41 replies to this topic

[ChickenStu]

I am an absolutely huge fan of Ralph Feinnes. He's just constantly amazing. I thought his performance in Skyfall was superb. With Mallory, he created a nuanced three dimensional character. In the court room gunfight, I almost whooped with joy when he grabbed a gun and got stuck in - earning our man's respect as he did so (that little wink our man gives him says so much).

 

When he's appointed M at the end of the film - our man takes the time to actually ask him how he is! This shows that our man likes and respects him and will be happy to take orders from him in future. I really want to see this excellent character developed more.

 

When you've got two actors like Daniel Craig and Ralph Fiennes in the same movie(s), you cannot squander that potential. I don't want to see Mallory just give our man his mission at the start and debrief him at the end. I also don't want to see Mallory be a repeat of previous Ms where he is constantly berating our man. I'd like to see this guy cover up Bond's mistakes and watch his back. I want him to be that kind of boss. 

 

I also want to see him in on the action. In the pre-credits sequence it would be cool if Bond is in a spot of bother and radios in for backup. Yet, rather than another 00 agent or someone else show up - Mallory himself appears and says something to our man along the lines of "Sorry old chap, everyone else was busy - you'll have to make do with me" and see them fight their way out of the $#!+ together. Then, at the end of the movie when everything is REALLY kicking off, Mallory once again jumps into the fray to back our man up.

 

There's a hint of a friendship being formed in Skyfall and I would LOVE to see that thread explored and fleshed out as this phase in the movie series develops. 

 

Either way, Feinnes is a boss actor - and no matter what they do with him it will be awesome. Just as long as they don't make the mistake of wasting him. 

[RMc2]

I am an absolutely huge fan of Ralph Feinnes. He's just constantly amazing. I thought his performance in Skyfall was superb. With Mallory, he created a nuanced three dimensional character. In the court room gunfight, I almost whooped with joy when he grabbed a gun and got stuck in - earning our man's respect as he did so (that little wink our man gives him says so much).

 

When he's appointed M at the end of the film - our man takes the time to actually ask him how he is! This shows that our man likes and respects him and will be happy to take orders from him in future. I really want to see this excellent character developed more.

 

When you've got two actors like Daniel Craig and Ralph Fiennes in the same movie(s), you cannot squander that potential. I don't want to see Mallory just give our man his mission at the start and debrief him at the end. I also don't want to see Mallory be a repeat of previous Ms where he is constantly berating our man. I'd like to see this guy cover up Bond's mistakes and watch his back. I want him to be that kind of boss. 

 

I also want to see him in on the action. In the pre-credits sequence it would be cool if Bond is in a spot of bother and radios in for backup. Yet, rather than another 00 agent or someone else show up - Mallory himself appears and says something to our man along the lines of "Sorry old chap, everyone else was busy - you'll have to make do with me" and see them fight their way out of the $#!+ together. Then, at the end of the movie when everything is REALLY kicking off, Mallory once again jumps into the fray to back our man up.

 

There's a hint of a friendship being formed in Skyfall and I would LOVE to see that thread explored and fleshed out as this phase in the movie series develops. 

 

Either way, Feinnes is a boss actor - and no matter what they do with him it will be awesome. Just as long as they don't make the mistake of wasting him. 

 

I am 100% with you for the first three paragraphs, but you can take the fourth paragraph with you and shove it somewhere startling

[ChickenStu]

Oh I say! Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? 

[FOX MULDER]

it would be cool if Bond is in a spot of bother and radios in for backup. Yet, rather than another 00 agent or someone else show up - Mallory himself appears and says something to our man along the lines of "Sorry old chap, everyone else was busy - you'll have to make do with me" and see them fight their way out of the $#!+ together.

 

Not only is that a truly horrible idea, it's also completely implausible ("everyone else was busy").

 

However, I agree that Fiennes is great as "M" and I too would like to see more of him in the next film. Fiennes has a real opportunity (if he wants to) to make that character his own for the forseeable future. I hope he does.

[Rik]

I have no problem with M being featured in the film but there's no way he should be actively involved in any action sequences. Those belong to Bond.

[jaguar007]

We saw how they increased M's presence in the films after casting an actress like Judi Dench. I'm sure the producers will do the same with an actor like Finnes.

[tdalton]

I'm sure that we'll see more than enough of the new 'M', as the current staff at EON loves featuring the character as almost being a co-star to Bond in the new films.  Hopefully they resist that urge, even with someone as talented as Ralph Fiennes in the role, and move 'M' more into the background.

[Rik]

I'm sure that we'll see more than enough of the new 'M', as the current staff at EON loves featuring the character as almost being a co-star to Bond in the new films.  Hopefully they resist that urge, even with someone as talented as Ralph Fiennes in the role, and move 'M' more into the background.

