James Bond - Xmas gift, help needed!

[Hugo]

Last minute X-mas shopping advice needed - was mulling over the options as far as grabbing a box set of the Bond films or the Ian Fleming novels and wanted to pick your brains. I was considering getting them as a gift for no-one in particular but the entire family. Aside from selfish reasons I've got a couple of teenage kids and was thinking there was a lot of benefit in picking up some of the films or books as it's a pretty soft entry point for introducing/learning about the Cold war, something to pique their interest without being overly scholarly/boring.

With that said I'd only be interested in the first 16 films (so Sean Connery - Timothy Dalton since that timeframe encompasses the Cuban missile crisis - fall of the the Berlin wall) or the dozen Ian Fleming novels HOWEVER, it is has been forever since I have watched any of those films and I only read the one novel many moons ago.

Do these films stand up in the 21st century or are they a bit naff/dated now? What do you think is better, getting the books or the films? What would you do if you were in my shoes?

FWIW I was thinking in terms of box sets because I'm sure that would work out way cheaper than collecting all the titles one by one.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

[Carter's Choice]

When you say 'box sets' do you mean DVD's? If your family watches DVD's then I think a box set of James Bond movies would be a great way to introduce them to that character. The movies have aged a lot, but are still entertaining. Just a thought, would a netflix subscription cost less initially and offer access to many more movies?

[FujiKiwi]

Yeah, do people watch DVDs still?

Something like a Netflix subscription sounds smart, but FYI, I don’t think Netflix carries the Bond films at this stage. Netflix Japan doesn’t, anyway. But as AC says, streaming might give you much more bang for your buck.

As for the films, even the more recent version ones are out of date. The old ones are comically so. For me that provides a kind of nostalgic charm.

And the films are much too fantastical to give any valuable insight into the Cold War. You may as well get a Harry Potter box set if that is your aim.

[Carter's Choice]

Yeah, do people watch DVDs still?

Something like a Netflix subscription sounds smart, but FYI, I don’t think Netflix carries the Bond films at this stage. Netflix Japan doesn’t, anyway. But as AC says, streaming might give you much more bang for your buck.

As for the films, even the more recent version ones are out of date. The old ones are comically so. For me that provides a kind of nostalgic charm.

And the films are much too fantastical to give any valuable insight into the Cold War. You may as well get a Harry Potter box set if that is your aim.

They haven't aged well in the #metoo era. Bond would be considered a sex pest/rapist today.

[Kiwias]

Yeah, do people watch DVDs still?

Something like a Netflix subscription sounds smart, but FYI, I don’t think Netflix carries the Bond films at this stage. Netflix Japan doesn’t, anyway. But as AC says, streaming might give you much more bang for your buck.

As for the films, even the more recent version ones are out of date. The old ones are comically so. For me that provides a kind of nostalgic charm.

And the films are much too fantastical to give any valuable insight into the Cold War. You may as well get a Harry Potter box set if that is your aim.

Get "the spy who came in from the cold" and the tv series of "tinker, sailor, soldier, spy" and "smiley's people".

[Hugo]

When you say 'box sets' do you mean DVD's? If your family watches DVD's then I think a box set of James Bond movies would be a great way to introduce them to that character. The movies have aged a lot, but are still entertaining. Just a thought, would a netflix subscription cost less initially and offer access to many more movies?

Yeah, streaming is definitely an option but I am of the opinion that buying stuff that is classic or of enduring value is the way to go. I definitely regret giving away stuff that I collected over the years because there is something to be said for having it to pass along later on down the road.

And the films are much too fantastical to give any valuable insight into the Cold War. You may as well get a Harry Potter box set if that is your aim.

Agreed, but my aim is to cover the serious, nitty gritty stuff down the road (eventually we will get to stuff like Platoon, Ken Burns Vietnam documentary and JFK biographies, for instance) but I think watching some Bond films is a good starting out point to gaining a grasp of what was going on and what was at stake. At the very least it should capture their imagination and give them an insight into the subterfuge that characterised the conflict.

They haven't aged well in the #metoo era. Bond would be considered a sex pest/rapist today.

Haha! Isn't that the truth.

[FujiKiwi]

And the films are much too fantastical to give any valuable insight into the Cold War. You may as well get a Harry Potter box set if that is your aim.

Agreed, but my aim is to cover the serious, nitty gritty stuff down the road (eventually we will get to stuff like Platoon, Ken Burns Vietnam documentary and JFK biographies, for instance) but I think watching some Bond films is a good starting out point to gaining a grasp of what was going on and what was at stake. At the very least it should capture their imagination and give them an insight into the subterfuge that characterised the conflict.

There's sweet fuck all in the Bond movies about the Cold War, though. It's all about underwater volcano bases and henchmen who can decapitate you by throwing their hats. But by all means, go ahead and share the films with your family. Taken for what they are, they're a lot of fun.

[Lobby]

You can get a box set of all the Bond films up to Spectre for £50 on blu ray, or £40 on DVD. The older ones haven’t dated too badly, certainly not as badly as the final Roger Moore films, which are embarrassingly bad. They’re good fun if you don’t take them too seriously, and if you watch them in order, you can also consider how they reflect the changing attitudes and styles over time.

[FujiKiwi]

A full box set is going to take up an absolute truckload of space on shelves, for films Hugo and his immediate heirs might watch once each. Also, by the time his grandkids are old enough for his innovative lesson plans on the Cold War, will DVD players even be a thing?

[Lobby]

A full box set is going to take up an absolute truckload of space on shelves, for films Hugo and his immediate heirs might watch once each. Also, by the time his grandkids are old enough for his innovative lesson plans on the Cold War, will DVD players even be a thing?

