How old are you? At what age did you first encounter Bond?

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  • Posts: 153
    I am 18 and I first encountered Bond when I was about 7 or 8. Too early, right? It started when I bought a copy of Thunderball novel for our book review back at third grade. I had a James Bond novel while my classmates were reading Winnie-the-Pooh, Moby Dick, and Treasure Island. When I read it I was taken away, and my teachers and my parents were surprised when I started talking about this entire Cold War espionage stuff... and I was at third grade! So in some ways Bond taught me about modern history.

    I was already 10 when I watched my first Bond film, You Only Live Twice, back in 2004. By 14 I had already watched all Bond films. By 16, I already had 7 Flemings, 5 Gardners, and 2 Bensons and Devil May Care. Last year I bought Carte Blanche. Casino Royale was the first Bond I watched at the cinema.
  • Posts: 162
    I'm 16 tomorrow. It's so great to see such a vast range of ages on here. The first Bond film that I can remember watching was Goldfinger when I was probably 10 years old. After that, I couldn't stop watching all of the films and the series grew on me quickly. I also was into the games (Nightfire in particular was just amazing). I have since read a few of the novels, both old and new. Like @emilbertillo, Casino Royale was my first Bond film that I saw at the cinema.
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    Posts: 4,399
    i am 27, will be 28 in less than a month (July 26th)..

    i remember seeing Bond movies all the time on TBS, but never watched them when I was little (i had the impression they were long and boring)..

    at around the age of 11 or 12, I saw GOLDENEYE on Showtime, I loved it... and I have been a fan ever since.
  • DCisaredDCisared Liverpool
    Posts: 1,329
    I'm 22 and at the age of 7 I was out playing football(that's all I ever did) with my two best friends when It was getting late my friend said he was going In to watch 'James bond' and curiousity made me go in and ask my dad to put it on and he was allready watching Live and let die.
    Over that summer I remember watching most of the films on a Wednesday and Saturday on itv and being wowed by the feel of the films and I remember being gutted when I said to my dad that I wanted to have a licence to kill when I was older only for Him to tell me it wasn't real ha ha :(
  • I will be 60 on St Andrew's day and have been a fan for 50 of those years.

    Started reading the books as a ten year old, having purloined some of them from my dad and became aware of the films at the time of Goldfinger (1964), when a mate and I persuaded my dad to take us to see it.

    My dad also took us to see re-runs of Dr. No and FRWL and by the time Thunderball was released I knew the cinema manager and had no problem getting in (underage) for it. Have seen all the rest upon their initial release.

    Seem to be the oldest fart/poster so far.
  • edited November 2017 Posts: 236
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  • Posts: 299
    I'm currently 36.

    I was exposed to Bond very early, perhaps aged 3 or 4, by my uncle who always had them playing in the background. Don't recall what my first one was, may have been The Spy Who Loved Me, Diamonds Are Forever or Thunderball, not quite sure. I just remember all of them playing all the time. By the age of 8, I had seen everything through Octopussy. I remember seeing For Your Eyes Only on cable somewhere around 1982, when it was first released for that market, and Octopussy was the first one I saw theatrically the following year.

    Since then, I've seen every single one, excpet A View To A Kill, on opening day at the cinema.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    edited October 2012 Posts: 23,544
    Please use this thread for learning about MI6 members' age. A duplicate thread was created recently and got deleted by accident. Some members pointed out it was a duplicate thread, then proceeded by posting and replying in it. The mod team does its very best to keep track of things but please next time post the link to the original thread if you know where to find it. Thank you! :-)
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    edited October 2012 Posts: 23,544
    The duplicate thread dealt with our age, @Sam. ;-) But I'll happily oblige.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    You're on a roll, @Dimi. :))
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited October 2012 Posts: 13,350
    Thanks a lot.

    Please allow me to repost my thoughts from one of the other, now locked, threads.

    The GoldenEye 64 video game had a big impact on me as well as showings of the Bond films as a marathon in the mid 90's on ITV hooked me. Though I knew who Bond was before the release of the game from when I was about 6 or 7 I'd say.

    I happened to watch Dr. No first, on ITV as part of a Bondathon in 1998 and thereafter watched the rest of the films - up to Tomorrow Never Dies as part of ITV's "00-Heaven" season, which was sponsored by Martini. This only strengthened my interest in Bond.

    I was on holiday and forgot to record GoldenEye but rented it on VHS about a year later. The N64 game was also a big factor of enjoyment from my childhood. It was also strange having not seen the film but playing the game and of course my entire family young and old loved it, that also gave me confidence that the James Bond films were something special.

