Why Safin (No Time To Die) Is One Of The BEST James Bond Villains | Video Essay

[@FilmSpeak]

What do YOU think? Are you like me and find Safin fascinating or does he simply not work for you? Comment below! ⬇️

[@FilmSpeak]

@Daniel Jaramillo Le Chiffre is definitely my favorite!

[@palomasaudios2676]

I am in the same page about Safin as you are. THANK YOU FOR THIS!

[@deleted01]

Mm. I bet FilmSpeak also loves the latest Star Wars trilogy and Netflix's Watchmen series.

[@FilmSpeak]

@@deleted01 huh?

[@lloydpassafume5357]

I thought the setup for his character was excellent. The pre-title scene with him was so good. Unfortunately his character wasn't executed as well as I wanted him to be. I'm spoiled with Javier's Silva. He's my favorite bond villain.

[@ScottMurrayBestFamilyCars]

Notice that the guy who (ultimately) took down Bond didn't monologue or attempt some grandiose ceremony. He shot him with a gun.

[@Sonicfan-wi6oy]

And yet they complian

[@user-qz8dy3bz9w]

Well technically he did monologue when they first met with the child he could have killed bond then but he didn’t

[@InimicalWit]

@@Sonicfan-wi6oy While it is true that people complained about this film, and we know that people have complained about protagonist peril not being … perfunctory… … We don’t know that the two complaints are by the same group of people. That’s the same generalizing that creates prejudice in humans; take care

[@AZITHEMLGPRO]

BOND NEVER DIES WWAAAA ! MALE FANTASY

[@qr5393]

@@AZITHEMLGPRO He doesn't die lol

[@thecynicaloptimist1884]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Safin's introduction is the most chilling in Bond history. He feels less like a man and more like this vengeful wraith.

[@rodelbrown6638]

I agree with you 100%!!! very well said.

[@raymason9907]

Especially when he's got the mask and you never see his whole face.

[@CG00001]

@@raymason9907also in the opening when he’s in the window would be frighting if you were to see it in first person

[@pontiusporcius8430]

@@thecynicaloptimist1884 as well as a complete moron.

[@wwb16]

my gripe with safin is that he didn't have enough screentime. but when he was on screen I was drawn to him

[@JORDAN-ul9vs]

I know! Out of 2:43 minutes, he only has about 16 minutes of screen time. That’s ridiculous!

[@catalinalaires4481]

I like Safin very much. This film felt like a Shakespeare tragedy. Rami Malek's performance was unsettling. Being born in the 1950s, I have watched all the Bond movies, this is one of the best.

[@asterisco9035]

I agree

[@cavallogianni]

You guys must have watch a different film this is by far not the best Bond at all. It's just okay compared to Casino Royale it's garbage

[@cavallogianni]

Even Skyfall was way better

[@cavallogianni]

Usually their last movie for some reason it's their worst one

[@cavallogianni]

Except for Timothy Dalton his last Bond movie was a masterpiece

[@visionaryvisuals3494]

Very well put together. Next time I hear or see someone critique Safin in this film, I'll just send a link or tell them to watch this video.

[@FilmSpeak]

Cheers man! Thank you so much.

[@okdthefmv]

I love my boy, Rami Malek, it's a shame that his movie was hijacked to clean up the mess of Spectre.

[@matthewmcshane399]

I think safin is a great villain. he's somewhat understanble, yet msontrous, intelligent and fairly creepy actually.

[@Hexsmasher2099]

monstrous*

[@FanThemePark]

I think he was introduced fantastically into the film and his reintroduction with the therapy scene was great! For the rest of the movie he just sort of falls into the cracks and ends up not having much to do in my opinion. I'd rank him third out of Craig's villains after Silva and Le Chiffre.

[@christianwise637]

The fact that his henchmen kind of outshine him doesn't help either. Characters like Primo, Ash and Obruchev get way more screentime and thus have more of an opportunity to leave an impact (it also helps that their respective death scenes are more memorable). I still think Safin's a decent antagonist, but he needed more screentime in order for his character and motivations to be made clearer

[@FanThemePark]

@@christianwise637 more screentime would have been great! Rami Malek is a terrific actor so I was so excited when I heard he would be the villain. Gives a great performance but having him be in the film more throughout instead of mostly at the very end would have been a good thing.

