The James Bond Questions Thread

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  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited May 2018 Posts: 18,269
    [Edited]
  • JamesBondKenyaJamesBondKenya Danny Boyle laughs to himself
    Posts: 2,730
    Shouldn’t skyfall have been Brosnans 5th film?
  • BMW_with_missilesBMW_with_missiles All the usual refinements.
    Posts: 3,000
    Shouldn’t skyfall have been Brosnans 5th film?

    It would have fit much better. It made no sense doing an origin story over the span of CR and QOS only to have Craig-Bond struggling with his age in SF.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,133
    I don't know why it's never dawned on me, but hopefully someone else has the answer.
    At the end of Casino Royale Bond apprehended Mr.White from Whites villa on the edge of Lake Como in Italy. In the next film Quantum Of Solace we pick up from the events of the previous film, with Bond in his Aston Martin evading pursuing cars, with Mr.White in the boot of his Aston. Concluding with Bond escaping and proceeding to an MI6 safe house in Siena, Italy.
    Why has Bond traveled so far in order to do this? Why if Mr.White is in Lake Como, do MI6 set up a safe house, so far from that location?
    Maybe there's a simple explanation.
  • 00Agent00Agent Any man who drinks Dom Perignon '52 can't be all bad.
    Posts: 5,185
    Benny wrote: »
    I don't know why it's never dawned on me, but hopefully someone else has the answer.
    At the end of Casino Royale Bond apprehended Mr.White from Whites villa on the edge of Lake Como in Italy. In the next film Quantum Of Solace we pick up from the events of the previous film, with Bond in his Aston Martin evading pursuing cars, with Mr.White in the boot of his Aston. Concluding with Bond escaping and proceeding to an MI6 safe house in Siena, Italy.
    Why has Bond traveled so far in order to do this? Why if Mr.White is in Lake Como, do MI6 set up a safe house, so far from that location?
    Maybe there's a simple explanation.

    Probably Budget cuts ;)
    Can't have Safe houses everywhere.
    It dawned on me as well when I traveled to the Villa Gaete, how far it is away from Sienna.
    But i think it is never explicitly mentioned in the film that White lives at Lake Como so it coul be anywhere.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    edited June 2018 Posts: 15,423
    My only explanation to that is that they probably couldn't have set up a safe house nearby, as Quantum agents would be crawling everywhere, find out about it and take out Mr. White before he event talks. The prime example of this is in The Hitman's Bodyguard. You have to know what you're going for and the shortcomings.

    The film Safe House also circulates around that subject.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    The other possibility is they wanted to film the Palio and assumed most of the audience too ignorant to notice or care.

    Apart from anything else why did Bond drive first from Lake Como to Lake Garda to go through the Malcesine tunnel if he is on his way to Siena?

    But then we don't know what happened between the end of CR and QOS. Perhaps the goons in the Alfas somehow forced Bond up towards (you'll need Google map up for this) Sondrio before he was able head back down south at Dimaro along the shores of Garda? Then we pick things up as Bond drives south through the tunnel. After the tunnel we cut and the chase proceeds for another 300km or so past Verona and Parma before arriving at the quarries at Carrara where we get to see Bond despatch the villains and then we cut again as he covers the remaining 200km to Siena.

    It's more credible than what causes the boat to flip later on.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,779
    Earlier regarding safe houses/locations: they are normally already established to be available when needed. Bond went to the optimum spot for the circumstance. Witness the Hildebrand safe house in Spectre, it's acted on when it's useful but appears to have been standing by for some time.

    Quantum of Solace flipping boat: it's shown to flip on screen. Is there an idea that without overwhelmingly convincing an audience member the cause, it actually doesn't flip? And yet, it does flip. It clearly flips spectacularly.

    Quantum of Solace M appearing to be shot, mentioned elsewhere: it does first seem like M is shot, then a moment later shows her slipping away, maybe injured, impossible to tell. Later she's shown to be shook up but unharmed. Does the film need to further convince an a viewer she wasn't shot? It's already established.

    That's interesting trivia for the geography. Did Bond drive from Lake Como to Lake Garda on instructions, then later get directed to Siena. Why not. (There's also the point made most of the locations mentioned here in discussion aren't identified, and so could represent closer locales story-wise.) Bottom line, he shows up in Siena.

    Especially for Bond films, these things aren't that complicated. No more than a changing scuba mask color in the scheme of things.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Earlier regarding safe houses/locations: they are normally already established to be available when needed. Bond went to the optimum spot for the circumstance. Witness the Hildebrand safe house in Spectre, it's acted on when it's useful but appears to have been standing by for some time.

    Quantum of Solace flipping boat: it's shown to flip on screen. Is there an idea that without overwhelmingly convincing an audience member the cause, it actually doesn't flip? And yet, it does flip. It clearly flips spectacularly.

