Has M's position been compromised in Skyfall?

NeilMukherjee72

I am looking forward to seeing the New Bond film Skyfall with returning Bond actor Daniel Craig as Agent 007. I am particularly hearing that this film may explore greater tension between Bond and M as JB tries to investigate M's past dealings? This could be an interesting angle to explore in the next film, especially if it shows M's position being compromised in the process. The welcomed presence of Albert Finney (previously famous for playing the part of Hercule Poirot in: Murder on the Orient Express, with co-star Sean Connery) in Bond 23 could encourage good discussions towards the New Bond film especially if he introduces himself as the New M as this too could be a good position to explore.

The present M, being portrayed for the seventh time since 1995 may have run out of steam and a new shake up of the characters could be a new way forward to reinvigorate the Bond Merchandise. Perhaps re-exploring a senior male M figurehead will bring added impetus and credibility to the Bond films.

I always questioned the present M's statement in Goldeneye during her first meeting with Bond (starring Pierce Brosnan as JB). It somehow felt that the new M wanted to prove a point but she forgot that by filling a position previously held by the character Sir Miles Mersevvy, she couldn't come to terms with the fact that she was the first female M and had a strikingly unprofessional inferiority complex with Bond. It seemed that the new M was out to damage Bond's reputation. Bond has now been played by many actors some more aggressive than others but for M to not have seen the humanity in Bond and instead to have treated him like an indisciplined school boy, was practically more farcical than anything else.

I refer to OHMSS where Bond showed great empathy and a caring nature towards Contessa Teresa and eventually married her only to lose her at the hands of Blofeld himself. Bond has been portrayed as a character with a male ego but he has also shown more human qualities throughout the history of the character and as such it now seems that the present M has not only got too involved with Bond's life through the years but has also revealed (or is about to reveal) some shady hidden past. Has M become a liability or will she regain Bond's trust in Bond 23 Skyfall and continue her position for another glorious decade?

shadowonthesun

I believe Dench has already confirmed that SKYFALL will be her final film as M. She is, after all, seventy-six years old.

You're also forgetting that, as of CASINO ROYALE, we are in a new timeline. Although it is techncially the same character played by the same actor, nothing that happened between DR NO and DIE ANOTHER DAY has any bearing on the events of CASINO ROYALE, QUANTUM OF SOLACE and SKYFALL.

NeilMukherjee72

Yes, you are right about the timeline paradox but I would like to add and touch upon this point on whether Judi Dench's contribution to the character of M has been well received or not [up till Die Another Day]. I have also extended the debate to suggest that perhaps Judi's tenure as M is almost coming to a close and whether Bond fans and enthusiasts would welcome a more traditional portrayal of M perhaps with Albert Finney as the new M?

HASEROT

i think you'll find that the vast majority of people on this board would welcome a more traditional M in the following films.... not based on sex mind you - but the basic "here is your mission 007, now get out" approach.. in the vein of Bernard Lee, Robert Brown, and even Dench in Goldeneye...

I don't blame Dench for the over exposure of her M - she is a talented actress, and does fine in the role in each outing.. it's just the writers feel the need to put her in the film all over the place, to mother 007... we don't need that from M.. i could accept it in CR and QOS, because of the storyline - and a strict M, cautious and wary over her new agent seemed logical - no doubt she'd be watching him like a hawk..... i thought Skyfall would have a chance to return things back to normal a bit - but so far it's not looking that way...... but if this is a way for her M to go out, then i'm sure it'll be with a bang ;)

echo

I believe Dench has already confirmed that SKYFALL will be her final film as M. She is, after all, seventy-six years old.

When was this?

i think you'll find that the vast majority of people on this board would welcome a more traditional M in the following films.... not based on sex mind you - but the basic "here is your mission 007, now get out" approach.. in the vein of Bernard Lee, Robert Brown, and even Dench in Goldeneye...

I don't blame Dench for the over exposure of her M - she is a talented actress, and does fine in the role in each outing.. it's just the writers feel the need to put her in the film all over the place, to mother 007... we don't need that from M.. i could accept it in CR and QOS, because of the storyline - and a strict M, cautious and wary over her new agent seemed logical - no doubt she'd be watching him like a hawk..... i thought Skyfall would have a chance to return things back to normal a bit - but so far it's not looking that way...... but if this is a way for her M to go out, then i'm sure it'll be with a bang ;)

This is very well stated.

shadowonthesun

Bond fans and enthusiasts would welcome a more traditional portrayal of M perhaps with Albert Finney as the new M?

It won't be Albert Finney. He's seventy-five, and currently in remission from cancer. As legendary an actor as he is, he is not a long-term prospect for the franchise.

Baltimore_007

It'd be fitting for Dench to bow out as the character on the franchise's 50th anniversary. Obviously she can't play the role for ever but she's been good for the most part since her Goldeneye debut. Dame Judi is approaching her 77th birthday, but let's remember that our most famous Q played the part until he was into his mid 80's albeit as a less major character that was perhaps featured less frequent but there you are. You would maybe expect her replacement to be of male gender this time around for future releases

shadowonthesun

You would maybe expect her replacement to be of male gender this time around for future releases

Why? Don't give me the whole "Fleming wrote M as a man" argument, because it doesn't fly.

