23 replies to this topic

[bondrules]

Did Tobias Menzies have a contract dispute since he didn't make it into QoS?

[DamnCoffee]

I've no idea, but I really do think that it would be better if Villers replaced Mitchell.

As M says in the movie "He was my personal body guard for 5 years!" So where on earth was Mitchell where M came to the Bahamas in Casino Royale.

[bondrules]

I've no idea, but I really do think that it would be better if Villers replaced Mitchell.

As M says in the movie "He was my personal body guard for 5 years!" So where on earth was Mitchell where M came to the Bahamas in Casino Royale.

Exactly my thoughts! Plus, Villiers was pretty bloody fantastic, even with that small part he had

(I thought M said 8 years)

Edited by bondrules, 09 November 2008 - 05:39 PM.

[DamnCoffee]

She said she knew him for 8 years, and that he was her personal bodyguard for 5.

Plus, if Villiers did replace Mitchell, it would have been a great way to set up the introduction of Moneypenny.

[bondrules]

Sounds about right.

Maybe she has several bodyguards working different shifts and locations....just like DC in real life.

[stamper]

It's obvious that "Mitchell", whoever he was, should and probably was at the script stage Villiers. Many here hinted that Villiers might be a mole, and they were right. Mitchell, in essence, is taking Villiers place. EON shouldn't have allowed for the switching of actors and characters. The bodyguard line was probably on the set rewrite. To have Villiers drawing up the gun (and notice that Michell's skills aren't up to Bond's) would have blown all the audience away, instead of this guy we don't know.

[DamnCoffee]

Yeah but you would think that she would take him everywhere, since he's her PERSONAL body guard.

[Major Tallon]

Maybe M fired him after he got sick upon sighting Solange's body. Not bodyguard material.

[MkB]

To have Villiers drawing up the gun (and notice that Michell's skills aren't up to Bond's) would have blown all the audience away, instead of this guy we don't know.

Honestly I don't think anybody outside of hardcore Bond fans remembers Villiers. Even me, I had barely noticed him in CR (and yet I had seen Rome where Tobias Menzies had an important part), and wouldn't know his name in the movie if I didn't spend my time idling on this forum.

[HildebrandRarity]

Maybe M fired him after he got sick upon sighting Solange's body.

He didn't have the stomach for it...

[Righty007]

Maybe M fired him after he got sick upon sighting Solange's body. Not bodyguard material.

Villiers wasn't a body guard and I have reason to believe he had little to no weapons experience. He was more of a personal assistant/Chief of Staff (a hybrid of Moneypenny and Robinson).

Bill Tanner took Villiers' place NOT Mitchell. I haven't seen Quantum of Solace yet but I thought these things were clear.

[sorking]

EON shouldn't have allowed for the switching of actors and characters.

That's right. If the actor wasn't available they should have kidnapped his family until he agreed. Nothing is more important than inter-film continuity. Do you hear me? Nothing!

The bodyguard line was probably on the set rewrite.

Or, given that the actor would have been booked in advanced and selected for his physical capability, a rewrite performed at any point before filming. By a writer at home. Or in an office. Or at Starbucks. But 'on the set' makes it sound rushed so it's easier to disapprove.

To have Villiers drawing up the gun (and notice that Michell's skills aren't up to Bond's) would have blown all the audience away, instead of this guy we don't know.

For 'the audience' read '12 Bond fans who remember him'.

Also: Villiers was in no way working as a bodyguard on CR, and Craig could blatantly have kicked Tobias Menzies half-way across Italy. Not much of a chase ensuing there.

[Kristian]

EON shouldn't have allowed for the switching of actors and characters.

That's right. If the actor wasn't available they should have kidnapped his family until he agreed. Nothing is more important than inter-film continuity. Do you hear me? Nothing!

The bodyguard line was probably on the set rewrite.

Or, given that the actor would have been booked in advanced and selected for his physical capability, a rewrite performed at any point before filming. By a writer at home. Or in an office. Or at Starbucks. But 'on the set' makes it sound rushed so it's easier to disapprove.

To have Villiers drawing up the gun (and notice that Michell's skills aren't up to Bond's) would have blown all the audience away, instead of this guy we don't know.

For 'the audience' read '12 Bond fans who remember him'.

Also: Villiers was in no way working as a bodyguard on CR, and Craig could blatantly have kicked Tobias Menzies half-way across Italy. Not much of a chase ensuing there.

Ha,ha. Love it. Five-and-dime conclusions get the responses they deserve. Bravissimo, Sork...

[Blonde Bond]

I've no idea, but I really do think that it would be better if Villers replaced Mitchell.

