who solely owns the word 'Quantum,' it's Scott Bakula (forget it, Dean Stockwell!), but perhaps we should give this one a chance. If the title confuses you, don't worry, it confuses all of us. Falling into the 'good movies with questionable titles' category with 'The Shawshank Redemption,' 'The Hudsucker Proxy' and 'The Parallax View,' the latest yarn in this deservedly celebrated series may indicate how it simply wouldn't work with any other title at all.

What's scary is that 'Quantum of Solace' seems to have a bit of that swagger and word-of-mouth 'The Dark Knight' had heading into the summer. Everyone I've talked to who has the slightest interest in seeing movies at the theater has expressed a considerably antsy anticipation for the latest attempt at establishing Bond's dominance over other spy movie wannabes.

Early skeptical reviews have suggested that director Marc Forster's stab at the franchise has been stripped of the customary humor and elegance we've come to know from most Bond movies and that the hero is a colder, less emotional brute. That's fine with me. I prefer the Bond who has a license to kill and will use whomever neccesary for the mission's sake. But I had tended to enjoy it when 007 goes rogue and falls hard for the occasional lady (see the totally awesome 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' from 1969).

What we can all agree on, though, is that the last one got it right most of the time, and the new one looks to be headed on the right track, which is all we can ask for in the midst of this dreadfully bare season at the movies.

What's YOUR favorite Bond movie? Song? Who's the best bond?

The Penetrators at Egan's tomorrow night: Quite easily my favorite surf rock band — never mind that they're former local heroes of Tuscaloosa's music scene. A dream of mine came true when these guys came back a couple of years ago on my request to play a 90.7-FM benefit concert at the Mellow Mushroom. Their last album, 'Locked and Loaded,' released a while back, continued to cement them as one of the more creative surf rock groups I'd ever seen. Always a ton of fun, The Penetrators' return to our town is a special occasion. Highly recommended.

The Dexateens at the Jupiter Bar and Grill tonight: Another great T-town rock band hits the Strip for what should be a truly memorable music weekend in this town. This band's shows are always a fast-paced, guitar-slamming hoot and shouldn't be missed by a person that's into rock ‘n' roll music.

'Reckless' at the Allen Bales Theatre opening next Tuesday: Start the holiday season the only way you can with a yuletide dose of dark humor in Craig Lucas's play "Reckless," as performed by the University of Alabama department of theatre and dance next week. Craig's play is about a woman trying to escape from a hitman hired by her husband with plans to rub her out just in time for the big winter day. When Christmas time rolls around and I'm looking for a little black comedy, I normally reach for a copy of the hilariously foul-mouthed marital comedy "The Ref," starring Dennis Leary and Kevin Spacey. If I can get more of the same, then that makes things all the merrier.