New plot synopsis

"When Bond’s latest assignment goes gravely wrong and agents around the world are exposed, MI6 is attacked forcing M to relocate the agency. These events cause her authority and position to be challenged by Mallory (RALPH FIENNES), the new Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee. With MI6 now compromised from both inside and out, M is left with one ally she can trust: Bond. 007 takes to the shadows – aided only by field agent, Eve (NAOMIE HARRIS) – following a trail to the mysterious Silva (JAVIER BARDEM), whose lethal and hidden motives have yet to reveal themselves."

http://www.empirecinemas.co.uk/index.php?page=synopsis&filmid=3077

To be honest, that actually doesn't sound halfway bad. I actually like the attempt to tell a Bond story regarding MI6's place in the wider British intelligence/federal politics world, given that in 99% of the franchise the Secret Service sort've just operates with unlimited funding and no oversight apparently.

I like it too, mostly because it gives as a few new details without actually revealing anything.

The plot is rounding nicely into shape. Many of the still-shots we saw earlier in the year are now fitting nicely into the narrative.

Still the MP question remains? Anyone have any thoughts? Will we see a new MP at the end?I'm thinking that during the final return-of-old-office-and- return-to-conventional-M-scene, that we might become aware of her existence, maybe catch a glimpse of her, or hear her voice, but not so much reveal, that the producers can't cast the part fresh for next film.

tiffanywint wrote:

Still the MP question remains? Anyone have any thoughts? Will we see a new MP at the end? I'm thinking that during the final return-of-old-office-and- return-to-conventional-M-scene, that we might become aware of her existence, maybe catch a glimpse of her, or hear her voice, but not so much reveal, that the producers can't cast the part fresh for next film.

Honestly, if they're going to do that, then they might as well not include her at all.

Prisoner Monkeys wrote:

tiffanywint wrote:

Still the MP question remains? Anyone have any thoughts? Will we see a new MP at the end? I'm thinking that during the final return-of-old-office-and- return-to-conventional-M-scene, that we might become aware of her existence, maybe catch a glimpse of her, or hear her voice, but not so much reveal, that the producers can't cast the part fresh for next film.

Honestly, if they're going to do that, then they might as well not include her at all.

What do you think they are going to do? Maybe nothing with MP?

You're honestly acting as if the inclusion of this minor character is a huge deal worthy of mystery, suspense and cliffhanger as if she was head of SPECTRE or something

She's a bloody secretary who's character hasn't gotten any decent development or jokes since Connery left the franchise.

It was the chemistry between Connery and Maxwell that sold Moneypenny, and then after that she became a "tradition", wedged into the movies in increasingly aggravating manner.

tiffanywint wrote:

What do you think they are going to do? Maybe nothing with MP?

If I were doing it, I'd have SKYFALL end with Mallory taking control of MI6 and acting as M until a new person can be appointed to the position (this would allow Fiennes to continue in the role if he wants to, but creates an easy out if he doesn't). He cleans out MI6 before summoning Bond to his office. Bond wanders through the empty halls and past an unoccupied desk in the room adjacent to Mallory's office. This would make it pretty clear that Moneypenny is returning, but leaves everything open for a future film. SKYFALL would then end with the following exchange:

"Good evening, Double-Oh Seven." / "Good evening, sir."

Alternatively, maybe something to head off the inevitable trust issues between the two:

"My predecessor made a note in your file - that although you might be belligerent, unorthodox and stubborn to a fault, you can be trusted absolutely. I haven't made up my mind about her, but I'm willing to give her the benefit of doubt this time. Because I need someone who is belligerent, unorthodox and stubborn. England needs that person. She needs someone who can look at a situation and use his best judgement. Someone who is nodboy's foll. But most of all, England someone who will chase down the next great evil, rather than waiting for it to come to him and make it personal, because the existence of that evil means it is personal enough already. Are you that person, Double-Oh Seven?"

But I like the shorter version better.

Fairbairn-Sykes wrote:

It was the chemistry between Connery and Maxwell that sold Moneypenny, and then after that she became a "tradition", wedged into the movies in increasingly aggravating manner.

Sounds a lot like Dench's M. I think she worked quite well in GE and TND, but then the producers decided that she needed to be her own character. And I do get the need for that, even if they went about it the wrong way. If they'd gotten TWINE right, I don't think it would have been so much of a problem.

Prisoner Monkeys wrote:

SKYFALL would then end with the following exchange:

"Good evening, Double-Oh Seven." / "Good evening, sir."

Or how about:

"Good evening, Double-Oh Sheven."

Wouldn't that be a blast?!

Yesh.

But it would be a bit too on-the-nose for me. It would feel like a stunt, and since it would be the very end of the film, it woul ruin everything that went before it.

Prisoner Monkeys wrote:

Yesh.

But it would be a bit too on-the-nose for me. It would feel like a stunt, and since it would be the very end of the film, it woul ruin everything that went before it.

Is that what ruined Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves?

No, I mean it would ruin Bond because having Sean Connery make a cameo as the new M would jsut feel like fan-service. And the last time EON indulged in fan-service by calling out as many of the previous films as often as they could, it was a disaster.

Besides, Connery has said he's having too much fun in retirement to return to acting.

You can see why.

His granddaughter is pretty hot.

Sounds all right, though I would like to see another traditional film. One thing that bugs me is that shot in the trailer of YouTube. YouTube in Bond?

the youtube thing bugged me too. The Craig films seem way too grounded in OUR reality. I mean MR had the line about the CIA 'friends in low places,' but that was more of a joke than a real grounding reference, like 'beatles w/o earmuffs.' There was a NASA in the Connery films, but you didn't see Bond and M. watching the flight of Apollo 11 on TV.

I think this push started when Dench mentioned CNN in GE. That made me look at my then-gf like WTF? She didn't know much about Bond at that point (had only seen VIEW before we met, but I soon Daltonized her.)

I kind of think that the hollowed out volcano kind of thing just won't be permitted to happen in these next films because the producers think they'd have to justify it as something taking place in our real world. With that in mind, won't be any hungry supertankers coming round anytime soon.

The fans groveling for autographs from Sean are funny.They have to walk a delicate tightrope. It's probably the only time in their life they will get near enough to get an autograph, so they can't screw around, but too pushy and he's liable to have a meltdown and no-one gets anything.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

One thing that bugs me is that shot in the trailer of YouTube. YouTube in Bond?

I actually think it's quite clever, myself. Not only is it a very public way of embarrassing MI6, but if it went viral, it would force the service to use up valuable time and money chasing down and looking into each and every single person who viewed the video (even though the trailer only shows one viewing - M). A large part of Silva's plan seems to revolve around putting MI6 in a position where they are simply reacting to whatever happens, whenever it happens, without allowing them the time to regroup and focus on the larger problem.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

Sounds all right, though I would like to see another traditional film. One thing that bugs me is that shot in the trailer of YouTube. YouTube in Bond?

The real world intrudes. :shock: