Robbie Williams vs. James Bond --[ EDITING ROOM ] SCENE 360

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Is Robbie Williams the next James Bond?

James Bond is a movie icon, whom has influenced many TV commercials, films, among other fields as he brought entertainment and espionage to a mass audience. Robbie Williams' "Millenium" album and video (1998) was fully inspired on the persona and storyline concept of the James Bond movies, which includes high-stakes gambling, beautiful women, champagne, luxurious automobiles, cigarettes — all that made 007 an icon of class.

+ View our origin of analysis: James Bond movie scene images, and video shots of Robbie Williams' video Millenium. (All James Bond photos © 2002 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios)

Sean Connery (plays James Bond), he gives the typical charming look of 007 in “You Only Live Twice” (1967).

Robbie Williams with his look-alike eyebrow gesture of the James Bond, which he expresses throughout his “Millenium” video (1998).

The origins

“You only live twice” (1967; a James Bond Film)

Two spacecrafts (U.S. and Soviet) are in orbit around the Earth, as they are mysteriouly kidnapped — as Americans and Russians blame eachother for this happening. Meanwhile the perpertrator's spacecraft appears landing near Japan. The British Secret Service are not convinced with the case, as they send James Bond (with the help of Japanese SIS) to Tokyo for the investigation. Bond meets "Tiger" Tanaka, the head of the Japanese Secret Service, and receives assistance from Aki (Akiko Wakabayashi), a beautiful Japanese spy. They manage to locate an island, from which the kidnapping spacecraft is launched, and again it turns out that SPECTRE Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Donald Pleasence) is behind the scheme.

Images from the film “You Only Live Twice” (Directed by Lewis Gilbert , Written by Ian Fleming (novel), and Screenplay adaptation by Roald Dahl. Starring: Sean Connery, Akiko Wakabayashi,
Mie Hama, Tetsuro Tamba, Teru Shimada, Karin Dor...).
View full film credits.

About the author Ian Fleming

Ian Fleming is best known as the author of the popular series of “James Bond” spy novels. Today, he is recognized as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. In addition to Fleming being a novelist, he worked before as a journalist in Moscow, and served in the British Intelligence during World War II.

Fleming choose the name “James Bond” from the author of “Birds of The West Indies,” because he felt the name suitably dull and anonymous.

The Imitator

Robbie Williams' Millenium Video (1998)

We have included some scenes from "James Bond" films to compare with the Robbie William's "Millenium" video — the complete image comparison. Even the smallest, e.g. James Bond facial expression is reproduced by Robbie in his video. The black tux, the charming gestures and style is all present, and also are the luxurious cars and beautiful women. Watch the video and you just sense the "Bond" fever!

The Bad Guys Love White Cats

The famous cat petting is an exclusive in the Bond series. The Villian's dangerous side is softened with his perpetual cat petting. In the James Bond movie, the director only shows images of the Villian's hand softly caressing the fluffy-white-kitty, his offline voice is present, making the mystery level rise (i.e. anonymity is enhanced when a face isn't revealed).

Images from the Robie William’s “Millenium” video.

James Bond vs Robbie Williams Quotations

“I’ve been expecting you.”
-The title of Robbie Williams album “Millenium”

“We’ve been expecting you, Mr. Bond.”
-One of the many famous quotes from the James Bond movies

All "James Bond" photos © 2002 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios
All Robbie Williams photos © EMI Chrysalis
All cinema and music photos are displayed for the context of the analysis, for information purposes only.

+ analysis by Adriana de Barros

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The official James Bond site (from MGM/UA)
A special exhibition celebrating 40 years of the Bond films
Read more about Ian Fleming
More about Ian Fleming
View the the "Millenium" video clip at BBS Top of the Pops

Download the music scores for sound comparison:

You Only Live Twice by Nancy Sinatra (1967) 1.958KB
"Millennium" by Robbie Williams (1998) 3.884KB

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