The Aston-Martin comes roaring back with other super car action in SPECTRE. The 24th James Bond adventure marks the return of the classic car that dazzled fans in Goldfinger and Thunderball.
Daniel Craig’s latest mission makes nostalgic and look back at our 7 favorite gadgets from the 007 franchise:
Attache Case from From Russia, With Love.
The first proper Bond “gadget” from the second and our favorite film. Q (Major Boothroyd) outfits Bond with this cool case secretly packing ammunition, a sniper rifle, throwing knife, gold sovereigns and a tear gas cartridge. This case was critical in Bond’s Orient Express encounter with the assassin Red Grant (Robert Shaw) one of my favorite henchmen of the series.
Buzz Saw Wristwatch from Live and Let Die.
In Roger Moore’s first film, Bond used this Rolex Submariner armed with a pop-up buzz saw and magnet that could deflect a bullet or pull down a zipper! 21st century upgrade? A 21st century update: the wristwatch with laser cutter used by Pierce Brosnan in Goldeneye.
Wrist-Dart Gun from Moonraker.
Roger Moore wore this weapon like a wrist-watch which shot armor piercing or poison darts based on nerve impules. Q’s invention saved Bond on Earth and in the out of this world showdown with Hugo Drax in space.
Little Nellie from You Only Live Twice.
Bond (Sean Connery) gets a few special packages shipped to Japan – yes you can actually mail this gyrocopter armed with machine guns, flamethrowers and missiles. 007 piloted Nellie to scope out Spectre’s secret base in Japan before a mid-air fight sequence with enemy aircraft.
Submarine Car from The Spy Who Loved Me.
Roger Moore was on the run from the villain’s henchwoman (Caroline Munro as Naomi). 007 and Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) were in his Lotus Esprit while the mercs were in a machine gun blasting chopper. Bond drives the sports car into the waters off Sardinia and with a few switches it becomes a submarine capable of firing missiles from below to dispatch bad guys and spy on underwater bases.
Jet Pack from Thunderball.
It’s a JET PACK! Bond used the Bell Rocket Belt ever so briefly to escape Spectre operatives in the opening sequence. A brief but unforgettable appearance that left fans wanting more.
Mini Jet from Octopussy.
Bond (Roger Moore) is undercover at a horse race when his cover is blown and he takes off in a truck carrying a horse float. With an enemy army closing in, the horse’s tail flips up to reveal it’s a cover and out comes the Bede BD-5J Acrostar which 007 uses to escape. This is a favorite for sentimental reasons because my dad took me to my first three Bond movies. He loved this scene and always referred to it when I said I was going a new Bond movie. For him, the horse stall hanger for a minijet – no gadget did it better!
What was your favorite 007 gadget?
Here’s a link to James Bond 50, the complete collection of films on Blu-Ray.
Spectre is in theaters now.
By Editor