Minor Question: Is Blofeld Dead In Bond?

AerospaceFan · Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:03 am

Hey, anyone a James Bond expert?

If so, is Blofeld really dead as of the last movie featuring / mentioning him, or was it just one of his clones who croaked?

Also, what the heck happened to S.P.E.C.T.R.E.?

Also, feel free to discuss any other Bond-related stuff here, including whether the latest Bond appeals to you, or whether you are looking forward to the next Bond, etc. Or the soon-to-be-remade Casino Royale (the first one being a parody).

AeroWesty · Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:28 am

Blofeld and SPECTRE are supposedly still very much alive, just not appearing in a film near you due to copyright issues.

AerospaceFan · Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:31 am

Quoting AeroWesty (Reply 1):
Blofeld and SPECTRE are supposedly still very much alive, just not appearing in a film near you due to copyright issues.

Most cool.

And it appears that, yet again, the Copyright Office proves its power over even the likes of Bond.

Wink

AeroWesty · Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:37 am

Quoting AerospaceFan (Reply 2):
the Copyright Office proves its power over even the likes of Bond.

It's more that one person owns Blofeld, and MGM owns Bond, and never the twain shall meet again, it's said.

AerospaceFan · Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:38 am

I'm guessing that Broccoli doesn't own Blofeld.

By the way, the history behind the evolution and divergence of property rights pertaining to Fleming's work must be rather intriguing.

HOMER71 · Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:54 am

Kevin McClory, who produced Thunderball own the rights to Blofeld and SPECTRE. He went on to produce a non-official Bond Never Say Never Again in 1983, bringing back Connery one more time. The movie is essentially a remake of Thunderball, but Kim Basinger and Barbara Carrera made it bearable.

In For Your Eyes Only (1981), Bond disposing of "Blofeld" is a jab at McClory by Broccoli.

I'm looking forward to Casino Royale - it's supposed to be faithful to the novel (with 21st century updates) and more gritty, with no CGI that marred the last couple with Brosnan. They said they will have the infamous torture scene, I wonder how that will play that out and keep the PG-13 rating...

AerospaceFan · Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:59 am

^^Very detailed -- thank you for that response.

I'm interested in your comments about Casino Royale -- particularly about the infamy of the torture scene. I didn't know about that.

We'll see what Hollywood does with it, I guess. Smile

airwave · Sat Apr 29, 2006 8:07 am

Quoting AeroWesty (Reply 1):

Actually, a "Blofeld-esque" character was done in by Bond in the pre-titles sequence of (I think) "For Your Eyes Only". Although you never saw the face to properly confirm that it was indeed Blofeld (due to the aforementioned copyright issues), the dress, mannerisms, &c of the character conform to the Blofeld image, so it's safe to say that it is, indeed, Blofeld. Also, S.P.E.C.T.R.E. (and Blofeld) was being used less and less as the movie franchise evolved; it was for all intents and purposes defeated in "You Only Live Twice" (a personal favorite for the appearance of Little Nellie Big grin

). After that, I think we only heard a mention or two of either S.P.E.C.T.R.E. or Blofeld in one or two subsequent films. If you look at the progression of the franchise, there were four or five films in between the lass mention of the above and the "FYEO" title sequence.

So, even before (or perhaps as) the whole copyright issue came to a head, the franchise was clearly moving away from this supervillian and his merry band of criminal masterminds. Thus, Bond dropping Blofeld down the stack is a bit of an overhanded jab at the Blofeld copyright holders saying, in effect, "We don't need you or your supervillian."

Quoting AerospaceFan (Reply 4):
By the way, the history behind the evolution and divergence of property rights pertaining to Fleming's work must be rather intriguing.

Yup, a lot of it is all over the place; though I do believe concerted efforts have been made to bring a good portion of it under one roof--don't know how successful that's been, though, lol.

Hope that helps.

Airwave eyebrow

DeltaRules · Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:43 am

I read the novel recently for a school paper & thought it was really good, so I'm looking forward to seeing the movie. I just hope it's not as corny as Die Another Day turned out to be.