 

My sentiments exactly

[Pushkin]

I don't see a problem with more M but that should be more M being M (i.e., dealing with the political and his colleagues in other intelligence services, figuring things out, at his club, at Bond's flat, briefing Bond etc.). I am not as completely opposed to M being out in the field but given how much that was done with Dench I think M's role out of the office should be limited to briefing Bond or perhaps meeting with other higher ups in other countries. We have done the M kidnapping, we have done the M assassination attempt. Good story ideas but they have been done and done recently.

 

The role of the head of the secret service is not to go on missions. I would want an updated version of the Bernard Lee portrayal and I just have a hard time seeing Bernie trading shots with the bad guys. Even in Col. Sun, M was a long way from Mr. Action.

 

If I had one wish for M, let's have a scene or two at Quarterdeck - perhaps briefing Bond on something that cannot be spoken of officially because its off the books. If they bring back Quantum, it could be M navigating the political side and trying to uncover what is there.

 

In essence, what I want to see is the super strategist at work, directing Bond but letting Bond be Bond (though he should feel free to show disdain for the womanizing).

Edited by Pushkin, 15 January 2014 - 06:44 PM.

[FlemingBond]

I don't think we need more M. we got a lot more in the Dench-era. After two stories, TWINE and Skyfall, that revolved around M I really don't need more.

[kaiserthegreat]

Considering Ralph Feinnes is playing M, I'm certain we'll be getting more M.  

[007jamesbond]

lot of possible background scene involving M such as

Call to the PM 

meeting with foreign secretary

Meeting with Bond

eating/drinking at gentlemen club with Bond

all can be done with less than 8 minutes of screentime 

[Leon]

They've not half had M in a lot of scenes in the Brosnans through Craigs. I of course completely agree that Feinnes should be given some great dialogues with Bond and such, his acting ability/subtlety should be well utilised. However I not only am already a bit fed up of seeing the head of MI6 getting ridiculously involved in things and coming off way too strongly as a parent figure for Bond, but really getting Feinnes involved in the action would not be using his skills in the right places anyway.

One thing I will add though, but maybe for the following film, once the relationship of the new M and Bond has grown a little more, would be a re-working to some degree of the Moonraker (novel) bridge game. M inviting Bond to his club to help him spot how some odd fellow is cheating. It's such a great scene that's yet to be attempted in the films, and I feel the current more retro and 'serious' tone of things is just right for it now. Bridge may seem too old fashioned for a modern Bond movie, but it wouldn't be some major game as in Casino Royale's poker tournament, it would be somewhere in the beginning of the film and the fact that Ralph Feinnes M would be the one inviting Bond to his club for the game would totally qualify it and be a quaint and quirky touch in the film.

[Shrublands]

This is what Ralph Fiennes himself has heard. 

 

"The rumors are that I'm not stuck behind a desk, that I maybe do get out and maybe there's a little bit of action for M.  I hope so."

 

 

http://www.hitfix.co...about-ms-future

[freemo]

Still not convinced it's escapism if your boss (or even worse, parent figure) is tagging along, but damn it if the sheer enthusiasm of Chicken Stu's original post isn't enough to get me on board.

 

I'm in, Chico. Let's make it happen.

[Agent 76]

If it makes sense for M to go outdoor and have a little bit of action I don't mind, and with an actor of the caliber of Ralph Fiennes it is an exciting prospect. But what I don't want is cheesy and lame scenes with M and Bond, keep it classy and respectful. 

[SecretAgentFan]

This is what Ralph Fiennes himself has heard. 

 

"The rumors are that I'm not stuck behind a desk, that I maybe do get out and maybe there's a little bit of action for M.  I hope so."

 

 

http://www.hitfix.co...about-ms-future

 

I feared so.

 

But let´s wait and see.

[tdalton]

 

This is what Ralph Fiennes himself has heard. 

 

"The rumors are that I'm not stuck behind a desk, that I maybe do get out and maybe there's a little bit of action for M.  I hope so."

 

 

http://www.hitfix.co...about-ms-future

 

I feared so.

 

But let´s wait and see.

 

 

Why don't they just turn the Bond franchise into a buddy-cop film series featuring Bond and M?  

[SecretAgentFan]

Don´t give them any ideas. 

[tdalton]

Don´t give them any ideas. 

 

I don't really think that's a new idea for them.  They've been moving the films in that direction ever since Tomorrow Never Dies.

[Agent 76]

Fiennes could be wrong though. the script isn't even finished, so who knows

[SecretAgentFan]

But ever since M was cast with a big name the role was expanded.  And surely, they would not have gotten Fiennes if he only had one or two scenes, instructing Bond on the mission.

