I have to say if the rumors of 007's demise are true for the ending, I will be very disappointed.
In today's world, we all live in very divisive and unsure times. We never know what is going to happen from one moment to the next. Will another pandemic happen? Will more cities burn in the USA? While the latter of those two have been brewing for awhile for better or worse, we are all on edge and need (in my humble opinion) uplifting content that allows us to escape our currently reality.
I have always looked at James Bond as a sort of template as many do. Away from some of his less than wholesome characteristics, Bond is a generally uplifting view of success for men everywhere. 007 always makes it through things no matter what he has to go through. Some how, some way by pure will and determination (and sometimes luck) James Bond always returns.
I think we all need a reminder of that. No matter how bad things get or how low we get, we will overcome whatever we are dealing with.
This also puts the future of the franchise in question. I would hope that EON are not tired of making these films and realize what an amazing set of films they have the rights to.
Again, this could all be for not because 007 could survive and we can end NTTD on a positive uplifting note. Surely now is no time to die Mr. Bond. I certainly hope we will see "James Bond will Return" at the end of the credits. -{
We have seen so many articles about No Time to Die in the tabloids. I can’t know for sure, but I suspect that the goal of all of them is to stir up controversy. Maybe they have inside info about the films, but I think that most of them are just starting rumours to make people outraged. They also often take a positive thing and give it a negative spin. I’m trying to avoid these things not for the spoilers but for the garbage they share. We shouldn’t get bent out of shape for the lies.
I believe that Bond finds out Nomi is a Spectre agent but they continue to work together under the direction of Blofeld to stop Safin's plans.
M will kill Nomi near the end of the film. He likes to get his pistol out as we saw in Spectre.
I really don't think Nomi is a Spectre agent. The way she is introduced in the trailer shows her loyalty to MI6 is not questionable, unlike Denbigh in Spectre for instance (it seemed obvious from his first appearance he would turn to be a traitor).
Concerning M killing Nomi, it is complete nonsense given what I explained just before. They would never dare such a twist.
Furthermore, keep in mind it is a woke era we live in. Showing the betrayal of a black female character supposed to be Bond's alter ego would destroy everything Phoebe Waller-Bridge worked so hard for (sarcasm here we go!). Making the audience aware of the fact the Bond we used to know and to love is a pathetic character everyone should be ashamed of is her main goal, although she will never admit it.
Personally, I don't expect anything from the movie. I just hope it will be entertaining and my ultimate wish for the the next movies is a return to the originals, with this typical 1960s atmosphere like in the Mad Men series. I know it is utopia but please, just let me dream!
I believe that Bond finds out Nomi is a Spectre agent but they continue to work together under the direction of Blofeld to stop Safin's plans.
M will kill Nomi near the end of the film. He likes to get his pistol out as we saw in Spectre.
I really don't think Nomi is a Spectre agent. The way she is introduced in the trailer shows her loyalty to MI6 is not questionable, unlike Denbigh in Spectre for instance (it seemed obvious from his first appearance he would turn to be a traitor).
Concerning M killing Nomi, it is complete nonsense given what I explained just before. They would never dare such a twist.
Furthermore, keep in mind it is a woke era we live in. Showing the betrayal of a black female character supposed to be Bond's alter ego would destroy everything Phoebe Waller-Bridge worked so hard for (sarcasm here we go!). Making the audience aware of the fact the Bond we used to know and to love is a pathetic character everyone should be ashamed of is her main goal, although she will never admit it.
Personally, I don't expect anything from the movie. I just hope it will be entertaining and my ultimate wish for the the next movies is a return to the originals, with this typical 1960s atmosphere like in the Mad Men series. I know it is utopia but please, just let me dream!
i don't think Nomi or Paloma will die or become villainous. Armas has pretty much confirmed Paloma won't die, and the final scenes with Nomi as depicted in the call sheets don't scream death to me.
I do also have that fear that Phoebe and co may 'wimpify' Bond a bit too. Like those directors, who you just know are going to reduce the female characters - no matter how previously well-written - to big-titted bimbos and love interests, I get that same fear (in reverse, ofc) for Phoebe's writing. Especially given her other works, like Fleabag or Killing Eve, where the overwhelming majority of men are portrayed as smooth-brained idiots with no balls, and the remaining men with even a little assertiveness to their character are either demonized or turn out to be perverted, woman-hating antagonists. It's like the inversion of the horrible, sexist tropes you'd see in older media where women were either docile and stupid, so dainty that they were unable to fire a SMG without falling into the water or women who were more assertive potrayed as bitter, man-hating spinsters.
My excitement and hopes for NTTD have fluctuated over the last 18 months, with various things that have come to light officially and unofficially.
Some things look fantastic. The trailer is great, locations, actions sequences, (potentially soundtrack), DC in good shape. But other things leave me less enamoured; More heavy personal stuff, ('Unlucky Alf' Bond) Bond's wardrobe, 4 x Astons 8-) (although having the V8 back is a master stroke), Scooby Gang, Daddy Bond, Bond dying (I know the latter are just rumours).
As others have said, watching a Bond film used to be about escapism and fantasy. Recently, it's become a more tenebrous affair. Fingers crossed anyway.
I believe that Bond finds out Nomi is a Spectre agent but they continue to work together under the direction of Blofeld to stop Safin's plans.
M will kill Nomi near the end of the film. He likes to get his pistol out as we saw in Spectre.
I really don't think Nomi is a Spectre agent. The way she is introduced in the trailer shows her loyalty to MI6 is not questionable, unlike Denbigh in Spectre for instance (it seemed obvious from his first appearance he would turn to be a traitor).
Concerning M killing Nomi, it is complete nonsense given what I explained just before. They would never dare such a twist.
Furthermore, keep in mind it is a woke era we live in. Showing the betrayal of a black female character supposed to be Bond's alter ego would destroy everything Phoebe Waller-Bridge worked so hard for (sarcasm here we go!). Making the audience aware of the fact the Bond we used to know and to love is a pathetic character everyone should be ashamed of is her main goal, although she will never admit it.
Personally, I don't expect anything from the movie. I just hope it will be entertaining and my ultimate wish for the the next movies is a return to the originals, with this typical 1960s atmosphere like in the Mad Men series. I know it is utopia but please, just let me dream!
i don't think Nomi or Paloma will die or become villainous. Armas has pretty much confirmed Paloma won't die, and the final scenes with Nomi as depicted in the call sheets don't scream death to me.
I do also have that fear that Phoebe and co may 'wimpify' Bond a bit too. Like those directors, who you just know are going to reduce the female characters - no matter how previously well-written - to big-titted bimbos and love interests, I get that same fear (in reverse, ofc) for Phoebe's writing. Especially given her other works, like Fleabag or Killing Eve, where the overwhelming majority of men are portrayed as smooth-brained idiots with no balls, and the remaining men with even a little assertiveness to their character are either demonized or turn out to be perverted, woman-hating antagonists. It's like the inversion of the horrible, sexist tropes you'd see in older media where women were either docile and stupid, so dainty that they were unable to fire a SMG without falling into the water or women who were more assertive potrayed as bitter, man-hating spinsters.
