Delima Kasih

Do we really need James Bond?

Well, Bond villains are everywhere. See if you can't spot these unsavoury people in, say, your office (for example).

• Dr. No (1962): e.g. 'Would you...?' 'NO!'
  
• Goldfinger (1964) e.g. 'Would you...?' 'Kenot, but see plink over there...?'
  
• The Man with the Golden Gun (1975) a.k.a. Head of HR
  
• Octopussy (1983). You all know who this is....
  
• The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Yes, nothing like a spot of interdepartmental rivalry to spice things up....

The high-pressure corporate world (Casino Royale) fosters certain dangerous attitudes:

• You Only Live Twice (1967)
  
• Live and Let Die (1973)
  
• Never Say Never Again (1983)
  
• The World Is Not Enough (1999)
  
• Die Another Day (2002)

So much so that I'm becoming very paranoid:

• For Your Eyes Only (1981): Most of what we read these days is also marked 'Confidential', (Dr.) No?
  
• On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969): Tell me this isn't like YOUR workplace....
  
• A View to a Kill (1985): Expiry of contract or tenure, anyone?
  
• Licence to Kill (1989): Need one just to survive out there.
  

There are ways to relieve stress:

• Thunderball (1965): Bowling + drinks.
  
• Moonraker: A bunch of guys wanted to do this to Mr. Raker....
  

But most necessary is a positive outlook:

• Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
  
• The Living Daylights (1987)
  

And a healthy degree of materialism:

• Goldeneye (1995): Useful for picking out expensive er... investments, yes.
• Diamonds Are Forever (1971): Obviously.
  

A faraway retreat won't hurt either.

• From Russia with Love (1963)

posted by plink @ 10:07 pm