11 replies to this topic

[DaveBond21]

Spoilers ahead



With the return of the characters of Q and Moneypenny, does anyone think that they were always due to be reintroduced. Was it part of Wilson and Broccoli’s plan that we would be introduced to Bond, Q, Moneypenny and a new M over the course of the 3 Daniel Craig films?

It seems that way because there is no way Mendes would decide to re-introduce Moneypenny when the director of Bond 24 might not want her in the movie.

I say it must have been part of the plan back in 2004-5.


What do you think?

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[sharpshooter]

Whether or not there was a blueprint laid out, their return was inevitable at some stage. They must have thought the time was right, and I’m with them. We had the arm implant guy in CR, as well as Villiers. Both served those functions. We just have the ‘official’ naming for them now. Shifting to the classic but not a radical departure from what the Craig era already had. I liked how Skyfall said the new quartermaster was still getting his office set up, or something to that effect. He really was brand new!

Edited by sharpshooter, 27 November 2012 - 03:36 AM.

[tdalton]

I'm sure that it was always the case. The Bond films are so beholden to the formula and the checklist that there was no doubt that they would return at some point. The films will, as they've always done, become more and more formulaic, and as a result of that become more and more outlandish, until they're forced to hit the reset button like they do every so often (OHMSS, FYEO, TLD, CR). This is just the beginning of that process.

[sharpshooter]

If Q offers Bond something that excites him in the next movie it’s sure going to be a funny conversation. “Better than what you gave me last time.” – “But they saved your life did they not?” This Q is keener on computers, but I’m sure gadgets will be on the cards. Just not the exploding pen type stuff. Q’s dialogue set the new tone.

[Guy Haines]

I think it was always part of the plan, including the re-boot of M at the end of SF. Also, some think of CR/QoS/SF as a trilogy, and I see them as such but not as we expected, with Bond taking on Quantum and finishing it off in part three - that didn't happen. Rather:-

Casino Royale - M "I knew it was too soon to promote you"

Skyfall - M - her final line - "Well, at least I got something right"

Three Bond films which are also about James Bond developing into "James Bond". There are arguments going on over on another thread about whether this process is complete, but I think this is one way of seeing CR/QoS/SF as a trilogy.

[thecasinoroyale]

Certain characters HAD to return to make this still a James Bond film, I think it just had to be done carefully and not have them shoehorned into these thought out stories. They had to return for a purpose when the time was right, and seeing Q, M and Moneypenny in 'Skyfall' makes me think it was perfect timing, they would have very wasted and overlooked in 'Quantum Of Solace'.

[JCRendle]

According to Mendes, when Craig and him were talking he brought up the idea of reintroducing them and then took to ideas to EON. I'll see if I can find the interview.

hollywoodreporter.com/news/bond-franchise-daniel-craigs-skyfall-387238

"I wanted to know, would they consider killing M and bringing back Q and Moneypenny? And did they want -- as I did -- a more flamboyant, old-style villain, the sort that
emerged in the Sean Connery movies? And the answer to all those things was yes. And that was in many ways our starting point for working out what the story would be."

[DaveBond21]

According to Mendes, when Craig and him were talking he brought up the idea of reintroducing them and then took to ideas to EON. I'll see if I can find the interview.

hollywoodreporter.com/news/bond-franchise-daniel-craigs-skyfall-387238

"I wanted to know, would they
consider killing M and bringing back Q and
Moneypenny? And did they want -- as I did -- a
more flamboyant, old-style villain, the sort that
emerged in the Sean Connery movies? And the
answer to all those things was yes. And that was
in many ways our starting point for working out
what the story would be."

Very interesting. To me, this would be the sign of an excellent working relationship or understanding between Mendes and the producers, meaning he could well be back for Bond 24. It also hints at the amount of influence Craig has on the movies.


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[Iceskater101]

Yeah I think those charcters definitely had to come back. I think people liked the new era of Bond movies, but people loved the old stuff in the Bond films too. So I think that those characters had to come back to help bring the Bond films back to why people liked them in the first place.

[EyesOnly]

No doubt they would have returned. However, I'm not sure it would have happened as soon as it did if it weren't for Mendes.

[Double-0-Seven]

The characters being re-introduced worked perfectly in this film. To me, Skyfall is the perfect blend of classic Bond and modern Bond.

[DaveBond21]

No doubt they would have returned. However, I'm not sure it would have happened as soon as it did if it weren't for Mendes.

This is an interesting point.

I can't remember who they were, but after CR and QOS were discussed on here, there were so many posters saying that we have seen the last of Q and Moneypenny and that Bond films don't need them. I wonder where those posters are now?

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