I really don't think Nomi is a Spectre agent. The way she is introduced in the trailer shows her loyalty to MI6 is not questionable, unlike Denbigh in Spectre for instance (it seemed obvious from his first appearance he would turn to be a traitor).
Concerning M killing Nomi, it is complete nonsense given what I explained just before. They would never dare such a twist.
Furthermore, keep in mind it is a woke era we live in. Showing the betrayal of a black female character supposed to be Bond's alter ego would destroy everything Phoebe Waller-Bridge worked so hard for (sarcasm here we go!). Making the audience aware of the fact the Bond we used to know and to love is a pathetic character everyone should be ashamed of is her main goal, although she will never admit it.
Personally, I don't expect anything from the movie. I just hope it will be entertaining and my ultimate wish for the the next movies is a return to the originals, with this typical 1960s atmosphere like in the Mad Men series. I know it is utopia but please, just let me dream!
i don't think Nomi or Paloma will die or become villainous. Armas has pretty much confirmed Paloma won't die, and the final scenes with Nomi as depicted in the call sheets don't scream death to me.
I do also have that fear that Phoebe and co may 'wimpify' Bond a bit too. Like those directors, who you just know are going to reduce the female characters - no matter how previously well-written - to big-titted bimbos and love interests, I get that same fear (in reverse, ofc) for Phoebe's writing. Especially given her other works, like Fleabag or Killing Eve, where the overwhelming majority of men are portrayed as smooth-brained idiots with no balls, and the remaining men with even a little assertiveness to their character are either demonized or turn out to be perverted, woman-hating antagonists. It's like the inversion of the horrible, sexist tropes you'd see in older media where women were either docile and stupid, so dainty that they were unable to fire a SMG without falling into the water or women who were more assertive potrayed as bitter, man-hating spinsters.
Very good points.
Be careful, the thought police will come after you! )
I don't know about you guys but I am getting bored by this long waiting ! I understand the virus represents a big threat to the whole world but given public places are open again, I think EON could make an effort and release the movie in the next few weeks. They will never take such a chance, otherwise they could have released it first on VOD platforms with an expensive cost for each viewing to make sure they can balance the shortfall it would generate until the official release in November. As a true Bond fan, I would be ready to pay the amont they demand just to have the opportunity to watch the film very soon. When I think about the gap between Sp ans NTTD, it just appears unacceptable to me. The cast is the same, the financial success of Sf and Sp should have made the production of this one easier and instead of that, this turned to be a chaotic experience at every level. Furthermore, in a recent interview, Seydoux said there was no real script and the shooting looked like a big play where each actor did not really what to do and what to expect from Fukunaga. When I read such things, it worries me a lot. What if the plot sucks ? What will be left then ? Big action sequences and beautiful locations ? Not enough to be fully enjoyed as a Bond film. I repeat what I said in my previous post: I am looking forward to the ending of the DC era. I am completely fed up with it and my wish is a return to the originals for the next movies with consistant plots and much less action. For those people who only satisfy themselves with a big dose of action, the Mission Impossible films and the Fast And Furious series do the job very well, but real Bond fans like us can't deal with it. I make the bet that if EON continue this way, they will kill step by step the true spirit of the series like Disney did with Star Wars. Gentlmen, I am concerned about the future of our beloved franchise !
Nice read—quite a long article covering NTTD of course, but the rest of Craig's tenure as well. Lots of interesting facts and stats of various things as well. Bit of a coincidence that the article following the Bond one is on Eva Green.
Interesting in Total Film that Craig says the story mainly stems from unfinished business from Casino Royale
Could Primo be linked to Vesper's real boyfriend that was kidnapped? (Both French-Algerian)
Safin/Blofeld was the one that sent Vesper to work for HM Government to steal a large amount of funds in return for her fiancee back? Mr White was the boss of Vesper's boyfriend.
Primo does turn up immediately after Vesper's grave explodes and must be connected to Vesper.
“This film feels like a good bookend to Casino''- Robert Wade
We also learn that Ash is with Leiter when Bond meets them in a Jamaican bar.
“Do something for us,” says Leiter, leaning in. “Pick up a package in Cuba.” The package, it transpires, isn’t his wayward Amazon delivery but a person – Waldo Obechev. “Didn’t he defect during your time at MI6?” Ash chimes in. “Never heard of him,” says a visibly indifferent Bond, who tries to keep the party going. But things suddenly turn serious when Leiter drops the S-bomb: Spectre. “It’ll be like old times...” Leiter adds. A glare. “My round,” Bond says, before walking off.
Costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb confirms that Safin is the mask-wearing guy we see chasing the girl on the ice.
Bond is seemingly betrayed by a woman he loves – Léa Seydoux’s Madeleine Swann. This does strongly suggest that the real Swann is framed as we have heard her say to (by a clone).
The credits still say: ‘Bond will return,’ Fukunaga smiles. That does rule out the theory of Bond dying.
Malek is secretly playing Bond’s first ever on-screen adversary, Dr. No? Is he willing to shoot them down? “I would never shoot something like that down. It’s intriguing,” he says with a smile. So which Bond films did Malek watch in preparation? “Only Dr.No'
'it’s my last one' - Daniel Craig (confirmed then)
''..the Norway chase scene. After reuniting with Madeleine in a safe house, Bond is rudely interrupted by Safin’s sudden appearance, and takes the ensuing chase off road in a Toyota Land Cruiser. '' -
I think When Madeline opens Safin's damaged mask from a parcel at the Norway safe house, there is a flashback to her youth when Safin comes to her house.
It turns out Safin also was the one who blackmailed Vesper and kidnapped her boyfriend (Primo, who now works for him) to fund his organisation.
Safin's grand plans are to destroy Spectre, MI6 and the CIA and world domination through a virus to kill billions (only those with smart blood can survive, which Bond has - courtesy of Obruchev after he is rescued. That's why Bond is unnaffected at the death ball which is a trial for the virus which causes instant death)
I believe Blofeld will assist Bond and gives Bond the location of Safin's lair, given the Safin has now turned against Spectre. After Bond's meeting with Blofeld, he goes to Q's house to arrange a plane to the island. Blofeld will supply crucial information to stopping Safin, I believe that is definite.
Ash is a double agent and that's how Safin finds Bond & family in Norway - through Ash and his access to classified information (maybe he steals it from Leiter's phone). Ash helps Safin kidnap Mathilde and Madeleine's/herclone. Ash could be killed by Bond/Nomi at the island.