 

I guess as long as EON is going the prestige route this will not change.  

 

I only hope that BOND 24 will not have M being attacked, kidnapped, responsible for a serious blunder or concerned about Bond going rogue.

[tdalton]

I only hope that BOND 24 will not have M being attacked, kidnapped, responsible for a serious blunder or concerned about Bond going rogue.

 

How would we recognize it as a Bond film without all of that.  

[RMc2]

I think it's possible to make M an integral part of the plot, especially if Quantum's involved.

 

A little suggestion:

M will be hobnobbing with the corrupted politicos while Bond officially investigates them. The obligatory M-in-the-field sequence could be a heist-type set-piece at a big party/conference with the baddies - M takes Bond as his 'bodyguard', which is really just a cover to give 007 physical access to the offices/vault where the MacGuffin is held. Cue tense 'Where's your bodyguard?' and 'The baddie's going to stumble across Bond stealing his stuff!' moments.

 

And if they really had to, there could be a subplot where Bond doubts M's trustworthiness because of the latter's aforesaid hobnobbing. Is M secretly one of them? Controlled by them? Deceiving them? Who knows? Who cares?

[SecretAgentFan]

But then "M" would be what the character was never meant to be: a colleague.  He is not a field agent, he is the commander in the office, the one who has to stay in the drawing room, thinking about strategies and politics.

 

He´s got his field agents to accomplish the missions.

 

 

Unfortunately, they have already stressed the fact that Fiennes-M has experience in the field.  He has even actively participated in the courtroom shootout.  And he has proven that he tolerated lying about Bond going rogue.  Three elements that probably hint at Fiennes-M being heavily involved in future missions, fighting side by side with Bond.

 

God, I miss those days of short and funny M scenes just for exposition sake...

Edited by SecretAgentFan, 07 March 2014 - 10:11 AM.

[RMc2]

But then "M" would be what the character was never meant to be: a colleague.  He is not a field agent, he is the commander in the office, the one who has to stay in the drawing room, thinking about strategies and politics.

 

He´s got his field agents to accomplish the missions.

 

 

Unfortunately, they have already stressed the fact that Fiennes-M has experience in the field.  He has even actively participated in the courtroom shootout.  And he has proven that he tolerated lying about Bond going rogue.  Three elements that probably hint at Fiennes-M being heavily involved in future missions, fighting side by side with Bond.

 

God, I miss those days of short and funny M scenes just for exposition sake...

 

Me too. I'm definitely in the 'M stays in the office' camp.

 

Also, Bernard Lee was so wonderful.

[S K Y F A L L]

It depends on the film I guess, how much involvement M should have. I want Bond 25 (Craig's last film) to end on a happy note with Bond getting the girl, so I'd be fine with a classic M and Q scene of then catching Bond on the 'job'. 

[Guy Haines]

It all depends on the script. If we have an "all-action, flash, bang wallop" movie in Bond 24, then the new M could go one of two ways - a virtual cameo after the theme tune, occasional one minute slots and a bit at the end, or as some here have suggested, M getting stuck into the action himself. (Don't forget that we learnt in SF that Gareth Mallory was a former Colonel in the "Hereford Regiment" - and I can think of only one regiment based at that English town, the SAS. He was held hostage by the IRA for three months and never cracked. When he said he was "unused to field work", I think he was being modest. None of that adds up to the new M being the re-incarnation of the crusty retired RN Admiral we all knew and loved.)

 

On the other hand, if the script allows the audience to "take a breath" from the action then Ralph Fiennes' M - and the other characters at MI6 - could develop in ways that don't necessarily mean cameos or as sidekicks for 007 in the field scenes.  As I say, it depends - SF wasn't all action. Neither, if you think about it, were the Bonds of the earlier years, although their action scenes were among the most memorable of the series. If there's a proper story involving plot, adventure, drama, action and humour, then I'll be surprised if the new M and his new team at MI6 don't have more than enough screen time.

[SecretAgentFan]

If they use "M" as someone navigating the political side behind Bond´s mission I could imagine more "M" scenes, turning the film into more of a political thriller - with the main action, of course, centering on Bond.

[Pushkin]

If they use "M" as someone navigating the political side behind Bond´s mission I could imagine more "M" scenes, turning the film into more of a political thriller - with the main action, of course, centering on Bond.

 

I like that idea a lot. M could uncover and put together key pieces of the puzzle without ever entering the field. Bond's role would be to get those last critical missing pieces, and make the out-in-the-field adjustments needed to complete the mission. Fiennes gets and opportunity to shine and Craig get's to be the full-fledged Bond on a mission.

Edited by Pushkin, 14 March 2014 - 05:49 PM.