[@ToastyBunsMcGee]

I agree 100%. The beginning was so strong, but I feel like the script was so packed with new characters and old, that his character took a backseat. Silva was Bond’s counterpart. He was the person that Bond could’ve been after one bad mission. Even their dialogue together is incredible. It reminds of Batman and Joker’s relationship, it was fate for these 2 to clash.

[@bodhisattvaFM]

When I hit you up on twitter the other day you said I'd like this one. And you were right. What works about him (short version lol) is the way he preys on failings of human nature. The inattention of the masses, Blofeld's Bond hangup, the misguided aims of government leaders like M are all ammo to him. It was so necessary for that confrontation with Bond to be a conversation, not a monologue because what Safin discovers is Bond doesn't really have any failing that he can exploit. It reminds me of Falcon and Winter Soldier when Zemo admits Steve Rogers "really was incorruptible". Oh, and corruption is definitely the name of the game. This film is playing with themes of faith and sacrifice a lot. Bond has two great completely unexpected monologues and they're meant to be taken together. If Bond hadn't purified himself by opening himself to Madeleine he would've been Safin's bitch. No blood in the gun barrel, instead we get a fade to a scene white as snow which is essentially a visual hymn. Q tells Bond Heracles is "eternal". Interesting word choice. It's a reference to original sin - the ultimate human failing that makes us look for better ways to rob, hurt and kill each other. Lately whenever films go beyond characer and plot and start playing with theme it seems audiences reject it. Maybe people just don't want to think that much when they go to see an action movie. That's cool, but there's a lot to this character (remember this is the short version) and it's worth the headache to try to understand him. Like you said, Safin's this movie's Rosetta Stone. Oh, l--ast thing cause it took me so long to catch this. Bond and Safin both had their mothers die in their arms. Only for Bond that mother was M in Skyfall. Man, NTTD brought all the deep cuts.

[@FilmSpeak]

Man I’m so glad the video delivered for you! You and I are absolutely on the same page. Great additional points here!

[@emmarichardson965]

I agree a lot of your points. I like Safin; I see him as a traumatized child who, due to his trauma, never completely grew up.

[@thestarkknightreturns]

Safin is actually one of the best Bond villains because he's a victim. He's collateral damage of the spy game. He represents the serious consequences of all the ludicrous moves between secret organizations. Bond was fairly killed by what he helped create. Safin basically represents Fate for those who play this secret game. Both the good ones (Bond) and the evil ones (Blofeld).

[@jadedinosaur7573]

Ultimately what sealed this villain for me as one of the best Bond villains ever is, to be frank, just how fucking gross Project Heracles is. There are seriously nasty real-world implications with what this sort of weapon could do. More than any other Bond villain, this dude’s plan is fucking disgusting and offensive to every fiber of my being.

[@justinratcliffe947]

Um ok?

[@connorberry6377]

But he has no explained motive for this plan? He’s just a man who wants to kill loads of people. Thanos has a very similar plan in some ways, what made him so great was his motives, his personal reasons. The fact that, well, he was right, in a way. Safin has initial motivation but it’s done and dusted in the very first scene, after that he just wants to kill people, flat and dull in my opinion.

[@andrewstorm8240]

Worst villain ever!

[@raulpetrascu2696]

@@connorberry6377 he sees himself as the hero and wants to kill what he deems the bad people not just random innocents, it's a targeted weapon. I don't understand how you can say this but be 100% on board with Bond and M and MI6's motivations and resulting actions, which are exactly the same just less efficient (or more principled depending on the way you look at it -which is the crux of the plot). His character is just Mallory if he went through with using Heracles the way it was designed to be, instead Mallory is convinced that no one person or group can be trusted to handle that power to choose who lives and who dies whereas Safin sees himself as a god who can -which ironically makes him become the very thing he swore to destroy (Spectre). This is what that conversation between him and Bond was overtly about "I kill bad guys you kill bad guys we're the same" "history isn't kind to people who play god" etc this part is so simple and right in front of us I'm confused how people can't grasp it. It's his twisted method of protecting people from the Mr Whites of the world. But clearly some scenes that expand on his character were cut, including possibly aiming a gun at Mathilde when he's letting her go and choosing to not kill her as a parallel to the Madeleine flashback, alas it's already the longest movie in the series. I still much prefer a smarter and stronger than spectre, non-monologueing/plan-revealing, ambitious, creepy, mysterious and disciplined villain with a cool backstory, twisted morality, dangerous plan and the ability to actually shoot Bond (and has a backup plan) to this iteration of Blofeld who just talks and talks about how he masterminded everything bad that happened in Bond's life because he was jealous of the attention he got from his dad, using stills from the previous movies...

