164 replies to this topic

[JohnnyWalker]

I agree on other posts in that 'Q' himself is not funny.

You mean you didn't find "I think he's attempting re-entry" hilarious?

[Gt Munn]

I agree on other posts in that 'Q' himself is not funny.

You mean you didn't find "I think he's attempting re-entry" hilarious?

I'm sorry about that. It certainly is!

I had thought I had finished that thought, where I had not.
I was preparing to head into my Epidemiology final, and was not thinking clearly at the time.

Here is that fixed portion:

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.

I suppose what I mean to say, is that the joke is always on him. As in the "I think he's attempting re-entry" line. It is always Bond giving him a hard time, or seeing him put up with Bond when he may not want to at the moment. It is a humerous role, but must always be very subtle as to how it comes out of 'Q'.

Is that opinion a little clearer?


- Best Regards

[Skudor]

If Q truly needs to return (which I do not think he does) then it is best to make it an original take. The old Q worked due to his early interaction with Connery-Bond and Moore-Bond, which left him so established in his own right that he could easily work with Dalton-Bond and Brosnan-Bond (and even be completely forgiven some very age related wooden acting).

A new Q cannot and must not in any way try to emulate Cleese-Q/R. Trying to make it humorous for humors sake will not work. Geeky gadget kid would be a cliche. The original challenged faced by Llewelly was to make fantastical, now+ gadgets seem realistic by presenting them in a very matter of fact way, with genuine seriousness - which then allowed Connery-Bond to react with a quip. So if [SF] sees the return of inventive gadgets, then that's probably not a bad place to start. If they are as low-key as they have been in the last couple of films, then what the hell is Q needed for?

Whishaw's Q can and needs to be original - and will hopefully be nothing like the Q wannabes from other flicks. That doesn't mean he can't be a Boothroyd.

[Jack Spang]

If Q truly needs to return (which I do not think he does) then it is best to make it an original take. The old Q worked due to his early interaction with Connery-Bond and Moore-Bond, which left him so established in his own right that he could easily work with Dalton-Bond and Brosnan-Bond (and even be completely forgiven some very age related wooden acting).

A new Q cannot and must not in any way try to emulate Cleese-Q/R. Trying to make it humorous for humors sake will not work. Geeky gadget kid would be a cliche. The original challenged faced by Llewelly was to make fantastical, now+ gadgets seem realistic by presenting them in a very matter of fact way, with genuine seriousness - which then allowed Connery-Bond to react with a quip. So if [SF] sees the return of inventive gadgets, then that's probably not a bad place to start. If they are as low-key as they have been in the last couple of films, then what the hell is Q needed for?

Whishaw's Q can and needs to be original - and will hopefully be nothing like the Q wannabes from other flicks. That doesn't mean he can't be a Boothroyd.

"A new Q cannot and must not in any way try to emulate Cleese-Q/R. Trying to make it humorous for humors sake will not work. Geeky gadget kid would be a cliche."

Oh yeah, that's a given.

Only subtle more realistic gadgets will work too now especially for the Craig era. I don't have alot of faith in the post Cubby Eon but I would think even they realise this.

[Zorin Industries]

Maybe Ben Wishaw's role (and I would not jump to put the Q in conclusion just yet) is not wholly forever and maybe his 'operative' role is a motivational one - i.e. here is Bond's new techno-minded ally, here is Bond finding out about his new techno-minded ally's real motivations... and here is techno-minded ally becoming the sacfricial lamb of the film (even by his or Bond's doing).

I can watch Wishaw time and time again but I just don't see him committing to multiple films in the same role. I think his is merely a one-off appearance - but an important one in the canon of Bond and, more importantly, the canon of this one film.

[Miles Miservy]

A young Q will add a new dynamic to the series.

I'm very curious to see where EON go with this: a brash, arrogant youngster who endears himself to Bond? A socially-awkward near-genius? I just hope they don't go in for the stuffy inventor trope in the vein of Desmond Llewellyn and John Cleese too soon, but to leave the path open for that. For example, by having him provide Bond with something that he is "particularly proud of", only to be disappointed/heartbroken when Bond brings it back in ten pieces.

I think it's rather premature to form an opinion this early in the film's production. Q, like Moneypenny, is an important component in the 007 machine; one that's been sorely missed these last few adventures. So, I look forward to this young fellow's performance and I feel confident that though I'm not familiar with Ben Whishaw's work, he'll bring something to Boothroyd's character (Are they still going to call him that?) that we haven't seen before.

[Captain Tightpants]

I feel confident that though I'm not familiar with Ben Whishaw's work, he'll bring something to Boothroyd's character (Are they still going to call him that?) that we haven't seen before.

That's pretty much what I said - I don't want Whishaw to simple ape Desmond Llewellyn. I want him to be recogniseable as Q, but to have his own spin on the character. Like Llewellyn's Q if only one in every five of his inventions actually worked, so his workshop was littered with half-finished projects that he pledged to finish "one day" (but never would, because he was always working on something new).

[Mr. Blofeld]

...so, a bit like "Algernon", but with the workshop brought to the forefront, then?

[The Shark]

I always liked the Algernon character. As usual Alec McCowen is brilliant, plus he gets that cracker of a line:

"Good to see you Mr. Bond, things have been awfully dull around here... Now you're on this, I hope we're going to have some gratuitous sex and violence!"

[Captain Tightpants]

...so, a bit like "Algernon", but with the workshop brought to the forefront, then?

No.

[SecretAgentFan]

Maybe Ben Wishaw's role (and I would not jump to put the Q in conclusion just yet) is not wholly forever and maybe his 'operative' role is a motivational one - i.e. here is Bond's new techno-minded ally, here is Bond finding out about his new techno-minded ally's real motivations... and here is techno-minded ally becoming the sacfricial lamb of the film (even by his or Bond's doing).

I can watch Wishaw time and time again but I just don't see him committing to multiple films in the same role. I think his is merely a one-off appearance - but an important one in the canon of Bond and, more importantly, the canon of this one film.

Oh. That would be very interesting and surprising (character-wise). For Whishaw, of course, this might be just as logical as it would be for Ralph Fiennes (can´t see him actually taking over as a regular in the series).

Still, introducing a new Q and then sacrificing him again... well, interesting idea.

[Pussfeller]

It would feel kind of like a bait-and-switch, but given the actor, I wouldn't rule it out. I hope it's a recurring gig, at least for a few films.

[Thevan7F]

I give a chance

[S K Y F A L L]

I would think that the producers wouldn't sign on for anyone playing Q unless they we're willing to do a few films. I like to take it to the next level and suggest he'll play the part as long as Desmond Llewelyn.
He is 31 years old and if he lives to be 81 and is still playing the role that would take use to the 100th Anniversary, but not at all likely.

I just hope they don't change the character at all or into one that Bond is calling all the time for technical support.

[d21089]

I think Ben is the sort of guy who wouldn't take the role if there wasn't something that interested him about the character- Even if he was A Bond fan (I dont know if he is or not), I still can't see him taking the role unless it had something more to it - I am willing to bet it won't be Q as we know him and it would be a shame to waste him on an enjoyable but ultimately superfluous cameo role.