James Bond Dolls
Unless you live in a cave—or have been hiding out in a Bond Villain’s lair—you must know that this is the 50th anniversary of the 007 movie franchise. The current Brit who is inhabiting the tux, tie, and tough-guy demeanor is Daniel Craig, and he’s been popping up on talk shows, magazine covers, and even late-night comedy gigs. (He hosted “SNL” on Saturday, October 6.) Perhaps his most unique cameo was when he skydived out of a plane with Queen Elizabeth of England during the Summer Olympics. He was literally enacting the notion of “skyfalling.”
News of pop songbird Adele slated to warble the newest movie’s theme song sent tweeted, excited soundbites and images through the Twitter and YouTube universe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HKoqNJtMTQ&noredirect=1So hopes are indeed high for the success of “Skyfall,” which is supposed to offer up a meaner, leaner, more realistic version of the Bond hero, or antihero, depending upon which side of the gun you’re standing on.
James Bond—the guy that men want to be, and women want to be with—hasn’t just captured the fancy of action-adventure fans. He’s also been the muse for a series of doll manufacturers and artists. Over the years, all of the actors who have played this master of innuendo and espionage have been noted for their hunk appeal. Whether it was rascally sexuality or charming good looks, the men who have assumed this coveted identity have all had a flair for the dramatic, a way with words, and an ability to make women weak in the knees. For lots of gals, 007 is a solid 10.
When the character and his interpreters are so dashing, it’s no wonder that many of the renderings are spot-on portraits. The gallery of agents from Connery to Moore, Dalton to Brosnan to Craig (with even a nod to George Lazenby) are pretty remarkable for how well the Sideshow Collectible sculptors caught the facial structures, cheekbones, rugged chins, and deep-set eyes of Bond, James Bond. (http://www.sideshowtoy.com/)
Of course, every outlandish outing has also featured a comely miss who has either been the agent’s adversary, temporary love interest, or both. When it comes to shapely misses who have long legs and tons of tresses, no other doll compares to Barbie. So, naturally, Mattel has paid tribute to the tantalizing vixens of the Bond franchise.
In November 2002, on the 40th anniversary of the blockbuster movie series, they debuted the “James Bond 007 Ken and Barbie Giftset.” Ken was decked out in a tuxedo and tie, looking like he should be going to a cocktail party, but the briefcase showed that he was a man on a mission. His companion, Barbie, was clad in a formfitting gown, which was designed by Academy Award winning fashionista Lindy Hemming. Like with all the women who have shaken and stirred 007, Barbie could be a good girl gone bad, or a bad girl willing to become good to please the inscrutable gunman. (http://www.barbiecollector.com/)
Women of Bond Dolls
Perhaps the most compelling of all the Bond baddies and goodies are the women whom Mattel tailored impeccably for their “Barbie Loves Bond” collection. Launched in 2009 through 2010, the parade of lovelies included Halle Berry’s “Jinx,” Honor Blackman’s “Pussy Galore,” Ursula Andress’s “Honey Ryder,” among others. Each of the dolls saluted the iconic costuming, hairstyling, and expressions of these damsels who often caused distress.
When a series of movies has taken on the worldwide power and recognition as the Bond flicks have done, it’s commendable that 50 years later it is still standing and aspiring to break box office records. (Though that might be difficult to do, given the youthful nature and the younger demographics of who goes to the multiplexes these days.) Whether the new “Skyfall,” the 23rd installment, opens big on November 9—with the sky the limit—or has a more tempered first weekend, Daniel Craig has given the promotion his best efforts. James Bond couldn’t have been more heroic in getting the word out. With his penetrating blue eyes and tousled hair, the newest agent has been tagged “the thinking woman’s sex symbol.” Though people might nitpick whether this observation is true or whether Craig alone deserves the moniker, the repaint of the Tonner Company “Lord Asriel” doll, by the super talented Noel Cruz, makes it hard to argue with that statement. Daniel Craig has never looked so arresting as he does in this repaint from Cruz. Dare I say it—he’s turned the hardened lone wolf into a living doll, and has painted the living daylights out of it! (http://noeling.deviantart.com/)