One reviewer put it that the formula plays us viewers like Pavlov dogs, awaiting the next predictable moment. Ooh, the new villain with his master plan. As great as movies like Skyfall and Goldeneye were, they were practically by-the-book.
Regardless of whether it's official and whether it was a jab at Fleming, I still find it to be a good film.Īs much as I love the Bond franchise, even I can agree it has been braced with a formula. Even if it did totally piss on Fleming's work, I think parody is still a valuable act of free speech and criticism, even if it means upsetting a few people. It also established the early spy spoof film, way before Austin Powers and other slapstick comedies. The delay preserved some of Fleming's material, like a freshwater glacier, for a new generation of viewers. Which on second thought, wasn't a bad idea. And it stalled Eon's Casino Royale into the 21st century. It tried to undermine and cut into the then-young Bond franchise. Part of the hate it gets is due to legacy, and not just the film itself. It's often not included in people's list, and when it is, it's ranked low. It's completely absurd and doesn't follow the protocol at all when it comes to what a Bond movie should be. It's a parody of James Bond and not official lore. It gets the reputation as the black sheep of the series.
