27 replies to this topic

[CasinoKiller]

SPOILERS for the teaser obviously...

I just saw the teaser today and my mind was blown away by the stunning visuals, but also by the promise of an intricate plot. So far, we've had very little to go on with regards to what Skyfall's going to be about, but the recent teaser has provided a few meager clues. So this is my take on what I think Skyfall's plot will be-

'Skyfall' I think is the code-name for a Secret Service operation (much like 'Thunderball') which M was involved in decades ago; perhaps an operation which went really wrong and is an embarrassment to MI6 and the British government, which is why M has largely kept her mouth shut about it. Maybe the lodge we see burning in the trailer had some connection to the 'Skyfall' operation.

At the start of the film (in the PTS) Bond goes on a mission (to Turkey?). During the course of the mission he learns something about Skyfall and M's involvement with it; he learns that whatever went on years ago regarding that operation has returned and is a potential threat to Britain and MI6. The mission goes bad and Bond comes back to England, and is possibly taken off active duty. The debacle has re-focused attention on the old Skyfall conspiracy-Ralph Fienes' character Mallory is probably a Whitehall-appointed agent tasked with investigating the old scandal, and its connection to Bond's failed mission. Bond is being evaluated in the wake of the failure, but he refuses to talk about Skyfall...he possibly guesses it has something to do with M and out of loyalty to her, he keeps Mallory from learning about it.

Whatever the threat connected to Skyfall was strikes in an attack in London, which leads to several deaths (possibly even of MI6 agents). M is getting steadily discredited because of her past connection to the operation. Bond alone remains loyal to her, and continues to investigate the Skyfall conspiracy, and is tasked with finding the man behind the fresh attacks-Silva. At the same time, he's forced to defend M from the political maneuverings against her made by Mallory...perhaps Bond and M are both forced to go on the run and work together in the field, and revisit the site of the 'Skyfall lodge'...

[Ace Roberts]

Spoilerish:
You may be onto something. I think you're close, but perhaps with a few tweaks. My personal thought is this: Skyfall is in fact the ancesteral home of Bond. But it may be - as you surmised - also an operation that went horribly wrong in the past. It will connect his family to Mi6. Bond is initially unaware of this - until things begin to unfold in the film. In his absence, a series of attacks on Mi6 occur. Bond, who was severely injured in the PTS and is convalescing, is brought back in for a psych evaluation to clear him for duty (scenes in teaser) - M confides in him about operation Skyfall, what happened and the current threat. The key will be the characters of Patrice - the assasssin that he lost in Turkey - and Severin. This will send him to Shanghai - and eventually to Silva. From there - I'm lost.

[thecasinoroyale]

So do you think the Lodge has been given that name in "honor" of any of those lost during the 'Skyfall' operation?

That is what I really want to see - how they link an MI6 operation with a Scottish manor house, because it ain't a coincidence!

[stamper]

Is Bond beared just at the beginning?

[DamnCoffee]

Is Bond beared just at the beginning?

He's clean shaven in Istanbul. He returns to London after the terrorist attacks, with a beard. He gets shaved in Shanghai/Macau by Eve.

[thecasinoroyale]

So...is Bond away when MI6 is "attacked"...and he's drafted back in?

If so, does the London chase sequence happen after he's back, almost like another attack??

[DamnCoffee]

What I think what happens is...

Spoiler

In Turkey, Bond finds something about M and Skyfall, and during the massive action piece, comes off the bridge with the train, and is pressumed dead. Eve is held responsible. After the MI6 attack, Bond turns up again, and is taken off duty and has a psychological evaluation.

[thecasinoroyale]

But are there 2 possible attacks on MI6 / London?

One when Bond is away, and again when he is back and leading him to chase Silva through the city/underground etc?

[DamnCoffee]

The MI6 Attack happens when Bond is away. Pressumed dead. The attack on the Underground is when Bond is back in London after Shanghai.

