Shaken not stirred

For more than half a century James Bond has been an icon of masculinity.

That’s over 50 years of bedding beautiful babes with names like Pussy Galore, Plenty O’Toole and Holly Goodhead.

This, despite the character having been played for campy laughs by Roger Moore, sent up by actors from David Niven to Mike Myers (in his Austin Powers movies), and being dropped into such regrettable nonsense as The World is Not Enough with Denise Richards cast as a (ahem) nuclear scientist. 

Indeed, the character may be stronger than ever. In the spring of this year, Doubleday published Devil May Care, a return to Fleming’s original conception of the character but written by British literary novelist Sebastian Faulks.

And this weekend, the producers of the Bond movies unveil the 22nd installment, Quantum of Solace. It’s the second starring Daniel Craig who, in our humble opinion, helped revitalize the series in 2006’s gritty Bond chapter, Casino Royale. We’re hoping that he and the filmmakers again bring all the dashing savoir-faire that the role demands. After all, we have to get our style tips from somewhere — and Vin Diesel just hasn’t been doing it for us. And so, in anticipation of another Bond flick, we’ve uncovered a few tips on dating international femme fatales. Some of these might even work in the real world.

Be prepared

Sure, Bond always has plenty of gadgets, from car ejector seats to laser-beam pens, that help him defeat the bad guys. But where Q, MI6’s resident genius, falls short, and where Bond excels, is in preparation d’amour. When he’s staying at a hotel — always the finest, since it’s on the government tab — he always has a bottle, usually of Champagne, ready to be opened should he invite back to the room an international arms dealer’s moll or a Russian assassin.

It’s not what you say, but how you say it

God knows, if Bond had only his quips to rely on in movies like The Spy Who Loved Me and Octopussy , he’d be getting less action than Steve Carell in The 40-Year-Old Virgin . But there’s a reason the phrase “Bond… James Bond” is one of the most famous in movie history: the rhythm. If Sean Connery, the first Bond, brought anything to the role, it was the way the hero talked. Bond rarely raises his voice, and often follows up his, let’s face it, rather lame witticisms with a bemused, knowing expression. Not to mention… just the right, dramatic… pause.

Learn the walk

Novelist Ian Fleming, Bond’s creator, thought the untested Sean Connery was “too uncouth” to play his gentleman spy in the first Bond movie, Dr. No . But, according to Total Film Magazine , after an interview and “a quick demonstration walk,” producer Harry Saltzman insisted on the Scottish actor. Whether or not that demo was the same coiled swagger Connery used in Dr. No and subsequent movies isn’t certain, but Bond’s walk conveys confidence and a quiet intensity — whether approaching a card table, a woman with a gun in her hand or a bottle of ’61 Bolinger.

Be “bad”

According to a recent study by psychologists at New Mexico State University, men who are narcissistic, thrill-seeking liars and all round “bad boys” tend to have the greatest success finding more sexual partners. Well, duh. These traits, known as “the dark triad,” more or less describe Bond’s personality — although filmmakers can’t resist letting the audience know he can be a softy when the right woman (or wrong one) comes along.

Flirt

One of the longest unconsummated flirtations in popular culture, if not the longest running, is that between Bond and his boss’s assistant, Miss Moneypenny. Flirting is like second-nature to Bond; as soon as he sees a woman he starts pouring on the old oil. He flirts whether he wants to sleep with someone or doesn’t. Don’t worry about women figuring out what you’re up to — they’re are always calling Bond on it, telling him they’re impervious to his charms, and then falling into bed.

Act first, apologize later

Bond doesn’t ask, he takes. That said, he’s also a gentleman. He treats women like cats –lets them come to him. Remember the old adage, it’s easier (and more fun) to apologize later, rather than ask permission before. Within reason, of course.

Cultivate good taste in wine, women and song

The Bond of the Fleming novels is a snob to the nth degree. Like his creator, the agent is picky when it comes to his cigarettes, his booze, his women — and culture. One of his most infamous lines, from Goldfinger (the movie), dates him as musically conservative: “That’s like listening to the Beatles without earmuffs,” he says at one point. There’s always something to be said for learning about the finer things in life, even if it means sticking to your Walther PPK when it comes to the latest pop sensation.

Have a mission

At the beginning of The Spy Who Loved Me , Bond (Roger Moore) is in bed with a beautiful Russian. When he gets a message saying he’s needed for a new assignment, he dons a canary yellow ski suit, and says goodbye. “But James,” says the girl. “I need you.” “So does England,” says James, and takes off. Women might say they want to be number one, but really, they like a guy to have a mission in life, something that’s more important even than her. Don’t have a mission in life? Act like you do.

Don’t take it personally

If there’s one thing M., his boss, is always telling double-O-seven, it’s, “Don’t turn this into a personal vendetta.” Once you let your feelings get in the way, your judgment becomes impaired and an enemy agent and/or the object of your desire may gain the upper hand. Keep your ego out of it — you’ll live longer, and better.

Article courtesy of Click by Lavalife.

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