    Quantum of Solace M appearing to be shot, mentioned elsewhere: it does first seem like M is shot, then a moment later shows her slipping away, maybe injured, impossible to tell. Later she's shown to be shook up but unharmed. Does the film need to further convince an a viewer she wasn't shot? It's already established.

    That's interesting trivia for the geography. Did Bond drive from Lake Como to Lake Garda on instructions, then later get directed to Siena. Why not. (There's also the point made most of the locations mentioned here in discussion aren't identified, and so could represent closer locales story-wise.) Bottom line, he shows up in Siena.

    Especially for Bond films, these things aren't that complicated. No more than a changing scuba mask color in the scheme of things.

    Or Leiter s magic pants in TB. On that note, Bond s change of clothes at the start of QOS is more of a mystery.
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    edited June 2018 Posts: 10,591
    Earlier regarding safe houses/locations: they are normally already established to be available when needed. Bond went to the optimum spot for the circumstance. Witness the Hildebrand safe house in Spectre, it's acted on when it's useful but appears to have been standing by for some time.

    Quantum of Solace flipping boat: it's shown to flip on screen. Is there an idea that without overwhelmingly convincing an audience member the cause, it actually doesn't flip? And yet, it does flip. It clearly flips spectacularly.

    Quantum of Solace M appearing to be shot, mentioned elsewhere: it does first seem like M is shot, then a moment later shows her slipping away, maybe injured, impossible to tell. Later she's shown to be shook up but unharmed. Does the film need to further convince an a viewer she wasn't shot? It's already established.

    That's interesting trivia for the geography. Did Bond drive from Lake Como to Lake Garda on instructions, then later get directed to Siena. Why not. (There's also the point made most of the locations mentioned here in discussion aren't identified, and so could represent closer locales story-wise.) Bottom line, he shows up in Siena.

    Especially for Bond films, these things aren't that complicated. No more than a changing scuba mask color in the scheme of things.
    Regarding M, the bullet ricochets off the pole beside her, but it is near impossible to notice unless you slow the shot down.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    jake24 wrote: »
    Earlier regarding safe houses/locations: they are normally already established to be available when needed. Bond went to the optimum spot for the circumstance. Witness the Hildebrand safe house in Spectre, it's acted on when it's useful but appears to have been standing by for some time.

    Quantum of Solace flipping boat: it's shown to flip on screen. Is there an idea that without overwhelmingly convincing an audience member the cause, it actually doesn't flip? And yet, it does flip. It clearly flips spectacularly.

    Quantum of Solace M appearing to be shot, mentioned elsewhere: it does first seem like M is shot, then a moment later shows her slipping away, maybe injured, impossible to tell. Later she's shown to be shook up but unharmed. Does the film need to further convince an a viewer she wasn't shot? It's already established.

    That's interesting trivia for the geography. Did Bond drive from Lake Como to Lake Garda on instructions, then later get directed to Siena. Why not. (There's also the point made most of the locations mentioned here in discussion aren't identified, and so could represent closer locales story-wise.) Bottom line, he shows up in Siena.

    Especially for Bond films, these things aren't that complicated. No more than a changing scuba mask color in the scheme of things.
    Regarding M, the bullet ricochets off the pole beside her, but it is near impossible to notice unless you slow the shot down.
    At least it's there if you go through it frame by frame unlike the boat flip alleged 'anchor'.

    Christ QOS's action sequences are horribly put together. And to think that before the Boyle announcement I saw people on here say they'd be happy to see Marc 'speeding bullet' Forster come back for B25.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,779
    There doesn't have to be an explanation for everything going on above and below the water level during the boat chase.

    It flipped. Clearly and undeniably. Indubitably, even.
  • Posts: 15,114
    Early on the fighting style was reported as Krav Maga.

    Wikipedia description: military self-defence and fighting system developed for the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli security forces that derived from a combination of techniques sourced from Boxing, Wrestling, Aikido, Judo and Karate, along with realistic fight training.

    It os Krav Maga or a romanticized version of it.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Early on the fighting style was reported as Krav Maga.

    Wikipedia description: military self-defence and fighting system developed for the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli security forces that derived from a combination of techniques sourced from Boxing, Wrestling, Aikido, Judo and Karate, along with realistic fight training.
    It is Krav Maga or a romanticized version of it.
    More likely a romanticized version, yes.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    There doesn't have to be an explanation for everything going on above and below the water level during the boat chase.

    It flipped. Clearly and undeniably. Indubitably, even.
    Why did it flip?

    Boats don't ordinarily flip in the air like that do they? I agree that it happened but what was the reason for this?

    Surely it should be something that Bond does rather than be attributable to an unseen Loch Ness monster type creature flicking its tail at it beneath the water?
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Didn't the hook that Bond threw at that balloon boat cause its deflation, which was why it was sent violently flying up in the air?
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    Didn't the hook that Bond threw at that balloon boat cause its deflation, which was why it was sent violently flying up in the air?
    There’s a whole thread for this if you’re interested before you get accused of derailing this one old chap.