[CasinoKiller]

Spoilerish:
You may be onto something. I think you're close, but perhaps with a few tweaks. My personal thought is this: Skyfall is in fact the ancesteral home of Bond. But it may be - as you surmised - also an operation that went horribly wrong in the past. It will connect his family to Mi6. Bond is initially unaware of this - until things begin to unfold in the film. In his absence, a series of attacks on Mi6 occur. Bond, who was severely injured in the PTS and is convalescing, is brought back in for a psych evaluation to clear him for duty (scenes in teaser) - M confides in him about operation Skyfall, what happened and the current threat. The key will be the characters of Patrice - the assasssin that he lost in Turkey - and Severin. This will send him to Shanghai - and eventually to Silva. From there - I'm lost.

Spoilerish:
You may be onto something. I think you're close, but perhaps with a few tweaks. My personal thought is this: Skyfall is in fact the ancesteral home of Bond. But it may be - as you surmised - also an operation that went horribly wrong in the past. It will connect his family to Mi6. Bond is initially unaware of this - until things begin to unfold in the film. In his absence, a series of attacks on Mi6 occur. Bond, who was severely injured in the PTS and is convalescing, is brought back in for a psych evaluation to clear him for duty (scenes in teaser) - M confides in him about operation Skyfall, what happened and the current threat. The key will be the characters of Patrice - the assasssin that he lost in Turkey - and Severin. This will send him to Shanghai - and eventually to Silva. From there - I'm lost.

I have mixed feelings about any plan to link Bond's family to MI6 or any other kind of espionage and intrigue-on the one hand, it would make for a great story no doubt, but on the other hand, this cliche of tying the protagonists' past and/or his family to the villain or conspiracy he/she is facing in the present is starting to get a bit too old and predictable. It's been done to Spiderman in 'The Amazing Spiderman', it was done to Batman way back in the '89 Burton film...hell, it was sort off done to Bond himself in the Carte Blanche novel. If it IS done, I hope its done in a way that doesn't come across as being needlessly contrived and/or stupid. For instance, I certainly hope there isn't something as hackneyed as Andrew Bond being the 'original' 007, or Bond's parents having been killed by Silva or someone else connected to Skyfall, making this another 'personal mission'...

[dirtymind]

Bond reacts very emotional when they say "Skyfall". It's not just a mission gone wrong, because than he would be embarrassed or angry. But he's reacting like he's sad, like he lost someone close to him.

[PPK_19]

Perhaps Eve is held responsible for the Istanbul cock-up and is banished from the field, sent to work in the Mi6 offices forever as our favourite secretary...

[d21089]

well there's obviously some connection... "Names is for tombstones baby..." etc... but we have no idea how or why something that would relate to M and Silva would have anything to do with - thats the one thing im dubious about with this movie- I hope to hell its not a Batman '89 situation- cos thats not Bond at all

[GardenerJames..Gardener]

"mounting climbing accident" always sounded a bit fishy kinda like ufos being "swamp gas" his parents would have died in the 70s say maybe they werent spies but government office workers that were caught up in Skyfall, say maybe in Turkey but thought to be selling secrets to the Russians or just innocent bystanders....lots of mountains in Turkey there are...

[007jamesbond]

I dont think it has anything to with Bond parents unlikely it is something mendes would do.......it is something else that never been done in a Bond film that we dont expect

[x007AceOfSpades]

What if Skyfall has a double meaning? Bond and his family. MI:6 operation gone wrong?

It could also be used as a MacGuffin, where we think it's this, but it's something we don't even know and probably won't know unless they tell us(which would kind of ruin the purpose of the MacGuffin.) Just a thought.

[Vauxhall]

What if Skyfall has a double meaning? Bond and his family. MI:6 operation gone wrong?

It could also be used as a MacGuffin, where we think it's this, but it's something we don't even know and probably won't know unless they tell us(which would kind of ruin the purpose of the MacGuffin.) Just a thought.

