No Time To Die - Safin's Plot (Spoilers!)

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  • matt_umatt_u better known as Mr. Roark
    Posts: 4,343
    He's name is not Lucifer...
  • Penpen wrote: »
    Isn't it Lyutsifer? Doesn't sound much like Lucifer to me.

    Yep, that would be the Russian version of the name.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,604
    Blofeld says he and Bond share an enemy in Safin. We still don’t know how Blofeld fits in.
  • matt_umatt_u better known as Mr. Roark
    Posts: 4,343
    Penpen wrote: »
    Isn't it Lyutsifer? Doesn't sound much like Lucifer to me.

    Yep, that would be the Russian version of the name.

    Now that makes sense.
  • Clues in the new trailer dialogue make me suspect Safin’s plot revolves around genetic manipulation. He suggests both he and Bond assassinate for the greater good, but he wishes to be “tidier”.

    I suspect he plans to use a biological weapon to alter the DNA of the world’s population, so they then can be selectively terminated by a virus at any time. He can then kill at will, either targeted individuals or whole nations, for the right price.

    Hence, why Bond is not killed in the nightclub scene along with the whole surrounding (infected) audience. No bullets, no mess, and never miss.

    The threat to the world is that, once the weapon is deployed, no-one is safe.
  • Penpen wrote: »
    Isn't it Lyutsifer? Doesn't sound much like Lucifer to me.

    Yes, you're right. The Russian translation from 'Lucifer' is 'Lyutsifer'.....pronounced 'Loo-ta-fur' - You can hear the translation here at 30 seconds (also Seydoux's performance in that scene looks stunning)...I've cme to think of it and personally I kinda dig it. Though, the Bond films in recent years have had a habit of not actually saying the villain's names in the films, 'Raoul' Silva and 'Mr Hinx' come to mind:


    Theojw71 wrote: »
    Clues in the new trailer dialogue make me suspect Safin’s plot revolves around genetic manipulation. He suggests both he and Bond assassinate for the greater good, but he wishes to be “tidier”.

    I suspect he plans to use a biological weapon to alter the DNA of the world’s population, so they then can be selectively terminated by a virus at any time. He can then kill at will, either targeted individuals or whole nations, for the right price.

    Hence, why Bond is not killed in the nightclub scene along with the whole surrounding (infected) audience. No bullets, no mess, and never miss.

    The threat to the world is that, once the weapon is deployed, no-one is safe.

    +1

    This is my theory too....I think Safin has created a virus that affects certain genes. He wants to create a 'Master Race.'

    Ethnic-cleansing is a helluva evil scheme! I'd be very interested if that is what happens. We haven't had quite as radical an evil plot since TSWLM or MR.

    Daniel Craig gets to save the world at last.....

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  • Posts: 15,106
    So...The next trailer has given us an indication of Safin's plot. It looks as though they are going for an 'end of the world's type situation. Which I believe would be the first time that the stakes are really really high in a Craig film.

    I mean, in SF, the villain's scheme is to kill a 70 year-old woman. In SP, they need to stop a data-gathering system going online. Here, we have quotes about 'millions of people dying'......I'm kinda excited to see a high-stakes Craig film. Bring it on Fukunaga!!

    However, Lucifer Safin? That feels a little 'on the nose', we know he's the villain. I mean, come on....

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    I need to watch the trailer again as I didn't hear it. If true then it is really on the nose.
  • Is it perhaps a little too timely is that Safin has created a virus that kills people with particular genes? People he considers to be 'genetically inferior.'

    Personally, I think it's a brilliant villainous scheme to incorporate eugenics. Essentially, Safin would want to improve the human species by selectively preserving people with specific desirable hereditary traits. By which he would reduce human suffering by “breeding out” disease, disabilities and so-called undesirable characteristics from the human population by killing the weak and the infirm.

    However.....the big caveat here, is that currently we are in a pandemic which is particularly deadly to the old and those with underlying health conditions. So controversy could ensue.

    screen-shot-2020-09-03-at-14-43-09-1599144335.jpg?crop=0.835xw:1.00xh;0.0493xw,0&resize=640:*

    Nevertheless, this is a kinda brilliant twist on the 'end of the world' plot. Having seen Tenet and that film's generic apocalypse plot, this feels more nuanced and akin to Thanos's plan in Infinity War. I have such high hopes that Malek joins the list of great baddies.