[@hanschristopherson8056]

I think the reason people found Safin underwhelming is he acts like he’s super special when he’s really just a fascist I think people were expecting him to actually be unique and not just pretending he’s unique

[@FilmSpeak]

Precisely and there in lies the genius I think. The fact that he's "just the usual" but parading like he's unique creates this strong fascination I feel. I also think it explains a lot of his petulant actions.

[@deleted01]

Safin is a weak villain because the story gives him no reason to want to unleash a biological weapon onto the world. He is just evil for evil's sake, which makes him unconvincing as a character. Even a fascist wants something-order, control, purity, racial pride, etc-and the violence is just a mean to an end. But Safin never made any demand. He didn't even want as much as the public's attention, as he did not bother to produce a manifesto like a real-life mass murderer would. And if Safin's goal is to rid of the world of "impurity," the movie fails to show what exactly Safin considers impure. Does he want to wipe out specific racial groups? People with certain genetic markers? If that is Safin's ultimate mission, he should at least talk about it or demonstrate his obsession somehow on screen. At the end, Safin is just a poorly written character that makes no sense.

[@andya.4253]

@@deleted01 I'm sure that he might consumed by revenge so much that he doesn't care that the world that have nothing to do with it must suffer the same fate. Pretty much like Mr. Ross from Regular Show the movie

[@deleted01]

@@andya.4253 That _could_ be the case if the movie shows it. However, instead of indiscriminate cruelty toward everyone, the movie shows Safin meticulously hunting down Spectre members, indicating that Safin does not attribute his suffering to all humankind, but only to Spectre. In fact, Safin's saving Madeleine and sparing her daughter contradicts the notion that he wishes everyone to suffer. There are so many motivations for Safin that could be worked into the story: He thinks the world is unfair that only he lost his parents. He thinks the "good guys" are equally bad because they didn't save his parents. He wants to kill off everyone who shares any genetic trait with a Spectre member, just to be sure he gets the last of them. He wants to kill off half of the world randomly, so that he will have "saved" the other half, just like he saved Madeleine. Etc, etc Any motivation would've made sense for Safin's character, but the movie gives him none. It's a shame because Rami Malek did a fantastic job. I think the movie is emotionally powerful but falls apart if you pause and think about it.

[@andya.4253]

@@deleted01 You got a point there

[@The_Story_Of_Us]

One thing I wish was different is that you merge Safin and Logan's characters. Logan has ZERO value to the story, he is a plot device. And the problem with Safin is his lack of presence throughout the film. If you look at other villain/hero dichotomies, they work best when they're there the whole time, from beginning to end. In The Dark Knight, Joker comes on before Batman just like Safin comes on before Bond. But Joker is always there, his screentime isn't like massive or anything, but he's constantly peppered throughout, he has impact AND presence. If you merge Safin with Logan, handing the latter's plot role to the former, he's there more often, and you can even cement the parallels between him and Bond even more by adding the spy angle to Safin. This is especially significant given that the story task of killing off a character as big as Felix Leiter gets outsourced to this total nobody that is Logan Ash who we have zero investment in. You could argue that Silva comes into Skyfall pretty late, but he comes in STRONG, literally a grand entrance after being built up to as if he's a horrific monster. Safin reenters the movie sitting down in an office, talking softly and monotonously. He NEEDS more presence because he's not as bombastic or impactful, and he's so tied to the story of the protagonist that makes it a big deal that he takes so long so show any presence at all, the only person even privy to his impact and background presence are Obruchev and the audience. Not to mention that through all that time, SPECTRE is stealing the spotlight both for the eyes of the audience and the characters, they're not a secondary antagonist, they're the main antagonist and then Safin kills them all and takes over as the main antagonist, this all further diminishes his presence by DISTRACTING from what little he has. This becomes a Bond movie with a lot to say, but says it with a lack of focus that was quite unnecessary. Ultimately it works, because I do care, but Safin as a villain is overshadowed for most of the movie, even on subsequent viewings you don't even remotely feel him lurking in the background, he disappears into it.

