The Cantina Is Backed/James Bond Day

 As I write this, the VC Cantina HasLab has been backed, and is at 8,879 backers. I had anticipated it would be backed sometime on July 5th, and that happened. However the tiers, particularly Greedo can still be reaches, and yes, even the final tier of Arliel Schous could be possible as HasLab's gain more attention near the final day of the campaign. So this is your last chance to #BackTheBar!!! If you can afford this, please do so!!

Of course every bar or Cantina has patrons, and in the Star Wars universe they come in all shapes, sizes and species. But there is another world that I go to for relaxation and entertainment. And it's a franchise that has gone strong for 71 years: James Bond! I wasn't much older when I saw my first James Bond movie than I was when I first saw a Star Wars movie. And with today being July 7th (07/07 or 007), I thought for a change of pace I'd cover another franchise that I enjoy. Even if the last movie was horrible. And if Bond ever went out as far as Mos Eisley and Chalmun's Cantina, I bet Wuher knows that Bond likes his martinis shaken, not stirred.

James Bond first appeared in the novel Casino Royale in 1953. 9 years later, Bond made his film debut with Dr No. My first Bond experience was Goldfinger, when it aired on TBS Superstation (aka The Bond Station as they did frequent Bond marathons in the mid 1980's until the early 2000's). I was 8 years old, had the flu, so my Dad let me stay up late to watch Goldfinger. Much like seeing Leia in the gold bikini, I got hooked on Jill Masterson covered in gold paint. Bond getting justice for Jill compelled me to watch, and when Goldfinger met his final fate, I was hooked into the franchise. But when I went to the theater and saw The Living Daylights, I was surprised to see another actor (Timothy Dalton) as Bond. But, I found that movie thrilling, and became a fan. While Licence To Kill was the next movie, I didn't see it because Batman, Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade, and yes I even went to see Star Trek 5!! But when GoldenEye came out, I have seen all Bond Films since then in theaters.

But in my adult life, I finally could get my hands on the Fleming novels. When I was younger they were out of print. I had put a pause on collecting in the mid 2000's so I bought as many of Fleming's novels as possible. The literary 007 is a far cry from the film 007 in many ways. Bond is depressed over heartbreaks. He is often injured (Bond being in mental or physical recovery is common in the better Fleming novels), he's bored being at his desk (me too) and when he's on assignment he feels his life has purpose and meaning. The literary Bond is a Sigma Male, has Alpha traits but doesn't want to be in charge. He just wants to do his job, and then be left alone. Daniel Craig portrayed this version of 007 in his first 4 films. Like Star Wars Episode 8, the less said about the last Bond film is better for us all. In my opinion, adding Bond books to your reading list is just as important as watching the films. I'll give you a guide on both.

BOND NOVELS

Besides Ian Fleming, authors Kingsley Amis, John Gardner, Raymond Benson, Jeffery Deaver and Charles Higson have written Bond novels. Bond also features in various comic book miniseries courtesy of Dynamite Comics, which bring Bond into a more modern setting, which is my gripe with the current Bond novels, which have him either in the era of the Cold War or missing in action. Fleming once said all Bond stories take place 3 seconds from now. I don't know if that is accurate, but reading his novels at the time he wrote them that's quite accurate. When reading, it's best to start with Fleming. For good modern stories Raymond Benson & Jeffery Deaver's lone Bond novel (he deserved more, honestly) are entertaining. Here's the books I recommend, and in publishing order:

BY IAN FLEMING

1. Casino Royale-establishes Bond through falling in love and being betrayed. The last line of the book is memorable.

2. From Russia With Love- one of JFK's favorite books, it's a classic spy thriller, which has a cliffhanger ending.

3. Goldfinger-best Bond novel ever by Fleming. Much better than the movie.

4. On Her Majesty's Secret Service- One of the rare books that the film didn't completely change.

5. You Only Live Twice- the sequel to OHMSS, which has an ending that should have been in the last Bond film.

Okay Novels (not in publishing order): Live & Let Die, Moonraker & Thunderball

Skip: Diamonds Are Forever, The Spy Who Loved Me ( Bond shows up nearly 3 quarters into the book) & The Man With The Golden Gun.

BY JOHN GARDNER

License Renewed- published in 1981 it marked the return of 007 into the publishing world. He replaces the Walther PPK with a 9mm FN Browning M1903. The Double O section may be gone, but M needs 007 to stop a potential terrorist attack, plus a connection to a former Bond villain is revealed. The main romance, Cedar Leiter, who is Felix's daughter, borders on creepy. Overall a good read. Sadly, the other books just don't have the punch this one had.

