319 replies to this topic

[TCK]

It's surely because of my English you have not understood what I meant. My apologize. I wanted to say that neither Connery, nor Lazenby, nor Moore, nor Dalton, nor Brosnan, nor Craig have had a M only for them while they was acting Bond. Lee acted M for three eras, Brown for two, and Dench also for two until now. John Huston or Edward Fox did it for one era only. That's what I meant. And I also wanted to say I would have enjoyed perhaps a little more Brosnan's era if Dench acted M for "this Bond" only. I hope you understand me.

[Frankie]

It's surely because of my English you have not understood what I meant. My apologize. I wanted to say that neither Connery, nor Lazenby, nor Moore, nor Dalton, nor Brosnan, nor Craig have had a M only for them while they was acting Bond. Lee acted M for three eras, Brown for two, and Dench also for two until now. John Huston or Edward Fox did it for one era only. That's what I meant. And I also wanted to say I would have enjoyed perhaps a little more Brosnan's era if Dench acted M for "this Bond" only. I hope you understand me.

Having limitations on the language is no cause for apology. Thanks for the explanation.

Cheers.

[Lt. Garfield]

Yes, if they can find such an actor.
I would love this bloke from Spooks (MI-5)

Actor: Peter Firth
but already in a spy series, that's the problem. Unless they could "promote" the character of Harry. Interesting crossover there from series to film. Might be a novel idea.

he looks almost like Daniel (for me)

[Davy]

Harry's M15 not MI6

[00 Brosnan]

I really don't care if M is male or female. Both sexes have played the role well.

[iBond]

I think they should keep Dench as long as she wants to play the role. She is great!

[TCK]

She is great!

Yes, but she's old...

With all due respect, I think she should have given up acting M in Die another day, to have a new M for Craig's era. But now, I think she should stop with Bond23. M can't be eighty-years old, let's be serious, don't you think ?

[MajorB]

But she's not too old to be convincing in the part, IMO. If she does reach that point, it would be time to consider retiring from the part. Until then, I'm very happy to keep watching her.

When she does leave, I think a male M would be preferable. Casting another woman would seem forced, given the prevalence of men at the top of intelligence services. Of course, if there's a story-related reason to cast another woman, then that's fine too, provided she's enough of a contrast with Dench and not just a retread.

[Miles Miservy]

Jeremy Irons...brilliant idea!

Patrick Stewart

I think Casino Royale was a perfect occasion to change M's character, and for two reasons :
- this would have added a singular aspect to Brosnan's era with a same M during the four movies ; until now, any actor who has acted Bond had a M for him only, any.
- and this would have prevented spectators from being a bit lost with this "saga reborns", but with Judi Dench acting M both in the new and the former period.

By the way, I don't know if someone know James Cosmo, even by sight, but I think he would have done a great M for Craig's era, wouldn't he ?



But now I think it's too late, too bad, and I have no idea about who will be able to play M after Dench.

Robert Brown stepped into the role right in the middle of Roger Moore's tenure; and stayed on throughout the T. Dalton period.

[TCK]

But she's not too old to be convincing in the part, IMO. If she does reach that point, it would be time to consider retiring from the part. Until then, I'm very happy to keep watching her.

When she does leave, I think a male M would be preferable. Casting another woman would seem forced, given the prevalence of men at the top of intelligence services. Of course, if there's a story-related reason to cast another woman, then that's fine too, provided she's enough of a contrast with Dench and not just a retread.

I agree. In Fleming's novels, M is a man and a kind of "paternal authority" for James. Anyway, there are already enough women in James' life to add one as a boss. Perhaps they chose her with this aim in view... But even if I enjoy Dench's M, I still prefer Brownn's first and Lee's second.

Perhaps they'll kill Dench's M... swalloded by a whale (devoured by sharks was already used). Joke of course !

Robert Brown stepped into the role right in the middle of Roger Moore's tenure; and stayed on throughout the T. Dalton period.