[@sneakykamon]

FINALLY a video on No Time To Die/Safin that I can 100% agree with! I never understood why he got so much hate when he clearly has a huge presence throughout the movie. Fantastic video.

[@FilmSpeak]

Thank you so much! Glad you’re in the Safin camp as well 😎

[@sneakykamon]

@@FilmSpeak It’s hard not to be. Like you, I’ve watched the movie multiple times now. On first viewing, I left the theater saying this is one of the greatest Bond movies ever made and I put it in my top 5. I even said that what made Safin such a great villain in IMHO is that he’s the only villain to truly break Bond. Even though it was a distraction the whole time, the scene towards the end where Bond apologizes to him gives me chills every time. Bond never apologizes to a villain in that way, even if its just bullshit, but to see him put in a situation where he can’t just think of himself or his love interest as “expendable” and actually had to think of a way to get out of a jam and save a kid’s life, is what convinced me of how good of a villain Safin really was. At first, I did feel as if the plot suddenly goes from typical Bond/spy fare to military action film by the third act but it does makes sense after watching it a second time. The first half ends with the death of Spectre as a whole and the rest ends with Bond’s death, and its kinda poetic. As far as Safin not having much screen time, like I said, he doesn’t need much screen time because his presence looms all over the film. Probably my favorite line of the whole film is when Madeline tells Bond her history with Safin and Bond says, “There’s a thousand reasons to find this man. You just gave me a reason to kill him.” It’s like Bond was acknowledging that he didn’t really need to get involved with the plot and probably felt that he only needed to help MI6 find Logan Ash to get Heracles back and then he could carry on with his life. But knowing that Safin will still be out there terrorizing Madeline (and Matilde), then he has no choice but to kill this man whom he ultimately had no beef with up to that point. I know this got long winded but I need to point out two things you said that I hadn’t considered: 1) how Daniel Craig’s Bond tries to get out of the service multiple times through the movies and 2) that the gun barrel sequence didn’t show any blood. I hadn’t realized how much that foreshadows the ending until you pointed it out. Again, great job on the video👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@sr71sr71]

I only saw this in theaters when it first released, and although I never did pick up on these nuances of character and story, I think subconsciously I liked his different archetype. What made me love the film from the get go, was the collapsing house of cards, so to speak. From Casino to this, it felt like a calamity, a rogue spear into the gut, a danger never perceived until it was far too late. It wasntwhat I expected, and I loved it. Also, side note, the Craig era bond felt so right to me as it reminded me of my (now) second favorite Bond Era. The Dalton era.

[@bettyreads222]

I like Rami's point around a good villain being one you're waiting to uncoil, I love to hate a good villain and in his case I was underwhelmed at first like you said and then as I thought about it more I think the subtle way the movie builds him up and show the intricacies of why he's doing this, the more I was like okay I see you bond movie. Great video essay!

[@FilmSpeak]

Thank you so much! YES! The way Rami talks about the character is incredible and it all comes through beautifully in the film. That whole interview with Guillermo was a real treat. Super insightful.

[@har5814]

I like his character. He's a tragic villain and also he doesn't hurt a child. He draws a boundary not to cross.

[@k.b.7718]

not true, he psychologically tortures the girl

[@horrorfanandy4647]

@@k.b.7718 And by releasing Heracles into the world, he would kill millions, many of them children. Maybe he doesn’t like to kill children with his bare hands though, that’s where he draws the line, when they’re just a statistic, you can isolate yourself from it I suppose.

[@RocTroller]

I’m happy I wasn’t the only one who thought Safin was an interesting and unsettling villain. I appreciated how they didn’t have Safin look to the camera and explain his plan to the T. The audience should pay attention, not have the film hand holding the audience.

