Booze, bonks and bodies
The various Bonds are more different than you think
James Bond films are almost always the same: Bond is sent to an exotic location, meets and seduces a woman, gets caught by the villain, escapes, kills the villain and gets the girl. Known for martinis, Bond girls, apocalyptic antagonists and heavy innuendo, Bond has schmoozed, boozed and bruised his way through women and villains alike. Or not alike. Data compiled by The Economist show that of the six Bonds, Pierce Brosnan was the most bloodthirsty, bumping off an average of 19 baddies per film. The short-lived George Lazenby, it turns out, was the Bond for the babes, whereas Daniel Craig, the latest, is notably less successful. Maybe that’s because he drinks the most martinis. Still, all that risks being shortlived. In the new Bond film, “Skyfall” (reviewed here), Heineken has paid to ensure the hero only drinks beer. Neither shaken nor stirred, presumably.
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline "Booze, bonks and bodies"
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