SKYFALL Video Blogs

Nah, it doesn't confirm anything. Just because she's wearing some business attire, it doesn't mean she's Moneypenny. Field agents don't always wear casual clothes because they're field agents. She's probably just getting briefed by M or Fiennes' character.

Well, let's hope.

And some awesome shots in that, such as Bond passing Eve at the casino.

FieldsMan wrote:

Nah, it doesn't confirm anything. Just because she's wearing some business attire, it doesn't mean she's Moneypenny.

Yeah, just because she's wearing cloths similar to Maxwell's Moneypenny, in a room almost identical to her pre-87 office (which we already know from Denis Gassner's video blog) - it doesn't mean anything.

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She's probably just getting briefed by M or Fiennes' character.

If that were to happen, it would be earlier in the film when MI6 has relocated to the underground bunker. In those scenes she's wearing a white top and teal dress.

It doesn't automatically make her Moneypenny.

In the wake of the Istanbul operation, Bond is missing and presumed dead MI6 lost its active case roster to enemies unknown, and M has had her judgement called into question. There's bound to be fallout, and as the lowly field agent that pulled the trigger and shot Bond - thereby allowing Patrice to escape with the roster - Eve is likely to be the first one offered up as a sacraficial lamb. At the very least, she would be put on a desk job until the situation was resolved.

She's Moneypenny. Case closed.

So let me get this straight: the character goes from gun-toting field agent to filing clerk/admin assistant/secretary/whatever you want to call it. From ammo clips to paperclips. Essentially, she's going from being Jinx in DIE ANOTHER DAY to being (probably something like Samantha Bond's) Moneypenny?

This seems---- well, I'm trying to think of a better word than "laughable". Unless, in future, Moneypenny won't just be a deskbound office wallah but will also keep cropping up in the field to give Bond some backup in a firefight, like a more violent Felix Leiter.

I can just picture M giving her her tasks for the week: "Right, on Monday morning there's some letters for you to type, and on Tuesday you can start sorting out the old cabinet on the third floor that's full of old CVs from former Double-Os. Duties as normal for the resk of the week, but bring some running shoes and your passport in on Thursday because the way things are looking you might be needed to help storm a terrorist safe house."

As far as I know, Eve is a field agent to begin with but chooses/is demoted to office work because she finds that she's unable to 'cut it' in the field. Doesn't sound THAT daft to me.

I still think concealing her true identity was pointless. Every Bond fan suspected from the very first rumor of her being cast that she would be Moneypenny and so many blogs and websites proclaimed it as such, so there's not gonna be much of a surprise if that's what EON intended.

Python wrote:

I still think concealing her true identity was pointless. Every Bond fan suspected from the very first rumor of her being cast that she would be Moneypenny and so many blogs and websites proclaimed it as such, so there's not gonna be much of a surprise if that's what EON intended.

I'm just not feeling Naomie Harris at all. She's an attractive woman, but so far I haven't gotten the sense that she's leading lady/Bond-Girl material. She has a natural, down-to-earth, girl-next-door quality that would serve her well if she were playing Moneypenny as we know her right from the start, but if EON is attempting to be coy about her transition to "Moneypenny" by first having her be the lead Bond Girl, it's a gambit I think won't work and was a waste of time. The lead Bond Girl should be willingly be in 007's arms at the end of the movie, being romanced and seduced by him for a job well done at saving the world. They should be embracing, kissing, etc...and accidentally being spied on by Q or M or a webcam that is broadcasting their exploits to all of the Internet; the film shouldn't end with a Bond Girl wanting to be demoted to supporting character, or a Bond Girl killing herself or a Bond Girl telling Bond he's damaged goods and that she could never fall for him because he is trapped inside a prison in his own mind.

I also don't like her curly, kinky-hair. It reminds me of Sideshow Bob. Not a good look. The make-up department doesn't know how to properly clothe and put together a black woman. Halle Berry wasn't at her best in DAD, but was showcased much better in SWORDFISH. And I'm still not clear why Moneypenny needed to be made black when we already have a black Felix Leiter. What's next? A black Bond?

Loomis wrote:

So let me get this straight: the character goes from gun-toting field agent to filing clerk/admin assistant/secretary/whatever you want to call it. From ammo clips to paperclips. Essentially, she's going from being Jinx in DIE ANOTHER DAY to being (probably something like Samantha Bond's) Moneypenny?

This seems---- well, I'm trying to think of a better word than "laughable".

Yep.

Also - and I apologise in advance, for this is a very fanboyish gripe - I can't understand why, if Fiennes will be the new M, his character isn't called Miles Messervy. Instead, he rejoices in the name Gareth Mallory. Thanks, Eon. Was it too much trouble to figure out a way of preventing the character's name being leaked and so they decided not to use the Messervy monicker at all? I mean, it's great for us fanboys to see such a perfect opportunity to bring back an iconic Fleming character (and played by the ideal actor) being completely ignored. And in a way the similar-sounding surname (Mallory instead of Messervy) seems to rub salt in the wound.

Are we sure Mallory is going to wind up on the side of the angels? Looking at some stills, it sure seems to me that some of the Bond shooting toward screen left stuff (when there is a bullet hole in the wall next to him) looks like it matches to the Mallory hiding/shooting stuff in the other direction.

Yeah, I'm not sure what the deal with Mallory is. To me, he has the looks of a scummy bad guy, based on some of the photos we've seen. At first, I thought he may be the head of MI5 and was competing with M/Bond/MI6 to get Silva first. But I guess that's not the case, based on some of the newer information. Still, I think there's more than meets the eye with Mallory. It wouldn't shock me either way if he ended up as the new M, or if he turns out of be a baddie.