After he is rescued, Obechev works at an MI6 lab to help explain the virus and the smart blood needed to stop it, that he was forced to work on, but he is recaptured (or killed) by Ash and Primo. Ash would have known where Obechev is taken to after he is saved by MI6.
Leiter may come under attack from Ash and Safin in Cuba and his fate may be left unknown but he may return at the very end.
Paloma is a Spectre insider working for the CIA who helps save Obechev.
CONCLUSION: No-one can be sure exactly how Madeleine & Mathilde work into the plot exactly. There are just too many possibilities with different clones, child clones, possible daughters. I think the most probable is that there are 2 adult Madeleine's and Mathilde is Bond's daughter.
It seems there is 2 movies packed into 1 with this movie. It's going to be a lot to take in.
'The fact that Nomi calls (Bond) "Commander" is just such a shakedown'
Can any mil guys explain to me how this is shocking to Bond? Isn't it just your title? Like calling a doctor 'Doctor <name>' or a professor 'Professor <name>'. Is there something I'm missing here?
It doesn't mean shocking.
It could be like being patronising, i.e as Bond is no longer a registered 00 agent and she doesn't see him as being capable of that or as good as her. Commander is his stripped-back, bare bones title.
Usually he is referred to as 007.
It doesn't mean shocking.
It could be like being patronising, i.e as Bond is no longer a registered 00 agent and she doesn't see him as being capable of that or as good as her. Commander is his stripped-back, bare bones title.
Usually he is referred to as 007.
Right, I see. Think it's the delivery of that line in the trailer that confused me.
Seems like Nomi's gonna be presented as a kinda smug prick agent, trying to knock Bond down a bit before being knocked down a few pegs herself, resulting in mutual respect and appreciation. There's been so much hate surrounding her I really hope that she defies all odds and turns out to be one of the well-done witty Bond girls like Wai Lin or even to an extent, Jinx, that does smart back and forth with Bond, although there's always the possibility of her being too much of a 'not like other agents' Mary Sue who triumphantly beats down the mean old boomer Bond, as what has been happening with a lot of new female characters.
I just hope Lashana is being coached somewhat to say the really provocative things she's been saying on tabloids to get attention and hate clicks, because while building up a character by giving them a backstory full of mundane details that shape their personality is one thing, presenting Nomi's 'boyfriend troubles' and menstrual cycle/hormones is another thing altogether that literally no one asked for or wanted. I want to see another Brosnan Bond girl - smart, capable, on par with Bond - but with a bit of humility/self-respect, and less of the 'look at me! I'm better than you simply because I am a <insert 'disadvantaged' class here>!' rhetoric that's been affecting modern cinema. Making a female/minority character skilled just to shame a male/white character for some hamfisted 'message' is just as bad as making a female character's purpose revolve around a male character's.
After watching and rewatching all the trailers (and reading some articles in the magazines), I've eleaborated my thought about the plot. The problem is it's a bit long. I've created a PDF, but I don't know how to attach that to the post.
Any suggestions?
After watching and rewatching all the trailers (and reading some articles in the magazines), I've eleaborated my thought about the plot. The problem is it's a bit long. I've created a PDF, but I don't know how to attach that to the post.
Any suggestions?
Give us a basic rundown of your opinion here. There should be a way to post photos if you want to.
Nittedal, Norway
The scene opens on a snowy view with a little yellow cabin in the middle. Someone is coming to kill the inhabitants: a young Madeleine Swann and her mother [cfr. Spectre, the train story]. However, he doesn’t know the girl can shoot and injures him. The girl tries to escape and the man pursuits her, but she falls on the frozen lake. The man shoots at the ice and saves her: she owes a favour to him.
Matera, Italy
Some years later the same girl, Dr. Madeleine Swann, emerges from the sea waves in Cala dei Poeti, Italy where she and her lover James Bond are enjoying their romance. The two travel to Matera, have a walk through out the city and finally, a night of love. Madeleine suddenly wakes up, goes to the balcony and – according to a local tradition – burns a little sheet of paper as a hope to start a new, peaceful life.
The following morning Bond too has to pay a tribute and definitely close all relationships with his past: he goes to the family chapel and burns a paper (Forgive me) in front of Vesper Lynd’s tomb. But something goes horribly wrong, the monument explodes and he receives a message from Spectre in Swann’s phone to congratulate for the successful operation. They’re in great danger.
Some men are pursuing him. He jumps off the bridge, takes a shortcut trough the old Sassi and faces with Primo, one of the assailants. He fights with him – leaving him severely injured – and stole his bike to go and pick up Madeleine. Then they reach the faithful DB5 and starts the pursuit along the old city.
Bond is convinced Madeleine has betrayed him (“We all have our secrets”), but the only solution to keep her safe is she must go away. They arrive at the station in Civita Lucana, Bond puts her on a train (“This is it”) and they split up.
The title sequence rolls out
London/Port Antonio, Jamaica
5 years later. In a government laboratory [London?/Porton Down?] a commando held by Primo is attacked and they steal something – probably a bio-chemical weapon – kidnapping its inventor, scientist Valdo Obruchev.
The scene then cuts to a beautiful boat sailing in the sea, then to James Bond, retired in Jamaica to spend a peaceful life. He has no more contacts with the MI6, but, one day his old friend Felix Leiter [promoted chief of South American station at the end of QoS] comes and asks a favour to Bond: he has to retrieve a “package” from La Havana. The problem is CIA has no jurisdiction on the island and an explicit operation could cause a diplomatic crisis between USA-Cuba. Furthermore, Felix is convinced some double agents are infiltrated in the organizations [cfr. Probably a nod to the unused Spectre script after the Sony leaks].
In the meantime, M, at the headquarters of the MI6 in London, comes to know the intentions of Leiter and asks the newly promoted 007 agent Nomi to reach Bond and persuade him not to go to Cuba and enjoy his retirement.
At the Jamaican nightclub, and then in the villa, Bond and Nomi do their social encounter and she threatens him (“Stay in your lane, or I’ll put a bullet in your knee”). Bond can’t refuse the favour to Felix, he helped him when he was in need; so the two of them leave for Cuba where Nomi will give him support for the operation. They meet at the harbour and go by boat [cfr. clapperboard 78, Port Antonio].
La Havana, Cuba
Bond meets in La Havana with Paloma, a CIA agent, and they go to a party at Palacio Velazquez. When there, a shocking reality punches Bond in the face: they’re at a Spectre meeting organized to celebrate Blofeld’s birthday; despite being in prison, he can still somehow control the organization. But the surprise is another one: at the certain moment a light is pointed towards Bond and, suddenly, all the Spectre’s members start to collapse at the floor, gassed. James and Paloma, through a fight in a bar and in the Cuban streets, open a way out in the night.
