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It's what I had asked earlier, I didn't understood the second motivation he have...
He's a really uninteresting, generic Bond villain using the lazy lazy trope of a scarred face/deformity to signify his villainy with no real motive for his main aim. Poor.
I stayed till the end credits, still said "James Bond will return" so there's that.
It seems you've taken my comments personally. It was not my intention to offend anyone. I'm a lifelong Bond fan. We all have that in common. What I mean by pointing out that audiences are more sophisticated now is that the content and nature of modern entertainment is multifaceted and complex.
Marvel has already introduced the idea of multi-verses. The next Spider-Man movie is believed to include both previous cinematic incarnations of the character. We've already seen Doc Ock from Spider-Man 2 in the No Way Home trailer. DC has brought back Michael Keaton as Batman.
James Bond is not a comic book superhero, of course, but there are some tangential similarities. Like you pointed out, audiences have already been through six James Bond actors over the last 60 years. The proof in audience sophistication is in the success of these properties. In 2000, the makers of X-MEN didn't believe that audiences would go for blue and yellow spandex. X-MEN was played as straight and realistic as possible because audiences were not used to that kind of world building. Twenty-one years later, audiences are following movie continuity between multiple characters across all forms of entertainment.
To your point about Netflix, even with dubs, it was unheard of for American audiences to watch anything that wasn't made in America or, maybe, the UK. Today, shows from Korea, France, Japan, the Netherlands and Russia are among the most watched TV shows on Netflix. Audiences are more sophisticated in the language of entertainment and their tastes are more cosmopolitan.
It's one thing to wonder about Bond's future. That's what we as fans are supposed to do. But some on this board are making inappropriate (given the subject) or specious moral arguments about NTTD. This isn't the most difficult logistical knot to untangle. We analyze, we love, we hate, we appreciate. That's what we do as Bond fans. That's not wrong to do. But perspective is needed. Using other modern examples, like superhero movies, gives us that perspective--however imperfect the analogy.
I think asking those types of questions are beyond what's in the text of the actual film. I'm sure Cubby made creative decisions that Ian would have hated. For sure, Barbara and Michael made decisions that Cubby probably wouldn't have made. But so what? Respecting Bond as a character isn't limited to one type of interpretation. There is an animating spirit to all of this. As long as that spirit is loved and respected and understood then I'm alright with creative experimentation.
No Time To Die is the first film ever made in which the hero is killed but the closing of the film states the hero will return.
I'm gonna take a guess that's never happened before.
Well I mean it's more that he's taken the Spectre people and then extrapolated from there including MI6 agents and what have you - so all known assassins
I'm not saying it's not incredibly muddy and flimsy.
There's a lot of themes of loss in this era. This whole era, Bond has been a complete tragic hero. When I heard the main spoiler, that Bond dies, I honestly thought that it would ruin CR et al upon watching. I don't feel that way after seeing it. It's done in a pretty good way. I know people will keep asking... Yes, I would say it's completely set in stone he's dead though I appreciate the wishful thinking that he some how got flung into water and castaway haha. It would have been kind of cool if it was YOLT like but you literally see the roof he's standing on get hit by a missile and the screen go white. There's no body because there's nothing left of him. Even if he did somehow miraculously survive, he was riddled with bullets and most likely bleeding out.
The thing about his death too... If you watch the PTS with Matera... This is a man in this era who constantly loses everything and now it's like he's losing everything again. The sad thing is, he loses everything at the end too with FOXDIE (I'm just going to call it that haha) because it'll kill his daughter and Madeleine. Craig's Bond is a complete tragic hero.
I didn't stay beyond the credits so I don't know if there's any other footage although I know it ends with "James Bond will return". Is it literally just that on a black screen or is there anything else?
I was with my Dad... And I walked out thinking this really was (in a strange way!) a Dad and daughter film... this film really, really hurt and hit me in a weird way. It's not to say that Bond's relationship with his daughter is sappy and melodramatic, because it's not. He's quite awkward about it all and it felt right. I can't really emphasise that enough. Within the confines of what literature and canon we have... It didn't feel wrong at all even if they went there and tread that ground. It was still respectful to Bond IMHO.
For context, my Dad is not a Bond fan. He fell asleep at Dr No all those years ago at a midnight showing with his friends and has hated it up until the Craig era which he’s really enjoyed (he says it’s because you see him get hurt and get bloody and stuff). My Dad thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the movie and thought it flew by.
Craig - This is his most 'dynamic' performance. The shackles are let off here and he shows a range of emotions beyond being just a stoic weapon. I read that some people disliked the humour... I think he played it off quite well, much better than Spectre. I liked his performance in this actually probably the most of his run! There’s a sense of irony that his Bond is a weapon metaphorically and yet literally becomes a weapon too.
The run time - yes, it's long, but it's a rollercoaster... It's packed with a lot of fanservice which may make up for the ending. The ending is what's going to get spoke about a lot, of course, and divide people. For me it didn’t particularly let up but your mileage will vary.
I don't like the ending. I think they could have ended Craig's era without such a definitive end for Bond. The big problem I have is somehow a few of my friends who are complete casuals have seen it before me at midnight showings. They're deeply confused at how it'll carry on. I also think that I shouldn't have walked out of a Bond movie crying. I think this was one little push and subversion too far.
On that note, did they film alternate endings? Any chance of 'fanservice' on the bluray? I doubt they did given how kind of... 'drawn out' and definitive it is. Oh well.
Oh God, what else, this is a bit of a jumble isn't it?! I'm trying to get it all down while it's fresh.