It's a little surprising that they decided to include the Moneypenny stuff in the video blog. I was watching it on Yahoo yesterday and did a double-take when I saw it. I guess this pretty much seals the deal on Eve/Moneypenny thing. By the way, I don't think Eve being demoted (voluntarily or involuntarily) to internal MI6 service is that far-fetched, honestly. It all depends on the context of how it's presented, of course.

dr. strangelove wrote:

By the way, I don't think Eve being demoted (voluntarily or involuntarily) to internal MI6 service is that far-fetched, honestly. It all depends on the context of how it's presented, of course.

I agree. But a logical counter-argument exists that wonders why an actress would take a leading role in a film series knowing that the role was going to be become a small supporting role later on in subsequent films. However, I think there's an argument to be made that the Moneypenny role could be "job security" (at least for a few films) and provide a nice, albeit small, paycheck in between other film work. I'm keeping an open mind about Moneypenny, but my first instinct is to suggest that she should have just been introduced in the traditional way (you have to admit that the introduction of Penelope Smallbone was rather clever) without all the need for small-arms fire and hand-to-hand combat. Heck, Harris could be Evelyn Smallbone for all we know.

I really can't imagine Eve, who's described as a feminime Bond, as Moneypenny.

You all think the new Moneypenny will end up being the same desk type as the old one. You're all wrong.

trevanian wrote:

Are we sure Mallory is going to wind up on the side of the angels? Looking at some stills, it sure seems to me that some of the Bond shooting toward screen left stuff (when there is a bullet hole in the wall next to him) looks like it matches to the Mallory hiding/shooting stuff in the other direction.

We've also seen shots of Bardem in police uniform in similar surrounds. My guess is that he's going after M while she is in the company of Mallory while Bond intervenes.

Stamper wrote:

You all think the new Moneypenny will end up being the same desk type as the old one. You're all wrong.

No I think we are kinda resigned to what you are suggesting.

Where there is smoke there is usually fire. The Eve as MP :afro: speculation surfaced very early and there were no meaningful denials. I declared it a done deal way back. All my nu-Bond and Babs instincts said it was true. Then I waffled. I should have stuck to my guns, as it all fit perfectly. Field agent re-assigned to highly sensitive desk-agent job.

As Stamper points out, nu-MP is not the same as old MP. This is nu-Bond. For better or worse, the slate has been wiped. All is possible with nu-Bond. I'm not necessarily complaining but acknowledging nu-Bond reality. SF is setting up the new Bond Mi6 dynamic. Nu-M who at least does seem a lot like original M, at least at first glance. Nu-MP and new younger Q, who will maybe grow in the role and wind up as old looking as Desmond, 17 films later.

The gang's all here!!!

Stamper wrote:

You all think the new Moneypenny will end up being the same desk type as the old one. You're all wrong.

You mean that, just like Q, Moneypenny will be a field operative agent?

The new Q does not appear to be a field agent. He's got more of an operational support role - when Bond is in the field, Q offers backup from London.

I suppose that there are plenty of plausible explanations for Eve being Moneypenny. For instance, Mallory may leave MI6 satisifed that things are being run above-board, but recruits Eve as his eyes and ears inside the MI6 offices so that knows exactly what is happening and when. Or Eve stumbles upon information that she should not know, and so is given a new name and gets appointed as M's secretary to keep her (and the information) safe.

What if iEve is the new M?

I think Fiennes will be introduced as the new M. Old M will go out in a blaze of glory, whilst of course redeeming herself. Eve will be introduced as new MP. She will have some sort of epiphany and realize that she is better suited to highly classified admin work, after her adventures in the field. Eve's MP might pop up in the field here and there with Bond in future adventures, but probably nothing too strenuous. Nu-MP simply comes with more options than old MP.

Both the Bond/M and Bond/MP backstories will be developed in SF and off we go. Except this time, Bond has a little history with both M and MP. Q is just Q. A younger version of the familiar character, but again like the other two, we get a Bond/Q backstroy to fall back on, unlike the original 20 film narrative.

This time around we are shown how all the key Mi6 support characters are introduced into Bond's world. When P&W originally conceived this story,I'm sure they were in awe of their own brilliance. No wonder there was so much initial babble from the Eon powers (Craig and company) about what a great story they had for B23. I'm sure all concerned were intrigued at the prospect of laying down the foundation for the next 50 years of Bond. :shock: Heady stuff indeed. 1962 all over again.

What I am not sure of is whether Bond has a sexcapade with Eve. It certainly seems that he might, based on what we've seen. I'm not sure I like this though. Part of the charm of the original Bond/MP relationship, was that they flirted like crazy but never crossed the line. Mainly because Bond was just too busy and had so many others to fit onto his dance card. Or maybe he just wasn't really that interested and was happy to flirt. Either way it was understood, they would never do it and that they had no history.

Not that this is terribly relevant to the new film, but there is literary precedent for Bond/MP bedding down. Bond and MP have a full blown affair in the MP Diaries, but I put this down to the chick-lit factor. Samantha Weinberg couldn't resist fulfilling MP's unrequited desire for Bond. Women. Weinberg also put MP in the field. She and Bond shared some action in Castro's Cuba, but again MP Diaries, though engaging Bond fiction, was also a chick-lit flight of fancy, IMO.