462 replies to this topic

[Dustin]

Here I stand corrected. Though he did have a hip-length blouson style sports jacket without the collar; there should be a still of him shooting his Sauer gun inside the clinic in that. Another still from The Making of OHMSS by Charles Helfenstein shows him in a suit jacket without collar.

Still, no traditional costume as such, although the prominent buttons can be found on some Austrians/Bavarian styles.

[mattjoes]

I once said that the whole point of Blofeld is that he is the man who either killed or would kill Bond's wife. Without that, bringing him back - worse, updating him - makes no sense.

I don't think that is the sole distinguishing element to him. In the films, he is, at least in reputation, Bond's most formidable foe. The filmmakers now have a chance to avoid all the convenient deathtraps which allowed Bond to escape time and time again in the past, and turn Blofeld into the utlimate threat, and a villain appropriate for the present time. Redeem him, so to speak. The Nine Eyes plan in Spectre is a step in the right direction; leaving Bond to die in the crumbling MI6 building is not. But he'll be back, so there's time to steer the ship in the right direction.

 

Men still wear tuxedos, but no one wears Nehru jackets, unless they're dressing as Dr. Evil for Halloween. It's an outdated piece of clothing and only there to remind fans of Blofeld's campiest side. It's as if Craig's Bond decided to wear a safari suit because Roger Moore did.

In the films, the Nehru jacket is part of Blofeld's signature look, so I don't think it's fair to compare it to the safari suit. A more fitting comparison would be the Joker's purple suit. Admittedly, they didn't have to bring it back: it's been a long time, so they could've come up with a new look, and it was a risky move after the Austin Powers films. But ultimately, it's not a make or break deal; the character's behavior is. In fact, the opportunity to learn more about Blofeld's past can turn the jacket into an intriguing aspect of the character. Just now, I can picture Oberhauser faking his death, then traveling all over the globe, exploring different places and cultures --India among them, for example-- before settling down and creating Spectre. More on this could be revealed in the next film.

Edited by mattjoes, 21 November 2015 - 03:15 PM.

[Revelator]

In the films, the Nehru jacket is part of Blofeld's signature look, so I don't think it's fair to compare it to the safari suit. A more fitting comparison would be the Joker's purple suit. Admittedly, they didn't have to bring it back: it's been a long time, so they could've come up with a new look, and it was a risky move after the Austin Powers films. But ultimately, it's not a make or break deal; the character's behavior is. In fact, the opportunity to learn more about Blofeld's past can turn the jacket into an intriguing aspect of the character. Just now, I can picture Oberhauser faking his death, then traveling all over the globe, exploring different places and cultures --India among them, for example-- before settling down and creating Spectre. More on this could be revealed in the next film.

 

The Safari suit comparison is fair, because it and the Nehru jacket are completely outdated items of clothing--they signify nothing but a throwback to the past. The Joker's purple suit is ouytlandish, but he's a clownish, garish character and people still wear suits today. No one outside India wears a Nehru jacket, unless they're dressing as Dr. Evil for Halloween. True, the jacket isn't itself a make or break deal, but when grouped with the other throwbacks--the cat and YOLT scar--it shows a distressing lack of creativity. To skirt so close to Austin Powers when reimagining a major character is a terrible decision. The Nehru jacket isn't an integral part of Blofeld's character--in his first two film appearances he looked just as good in a suit and tie. What's integral about Blofeld is that he's corporate crime lord, a villain so professional he makes his colleagues look like amateurs. And a true professional would wear a suit just as sharp as Craig's.

[Dustin]

Personally I'm not at all against reimagining Blofeld as Bond's archenemy - a position the original only gained with the third novel. But I would have preferred it if they had kept closer to the idea of an intelligence mastermind as Fleming introduced him. There should have been plenty of possibilities for outfits like Blofeld ran them before Spectre to blindside SIS from the commercial angle; possibly even to offer 00 services on a bargain or to save SIS personnel where Bond failed to. They could have played a number of angles that didn't stray too far from the headlines and still have a ruthless and enigmatic villain, without forcing Oberhauser into the picture.