As M says in the movie "He was my personal body guard for 5 years!" So where on earth was Mitchell where M came to the Bahamas in Casino Royale.

Although he wasn't her bodyguard. He was her male secretary, before he lost his job to Moneypenny... probably. Which might be evident, when we see Moneypenny in the next flick(?)...

Mitchell was a whole different character. Not some office rat, like Villiers That said, I can't really see Villiers fighting with Dan ' The Man ' Craig's Bond. He was a bit...funny character in Casino Royale. You know, without being 'ha ha' funny.

[Shrublands]

Maybe M fired him after he got sick upon sighting Solange's body. Not bodyguard material.

Villiers wasn't a body guard and I have reason to believe he had little to no weapons experience. He was more of a personal assistant/Chief of Staff (a hybrid of Moneypenny and Robinson).

Bill Tanner took Villiers' place NOT Mitchell. I haven't seen Quantum of Solace yet but I thought these things were clear.

Exactly.

It would be ludicrous to suggest that desk-jockey, pen-pusher, sick at the sight of a dead body Villiers was capable of fighting Bond in the Siena sequence or anywhere else.

M; “He’s been my bodyguard for 5 years.”
Bond; “Oh yes, and who’s been looking after him!”

Obviously Mitchell was always a totally different character to Villiers; he had to be something of a tough customer. Something that Villiers was clearly seen not to be.

[Joey Bond]

I remember Tobias Menzies saying on his website pretty early on during QOS preproduction that we won't be back. I guess he was written out pretty early.

[sharpshooter]

I didn't like Villiers much, anyway.

[Righty007]

I didn't like Villiers much, anyway.

I didn't like him either. He was a "bureaucratic bookworm" to quote Ghostbusters 2.

[HildebrandRarity]

EON shouldn't have allowed for the switching of actors and characters.

That's right. If the actor wasn't available they should have kidnapped his family until he agreed. Nothing is more important than inter-film continuity. Do you hear me? Nothing!

The bodyguard line was probably on the set rewrite.

Or, given that the actor would have been booked in advanced and selected for his physical capability, a rewrite performed at any point before filming. By a writer at home. Or in an office. Or at Starbucks. But 'on the set' makes it sound rushed so it's easier to disapprove.

To have Villiers drawing up the gun (and notice that Michell's skills aren't up to Bond's) would have blown all the audience away, instead of this guy we don't know.

For 'the audience' read '12 Bond fans who remember him'.

Also: Villiers was in no way working as a bodyguard on CR, and Craig could blatantly have kicked Tobias Menzies half-way across Italy. Not much of a chase ensuing there.

stamper is full of . He's just pissed that the film is not "tanking". In fact the opposite.

[Gobi-1]

I would have also preferred to have Villiers in place of Mitchell. Villiers could have been acting as a wuss in Casino Royale as part of his cover. Villiers doesn't have to be a physical threat to Bond to still be dangerous. Since Mitchell shoots and runs away I don't see why Villiers couldn't have done it.

[Mister E]

I would have also preferred to have Villiers in place of Mitchell. Villiers could have been acting as a wuss in Casino Royale as part of his cover. Villiers doesn't have to be a physical threat to Bond to still be dangerous. Since Mitchell shoots and runs away I don't see why Villiers couldn't have done it.

I am sorry but that would have been a really dumb idea and it doesn't help that even boy scout could most likely hand his to him. Anyway, I am glad Villers left. I was scared he'd become a reccuring character.

[dinovelvet]

Maybe M fired him after he got sick upon sighting Solange's body. Not bodyguard material.

Yeah, or maybe Villiers resigned after that, shaken to the core by what he saw.

Upon reflection, it would have been great if Villiers was Mitchell in QOS, though it wouldn't have been much of a fight between he and Craig I could buy that Villiers could run across the rooftops decently, but when they get to the bell tower, forget it, he'd be dead meat!

[Mister E]

I could imagine:

Mr.White stares at Villers:...Isn't that right?

*Villers pulls out the gun and drops it*

Mr.White: Well...um...my point still stands !

[Righty007]

I would have also preferred to have Villiers in place of Mitchell. Villiers could have been acting as a wuss in Casino Royale as part of his cover. Villiers doesn't have to be a physical threat to Bond to still be dangerous. Since Mitchell shoots and runs away I don't see why Villiers couldn't have done it.

Villiers wasn't a bodyguard or anything of that nature therefore he could not have taken Mitchell's place. Villiers was a hybrid of Moneypenny and Bill Tanner. An assistant to M. That's all.