Yes I know, but I explained a few posts before - if yours refers to my any actor who has acted Bond had a M for him only, any. sentence of course - what I wanted to mean. Sorry for the language mistake. I meant that there is no actor (between Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan and Craig) who had an unique M, played by an actor/actress only for his Bond or his Bond period. Do you see what I mean ?

[Miles Miservy]

But she's not too old to be convincing in the part, IMO. If she does reach that point, it would be time to consider retiring from the part. Until then, I'm very happy to keep watching her.

When she does leave, I think a male M would be preferable. Casting another woman would seem forced, given the prevalence of men at the top of intelligence services. Of course, if there's a story-related reason to cast another woman, then that's fine too, provided she's enough of a contrast with Dench and not just a retread.

I agree. In Fleming's novels, M is a man and a kind of "paternal authority" for James. Anyway, there are already enough women in James' life to add one as a boss. Perhaps they chose her with this aim in view... But even if I enjoy Dench's M, I still prefer Brownn's first and Lee's second.

Perhaps they'll kill Dench's M... swalloded by a whale (devoured by sharks was already used). Joke of course !
I admit, M's death (say in the pre-title sequence), as a plot device sounds like a great idea; provided they don't clone anything from LTK of course. Perhaps it would work well as an epilogue. Although there, the trap lies in not making it too much like the death of Tracy in OHMSS.

Robert Brown stepped into the role right in the middle of Roger Moore's tenure; and stayed on throughout the T. Dalton period.

Yes I know, but I explained a few posts before - if yours refers to my any actor who has acted Bond had a M for him only, any. sentence of course - what I wanted to mean. Sorry for the language mistake. I meant that there is no actor (between Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan and Craig) who had an unique M, played by an actor/actress only for his Bond or his Bond period. Do you see what I mean ?

[univex]

For me the perfect M would be Albert Finney. Have you see his Churchill? Brilliant actor.

Anyway, I´d absolutely love to see the return of the Admiral and his pipe in a "let´s bring the service to its old cold war glory", a conservative takeover of the M chair, someone that has that old controversial imperialistic conservative way. That would be the perfect contrast to Bond´s libertine ways and liberal conduct (and would establish the kind of father-son relationship that´s been missing from the mother-son thing they have going on).

The current M would just step down. Don´t see the need to kill her. Have all heads of SIS been killed or MIA? Of course not. They get replaced. So why not have the current M in Bond23 and the new M aswell, sort of a transition.

And please bring back the mahogany and the navy theme. Also, please get the Admiral refering to Bond as 007 or Commander and have the guy wear his uniform for once. Give them both secretaries. Ok, ok, I´ll shut up now, ... They´ll keep Dench for ever, Bond will most likely be the mute killing machine from QOS and MI6 will be a star trek environment with glass and touch screens. Basterds! Sorry, this is it, I´ll shut up.

[Agent Nine]

yes i would like to see the return of male M

[JB007YH]

Ive been hoping for this for years. I think Dench has done a great job and I believe having an actress of her stature definitely added to the quality of the recent bond films. I think the only way they can replace her is by getting another high quality actor if they go the male route. My personal favorite would be Anthony Hopkins. I know Ive posted about him before in other threads but I truly think he would take the M role to another level. In my opinion he could rival Bernard Lee as the greatest M.

[univex]

Ive been hoping for this for years. I think Dench has done a great job and I believe having an actress of her stature definitely added to the quality of the recent bond films. I think the only way they can replace her is by getting another high quality actor if they go the male route. My personal favorite would be Anthony Hopkins. I know Ive posted about him before in other threads but I truly think he would take the M role to another level. In my opinion he could rival Bernard Lee as the greatest M.

He WAS M in MI:2 Probably the most fan-wanted-actor out there. And trust me, I was one of the ones who wanted the guy as a villain or as M, but...
Still say Albert Finney

Edited by univex, 20 June 2011 - 03:38 AM.