    A new Bond film every week was such an exciting time of my life as a child. I saw The World Is Not Enough the weekend it was released on VHS and the same for Die Another Day on DVD, although I was old enough to see it in the cinema at the time of it's release, I chose not too. I knew it would be a bad film and not proper Bond.

    I then bought The World Is Not Enough on VHS upon release, rented Die Another Day on DVD, and have watched the rest in the cinema.

    As for why I got hooked. As a child I'd seen nothing like it. The stories I was just really into and loved how I could see the series change over time. Also watching the films over time, in order, instead of being introduced through the new film I think helped not skew my view on Bond and have any preference to a particular era. Watching, say, only Craig's films from 2006 to when Quantum came out, then going back in these last two years to watch the rest, really can't help matters in my opinion and may result in a bias in some way.

    The next two films have of course been in the cinema. Between Die Another Day and Casino Royale I read all of Fleming's novels.
  • Posts: 5,745
    You're on a roll, @Dimi. :))
    DarthDimi wrote:
    The duplicate thread dealt with our age, @Sam. ;-) But I'll happily oblige.

    It's always nice to come in and see someone's cleaned up ;)
  • Posts: 224
    I'm 19. First contact with Bond was my elder brother's Goldeneye game on the N64. It was my brother that watched the Bonds (only the Brosnan ones) really, and I watched them with him and loved them. So a very young age (4 or 5).

    Watched the Connery films after my grandad said he was the best - that was when I was about 11. I remember really wanting to go see Die Another Day in the cinema but I was too young as it was a 12 rather than a 12A (the good old days!).

    First one I saw in cinema was Casino Royale when I was about 13.
  • SandySandy Somewhere in Europe
    Posts: 4,012
    I'm 29 years old and I don't know when I first encountered Bond because Bond was always there! As simple as this. My earliest TV memory is not a cartoon, not Sesame Street, etc it's in fact the title sequence part of TSWLM when a girl does some gymnastics movements using the gun. I descend from a line of Bond-fans (mother and grandfather) there was no other way ;)
  • Posts: 224
    Sandy wrote:
    I'm 29 years old and I don't know when I first encountered Bond because Bond was always there! As simple as this. My earliest TV memory is not a cartoon, not Sesame Street, etc it's in fact the title sequence part of TSWLM when a girl does some gymnastics movements using the gun. I descend from a line of Bond-fans (mother and grandfather) there was no other way ;)

    Actually, when I think about it, that probably describes me as well.

  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 23,544
    You're on a roll, @Dimi. :))
    JWESTBROOK wrote:
    You're on a roll, @Dimi. :))
    DarthDimi wrote:
    The duplicate thread dealt with our age, @Sam. ;-) But I'll happily oblige.

    It's always nice to come in and see someone's cleaned up ;)

    Darth Dimi is taking out the TRASH!

    on-a-roll.jpg
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    edited October 2012 Posts: 28,694
    I guess I will jumble all my posts in the other threads together then, along with some new thoughts.

    I just turned 19 this October 6th. As for my first Bond experience, it was probably seeing the Brosnan films while I was a wee lad, but at that time I never understood any of it besides the punches, gunshots, and explosions. So technically, my first experience with Bond (when I was old enough to understand the film I was watching) came around age 15 going on 16, or in that area. I had always known of Bond, just never got that involved until one day in my high school history class. Some friends and I were discussing all kinds of franchises, and then we got to Bond. My best friend was aghast that I hadn't really gotten into them, and he commanded me to watch them (I think he was referring to the Connery era specifically, as he is his favorite too). I let that idea sit, and debated watching the films. Then, one night very soon after (I think it was a Wednesday), a little film called Goldfinger was on TCM. I knew it was a Bond film, and I decided that this must be some divine sign from Lord Fleming himself telling me to give Bond a chance. I sat, I watched. I saw the amazing suave air Sean emanated as Bond. He made any action look cool, from checking his watch as an explosion went off, to walking about a Kentucky farm. As the film ended, I can't remember my thoughts or initial reactions. I think that every film you watch requires a while to stew in your head before you can really give your final thoughts. But I kept watching the franchise, so that's something, isn't it?

    I was quite lucky to start with GF. The film that set a lot of Bond traditions, from strong vocal themes, the Aston, the numerous ladies, the whole nine yards. So when I found DN, FRWL, and all Sean's other films post GF, I understood where that foundation came from. My luck continued. That summer, the USA Network had an entire June-August weekly Bond marathon. That is the time where I saw many of my favorites today (I saw CR three nights in a row), and saw Bond's magnificent origin in DN, the wonderfully constructed espionage classic that is FRWL, and the rousing tropical bombshell that is TB. That year everything changed forever for me. Bond was in my life, and there was no going back.

