Why I Like The James Bond  Franchise

I'm finally getting around to talking about my love of the James Bond 007 franchise on this blog exactly one week before the newest James Bond flick, No Time To Die, is due to arrive in American movie theatres. The movie is already out in cinemas across the UK. It is a British franchise so naturally, the Brits get to see Daniel Craig in his last movie as 007 first.

First off, I am perfectly aware that James Bond 007 is not exactly a picture of Christian virtue and holiness. The guy's womanizing, promiscuity, and habit of striking down his enemies, and by extension, enemies of the UK are proof of that.

But I do not like the James Bond movies for Bond's philandering and promiscuity or his habit of striking down enemies of the UK with very little or no sign of remorse. Though I will note that most of the time when Bond kills people, he does so in self-defense. Any Catholic will know that killing someone in self-defense is morally justified and permissible.

I see 007 as a good guy with an edge.

And every now and then, audiences are treated to seeing Bond genuinely fall for one of his ladies. This has already happened three times in the franchise. The first time was in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, which starred George Lazenby as James Bond and Diana Rigg as the lucky lady, Tracy de Vincezo/Bond. The second time was in Casino Royale (2006), Craig's first film as Bond. The lucky lady that time was Vesper Lynd, portrayed by the lovely and talented Eva Green. The third time was SPECTRE, Daniel's fourth movie as 007. The lucky lady was Dr. Madeleine Swann, portrayed in both SPECTRE and the upcoming No Time To Die by the talented and beautiful Lea Seydoux.

I like the Bond movies for the action, the gorgeous cars, the gadgets and technology, the big mystery Bond often has to solve, and the fact Bond stops some evil maniac from blowing up half the world every time.

I always check the Movie Review section on the Catholic News Service website to see if a movie I want to see is OK. It has been a long time since a James Bond movie was deemed morally objectionable by Catholic News Service Movie Reviews. As a general rule of thumb, I don't see movies that are labeled as morally objectionable. Several James Bond movies have been labeled as morally objectionable (and I didn't watch those ones), but most of the James Bond movies were labeled as OK for adults to see. Craig's previous four Bond films were among the James Bond movies that were labeled as OK for adults to see. I fully anticipate No Time To Die to receive the "All Clear" for adults to see from Catholic News Service Movie Reviews. With Craig gradually moving Bond away from being a promiscuous womanizer over his tenure as 007 and with the existence of the Time's Up and #MeToo movements, I am expecting the film to stay away from sexual content, even implications of sexual activity outside of wedlock, or at least keep the sexual content to a minimum. As for the violence, well, it's a 007 flick so the violence is going to be up there, but I don't expect it to get to the level of excessive and therefore, earn the film the "morally objectionable" label.

Daniel Craig is my favorite Bond and I've waited a long time for this movie. No Time To Die is Daniel Craig's fifth and final movie as James Bond 007. My family has a "no going to see a movie on opening weekend" policy so I won't be going to see it on opening weekend but when it does come out in a week's time, I'm going to go see it as soon as possible.