[@FilmSpeak]

Bingo! I think it’s more interesting, especially in this particular film, for him to wax poetic about his warped philosophy and how it mirrors Bond. Strengthens the emotional core which is the most important element in a final Daniel Craig film.

[@rendellbartholomew2742]

Fair enough. Good the producers went in a different but subtle direction with the villan. I noticed it too. Every Bond villan can't have the same traits ya know. Really good film. Very solid outing for Daniel Craig and the cast.

[@frazzplayz6755]

THANK YOU! I thought I was the only person who actually loved Safin!

[@gtaipan7422]

We all loved him, I highly respect that. 😉👍

[@hanschristopherson8056]

People just didn’t expect a bond story or a Bond villain to be nuanced

[@FilmSpeak]

Yeah, they're just not used to the plot taking a backseat to character and the emotional core of the narrative, which...in Craig's final film...I think was absolutely the correct move. It's why the climax is so impactful!

[@wingedferret5713]

There are many nuanced bond villains though. Man many layered villains. For me safin had so much potential but just didnt have enough screen time at all, felt like a great character being severely under utilised

[@ryanrebelo9653]

Wonderful commentary on your behalf and such an amazing take on Malek’s fantastic portrayal of Safin. I knew Safin was going to be one of the better, reserved, villains of Craig’s Bond Franchise, and this video has opened my eyes even more. Great digging man 👏🏽

[@walterdbrown]

Great video and points of view. Thanks for opening my eyes a bit on Safin and the meaning of him in Bond’s finale. Similar to what Malek said, villains/antagonists who keep their calm and have an unnerving presence just on their words and looks are my favorite. Malek is so good, and anything he does is just amazing because of his wide open eyes and the ways he plays with his uncomfortable tone of voice. I have to rewatch No Time To Die because on first viewing, I didn’t appreciate how I wanted, since it was more a film I shared with my brother and father. But I’ve wanted to watch on my own with headphones to take it all in.

[@burgersbiblesaeh849]

That movie was absolutely amazing.

[@1stnaruto]

I think it's very humorous that nobody noticed that Cary literally just made a Metal Gear Solid movie using 007 characters and the mythos to pretty much call back to every single MGS video game from how Bond visits Vesper being Snake visiting the Boss but at the beginning to be similar to not just MGS3 but 4, Safin pretty much being SkullFace from character, motivation, appearance with all those scars (lol) and color scheme from MGSV, the stairway shootout to the very top like in MGS1, the nanomachines having a virus attack people using their DNA and having the main character be the carrier to eventually become a walking bio weapon from MGS to MGS4, Lea's character does the exact same thing to Bond and is very similar to Raiden & Rose's relationship and child, and some more.

[@FilmSpeak]

hahaha that's very true. Kinda a cool cyclical thing where Kojima was inspired by his love of the Bond movies and then Bond went on to take some inspiration form his interpretation. Love when that happens.

[@ZmansEdits]

Great video! Safin is already my favorite Bond villain! I am obsessed with him, regarding his badass look in his opening scene in Norway with his Noh mask.

[@sauron6064]

He was a fantastic character until near the end.

[@errhka]

Very astute observation about Safin's genius in using Blofeld's weapon against him and Spectre. No Time to Die is very efficient in its writing which sometimes doesn't translate well to getting everything on the first watch - but man is it great to pick it apart in the analysis.

[@pontiusporcius8430]

So ingenious that it anticipates the paranoid illuminati to gather all of their paranoid leaders in one place where they agree to be doused in an apocalyptic hell virus commissioned by head of the government agency that seeks to destroy them. Truly a gambit to upstage Kronstein and Fischer indeed.

[@AlMoSiCe210]

I definitely agree with your overall point. I just wanted a smidge more screen time of Safin.

[@prometheusjackson8787]

I felt like No Time to Die wasn't given enough room to breathe because a 1/3 of the movie was carry over from Spectre and the attempt at turning the Craig Era into a cinematic universe which didn't work

[@HarryThomasPictures]

Finally somebody agrees and can see Safin is the most underrated Bond villain and the most underrated villain of all time he seriously gets far too much hate and is my personal favourite Bond antagonist. Rami Malek made him unsettling by playing him calmly he never needed to yell to be intimidating and Safin dosen't have the motivation of Power he's taking out his anger on the world because the murder of his family shaped him into a monster. I for one love that he has more scenes with Madeline than with Bond as he's kind of like the author of all her pain just like Blofeld is the author of all Bond's pain. He's only the only villain to be deadlier than Spectre and what's thought provoking is that he kind of wins in the end even after Bond puts a stop to his plan he still robs Bond of ever living happily with Madeline and Matilde and is the only villain to be ever kill James Bond. To those who call him underwhelming I say all the Pierce Brosnan Bond villains are way worse personally!

