He’s a womanising assassin from an age gone by, but is James Bond offensive?
In her debut as M in 1995’s Goldeneye, Judi Dench said to Pierce Brosnan’s 007: “I think you’re a sexist, misogynist dinosaur.
“A relic of the Cold War, whose boyish charms, though lost on me, obviously appealed to that young girl I sent out to evaluate you.”
Now millennials, who recently voiced their offence at 1990s sitcom Friends, have taken to Twitter again to criticise older Bond movies.
One wrote: “Watching old James Bond movies and realised: Dude was low key a rapist.”
Another said: “In the early films, James Bond was a full on rapist! #goldfinger.”
While one tweet read: “Watching old school Sean Connery James Bond movies. He’s basically a rapist who occasionally murders a Russian person.”
But it’s not just the character of 007 millennials have a problem with, it’s supporting roles and the general tone of the movies too.
One said: “Watching The Man With The Golden Gun and good lordddd the fact that they thought the hyper-racist sheriff character was a fun/wacky presence to bring back speaks volumes.”
A Twitter user added: “If the millennials think Friends is sexist they should watch James Bond [movie] A View to Kill they will go nuts.”
In contrast a new book by a University Professor claims that James Bond wasn’t sexist, but a “stylish commando.”
In The World of James Bond historian Jeremy Black, Professor at University of Exeter said: “Bond was a very modern man for the 1950s. This was the pre-pill age, but he admires women who offer sex, femininity and masculinity. His women are independent and driven.
“He is a far more complex and interesting character in the books than in the films. In the films the Bond Girls are stunning, and with startling regularity acquiesce with a sigh of “Oh James”, which has fed 007’s reputation as an arch misogynist.”