54 replies to this topic

[CasinoKiller]

I've been thinking a lot about this as well. Years ago, I actually started a thread about whether or not it was time for a male M again...and it looks like the franchise has caught up with that thought of mine.

At first glance, Fiennes gives off a 'Robert Brown' vibe...in terms of both his physical appearance, as well as his curtness and sheer force of presence. However, I do feel that his relationship with Bond will be a lot closer to the one between Miles Messervy and Bond in the books; one of mutual respect and deep professional regard. Of course, unlike the parental relationship between Bond and previous M's, I think Fiennes relationship with Bond will be more one of kinship owing to their shared military background. Fiennes is I think the first M who's been explicitly established as having been proficient in the field (I know Messervy was an admiral, but he didn't come across as someone who had been particularly competent in live battle), so that WILL be an interesting dynamic to explore...

[AgenttiNollaNollaSeitsemän]

Fiennes is I think the first M who's been explicitly established as having been proficient in the field (I know Messervy was an admiral, but he didn't come across as someone who had been particularly competent in live battle), so that WILL be an interesting dynamic to explore...

Huh? They don't give leadership posts of Secret Service to your average rank-and-file admirals! I'm sure Messervy must've been one hell of a hero - not necessary of Churchill, Ike or Monty caliber, but close. I am very pleased that they made the new M a former military man.

Edited by AgenttiNollaNollaSeitsemän, 02 November 2012 - 08:00 PM.

[DR76]

God forbid Ralph Fiennes popping up in increasingly unlikly parts of the globe to "dress down" Bond.

Judi Dench was not the only M to do this. In fact, Bernard Lee was the first M to do this in "YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE". Why is Judi Dench the only M to receive this criticism?


Also, Ralph Fiennes is too young. He is at least 5 1/2 years older than Craig. This strikes me as a repeat of the Moore-Bond/Brown-M dynamics of "OCTOPUSSY" and "A VIEW TO A KILL". Moore was 6 years younger than Robert Brown. The dynamics between them wasn't that much. They were too close in age. So are Craig and Fiennes.

[I never miss]

Regarding their difference in age, I think that there is supposed to be at least ten years between Craig's Bond and Fiennes' M.

[DR76]

Regarding their difference in age, I think that there is supposed to be at least ten years between Craig's Bond and Fiennes' M.

Good luck on that.

[Pussfeller]

Maybe Mallory is older than Fiennes.

[DR76]

Maybe Mallory is older than Fiennes.

Then they should have hired a much older actor.

[JimmyBond]

If people in their twenties can play high school students in movies. Why can't Fiennes play a character a bit older than hmself?

[The Shark]

God forbid Ralph Fiennes popping up in increasingly unlikly parts of the globe to "dress down" Bond.

Judi Dench was not the only M to do this. In fact, Bernard Lee was the first M to do this in "YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE".

Bernard Lee turned up in the South China Sea to debrief Bond, not to yell at him for having a penis.

[AgenttiNollaNollaSeitsemän]

Maybe Mallory is older than Fiennes.

Then they should have hired a much older actor.

The next Bond will be younger than Craig. My hunch is that Whishaw and Fiennes will stay even after Craigs departure (which I hope is at least 6 years and 3 films away). Fiennes is now 50, and I can easily picture him playing M to his 70's - Bernard Lee and Judi Dench both played the part for 17 years. Here's hoping for Fiennes to do the same. The man is a huge Bond fan and one of the greatest living actors.

Edited by AgenttiNollaNollaSeitsemän, 02 November 2012 - 11:07 PM.

[Pussfeller]

Maybe Mallory is older than Fiennes.

Then they should have hired a much older actor.

Why? Fiennes is perfect for the part. It's not how old you are, it's how crusty. And he's wondrous crusty.

[CasinoKiller]

Maybe Mallory is older than Fiennes.

Then they should have hired a much older actor.

The next Bond will be younger than Craig. My hunch is that Whishaw and Fiennes will stay even after Craigs departure (which I hope is at least 6 years and 3 films away). Fiennes is now 50, and I can easily picture him playing M to his 70's - Bernard Lee and Judi Dench both played the part for 17 years. Here's hoping for Fiennes to do the same. The man is a huge Bond fan and one of the greatest living actors.

That's pretty much a given. Apart from Moore replacing Connery, each subsequent Bond has been at least several years younger than his predecessor. And that will work with Fiennes. The problem arises with Moneypenny and Q...Harris would likely be OLDER than the new Bond, while Whishaw, by that point would likely be much the SAME age or only slightly younger...there's no tellingg how THOSE dynamics will be affected...

[AgenttiNollaNollaSeitsemän]

Harris might leave the series when Craig leaves, true. I suppose when the next Bond starts there will be no pronounced reboots and the current continuity will remain intact with floating timeline.

[Joey Bond]

Harris might leave the series when Craig leaves, true.

Well when you think about it, with the exception of Lois Maxwell who was the original Moneypenny, there's been a change in the Moneypenny actress to go alongside the change of every Bond actor (Dalton/Bliss, Brosnan/Bond, Craig/Harris), so I would agree that we would see a new Moneypenny when Craig leaves the role.

