Easter Eggs, Symbolism & Call Backs (Major Spoilers)

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  • goldenswissroyalegoldenswissroyale Switzerland
    Posts: 4,378
    The title sequence shows plants growing inside the body. I thought this could be reference to the poisonous plants but also to the fact that new life is growing inside, a reference to the pregnancy. There is also a moment during the titles where a hand is moving over the skin andcI thought it looks like a mother would touch her (pregnant) belly.

    So many great references and thoughts in this thread. Thank you. I especially liked your thoughts about the poison @ImpertinentGoon
  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    Posts: 1,351
    Another CR to NTTD one:
    One of the signature action set pieces of Craig-Bond's first 00 Mission is a fight down a staircase that shows both him and the audience how brutal and sometimes empty his world is and shatters the ice between Vesper and him. The fight has no real point other than Bond having to stay alive. He doesn't have to kill Obanno, he probably doesn't even know who he is, but he is being attacked.

    Towards the end of NTTD on his last mission, Craig-Bond fights his way up a staircase through an army of goons to save the world and his wife and child. If he doesn't do it, there's nothing left to save...
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Another CR to NTTD one:
    One of the signature action set pieces of Craig-Bond's first 00 Mission is a fight down a staircase that shows both him and the audience how brutal and sometimes empty his world is and shatters the ice between Vesper and him. The fight has no real point other than Bond having to stay alive. He doesn't have to kill Obanno, he probably doesn't even know who he is, but he is being attacked.

    Towards the end of NTTD on his last mission, Craig-Bond fights his way up a staircase through an army of goons to save the world and his wife and child. If he doesn't do it, there's nothing left to save...

    I noticed those similarities, but never thought about any significance about him going down in the first, and up in the other. Maybe it was just to differentiate it, but maybe there is some symbolic meaning behind it as well.
  • Posts: 7,500
    Another CR to NTTD one:
    One of the signature action set pieces of Craig-Bond's first 00 Mission is a fight down a staircase that shows both him and the audience how brutal and sometimes empty his world is and shatters the ice between Vesper and him. The fight has no real point other than Bond having to stay alive. He doesn't have to kill Obanno, he probably doesn't even know who he is, but he is being attacked.

    Towards the end of NTTD on his last mission, Craig-Bond fights his way up a staircase through an army of goons to save the world and his wife and child. If he doesn't do it, there's nothing left to save...

    I doubt that was deliberate to be honest, but nevertheless a good observation.
  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    Posts: 1,351
    jobo wrote: »
    Another CR to NTTD one:
    One of the signature action set pieces of Craig-Bond's first 00 Mission is a fight down a staircase that shows both him and the audience how brutal and sometimes empty his world is and shatters the ice between Vesper and him. The fight has no real point other than Bond having to stay alive. He doesn't have to kill Obanno, he probably doesn't even know who he is, but he is being attacked.

    Towards the end of NTTD on his last mission, Craig-Bond fights his way up a staircase through an army of goons to save the world and his wife and child. If he doesn't do it, there's nothing left to save...

    I doubt that was deliberate to be honest, but nevertheless a good observation.

    I think there is a chance Fukunaga thought the stair fight in CR was interesting and wanted to do something similar or top it even. On the other hand there are loads of other fight scenes in recent action films that would have been inspirations.

    I agree that there probably isn't a lot of deeper meaning to be mined here.
  • 00Heaven00Heaven Home
    Posts: 573
    AJEh8ZU.jpg

    Seriously though I like the idea but probably an accident :D.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited October 2021 Posts: 14,861
    Someone on the Kermode show said that the forest scene was a reference to the video game Death Standing, does that sound right to those familiar with it?
    Don’t forget the visitors pass in the garbage at MI6!

    Which is a lovely double ref to both Craig’s dismissive throwing of things and the traditional Bond hatstand gag! :)
    (And maybe the cigar gag if you’re being generous)
  • Posts: 7,500
    jobo wrote: »
    Another CR to NTTD one:
    One of the signature action set pieces of Craig-Bond's first 00 Mission is a fight down a staircase that shows both him and the audience how brutal and sometimes empty his world is and shatters the ice between Vesper and him. The fight has no real point other than Bond having to stay alive. He doesn't have to kill Obanno, he probably doesn't even know who he is, but he is being attacked.