    But the big takeaway from the Bond films is often that the villain's plot is superfluous to the action and the character. So, I hope it won't be dwelled upon.
  • edited September 2020 Posts: 1,220
    Lyutsifer Safin sounds great but my God is it on the nose! :)) As far as his scheme, wasn't it an environmental type of threat with
    him breeding a malicious algae that destroys the worlds oceans? I'm not sure where this killer virus idea came from...
  • DraxCucumberSandwichDraxCucumberSandwich United Kingdom
    Posts: 208
    him breeding a malicious algae that destroys the worlds oceans? I'm not sure where this killer virus idea came from...

    Well I’m that case, you can’t imagine that he and
    Karl Stromberg
    would get along too well

  • WalecsWalecs On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    Posts: 3,157
    Lyutsifer Safin sounds great but my God is it on the nose! :)) As far as his scheme, wasn't it an environmental type of threat with
    him breeding a malicious algae that destroys the worlds oceans? I'm not sure where this killer virus idea came from...

    It is possible that he wants to
    eradicate "millions" to fight overpopulation, as for the algae maybe there are some poisonous types of algaes and that's where he got the virus from?
  • duke_togoduke_togo france
    edited September 2020 Posts: 138
    "Safeen" is an Arabic name that means “ships” and "Lyutsifer" is the russian translation for "Lucifer". So the name of the character basically means "the ships of the Lucifer" or someting like that. It seems to confirm that the ocean would have a big place in his scheme.
  • duke_togo wrote: »
    "Safeen" is an Arabic name that means “ships” and "Lyutsifer" is the russian translation for "Lucifer". So the name of the character basically means "the ships of the Lucifer" or someting like that. It seems to confirm that the ocean would have a big place in his scheme.

    Safin is also a very common Tatar last name.

    And really digging in the barrel here, but sa fin means "her end" in French.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    A local Kurdish hairdresser I have been going to, is named Safin.


  • I'm getting serious 'Russian Mr Robot' vibes from this featurette.

    f9be7d1009f8451a356bd1ae6c986615.gif

    Also, that close-up shot of Daniel Craig in Cuba. Damn - He somehow has got more handsome.
    A local Kurdish hairdresser I have been going to, is named Safin.

    It's been confirmed in the interview with Suttirat Anne Larlarb that Safin's ancestry is part-Japanese and part-Russian. Suttirat also says a photo of the Japanese fashion designer, Issey Miyake sitting at his desk informed Safin's costume. I believe she was referring to this photo...You can see the influence.

