“James Bond” Author Severely Criticizes Current Movies: “Mission: Impossible” Is Now Better Than 007

On the occasion of the coronation of King Charles III. A new James Bond novel is out. The press round used author Charlie Higsonto vigorously oppose the films Daniel Craig And especially “no time to die‘ handing out.

Charlie Higson knows James Bond. From 2005 to 2009, he was entrusted by the estate of 007 creator Ian Fleming to unravel the backstory of the famous agent with a license to kill based on the original works. He wrote five books and a short story in the Young Bond novel series before the series was continued by another author.

Higson, meanwhile, was working on the adult Bond. Just in time for the coronation of King Charles III. On May 6, 2023, the novel “On His Majesty’s Secret Service” was published – of course an allusion to the Flemish classic “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” or “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, which was also made into a film. In the new story, 007 must foil an eccentric nobleman’s plan to use his army of mercenaries to disrupt the coronation.

However, Higson’s statements during the press tour for his book are now making headlines. Because while he still liked the beginning “Casino Royale”, he criticizes the whole era with Daniel Craig and especially the ending of the series “No time to die”.

…as by people who are ashamed of making a Bond film

The he reports on his visit to the cinema for “No time to die” with his 30-year-old son. He then explained to him: “It felt like a Bond film by people who are ashamed of making a Bond film.”

He also demonizes the fact that you have to know two parts in advance to understand them: “You’re complicating it!” The better Bond films at the moment are the “Mission: Impossible” adventures with Tom Cruise. There’s also no confrontation with the inner workings of the character, but rather tall buildings are climbed and things just fly into the air.

“No Time To Die” has good sequences but is not escapist enough

Also opposite he explains that everything is too complicated and the reason is that those responsible think too much. But people just want to see a Bond, so you don’t have to think about whether he should do this or that.

The films with Craig therefore look too “grumpy”, while in reality Bond is “total escapism”. Suddenly Roger Moore was skiing backwards and firing missiles with his sticks – that was Bond. This is how Bond should be again.

“No Time To Die” has a “fantastic car chase” but “then Bond gets into a fight in the car with his girlfriend and you’re like, ‘I came to watch an escapist fantasy and I don’t get it!’”

Only the scene where Craig’s Bond infiltrates a Specter encounter with Ana de Armas meets Higson’s demands. Then he thought, “Wow, great. Bond is back!” But then you look forward to the next scene with Paloma and the character never returns, and instead you deal with the “grumpy relationship” that is at the heart of the story.

Bond can be modern and awake – but it has to be fun!

In the aforementioned interview with he also explains that, despite these criticisms, he obviously doesn’t want the old 1960s Bond back. Bond has to move with the times. After all, his new novel is also set in the year 2023 and the interpretation of the main character, who reads the scientific newspaper “New Scientist” in his book, for example, adapts to this.

“I don’t mind if someone says he is [seine Bond-Version] is a little awake. Young people are often like that. There’s nothing wrong with waking up.”, he brushes off this criticism. Higson also makes no statement in his novel about the skin color of his 007. When asked, he only explains what is in the book: he has black hair.

These are all little side issues anyway, it’s about Bond getting a new mission in each story and then just being Bond and chasing the bad guy and not having any doubts or relationship issues.

It doesn’t matter who becomes Bond: 007 has to go back to how things used to be for Higson

For Higson, the discussion about who will be the next James Bond and what skin color he might have is secondary: “It doesn’t matter who the actor is. Of course you don’t want someone who is too old. Ideally he’s in his mid-30s. Yes what he looks like doesn’t matter. It depends on what he’s doing. That he’s doing James Bond stuff again!”

In another interview with the but then he speculates on names. He’s personally supportive of “McMafia” star James Norton, but wants to remind you of one thing: “As soon as the papers report someone being talked about as the next James Bond, you know he’s not going to be the next James Bond. Because then you know he was rejected,” he theorizes that only the eliminated candidates will be leaked to the press. Therefore, the final choice will be surprising. The same was true of Daniel Craig, whom no one expected before.