SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN

THE DESIGN SCHOOL

FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT

NAME: SONIA MANCXIA BALAGURU

STUDENT ID NO: 0317751

FILMS SELECTED: YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE & CASINO ROYALE

WORD COUNT: 751

ENGLISH 2 (ELG 30605)

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 1: CONTRAST ESSAY

LECTURER: CASSANDRA WIJESURIA

SUBMISSION DATE: 5TH DECEMBER 2014

“The name is Bond, James bond.” With those simple words an icon was introduced to the

world: James Bond, 007, the suave international man of mystery with a license to kill. The James Bond

films being the longest continually- running film series in history, having been in on-going production

from 1962 till 2012. No doubt, James Bond films are known as a genre itself at is so significant. The two

films, You Only Live Twice in 1967 and Casino Royale in 2006 are to be discussed as in this 40 years,

there have been a huge change in the films. This can be discussed in terms of the storyline, the settings

and the actors.

In the movie You Only Live Twice, an American spacecraft was hijacked from the orbit by

another, unidentified spacecraft. The U.S suspect it to be the Soviets but the British suspect Japanese

involvement since the spacecraft landed in the Sea of Japan. To investigate, MI6 operative James Bond,

007, is sent to Tokyo after faking his own death in Hong Kong and being buried at sea from HMS Tenby

(F65). As for the Movie Casino Royale, it is set at the beginning of Bond’s career as Agent 007, just as he

is earning his license to kill. After preventing a terrorist attack at Miami International Airport, Bond falls

in love with Vesper Lynd, the treasury employee assigned to finance him to bankrupt a terrorist

financer, Le Chiffre by beating him in a high-stakes poker game.

The main actor, James Bond was played by Sean Connery in You Only Live Twice. He has been

acting in 4 consecutive Bond movies before this movie. As for Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, it was his

first Bond movie. Sean Connery portrayed an iconic James Bond with dark coloured hair, brown eyes and

a tall figure. In Casino Royale, Daniel changed the image of James Bond as a blond, blue-eyed man of a

shorter build. Daniel Craig gave a more intense and aggressive approach compared to Sean Connery.

Although Sean Connery set a benchmark of Bond but Daniel Craig changed it to a more engaging and

prominent character. The storylines affected the roles that is portrayed by the two Bonds which then

shows a difference in their acting skills. In Casino Royale, it is more of an action-based movie compared

to You Only Live Twice. There were more action and thrilling scenes than You Only Live Twice which

Sean Connery played a more slow-paced role.

In another aspect, the setting for You Only Live Twice was based mostly in Asian countries,

starting from Hong Kong where Bond faked his death till Japan where most of the scenes took place.

This is the only Bond movie that was filmed in Japan. You Only Live Twice showed progressive elements

of Japanese culture as part of the background. Bond had to fit into the culture by learning how to be a

ninja as disguise. In contrary, Casino Royale is based in European countries and there were many places

involved as Bond had to travel around. It started from Prague, Czech Republic. The settings then

changed to Uganda, Bahamas and finally Italy where the casino battle took place.

The role of a Bond Girl portrays a love interest or sex object of James Bond and are considered

ubiquitous symbols of glamour and sophistication. In terms of Bond Girls, there are a few differences

between the two films. In You Only Live Twice, the Bond Girl, Kissy Suzuki was from Japanese ancestry

while the Bond Girl from Casino Royale, Vesper Lynd is of Swiss ancestry. Kissy Suzuki was not captured

by any forces and in fact assisted Bond in the mission. In contrast, Vesper Lynd was captured and

eventually died in the end. Furthermore, Kissy Suzuki was married to Bond and were together whereas

Vesper Lynd did not manage to do so.

Over the course of more than 40 years, the James Bond series has defined the quintessential

glamorized spy film. Personally, Casino Royale would be more engaging and exciting than You Only Live

Once as the technologies and the way of filming has improved greatly throughout the years. All in all,

both films are directed in a way whereby they show a strong main character which dominates the

movie. Even though there are many changes, both films still give the thrills to the audience. Whether it

is the plot, the setting or the actors, the directors have brought Bond films to a whole new level.