    Suffice it to say the cause remains unproven which is more than good enough for RichardTheBruce.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    edited June 2018 Posts: 13,779
    It's unproven that the boat flipped? To me, it flipped. That's undeniable. I've never had a problem recognizing that the boat flipped. It's proven visually on screen.

    There is no issue with me that the boat flipped. @RichardTheBruce says it flipped. So I obviously don't need to be convinced why.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,133
    Didn't the hook that Bond threw at that balloon boat cause its deflation, which was why it was sent violently flying up in the air?
    There’s a whole thread for this if you’re interested before you get accused of derailing this one old chap.

    Suffice it to say the cause remains unproven which is more than good enough for RichardTheBruce.

    You won't get accused of derailing a thread if the subject being discussed is relevant too said thread @TheWizardOfIce old boy. Nothing like that going on here.
    The flipping boat is a strange one. I watched QOS yesterday and can't see anything new.
    Bond tosses the grappling hook into the boat. Inflatable with a rigid lower hull. For some reason the rope on the hook is pulled tight, despite not being attached to something causing the inflatable hull to rupture. We then see the boat nose dive heavily into the water and flip up into the air. Why?
    I have no idea. It's right up there with the sweeping man in QOS, somethings I guess are just unknown.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    It's unproven that the boat flipped? To me, it flipped. That's undeniable. I've never had a problem recognizing that the boat flipped. It's proven visually on screen.

    There is no issue with me that the boat flipped. @RichardTheBruce says it flipped. So I obviously don't need to be convinced why.

    'The key to a great story is not who...or what...or when...but why.'
    Elliott Carver

    Not telling the audience why things happen is just poor story telling.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,269
    It's unproven that the boat flipped? To me, it flipped. That's undeniable. I've never had a problem recognizing that the boat flipped. It's proven visually on screen.

    There is no issue with me that the boat flipped. @RichardTheBruce says it flipped. So I obviously don't need to be convinced why.

    'The key to a great story is not who...or what...or when...but why.'
    Elliott Carver

    Not telling the audience why things happen is just poor story telling.

    The same could unfortunately be said of Octopussy's script at various points.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,779
    These are Bond films after all, @Dragonpol. They normally don't stop on mineutia.

    I also don't trust Elliott Carver's judgment on this point.
  • Posts: 15,114
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Early on the fighting style was reported as Krav Maga.

    Wikipedia description: military self-defence and fighting system developed for the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli security forces that derived from a combination of techniques sourced from Boxing, Wrestling, Aikido, Judo and Karate, along with realistic fight training.
    It is Krav Maga or a romanticized version of it.
    More likely a romanticized version, yes.

    Well yes I should have said: "to be precised it is a romanticised version of Krav Maga". I did Krav Maga (need to get back to it really) and you can recognise it, albeit modified to look more spectacular.
  • 00Agent00Agent Any man who drinks Dom Perignon '52 can't be all bad.
    Posts: 5,185
    Don't know if this was discussed before or not, but does anyone know if Carter from the begining of CR ("holster the bloody weapon, i need him alive") is actually an 00Agent? Regardless of being incompetent. Or you guys think he's just doing an internship at MI6? They did give him a gun after all, and maybe they shouldn't have.
  • edited July 2018 Posts: 859
    00Agent wrote: »
    Don't know if this was discussed before or not, but does anyone know if Carter from the begining of CR ("holster the bloody weapon, i need him alive") is actually an 00Agent? Regardless of being incompetent. Or you guys think he's just doing an internship at MI6? They did give him a gun after all, and maybe they shouldn't have.

    In that case, did Moneypenny was a 00 agent too in Skyfall (she wore a gun, use it against Patrice, and only 00 have a licence to kill) ?

    I don't know what Carter is.
  • Posts: 15,114
    00Agent wrote: »
    Don't know if this was discussed before or not, but does anyone know if Carter from the begining of CR ("holster the bloody weapon, i need him alive") is actually an 00Agent? Regardless of being incompetent. Or you guys think he's just doing an internship at MI6? They did give him a gun after all, and maybe they shouldn't have.

    I think Carter was a station agent. They can be armed sometimes. Obviously field work was not his forte.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    Carter was M's idiot nephew, the only reason he got the job.
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,582
    What actually becomes of him? Does he get bitten by a snake? Does he live?

  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,568
    Some thoughts on Carter:

    Just a random intelligence operative, with no chance of becoming 00 (heck, Strawberry was more effective in the field, and she was merely an office worker).

    I bet when he fell into the pit the cobra and mongoose teamed up to whip his dumb ass.

    He's the kind of guy who'd sign up to MI6Community looking for a career in espionage.

    Ironic how the actor's name is Joseph. As Doctor No would say, "clumsy effort".
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