[Frankie]

Ive been hoping for this for years. I think Dench has done a great job and I believe having an actress of her stature definitely added to the quality of the recent bond films. I think the only way they can replace her is by getting another high quality actor if they go the male route. My personal favorite would be Anthony Hopkins. I know Ive posted about him before in other threads but I truly think he would take the M role to another level. In my opinion he could rival Bernard Lee as the greatest M.

Hopkins has already played M's counterpart in an American movie. I wanted hi too to play M, but his previous M-like role would be a distraction now.

Still say Albert Finney

An excellent choice.

[iBond]

She is great!

Yes, but she's old...

With all due respect, I think she should have given up acting M in Die another day, to have a new M for Craig's era. But now, I think she should stop with Bond23. M can't be eighty-years old, let's be serious, don't you think ?

She may be old, but she is still on top of her game. She still has that authority she had in GoldenEye. I mean, look at Desmond, no one seemed to complain the older he got and when he was replaced with John Cleese, I don't remember it being all that popular. I mean, granted we only had one film with Cleese as Q, but still. In any case, I feel that as long as she can do the role, she will be good to go as M. I mean, the fact that they still have her as M is awesome.

[joeski1001]

how about Sean Connery as M?

[DR76]

If the Bond franchise can go through 33 straight years of a man in the role of "M" before Judi Dench took over, then I believe that a woman can portray the role for another 17 years - whether "M" is portrayed by Dench or another actress.

This belief that only a man has to portray "M" is stupid and narrow-minded to me.

[Righty007]

This belief that only a man has to portray "M" is stupid and narrow-minded to me.

Ian Fleming created M as a man so I think it's fair for many (including myself) to hope for another man in the role after Dench retires. Plus, no female has ever been the head of SIS in the real world. That's a fact.

I love Dench but she's been in the role too long; her dialogue has become dull, repetitive and tiresome. Let's have her successor be a man and if that makes me narrow-minded, so be it.

[coco1997]

If the Bond franchise can go through 33 straight years of a man in the role of "M" before Judi Dench took over, then I believe that a woman can portray the role for another 17 years - whether "M" is portrayed by Dench or another actress.

This belief that only a man has to portray "M" is stupid and narrow-minded to me.

I wouldn't mind a woman succeeding M if I could be guaranteed that the Bond/M relationship would be closer to 007's relationship with Lee/Brown's M, but frankly I think that's next to impossible. With no disrespect to Dench, I'm certain the whole idea of casting a female M was gimmicky, and has unfortunately remained gimmicky. It worked in "GE" because it was fresh and bold, but the Bond/M dynamic has gotten quite tiresome in the five films since. I find it ironic that the writers obviously try to drive home the notion that a woman in M's position would do her job no differently than a male, and yet the dynamic is glaringly different. We always get this "Mother Hen" air about M and Bond is seen more or less as a tempestuous child. Maybe if the writers would stop shooting off the same tired dialogue about M "needing to know that (she) can trust Bond" it wouldn't be an issue, but annoyingly, this has been the trend for the last sixteen years.

[Messervy]

If the Bond franchise can go through 33 straight years of a man in the role of "M" before Judi Dench took over, then I believe that a woman can portray the role for another 17 years - whether "M" is portrayed by Dench or another actress.

This belief that only a man has to portray "M" is stupid and narrow-minded to me.

I wouldn't mind a woman succeeding M if I could be guaranteed that the Bond/M relationship would be closer to 007's relationship with Lee/Brown's M, but frankly I think that's next to impossible. With no disrespect to Dench, I'm certain the whole idea of casting a female M was gimmicky, and has unfortunately remained gimmicky. It worked in "GE" because it was fresh and bold, but the Bond/M dynamic has gotten quite tiresome in the five films since. I find it ironic that the writers obviously try to drive home the notion that a woman in M's position would do her job no differently than a male, and yet the dynamic is glaringly different. We always get this "Mother Hen" air about M and Bond is seen more or less as a tempestuous child. Maybe if the writers would stop shooting off the same tired dialogue about M "needing to know that (she) can trust Bond" it wouldn't be an issue, but annoyingly, this has been the trend for the last sixteen years.