    Towards the end of NTTD on his last mission, Craig-Bond fights his way up a staircase through an army of goons to save the world and his wife and child. If he doesn't do it, there's nothing left to save...

    I doubt that was deliberate to be honest, but nevertheless a good observation.

    I think there is a chance Fukunaga thought the stair fight in CR was interesting and wanted to do something similar or top it even. On the other hand there are loads of other fight scenes in recent action films that would have been inspirations.

    I agree that there probably isn't a lot of deeper meaning to be mined here.


    I also noticed the parallel to the staircase fight in CR, but I wasn't able to so brilliantly contextualize it with deeper meaning as you did ;)
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,053
    mtm wrote: »
    Someone on the Kermode show said that the forest scene was a reference to the video game Death Standing, does that sound right to those familiar with it?

    The only connection I know between James Bond and Death Standing is that Mads and Leà are in them both.
    Don’t forget the visitors pass in the garbage at MI6!

    Which is a lovely double ref to both Craig’s dismissive throwing of things and the traditional Bond hatstand gag! :)
    (And maybe the cigar gag if you’re being generous)

  • Posts: 372
    There's a staircase fight in one shot in Atomic Blonde, I think it was more of a reference for the producers (in addition to the John Wick stuff).
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,518
    jobo wrote: »
    Another CR to NTTD one:
    One of the signature action set pieces of Craig-Bond's first 00 Mission is a fight down a staircase that shows both him and the audience how brutal and sometimes empty his world is and shatters the ice between Vesper and him. The fight has no real point other than Bond having to stay alive. He doesn't have to kill Obanno, he probably doesn't even know who he is, but he is being attacked.

    Towards the end of NTTD on his last mission, Craig-Bond fights his way up a staircase through an army of goons to save the world and his wife and child. If he doesn't do it, there's nothing left to save...

    I doubt that was deliberate to be honest, but nevertheless a good observation.

    I think there is a chance Fukunaga thought the stair fight in CR was interesting and wanted to do something similar or top it even. On the other hand there are loads of other fight scenes in recent action films that would have been inspirations.

    I agree that there probably isn't a lot of deeper meaning to be mined here.

    I'd say there's a reading where in CR it's a "descent" into the world and life of a 00, and in NTTD, it's an "ascent", finally away from that world. But I'd agree that's probably not what the intention was!
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,916
    I make a connection between the CR title sequence (Bond turns and fires a salute to Vesper)

    56785250263b08bc203f1facd85bead3cf4d4ad4.gifv
    and
    the missile attack on Safin's island as Bond's own 21-gun+ salute.

  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,861
    Stamper wrote: »
    There's a staircase fight in one shot in Atomic Blonde, I think it was more of a reference for the producers (in addition to the John Wick stuff).

    And the Atomic Blonde one is also a 'oner' too; yes I think you're probably right.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,916
    When Bond escapes
    the sinking boat, and sits in the life raft as the container ship approaches
    I realize
    holding the cigar and beyond the death of Leiter, he's thinking about Felix's comments about returning to his family. And the simple truth that it's a good life.
  • M_BaljeM_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
    Posts: 4,416
    Judi Dench painting long scene from a trailer was not in the movie, it was shorter because of Tanner. But when there walk a way there was indeed another painting of older man.

    I like reference to Goldeneye a lot. Laboratory and in / with The villian lair.

    FYEO:
    Bond killing Ash with a car

    Easter Egg:
    Mathilde is the real first name of the actres who play Madeline her mother.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 12,916
    In SP Blofeld says:
    That's brothers for you.
    In NTTD Safin says:
    Parents!
  • MalloryMallory Do mosquitoes have friends?
    edited November 2021 Posts: 2,036
    I noticed in the credits that Halo 5 is mentioned, alongside Wallace & Gromit, so I kept an eye out for where it would appear when I saw it again yesterday.

    When Bond walking towards the XXV bar in Jamaica with Felix and Ash, people can be seen in the street playing it.
  • 00Heaven00Heaven Home
    Posts: 573
    Mallory wrote: »
    I noticed in the credits that Halo 5 is mentioned, alongside Wallace & Gromit, so I kept an eye out for where it would appear when I saw it again yesterday.

