On Assignment: London/Skyfall

Things must be pretty flush at Write On The Water given that Mike has me on assignment, headed to the UK. Perhaps it’s an effort to keep up with the likes of the Huffington Post, or maybe he has figured out one those subliminal revenue streams so common to the Internet world. In any event, I am 35,000 feet above the Atlantic heading east on a Seven-fifty-something in the late evening while I write this post.

My purpose?  The world premier of the new James Bond movie – Skyfall.  More specifically? Research on the 56 meter sailing yacht, Regina, used in the movie. 

There are certain requirements for Bond movies, boats being one.  You need not rely on a web search to recall the speedboats in Venice, yachts in the Bahamas, or fast runabouts in Louisiana from earlier 007 movies. Word is, Skyfall will not disappoint in this regard. 

Fans of serialized entertainment are not without demands.  Best-selling author Janet Evanovich acknowledges that she has to blow up a car in each of her Stephanie Plum mysteries. Likewise, Lee Child is candid in explaining that each Jack Reacher book needs to be only but a variation of the prior read – different enough to be new and engaging, but familiar enough to reward expectations. 

This play off of an existing theme may sound like a short-cut, a cheat on the creative process. It might be when it is poorly executed. In good hands, it delivers both originality and faithful audiences. 

Whenever I hear those first notes of the Bond theme song I pay attention with boyhood enthusiasm and I wait for what follows.  Entertainment, they call it. I hear the Queen even takes an interest. And why not?

Cheers, Bond fans.

Share on Facebook