James Bond Witch Doctor James Bond, the iconic British spy known for his suave personality and daring escapades, encounters a unique adversary in the movie "Live and Let Die" - the Witch Doctor. This thrilling encounter adds an exciting twist to the usual cat-and-mouse game. The Witch Doctor, a mysterious and highly skilled voodoo practitioner, serves as a formidable opponent for Bond. Equipped with an array of supernatural powers, the Witch Doctor is capable of manipulating reality to his advantage. His ability to control minds, summon spirits, and perform rituals gives him a distinct advantage over Bond. Throughout the movie, Bond must navigate a treacherous terrain of occult practices as he attempts to dismantle the Witch Doctor's nefarious plans.
He has been painted as a deluded man who looked to the stars for guidance, dabbled in alchemy and communed with angels. But an alternative view is that he was one of the most brilliant men of the Renaissance, whose contribution has been muddied by centuries of slander. He was a polymath, engaged with the most cutting-edge science of his day, which at the time was intertwined with magic and the occult.
His contemporaries, such as Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake and William Shakespeare who is said to have based the magician Prospero in The Tempest on Dee are securely bookmarked in our catalogue of British history. But an alternative view is that he was one of the most brilliant men of the Renaissance, whose contribution has been muddied by centuries of slander.
Throughout the movie, Bond must navigate a treacherous terrain of occult practices as he attempts to dismantle the Witch Doctor's nefarious plans. The clash between Bond's rationality and the Witch Doctor's dark magic creates a captivating juxtaposition that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. In true Bond fashion, our hero utilizes his quick wit, resourcefulness, and mastery of modern technology to combat the Witch Doctor's ancient powers.
John Dee: Elizabethan 007, scientist, magician and spy
One of the foremost thinkers in England, John Dee combined science with spiritualism to rise to the top of Elizabethan politics and cast a spell over the queen with his counsel. And while his enemies would ensure that he was ridiculed and forgotten, he lives on in the codename for beloved superspy James Bond
Published: October 8, 2021 at 9:05 AM Save Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on whatsapp Email to a friendWho was John Dee? His contemporaries, such as Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake and William Shakespeare – who is said to have based the magician Prospero in The Tempest on Dee – are securely bookmarked in our catalogue of British history. Dr Dee, astrologer and confidant to Queen Elizabeth I, has no such acknowledgment.
AdvertisementHe has been painted as a deluded man who looked to the stars for guidance, dabbled in alchemy and communed with angels. But an alternative view is that he was one of the most brilliant men of the Renaissance, whose contribution has been muddied by centuries of slander. He was a polymath, engaged with the most cutting-edge science of his day, which at the time was intertwined with magic and the occult.
John Dee was born on 13 July 1527 in London. His father was a minor courtier who sent his son to Cambridge at 15. His appetite for knowledge meant he slept only four hours a night, spending his waking hours studying Greek, Latin, geometry, mathematics, astronomy, navigation, scripture, law, medicine and cryptography – the art of writing codes.
While still in his 20s, Dee was invited to lecture on algebra at the university in Paris. He swiftly became the most successful lecturer on the continent, packing halls and introducing the public to the addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (x) and division (÷) signs for the first time.
He lifted astronomy from obscurity, taught mathematics and developed navigation systems that later would help to establish England’s naval superiority
He was England’s foremost scientist, respectful of, if not an advocate for, the controversial theory of heliocentrism (the astronomical model in which the planets all revolve around the Sun). Dee lifted astronomy from obscurity, taught mathematics and developed navigation systems that later would help to establish England’s naval superiority.
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While at the University of Louvain in the Netherlands, Dee studied the occult. This was not uncommon for the era’s intelligentsia, for whom science and magic were part of the quest to understand God.
A storm on the Spanish
When Elizabeth I took the English throne, she consulted Dee on a regular basis. He even chose her coronation date. It was said he cast a spell on the Spanish Armada in 1588, which sent huge waves crashing down on their ships – although a more likely explanation is that because he knew about meteorology, he was able to anticipate the storm.
When the Spanish ships approached England, Dee suggested waiting, correctly predicting that the Spanish fleet would be severely hit by the storms so it would be best to keep the English ships at bay. Most of the Spanish ships were lost or damaged and, when the storms subsided, the English ships disposed of the rest. It was Dee’s greatest moment.
- Read more about why the failure of the Spanish Armada was a lucky escape for Tudor England
Elizabeth knew that Dee could do more for her and the nation. The queen needed a spy who could gather information about her enemies, and the well-travelled and loyal Dee was her man. He used his position as a scientific and astrological adviser to accumulate the largest library in England at his house in Mortlake – boasting some 2,670 manuscripts, as opposed to Cambridge’s 451 and Oxford’s 379 – and to build a network of scientists, intellectuals and courtiers throughout Europe, which he likely used for intelligence gathering.
