164 replies to this topic

[Righty007]

and Graham Rye on Twitter:

'Ben Whishaw as Q? They must be ing joking! SkyFall is beginning to sound much TOO clever for its own good! 'Classic Bond' I think not.'

What a continually lovely fellow, that Graham Rye...

-1

[Guy Haines]

We have word that Ben Whishaw has been cast as "Q" but, without splitting hairs too much, supposing what's really meant is that he is playing a character called Boothroyd, or simply "the Armourer". The actor's agent could have said "Q" because that's what the Armourer has been known as in the past. For all we know - and we won't until we see the film - Whishaw could be playing a very different type of quartermaster to that of Desmond Llewelyn. Not necessarily the type we think of as a typical "Q".

""Q"'s back" could have been a slip in the way that the press have jumped in - on the basis of one remark by, I think, one of the Skyfall screenwriters - and assumed that Blofeld was back (And then assumed that Ralph Fiennes would be playing him.)

It sounds as if Whishaw is playing some kind of back office quartermaster character. But will he actually be named "Q"? We'll see.

[Leon]

I doubt very much that they won't be calling him Q at some point in the film - at least referencing it. Most people have no idea that Q is called Major Boothroyd, so it would have to be made clear for those.

I also, however, think he'll very likely be called Boothroyd or "Armourer" for classic effect and for the fact it's the 50th anniversary of Dr No.

[Guy Haines]

I doubt very much that they won't be calling him Q at some point in the film - at least referencing it. Most people have no idea that Q is called Major Boothroyd, so it would have to be made clear for those.

I also, however, think he'll very likely be called Boothroyd or "Armourer" for classic effect and for the fact it's the 50th anniversary of Dr No.

I agree with you. "Q" might well be mentioned, but I'll be surprised if this portrayal of Q/Boothroyd/The Armourer is meant to be a take up where Desmond Llewelyn and John Cleese left off.

[Vauxhall]

Any preferences here about what Ben Whishaw's character is known as? Boothroyd, Quartermaster, Armourer or simply Q?

[univex]

Any preferences here about what Ben Whishaw's character is known as? Boothroyd, Quartermaster, Armourer or simply Q?

Quartermaster by M
Q by Bond
Boothroyd by...Moneypenny?

Just seen a scene in The Hour where Freddy (Ben´s character) is introduced to Hector:

(Hector Madden) -Mr. Lyon, looking forward to working with you.
(Freddy Lyon) - At least that makes one of us.

A perfect, dry, Q

Brilliant casting as far as I´m concerned.

Edited by univex, 27 November 2011 - 04:20 PM.

[DamnCoffee]

Poll added.

[Leon]

A solid YES! I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't really know Ben's work as an actor, but let me reassure them he is impeccable and an incredibly genuine, devoted and classically trained chap. He is more than capable of playing a very strong, mature and serious Q. He is more mature for his age than most anyway.

[DamnCoffee]

and Graham Rye on Twitter:

'Ben Whishaw as Q? They must be ing joking! SkyFall is beginning to sound much TOO clever for its own good! 'Classic Bond' I think not.'

What a continually lovely fellow, that Graham Rye...

-1

Is there any need?

[univex]

and Graham Rye on Twitter:

'Ben Whishaw as Q? They must be ing joking! SkyFall is beginning to sound much TOO clever for its own good! 'Classic Bond' I think not.'

What a continually lovely fellow, that Graham Rye...

-1

Is there any need?

Mr. Rye has his place as a Bond fan with an opinion, as do we all. Sometimes I agree with him and sometimes I don´t, as with everyone else here. We don´t need to take his opinions as dogma, they aren´t, far from it. But he his a Bond fan, big one at that, as we all are. That being said, and about his opinion on Wishaw...I´m sure Rye is wrong

[DamnCoffee]

I wasn't referring to that, I was questioning Righty's -1 comment. Blofeld merely made an observation.

[Righty007]

I wasn't referring to that, I was questioning Righty's -1 comment. Blofeld merely made an observation.

Mr. Blofeld's comment regarding Mr. Rye was rather rude and uncalled for, in my opinion. Hence the -1, which is essentially a . I don't agree with Mr. Rye's tweet either but I'm not about to disrespect him like our friend, Mon Ami, did. I'd like to see Mr. Blofeld produce a Bond fan magazine with the high production values of 007 Magazine.

[univex]

I wasn't referring to that, I was questioning Righty's -1 comment. Blofeld merely made an observation.

I know Harkers And I know Blofeld´s observation had a reason to be, given some past issues. And Righty´s -1 has other reasoning behind it as well. All valid, I´m afraid. I´m just a bit tired of this Graham Rye issue, the man is a fan with an opinion, many times he´s right, other many he´s wrong. That "too clever for its own good" line was distasteful, IMO, but hey, It´s not as if he´s the Bond oracle, right? I´m sure you, above many, agree And on another note, I happen to like 007 magazine

Edited by univex, 28 November 2011 - 02:25 AM.

[DamnCoffee]

I wouldn't describe it as rude and uncalled for, it's just sarcasm, really. Plus, I happen to side with Blofeld on this one. All he said was 'Continually lovely fellow.' It's not like he insulted him or anything. Infact, if he was being 'rude and uncalled for' that would probably be the most polite way of doing so.

+1.

