43 replies to this topic

[Trevelyan 006]

What's everybody's opinion on...

Spoiler

The scar and facial deformation of Christoph Waltz's Blofeld?

I for one, thought it looked great.

Spoiler

The filmed over eye, especially.

Though, I must admit, I didn't think we'd see it so quick in the film. I've heard quite a few people discount it as being too overdone, predictable, and cheesy at this point. I'm interested to see what others think.

[Dustin]

Just that, predictable and overdone. It wasn't necessary and adds not to Waltz' already sufficient air of the villain.

[Single-O-Seven]

I was surprised by it to say the least, and thought it looked great. Though I wouldn't have minded had they held off for another film.

[RMc2]

I also thought it looked great (fantastic use of CGI!) but, like most things in the film, they didn't really justify its inclusion beyond the superficial.

 

Spoiler

- "Let's show how Blofeld got the scar. He must have a scar because he's Blofeld!"

- "Alright, here's an idea, Sam: Bond gives him the scar, then Blofeld gets vengeful over it!"

- "Yes! But make sure we make it clear Blofeld's already got a lifelong vendetta against Bond, born of childhood jealousy."

- "Er, that'll undermine the scar thing."

- "Oh, okay. Let's not emphasise Blofeld's motive during the finale, then. But keep the scar."

Edited by RMc2, 06 November 2015 - 11:28 PM.

[Gobi-1]

I loved it.

Spoiler

I though it looked super creepy. Especially the milky eye.

[univex]

Spoiler

Yes, it did look great. Hope they bring him back without plastic surgery.

[Agent 76]

I think it looks cool and adds nuance to the character.

 

As this is Christoph Waltz we're talking about, the strongest part of this Blofeld it's the way he delivers his dialogue. Waltz is mesmerizing

[Shrublands]

I liked it a lot. And it sets Waltz as Blofeld apart from Waltz as any of the other villains he's played.

So it really needs to stay as far as I'm concerned.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Re: The Scar; I loved it. Although Telly Savalas is my my favorite Blofeld I like that they deformed Waltz to look like YOLT Blofeld. I can't wait to see the next film with Blofeld having escaped…etc. There's so much to develop with the new Blofeld so people gotta stop whining and give this new incarnation time to develop his own arch. Spectre is not a one off event. My guess is Bond will marry Madeline and she will die ah la Tracy!  and Bond will have a new reason to get his license renewed. 

[TheREAL008]

Very cool, very sinister. Even with the milky eye effect 

[Pushkin]

Re: My guess is Bond will marry Madeline and she will die ah la Tracy!  and Bond will have a new reason to get his license renewed. 

 

It's funny, I was expecting her to get shot through a windshield at the very end of the film. As we were approaching the end I almost leaned over to my wife to say "we have all the time in the world".

[Dustin]

Poll added.

[SecretAgentFan]

Am divided on this - on the one hand, it was a nice nod to Pleasance´s Blofeld and good to see that he did not escape unscarred after that huge explosion.  It also adds to the way Bloferhauser thinks Bond has ruined his life.

 

On the other hand - I don´t know whether I want to see Bloferhauser run around with that scar through BOND 25.  I guess Waltz doesn´t want to do that either.  So... cosmetic operation?

 

Maybe it´s a bit of "too much too early" when I would have preferred a slower build up of Blofeld, actually having Waltz only do an Oberhauser and the real Blofeld appear at the end.

 

But that´s where my expectations and hopes are interfering with the actual film again.

[Hockey Mask]

Guessing will be lucky to have waltz back for one movie much less any more after. Needs the wound now so we can get the scar next.

[Guy Haines]

When we first saw photos of Christoph Waltz in London with that CGI stuff on his face my first thought was "facial deformity on the villain - just like in YOLT?" I suppose that, just like the scene in CR when Bond win's his Aston Martin DB5, we're supposed to think "so that's how he got the facial!" ;-)

That said, it was a nice touch, if not perhaps for the baddie! But, whilst I would welcome a return of Waltz as Blofeld, and it would make sense in terms of continuity in Bond 25, the deformity also gives the producers a get out in case Waltz isn't available and Blofeld has to be re-cast - plastic surgery. After all,did Telly Savalas have a scar down his face in OHMSS. No. And did Blofeld in the novel Thunderball look anything like the one in the book OHMSS - save for his eyes? No again.