    bf41d309aef503cbc806184ffe929991.jpg
  • Posts: 15,106
    Regarding Safin's scheme, from the latest video, we know it's going to be large scale, but hopefully not ridiculously over the top as it was for YOLT, TSWLM and Mr. In other words, not enough to fall deep into scifi extravaganza. He's going "to kill millions" , not billions.
  • Posts: 1,629
    ***Musings alert***There's been a show on TV for years now about -- and entitled -- Lucifer. For that reason alone, this as a first name for Safin is a groaner. It's already taken ! Not to mention it is totally "over the top" -- some have noted "on the nose." Dr. Evil got his name from the writers precisely because it was intentionally wayyy "over the top." But that was a parody ! And -- the plot to depopulate a significant percentage of the world ? Excellent ! However -- Already taken, as well, in Kingsmen (the first one), a movie about -- wait for it -- British spies with class, gadgets and superior ability. Kingsmen also had strong elements of parody, but not as comic. An homage amounts to borrowing from yourself, and would be fine, since you're using your own source material. But from others, not so much. The problem with doing things like this is that it takes the viewer out of the story. Pop ! and, then, in your mind, you're thinking -- "What ? They're just calling this guy (the Russian version of the name) 'Lucifer' ? Really ?" And "What ? That was the evil mastermind's plan just a few years ago in Kingsmen !" These are pretty much the first negative indications I've seen, so I was quite surprised.
  • Posts: 1,629
    Oops - forgot to mention - they ALREADY shamelessly borrowed from Austin Powers by having the evil mastermind be Bond's (stepbrother)...you know, that old chestnut. I didn't mind as much as others because it was tied in with a great deal of Fleming material about Bond's origins, his parents' death, etc. But it was uncomfortably familiar in that it was sooo Goldmember. (What bothered me more was the apparent borrowing from Terry Gilliam's Brazil, such that all the film after the brain-needling would be a coping mechanism fantasy in Bond's mind, as evidenced by absurd good luck saving the day - such as shooting down a moving helicopter from a moving boat with a HANDGUN, particularly when a slight script change could have placed a high-powered rifle or rocket-launcher in Bond's hands for that moment. Did all involved just go to sleep ???) So, with Phoebe Waller-Smith joining to punch up the NTTD script I thought we'd see some originality and cleverness. Still hope so. Not encouraged, though, by The Devil Himself being overtly referenced in a character name, a theft from the Kingsmen plot (strongly evidenced in the new trailer tidying up dialogue and the "ashes, ashes, we all fall down" scene), AND by the fact that despite having months and months of unexpected additional time to improve the film the director said, "Nahhh, eff that ! Despite the rush to meet the first expected release date and the time to at least consider improvements -- Nope ! It's as good as it's gonna get !"
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,959
    @Since62, I love Brazil and dig the comparison, never thought about that (though I might've if the film had chosen to go that route instead).
  • Posts: 1,629
    @Creasy47 For a while I thought they DID go that route ! I wondered if the next film might open back in that moment, with Bond in the chair, and go forward from there. There'd have been issues, with that, of course. I'm glad they did NOT go that route. Telling people the ol' "It was all a dream" line (the tv show Dallas lost its audience in a hard way when it kissed off a larrrrrge part of the prior season with that "clean-up") means you're telling the audience they've been bamboozled, and that they wasted their time. It also reeks of a lack of creative inspiration...as does, say, borrowing -- mirroring, at least -- from Austin Powers, a parody of your own film series. I truly hope they don't go borrowing again, though, with Safin getting the first name (fine, yes, in Russian) already in use in "Lucifer" means they're borrowing -- or at least mirroring -- from a tv show...good grief ! Even the show is more interesting in its exploration of who's good, who's bad, what does either mean, etc. but it's just a cheesy entertainment. Bond films are that, too, yes, but one likes to think they're at a higher level, particularly given the experienced talent and huge budgets brought to bear. It's always a shame when 90% terrific content gets spoiled by one or two stupid, insipid moments such as a Tarzan yell (OP), a corny sound effect in the middle of a TERRIFIC stunt (car jumping over a bridge TMWTGG -- with that ridiculous "comic relief" along for the ride, miraculously and coincidentally present on holiday from Louisiana and his LALD appearance), or just awful groaner moments (the too-young lady to whom Bond must give a reality check like a grandfather [FYEO -- a return to seriousness but for that !], the [understandably] disinterested leading lady [AVTAK], Bond unable to run and belittled by young people [huff, puff, if you're recognizing the issue THEN SELECT A DIFFERENT ACTOR !!! in OP, which mostly was fun but, yes, was spoiled by that]. In that era the producers were the MASTERS of Breaking-the-Suspension-of-Disbelief, with moment sticking out uncharacteristically amid the rest and poking the audiences in the eye. I enjoyed SPECTRE overall but they returned to awful form in the closing portions, with Blofeld [with his "oh, duhh, what's going on ?" look on the supposedly brilliant mastermind's face when M Swann tosses the watch] and the ridiculous shooting down a helicopter-with-a-handgun scene. It's always so awful because they could fix it often by a simple deletion, or just "giving" Bond a proper weapon in that boat or in the building for him to grab and toss in the boat as they tear off. The presentation of the evil-plan in this one somehow will have to be more unique than it seems so far, and very well-presented, to avoid the audience recognizing the evil-plan from Kingsmen and then SNAP ! the audience gets distracted by that, the willing-suspension-of-disbelief is broken, and people again think, "oh, yeah, the Bond tradition, inserting something stupid and/or unoriginal into an otherwise good film -- thus TRULY an homage to past Bond moments in and of itself." Once again -- due to highly unfortunate circumstances, the rush was lifted, and the producers and everyone else had the chance to improve this film, and reportedly they...did...not...really...really ? Not even a minor tweak ? Not calling for test audiences, mind you, just their own review, without time pressures. The following is true of many tv shows and films, and applies here: here's SO much money on the line ! How can you NOT make a better effort for a better result ??!!?? People are too close to it, have lived with it too long to see the need for improvement here and there ? Fine ! Without resorting to a test audience, bring in professional "fresh eyes" ! I thought that was part of the point for bringing in Phoebe Waller-Bridge, but, even so, bring in another set even if NO ONE involved perceives any problems ! OK...(breathing deeply)...I'm better now DON'T TOUCH !....(breathe in....aaaand out...)
  • What's up with Primo's eye? does he simply have a glass eye or does it give him some high-tech vision like the Terminator? Personally, I seriously hope it is not the latter. It's so easy with Bond to sometimes just push it too far and end up in the realm of science fiction.



