Welcome to Recommends: James Bond special
YOU can work with someone for years and not know their likes and dislikes, peculiarities and peccadilloes.
So I was surprised when I asked if anyone would like to mark the release of Quantum of Solace by recommending their best Bond moments and characters. Martyn McLaughlin has the look of a Bond villain's evil henchman, so it was no surprise to find out he was a fan. Indeed, I am informed he was likened to Vargas in Thunderball in his younger days.
Yet Fiona MacLeod and Hamish McDonnell surprised me. Apologies to Hamish, whose political reporting skills and hatred of fireworks mask the heart of a man desperate to be a Bond stuntman.
His top five stunts were squeezed out due to lack of space, but I can reveal his No 1 was Roger Moore (or his double) walking on the backs of crocodiles in Live and Let Die (click here to view) – then the ski-parachute jump in The Spy Who Loved Me (click here to view) and 360-degree car barrel turn over the broken bridge in The Man With The Golden Gun.
As for Ms MacLeod, I made the mistake of asking which Bond girl she would like to be. For my sins, I was on the end of a withering look before she replied: "Actually, I always wanted to be Bond." More apologies for my sexism.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this Bond special. I have lost touch in recent years, I am a bit of a Connery purist (You Only Live Twice is my fave), and don't appreciate having to reach for a dictionary just to find out what the title means. (A sliver of comfort in a time of disappointment or sorrow, in case you're not sure).
It's not all Bond – don't miss Halloween recommendations at the back of this issue, or the first in a two-parter on great railway stations on this page.
David Lee
In this week's Recommends James Bond special:
Best Bond film
Most ingenious Bond weapon
Best Bond film death
Best Bond villain
Best Bond car
Best underrated Bond film
Best Scottish Bond connection
Best Bond 'B' Side
Best Bond one-liner
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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