“BOND, JAMES Bond.” When James Bond first introduced himself through this infamous statement, it was a memorable moment that marked the emergence of a new world-famous spy. James Bond, code name 007, was a womanizer with charms no woman could deny. His cold, cruel eyes and dark hair created an ominous atmosphere around him. The Bond character was first introduced to the world through the novel, “Casino Royale” by Ian Fleming. However, James Bond did not stay only in books. He was brought to the silver screens through the film “Dr. No” in 1962. Since then, the fictional British Secret Service agent has been involved in over 23 films, becoming the world’s most famous spy and the longest running film franchise in the history of the world. While his reputation has made him a cultural icon representing the world of subterfuge, his lasting legacy has developed this British spy into social icon. When watching a James Bond movie, there is more than the storyline that you need to pay attention to; in fact, the social background of the plot that is absorbed in the movie is another noteworthy point for the audience.

You Only Live Twice (1967)

In this film, James Bond stops a terrorist organization, SPECTRE, from hijacking Soviet and American spacecraft and starting a nuclear war, which reflects the space race that took place during the 1960s between the United States and the Soviet Union. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite, “Sputnik 1” into outer space, again sending “Vostok 1” with Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. The continuous Soviet success in space flared the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. Then, in 1962, President John F. Kennedy shocked the world by announcing that the United States will make its way to the moon, too. Although the story ends with Neil Armstrong becoming the first man to walk on moon in 1969, plenty of progress had already been made by 1967 for the space race to become a reality. By the time this movie came out, everyone’s eyes were on the moon.

The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

Bond tracks down an international assassin, Scaramanga, to Hong Kong in order to recover a stolen experimental solar energy cell from being used as a weapon. This storyline reflects how the oil crisis in 1973 aroused a growing awareness for alternative energy to replace the world’s depleting fossil fuel reserves. There are several references to energy crisis and lack of fuel throughout the movie, which highlights the world’s growing interest in alternative energy at the time. The movie also depicts how America was under the influence of a legendary martial arts master Bruce Lee during the 1970s. Bruce Lee helped raise the popularity of martial arts and Eastern culture in America through movies such as “The Big Boss” and the “Fist of Fury.” The movie reflects such atmosphere at the time by including the scene where James Bond inexplicably wakes up in the middle of a martial arts center and engages in a full-blown Kung-fu battle with an army of Kung-fu masters.

The Living Daylight (1987)

In the film, James Bond aims to stop a Russian defector from aiding an arms dealer who plans to start a war between Great Britain and Russia. One key aspect of the movie is Bond’s alliance with the then Soviet’s enemy, Afghanistan. Back in the days, believe it or not, Afghanistan was seen as the sympathetic underdog that fights against the Soviet aggression. As such, there are scenes in the movie where James Bond sides with Mujahedeen, the Afghan resistance during the Soviet Occupation, and successfully obliterates a Soviet airbase with their help. However, the irony lies in the fact that the Mujahedeen, whom James Bond fought alongside, is actually the seed organization of Al-Qaeda.

Goldeneye (1995)

The movie was released in the post-Cold war era, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Although the Western world was free from the aggression of the Soviet Union, there were fears that the social instability from the dissolution might lead to a potential crisis amongst the post-Soviet states. The main plot is circled around James Bond’s pursuit of a Russian crime lord, who is trying to use a Soviet satellite weapon Goldeneye to rob the Bank of England. Along with the Soviet dissolution, the plot also reflects the rising significance of satellites. Before the Soviet Union broke down, both the United States and the Soviet Union were preparing for a space war, continuously launching satellites and developing modern, electronic weapons. The scene from the film showing Goldeneye destroying a Soviet science facility is a representation of the power and significance of satellites and electronic warfare.

Casino Royale (2006)

The film is based on the first novel of the 007 series and covers some of James Bond’s background. James Bond receives his 00 status, which is only given to the most elite agents of the MI6, and starts his career as 007, after successfully killing an MI6 traitor. For his first mission as 007, he enters an elite poker tournament to stop Le Chiffre from regaining his lost funds from the game. Le Chiffre was working as a financial firm for terrorists and other underground organizations, by taking in their black money and laundering it into clean money, all the while funding other trading operations for further profits. However, after losing all his money in a failed airplane terrorism plot, he decided to win it all back through gambling. One of the main social references that can be derived from the movie is the growing concern of a global financial crisis that was affecting the world at the time. Le Chiffre can be related to several bankers today who issue loans and funds to make profit. However, like Le Chiffre, many banks were unable to handle the large amount of debt created after they lost all their cash on failed investment projects. Le Chiffre, in the end, was unable to get a bail-out like how financial banks could do back then, and thus went on a permanent downfall.

Quantum of Solace (2008)

After the events of “Casino Royale”, James Bond investigates Quantum, a mysterious terrorist organization behind the plot in Casino Royale and an assassination attempt of M, the head of the MI6. One of the strongest appealing factors for a Bond film is its exoticism. Throughout the franchise, viewers are awed by the brave actions Bond displays in unfamiliar places such as the Amazon jungle and the icy mountains of the Alps. Such diversity of backgrounds helped the viewers to indirectly experience the world they have not encountered. However, while the movie touches a number of places around the world, it actually depicts the negative side of globalization. For example, throughout the movie, there is always a constant presence of Native Americans who are displaced and impoverished due to the global forces. Fight for water, a constant reminder alluding to the environmental problem of desertification, and the unstable nature of political alliance are some other examples.

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 James Bond movies have been representing the cultural, political, and ideological changes of the world. Starting from the Cold war era, James Bond, himself too, gradually changed and adapted to the political and social changes surrounding him. It will be interesting to see how Bond will carry out his future missions in the fast-changing world through his next adventures.