As I said, a nice nostalgic nod - and perhaps a crafty get out clause when it comes to Bond 25 casting.

[Dustin]

I was wondering if I should go for 'okayish' in this poll. But I really think Waltz' strongest acting in the villainy department comes from his charming manner in which he delivers even the most horrific lines, very 'pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name'-like. Waltz doesn't need any deformity to open Hell's gates, to let you glympse into the abyss - he is the abyss, smiling back at you amicably.

It's one of many visual nods to the past in SPECTRE, often quite nice ones like the image of MOONRAKER's mission control picked up and upcycled for the Internet age. But to temper with Waltz' image didn't achieve anything in my book.

Still 'No, thanks' for me.

[tonyvenhuizen]

Is there a picture online anywhere?  I saw the movie but wanted to refresh my memory.  Cannot find any pictures of Waltz from the latter part of the movie.

[Trevelyan 006]

Is there a picture online anywhere?  I saw the movie but wanted to refresh my memory.  Cannot find any pictures of Waltz from the latter part of the movie.

Ha! Not at all. I wanted a new phone background, but no dice.

 

I was wondering if I should go for 'okayish' in this poll. But I really think Waltz' strongest acting in the villainy department comes from his charming manner in which he delivers even the most horrific lines, very 'pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name'-like. Waltz doesn't need any deformity to open Hell's gates, to let you glympse into the abyss - he is the abyss, smiling back at you amicably.

It's one of many visual nods to the past in SPECTRE, often quite nice ones like the image of MOONRAKER's mission control picked up and upcycled for the Internet age. But to temper with Waltz' image didn't achieve anything in my book.

Still 'No, thanks' for me.

Well said. I'm with you halfway here, Dustin. I wholeheartedly admit that going into the film, Waltz's performance excited me far more that who his character would actually turn out to be or what the plot was that surrounded him. His delivery is impeccable and in no way does he allow the CGI to distract from his performance. With that said, I'm a sucker for nostalgia, so I am a fan of the look. And Waltz pulls it off quite convincingly.

 

By no means do I think Waltz needed it. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance far before his character's looks take a turn for the worse.

[deth]

The scar is rather pointless if this is the only film he appears in.

[Dustin]

The scar is rather pointless if this is the only film he appears in.

I would say, for all that has been made of this film; the 'return' of the 'archenemy'; the casting decisions - purposely using an actor whose recent work includes reinventing the archenemy of another iconic character - the Oberhauser setup; the brilliant Waltz; the reinvention of Spectre; for all of this boo hay Blofeld has been barely scratched on the surface. If this really should have been 'it' then they wasted the opportunity.

No, Blofeld must return.

[deth]

 

The scar is rather pointless if this is the only film he appears in.

I would say, for all that has been made of this film; the 'return' of the 'archenemy'; the casting decisions - purposely using an actor whose recent work includes reinventing the archenemy of another iconic character - the Oberhauser setup; the brilliant Waltz; the reinvention of Spectre; for all of this boo hay Blofeld has been barely scratched on the surface. If this really should have been 'it' then they wasted the opportunity.

No, Blofeld must return.

 

 

Quite. To me this film feels like a setup for the next ones (which is also why I don't think Bond retired).

[Pushkin]

 

 

The scar is rather pointless if this is the only film he appears in.

I would say, for all that has been made of this film; the 'return' of the 'archenemy'; the casting decisions - purposely using an actor whose recent work includes reinventing the archenemy of another iconic character - the Oberhauser setup; the brilliant Waltz; the reinvention of Spectre; for all of this boo hay Blofeld has been barely scratched on the surface. If this really should have been 'it' then they wasted the opportunity.

No, Blofeld must return.

 

 

Quite. To me this film feels like a setup for the next ones (which is also why I don't think Bond retired).