Quoting Homer71 (Reply 5):
I'm looking forward to Casino Royale - it's supposed to be faithful to the novel (with 21st century updates) and more gritty, with no CGI that marred the last couple with Brosnan.

Is there any truth to the story that the card game that Bond & Le Chiffre play in the movie is going to be Texas Hold 'Em Poker, and not Baccarat as was in the novel? I hope it's not true.

DeltaRules

HOMER71 · Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:19 am

Quoting AerospaceFan (Reply 6):
I'm interested in your comments about Casino Royale -- particularly about the infamy of the torture scene. I didn't know about that.

I don't want to spoil it, but it will make men cross their legs and wince... Wink

Quoting DeltaRules (Reply 8):
Is there any truth to the story that the card game that Bond & Le Chiffre play in the movie is going to be Texas Hold 'Em Poker, and not Baccarat as was in the novel? I hope it's not true.

Unfortunately, it is reported to be true, but it's all about marketing: Texas Hold 'Em is still popular, and it's a way to attract non-Bond fans...

HOMER71 · Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:37 am

Some pics from Casino Royale, courtesy of Sony via JoBlo.com:

Daniel Craig as Bond

Daniel Craig with Judi Dench (as M)

Daniel Craig with Eva Green (left, as Vesper Lynd) and Caterina Murino (as Solange)

[Edited 2006-04-29 04:52:18]

airwave · Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:37 am

Quoting Homer71 (Reply 9):
Unfortunately, it is reported to be true, but it's all about marketing: Texas Hold 'Em is still popular, and it's a way to attract non-Bond fans...

And turn off current Bond fans. It's a zero sum game. If that's the case, though, I guess we can expect him to be driving a gas-conscious hybrid and start ordering vodka and Red Bull... Yeah sure

Really though, would Bond play Texas Hold 'Em over Chemin de Fer?! I think not, lol.

Airwave eyebrow

L-188 · Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:40 am

Hasn't he died about three times already.

For the record, allow me to say that Auric Goldfinger was a better villian then the many faced Blofeld.

airwave · Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:54 am

Quoting L-188 (Reply 12):
Auric Goldfinger was a better villian

Compared to Blofeld, yes, definitely. But otherwise, ehhh, he was ok. I think two better Bond villians are Francesco Scaramanga ("The Man With the Golden Gun") and Alec Trevelyan. Those are two guys I wouldn't want to sit next to on a flight across the Atlantic ("So...what do you do for a living?").

Airwave eyebrow

L-188 · Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:59 am

Quoting Airwave (Reply 13):
I think two better Bond villians are Francesco Scaramanga ("The Man With the Golden Gun")

Little too freindly to be a really scary villian besides he was a simple blackmailer....the little guy from "Fantasy Island" was scarrier.

Quoting Airwave (Reply 13):
Alec Trevelyan.

Definately the best villian from the Peirce Brosnan era (He still should be doing it IMHO)

I have to give credit to Wayne Newton in his villianous sidekick role in "License to Kill"

HOMER71 · Sat Apr 29, 2006 12:00 pm

Christopher Walken made a nice comical villain in an otherwise dreadful A View to a Kill: After disposing a businessman (who wanted out of a deal) from his blimp at FL300, he asked the other corporate-types, "So, does anyone else want to drop out?"

copaair737 · Sat Apr 29, 2006 12:05 pm

Damn, Daniel Craig doesn't look a thing like Bond usually does, and should look. He has blonde hair. Screwing with the tradition IMO. I still will go watch it, because I really enjoy Bond movies, but that just doesn't look right. My favorite Bond Villain was Baron Samedi, and Tee Hee, from "Live and Let Die". Goldfinger was a good one too though...first Bond movie I ever saw. I wonder how they are going to spin it with the Blonde Bond though.

-Copa

airwave · Sat Apr 29, 2006 12:08 pm

Quoting L-188 (Reply 14):
Little too freindly to be a really scary villian besides he was a simple blackmailer

I think his friendliness was always part of his image of himself--he believed he was a gentleman and (over)acted the part. He was the kind of the person who could look at you and smile as he shot you. He was as antitheitcal to Bond as any villian yet--even Trevelyan. He was not at all bothered by extorting and killing; Bond at least had issues with the lives he took.

