Since the theatrical release of Casino Royale on Friday November 17, a once clichéd catch phrase from the film franchise has strongly reemerged as a universal sentiment in even the least of James Bond fans: women want him, men want to be him. So be him, see him, play him in poker, have a drink with him, or maybe shoot him... but not fatally. In a 007-themed party, the array of style to mimic will influence any fan of the MI6 agent to suit up for the fantasy. As for those not-so-big James Bond fans, they will be easily entertained by your not-so-average activities at the party.

Plan in advance if you wish for your guests to dress for the occasion; do you really want every male at the party dressed as James Bond? You may have to help those who are not yet fully 007-knowledgable with their costumes. Lend them, buy or rent for them your favorite copy of the dynasty and they should have no problem. The average number of characters in any Bond film is vast. From the snide villain at the poker table with the vixen at his side to the CIA agent helping out the scientist in the white lab coat, you will have plenty of reasons not to dress as Mr. Bond. The female guests have more options than the “Bond girl” costume, such as Money Penny and (as of 1997) Bond’s tough-talking and fist-shaking boss, known as “M.”

Any fan knows that a required drink for the night is shaken and not stirred. Decorate or makeshift as chic a bar as possible and provide the finger foods you would expect at any gala, casino, or similar arena. For background noise, you can avoid repeating the traditional theme song and its varieties by selecting songs from soundtracks over the past few decades. This year, Chris Cornell wrote the film’s theme song “You Know May Name”– songwriters in the past have included Sheryl Crow, Tina Turner, Madonna, Paul McCartney and more. Depending on the availability of screens, multiple movies for viewing can easily engage the guests further into the party as well. You may want to keep an extra screen available for one of the numerous James Bond videogames that are available on any game system.

While the devout fans of 007 sip their martinis and debate whether Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig is the best Bond ever, pull the other guests in with entertaining or familiar activities that still play along with the theme. Poker is always popular, Bond film or not. In the earlier films the British agent’s game of choice was Baccharat, the French game of chance. In Casino Royale, however, modern trends seem to have influenced a switch to Texas Hold ‘Em – but perhaps you can just pick the game that is best for your guests. For fun, maybe pit those dressed as villains in the films against those dressed as the heroes. It could have some delightful drama.

Another means of entertainment that may surprisingly steal the show is a form of the popular college game known as “dorm assassin.” For over 40 years, no one has ever been able to take down James Bond with just one shot, but you can at your party. Purchase enough tiny squirt guns or harmless disc or dart guns for your guests. Write every person’s name on a piece of paper, and randomly pass the pieces out with a gun to each guest. The name on the paper is that guest’s target for the night. The best way to play is as subtly as possible. To avoid a melee in by the poker table in your living room or the foods in your kitchen, you can guide the tempo of the game by designating certain hallways, rooms or portions thereof as locations where the “assassinations” can take place. One suggestion remains the bar, an easy place to get caught off guard.

Be it a gathering before or after a screening of the latest film or any in the franchise, or a creative spin on a holiday party, try bringing a little bit of Bond into your home. The average activities at a party always benefit from a little embellishment, and the recent surge in 007’s popularity provides an exciting craze in which to participate. Take it up as a reason to wear stylishly formal attire and have a little fun with some spy fantasy.

– Kirk Cassels