By Aravind Ramachandran
http://entertainment.in.msn.com/hollywood/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3029414
“Sex for dinner, death for breakfast”, said the pretty Miranda Frost, describing the lifestyle of James Bond (‘Die Another Day’, 2002). If putting one’s life at risk is a fair price to pay for being a new age Casanova, James Bond is the ultimate idol for any romantic soul.
Yet, the world’s most loved spy is indeed a forgettable man, if it weren’t for his arsenal of gadgets. Perhaps the other most cherished character in the series, Mr Q, spends half his life begging James Bond to bring back the gadgets he equips him with, “in pristine condition”. As the world waits with bated breath for the latest offering to hit the screens, let’s take a stroll through the Gadgets’ Hall of Fame. Take a 'Quantum of Solace' in the fact that some of these were once stakes in the gamble for the 007’s life.
‘From Russia with Love’, 1963
Spy Briefcase (‘From Russia with Love’, 1963)
The briefcase was a logical extension of a Swiss army knife. Standard issue to all Mi6 field agents, everything James Bond may need, was in the case. The contents included an AR-7 .22 survival rifle (which in the movie was wrongly called a Sniper's rifle) with infrared telescopic sight. A knife was hidden in an external compartment. For good measure, it had the universal currency of the tumultuous times: 50 gold sovereigns concealed in the hinge. A gas bomb would go off if the case was tampered with. A cyanide capsule was part of the standard issue (in the book, but not in the movie), but true to the Bond self-assurance, Pierce Brosnan makes it clear in ‘Die Another Day’ (2002) that he “flushed it down the toilet”.
‘Thunderball’, 1965
Jet pack (‘Thunderball’, 1965)
After assassinating Col. Bouvar in the 1965 movie, James Bond literally takes to the skies in what is perhaps the 'most high-flying' of all escape vehicles. But then, being down to earth was never the Bond line. A favoured nostalgic piece of later era Bond movies as well, Q finds it hard to keep Bond’s hands off it during the briefings.
‘Golden Eye’, 1995
Phone Booth Trap (‘Golden Eye’, 1995)
Although never actually used by James Bond, one of the scientists under Q is seen experiencing the dire side of this gadget. Designed to trap, with an airbag, anyone who tries to use this unassuming phone-booth lookalike, may well offer a coy challenge to Superman.
‘Tomorrow Never Dies’, 1997
Mobile Phone (‘Tomorrow Never Dies’, 1997)
One tends to doubt if 'mobile phone’ is an apt name for this device. Our man, Mr Bond, is almost never seen actually using it to talk. It included a high voltage stun-gun, a fingerprint scanner and a lock pick. Bond is also seen using its flip open feature to reveal a touch-pad remote control for his BMW. The flip feature then made its way into later day communicator gadgets in real life.
‘Die Another Day’, 2002
Aston Martin (‘Die Another Day’, 2002)
Arguably the mother of all Bond gadgets, Mr Q takes much pride in this particular car. In a memorable spectacle, Q proudly announces it as the finest in British engineering, as a trolley on rails rolls into the laboratory! Bond is annoyed. Fortunately, the invisibility shield is then turned off to reveal a state-of-the-art Aston Martin complete with target seeking machine guns, ejector seats and traction. Q hands James Bond a 300 plus page user manual, which Bond promptly feeds to the machine guns.
In Daniel Craig’s first edition of James Bond, the spy seems to be caught in a time warp. Considering Bond had just received the license to kill, there were limits to how much technology could be exploited. Q and his lab don’t make an appearance, although he has the basic gadgets as part of the general issue, plus, of course, the microchip implant for Mi6 to track him.
‘The Quantum of Solace’ opens up what could be a new age. Let’s just wait and see if James Bond has the gadgets to see him through. After all, the legend is too sophisticated to be defeated for a lack of the right equipment. On field, or in bed!
Source: India Syndicate
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