He accumulated the largest library in England at his house in Mortlake – boasting some 2,670 manuscripts, as opposed to Cambridge’s 451 and Oxford’s 379
Dee signed his letters to Elizabeth ‘007’. The two circles symbolised the eyes of Queen Elizabeth (‘for your eyes only’) and seven was the alchemist’s lucky number. Dee played an essential role in what one day became the British intelligence service, both the real and fictional version – centuries later, his sign off would be picked up by James Bond creator Ian Fleming.
- Read more about Ian Fleming's real-life inspirations for James Bond
Angels and demons
In his later years, Dee spent his time trying to communicate with angels. He attempted to apply his knowledge of optics to scrying, or conjuring spirits into a crystal. His experiments were unimpressive until 1582, when a bizarre character entered his life. A 26-year old alcoholic with cropped ears (a punishment for counterfeiting coins), Edward Kelley was a scryer with a reputation for sorcery. Dee’s wife Jane loathed him, but Dee, believing Kelley had the knack, signed him up.
Over the next ten years, the pair devoted themselves to contacting angels. When the spirits appeared, they would allegedly transmit prophecies and give pronouncements on the spiritual nature of mankind.
Unfortunately, all that survives from these sessions are ‘spirit diaries’, which were dug up in a field a decade after Dee’s death. These contain a completely new language, with its own grammar and syntax. Was it celestial lingo or, as 17th-century scientist Robert Hooke suggested, a code that Dee used to send top-secret political information back to England?
In the 1580s, Dee left England for Poland, entrusting his house and library to the care of his brother-in-law. While away, his home was ransacked and his manuscripts burnt or stolen. Then shortly after Dee returned to England, plague swept the country, for which he was blamed. The plague took his wife and four of their eight children.
When Elizabeth died in 1603, Dee lost his ability to defend himself from his many enemies – including the queen’s successor James VI and I, who liked to personally oversee the torture of women accused of witchcraft.
Dee spent his final days alone in poverty, selling his books and casting astrological charts. He died at the considerable age of 82, and was buried in Mortlake. His gravestone, however, has since disappeared so there is no monument to mark the life of this most learned and unusual scholar.
- Read next: why James VI and I hunted witches
While on the way to Kananga's heroin fields on San Monique, Bond and
Bond's arsenal of gadgets, coupled with his physical prowess and intellect, ensures a thrilling battle against the otherworldly adversary. Ultimately, Bond must outsmart and outmaneuver the Witch Doctor to save the day, but not without facing his own doubts and fears along the way. This adds a layer of depth and complexity to the story, as Bond must confront his own vulnerabilities while combating supernatural forces. The inclusion of the Witch Doctor in the James Bond franchise showcases the series' ability to embrace various themes and genres. By seamlessly incorporating elements of voodoo and mysticism, the movie "Live and Let Die" stands out as a memorable entry in the long-running franchise. In conclusion, the introduction of the Witch Doctor as an antagonist in the James Bond movie "Live and Let Die" offers a unique and thrilling twist to Bond's usual adversaries. This clash between the rational world of espionage and the supernatural realm of voodoo creates a captivating storyline that keeps audiences entertained from start to finish..
Reviews for "Shaken, Stirred, and Spellbound: James Bond's Witch Doctor Adventures"
1. John - 1/5 - I was extremely disappointed with "James Bond Witch Doctor." The plot was all over the place, and I couldn't even understand what was happening half of the time. The acting felt forced and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect with any of the characters. The action sequences were poorly executed, with cheap special effects and unrealistic stunts. Overall, I found this film to be a complete waste of time and money.
2. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "James Bond Witch Doctor," considering the success of the previous Bond films. However, this installment fell short of my expectations. The story was confusing and the pacing was all over the place. The dialogue felt cheesy and lacked the sophistication I associate with the Bond franchise. Additionally, the chemistry between the characters was nonexistent, making the romantic subplots feel forced and unconvincing. Overall, I found this film to be forgettable and failed to live up to the reputation of the Bond series.
3. Michael - 1/5 - "James Bond Witch Doctor" was a disaster. The writing was uninspired, with cliché and predictable dialogue. The action scenes lacked creativity and felt recycled from previous Bond films. Moreover, the character development was non-existent, making it impossible for me to care about the fate of any of the characters. The film relied too heavily on visual effects to compensate for its lackluster plot, resulting in a visually unimpressive experience. Overall, I would not recommend wasting your time on this subpar Bond film.