Taking a second look at Spectre

The new James Bond movie is slated to hit theatres in November, but we can tell you more than ten things about the new 007 instalment just by looking at the pictures

By Ex-Press Skeletal Staff

Sony Pictures unveiled the latest trailer for Spectre earlier today, but the new installment in the ever-profitable 007 franchise doesn’t seem too mysterious. In fact, who needs to wait for the film to come out wide on November 6th when it’s well known that a picture speaks a thousand words, and we’ve already got eleven early production stills that we’re eager to share.

Daniel Craig uses all of his thespian talents in this moody shot from Spectre

1. It stars Daniel Craig as James Bond, which means we’re getting more than a handsome package who can rock a Speedo. Craig can pull off real drama and disappear into any role (check out the bizarre thriller The Jacket), which raises the emotional ante on the regular baccarat game of stolen hearts and misappropriated weapons of mass destruction. Just look at the emotion Craig conveys in this artsy shot – the actor can find the middle distance between Milan fashion model and bodyguard to Christina Aguilera.

Daniel Craig and Monica Bellucci cook up forbidden chemistry, maybe, in Spectre

2. Spectre also stars Monica Bellucci as Lucia Sciarra “the beautiful and forbidden widow of an infamous criminal.” Bellucci is the Italian star who famously vomited after shooting the 10-minute rape sequence in Gaspar Noé’s Irreversible. The director refused to stop filming even though the actress was in physical pain. The upside was she and her then-husband Vincent Cassel (Black Swan) had the chance to work together.

Monica Bellucci showcases her skill sets in Spectre

3. Dubbed the Sophia Loren of her generation, Bellucci seems to wear widowhood well in the new Bond outing, and we all know 007 has a soft spot for women in mourning – because he creates so many widows. But just who is this Sciarra grieving over? Could it be the mastermind of a secret criminal organization out to silence James Bond once and for all?

Christoph Waltz sits in the shadows as chief villain, and longtime Bond foe in Spectre

4. The shadow knows. And in this case, we even know who that shadow figure is, because it’s written right there in the cutline: Christoph Waltz is a member of the nefarious organization known as Spectre. And even if he’s playing evil, Waltz is always fun to watch because he’s able to fuse believable human traits with over-the-top crazy.

Entirely staged: Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City

5. There will be a memorable chase sequence. The very backbone of the Bond formula is a top-shelf chase scene, and Spectre will feature a Day of the Dead parade weaving through the streets of Mexico City as Bond chases Sciarra in a helicopter. I know, Day of the Dead and Bond was a marriage made in movie heaven… and hell.

One of 1,500 extras costumed for the Mexico City scenes

6. The Bond movies actually use real people instead of computer-generated avatars, which is just one of the reasons why they feel so substantially different from the run of the mill action films. This is just one of 1,500 extras made up to look the part of a necrotic reveler.

7. There will be automotive mayhem. Bond movies use real cars, and real stunt drivers, to make sure we feel the torque and drama of the moment. This shot is from the car chase in Rome, where Bond faces off against the muscle-bound sidekick named Hinx, played by former pro wrestler Dave Bautista.

Dave Bautista plays Hinx, the sidekick baddie in Spectre

8. The heavy sidekick will appear to have superhuman abilities. Bautista is an imposing physical presence, but throw in some movie smoke and mirrors under the guidance of director Sam Mendes, and just about anyone can attain the epic villainy of Darth Vader.

Noomie Harris plays the ever-loyal Moneypenny

9. Bond puts Moneypenny where his mouth is, or at least we’ll get lots of sexual tension between Noomie Harris (Moneypenny) and the man packing the Walther PPK. In this round, Bond needs a little help from his friends at the agency, pulling Moneypenny and Q (Ben Whishaw) into his inner circle.

No blue on you: Lea Seydoux stars as the daughter of Mr. White

10. What? Another good-looking lady? If Léa Seydoux looks familiar but you can’t place her, think of her with blue hair. The French actress was the blue half of Blue is the Warmest Colour, a voyeuristic take on lesbian love that made waves two years ago. In Spectre, Seydoux plays Madeleine Swann, daughter of an old nemesis named Mr. White.

Daniel Craig cuts a handsome figure, and looks better than most in a black turtleneck.

11. James Bond will be über cool, as in rocking a black turtleneck cool. Indeed, he will be able to escape any number of enemies – even if he’s wearing all black clothing in a winter wonderland. It’s nonsense, but it’s one hell of an attractive package.

Spectre releases wide November 6.

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