9 Lessons Bond 24 Must Learn From Skyfall

3. The Story

The conflicts between an effective villain and a good hero can go a long way. Many Bond villains, like Goldfinger and Max Zorin (A View to a Kill), seem to be so obsessed with money and wealth that they are willing to kill others and bring about physical and/or economic disasters. Elliot Carver (Tomorrow Never Dies) is willing to start a war between China and the United Kingdom in order to control the flow of all news and media information on the planet. There are numerous variations of the Bond villain's plot, each with its own cinematic strengths and weaknesses. What works quite well in Skyfall is the ways in which Silva's character fits with and connects the past (M) and the future (Bond) of MI6. As well, Silva's plan€”though at times as unbelievable as any Bond villains' plans are€”is manageable. He doesn't seek to take over the world€”though he clearly illustrates that he could do just this as his computer skills seem limitless€”but merely enact his revenge on M and MI6. Bond 24's story might then reflect on Skyfall's use of the villain's plot as a limited yet effective storytelling device. Because Bond is lacking relatives and a steady romantic partner, the story could not, it would seem, take the route of revenge and the family (as some of the Mission Impossible and Jason Bourne movies have used and as Quantum of Solace did). Of course, new backstory can always establish the opportunity for a revenge yarn, but what works so well in the Daniel Craig Bond era is the exploration of Bond's inner demons€”his doubting of self, his supervisors, and MI6 itself. Deception and conspiracy related to the newest cast of supporting characters is one possibility for Bond 24 and perhaps some these elements (combined with Bond's self-flagellation) could be a successful formula for the next Bond. An additional element of the story relates to the action. Bond films rely on gripping action sequences with harrowing stunts. Skyfall takes a somewhat different approach to action sequences. As far as the main ones€”there is the opening train sequence with Bond's presumed death, the attack at the intelligence hearing, and the final confrontation at Skyfall. It is the final scene at the Skyfall Lodge€”a fictional set built in Scotland€”that serves as the most interesting aspect of the Bond story. Screenwriters Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and John Logan decided to choose a subdued but action-packed sequence for the end of the film. Once you get around the minor issues with the suspension of disbelief€”after all, Bond and M could have called in reinforcements to the Skyfall Lodge, though M said that she wanted to avoid further collateral damage to MI6€”you are drawn into the remote, serene, and suspenseful location for the finale of the film. Perhaps Bond 24 could draw on a similar setting, but it might also be time for a more spectacular setting for the finale. This could be true especially if the Bond 24 Blofeld rumors are true. So, Bond 24 will need to consider whether it wants to reach back into the franchise and revive the megalomaniacal villain or stick with the more inward-focused, psychologically taut, and limited mission-directed villain of Skyfall.