At the same time, Nomi finds Valdo and escorts him helping Bond in his escape from Spectre and police agents.
They finally reach the boat where Felix, with his assistant Ash are expecting them. Nomi, an ex-pilot, is set transport him safely to London. However, Ash betrays the agents, shoots Felix to death and makes the fishing boat explode. Bond can do nothing – except letting his friend die – and escapes from the sinking boat. Nomi thinks he’s dead and comes to MI6 to report about the mission.
London
Instead, Bond has survived. He arrives in London, goes to the garage, uncovers the V8 Volante – the DB5 being severely damaged after the Matera race – puts up a suit and properly suited and booted as we know our hero, he goes to MI6 to meet M. For the first time Bond enters the service as a visitor [cfr. Production shoot], meets Moneypenny and talks with Mallory about what happened in Cuba. Then with Moneypenny he pays a visit to Q’s flat (“So you’re not dead”) and asks him a plane to reach some place.
The following day he and Tanner go and see Blofeld, the only one who can answer the questions left unsolved in Bond’s mind. Unexpectedly, he meets Madeleine, now working as a psychologist for MI6 to keep her safe after Matera events. Bond and Blofeld talk, the latter says the game has changed (“Now your enemy is my enemy”) and uncovers the identity of Safin, the rich scion of a pharmaceutical family, once his protégé, now a mercenary who tries to defeat Spectre and create his own empire.
However, the big revelation is not that one: he starts to analyse Bond, to enter his mind until he arrives to his weak point, Madeleine, of whom Bond is still in love (“You gave up everything for her”). Madeleine has a secret (“When her secret finds its way out, it will the death of you”), something no one, nor Bond himself, knows. In Matera, she got pregnant. Bond and Madeleine confront, she probably shows him something about the child (“You don’t know what this is”) and James wants to retrieve her because he fears she could be in danger. After all, if Blofeld knows, how couldn’t Safin too?
Bond arranges a meeting with M and Tanner in Hammersmith Bridge, explain them his concerns about Nomi being a double agent and what Blofeld told him. He and Madeleine must go. Even though is not an official mission and Bond is actually a non-active agent, M understands and knows it could allow to find and stop Safin from releasing a deadly virus. He decides, otherwise, to send Nomi too as a support or to uncover her true identity.
Nittedal, Norway
Bond, traveling in the V8 along the Atlantic Road, arrives to a small yellow cabin in the forest. The very same one in which Madeleine grew up and where now someone – probably her mother – is bringing up the little girl. Bond is positively shocked by the girl, probably there’s a “family” moment and he decides to take her to a safe house where Madeleine is expecting [cfr. The castle in Scotland, as confirmed by Total Film too]. While in the safe house Bond phones London to organize a rendezvous and extract the girls but Safin shows to Madeleine. They start talking and, at a certain point, he gives her a wooden box with a broken mask inside. She understands he’s the man she shot at we she was young; Madeleine and the girl are kidnapped, but Bond sees everything and goes out in a hurry to save them [this would explain why in the previous scene he wore a grey-sand shirt under the MA duster coat; now the R&B white henley]. With the V8 he starts the pursuit: Madeleine and Mathilde [we’ll call the girl with her supposed name since now] in a Land Rover with Ash; Safin in the helicopter coordinating from above. Bond somehow loses the Aston and stops the convoy: the girls are safe; so he takes an old Toyota to leave. The pursuit continues until he loses the girls for a second time.
The helicopter with Safin, Madeleine and Mathilde goes away and Bond can do nothing but accept with resignation they’re gone. Suddenly, with the new Aston Martin DBS Nomi comes out offering him a lift. They arrive to a RAF base where Q is expecting, take the cargo plane and, after a change of clothing/gadget moment, they fly to Safin lair.
Abandoned mine island, Russia (Faroe Islands)
On a glider, Bond and Nomi are ejected from the cargo plane (“Have you ever flown one of these things before?”). Reaching the island, the glider transforms in a submarine and they infiltrate in the lair. Nomi will find Madeleine and Mathilde and take them to a safe place; Bond will confront Safin. [!!!Here comes the most theoretical part!!!] Entering a laboratory, they discover Safin has a plan not only to release a deadly virus, but he is also creating some clones, “perfect” human beings immune to the virus itself, forged on the DNA of Madeleine – to which he fell in love saving her life – and Bond (hence the statement: “James Bond, I’ve made you redundant”).
Bond arrives at Safin’s sancta sanctorum, confronts with him: the only way to survive is pass a series of tests [reminiscent of the You Only Live Twice novel]. He is confronted with Madeleine and Mathilde, who are in danger and he can do nothing to save them [if you notice the image, behind him there’s a miniature house, not the masks on the wall; and, above all, why would he lover the gun?].
Bond is imprisoned but he manages to escape and tries and find the girls. He literally cuts his way to the exit killing the henchmen and destructing the lair. Until he arrives in the underground, where he finally confronts with Safin and kills him.
The island is going to explode and Bond must hurry up to go out of there (M says in London “Bond, where the hell are you”). The only way to survive is to throw himself in the sea, but, while jumping, he’s hidden by something and sinks in the waters. Then the whole thing goes up in smoke and Bond is presumably given for dead [cfr. Look at this photo who’s presumably taken outside of Safin’s lair with Bond already without the jumper; photo at the end].
Meanwhile, Nomi, Madeleine and Mathilde, on a rocky beach, take a boat and go to their rendezvous with the plain [the little girl in the interview said she had to look above in the sky to a plane is passing]. Madeleine doesn’t want to leave, James is still in there, but Nomi convinces her: he’s a very experienced agent and will find his way to the exit.
London
M has seen all the action in his office with Moneypenny and Tanner to coordinate the agents, has no notice of Bond. Like in Skyfall, he’s given for dead. Exhausted, broken, Mallory sits in the corridor – in front of Judi Dench’s portrait – and starts to talk with her remembering Bond.
Matera, Italy
Assuming Bond is dead Madeleine and Mathilde in the Aston Martin V8 – Bond’s inheritance – go to Matera to pay tribute to his tomb [cfr. Note that in an interview Craig said they’ll return to Matera two times]. Madeleine is going to tell her a story, but she shuts up.
In the city centre, while walking, Madeleine sees a very well dressed man. « He seems » – she starts thinking – « No, it can’t be. How could it be? »…
And for the very conclusion, let Cary surprise us
Please excuse me if there are mistakes. English is not my first language! 8-)
If you want the whole version with photos, please DM me. I'll send the PDF
Please excuse me if there are mistakes. English is not my first language! 8-)
If you want the whole version with photos, please DM me. I'll send the PDF
Very interesting ! I just have doubts about the last part. If they try a Dark Knight Rises ending, would it mean Bond finally finds the happiness he runs after since Vesper's death ? It was already the case in Spectre with not killing Blofeld, retiring from MI6 and leaving with Madeleine (without the child idea but the concept is the same).
