25 replies to this topic

[MkB]

I keep wondering about one thing... When Bond is told by the policemen to take Mathis out of the boot, and they try to shoot him, does he use purposefully Mathis as a human shield, or is it only by chance? It happened very fast, so I'm not sure what to think...

[Vauxhall]

Looked like an accident to me. Or perhaps even that the policemen purposely shot Mathis.

[sharpshooter]

Bond using someone as a human shield is a trait that re-appears in the film series. I can see him doing that even to a friend or close ally. Haven't seen the film, but he probably didn't expect the others to fire. And in these tense scenarios, it all comes down to self preservation.

[MkB]

Or perhaps even that the policemen purposely shot Mathis.

My first thought was that the policemen's intentions were to shoot them both.
I thought they didn't act as they should have normally in such a situation, i.e. finding that the man they've just stopped has another man in bad shape in his boot: they should have put him under arrest immediately, with handcuffs etc., and then once the situation secure take care of the man in the boot themselves.
Instead of that, they ask the suspect to take the "victim" out of the boot himself, which could be a security threat to them or to the victim.
The only reason I can see for that (other than those cops being total dummies) is that they did so to have a reason to shoot Bond and Mathis: taking Mathis out of the boot, Bond had to do moves that could be deemed suspect, and could authorize the policemen to shoot, pretending they feared for their life from Bond (and that he used Mathis as an hostage / human shield).
this would also explain why they didn't ask Camille to get out of the car or even check on her: they didn't have instructions about her and/or didn't want to shoot her, but if she had been out of the car witnessing the scene they would have to kill her too.

[double o ego]

Well, Bond couldn't really do anything anyway. Mathis never stood a chance when those moronic cops opened fire.

[MkB]

Bond using someone as a human shield is a trait that re-appears in the film series. I can see him doing that even to a friend or close ally.

Yes, it was certainly by accident, and even if not completely, it can be an unintended reflex gesture. Bond is used to using adversaries as human shields, but with an ally it would be a first, wouldn't it?

[MkB]

A related question: why does Mathis say to Bond: "Do you forgive me? Can we forgive each other?" (or somethign like that)?
I can see pretty well why Bond would have to beg for Mathis's pardon since he got him arrested and tortured by mistake, according to his own words, but why would Mathis ask for Bond's forgiveness?

[Vauxhall]

A related question: why does Mathis say to Bond: "Do you forgive me? Can we forgive each other?" (or somethign like that)?
I can see pretty well why Bond would have to beg for Mathis's pardon since he got him arrested and tortured by mistake, according to his own words, but why would Mathis ask for Bond's forgiveness?

Hmm, guess it could be a few things. Either a genuine admission of guilt (unlikely I guess), or perhaps apologising for getting killed and stalling their mission.

[MkB]

Hmm, guess it could be a few things. Either a genuine admission of guilt (unlikely I guess), or perhaps apologising for getting killed and stalling their mission.

An admission of guilt is unlikely, indeed, but it crossed my mind. After all, Mathis was conscious and unrestrained in the boot. So, why didn't he signal his presence in the car, before the policemen arrived? If thumping on the car's body, and shouting, he could certainly have been heard. Was he there by his own will, to get Bond trapped? Yes, it's very unlikely, but it crossed my mind, especially because of this forgiveness thing...

[Satorious]

Obvious spoilers:

He was getting Mathis out of the car. It was a set up by the Bolivian Police Chief (hence the line towards the end when Bond executes him in the Jeep). The cops killed Mathis when they realised he was still alive, Bond was powerless to act whilst he was still carrying his friend. I like the way they hinted that Mathis probably learned the trick from the Bolivian Police Chief and hence did the same thing with Obanno in CR.

[Vauxhall]

Yes, I enjoyed the subtle reference back to Obanno's disposal very much. It was a nice little touch, and the sort of gem that I hope we'll find quite a few of in QUANTUM OF SOLACE.

I thought Bond jumping onto the Police Chief's car and shouting that they had a mutual friend before executing him was borderline corny though.

[Elmason]

Obvious spoilers:

He was getting Mathis out of the car. It was a set up by the Bolivian Police Chief (hence the line towards the end when Bond executes him in the Jeep). The cops killed Mathis when they realised he was still alive, Bond was powerless to act whilst he was still carrying his friend. I like the way they hinted that Mathis probably learned the trick from the Bolivian Police Chief and hence did the same thing with Obanno in CR.

Yes as he lifts Mathis from the car one of the police says 'he's still moving' and then shoots Mathis in the back.

[MkB]

Also, why does Bond put Mathis's body among the trash bags? He leaves two dead cops on the floor, and knows perfectly well the area is going to be searched, and the body found in the minute (he doesn't really conceal it). Or are we to suppose Bond will also dispose of the dead cops and their bikes?

[sorking]

Absolutely. Their orders were to leave Mathis, Bond (and no doubt Camille) dead. Bond didn't use Mathis as a shield at all, and wold certainly only have done so if he were dead already.

The forgiveness is, yeah, for getting caught and jeopardising the mission...as well as (in my mind) for being initially cold to Bond when they were reunited.