Baltimore_007

I'm not really fussed if it's a lady or guy who lands the part after Dench's departure, I was merely thinking along the lines that after 17 years as a female in the character department they may try something else. If they play it again with a female lead then it'll all be fine and dandy but was thinking it may be time for a man to once again fill the M role, as said, end of the day I'll be content with whichever path they choose

timmer

M as woman is no big deal. I've never liked Dench as M, but not because she was a woman. It was all downhill after the misogynist-dinosaur exchange IMO. Re-boot Dench-M, I think is the 4th M that we have seen. First there was Lee's Miles Messervy M, followed by Robert Brown's Admiral Hargreaves' M ( although this can't be firmed up, as he could also be playing Miles Messervy, but he had appeared three films earlier as Hargreaves, so its possible he was still playing Hargreaves) followed by the Dench-M of the Brozzer era.

Baltimore_007

What if we could have Marshall Mathers as the character or they both do it

Then we could have M and M
>:-)

HASEROT

What if we could have Marshall Mathers as the character or they both do it

Then we could have M and M
>:-)

:-|

QBranch

Could the real M lady please stand up? And @Baltimore_007, please sit down...

doubleoego

A male or female M doesn't bother me. I just want an M who is efficient as head of MI6 and is respected. I don't think Dench's M was highly respected at all. The way Brosnan Bond and CraigBond have spoken to her with insubordination and even other figureheads who have interacted with her don't treat her seriously. What's also telling is what Dench said at the Skyfall press conference about never having a handle on things; what? I'm sorry but as head of MI6, she needs her finger out of her a-hole and a firm grip on matters.
Bernerd Lee's M was a man of distinction and authority. Look at the pts of TND where M is protesting to that idiotic Admiral to not launch the missile. He simply discards her and anything she has to say and does what he wants. This would never have happened with Lee's M. In fact, if anyone challenged or said anything contrary to what Bond said, Lee's M was always inclined to believe and trust Bond first and foremost.

QBranch

@doubleoego Well said. I completely agree with all of that.

Monsieur_Aubergine

^^absolutely, I love that scene in Moonraker just after the embarrassing Drax meeting and M 100% backs Bond into going on to Rio..trust and mutual respect. "no slip ups, or we're both in trouble" Good stuff. Bring it back. or at least this time around decide exactly who M is as opposed to writing her as elderly child minder who states she doesn't need balls to think!?

- let's face it, after that wonderful 1st meeting in GE Dench has been woefully underwritten.

4EverBonded

Dench's first meeting in GE was very well done. But I have to say I have liked her in every Bond film she's been in; I do like her portrayal.

Gustav_Graves

i think you'll find that the vast majority of people on this board would welcome a more traditional M in the following films.... not based on sex mind you - but the basic "here is your mission 007, now get out" approach.. in the vein of Bernard Lee, Robert Brown, and even Dench in Goldeneye...

I don't blame Dench for the over exposure of her M - she is a talented actress, and does fine in the role in each outing.. it's just the writers feel the need to put her in the film all over the place, to mother 007... we don't need that from M.. i could accept it in CR and QOS, because of the storyline - and a strict M, cautious and wary over her new agent seemed logical - no doubt she'd be watching him like a hawk..... i thought Skyfall would have a chance to return things back to normal a bit - but so far it's not looking that way...... but if this is a way for her M to go out, then i'm sure it'll be with a bang ;)

Well, any logical thinking representative from the UK government would already have fired 'M' straight away. I mean, come on, there was already a terrorist attack on the MI6-building in TWINE, then 'M' got kidnapped. Furthermore, we still don't know how many Pounds in receipts Miss Barbara Mawdsley 'M' has to declare to taxing. I mean, come, those business travels to The Bahamas (CR), Italy (QOS) and Bolivia (QOS) must cost a fortune. And I don't give a damn if 'M's bodyguard did pass every security check, the fact is that her position has been compromised. And so is MI6.

Dear Mrs Barbara Mawdsley? You are fired!

0013

@shadow "Why? Don't give me the whole "Fleming wrote M as a man" argument, because it doesn't fly."

Because Fleming's M (and also Lee's and Brown's) is not only the Director of MI6 but also Bond's Navy Superior. He was Admiral and, as far as I know, woman don't have yet positions in the Royal Navy.
So as long as they want a burocratic-type M (a bean counter), a woman is perfect and Dench is the finest prove. But if the story wants M to be a military authority to Bond, then M should be a man. Obviously sexism is not in my argument but in the rules of British Navy.

QBranch

To my knowledge, the highest ranking female in the Royal Navy is Commodore- a few notches below Admiral, so it's not out of the question that female M be Bond's naval superior.