Quoting L-188 (Reply 14):
the little guy from "Fantasy Island" was scarrier.

Who? Knick-Knack? Yeah, he was a mean lil'...er...little person...

Quoting L-188 (Reply 14):
Definately the best villian from the Peirce Brosnan era (He still should be doing it IMHO)

and

Quoting L-188 (Reply 14):
I have to give credit to Wayne Newton in his villianous sidekick role in "License to Kill"

Haha--best Bond cameo ever. "Bless you child." Classic.

Airwave eyebrow

L-188 · Sat Apr 29, 2006 12:13 pm

Quoting Airwave (Reply 17):
I think his friendliness was always part of his image of himself--he believed he was a gentleman and (over)acted the part.

Don't disagree with that, but for some reason he just never seemed that convincing during the personality switches.

Quoting Homer71 (Reply 15):
Christopher Walken made a nice comical villain in an otherwise dreadful A View to a Kill:

I didn't think that was that bad of a Bond flick....never have been able to spot Maude Adams in it though. At least the idea of the villian wanting to destroy the chip industry and rigging horse races was plausable.

Now Moonraker....that sucked....For god's sake they married "Jaws" off.

airwave · Sat Apr 29, 2006 12:13 pm

Quoting Homer71 (Reply 15):
Christopher Walken made a nice comical villain in an otherwise dreadful A View to a Kill: After disposing a businessman (who wanted out of a deal) from his blimp at FL300, he asked the other corporate-types, "So, does anyone else want to drop out?"

Yeah, he was a "fun" villian. I like Walken a lot as a character-acter (and music video dancer, haha) and Zoren probably contributed to more of my stereotyped visions of who Walken is than anything, lol.

Minor complaint: The title line in that movie is total crap:
Mayday: "Wow! What a view!"
Zoren: "...to a *kill*!"

I mean...c'mon! WTF, mate?! Turned out a decent title song, though, haha.

Airwave eyebrow

HOMER71 · Sat Apr 29, 2006 12:33 pm

Quoting L-188 (Reply 18):
I didn't think that was that bad of a Bond flick....never have been able to spot Maude Adams in it though.

Here you go, where the arrow is pointing:

[Edited 2006-04-29 05:36:38]

AerospaceFan · Sat Apr 29, 2006 3:17 pm

Quoting Airwave (Reply 7):
Yup, a lot of it is all over the place; though I do believe concerted efforts have been made to bring a good portion of it under one roof--don't know how successful that's been, though, lol.

Your post is fascinating as a whole. Smile

As far as whether Blofeld is "really" dead, it may be one of those "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin"-type things. It may never be able to be resolved.

airbusA346 · Sat Apr 29, 2006 5:27 pm

Quoting AerospaceFan (Reply 2):

Why what is the copyright issue?

Tom.

N1120A · Sat Apr 29, 2006 6:20 pm

Quoting AeroWesty (Reply 1):
Blofeld and SPECTRE are supposedly still very much alive, just not appearing in a film near you due to copyright issues.

I find it interesting that they let that happen. The Broccolis always held Bond with a pretty tight fist.

Quoting AerospaceFan (Thread starter):
or whether you are looking forward to the next Bond, etc

I am going to see it, but it annoys me that they didn't choose a better Bond. Hugh Jackman would have been perfect in the role

Quoting Airwave (Reply 13):
Francesco Scaramanga ("The Man With the Golden Gun")

Scaramanga was great, but I loved the crazy voodoo man from "Live and Let Die"

Quoting AirbusA346 (Reply 22):
Why what is the copyright issue?

Broccoli doesn't own the rights to the character, as mentioned above

AerospaceFan · Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:50 pm

Quoting AirbusA346 (Reply 22):
Why what is the copyright issue?

I think N1120A has explained it well. Smile

RichardPrice · Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:59 pm

There was a rumour that where was a scene filmed for Never Say Never Again where Blofeld was killed by his cat scratching him with poisonous claws, but it was cut. The character has never died in any of the books or films.

AerospaceFan · Sun Apr 30, 2006 12:10 am

Before I forget:

1. Thanks to Homer for describing the torture scene. Now, why am I thinking of wearing a codpiece before seeing that movie?