[@zrglow4450]

Well, compared to a ball busting german guy who is also gambling addict and impulsive poisoner, safin may seem bland due to his careful and rational approach. Safin manages to wipe out Blofeld's army, wounding him gravely. Completely outsmarted, Blofeld acknowledges Safin's abilities. Knowing that Safin also will seek to kill Madeline to complete his revenge and his inevitable clash with James Bond, Blofeld grants Safin's wish and intentionally contact Heracles. He also orders his remaining men to assist Safin(one eyed guy). All this just to hurt James Bond. So it's actually Blofeld and Safin vs James Bond.

[@coolrabbit75]

It took a couple of Craig bond movies for me to come completely around but now he's one of two bonds I really like Sean Connery and Craig are the best..in the bond franchise

[@optimusprime028]

MALEK REALLY DID A GREAT JOB WITH THIS CHARACTER. HE MADE IT SINISTER IN A UNIQUE WAY.

[@neon13602]

Safin is a interesting villain from what I seen in clips but Le Chiffe (I probably misspelled that) is still the best

[@FilmSpeak]

He definitely is, but I quite like Safin and how he functions in the story.

[@neon13602]

@@FilmSpeak agree

[@4thpeverell142]

Silva and Le Chiffre on top lmao.

[@neon13602]

@@4thpeverell142 definitely

[@olandofuller5588]

@@FilmSpeak you like bill gates. My bad we talking about a 🎬 movie

[@lukefrancis9536]

Watching this makes me want to rewatch No Time to Die yet again even after watching it a few weeks ago! When I first saw it, I thought it was predictable, I saw the action scenes in the trailer and didn't feel suspenseful. But the last few times, I've watched it, it has become my default 007 movie! Anyone else think that?

[@isaacharton7851]

He is literally me. (minus the crime, FBI agents, minus the crime, Jesus, you don't have to insta-SWAT me, calm down!)

[@coolrabbit75]

I agree...one of the best ..he was creepy good..I put him up there with gold finger

[@JSK_03]

You try to somehow string all of Safins contractory plans together to find some kind of reason behind them (even guessing things that were neither stated, shown or implied in the film), when it is clear that the writers had no idea what to do with him after he destroyed Spectre and basically only used him as a plotdevice without motivation to get the story to happen!

[@camiloalves55]

Thanks for this.

[@JSK_03]

@@camiloalves55 I got ya

[@NatureWatersProductions]

Silva will FOREVER be my Favorite! 🥹💚 But Sefin came close…..

[@augustorojassanchez6656]

What really annoyed me in the movie was not the villan, but the writing around the "good guys" making everything easy for them to deal with almost plot armor like, it ends up coming up as bland and as if Bond didn't earn most of the little victories. Even if the villan is written well that's not the whole writing

[@christophmahler]

Everyone agrees that *the character of Safin was either shot or **_edited_** poorly* , just as *everyone agrees that his character was comprehensive and 'relatable' in his motivations **_to a certain point_* - that is until _the utter destruction of SPECTRE_ . If one begins to think about the character, it doesn't take long to figure that 'Lucifer Safin' is *motivated by his deprived childhood* - a resulting _natural_ sense of detachment, jealousy and resentment to those who do enjoy even the outlook of a wholesome family, a _Godforsaken_ existential dread that escalates into a *suicidal misanthropy* when planning not only to sell the originally _discriminatory_ bioweapon, but to have it manipulated in a way that it's effect will have likely spread ever wider through genetic *bonds of family* into a *mass extinction* event - as depicted in the case of it's _deceptive_ application upon SPECTER - the family trade serves indeed as a Trojan Horse. But if one is thus _forced_ to contemplate upon the psychological threads between seemingly isolated acts - like letting Madeline's captured daughter simply go, and himself risking close combat, he knew he was prone to loose - both acts as necessary means *to infect the hero to the cruel end of denying him any intimacy with his loved ones* - then the director failed to portray these motivations sufficiently *_on screen_* . The casual, passing exposition of Safin's background story by Madeline's SPECTER files is why the movie can never live up to the hype of the production company - resulting in audiences to shrug off the episode as another franchise miss, mirroring MI6 habitual mores - unless, someone completely re-edits the missing bits, including *'deleted scenes'* - _if these even exist_ ... The observations about the hero - and the British Intelligence apparatus - being a _stand in_ for the lacking presence of the Jungian, 'shadowy' anatgonist is valid, and a more mature storytelling that is worth pursuing, but works poorly, here on first screening - when it feels as if the movie has simply several preludes...