    Since that time I have made my opinions on many Bond actors. Sean is The Master (and Brotherhood leader). I find Laz to be a classless pig who was in it for the fame, not for the love of being in the role. I think Moore had a horrible run of Bond (I hate campy Bond films), but I find him to be an outstanding human being outside of the role. Tim is a compelling vision of Bond that had amazing emotional quality and added depth to the character after Moore's era. I believe Brosnan to be lost potential, weighted down by the flawed scripts and decisions that plagued his era (often against what he wished to do with the character), and Daniel to be a brilliant imagining of a current day Bond with all the tough and suave trappings that are required of the role. I have read some Fleming, and some Bond novels not written by daddy.

    Through it all, Bond has had me by the coattails, and it was only until I found this forum a couple of summers ago that I truly realized the magic of Bond. How all of us, each with our own preferences and beliefs on the character, are truly BONDed by this one man and his world. It has been a fun ride, and I can't wait to see what the future holds, though I have equal measures of both caution and excitement. I can't think of better people to be around than all of you (many of whom I have created great friendships with) as we enter into a time of mass excitement for Skyfall. Cheers to the Forever Bonded. :)>-
  • SandySandy Somewhere in Europe
    Posts: 4,012
    robboadam wrote:
    Sandy wrote:
    I'm 29 years old and I don't know when I first encountered Bond because Bond was always there! As simple as this. My earliest TV memory is not a cartoon, not Sesame Street, etc it's in fact the title sequence part of TSWLM when a girl does some gymnastics movements using the gun. I descend from a line of Bond-fans (mother and grandfather) there was no other way ;)

    Actually, when I think about it, that probably describes me as well.

    Probably the difference is I wanted to be the girl while you wanted to be Bond :) It's good to know someone shares the same memories as I do, happy days.
  • royale65royale65 Caustic misanthrope reporting for duty.
    edited October 2012 Posts: 4,421
    Through it all, Bond has had me by the coattails, and it was only until I found this forum a couple of summers ago that I truly realized the magic of Bond. How all of us, each with our own preferences and beliefs on the character, are truly BONDed by this one man and his world. It has been a fun ride, and I can't wait to see what the future holds, though I have equal measures of both caution and excitement. I can't think of better people to be around than all of you (many of whom I have created great friendships with) as we enter into a time of mass excitement for Skyfall. Cheers to the Forever Bonded. :)>-

    Here, here brother!

    I'm 24 years old. Hmm, not sure when I first came aware of Bond, but I remember running around the back yard with my inhaler, pretending that was my gun. Good times. When I was 4ish, I guess, around the time of James Bond Jnr… Now the first TV Bond film, was probably Goldfinger, 5 or 6ish years old. Either that or For Your Eyes Only; I have vivid memories about the PTS. Also, Moonraker, vaguely… In particular the Venice museum fight…

    In 1998(?) it was 00-Heaven on ITV (remember those days!), and I watched nearly all of them, apart from, I think, it was, after all, 14 years ago, FWRL, MR, FYEO, TLD and GE. (I thought GE was the X-Files!)

    I was convinced that the earlier Bonds were the best, despite not seeing any of the newer ones. When my grandmother offered to take me to the latest Bond movie, The World Is Not Enough, I jumped at the chance. That point on I was obsessed. Seeing Bond, how much confidence and decisive he was, made a big impression on a 12 year old boy. Brosnan captivated me, he seemed so sure of himself, and as a 12 year old boy, with all the insecurities that goes with being a 12 year old boy, he seemed a breath of fresh air. I wanted to be like him so much. Brosnan still holds a very special place in my heart, as does TWINE; I still have it high on my Bond rankings.

    Anyway, from here I got all of the Bond movies on VHS, (TWINE and AVTAK at Christmas 2000, Dr No and FWRL later on...) and later on DVD. I got all the Ian Fleming books around 2002, I think. Plus my other “Bond bibles”; Essential Bond (Lee Pffeiffer and Dave Worral), James Bond, The Legacy (John Cork and Bruce Scivally), Martini's, Girls and Gun (Martin Sterling and Gary Morecambe) et al.


  • Roger Moore had his wicked way with me when I only 9. Dirty old perv :(|)
  • GoldenEye - just turned 9 years old
  • edited October 2012 Posts: 5,745
    I'm 18, and my first memory of Bond is wanting to watch Tomorrow Never Dies again. I don't remember anything before, all I know is I always wanted to watch it. I don't even know the first time I saw it.

    Pretty weird how I remember wanting to see it again, but I don't remember the first time..