    When Bond walking towards the XXV bar in Jamaica with Felix and Ash, people can be seen in the street playing it.

    I did wonder where that might appear as I saw that too... There's also a reference in the credits to Monster Hunter World and Megaman but I've not found either of them in the movie.
  • MalloryMallory Do mosquitoes have friends?
    Posts: 2,036
    00Heaven wrote: »
    Mallory wrote: »
    I noticed in the credits that Halo 5 is mentioned, alongside Wallace & Gromit, so I kept an eye out for where it would appear when I saw it again yesterday.

    When Bond walking towards the XXV bar in Jamaica with Felix and Ash, people can be seen in the street playing it.

    I did wonder where that might appear as I saw that too... There's also a reference in the credits to Monster Hunter World and Megaman but I've not found either of them in the movie.

    I think it is in the same place, though it is hard to tell as it is 'blink and you miss it'.
  • matt_umatt_u better known as Mr. Roark
    Posts: 4,343
    Vesper's family tomb has a saying in latin written upon it: Quod tu es, ego fui. Quod ego sum, tu eris. It means: What you are, I have been. What I am now, you will be.

    Pretty strong foreshadowing of Bond's ultimate fate.
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    edited November 2021 Posts: 2,897
    matt_u wrote: »
    Vesper's family tomb has a saying in latin written upon it: Quod tu es, ego fui. Quod ego sum, tu eris. It means: What you are, I have been. What I am now, you will be. Pretty strong foreshadowing of Bond's ultimate fate.
    Ah, excellent, I didn't realise that's what it translated as (I'm from Yorkshire, I can barely understand English let alone owt else!). 'What you are, I have been. What I am now, you will be' is a famous phrase that was used to accompany memento mori images after the Black Death had killed half of the entire population of England in the 14th century. 'Memento mori' itself means something like 'remember you will die' - so another plot connection there. Its association with plague and mass population reduction is an obvious tie-in to Safin's plan, too - looks like they put a fair bit of thought into all this stuff.

  • FeyadorFeyador Montreal, Canada
    edited November 2021 Posts: 721
    Venutius wrote: »
    matt_u wrote: »
    Vesper's family tomb has a saying in latin written upon it: Quod tu es, ego fui. Quod ego sum, tu eris. It means: What you are, I have been. What I am now, you will be. Pretty strong foreshadowing of Bond's ultimate fate.
    Ah, excellent, I didn't realise that's what it translated as (I'm from Yorkshire, I can barely understand English let alone owt else!). 'What you are, I have been. What I am now, you will be' is a famous phrase that was used to accompany memento mori images after the Black Death had killed half of the entire population of England in the 14th century. 'Memento mori' itself means something like 'remember you will die' - so another plot connection there. Its association with plague and mass population reduction is an obvious tie-in to Safin's plan, too - looks like they put a fair bit of thought into all this stuff.
    That's really interesting above ....

    ... and there may be more foreshadowing of Bond's death, or perhaps a sense of "death deferred," as in the tolling of the church bells in the square in Matera; the death look on Bond's face in the car before he decides to "do something," or so I would characterize it; the young Madeleine trapped under the ice ... all just from the PTS, and probably more after it.

    Edit: also, what's going on in that religious procession that Bond interrupts?
  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    Posts: 1,351
    Feyador wrote: »
    Venutius wrote: »
    matt_u wrote: »
    Vesper's family tomb has a saying in latin written upon it: Quod tu es, ego fui. Quod ego sum, tu eris. It means: What you are, I have been. What I am now, you will be. Pretty strong foreshadowing of Bond's ultimate fate.
    Ah, excellent, I didn't realise that's what it translated as (I'm from Yorkshire, I can barely understand English let alone owt else!). 'What you are, I have been. What I am now, you will be' is a famous phrase that was used to accompany memento mori images after the Black Death had killed half of the entire population of England in the 14th century. 'Memento mori' itself means something like 'remember you will die' - so another plot connection there. Its association with plague and mass population reduction is an obvious tie-in to Safin's plan, too - looks like they put a fair bit of thought into all this stuff.
    That's really interesting above ....