[univex]

I guess we all know now why getting rid of that stupid reputation sistem was the best thing to happen to Cbn lately

[Pussfeller]

I guess we all know now why getting rid of that stupid reputation sistem was the best thing to happen to Cbn lately

÷1

[Mr. Blofeld]

I guess we all know now why getting rid of that stupid reputation sistem was the best thing to happen to Cbn lately

+1

+2

I just felt Mr. Rye was unnecessarily slagging off on the film; I'm sure he'd have felt the same back in 1963 when Desmond Llewellyn replaced Peter Burton as Boothroyd...

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

and Graham Rye on Twitter:

'Ben Whishaw as Q? They must be ing joking! SkyFall is beginning to sound much TOO clever for its own good! 'Classic Bond' I think not.'

What a continually lovely fellow, that Graham Rye...

-1

Is there any need?

Mr. Rye has his place as a Bond fan with an opinion, as do we all. Sometimes I agree with him and sometimes I don´t, as with everyone else here. We don´t need to take his opinions as dogma, they aren´t, far from it. But he his a Bond fan, big one at that, as we all are. That being said, and about his opinion on Wishaw...I´m sure Rye is wrong

I've always read and admired Graham. He isn't licking EON's as many people. And any of us is forced to approve Wishaw as Q... as many people isn't forced to approve Campbell, Brosnan and many of the things I really LOVE of the series.

[BoogieBond]

Well, if Whishaw is Q and the character comes back, this is welcome news for me. I almost feel Q is a more important character than Moneypenny for the Bond films, certainly in terms of impact. He gives some cool gadgets to Bond(although in the Craig tenure I am sure they will be grounded) which serve as a bit of wow factor and pure entertainment on screen.

[Simon]

I'd like to see Mr. Blofeld produce a Bond fan magazine with the high production values of 007 Magazine.

Oh FFS.

I'll add my own -1, before any other shining light sees the way.

[univex]

I'd like to see Mr. Blofeld produce a Bond fan magazine with the high production values of 007 Magazine.

Oh FFS.

I'll add my own -1, before any other shining light sees the way.

You vets always trying to bite your heads off And in two threads as well. But hey...who cares? I don´t. Anyways, back on topic. Anyone wants to discuss Ben Whishaw´s character in the film Skyfall?

[Righty007]

Anyone wants to discuss Ben Whishaw´s character in the film Skyfall?

I think Whishaw may be Boothroyd, but not Major Boothroyd.

[MrDraco]

I've got mixed feelings about the casting, I guess I'm going to wait and see what his performance is as Q if this turns out to be true and how the script and director present the new Q. I just hope they dont go the 'cheesy' way they did with John Cleese and basically the whole Brosnan era Q scenes...Personally I figured they would go with a younger Q someone who sorta teams up/ be-friends bond but at the same time has hard feelings about the way Bond handles the gadgets he's given...This opens up a lot of doors for bond and Q adventures, I hope they dont over do the "This time its personal" angle.

[Pussfeller]

Or what if he doesn't care that Bond will destroy the gadgets? He might even derive a perverse thrill from the idea of his humble gadgets being destroyed in exciting ways. The archetype of the tetchy, over-protective craftsman is not particularly representative of people who work in technical fields. A lot of technical people enjoy seeing things blown up in the pursuit of science.

[Captain Tightpants]

I hope they dont over do the "This time its personal" angle.

What on earth does this have to do with Q?

[Vauxhall]

Anyone wants to discuss Ben Whishaw´s character in the film Skyfall?

I think Whishaw may be Boothroyd, but not Major Boothroyd.

This is my hope.

[univex]

Anyone wants to discuss Ben Whishaw´s character in the film Skyfall?

I think Whishaw may be Boothroyd, but not Major Boothroyd.

[Stainless Steel Teeth INC]

Sometimes it's good to shake things up and play with peoples expectations.

The reason Roger Moore succeeded as Bond is that he wasn't trying to emulate Connery. Dalton was a much needed breath of fresh air with his 'back to basics' literal approach, while Brosnan hit a fine balance between all of them before Craig came along and confounded negative opinions with a truly memorable debut.

And this should be the way it is when re-casting all of the established roles. None of us (I hope) want to see some watered down 'karaoke' performance featuring some actor 'trying' to re-create the Llewelyn magic. It's only important to cast a good, intuitive actor who is capable of bringing some new aspect to the role that will hopefully bring a different dynamic to the scenes involving Bond & Q, and in Ben Whishaw (based on his other work) I feel confident that is what we will get.

[Gt Munn]

Or what if he doesn't care that Bond will destroy the gadgets? He might even derive a perverse thrill from the idea of his humble gadgets being destroyed in exciting ways. The archetype of the tetchy, over-protective craftsman is not particularly representative of people who work in technical fields. A lot of technical people enjoy seeing things blown up in the pursuit of science.

I'm a fan of this idea. This would be a fun and good-hearted way to separate Whishaw from Llewelyn. I think it would be a welcomed surprise to many.

I agree on other posts in that 'Q' himself is not funny. It is his seriousness in his work along with his reactions to the visits Bond makes.

Edited: Didn't finish that sentence. It is his seriousness in his work, along with his reactions to the visits Bond makes, that make him so humorous. Not sure where I was going with this. My point is, I would never want the likes of a Simon Pegg type being cast. I don't his scene is meant to be a comedy routine.

Edited by Gt Munn, 02 December 2011 - 03:51 AM.

[Matt_13]

That is an interesting idea.

My thoughts on what will likely happen is that at some point during their briefing Bond will pick up a fragile gadget off of a table, examine it, then accidentally snap it, prompting Q to first look at the broken device, then to Bond, who places it back on the table, and then the conversation carries on as it was.