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Comments
I agree about using the title from the short story. Counterpoint 1: the title is a bit of a mouthful. It might have been like the way "A View to a Kill" was shoehorned into that film.
Counterpoint 2: It's the opposite: he is trying to find out whether she made a deal to spare his life (M's theory at the end of CR). In the last scene, it is revealed that Vesper had. So Bond never reached his "quantum of solace" with Vesper, unlike in the short story.
Perhaps make Elivis more of a match for Bond, have him fight Bond in the final battle? Maybe hint that Mr White is head of the organisation
Maybe have Bond and Camile sleep together rather than have the Strawberry Fields covered in Oil Goldfinger homage. Although I like that Bond and Camile just work together.
In general just add a bit more meat on the bone, as much as the shorter run time is nice, I always come away feeling like the film was missing something
A new director was brought it. Moneypenny and Q were brought back for the first time since 2002. This film was promised to be a deep look into what makes Bond, Bond!
Yes it's time to dive into the missed opportunities of Skyfall.
What character developments were missed? Was there a risk not taken? How was the casting of the film?
What are the missed opportunities of SF?
I mean, I know people might point to Severine not being used enough, but honestly, I think she’d have been dropped anyway by the third act. It’s a story centred around M’s actions and Severine would have basically been third wheeling Bond and M if kept (without adding what Kincade brings to that portion of the film).
It’s a bit like FRWL or TSWLM for me - regardless of any flaws it has, I really can’t think of a missed opportunity and you can’t criticise it for not taking risks.
Trust issues be in first place why M been in the court and look there going to replace her in Skyfall. Severine in court be only replament i can think about to keep Silva running and driving trow London. There is something in that scene when Silva take the car that writers/eon whant we see. Her speach saying so much, i always name it Judi Dench M told truth whyle she was lying. Mabey M stil should be there too and shocked by everything/Silva.
Or both Severine and she go to Skyfall with a lot of disagreement from other M, Bond and Tanner. That she as another female can support Severine.
Other Cinematographer or at least second United cinematographer for scenes in London, outside of Casino and flat in Shanghai. No purple road. Other composer, inspecialy because of TDK music at flat in Shanghai and music in London. Hate 24 vibe that partly returns in Spectre also and it feels to could.
I suppose it's partially because beyond a point she'd be useless. There's not really any way she can help Bond in London that can't be fulfilled by Q or any of the others. In order to make her more a presence they'd have had to rewrite her character to be more integral to the story (ie. someone like Camille from QOS) and I think with SF there was already too much going on in regards to Silva's vendetta with M and Bond's own struggles that was, if anything, more interesting. I can't really see her tagging along with M and Bond to Scotland, and even by the end it makes more sense that Moneypenny be the one to give Bond the bulldog/have that moment rather than Severine.
I think from a script perspective, it's a case of either letting her die or live once she gets Bond to the island, and then dropping her from the film as we eventually got. As it is, her being killed by Silva is much more impactful out of those options, and it's in line with the trend of the early Craig Bond films that involve Bond inadvertently getting women killed after he sleeps with them to further his mission. It's dark, but it makes sense, cruel as it is.
That's kind of the point. It establishes Silva's ruthlessness very well.
I do think it was a missed opportunity to not do more on the island. Maybe Silva or Bond could have escaped from the other one?
I'm not the biggest fan of the Silence-of-the-Lambs-like incarceration/tube chase and would have done something differently here, picking it up again with the attempted assassination of M at Parliament.
Don't know if I can add anything more. Complaining of a missed opportunity in SF is like saying Michael Corleone should have never been involved in the family business.
So obvious.
Or maybe I missed it.
For example, I would have liked the character of Severine to be developed more, but, as it has been pointed out, the fact that she is sacrificed serves the film and it is difficult to see it as a missed opportunity. I would have liked to see more of Silva's island, but again, hard to think it is a missed opportunity.
1. Put a metaphorical gun to his head and make him utilise the theme song in the score.
2. Play the theme song again over the end credits.
3. Make it a little more clear Bond is being invited into Severine’s room. Like have him knock and be welcomed in by her.
They do in the opening titles 😉
I think they did originally plan to do a whole chase scene round Silva’s island, a little similar to TMWTGG’s third act, but it was cut at a script stage and was never filmed. I cant remember where I red that though.
On that last point, I wouldn't be surprised if they did originally plan a fight for Bond and Silva on the chapel, and it would be cool if Bond punched out his metal mouth. But it also would have been a bit much and the more concise ending works too. Thats just me speculating btw.
A shame that Newman didn't do this with Skyfall theme. It is a great song and to not have it referenced in the film is a missed opportunity.
I guess they could have gone mano a mano and Javier Bardem is physically impressive enough to prove a believable match for Craig. The problem is though is that Silva as a character is an evil, effeminate nerd. He's dangerous, but not in a physical sense. Not like say Grant, Trevelyan or even Largo. In a fist fight against a 00, especially back in shape, he logically doesn't stand a chance. Besides I'm not sure a duel in the chapel would have worked after the heavy action scene thar had just happened.
It makes sense dramatically. I can see why it was favoured over a head to head fight with Silva and Bond. If anything it’s more a disappointment with the Craig era that we only got one such fight with Bond and the main villain. I would have loved to have seen such a fight between Bond and Blofeld with a more imposing actor.
We don't know if he did it by himself or if he had help, although the way he was stretching it's implied he did the deed himself. But we can't be sure. But I take the escape of his prison more of a plot convenience than anything else: he easily escapes because he must. They kind of hardwave the how.
Agreed about Blofeld. Regarding Silva, I think he's probably a fairly capable fighter, at least he knows how to use weapons, but he's not an operative, let alone a 00. He even seems to be thinking little of action men.
Catching up with the thread: Jean Reno is a really great call; someone you can imagine with a bit of raw magnetism she would believably fall for.
The film was called Spectre and would feature Hans Oberhauser as the main villain. Turns out Bond and Oberhauser know each other and that makes the stakes very personal. We have a new character within the government code name C. We have the return of Mister White. Also making a return to the series was the hulking henchman, played by Dave Bautista. The film had scope, world records and a ride off into the sunset ending.
So I have to ask what were the missed opportunities of SP?
This film was polarizing and faced the challenge of being a part of the Sony hack. A troubled production that left Craig saying he'd rather slit his wrists that play Bond again.
Share your thoughts on the missed opportunities of this film. Was there a miscast character, any plot threads that were either missed or not explored fully? Did the soundtrack hit the mark? The theme song that we ended up with might have been a missed opportunity as well.
Share your missed opportunities of SP?
Everything else is perfect as is!
More exciting car chase, less cutaways to Moneypenny
Have Blofeld get away rather than be captured
The final act be in Blofeld's base
Less reused themes from Skyfall in the score
Do away with Bond and Blofeld being step brothers.