James Bond is one of the biggest franchises of the time. The famous spy in a dapper tux has been alluring the fans with his thrilling adventures since 1962. Every movie and every new Bond that comes, adds something to the story. From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, each actor had their own way of playing the British spy.
Despite the huge following, the franchise isn’t perfect and as time passed it attracted some criticism, especially for its treatment of women. Many labeled the beloved spy ‘sexist.’ But that has somewhat changed with Judi Dench playing the role of M, in the Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig’s Bond movies. And agreeing with Matt Damon, Daniel Craig thanked Dench for continuing her role in his movies and saving him from criticism.
Daniel Craig thanks Judi Dench for saving his Bond from being called ‘sexist’
Judi Dench played the role of M, who is the Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6. Previously the role was portrayed by male actors like Bernard Lee and Robert Brown, but with Dench taking over the role with Pierce Brosnan movies, the tide of Bond movies certainly changed. Daniel Craig, whose Bond movies too saw Dench reprising her iconic role, appreciated the actress for saving his version of the character being called sexist.
Craig mentioned in an interview while talking about the making of his first Bond film, Casino Royale,
“I approached the film with the idea that Bond’s attitude to women is really just one of distrust. That’s why it’s so fantastic that Judi is still playing M, because that female figure in the movie is so very important; that’s what, hopefully, will let us get away with him being as sexist as he is. I mean, I get it all the time: ‘Is he still gonna be a sexist pig?’ Well, yeah, he is still a bit of a sexist pig. But the fact is that the balance there is always through Judi.”
He further explained Dench’s M’s significance in 007’s life,
“Because she’s the one person that ever really keeps him alive. She’s the one that protects him and looks out for his back. So I suppose that sort of gives us carte blanche to let him be a pig to women. Not that he needs to be a pig to women, but what I’m saying is that, hopefully, in Casino Royale, we get this situation where we’ll understand why he is the way he is.”
The actor also mentioned how Judi Dench‘s character is the real boss in the movie and Bond is only taking orders from her. He even went on to compare, Dench’s version of M to a mother figure in James Bond’s life.
“I love the dynamic, and I’m glad that Judi has more of a part to play in this film. She’s not mum, exactly, but she kind of is mum, and that’s what I want to fuck around with. “I can see the headlines now. BOND IS MUMMY’S BOY!”
Craig joked about the fact that the fans would fear that his version of James Bond could be a “mummy’s boy” and reassured them that he was only highlighting the dynamic and necessity of a Bond movie having a powerful female figure, which was absent in the early versions of the franchise.
Matt Damon prefers Jason Bourne over James Bond
While the search for the next Bond is still ongoing, we know for sure that Matt Damon would not be auditioning for the role. Daniel Craig took his final bow as 007 in No Time To Die and since then it has been a hot debate as to who will be able to fill the massive shoes of Craig. Though Damon did praise Craig’s version of James Bond, he still prefers Jason Bourne.
Highlighting the differences between the two spy characters, he told GQ,
“I like Bourne better than Bond. Bourne has today’s values; Bond has the values of the 1960s. Daniel [Craig]’s Bond has upgraded him and brought him more into the present, but, classically, that character is a misogynist who likes swilling martinis and killing people and not giving a shit.”
He further continued, talking about his character from the Bourne franchise
“Whereas Jason Bourne is a serial monogamist – and he’s tortured by the things he’s done and feels empathy and compassion for other people. And Bourne would obviously win in a fight.”
Though it is not new that two similar franchises be compared, it is always hard to tell which one is better as everyone is entitled to their opinion. But today’ spy-thrillers cannot deny somewhere being inspired by the adventures of James Bond to create their own version of it.
While the producers still look for the next Bond, fans of the franchise can watch all James Bond movies on Amazon Prime Video, including Daniel Craig’s Casino Royale.
Source: Empire