    I don't remember how I came across it, all I know is that slowly the VHS boxes began to appear on the family movie shelf and I'd go over and pick up TND to watch it.. a lot.

    I remember having TWINE as well. And then I saw DAD, my first Bond theater experience, which was awesome (AT THE TIME! I WAS 8! DON'T GIVE ME GRIEF!)

    I distinctly remember playing GE64, but on PS2 with my friends, and I remember the TWINE ski chase in the TWINE video game as my favorite thing ever.

    I loved the GE Rogue Agent game to death, and popped it in about 2 years ago because I was literally craving it.

    A couple of SpikeTV 007 Days of Christmas specials and I eventually saw most of the films.

    I rediscovered Bond in like.. 2008? I didn't see CR in theaters, but I got it for Christmas. Having forgotten about Bond, it was probably the best gift I've ever gotten. I looked up the 'sequel' as I thought it was, and found out QoS was coming out that year. Took my friend and got him hooked. It was awesome. QoS is one of my favorite Bond films, but to prove I'm not a sucker for theater experiences I rank DAD low. I still enjoy it though, it's just crapTV.

    The last major Bond thing to impact my short life was finding you guys last year :) A year ago March to be exact.

    I'm gonna get controversial and say I probably grew up in the best generation of Bond fans. Why? Because we had the OTT, action packed Brosnan films as 5-10 year olds, when at that age those films are pretty good. Then As we hit our teens, 12-etc., the Bond films get dark, serious, and stylized. Just like you do when you hit the Pubonic period of your life ;)

    I like to think the attitude of the Bond films changed on the same timeline I matured.
  • I'm 36 - just, 11th Oct. First Bond film was TMWTGG Xmas 1984, first cinema was 1985's AVTAK - which surprises me in hindsight as I had been visiting cinemas since 1980's Superman 2
  • ShardlakeShardlake Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
    edited October 2012 Posts: 4,043
    I'm 40 Years Old and had my first Bond experience at 5 years old when I went to see SWLM at the cinema, I had been introduced to Bond though through my Dad's LP collection shortly before that though but Rog's 3rd was my first cinematic encounter.

    I fondly remember listening to the UA compilation The Best of Bond and also the OHMSS score as well, also recall the gate fold sleeve with Lazenby in the gun pose with his ski's. From an early age I became hypnotised by Barry's sound and still remain thrilled listening to his scores for Bond.

    I have seen all of the Bond entries on the big screen since 1977 bar OP for some reason or other.

  • JWESTBROOK wrote:
    Why? Because we had the OTT, action packed Brosnan films as 5-10 year olds, when at that age those films are pretty good. Then As we hit our teens, 12-etc., the Bond films get dark, serious, and stylized. Just like you do when you hit the Pubonic period of your life ;)

    Kind of the opposite for me, I saw Dalton when I was 5 then I saw the Brosnan films when I was a teenager. I enjoyed them though (still do now).
  • I was just 5 years old. It was Christmas Day. My mum and nan were upstairs doing stuff and my Dad and Grandad was watching TV. I wanted them to play with me but they were hooked on this film. My Grandad scooped me up on his knee and said "Watch this, you'll love it". I just saw this London double decker bus driving through the streets when it came across this bridge...it just drove on, the top coming off. I was in awe from that point in. I remember the crocodile jumping scene so vividly...was so impressed by it. That film was Live and Let Die and it's been one of my favourite ever since
  • Posts: 61
    I'm 43. First Bond film I saw was Goldfinger on TV, must have been 1975 or 76. But what made a big impact was one Sunday night when we had just got home from visiting grandparents. It must have been during Easter holidays because my parents let me stay up late and watch You Only Live Twice. Thats really when Bond found me. First experience of Bond in the cinema was TSWLM in 1977. First book was Dr No in 1981 - I thought then that the books were exactly like the films so believed that Dr No was the first one!
  • LicencedToKilt69007LicencedToKilt69007 Belgium, Wallonia
    Posts: 523
    "Tomorrow Never Dies" was my first at 7 (in my mothertongue) then, I watched them all until "Skyfall". "Quantum of Solace", first and last in 2008... To recover from that, I 've discovered "GoldenEye" the year after. Such a masterpiece !

    I've also watched with pleasure the whole serie, in order last year. From "Dr. No" until "Casino Royale" ! It was total enjoyment !
  • cwl007cwl007 England
    Posts: 611
    Saw my first Bond at 8 years old, TSWLM, my child hood mind thought Jaws ATE the van and I was hooked. Now 34, and still get as excited as a kid every time a new film is announced or released or every time I get a new Bond book or TV prog. Hope I never grow up. Also I have 2 young boys so I can re-discover the films all again in the coming years.
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