An open request to Paul Haggis: Please don’t ruin James Bond. I know the revamped James Bond series has had awesome judgment so far, and I know you’ve written some great screenplays. But you also wrote Crash, a movie that still irks me two years later, and now you’re writing the next James Bond movie, and I’m worried you’re going to destroy it all.
I’m even more worried now since Daniel Craig may or may not have slipped the title of the next Bond into an interview about The Golden Compass in the U.K. With a series known for its original, sometimes punny titles, what have they come up with this time? 007. Yes, that’s a title, not just a name.
To be fair, Ain’t It Cool News admits this is serious speculation, so all might not be lost. In the interview in question Craig mentioned that the title was more like a number, since the first movie saw him earning his 00 status and now, as far as the revamped series is concerned, he’s 007 for the first time. “He was asked if 007 is actually the title, but said he might have said too much.
On one level, 007 is an amazing, if slightly redundant, title. Who really uses the titles for James Bond movies when they come out anyway? I know I didn’t say to my dad “Hey, we’re going to see Casino Royale”—no, we went to see James Bond like everyone else did. Calling it 007 kind of admits that the titles are irrelevant, though it pretty much takes away all other possibly obvious titles in the future.
On the other hand… this is such a departure from tradition I’m not sure I can stand behind it. Sure, Casino Royale really changed the image of James Bond, and I think they’re right to get as far away from the overstuffed Pierce Brosnan Bond of the 90s. But there’s got to be some tip of the hat to the past, otherwise you’re just making, as many have joked, The Bond Ultimatum. There’s room for many super spies in the world but there is only one James Bond, and he needs to remain recognizably himself if he’s going to have any relevance.
And I admit… I am totally biased against Paul Haggis and assume he is going to ruin this, though I know his track record proves me wrong. Hopefully Bond will be another example of why I should stop resenting him.
