The voice of a Bond girl

I got this image from the official Facebook page of Ian Fleming. I share it here because I quite liked the novel The Spy Who Loved Me, more than the movie of the same title if I must be honest. I know Ian Fleming disowned the novel, but there is a lot to love in it. It may be an atypical Bond novel, ut it is an interesting hybrid of a crime story with a coming of age one, where the Bond girl, Vivienne Michel, is the actual main character and narrator. So this is truly the story of a Bond girl, seen through her eyes, in her own voice. And she is a fellow Québécoise, no less.

Skyfall

I don't go very often to cinema these days and there are a number of movies I was curious about, even interested, which I didn't see on the big screen. I don't know why exactly. But now I got really enthusiastic about Skyfall, the next James Bond movie. As my long time readership knows, I am a big fan of James Bond, both in movies (especially the early ones) and the original novels. I try to read one every year, this year it is going to be The Spy Who Loved Me, which Ian Fleming didn't like. But I am curious about it: the Bond girl character is from Québec. Since the story is set in winter, it will be my Christmas reading treat. Oh and don't you like the book cover? Very stylish!

I was becoming blasé with the movies until Casino Royale in 2006 and the way Craig played the role. I became enthusiastic again. Now I didn't find Quantum of Solace nearly as good, but I still enjoyed it and found the plot quite inventive. I also thought the casting was flawless. In any case, it was still a solid, intelligent movie. Now I am skeptical about some elements of Skyfall, but I am reasonably confident. I have mixed feelings about Sam Mendes as a director (American Beauty is maybe the most overrated movie I ever saw, but I really enjoyed Revolution Road and Road to Perdition). I don't like the idea of a young Q (why?), the fact that one Bond girl has to be yet another spy (why not a damsel in distress? or simply, like Sylvia Trench, someone oblivious to the world of espionnage?) and I am bit concerned that they go back to the heavy gadgetry (not necessary). That said, I love the casting, albeit it is made of more famous people than the previous two films. And I love the title. Skyfall. It sounds like something from Ian Fleming. It is sharp, ominous, it feels like danger. Just for it, I cannot wait.

Nobody Does It Better

Well, I made another cake for my birthday (tomorrow). I thought today I would be too tired. Of course, while it looks delicious (see picture above) and absolutely decadent, as all cakes should be, it is also not quite rightly shaped. That is my main flaw when I make cake: I make catastrophy cakes (and I coined the term). It does not look as bad as last years's birthday cake, but still. That said, I am the best at making cakes that look awful. For the best looking and tasting cake, you should see (and taste) the ones my brother makes. Nobody does it better.

Lovely expression, "nobody does it better", especially when it is directed at you. It is also the title song of a Bond movie. I do not like the movie much, but absolutely love the song. My wife and I considered using it for our first dance, before settling for something else, something that was less macho narcissistic. All the same, Nobody Does It Better is great for an ego boost. I wonder sometimes what I am really talented at. I have good analytical skills when it comes to literature, I do have a good ear and a nice singing voice, I also have some natural acting skills, but I am not the best at any of these, not by any stretch of the imagination. Ah well, maybe I am thinking too much at the approach of the end of another year of existence. Getting old(er) always gets me in a thinking mood. I'll just leave you with the song...