Bond being a father is not something shocking to me (in the YOLT novel, he has a son with Kissy Suzuki), but Bond leaving with Madeleine again would be redundant (not to quote Safin).
I initially thought having Madeleine back in this one would permit to "erase" the ending of Spectre: she sacrifices herself to save the child, Bond survives and has his daughter raised within a "normal" family, for her safety. Such an ending would make Bond coming back to MI6 as the classic 007 everyone knows => JAMES BOND WILL RETURN.
After all, wasn't the Craig era supposed to be some kind of prequel to the 1962-2002 period which has a more or less relevant timeline ? The ending you suggest destroys this continuity. This would be a little bit disappointing IMHO.
The Craig films have always existed in a separate continuity from the rest of the films.
This was never officially said. Skyfall was even considered as the ultimate prequel to the movies of the classic period. The ending scene with Bond and Mallory in the old designed MI6 office shows it well.
The Craig films have always existed in a separate continuity from the rest of the films.
This was never officially said. Skyfall was even considered as the ultimate prequel to the movies of the classic period. The ending scene with Bond and Mallory in the old designed MI6 office shows it well.
It said for Casino Royale that they were starting over as if no Bond film had been made before. Craig's films are made to exist on their own, not as prequels to the other Bond films. Craig's films have sought to reintroduce the elements of the Connery Bond films moment by moment, not to set them up for Connery's Bond but to tell the story of Bond in a new way.
However, these elements do not all make sense on their own, nor do they make sense in the context of being prequels. They're really just fan service.
The events in the Craig Bond films that seem like they're setting up things for the Connery Bond films don't work. Q-Branch gave Bond the DB5 in Goldfinger. His personal car before that was a Bentley, not an Aston Martin, and Bond was disappointed at having to give up the Bentley before. Connery's Bond had a Beretta at the start of Dr No, while Craig never used one. Bond discovers Spectre in Dr. No, and meets Blofeld for the first time in both YOLT and OHMSS. Craig does both in Spectre. Bond is already over the hill in Skyfall, while in Dr. No he's an experience agent but still young. Mallory is not meant to be the same M that was in the Connery Bond films.
The DB5 with gadgets, PPK, SPECTRE, Blofeld and old-fashioned M's office are purely fan service. These things are shoehorned into the Craig films in nonsensical ways to excite old Bond fans.
Please excuse me if there are mistakes. English is not my first language! 8-)
If you want the whole version with photos, please DM me. I'll send the PDF
Very concise predictions on the plot. I'm still iffy on exactly what Safin has planned and the ending because it seems a bit melodramatic, but overall, very good.
The Craig films have always existed in a separate continuity from the rest of the films.
This was never officially said. Skyfall was even considered as the ultimate prequel to the movies of the classic period. The ending scene with Bond and Mallory in the old designed MI6 office shows it well.
It said for Casino Royale that they were starting over as if no Bond film had been made before. Craig's films are made to exist on their own, not as prequels to the other Bond films. Craig's films have sought to reintroduce the elements of the Connery Bond films moment by moment, not to set them up for Connery's Bond but to tell the story of Bond in a new way.
However, these elements do not all make sense on their own, nor do they make sense in the context of being prequels. They're really just fan service.
The events in the Craig Bond films that seem like they're setting up things for the Connery Bond films don't work. Q-Branch gave Bond the DB5 in Goldfinger. His personal car before that was a Bentley, not an Aston Martin, and Bond was disappointed at having to give up the Bentley before. Connery's Bond had a Beretta at the start of Dr No, while Craig never used one. Bond discovers Spectre in Dr. No, and meets Blofeld for the first time in both YOLT and OHMSS. Craig does both in Spectre. Bond is already over the hill in Skyfall, while in Dr. No he's an experience agent but still young. Mallory is not meant to be the same M that was in the Connery Bond films.
The DB5 with gadgets, PPK, SPECTRE, Blofeld and old-fashioned M's office are purely fan service. These things are shoehorned into the Craig films in nonsensical ways to excite old Bond fans.
That's why I said the timeline of the classic period was more or less relevant. The Craig era is a reboot with some kind of prequel atmosphere.
You're right about what you say but I really expect a different ending from the one suggested by Mattia De Varti.
Don't you think Madeleine sacrificing herself to save Mathilde, Bond killing Safin to avenge her, escaping from the lair with the child and finally explaining to her despite his love, sharing his life would be too dangerous for her is so emotional?
Furthermore, it would permit to make Bond return as the usual 007 for the next movies.
I'm not saying it is the only possible ending but this one seems much more interesting to me than the "easy one".
Comments
We have seen so many articles about No Time to Die in the tabloids. I can’t know for sure, but I suspect that the goal of all of them is to stir up controversy. Maybe they have inside info about the films, but I think that most of them are just starting rumours to make people outraged. They also often take a positive thing and give it a negative spin. I’m trying to avoid these things not for the spoilers but for the garbage they share. We shouldn’t get bent out of shape for the lies.
I really don't think Nomi is a Spectre agent. The way she is introduced in the trailer shows her loyalty to MI6 is not questionable, unlike Denbigh in Spectre for instance (it seemed obvious from his first appearance he would turn to be a traitor).
Concerning M killing Nomi, it is complete nonsense given what I explained just before. They would never dare such a twist.
Furthermore, keep in mind it is a woke era we live in. Showing the betrayal of a black female character supposed to be Bond's alter ego would destroy everything Phoebe Waller-Bridge worked so hard for (sarcasm here we go!). Making the audience aware of the fact the Bond we used to know and to love is a pathetic character everyone should be ashamed of is her main goal, although she will never admit it.
Personally, I don't expect anything from the movie. I just hope it will be entertaining and my ultimate wish for the the next movies is a return to the originals, with this typical 1960s atmosphere like in the Mad Men series. I know it is utopia but please, just let me dream!
i don't think Nomi or Paloma will die or become villainous. Armas has pretty much confirmed Paloma won't die, and the final scenes with Nomi as depicted in the call sheets don't scream death to me.
I do also have that fear that Phoebe and co may 'wimpify' Bond a bit too. Like those directors, who you just know are going to reduce the female characters - no matter how previously well-written - to big-titted bimbos and love interests, I get that same fear (in reverse, ofc) for Phoebe's writing. Especially given her other works, like Fleabag or Killing Eve, where the overwhelming majority of men are portrayed as smooth-brained idiots with no balls, and the remaining men with even a little assertiveness to their character are either demonized or turn out to be perverted, woman-hating antagonists. It's like the inversion of the horrible, sexist tropes you'd see in older media where women were either docile and stupid, so dainty that they were unable to fire a SMG without falling into the water or women who were more assertive potrayed as bitter, man-hating spinsters.
