Unlike certain other franchises and filmmakers (mostly just making sure to get in my daily complaints about JJ Abrams), the references and fan service in NTTD don’t feel embarrassing and designed to remind a very specific group that they are the masters of the universe. They feel like true treats for the fans. For example, we get the V8 Vantage to replace the (again) destroyed DB5, but we don’t get Sean Connery receiving a medal that he was not given 40 years earlier in a meaningless scene.
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agree on Kleinman slipping a bit - I think the issue is instead of a clear theme or image that evokes the ideas of the film - from skyfall onwards hes been involving characters and plot of the film and including bits and pieces that represent “moments” - No Time To Die for example has the Dr No dots, ice, heart arrows, clockwork/gears, hourglass, PPK DNA, flowers projected on nudes, porcelain/masks - its a bit of everything from the film rather than a coherent work in itself, compared to Casino where the playing cards imagery formed the basis for the whole sequence
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I don’t understand the animosity towards fan service.
As a fan I enjoy and even expect the creative side to acknowledge me and to give me a little bit of what I want.
Giving Chewbacca finally a medal was very meaningful for me. I think Abrams did a great job with both his films, delivering these films under huge pressure and with a target on his back before he even thought of writing one word of the scripts. Yes, I also loved Rian Johnson‘s approach - but clearly the box office results were interpreted as a necessity to reign in some of his ideas.
Regarding NTTD, it has enraged parts of the fandom the way the Star Wars sequels did - but who really cares? The majority has embraced both.
I liken TROS to NSNA, in that it knows exactly how cynical it is. The film exists to as a middle finger to TLJ in the same way that NSNA is nothing but a petty shot at the EON films. The fan service that exists within TROS plays further into that. Ham fisting in Lando and Palpatine for no reason is just like bringing back Sean Connery as direct competition to Roger Moore.
I think you are completely wrong and influenced by a very loud but small social media crowd.
But I respect, of course, that you did not like these movies.
I disagree and I don’t take my opinions from social media (I don’t even use social media). I respect that my views differ from yours and that you may even like these films. Your opinions are completely valid as are mine. I did not like TROS or what it was trying to do. I do not, at all, mind that you like it.
I still can’t believe that you can now watch CR knowing that by NTTD the entire cast (as listed in the opening credits) is dead, with the (presumed) exception of Villiers. Technically you don’t see Valenka get it but we know she’s in the room where you hear Mr. White’s shots…
A short life expectancy, indeed.
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Mr Mendel survived…the banker will always win…
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As I said, I’m only referring to cast listed in the opening credits…
Villiers is the GOAT
I like to think that “Mitchell” from the beginning of QoS was really Villiers. This adds more weight to his betrayal, explains Villiers’ absence post-CR, and necessitates the addition of Tanner in essentially the same role. Would’ve been a nice bit of continuity and should’ve been the obvious move (even with a change of actor).
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It’s gotta be said, hindsight being 20/20 ain’t what it used to be.
Oh man what a great idea.
Not sure where to put this, but today I learnt by chance about Russian Special Forces officer Alexander Prokhorenko, who had the most Bondian fate possible without knowing it: in 2016, in Syria, surrounded by ISIS and in a hopeless situation, he ordered an airstrike on his own position, killing the ISIS troops together with himself.
Lt. Prokhorenko was 25, married and expecting his first child when he died.
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James Bond would be proud. RIP, Mr. Prokhorenko.
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Damn, that gentleman was young. Did his mother know he was Spetznaz?
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Many haven’t got the time to tell anybody.
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Sorry, Dustin. My line about his mom was not meant to be taken literally. It’s a joke I tell people who look, to my old eyes, too young to hold the job they have. I use it mostly on the baby-faced USN junior officers I work with.
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It’s brutally realistic. Just like how members of the mob, drug dealers and the like are eventually murdered or jailed, only to be replaced by others who repeat the cycle.
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