    I think Dali Bensallah is a handsome man and i wish him the best. But if NTTD is really gonna wrap up the Craig era, wouldn't it have been cool to have seen Dave Bautista on that motorcyle.

  • Posts: 1,629
    Dave Bautista on the motorcycle ? To borrow and amend a line from a great film:

    "We're gonna need a bigger bike !"
  • duke_togoduke_togo france
    Posts: 138
    I really thought that Hinx would survive this train fight sequence and come back in the sequel with some inujuries on his face, and it would be an opportunity to rebooting Jaws.
  • matt_umatt_u better known as Mr. Roark
    edited October 2020 Posts: 4,343
    What's up with Primo's eye?

    We already know he will have an intraocular camera implanted in his eye. This is an idea that was scrapped back in 2014 for Hinx.
  • Posts: 1,629
    Several recent articles -- though it seems to be ONE that gets picked up in multiple places of publication -- have stated that never Before has Bond not appeared in a pre-title sequence...how very, very lazy and very, very inaccurate on their part ! R Moore's first Bond, LALD -- while it had Moore in the gunbarrel -- was Bond-less in the entire PTS. Yes, I am looking forward to the PTS and all the rest of NTTD, but anyone writing about it ought to get it right.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,959
    Since62 wrote: »
    Several recent articles -- though it seems to be ONE that gets picked up in multiple places of publication -- have stated that never Before has Bond not appeared in a pre-title sequence...how very, very lazy and very, very inaccurate on their part ! R Moore's first Bond, LALD -- while it had Moore in the gunbarrel -- was Bond-less in the entire PTS. Yes, I am looking forward to the PTS and all the rest of NTTD, but anyone writing about it ought to get it right.

    I've noticed the same. Quite a definitive statement for being so factually incorrect. Goes to show how little research and investigation is found in journalism these days.
  • matt_umatt_u better known as Mr. Roark
    Posts: 4,343
    Without mentioning the fact that Bond will indeed appear in the PTS...
  • Neverturnback007Neverturnback007 Worldwide
    Posts: 9

    Malek has spoken openly about avoiding terrorist roles. due to his Arab heritage he was often cast as the 'terrorist' and since Mr Robot and now Freddie Mercury - and not mentioning a bloody Academy Award! - he's not taking a terrorist role. nor would Eon or Fukunaga push that on him.


    The name Safin is of Arabic origin. The meaning of Safin is "muhammad saw".

  • edited January 2021 Posts: 440

    Malek has spoken openly about avoiding terrorist roles. due to his Arab heritage he was often cast as the 'terrorist' and since Mr Robot and now Freddie Mercury - and not mentioning a bloody Academy Award! - he's not taking a terrorist role. nor would Eon or Fukunaga push that on him.


    The name Safin is of Arabic origin. The meaning of Safin is "muhammad saw".

    Yes, but it is most commonly found in Russia. Which would make sense, given what we already know about this character.

    Anyway, I don't think Malek is opposed to playing villains who happen to be Arabic. He just doesn't want to be the stereotypical middle eastern terrorist.
  • matt_umatt_u better known as Mr. Roark
    Posts: 4,343
    Safin is half Russian half Japanese, Fukunaga confirmed that.
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