Some things look fantastic. The trailer is great, locations, actions sequences, (potentially soundtrack), DC in good shape. But other things leave me less enamoured; More heavy personal stuff, ('Unlucky Alf' Bond) Bond's wardrobe, 4 x Astons 8-) (although having the V8 back is a master stroke), Scooby Gang, Daddy Bond, Bond dying (I know the latter are just rumours).
As others have said, watching a Bond film used to be about escapism and fantasy. Recently, it's become a more tenebrous affair. Fingers crossed anyway.
Very good points.
Be careful, the thought police will come after you!
I didn't write this, Christmas Tounes did.
https://www.ajb007.co.uk/post/988666/#p988666
And I don't agree with it.
7. LALD 8. TWINE 9. Skyfall 10. AVTAK 11. CR 12. TLD 13. YOLT
14. TMWTGG 15. Moonraker 16. TSWLM 17. Thunderball 18. FRWL
19. Dr. No 20. DAF 21. LTK 22. DAD 23. QoS 24. Spectre 25. NTTD
https://www.docdroid.net/poYswim/2020-03-01-total-film-pdf
Nice read—quite a long article covering NTTD of course, but the rest of Craig's tenure as well. Lots of interesting facts and stats of various things as well. Bit of a coincidence that the article following the Bond one is on Eva Green.
https://variety.com/2020/music/news/hans-zimmer-interview-bond-dune-lion-king-ascap-awards-1234646855/
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
Could Primo be linked to Vesper's real boyfriend that was kidnapped? (Both French-Algerian)
Safin/Blofeld was the one that sent Vesper to work for HM Government to steal a large amount of funds in return for her fiancee back? Mr White was the boss of Vesper's boyfriend.
Primo does turn up immediately after Vesper's grave explodes and must be connected to Vesper.
“This film feels like a good bookend to Casino''- Robert Wade
We also learn that Ash is with Leiter when Bond meets them in a Jamaican bar.
“Do something for us,” says Leiter, leaning in. “Pick up a package in Cuba.” The package, it transpires, isn’t his wayward Amazon delivery but a person – Waldo Obechev. “Didn’t he defect during your time at MI6?” Ash chimes in. “Never heard of him,” says a visibly indifferent Bond, who tries to keep the party going. But things suddenly turn serious when Leiter drops the S-bomb: Spectre. “It’ll be like old times...” Leiter adds. A glare. “My round,” Bond says, before walking off.
Costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb confirms that Safin is the mask-wearing guy we see chasing the girl on the ice.
Bond is seemingly betrayed by a woman he loves – Léa Seydoux’s Madeleine Swann. This does strongly suggest that the real Swann is framed as we have heard her say to (by a clone).
The credits still say: ‘Bond will return,’ Fukunaga smiles. That does rule out the theory of Bond dying.
Malek is secretly playing Bond’s first ever on-screen adversary, Dr. No? Is he willing to shoot them down? “I would never shoot something like that down. It’s intriguing,” he says with a smile. So which Bond films did Malek watch in preparation? “Only Dr.No'
'it’s my last one' - Daniel Craig (confirmed then)
''..the Norway chase scene. After reuniting with Madeleine in a safe house, Bond is rudely interrupted by Safin’s sudden appearance, and takes the ensuing chase off road in a Toyota Land Cruiser. '' -
I think When Madeline opens Safin's damaged mask from a parcel at the Norway safe house, there is a flashback to her youth when Safin comes to her house.
It turns out Safin also was the one who blackmailed Vesper and kidnapped her boyfriend (Primo, who now works for him) to fund his organisation.
Safin's grand plans are to destroy Spectre, MI6 and the CIA and world domination through a virus to kill billions (only those with smart blood can survive, which Bond has - courtesy of Obruchev after he is rescued. That's why Bond is unnaffected at the death ball which is a trial for the virus which causes instant death)
I believe Blofeld will assist Bond and gives Bond the location of Safin's lair, given the Safin has now turned against Spectre. After Bond's meeting with Blofeld, he goes to Q's house to arrange a plane to the island. Blofeld will supply crucial information to stopping Safin, I believe that is definite.
Ash is a double agent and that's how Safin finds Bond & family in Norway - through Ash and his access to classified information (maybe he steals it from Leiter's phone). Ash helps Safin kidnap Mathilde and Madeleine's/herclone. Ash could be killed by Bond/Nomi at the island.
After he is rescued, Obechev works at an MI6 lab to help explain the virus and the smart blood needed to stop it, that he was forced to work on, but he is recaptured (or killed) by Ash and Primo. Ash would have known where Obechev is taken to after he is saved by MI6.
Leiter may come under attack from Ash and Safin in Cuba and his fate may be left unknown but he may return at the very end.
Paloma is a Spectre insider working for the CIA who helps save Obechev.
CONCLUSION: No-one can be sure exactly how Madeleine & Mathilde work into the plot exactly. There are just too many possibilities with different clones, child clones, possible daughters. I think the most probable is that there are 2 adult Madeleine's and Mathilde is Bond's daughter.
It seems there is 2 movies packed into 1 with this movie. It's going to be a lot to take in.
7. LALD 8. TWINE 9. Skyfall 10. AVTAK 11. CR 12. TLD 13. YOLT
14. TMWTGG 15. Moonraker 16. TSWLM 17. Thunderball 18. FRWL
19. Dr. No 20. DAF 21. LTK 22. DAD 23. QoS 24. Spectre 25. NTTD
Can any mil guys explain to me how this is shocking to Bond? Isn't it just your title? Like calling a doctor 'Doctor <name>' or a professor 'Professor <name>'. Is there something I'm missing here?
It could be like being patronising, i.e as Bond is no longer a registered 00 agent and she doesn't see him as being capable of that or as good as her. Commander is his stripped-back, bare bones title.
Usually he is referred to as 007.
7. LALD 8. TWINE 9. Skyfall 10. AVTAK 11. CR 12. TLD 13. YOLT
14. TMWTGG 15. Moonraker 16. TSWLM 17. Thunderball 18. FRWL
19. Dr. No 20. DAF 21. LTK 22. DAD 23. QoS 24. Spectre 25. NTTD
Seems like Nomi's gonna be presented as a kinda smug prick agent, trying to knock Bond down a bit before being knocked down a few pegs herself, resulting in mutual respect and appreciation. There's been so much hate surrounding her I really hope that she defies all odds and turns out to be one of the well-done witty Bond girls like Wai Lin or even to an extent, Jinx, that does smart back and forth with Bond, although there's always the possibility of her being too much of a 'not like other agents' Mary Sue who triumphantly beats down the mean old boomer Bond, as what has been happening with a lot of new female characters.