[Fozzco]

It did make me think about Mathis' beg for forgivness - because I could never get my head round the fact that in Casino Royale - Bond sayes "Mathis" after Vesper's text to say that Le Chiffre was being extracted and also Le Chiffre said that "your friend Mathis is really MY friend Mathis" - if Mathis didn't tell him about the tracker in his arm.. who did, because Vesper didn't know.

[Vauxhall]

It did make me think about Mathis' beg for forgivness - because I could never get my head round the fact that in Casino Royale - Bond sayes "Mathis" after Vesper's text to say that Le Chiffre was being extracted and also Le Chiffre said that "your friend Mathis is really MY friend Mathis" - if Mathis didn't tell him about the tracker in his arm.. who did, because Vesper didn't know.

Good point. Annoyingly, the filmmakers can always answer this question by saying that "Quantum have people everywhere", which means that they can escape such loopholes!

[bond 16.05.72]

Bond asks Mathis if Mathis is his cover name, why say that if he's not what he seems, I came to the conclusion he was Quantum and that when he's betrayed by them he realises his mistake and says do we forgive each other!

If that means I'm smoking crack then so be it but my reading of the dialogue was that Mathis was Quantum.

Am I the only one who got this opinion?

If it's wrong I obviously misread it but until someone explains it diffrently and the dialogue I'll believe it.

[MkB]

An other question: during the plane scene, when Mathis awakes to find Bond drinking, he offers him a sleeping pill - veeeeery clever idea, by the way, to take a sleeping pill after 6 martinis, just before being submitted to a 6 jours timeshift...
Well, anyway, Mathis then adds something along the lines "I have pills for everything", and he gives a list. I can't rememer exactly what he said, ut on the moment I asked myself if there wasn't a vıagra allusion (maybe a Pfizer product placement? )
Did anybody else catch it and/or can remember the exact line?

[sorking]

It did make me think about Mathis' beg for forgivness - because I could never get my head round the fact that in Casino Royale - Bond sayes "Mathis" after Vesper's text to say that Le Chiffre was being extracted and also Le Chiffre said that "your friend Mathis is really MY friend Mathis" - if Mathis didn't tell him about the tracker in his arm.. who did, because Vesper didn't know.

Good point. Annoyingly, the filmmakers can always answer this question by saying that "Quantum have people everywhere", which means that they can escape such loopholes!

Mitchell did it. If you like.

I attribute it to Vesper - we never know what characters discuss between scenes, and having Bond say to her 'Hey, check out the hole in my arm!' would have blown the entire story. You'd have had to have him say the same to Mathis, too, to keep suspicions balanced. Would have been awfully clumsy.

Also, Vesper is not surprised to hear Bond discuss the tracker's removal later on. Is it likely he mentioned it while recuperating? I guess...but no more so than it came up beforehand. (Theyb talked about poison darts, after all, in a cut scene; she understands the peculiarities of his job.)

Still, as I say, it's easy enough to put down to M's ever-resent bodyguard.

[Paul Scrabo]

WHY did they have to kill Mathis off? The most colorful and Bondian character...who could have joined Bond in some future missions.
How many "man in trunk" scenes are IN this film??
And sorry, but the action scenes in this film were poorly shot and even more poorly edited.
But when they blew Mathis away, I then realized how much I have been in disagreement with these screenwriters decisions.
Bond is caputed by 3 agents.
I wonder...what clever way Bond can escape THIS one??
Oh, I see....He beats them all up.
QOS was, for the most part, a dissapointing film.
Paul

Edited by Paul Scrabo, 04 November 2008 - 06:06 PM.

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

WHY did they have to kill Mathis off? The most colorful and Bondian character...who could have joined Bond in some future missions.

Totally agreed. By the way, it's nice to have such a Bond master here!

PS. FORSTER GO HOME!

[MkB]

WHY did they have to kill Mathis off? The most colorful and Bondian character...who could have joined Bond in some future missions.

I agree on this point. As much as this scene is great, it's a pity to kill Mathis. As Bond's sidekick, I preferred him over Leiter (though Jeffrey Wright is cool, Mathis had that elderly touch). Besides, he's one of the few Fleming original characters, it was very bold to finish him off.

[MkB]

If you're looking for a cool holiday plan, you can rent Mathis's house (as seen in QoS): it's the real-life Torre di Talamonaccio, in coastal Tuscany:
http://www.tuscandre...omodationID=291
(don't forget your wallet, though: the prices range from 7000 to 8000 € / week... no wonder why Mathis can only afford for cheap wine after that! )

[Fiona Volpe lover]

I really liked the scene where Mond finds Mathis dead, it actually allowed Daniel Craig to do some good acting and it was quite moving. Probably the only scene in the film where I actually felt some emotion.

[sorking]

WHY did they have to kill Mathis off? The most colorful and Bondian character...who could have joined Bond in some future missions.

Totally agreed. By the way, it's nice to have such a Bond master here!

From a screenplay point of view, Mathis was taking Leiter's job. With Mathis gone, there's a stronger place in the story for Felix.

[BoogieBond]

Yes, my impression was Bond was acting fast on his feet there.
I too am sad to see the character of Mathis go, Giancarlo Giannini is a great actor, and the character of Mathis was great, with some cracking scenes between him and Bond in CR and QOS.