Culture

The New James Bond: Environmental EcoGeek

by Erik Larson | November 29, 2008 at 04:09 pm

249 views | 17 Recommendations | 4 comments

EcoGeek.org comments on the environmental tech in the latest James Bond film. Apparently the film features elite criminals who use astroturf groups in a grab for control of water (a real-world threat). James Bond takes them out of course, smashing a gas-guzzling Aston Martin in the beginning of the film, and babying his hydrogen-powered Ford Edge at the end. The film also features the Ford Ka (driven by hot chick who kicks ass), which gets 38 mpg and isn't sold in the US (??? Detroit wants a bailout?). Also, the villain's hideout is powered by hydrogen batteries.

007 isn't generally known for being friendly to anything except the ladies. So being friendly to the Earth certainly hasn't ever mattered. The question is, now that green-tech is awesome, and green-style is sexy, what's a Bond to do?

Quantum of Solace seems to take two stances on the issue.

First, green chic is lame. The lead villain of the movie (who shares my last name, unfortunately) is beyond greenwashing. His energy company has been pretending to buy up ecologically sensitive areas, but really he's trying to control the world's water. Sounds like a page out of T. Boone's playbook to me.

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Amy Judd

at 16:11 on November 29th, 2008

I saw the film last weekend, and definitely noticed the eco-theme - at least they addressed it in my opinion.

Erik Larson

at 16:20 on November 29th, 2008

that's awesome- i rarely go see movies, but i'm glad to hear art's imitating life, and turning audiences on to better ideas and technologies.

Uwe Paschen

at 19:41 on November 29th, 2008

007 goes with the times.

Sam Bozzo (not verified)

at 19:05 on November 30th, 2008

My new documentary Blue Gold: World Water Wars, which PBS Video is putting out in 2009, features the real-life water baron villains of our world. Guess who is taking over South American water-rich land today? The Bush family! Mark Achbar (The Corporation) Exec Producers and Malcolm McDowell narrates. The film is based on the groundbreaking book "Blue Gold" by Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke. See www.bluegold-worldwaterwars.com