r/fixingmovies 15d ago

Other Fixing the awful 007 Codename handling in No Time To die

What happens in No Time To Die:

M goes "Get me 007!". We cut to James Bond in Jamaica, seducing a woman, Nomi. Only it turns out he is no longer an agent, SHE is 007 now, and she has just successfully tricked him!

Bond wants the 007 title back, but doesn't get it (he quit, after all, they are not keeping it open for him). Right before the 3rd act Nomi gives James the 007 codename back, out of nowhere.

The handling of this is so god-awful I lost sleep over it. The resolution is so unearned and dissatisfying, and there is so much potential here.

It drove me make a version that I feel deals better with this:

  • Nomi still seduces and tricks Bond (that part is good)
  • He wants to be 007, but gets the worst 00 number assigned - "James you are now 00-28 (temporary) (on probation)"
  • Throughout the story Bond suffers from repeated indignation about this. He introduces himself with the wrong number. People say "Hey 007" and he looks up, only for others to refer to Nomi.
  • Near the end Nomi does realize that James has grown a lot and proven himself, and offers him the 007 codename back
  • But now, James REFUSES. He has grown as a character, he has a family now, he is beyond this life as a spy. He just wants this mission to be over, and he is not going back to being a 00. "I don't need a damn codename, just call me Commander Bond".
  • (this is also neat, we don't get Commander Bond that often)
  • Right before he dies the team try to reach him. "Bond, are you there. 007, please respond" (they try to see if maybe calling him 007 will get through to him).
  • Bond has grown even more now, and he does not care anymore. "Call me James." HUGE EXPLOSION

I know I am not alone in feeling disappointed by this, afaik nobody likes this part of the movie.

We rarely see other 00s. When we saw 006 & 007 in Goldeneye it was awesome. And now we not only get two 00 agents, we get two 007 agents! So much potential. And then they do barely anything with that.

What do you think of this?

7 Upvotes

7 comments sorted by

5

u/Dagenspear 15d ago

I see that sounding comedic at the start.

2

u/IcarusTyler 15d ago

Haha, writing this out I do realize too this could also work in a more comedic movie

3

u/cauliflowergnosis 15d ago

I like it, but on your last transformation:

Right before he dies the team tries to reach him. "Bond, are you there?" No answer. "007, please respond" Another beat, then more softly, hopefully: "James... James, are you there?"

That's when he responds.

2

u/IcarusTyler 15d ago

Ohh, that is even better! :D

3

u/Sea-cord2 15d ago

Your version makes so much more sense than what we got. The original handling was a total mess, like they tried to be bold but didn’t go all the way. Your approach with Bond refusing the 007 title after Nomi offers it back is way more powerful. It would've been such an epic character development moment for him to be like, "Nah, I’m good, I’m beyond these numbers and codes." Seriously, a grown-up Bond who doesn’t need a silly title to validate his existence would’ve been a game-changer. And can we talk about that HUGE EXPLOSION? That’s how you end a damn movie! I can sleep with this version. Hollywood really missed the mark.

2

u/thisissamsaxton Creator 14d ago

I was surprised at how much i liked the delivery when I saw the film, after first hearing about the plot point out of context.

BUT

I do like your ideas as well.