{"id":7285,"date":"2017-08-29T07:00:11","date_gmt":"2017-08-29T07:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/\/?p=7285"},"modified":"2021-07-30T23:00:15","modified_gmt":"2021-07-30T23:00:15","slug":"james-bond-from-power-of-excitement-to-power-of-reason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/james-bond-from-power-of-excitement-to-power-of-reason\/","title":{"rendered":"James Bond – From Power of Excitement to Power of Reason"},"content":{"rendered":"

Types Tuesday<\/h3>\n

\"\"

Bond. \u00a0James Bond.<\/p>\n

Paul Haggis changed the course of 007 with his reboot of Casino Royale. \u00a0<\/em>I had the great pleasure of working with him on Quantum of Solace\u00a0<\/em>as a consultant. \u00a0That film followed up our work together on\u00a0In the Valley of Elah.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Casino Royale<\/em> effectively updated, renewed and refreshed the James Bond character for new audiences. The Bourne franchise suddenly made Bond seem old fashioned. So a complete reboot was in order.<\/p>\n

The classic James Bond, like Indiana Jones, and the more comedic Austin Powers, was written and played as a Power of Excitement character. Stories driven by the Power of Excitement are about getting out of traps and escaping from entangling situations. \u00a0They are thrill rides.<\/p>\n

Power of Excitement characters refuse to be confined, corralled, or domesticated. \u00a0They flee adult responsibilities and commitments. \u00a0Peter Pan is a classic Power of Excitement character. \u00a0So are the protagonists played by Hugh Grant in his early movies. \u00a0These characters are incredibly charming but basically are kids. \u00a0Their mantra is, \u201cI don\u2019t want to grow up. \u00a0I don\u2019t want to settle down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Charming Power of Excitement characters\u2019 devil-may-care \u201cI just want to play around and play the field\u201d behavior can be rakish and “bad boy” charming when a character is young. \u00a0But, after a certain age, it grows tiresome can verge on the pathetic. \u00a0That\u2019s why, in his later movies, About a Boy<\/em> and Brigitte Jones\u2019 Diary<\/em>, for example, Hugh Grant plays this character type\u2019s darker side. \u00a0Power of Excitement characters and actors playing the boyish scamp or charming playboy have a definite expiration date.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The incredibly valuable Bond franchise was facing a difficult dilemma in remaking Casino Royale. \u00a0<\/em>The perennially adolescent Power of Excitement Bond had been around for a long time and might not seem as appealing to the current, more cynical, movie-going audience. \u00a0An expiration date was looming. \u00a0These are darker and less innocent times than when the Bond movies debuted with such flash and fun in the psychedelic 1960\u2019s.<\/p>\n

So how does 007 evolve and grow up? \u00a0What kind of character is the new \u201cmore adult\u201d Bond? \u00a0The producers\u2019 and screenwriters\u2019 answer was to transition the character from a Power of Excitement character to a Power of Reason character.<\/p>\n

Power of Reason stories are about alienation vs. connection. \u00a0They are about order vs. chaos. These characters are distant, sarcastic and can be perceived as cold. \u00a0It\u2019s not that these characters don\u2019t feel things\u2014 the trouble is, they feel things too deeply. \u00a0To avoid being overwhelmed by their emotions Power of Reason characters shut down and withdraw into themselves. \u00a0Bond’s reaction after Vesper’s death.<\/p>\n

\"\"

These characteristics lead Bond to clash with M over and over in Casino Royale<\/em>. \u00a0This new Bond is more resolute and less cavalier than the previous Power of Excitement Bonds. \u00a0Earlier 007s had a devil-may-care attitude of rebellion against \u201cadult\u201d constraints and authority. The new Bond simply believes he knows best and should be left to it.<\/p>\n

Daniel Craig was an inspired choice to play the new Bond. \u00a0Despite early carping and criticism by fans, his character type is ideally suited to this Power of Reason 007. \u00a0Writing about some of his early stage work a reviewer noted that Craig \u201ccontains his violence like an unexploded mine.\u201d \u00a0There is a cool and controlled quality to Craig\u2019s previous roles in Layer Cake <\/em>and Munich<\/em>. \u00a0His expertize and ability to disengage and get the job done, despite the internal and\/or moral cost.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Television Power of Reason examples include Dr. Gregory House on House<\/em> and the comedic detective series Monk<\/em>. \u00a0Even though all these characters are individually very distinctive, they each share the same emotional and motivational core.<\/p>\n

When transitioning a character the question is how to recast the same behavior with a compelling new motivation. \u00a0Consistency, authenticity and character type is key. Previous 007s killed as sport and barely rumpled their tuxedos. \u00a0They were flip, flash, and fun: \u00a0the eternal \u201clad.\u201d \u00a0This new adult Bond doesn\u2019t avoid obligations and responsibilities. \u00a0He executes them, both literally and figuratively, with chilling and brutal expertize. \u00a0This is a Bond who is bloodied but unbowed. \u00a0He has scars on his soul. \u00a0And he doesn\u2019t really give a damn if his martini is shaken or stirred. \u00a0He has darker, more adult concerns.<\/p>\n

The good news is that Daniel Craig as 007 is back in 2019! \u00a0I hope he is put to work fighting Neo-Nazis and alt-right terrorists!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Save<\/span>Save<\/span><\/p>\n

Save<\/span>Save<\/span><\/p>\n

Save<\/span>Save<\/span>Save<\/span>Save<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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