BY RAYMOND BENSON

1. Zero Minus 10-As Great Britain gets ready to hand Hong Kong back to China, a British national wants to stop it as violently as possible. Also, Sir Miles is no longer M, but retired. The new M is female. More on her, next.

2. The Facts of Death-the new M ( Barbara Mawdsley) brings her new boyfriend to a party hosted by Sir Miles. Bond is there and bored of course. But a frantic call from M has 007 rushing to her, only to find her boyfriend has been murdered. The mystery deepens as Bond digs into his past, as well as his new boss as well.

3. The Union Trilogy (High Time To Kill, Double Shot, Never Dream of Dying)-a new SPECTRE type organization called The Union wreaks havoc worldwide. If you only read 3 Benson novels, make it these 3. As Bond finds new romances, he finds danger, and makes a heart breaking realization when he confronts the head of The Union.

BY JEFFERY DEAVER

Carte Blanche- his only Bond novel, it reinvents Bond for modern times. Most of the action takes place in S Africa, and sheds new light on the deaths of his parents. Worth reading!

BOND FILMS

This is what you're REALLY here for! I'll list my Top 10 Bond Films, and before that, Sean Connery is still my favorite Bond, with Craig a close second. Only Dalton and Brosnan look like the literary 007, while Moore and Lazenby's only Bond film allowed them to put their own stamp on Bond. My film order is highest to lowest, plus the ones I don't like so much.

1. Skyfall. If Ian Fleming was alive, he would have written this. It follows his better Bond stories, and has a few surprise twists.

2. Casino Royale. The "reboot" of Bond is well done, with Texas Hold Em replacing Baccarat. Eva Greene as Vesper perfectly compliments Craig's Bond. And the final line of the book makes its way into the movie.

3. Goldfinger. It has all the firsts. First opening credit song, first car and an outrageously named femme fatale. Pure enjoyment every time I watch it!

4. From Russia With Love. Connery's only classic spy adventure, and one that's grounded in realism. Also our 1st appearance of Desmond Llewellyn as Q.

5. OHMSS. Lazenby was a good Bond, but he was really screwed over by the producers and director. Telly Savalas is the best Blofeld, and the tragic ending still stings.

6. For Your Eyes Only. After the outrageous Moonraker, Bond is back to basics. A good old fashioned spy thriller that relies more on wits than gadgets. It's Moore's best outing as 007.

7. The Living Daylights. Timothy Dalton's debut was also the 1st time I saw a Bond movie in a theater. The film is fun, and while Dalton's performance comes across as intense, understand he's channeling Fleming's portrayal as in the novel Casino Royale.

8. Thunderball. This mixes cool gadgets and a real world type spy situation. Kevin McClory came up with the story, and his legal challenges kept Bond movies from being made for a while. Never Say Never Again is an unofficial Bond film, and basically the same characters and plot of Thunderball.

9. Live And Let Die. Roger Moore's debut is an exciting story. Plus Jane Seymour is just a dish! Yaphet Kotto was excellent as Mr Big. Fun fact: Felix Leiter actor David Hedison and Roger Moore were real life good friends.

10. The World Is Not Enough. This may be controversial but GoldenEye is a classic because of the video game. But TWINE is Brosnan at his best as 007. A long action heavy opening sequence, a decent title song, and a twist that honestly should have happened long before occur here. It has Brosnan's best moment as 007, and reminds audiences that Bond can be a cold blooded killer when necessary.

I can live without: Dr No, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever after the opening title song, GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies (unless you can get kd lang's song "surrender" edited into the title credits, put Sheryl Crow's theme in the end credits)

Don't watch: No Time To Die, Octopussy, A View To A Kill (Christopher Walken is awesome, but Moore looks way too old to be Bond), Diamonds Are Forever and Die Another Day.

Sadly, only the James Bond Jr animated series had James Bond (albeit Jr but Bond nonetheless) mainline action figures. There were some 8 inch figures done in a modern MEGO style, but lacked accessories. There are plenty of custom options to get a 3.75 inch James Bond figure, and if only Hasbro made a Club Obi-Wan Indiana Jones it would be possible to have a great 007 in the 1:18 scale! So today, much like May 4th is to Star Wars, so should July 7th be to James Bond.

Oh, and if you can: be speedo to get Greedo, make the run for Labrun, and get zeal for Arliel and back the bar! Time is running out!

PS: I wondered how I'd make this post work, but hopefully found a way. Thanks for reading! Special thanks to Chris and Nomad at BanthaSkull for allowing me to post this in the comment section. Also, please share this post on your social media accounts so I can get more readers!

PPS: Make sure your martini today is shaken, not stirred! Cheers!