The James Bond Formula
from www.sabran.com and modified by David
Elliott
- Traditional Theme, Logo, Single Shot and Blood: The
traditional James Bond theme (or a variation) is played as the logo (the inside of a gun
barrel) bounces across the screen. The view centers in on Bond walking. Bond then shifts
his pose and shoots into view. Blood drips down the screen.
- The Pre-Credits Sequence: Bond's life (or the life of a
pivitol character) is threatened by hook or crook and 007 pulls off a fantastic stunt to
save himself. This scene introduces key characters in the movie and sets up the story.
- Opening Credits: Lots of silhouettes of nubile women prancing
around.
- Movie Theme Song: This happens during the opening credits. The
theme song scored just for this movie is played. It almost always has the movie title in
its lyrics. Occasionally, it is played in other parts of the movie considering the mood of
the music.
- Briefing of mission: Bond walks into the office of MI-6 and
flirts with Moneypenny. Bond walks into M's office. Gets briefed of situation. He
may also get briefed by M outside of this office (You Only Live Twice, Man With The Golden
Gun, Licence To Kill, Tomorrow Never Dies, for example)
- Toyland: Q gives Bond any special gizmos needed for the
assignment. Lots of prop jokes.
- After the Bad Guy: Bond goes to the exotic location of where
he tries to contact the enemy. Sometime before next step, he may get a Martini that is
"shaken not stirred".
- Fight with Bad Guy's Henchman: Here is where the stunt men
earn their pay. Lots of fights where Bond just barely wins. Makes easy transition into
next step.
- Meet Bond Girl: James comes into the circle of his female
companion for the rest of the movie. The irony of all Bond movies is that Bond
cannot complete the mission without the assistance of this lady!
- Enemy Spots Bond: Bond breaks a MAJOR rule of modern field
agent training and flaunts his presence in unsecured environments. Usually makes
some stupid reference to what the villain does, playing dumb. The Bad Guy and crew
discovers Bond's presence following to next step.
- Fallen Comrade: This can happen anywhere in the film from
beginning right to the end. Someone in Bond's assistance will die at the hand of the Bad
Guy's forces. It affects Bond emotionally usually to a point of avenging.
- Chase Scene: Bond is in some exotic vehicle or location in a
chase. Whether he is chasing or being chased or if the Bond Girl is with him or the bad
guy's henchmen (never the Bad Guy) alternate from movie to movie. Lots of vehicle stunts
with theme music.
- Bad Guy's Headquarters Found: Bond finds HQ of the Bad Guy and
infiltrates it.
- Battle Armies: The large group assisting Bond gets into a huge
battle royale with the forces of the Bad Guy. Most of the Bad Guy's forces buy it.
- Bond and Company Captured: Bad Guy and crew capture Bond and
Bond Girl inside the HQ. Instead of killing them right off, they are placed in some
isolated situation where they will die if they didn't do anything creative. Just before
they are left to die, the Bad Guy explains his twisted reasoning of his own existence and
actions. Occasionally, this happens before the Battle Armies step.
- Bond Saves Self and Bond Girl: Using a gizmo given by Q, he
escapes and starts to screw up the Bad Guy's plans of destruction.
- Final Combat: Bond gets the advantage and a final combat with
the Bad Guy ensues. Bond wins.
- Destruction of Bad Guy's HQ: Bad Guy defeated, usually dead,
the whole of the Bad Guy's HQ goes up in a huge explosion.
- Secondary Combat: A minor, almost comical, fight ensues with
the Bad Guy's Henchman. Bond wins. Henchman is under their own accord now. Sometimes
occurs before Final Combat.
- Talking the High Road: Bond and Bond Girl are retrieved in
some exotic and unusual manner. They never get out under their own effort.
- Bond has the Bond Girl: This sometimes happens before the
previous step usually with comical relief for the audience.
- Ending Credits: Boring black and white text scrolls up the
screen.
- Coming Soon: The end of the credits has in the text "James
Bond will return in ..." to start the promotion of the next movie.
|
