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But because ( and this is my spin) he is at root a maniac, his destiny is to ultimately manifest as Ernst Stavro Blofeld, criminal mastermind and bane of mankind.
Spectre the film, does in this sense serve as a Blofeld origins tale. Bond helps push him over the edge into full blown Blofeld persona.
What Mendes has cooked up though, being obsessed with character drama and personal relationships etc is that Franz and Bond have this history.
I don't think its possible for Mendes to do a straight Bond on mission film. ie " here Bond, this Goldfinger chap is up to no good, see what you can find out, off you go" :)
But, that's ok I guess, we are in the Mendes era. He said he only agreed to come back, because he can pick up on themes that were developed in SF, and he says he felt an obligation to get the new Mi6 team off and running, as he helped establish them.
So again we have Bond, addressing issues from his past ie his childhood relationship with this Franz Oberhauser loser, who happened to be the adopted son of a father figure in his own orphan life.
So be it.
This sort of Bond storytelling can't go on forever. His adventures can't always be about his childhood and personal relationships and trust issues etc.
He was conceived as blunt instrument. Bull terrier for her Majesty's Secret Service.
The series will eventually have to get back to this basic premise for his existence.
However in the meantime, I think with SP, we Bond fans will get a mix of Bond dealing with his past and personal matters, but ALSO, and this is huge, Bond with full mojo intact, and on mission being 007.
What I like about the screenplay, is that Bond seems to be largely disaffected by Oberhauser, even though it seems he knows who the guy is.
The 007 identity I think is fully formed here. From Bond's perspective, Oberhauser is primarily an enemy. He needs to be put down.
In that sense Bond is on mission, so I don't have big complaints, having had the advantage of reading the script.
Oberhauser is the one with issues. He is intrigued by Bond, because he knows him from childhood, and it seems he hated him. Bond I think just wants to put him down.
This is as it should be ie villain far more interested in Bond, than vice versa.
We've seen this dynamic many times. The Bond villains tend to be megalomanical nutters, who demand recognition for their brilliance and validation for their hubris driven scheming.
But I can empathize with others, who are frustrated with Craig-era Bond always having some personal stake in the story. But this time around at least we get Bond I think with full mojo. That is huge!! No old dog. No trust issues.
I guess maybe there might be some melodrama. We will have to see how Swann plays with his head. Does she really demand he pack it all in? Does he really give it all up at the end, and ride off with her.
Personally I don't think this has to be a problem though. He may seem to say "chuck it" at the end, but this could just be his saying, "I need a break.
I'm taking off with girlfriend here for a bit. I'll keep you guys posted"
But I do think we are coming back with the Shatterhand story.. Swann is dead bird. Bond will come back with a roar.
How this is handled, I have no idea. Does Mendes come back? I don't think he would be needed for such a story. Another could take the torch.
But unlike Fleming's YOLT, I would like Blofeld to survive the battle with Bond, so that both he and Spectre can continue as recurring nemesis.
First time around, Eon managed to finesse this. It can be done again. Even easier this time around I think, as Bond would not be as invested in Swann as he was Tracy.
Bond will exist to kill Blofeld, but he need not be obsessed. Bond can eventually, and rightly, put duty ahead of personal revenge matters.
Bernard Lee M, would be happy to lecture him on same. "Duty duty duty Bond, now bugger off! "
Oh damn, I didn't just float another personal drama theme, that could be extended over 5 films or so. :( Yikes, better watch what I say. Don't want to give ideas. ;) or we'll never get to back to Bond as blunt instrument. putting down the Dr No's and Goldfingers of the world.
Not to mention it's trite, since we all know he'll be back. Why bother forcing him into a decision which he is unlikely to take in reality? He went through this naivety of wanting a normal life back on the Casino Royale mission. He was going to stop his career before it even began, only to be betrayed by Vesper(in a manner od speaking). Has he not learnt? I don't mind if he enters a serious relationship with Swann and even marries her, a la OHMSS, but quiting the service is never really an option for Bond.
I have no problems with character arcs in modern Bond films. We need to see him grow and learn, but when everything becomes so transparent with him it's an issue. His chldhood should remain mysterious and not explained. Whichever way you slice it the Oberhauser connection seems cheesy, but I hope Waltz was being sincere when he said it was more creative than is apparent.