    ... and there may be more foreshadowing of Bond's death, or perhaps a sense of "death deferred," as in the tolling of the church bells in the square in Matera; the death look on Bond's face in the car before he decides to "do something," or so I would characterize it; the young Madeleine trapped under the ice ... all just from the PTS, and probably more after it.

    Edit: also, what's going on in that religious procession that Bond interrupts?

    It's probably just a random procession. They tend to do those in old Italian cities now and again.
    However, I was recently researching wether the festival that is depicted in Matera actually exists. I couldn't find any evidence of the "burning pieces of paper with secrets on them" part, but there is a famous festival in Matera. The "Festa della Bruna". Mainly it's your standard multi-day religious festival centred around a Madonna statue that has been in one of the town's churches for centuries. The main piece however, is that every year a big, pretty carnival float is built out of papier-maché. Takes months to build the thing. Then it is paraded around the town and once it reaches a central square, it is completely ripped apart by the townspeople who take pieces of it home as kinds of relics. And then they build a new one the next year and rip it apart again.
    So the whole idea about a festival about destruction and renewal and how beauty cannot last, but can be replaced and so on and so forth does exist in real-world Matera. I guess they just thought that explaining all that and then having both Madeleine and Bond confront a secret through it would have taken a lot of expository talking, whereas the way it is done in the film there is one sentence by the bellhop and then two silent pieces of acting, where we see them burn paper and that's all you need to understand what is going on with the two characters.
  • w2bondw2bond is indeed a very rare breed
    Posts: 2,252
    Did anyone get strong "Surrender" (KD Lang) vibes when Bond meets Swann at her house?
  • VenutiusVenutius Yorkshire
    Posts: 2,897
    This is a bit New Agey but as a psychologist, Madeleine would probably be familiar with the idea:
    https://bestselfmedia.com/burning-letters-letting-go/
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    Posts: 10,586
    w2bond wrote: »
    Did anyone get strong "Surrender" (KD Lang) vibes when Bond meets Swann at her house?
    Which part? I’ll look out for it next time.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459
    Venutius wrote: »
    matt_u wrote: »
    Vesper's family tomb has a saying in latin written upon it: Quod tu es, ego fui. Quod ego sum, tu eris. It means: What you are, I have been. What I am now, you will be. Pretty strong foreshadowing of Bond's ultimate fate.
    Ah, excellent, I didn't realise that's what it translated as (I'm from Yorkshire, I can barely understand English let alone owt else!). 'What you are, I have been. What I am now, you will be' is a famous phrase that was used to accompany memento mori images after the Black Death had killed half of the entire population of England in the 14th century. 'Memento mori' itself means something like 'remember you will die' - so another plot connection there. Its association with plague and mass population reduction is an obvious tie-in to Safin's plan, too - looks like they put a fair bit of thought into all this stuff.
    That is very satisfying to discover that. Thanks to both of you.
  • Posts: 372
    Yes, it seems to me that many scenes in NTTD are nurtured from past >Bond films, for example, Blofeld interrogation is a mirror of the Skyfall wordplay scene, what with the characters behind the two way mirror. I forgot but there are more call backs to many things, like some shots of Bond in M office are dead twins of the end shots of Skyfall.
  • FeyadorFeyador Montreal, Canada
    edited November 2021 Posts: 721
    The religious procession in Matera is for Saint Vincenzo Ferrer. "S. Vincenzo Ferrer," is on the banner the crowd is holding. When I saw the name of "Vincenzo" I immediately thought of Teresa di Vincenzo, aka Tracy.

    Whether this is intended to invoke her name or not, I don't know ... but after a cursory search, the procession doesn't appear to be one native to Matera (though I wouldn't rule it out). The saint is better known as St. Vincent Ferrer, and is more associated with Spain than Italy.

    Also, his feast day is April 5th, perhaps coincidentally the day on which Albert R. Broccoli was born. Among the many things that Ferrer is associated with are orphanages and Judgement Day.

    PS. If I could figure out how to include a screenshot from my phone I would ....

    Edit correction: "Vincenzo Ferreri" on the banner, I missed the letter "i".
  • Here you go. My copy of the movie isn't high-def, but you can still see the sign.

    vin.jpg
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