[mattjoes]

The Safari suit comparison is fair, because it and the Nehru jacket are completely outdated items of clothing--they signify nothing but a throwback to the past. The Joker's purple suit is ouytlandish, but he's a clownish, garish character and people still wear suits today. No one outside India wears a Nehru jacket, unless they're dressing as Dr. Evil for Halloween. True, the jacket isn't itself a make or break deal, but when grouped with the other throwbacks--the cat and YOLT scar--it shows a distressing lack of creativity. To skirt so close to Austin Powers when reimagining a major character is a terrible decision. The Nehru jacket isn't an integral part of Blofeld's character--in his first two film appearances he looked just as good in a suit and tie. What's integral about Blofeld is that he's corporate crime lord, a villain so professional he makes his colleagues look like amateurs. And a true professional would wear a suit just as sharp as Craig's.

The jacket is certainly a quirky clothing choice, but throwback intentions aside, I don't think it undermines Blofeld's character. Must he be taken less seriously because he dresses in a style most people outside of India don't? It's not like he's dressed in jeans and a t-shirt; he's dressed formally, only taking a page from another culture. I think your claim that the attire, coupled with the scar and the cat, reflects a lack of creativity (or perhaps a lack of initiative) is more significant.

Edited by mattjoes, 22 November 2015 - 11:36 PM.

[Revelator]

The jacket is certainly a quirky clothing choice, but throwback intentions aside, I don't think it undermines Blofeld's character. Must he be taken less seriously because he dresses in a style most people outside of India don't? It's not like he's dressed in jeans and a t-shirt; he's dressed formally, only taking a page from another culture. I think your claim that the attire, coupled with the scar and the cat, reflects a lack of creativity (or perhaps a lack of initiative) is more significant.

I think he would be taken less seriously, just as Craig's Bond would be more risible if he wore bell-bottoms like the ones Moore sported in The Spy Who Loved Me. The Nehru jacket isn't there to show Blofeld has an international dress sense (wearing loafers without socks suggests this Blofeld aspires to dress like a Western jerk)--it's part of a set of props designed to link this Blofeld with that of YOLT, despite their complete difference in personality.

[mattjoes]

I think he would be taken less seriously, just as Craig's Bond would be more risible if he wore bell-bottoms like the ones Moore sported in The Spy Who Loved Me.

Well, as far as I know, bell-bottomed suit pants are out of fashion everywhere, whereas Nehru jackets are still worn in India and its surrounding countries.

 

The Nehru jacket isn't there to show Blofeld has an international dress sense (wearing loafers without socks suggests this Blofeld aspires to dress like a Western jerk)--it's part of a set of props designed to link this Blofeld with that of YOLT, despite their complete difference in personality.

Sure, but we can discuss its plausibility, regardless of the fact the intent was to create a link to the older continuity.

 

As an aside, if Blofeld came back for one or two more films, I wouldn't be surprised if he wore the jacket less and less, now that it has served its primary function of reintroducing the character.

[FlemingBond]

funny thing is they've used similar jackets for other villains like Stromberg, kamal khan, and Elliot Carver, and Drax

[x007AceOfSpades]

I wasn't sure where to post this, so I figured this might be a safe bet.

 

Following the explosion of Blofeld's lair in Morocco, when Bond & Madeleine are leaving in the helicopter, off in the distance you see two SUV's leaving with what I'm assuming Blofeld (and hopefully kitty) and whatever men leaving(?). Noticed this on second watch and thought I'd share.

[Dustin]

I too noticed this. In fact I was wondering if the finale would follow right there.

[stamper]

Blofeld talked so much about the women of Bond dying, it's obvious in the next one, he will do more damage.

[thecasinoroyale]

I noticed Blofeld escaping too, but it also looks like Bond doesn't as his copter is facing the other way, and his little quote to M about "the recently deceased head of SPECTRE - Ernst Stavro Blofeld".

 

Must have been a disappointment seeing him alive again in MI6!

 

 

Also, a little cool factor I don't know if people saw, when the watch explodes under Blofeld and he flies off the chair, did you see the blood splatter on the white floor beside him? Very quick but looks very gruesome to imagine what his face must have looked like. 

[Surrie]

Have to say I did notice this blood splatter, nice little touch!