About Q, I can't see Whishaw doing a Desmond Llewelyn and staying in the role until he's 80 (assuming there are still Bond films made in 2060). Again, Llewelyn was the original Q so it was understandable he stayed in the role for a very long time. If they're going with this new direction of Q being a computer geek type character (which I think is quite appropriate for modern times), he would probably have to be replaced or reimagined once Craig leaves the role.

Assuming Bond films are still made in 20 years, I could see Finnes staying on the role until then. Dench has been in the role for almost 20 years herself even, though, due to longer gaps between movies, she didn't do as many films as Bernard Lee. I get a feeling that, like Dench, Finnes' final appearance will see his M written off. Gone are them days of replacing actors with no explanation. So Finnes' M would cover the remainder of Craig's tenure, as well as Bond the 7th and maybe even the 8th (assuming 4-5 films/ 8-10 years for each actor).

It's quite an interesting exercise, thinking about the Bond films in the long run. To think that these films are nearly as old as my parents and that one day there might be a Bond who's younger than me!

[Pussfeller]

I could see both Harris and Whishaw staying beyond Craig's departure. In fact, I'll be surprised if they don't stick around at least for his immediate successor. They're both very young. Harris has about thirty years before she reaches the "auntie in an Easter hat" stage. Even if the next Bond is younger than her, they'll still be close enough for sexual tension and plausible banter. And Whishaw's take on Q has plenty of room for growth. Geeks have a long shelf-life.

[Vauxhall]

I could see both Harris and Whishaw staying beyond Craig's departure. In fact, I'll be surprised if they don't stick around at least for his immediate successor. They're both very young. Harris has about thirty years before she reaches the "auntie in an Easter hat" stage. Even if the next Bond is younger than her, they'll still be close enough for sexual tension and plausible banter. And Whishaw's take on Q has plenty of room for growth. Geeks have a long shelf-life.

Agreed on both fronts. I wouldn't want to see either of them replaced in the short-term. Both are tremendous actors, and EON should take advantage of them for as long as possible.

[DR76]

God forbid Ralph Fiennes popping up in increasingly unlikly parts of the globe to "dress down" Bond.

Judi Dench was not the only M to do this. In fact, Bernard Lee was the first M to do this in "YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE".

Bernard Lee turned up in the South China Sea to debrief Bond, not to yell at him for having a penis.

God forbid Ralph Fiennes popping up in increasingly unlikly parts of the globe to "dress down" Bond.

Judi Dench was not the only M to do this. In fact, Bernard Lee was the first M to do this in "YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE".

Bernard Lee turned up in the South China Sea to debrief Bond, not to yell at him for having a penis.

Spoken like a man.

[The Shark]

God forbid Ralph Fiennes popping up in increasingly unlikly parts of the globe to "dress down" Bond.

Judi Dench was not the only M to do this. In fact, Bernard Lee was the first M to do this in "YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE".

Bernard Lee turned up in the South China Sea to debrief Bond, not to yell at him for having a penis.

Spoken like a man.

Why thank you.

[Pussfeller]

Honestly, I think the "ball-busting" image of Dench is unfair, and based mostly on her early appearances in GE and TND. Beginning with TWINE she was aggressive in a more general way.

[MkB]

God forbid Ralph Fiennes popping up in increasingly unlikly parts of the globe to "dress down" Bond.

Judi Dench was not the only M to do this. In fact, Bernard Lee was the first M to do this in "YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE".

Bernard Lee turned up in the South China Sea to debrief Bond, not to yell at him for having a penis.

Spoken like a man.

Why thank you.

Interesting that you take it as a compliment... Sigmund Freud, analyze this!

[The Shark]

God forbid Ralph Fiennes popping up in increasingly unlikly parts of the globe to "dress down" Bond.

Judi Dench was not the only M to do this. In fact, Bernard Lee was the first M to do this in "YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE".

Bernard Lee turned up in the South China Sea to debrief Bond, not to yell at him for having a penis.

Spoken like a man.

Why thank you.

Interesting that you take it as a compliment... Sigmund Freud, analyze this!

Well, I am a man.

[JimmyBond]

Well, I am a man.

I had assumed.

[Guy Haines]

If people in their twenties can play high school students in movies. Why can't Fiennes play a character a bit older than hmself?

It's not so much age, it's attitude, Fiennes as Mallory has the right kind of "commanding officer" air about him. Plus, I think a certain respect for him on the part of Bond became apparent during the film because of Mallory's military background and his instinctive reactions during the mayhem at the inquiry. Mallory said at one point he lacked field experience. I doubt that, and it will be interesting to see 007 answer to a chief who has also probably killed in cold blood.

[tonyvenhuizen]

Maybe Mallory is older than Fiennes.

Then they should have hired a much older actor.

If Sean Connery (b. 1930) can play the father of Harrison Ford (b. 1942), then Ralph Fiennes (b. 1962) can play the boss of Daniel Craig (b. 1968). Fiennes is 50, and they can easily make him look 55 or 60.

[M mk VII]

I think we know Finnes M is not Messey but a completely new character........I am guessing Finnes's M is either a Major or Colonel in the British Army or Captain in the Navy.........unless Mallory is some alias for Sir Miles Messey

Mallory is a former Lieutenant Colonel with the SAS, was kidnapped by the IRA and held hostage for 3 months