I think Skyfall will certainly have multiple meanings, and we know that one of them refers to Skyfall Lodge, so I expect the crux of the movie is based around why the other meaning of the word (probably an old operation) is named after Bond's ancestral home.

[S K Y F A L L]

I like the sound of it Vauxhall. Here some points that also have been floating around the forums and I thought I would add;
Silva character has a radio that might be something like a 'ghetto blaster' which causes the train crash in London. (I think that ones Vauxhall's idea but I think I've been calling it the ghetto blaster)
The 8 coffins could be the other double O agents, 001, 002, 003, 004, 005, 006, 008, 009.

I the biggest plot point and 'big hook' is what is connects M's past, operation SF with SF manor.
Some one has pointed out that one of the graves at SF lodge has a connection with the area which is called SF. Some ideas about the connections have been something like;
M may have done something to do with Bond parents death

I've been say in the plot synopis thread;

We all know that Ian Fleming created "Operation Golden Eye" in WW2 and named his estate in Jamaica "Goldeneye."
Perhaps, M and Kincade like Fleming created Operation SkyFall (OSF) and named it after Bonds parents estate because OSF involved recruiting orphans who are in service, Bond being in the Navy at the time. Bond's family estate was erased from the records by M and Kincade so that Bond has no ties to anything but his duty, although Kincade secretly confiscates it. Silva is chosen as a recruit but after learning of OSF he attempt's to escape and is arrested. When Silva escapes he murders the rest of the OSF agents in MI6 who helped arrested him, then goes after M and maybe even Kincade?

and the thought just occurred to me is that M hide Bond past from him cause his family history involved fighting againest England.

[thecasinoroyale]

That's what I can't wait to find out...the link between what the hell 'Skyfall' is that makes Bond's face drop and the Lodge in Scotland...that better be one amazing link!

[S K Y F A L L]

I can't wait to see the throwbacks too I keep forgetting about them cause everything else overshadows it but I do remember reading Sam Mendes saying there will be some.

[PPK_19]

What's in the Box? I think Pussfuller thought of this one; the bulldog on M's desk.

Really? I don't see the relevance. Unless it's just a sentimental keepsake of M's but....seriously? The bulldog in the box? Not sure about that one.

[S K Y F A L L]

Good point, I edited it out, thanks PPK_19. EDIT I meant good point in the sense that it was not relevant to the topic.

[DamnCoffee]

What's in the Box? I think Pussfuller thought of this one; the bulldog on M's desk.

Really? I don't see the relevance. Unless it's just a sentimental keepsake of M's but....seriously? The bulldog in the box? Not sure about that one.

I'd rather this not be the case, but if it was. It would be extremely funny. It would fit in well with Bond protecting Britain. Bond looking down at the bulldog. Having a little smirk, putting it in his pocket and going "I love you too, M." Then looking over the London skyline from the rooftop. Cue credits.

[d21089]

Let's not have Bond saying I love you- but an understanding smile as he looks out in silence might be nice

[thecasinoroyale]

It's not that bad an idea actually, the bulldog in the box.You can't get more British than that?

Well you can, but nothing so small to fit in a box that big, apart from maybe a cup of tea.

[GardenerJames..Gardener]

maybe he isnt a Bond at all....John Doe....government social experiment #10007 aka James Bond (like a Bonds man), #10008 William Smith #10009 John Jones....etc or ophan batch #100-7 James Bond, #100-1 John Bond, #100-5 Lisa Bond #100-6 Mary Bond

what if the thing in the box is a picture and audio/video reel tape of his parents?

[dirtymind]

what if the thing in the box is a picture and audio/video reel tape of his parents?

Let's hope not.

[echo]

I the biggest plot point and 'big hook' is what is connects M's past, operation SF with SF manor.
Some one has pointed out that one of the graves at SF lodge has a connection with the area which is called SF. Some ideas about the connections have been something like;
M may have done something to do with Bond parents death

I hope it's not that direct a connection (M--> Bond's parents). That could be kind of cheesy.