Visit Goldeneye, smoke some reefer and pop a few benzedrine tablets.
Operative word being tried. I don't mean in his mind as a character it's never an option, but from a filmic pov. We know he'll be back, there's little point in even making him leave the service, but especially since only months prior he found a renewed determination for the job.
Tried, yes of course.Iif he leaves the service at the end of SPECTRE, we still know it is only an attempt. Nobody will seriously think he will not return just because it is at the end of the movie.
The Sony producers described this as a "big hook" for the movie.
Umm, ok. That's not what I was saying.
Anyway moving on...
In the video interviews released yesterday on british TV Waltz said about his character:
"He may not think, who he thinks he is."
Listen to him at the 2:14 mark:
I think that's a little hint about Oberhauser not knowing that his birth name is Blofeld.
I assume they'll cut that if it's the case, but I thought it was nice little touch.
I thought the SPECTRE-girl in Bonds flat could never be Estrella.
I like that SPECTRE is spying on Bond even in his flat.
So IF the girl in his flat will be Estrella, then she is a SPECTRE agent.
But then again: why didn't she do anything to stop Bond from getting Sciarra?
That's what I was thinking, but the whole scenario was just one line so it can easily be cut completely, as much as I want them to keep it.
I know it's just one line.
But it's a very strong line. It shows how well organized and how devilish SPECTRE operates.
I don't want them to cut that line.
I can't disgree with anything you've got here. If this movie was still in the planning stages, I'd be jumping up and down protesting this story, and screaming for Bond on mission, but what's done is done.
I am just trying to make the best of it. The saving grace, I think, is that at least we get Bond with full mojo. No more old dog, or maturing stuff, or sorting out trust issues, but Bond on mission instead
And it does seem, that Bond is on mission to destroy Spectre. I think he could care less about any past association with the young Franz.
Young Bond, I'm sure thought young Franz was a real dumbass kid back in the day, and probably took as little notice as possible of him.
I'm guessing, Bond's running off with Swann at the end is very open ended. I think he's just taking a break.
But I don't know. The key really will be the Bond-Swann dialogue and their relationship.
Will it seem that he's going to leave it all for her?
I guess on the surface, he does drive off with her and it seems he's done, but we all know he's coming back, so yea why bother, unless they are setting up for OHMSS type carry-over ending into next film.
One thing I can't remember though. I don't get the impression Bond was quiting the service at the end of OHMSS the movie or book.
====
re the Estrella development. This is interesting. It seems MGW maybe has taken a liking to her and beefed up her role.
Making her the flat-girl is easily done. Spectre may have gotten to her after Mexico, or maybe she was in the fold all along.
Either way can work. She may simply just not have had means to interfere with Bond's work in Mexico.
What's not clear is how he meets her in the first place. I thought for a while she was a local agent helping him, but she might just be a girl he met.
If she is bad, then their meeting was presumably finessed by her, and Bond being Bond, allows bad girl to tag along.
If MGW really likes her, she could return as a Spectre femme fatale in next film too.
or as @madeleineswann originally suggested maybe Waltz's line is cut later, and she's just Estrella, good girl, who came along to London with Bond.
Thus no girl-in-flat for Spectre. Too bad Ernst!
I'll have read it by tomorrow and if anyone wants the whole film ruined/explained - I can do so but you'll have to swear not to mention it to anyone! ;))
So exposition is helpful.
Another question.
How does Bond know where to find White? I am sure that has been answered but I forgot. :(
"The job at Mondsee/assasination of the Pale King" is mentioned during the SPECTRE Rome meeting. Moneypenny finds out the Pale King is White.
Ahh yes, that's right, of course.
Thanks!
Judi Dench's M appears in Spectre. She appears on a video disc. A message to Bond prior to her demise.
Da da daaaaaaaaaaa!
BAFTA nominated cameo too.
;))
Fyi
Most of is in here are familiar with the leaks.
They've been out a while.
We're more kicking around what it all means, good, bad, indifferent, and clarifying, sorting out, expanding on stuff etc.
So do jump in, with what you think!
Mystery Person With No Name
My identity is so secret even I don't know who I am!
The screenplay has revisions dated 1st December 2014. It is the shooting screenplay! I guess it's more or less what we will see in the film. Fade in...
James Bond has returned!