 

 

Unless of course Tracy, I mean Madeleine, is shot through the window of a car as they go off to start a life together. I was really expecting it at the very end of the movie and won't be shocked if we see it at the start of the next one. My only hope being that both Waltz and Seydoux return if they go that route. I certainly hope the producers signed both of them with an option for a second film. The film certainly wraps things up if they do not return to this story line, but it also leaves the door open enough if they want to continue the storyline. It does not even have to be an elaborate escape - just that one of C's men took Blofeld into custody and then set him free. Things are certainly set up for a wheel chair to make an appearance. 

[Trevelyan 006]

 

 

 

The scar is rather pointless if this is the only film he appears in.

I would say, for all that has been made of this film; the 'return' of the 'archenemy'; the casting decisions - purposely using an actor whose recent work includes reinventing the archenemy of another iconic character - the Oberhauser setup; the brilliant Waltz; the reinvention of Spectre; for all of this boo hay Blofeld has been barely scratched on the surface. If this really should have been 'it' then they wasted the opportunity.

No, Blofeld must return.

 

 

Quite. To me this film feels like a setup for the next ones (which is also why I don't think Bond retired).

 

 

Unless of course Tracy, I mean Madeleine, is shot through the window of a car as they go off to start a life together. I was really expecting it at the very end of the movie and won't be shocked if we see it at the start of the next one. My only hope being that both Waltz and Seydoux return if they go that route. I certainly hope the producers signed both of them with an option for a second film. The film certainly wraps things up if they do not return to this story line, but it also leaves the door open enough if they want to continue the storyline. It does not even have to be an elaborate escape - just that one of C's men took Blofeld into custody and then set him free. Things are certainly set up for a wheel chair to make an appearance. 

 

We were on similar wave-lengths here, Pushkin. I thought the same of the ending of this film and the possible beginning of the next one.

 

As far as Blofeld escaping is concerned, perhaps it'd be all too easy. What, with MI=6 still setting up shop and finding some permanent digs with well-equipped holding cells. After all, the underground facility has seemed to be disused as of the events of SPECTRE and White Hall has only been shown as an office building, more or less. Besides, with how many crooked agents pop up here and there, you'd think they grew on trees. It's no wonder M became so fond of 007... He's one of the only one's who has stayed completely loyal!

 

I'd like to see something similar to the PTS of License to Kill happen. Sparing details, as Blofeld is being transported, the armored truck plunges into a body of water and he makes a narrow escape underwater with help from his organization.

[S K Y F A L L]

I liked it. I totally saw it coming somewhat. I thought they were going to burn off his hair off. Happened so fast.

[Ernst Stavro BIofeld]

I dug the scar and milky eye effect, but at the same time, I would have been completely fine without the damage to his face. As others have said, it gave Blofeld a memorable sinister appearance to go along with his actions/personality. Which leaves a lasting impression. As such was the case with Donald Pleasence in YOLT.

[thecasinoroyale]

Like you can't have the Joker without his green hair, you can't have one without the other either here.

 

Loved it, especially the 90% practical effect of it all. Just what we need from a villain - to have something defining.

 

Le Chiffre touched upon it, Silva teased it, but now we've got it and need to keep it with Waltz.

[Professor Pi]

 

 

 

Unless of course Tracy, I mean Madeleine, is shot through the window of a car as they go off to start a life together. I was really expecting it at the very end of the movie and won't be shocked if we see it at the start of the next one.

 

The tone of the movie seemed too light for that to happen.

 

 

I liked it. I totally saw it coming somewhat. I thought they were going to burn off his hair off. Happened so fast.

 

and with the leg injury, can a wheelchair be far behind? 

[Vauxhall]

Not cutting edge, but I liked it.

[Navy007Fan]

I've been thinking about this since Friday, and I can think of a two word reason for the scar (besides looking menacing):  plastic surgery.  The tried but true trope to allow for a different actor to portray Blofeld if Mr. Waltz is not available.

[Vauxhall]

I've been thinking about this since Friday, and I can think of a two word reason for the scar (besides looking menacing): plastic surgery. The tried but true trope to allow for a different actor to portray Blofeld if Mr. Waltz is not available.

I really hope not. That would be the most backward move for years.