I was on a Father’s Day roadtrip last weekend and took a side pilgrimage to Herman Melville’s “Arrowhead,” his country home in Pittsfield, MA, where he lived from 1850 to 1863. The forty-five minute tour was engaging and thorough, and Bob, our guide, was tremendously knowledgeable. Seeing Melville’s study and the piazza in the flesh were highlights. Definitely recommended if you’re in the area.
I was introduced to Bond via "For Your Eyes Only" on videocasette a year before I saw "Octopussy" in the theater, so the Moore era will always influence my take on the character. But, IMO, the best iteration of this version of Bond is in the early Brosnan era. Bond for me isn't the character in the novels, or the grittier versions. Bond for me is more superhuman and more tongue-in-cheek, even in his more grounded outings. Brosnan has all the charm of Roger and the physicality to credibly pull off the rough stuff.
I was twenty-three when I saw "Tomorrow Never Dies" in the theater, and watching that pre-title sequence made me feel like a kid again. That's the sequence that most epitomizes Bond to me.
Which one is it for you?