I just hope Lashana is being coached somewhat to say the really provocative things she's been saying on tabloids to get attention and hate clicks, because while building up a character by giving them a backstory full of mundane details that shape their personality is one thing, presenting Nomi's 'boyfriend troubles' and menstrual cycle/hormones is another thing altogether that literally no one asked for or wanted. I want to see another Brosnan Bond girl - smart, capable, on par with Bond - but with a bit of humility/self-respect, and less of the 'look at me! I'm better than you simply because I am a <insert 'disadvantaged' class here>!' rhetoric that's been affecting modern cinema. Making a female/minority character skilled just to shame a male/white character for some hamfisted 'message' is just as bad as making a female character's purpose revolve around a male character's.
Any suggestions?
Nittedal, Norway
The scene opens on a snowy view with a little yellow cabin in the middle. Someone is coming to kill the inhabitants: a young Madeleine Swann and her mother [cfr. Spectre, the train story]. However, he doesn’t know the girl can shoot and injures him. The girl tries to escape and the man pursuits her, but she falls on the frozen lake. The man shoots at the ice and saves her: she owes a favour to him.
Matera, Italy
Some years later the same girl, Dr. Madeleine Swann, emerges from the sea waves in Cala dei Poeti, Italy where she and her lover James Bond are enjoying their romance. The two travel to Matera, have a walk through out the city and finally, a night of love. Madeleine suddenly wakes up, goes to the balcony and – according to a local tradition – burns a little sheet of paper as a hope to start a new, peaceful life.
The following morning Bond too has to pay a tribute and definitely close all relationships with his past: he goes to the family chapel and burns a paper (Forgive me) in front of Vesper Lynd’s tomb. But something goes horribly wrong, the monument explodes and he receives a message from Spectre in Swann’s phone to congratulate for the successful operation. They’re in great danger.
Some men are pursuing him. He jumps off the bridge, takes a shortcut trough the old Sassi and faces with Primo, one of the assailants. He fights with him – leaving him severely injured – and stole his bike to go and pick up Madeleine. Then they reach the faithful DB5 and starts the pursuit along the old city.
Bond is convinced Madeleine has betrayed him (“We all have our secrets”), but the only solution to keep her safe is she must go away. They arrive at the station in Civita Lucana, Bond puts her on a train (“This is it”) and they split up.
The title sequence rolls out
London/Port Antonio, Jamaica
5 years later. In a government laboratory [London?/Porton Down?] a commando held by Primo is attacked and they steal something – probably a bio-chemical weapon – kidnapping its inventor, scientist Valdo Obruchev.
The scene then cuts to a beautiful boat sailing in the sea, then to James Bond, retired in Jamaica to spend a peaceful life. He has no more contacts with the MI6, but, one day his old friend Felix Leiter [promoted chief of South American station at the end of QoS] comes and asks a favour to Bond: he has to retrieve a “package” from La Havana. The problem is CIA has no jurisdiction on the island and an explicit operation could cause a diplomatic crisis between USA-Cuba. Furthermore, Felix is convinced some double agents are infiltrated in the organizations [cfr. Probably a nod to the unused Spectre script after the Sony leaks].
In the meantime, M, at the headquarters of the MI6 in London, comes to know the intentions of Leiter and asks the newly promoted 007 agent Nomi to reach Bond and persuade him not to go to Cuba and enjoy his retirement.
At the Jamaican nightclub, and then in the villa, Bond and Nomi do their social encounter and she threatens him (“Stay in your lane, or I’ll put a bullet in your knee”). Bond can’t refuse the favour to Felix, he helped him when he was in need; so the two of them leave for Cuba where Nomi will give him support for the operation. They meet at the harbour and go by boat [cfr. clapperboard 78, Port Antonio].
Bond meets in La Havana with Paloma, a CIA agent, and they go to a party at Palacio Velazquez. When there, a shocking reality punches Bond in the face: they’re at a Spectre meeting organized to celebrate Blofeld’s birthday; despite being in prison, he can still somehow control the organization. But the surprise is another one: at the certain moment a light is pointed towards Bond and, suddenly, all the Spectre’s members start to collapse at the floor, gassed. James and Paloma, through a fight in a bar and in the Cuban streets, open a way out in the night.
At the same time, Nomi finds Valdo and escorts him helping Bond in his escape from Spectre and police agents.
They finally reach the boat where Felix, with his assistant Ash are expecting them. Nomi, an ex-pilot, is set transport him safely to London. However, Ash betrays the agents, shoots Felix to death and makes the fishing boat explode. Bond can do nothing – except letting his friend die – and escapes from the sinking boat. Nomi thinks he’s dead and comes to MI6 to report about the mission.
London
Instead, Bond has survived. He arrives in London, goes to the garage, uncovers the V8 Volante – the DB5 being severely damaged after the Matera race – puts up a suit and properly suited and booted as we know our hero, he goes to MI6 to meet M. For the first time Bond enters the service as a visitor [cfr. Production shoot], meets Moneypenny and talks with Mallory about what happened in Cuba. Then with Moneypenny he pays a visit to Q’s flat (“So you’re not dead”) and asks him a plane to reach some place.
The following day he and Tanner go and see Blofeld, the only one who can answer the questions left unsolved in Bond’s mind. Unexpectedly, he meets Madeleine, now working as a psychologist for MI6 to keep her safe after Matera events. Bond and Blofeld talk, the latter says the game has changed (“Now your enemy is my enemy”) and uncovers the identity of Safin, the rich scion of a pharmaceutical family, once his protégé, now a mercenary who tries to defeat Spectre and create his own empire.
However, the big revelation is not that one: he starts to analyse Bond, to enter his mind until he arrives to his weak point, Madeleine, of whom Bond is still in love (“You gave up everything for her”). Madeleine has a secret (“When her secret finds its way out, it will the death of you”), something no one, nor Bond himself, knows. In Matera, she got pregnant. Bond and Madeleine confront, she probably shows him something about the child (“You don’t know what this is”) and James wants to retrieve her because he fears she could be in danger. After all, if Blofeld knows, how couldn’t Safin too?
Bond arranges a meeting with M and Tanner in Hammersmith Bridge, explain them his concerns about Nomi being a double agent and what Blofeld told him. He and Madeleine must go. Even though is not an official mission and Bond is actually a non-active agent, M understands and knows it could allow to find and stop Safin from releasing a deadly virus. He decides, otherwise, to send Nomi too as a support or to uncover her true identity.