As the discs are not in individual cases, a box set is fairly economical on space

[sockwithaticket]

Yeah, do people watch DVDs still?

Yes, because the streaming services don't always have what you want to watch and digital rental doesn't have many providers. Additonally, the cost of renting from, say, Amazon (whom we should all be trying to give less money to) often exceeds that of purchasing the DVD.

[sockwithaticket]

Do these films stand up in the 21st century or are they a bit naff/dated now?

No, imo. I tried watching some Connery and Moore ones during my teens in the 00's and hated them. I regretted having spent time watching those films. Moore's in particular were super cringey.

That said of the Bond films I've seen, and it's by no means an exhaustive list, I've only liked Casino Royale, so I'm perhaps not the audience for them.

[FujiKiwi]

A full box set is going to take up an absolute truckload of space on shelves, for films Hugo and his immediate heirs might watch once each. Also, by the time his grandkids are old enough for his innovative lesson plans on the Cold War, will DVD players even be a thing?

As the discs are not in individual cases, a box set is fairly economical on space

Fair points, but I’m still not convinced. For now, maybe DVDs are legit. But we’re moving quickly into a world of streaming, and then it’ll be something else. I just think Hugo could gift the family a Netflix and maybe an Amazon Prime membership, then take them through all the James Bond films and then a whole lot of other classic films as well. This’ll be more economical in the long run, and the family will still have the “heritage” of having watched the films together. What’s more, if they get through a couple of Bond films and the kids aren’t enjoying it, they can go through Spielberg movies or something.

[Niegs]

Kiwias, "Tinker, Tailor..." will put the teens to sleep, mate!

I'm still a collector of DVDs, so am with you if you want to be sure something will be accessible (not just the whims of streaming services adding/subtracting, I'm on slow-ass rural internet, which goes out from time to time) and my range of tastes either don't appear or are split across several services and are the first to go when they refresh the offerings.

If you want to do Cold War, why not make something fun... like little mission dossiers (could do up cards with dates, key bits of trivia, the main fictional/historical players, etc. and keep in a box on the shelf) to sit down as a family and watch some films (streamed, rented, borrowed from the library, bought and pulled off the shelf, whatever...) that better represent the period?

Just off the top of my head...

Seven Days in May
Fail Safe
Dr Strangelove
Thirteen Days
Bridge of Spies
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
The Man from UNCLE (more realistic than a Bond film, still fun)
Red Dawn (fantastical, but definitely touches upon what Americans feared)
Heartbreak Ridge (lots of salty language, be warned)
Spies Like Us (silly, but ...)
The Hunt for Red October
Spy Game
Goodbye Lenin (German, wonderful light drama)

[FujiKiwi]

Niegs uses his librarian-educator superpowers to show us all up.... Those are some cool ideas.

What about that Kevin Costner film, “No Way Out”? From memory, that was a Cold War thriller? Or at least, the Cold War was part of the backdrop.

[Lobby]

That’s a great list Niegs.

I’d also add The Manchurian Candidate (the 1963 version; not the remake), Three Days of the Condor (maybe not so much Cold War, but more CIA paranoia), and North by Northwest.

No Way Out is also a good shout, but maybe not one for watching with your kids, especially if they are younger.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Yeah, do people watch DVDs still?

Something like a Netflix subscription sounds smart, but FYI, I don’t think Netflix carries the Bond films at this stage. Netflix Japan doesn’t, anyway. But as AC says, streaming might give you much more bang for your buck.

As for the films, even the more recent version ones are out of date. The old ones are comically so. For me that provides a kind of nostalgic charm.

And the films are much too fantastical to give any valuable insight into the Cold War. You may as well get a Harry Potter box set if that is your aim.

They haven't aged well in the #metoo era. Bond would be considered a sex pest/rapist today.

[Hugo]

Niegs uses his librarian-educator superpowers to show us all up.... Those are some cool ideas.

Yeah, great list Nieg, thanks to you and everyone who responded. I heeded your advice FK and I will follow Nieg's blueprint here.

[Hugo]

Do these films stand up in the 21st century or are they a bit naff/dated now?

No, imo. I tried watching some Connery and Moore ones during my teens in the 00's and hated them. I regretted having spent time watching those films. Moore's in particular were super cringey.

That said of the Bond films I've seen, and it's by no means an exhaustive list, I've only liked Casino Royale, so I'm perhaps not the audience for them.

Yeah, Mike Myers really encapsulated how OTT they were didn't he?

Honestly think I will settle for trying to grab the novels at some point and just catching the films when they happen to be on. As Nieg (and FK) pointed out there are better starting points for learning about the cold war.

Merry Christmas all.

[FujiKiwi]

Yeah, essentially using Bond as a way into the Cold War is a bit like introducing your kids to astronomy through Star Wars. That said, the 007 films do reflect a lot of the zeitgeist of their time, though perhaps more cultural than historical. I see them as a fantasy Fleming (originally, through the novels) concocted to pretend Britain was still “Great” in world affairs. It’s comical how sidelined the CIA sidekick etc are. Almost like an alternate universe where the US never gained ascendency.

Still, you’ll have a lot of fun watching them with the kids, alongside some of those other films Niegs has suggested, I reckon. Happy viewing and happy holidays.

[Niegs]

Niegs uses his librarian-educator superpowers to show us all up.... Those are some cool ideas.

Yeah, great list Nieg, thanks to you and everyone who responded. I heeded your advice FK and I will follow Nieg's blueprint here.

Sounds like fun... it was something that just popped into my head! :) All the best with whatever direction you go with it.