Nomi - I know she had a lot of detractors but I think the trailers did her dirty. It's nowhere near as bad as some people thought though I can wholly understand why they did jump to those conclusions given what we were shown. Bond clearly gets the better of her in quite a few scenes (for those who were worried about wokeness or whatever it was). There’s some good interaction there… But she is pretty much ‘useless’ in a sense.. Not in a bad way but they didn't really utilise her a lot I felt.
Paloma - Her bit ends too soon! I really enjoyed her interactions with James. She was awkward, funny and, yeah...
Blofeld - There's some YOLT fanservice with the interaction that I appreciated but I wasn't fond at the way Bond just says "DIE." Which, OK, it's in YOLT but in the context of where and how it happens... That was a little weird as it jumped to it very quickly. But I enjoy seeing people get under Bond's skin... The weird thing for me is this would have made more sense if he was the big bad rather than Safin. I think I know what they were going for here because of the way Blofeld played him over Madeleine but it just didn’t hit the mark.
Safin - Garbage villain. The weak point of the movie. I don't get what the hell he's doing. It makes no sense. Oh, and TBH it freaked me out that he's obsessed with Madeleine in such a way after meeting her as a child. He’s basically there to make sure it’s a Bond movie. At least get the villain right though… And I think that’s the thing with the runtime and everything they crammed into it, he’s there just so they can call it a Bond movie. Sadly for the real hardcore fans of the non-personal stuff, you should maybe sit this out as you’ll be disappointed as he’s in it probably for all of quarter of an hour, maybe twenty minutes if you take into account the PTS.
Scooby gang – It’s still there. I’ve never had a massive problem with it. It’s just there. Nothing special. Nothing to report.
Bond’s relationship with M – I always thought it was particularly testy with Fiennes’ M and boy is it really testy here. “Has this desk gotten bigger or have you gotten smaller?” MEOW, Mr Bond! Then just before he leaves. “No. I was wrong. The desk is the same size.”
Bond as a freelancer – Hell yeah! Come join the darkside. Us self employed lot are great! All joking aside… I liked seeing this side of him in retirement… And the bit where he tells Nomi if the CIA and MI6 aren’t cooperating… That’s not good. Bond knows the game. Plays it.
Felix – I’ll admit it. I cried here too when Felix died. Felix means a lot to Bond and seeing the anguish really punched me in the gut. Other than that, it’s Felix, and you get to see Bond live it up with him a bit which I enjoyed!
That big long one take near the end – Total fanservice considering what happens after it. It’s bloody brilliant and BADASS!!! I have to say I love the choice to immerse us with Bond’s deafness every time an explosion goes off.
Cinematography – Gorgeous film. Chances of an Oscar nomination perhaps?
There’s still a ton to say. I think this is the most I’ve heard Bond say he loves someone?!? This film is a love story through and through and a lot will not like it.
Did anyone notice the end shot with the Aston looked a bit gunbarrel’y with the light at the end of the tunnel? That was a nice touch. Even if I was a blubbering mess!
So how does this rank with the other Craig movies? Skyfall, Casino Royale, No Time to Die, Quantum of Solace, Spectre. That’s my order. I have a real soft spot for Skyfall for some reason.
Given the touchy situation in the world, it was good sense to delay this. It was maybe too soon to release with the pandemic but now is the right time. It just could have done with a bit of hope and Bond living at the end of it, oh well!
I’m sure there’s more. I’ll probably write some more when it enters into my head
No dramatic demise, just two bullets and barely a close-up... there's a much bigger picture developing at the same time.
I'm home from the cinema one hour and still trying to get my head around it all. Overall I think it's very good and I'm satisfied with the shock ending; somehow it works, when it really sounds like it shouldn't. At the very least it's going to give Bond fans something to debate for years to come!
I personally had no problem with anything that happened in the film. I support your statement about Craig's tenure being his own contained story. Bond will need to reboot again obviously but I don't think this is too much of a problem.
It won't be a reboot similar to the Craig era. That's very much its own thing and it told the story it needed to tell. With the cap that NTTD has put on everything, I consider the Craig films to be somewhat akin to The Dark Knight Trilogy. Just telling its own little story.
Question is, what of the future?
I'm thinking they will seriously have to go a lot younger with Bond and perhaps begin with his days as a Naval Officer, showing his rise through the ranks to Commander and eventually to a 00 agent, but I'm guessing they'll tell THAT story over the course of a few movies.
OR, they could go the Ghostbusters Afterlife route. Sidestep the reboot and go back to the original continuity with the film taking place after Die Another Day.
Either way is going to have its controversies - so I think the filmmakers have left themselves in a bit of a pickle.
What they WILL do? I couldn't tell you. That one is above my pay grade.
Probably what I’m most looking forward to then at this point.
I’m just getting the distinct impression that trying to discuss the next James Bond has already become verboten. Yes, I get that there’s going to be another actor after Daniel Craig playing James Bond. All I’m asking on this forum is whether you’d be happy seeing the next actor get blown to smithereens when he decides to call it a day, or would you rather they simply ignore this type of grand finale going forwards? What happens if their next choice of 007 only agrees to sign on the dotted line if he’s given the same dramatic finale as Craig when he passes on the baton? If they’re a relatively big name, such as Tom Hardy, it might be a major dealbreaker going into negotiations. Put it this way, if you’re an already established name, would you be willing to stick your neck out without being given same dramatic beats Craig was afforded? I don’t think you would. Which could mean that their next choice is going to be another up-and-comer rather than a familiar name. All I know is that Bond 26 is going to have to hit the ground running and outshine NTTD in every category. Going forwards, I just want Bond 26 to be bigger and better than Craig's Bond and hope they can deliver on it.
The greatest death to art is when you ask yourself “would that person have approved this creative choice?”
We already know Barbara and Michael made choices that Cubby would have never considered, and even Cubby respected that before his death, encouraging them to do what they think is right for the franchise.