Indeed. I'm also very tired of this "can I trust you?" psycho babble. But is it due to the fact that M is a woman, or is it due to what the writers think would be good for M to say? As you point out yourself, I think it's more to do with the writers, and not really with the fact that M is or is not a male.
That's why I think that, if done well (i.e, if they finally get rid of the "can I trust you?" thing), M can still be a woman and that won't even have to be an issue.
As much as I loved the tense relationship between Bond and male-M, I also trust that we can be provided with a very interesting and equally good relation between Bond and female-M. The writers will just have to switch their angle and try something else than this derivative "mother figure".

[Messervy]

This belief that only a man has to portray "M" is stupid and narrow-minded to me.

Ian Fleming created M as a man so I think it's fair for many (including myself) to hope for another man in the role after Dench retires. Plus, no female has ever been the head of SIS in the real world. That's a fact.

Couldn't agree less.

Ian Fleming created Bond as a heavy smoker. Bond doesn't smoke anymore. Is it fair to say, then, that he's disqualied as Bond? Ian Fleming created Q branch as the armoury branch of the Service. Yet in the movies it's a gadgetary branch. Is it fair to say, then, that it's disqualied? I could go on for ages... There's a ton of things Fleming wrote that has not been translated into movie, and there's a ton of things Fleming wrote that has been translated otherwise into the actual movies.
Besides, talking "real life" when talking Bond is useless: there is no special agent like Bond; there is no special mission like Bond's; there is no Service Chief like M; there is no Q; there is no rocket-firing cars; I could go on for ages... We all know Bond is not about real life.

What I mean is that "Ian Fleming wrote" or "real life" are not issues that can guarantee what to do or what not to do.

[univex]

there is no Service Chief like M;

http://en.wikipedia....iki/John_Sawers

What I mean is that "Ian Fleming wrote" or "real life" are not issues that can guarantee what to do or what not to do.

Unfortunately Messervy, unfotunately...

And you are right about the two universes being different. Unfortunately, about that, I maintain my comment..."Unfortunatly". But neither can be desqualified, of course, within their own limits.

Edited by univex, 22 June 2011 - 09:38 PM.

[brunoman]

Sam Neill is a good choice to play M in my opinion.

Edited by brunoman, 22 July 2011 - 11:51 PM.

[univex]

Sam Neill is a good choice to play M in my opinion.

Very interesting choice

Edited by univex, 23 July 2011 - 01:39 AM.

[DR76]

Like I had said before, the franchise had endured 33 years of a male M before Judi Dench took over the role. I don't any reason why Dench could not be replaced by another actress.

What is it about many Bond fans that they cannot endure the idea of a female authority figure?

Ian Fleming created M as a man so I think it's fair for many (including myself) to hope for another man in the role after Dench retires. Plus, no female has ever been the head of SIS in the real world. That's a fact.

I don't recall Fleming creating a blond James Bond. Yet, we have one.

I'm just reading a lot of sexism in many of the above comments. Then again, I shouldn't be surprised.

[DominicGreene]

You guys are seriously acting like a bunch of pricks. Seriously, as a Bond fan, I could really give less if M was a man or a woman, so stop complaining you picky bastards...

[Captain Tightpants]

I'm just reading a lot of sexism in many of the above comments. Then again, I shouldn't be surprised.

I, too, do not understand the demand that M be exclusively male. If Judi Dench's replacement is male, then I'm certainly not going to object - but I don't think the part should only be limited to men simply for the sake of only ever having a male M.

[Attempting Re-entry]

Ian McShane would make for a very strong and interesting M for Bond...