Nittedal, Norway
Bond, traveling in the V8 along the Atlantic Road, arrives to a small yellow cabin in the forest. The very same one in which Madeleine grew up and where now someone – probably her mother – is bringing up the little girl. Bond is positively shocked by the girl, probably there’s a “family” moment and he decides to take her to a safe house where Madeleine is expecting [cfr. The castle in Scotland, as confirmed by Total Film too]. While in the safe house Bond phones London to organize a rendezvous and extract the girls but Safin shows to Madeleine. They start talking and, at a certain point, he gives her a wooden box with a broken mask inside. She understands he’s the man she shot at we she was young; Madeleine and the girl are kidnapped, but Bond sees everything and goes out in a hurry to save them [this would explain why in the previous scene he wore a grey-sand shirt under the MA duster coat; now the R&B white henley]. With the V8 he starts the pursuit: Madeleine and Mathilde [we’ll call the girl with her supposed name since now] in a Land Rover with Ash; Safin in the helicopter coordinating from above. Bond somehow loses the Aston and stops the convoy: the girls are safe; so he takes an old Toyota to leave. The pursuit continues until he loses the girls for a second time.
The helicopter with Safin, Madeleine and Mathilde goes away and Bond can do nothing but accept with resignation they’re gone. Suddenly, with the new Aston Martin DBS Nomi comes out offering him a lift. They arrive to a RAF base where Q is expecting, take the cargo plane and, after a change of clothing/gadget moment, they fly to Safin lair.
On a glider, Bond and Nomi are ejected from the cargo plane (“Have you ever flown one of these things before?”). Reaching the island, the glider transforms in a submarine and they infiltrate in the lair. Nomi will find Madeleine and Mathilde and take them to a safe place; Bond will confront Safin. [!!!Here comes the most theoretical part!!!] Entering a laboratory, they discover Safin has a plan not only to release a deadly virus, but he is also creating some clones, “perfect” human beings immune to the virus itself, forged on the DNA of Madeleine – to which he fell in love saving her life – and Bond (hence the statement: “James Bond, I’ve made you redundant”).
Bond arrives at Safin’s sancta sanctorum, confronts with him: the only way to survive is pass a series of tests [reminiscent of the You Only Live Twice novel]. He is confronted with Madeleine and Mathilde, who are in danger and he can do nothing to save them [if you notice the image, behind him there’s a miniature house, not the masks on the wall; and, above all, why would he lover the gun?].
Bond is imprisoned but he manages to escape and tries and find the girls. He literally cuts his way to the exit killing the henchmen and destructing the lair. Until he arrives in the underground, where he finally confronts with Safin and kills him.
The island is going to explode and Bond must hurry up to go out of there (M says in London “Bond, where the hell are you”). The only way to survive is to throw himself in the sea, but, while jumping, he’s hidden by something and sinks in the waters. Then the whole thing goes up in smoke and Bond is presumably given for dead [cfr. Look at this photo who’s presumably taken outside of Safin’s lair with Bond already without the jumper; photo at the end].
Meanwhile, Nomi, Madeleine and Mathilde, on a rocky beach, take a boat and go to their rendezvous with the plain [the little girl in the interview said she had to look above in the sky to a plane is passing]. Madeleine doesn’t want to leave, James is still in there, but Nomi convinces her: he’s a very experienced agent and will find his way to the exit.
London
M has seen all the action in his office with Moneypenny and Tanner to coordinate the agents, has no notice of Bond. Like in Skyfall, he’s given for dead. Exhausted, broken, Mallory sits in the corridor – in front of Judi Dench’s portrait – and starts to talk with her remembering Bond.
Matera, Italy
Assuming Bond is dead Madeleine and Mathilde in the Aston Martin V8 – Bond’s inheritance – go to Matera to pay tribute to his tomb [cfr. Note that in an interview Craig said they’ll return to Matera two times]. Madeleine is going to tell her a story, but she shuts up.
In the city centre, while walking, Madeleine sees a very well dressed man. « He seems » – she starts thinking – « No, it can’t be. How could it be? »…
And for the very conclusion, let Cary surprise us
JAMES BOND WILL RETURN
End credits roll out
If you want the whole version with photos, please DM me. I'll send the PDF
Very interesting ! I just have doubts about the last part. If they try a Dark Knight Rises ending, would it mean Bond finally finds the happiness he runs after since Vesper's death ? It was already the case in Spectre with not killing Blofeld, retiring from MI6 and leaving with Madeleine (without the child idea but the concept is the same).
Bond being a father is not something shocking to me (in the YOLT novel, he has a son with Kissy Suzuki), but Bond leaving with Madeleine again would be redundant (not to quote Safin).
I initially thought having Madeleine back in this one would permit to "erase" the ending of Spectre: she sacrifices herself to save the child, Bond survives and has his daughter raised within a "normal" family, for her safety. Such an ending would make Bond coming back to MI6 as the classic 007 everyone knows => JAMES BOND WILL RETURN.
After all, wasn't the Craig era supposed to be some kind of prequel to the 1962-2002 period which has a more or less relevant timeline ? The ending you suggest destroys this continuity. This would be a little bit disappointing IMHO.
This was never officially said. Skyfall was even considered as the ultimate prequel to the movies of the classic period. The ending scene with Bond and Mallory in the old designed MI6 office shows it well.
It said for Casino Royale that they were starting over as if no Bond film had been made before. Craig's films are made to exist on their own, not as prequels to the other Bond films. Craig's films have sought to reintroduce the elements of the Connery Bond films moment by moment, not to set them up for Connery's Bond but to tell the story of Bond in a new way.
However, these elements do not all make sense on their own, nor do they make sense in the context of being prequels. They're really just fan service.
The events in the Craig Bond films that seem like they're setting up things for the Connery Bond films don't work. Q-Branch gave Bond the DB5 in Goldfinger. His personal car before that was a Bentley, not an Aston Martin, and Bond was disappointed at having to give up the Bentley before. Connery's Bond had a Beretta at the start of Dr No, while Craig never used one. Bond discovers Spectre in Dr. No, and meets Blofeld for the first time in both YOLT and OHMSS. Craig does both in Spectre. Bond is already over the hill in Skyfall, while in Dr. No he's an experience agent but still young. Mallory is not meant to be the same M that was in the Connery Bond films.
The DB5 with gadgets, PPK, SPECTRE, Blofeld and old-fashioned M's office are purely fan service. These things are shoehorned into the Craig films in nonsensical ways to excite old Bond fans.
Very concise predictions on the plot. I'm still iffy on exactly what Safin has planned and the ending because it seems a bit melodramatic, but overall, very good.
That's why I said the timeline of the classic period was more or less relevant. The Craig era is a reboot with some kind of prequel atmosphere.
You're right about what you say but I really expect a different ending from the one suggested by Mattia De Varti.
Don't you think Madeleine sacrificing herself to save Mathilde, Bond killing Safin to avenge her, escaping from the lair with the child and finally explaining to her despite his love, sharing his life would be too dangerous for her is so emotional?
Furthermore, it would permit to make Bond return as the usual 007 for the next movies.
I'm not saying it is the only possible ending but this one seems much more interesting to me than the "easy one".