The year 2002 was significant for James Bond. It was the franchise's 40th year as a box office attraction - particularly impressive when you remember that Ian Fleming's creation had faced down the threat of redundancy after the USSR’s demise.

But Bond was always his worst enemy. Fans of the series could always expect some degree of self-parody and hit-and-miss ideas. As long as Bond ordered Martinis right and introduced himself surname-first, where was the problem? But that year’s adventure, Die Another Day, ended that. Though an undeniable financial success, it was never forgiven for its Austin Powers-style excesses: space death ray chases, tsunami-surfing, a North Korean-turned-Caucasian villain and a Madonna cameo.

Daniel Craig’s incarnation worked as a four (soon five)-film qualification of its escapism. Pun, wacky gadgets and eccentric megalomaniacs are gone. Bond now has an emotional side, which is developed by a greater emphasis on continuity. Based on reviews and box office receipts, it has worked.

Will the formula change again? The series is more popular and respected than ever, but is this contingent on Bond remaining “gritty” and Jason Bourne-influenced? That other espionage-based series may have been influential in the 2000s with its moral ambiguity and shaky-cam fights, but larger-than-life action and overt humour is also popular again. The Bond movies are always welcome to return to their original cinematic home.