2. N1120A -- interesting take on a possible Bond. I think Jackman would indeed have been a better choice, just by looks alone. However, I reserve final judgment, since I haven't actually seen the Bond movie with the new guy.

3. Airwave and others -- great comments. A short time ago, they were running a Bond marathon on cable and from what I remember, much of what you say makes sense.

Also, speaking of cats, the fact that Blofeld may/may not be dead reminds me a bit of Schrodinger's.

[Edited 2006-04-29 17:40:13]

airwave · Sun Apr 30, 2006 12:34 am

Quoting AerospaceFan (Reply 21):
As far as whether Blofeld is "really" dead, ... It may never be able to be resolved.

You may be right, but I think it's resolved--just not agreeably so, haha.

Quoting N1120A (Reply 23):
Scaramanga was great, but I loved the crazy voodoo man from "Live and Let Die"

Hahaha, Baron Samedi was creepy as hell--which makes sense being that he was the voodoo god of the dead... I'm not sure I liked the supernatural aspects of that movie, though--that's not really Bond's domain. Leave that to Indiana Jones, haha.

Quoting RichardPrice (Reply 25):
The character has never died in any of the books or films.

Never in the books, no. As for the films--he hasn't "officially" died, but I think it's safe to say that, even if the Broccolis regain the copyright, we shan't be seeing Ernesto any time soon.

Quoting AerospaceFan (Reply 26):
However, I reserve final judgment, since I haven't seen the first Bond movie with the new guy.

While I may not agree with the choice pre-view, the Broccolis have to have a reason for selecting him, so I'll decide when I see the movie.

Airwave eyebrow

L-188 · Sun Apr 30, 2006 12:47 am

Quoting Homer71 (Reply 5):
more gritty, with no CGI that marred the last couple

Agree with that. When they sent to CGI it definately lost something. It is nice to have the technology, but you have to know when to use it and more importantly-when not.

Quoting Airwave (Reply 10):
I guess we can expect him to be driving a gas-conscious hybrid and start ordering vodka and Red Bull...

I thought it sucked when they got him the P99 instead of the PPK.

AerospaceFan · Sun Apr 30, 2006 12:54 am

I agree. If they're going to mess around with the formula, why not give him an Uzi, while we're at it?

Next thing you know, we're going to see James Bond in Thunderballs II -- Blowfeld Mountain. "This Time, It's (Very) Personal."

airwave · Sun Apr 30, 2006 1:03 am

Quoting L-188 (Reply 28):
I thought it sucked when they got him the P99 instead of the PPK.

True--messing with a legend here. However, I don't think it was so much a disregard for tradition as much it was showing how Bond keeps up with the latest in personal weapons. The P99 is, in a sense, the next generation of PPKs and I think from that standpoint it's what we would expect Bond to carry.

Airwave eyebrow

L-188 · Sun Apr 30, 2006 1:09 am

The P99 is, in a sense, the next generation of PPKs and I think from that standpoint it's what we would expect Bond to carry.

Only a later H&K production. AFAIK it does not share any technology with the PPK. It is a full sized pistol H&K developed with Smith and Wesson. So you had a smaller piece-the PPK replaced by a full framed pistol.

They would have been better off replacing the PPK (If they had to) with the P22. Which is the .22LR scaled down version of the P99. It would have scaled batter.

But of course as you recall Bond used to carry a 22-A Beretta but had to give it up for a PPK in Dr. No.

AerospaceFan · Sun Apr 30, 2006 1:09 am

Quote:
The P99 is, in a sense, the next generation of PPKs and I think from that standpoint it's what we would expect Bond to carry.

That's not a bad rationalization, I must admit.

Although, if that's the case, I want Bond to carry an Uzi. They make very small versions that are barely larger than a normal handgun.

See: http://members.tripod.com/sa93/uzi.html (Pics, and warning: Takes a while to load.)

Also, rumor is that the U.S. Secret Service carries them.

Incidentally: Wow, cool. This is my 2060th post.

[Edited 2006-04-29 18:11:31]

Minor Question: Is Blofeld Dead In Bond?

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