[@owentaylor5622]

After watching this film twice, I realised how delivery of ideas is more important than the ideas themselves. In skyfall, Silva's plan is unrealistic and dependent on things out of his control but we enjoy its execution because it is so seductively presented to the audience. NTTD has some poignant ideas but they're fumbled on delivery. The slow pace, clunky and melodramatic dialogue and an unclear direction or intention of said ideas makes scenes like safins reintroduction to Madeleine uninteresting, confusing underdeveloped. The majority of the movie just washed over me as a passive viewing experience; Safin was the epitome of this. The moments I remember the most are the ones that took me out of the movie: Nomi being cringe, Daniel Craig forgetting to act when seeing Blofeld, Safin just letting the child and the eyeroll-worthy dialogue before Bond dies.

[@ga20904]

As soon as Lyutsifer met with Dr. Swann the entire movie shifted to a darker tone.

[@VeveIndian]

Safin letting Mathilde go is not some thematic message. It was just a plot convenience. They had to show Bond coming to Safin to rescue Mathilde for their monologues but also needed her to get away with her mother before the final showdown. So they conveniently let her bite Safin and he just let's her go 😆

[@VeveIndian]

@@sauron6064 ya. That kid was leverage over both Bond and her mother. He already demonstrated that by making Bond bow down. So he went to the lengths to make nanobots as insurance against Bond, but will not keep the kid hostage? Come on. I don't mind movie taking some conveniences but to listen to youtubers making out more than what is, is purely cringe.

[@jamesmartinez5622]

We’re not so different you and I, Mr. Bond!

[@FilmSpeak]

I could be speaking to my own reflection…

[@frozenwishstudios]

People hate Safin just because he got 3 scenes but all the scenes he's in works perfectly.

[@cooldude3240]

Great video.

[@SunsetLikesCoconuts]

He’s the best literally

[@BlackstarSI]

Great video, man! Much respect ✊🏾

[@NerdyGamerReacts]

Amazing video man, this was my favorite of Craig's films, My favorite Daniel Craig Bond villain's are: 1. Safin 2. Blofeld 2. Silva 4. Le Chiffre 5. Dominic Greene Love his films, looking forward to watching them over again for year's to come, Craig's bond is my favorite so far. 💯😎

[@colecash6208]

I just bought my Blu Ray copy of No Time To Die last weekend 😀😀. I didn't get to see it in theaters, so I pulled the trigger and got it at Best Buy while they had it on sale 🤑🤑. I'm gonna watch the movie 1st and then come back to your channel and watch all your videos about it. I've read a number of varying opinions about this film, but I don't pay too much attention to them until I form my own. You're Quantum of Solace and Casino Royale videos were a breath of fresh air for me.... perfectly encapsulating what I've also thought about those movies for years. So I'll be back soon after I watch No Time To Die.

[@adamclark3421]

Someone send this to Calvin Dyson and David Zaritsky

[@TheChaosLupin]

Why? They’re good guys, they don’t deserve this

[@fredraputznik2313]

My friend, thank you for saying what I was thinking. I've always been a big Dr. No fan, and this movie ran with that formula (and many other nods to the series). Great video! Keep it up!!!!

[@CDubya.82]

Not Time to Die is a movie that has improved in my liking of it with every watch. This video plants more to enjoy and seeds more points to look for in the film. Well put together.

[@FilmSpeak]

Yeah I agree! It’s a film that only gets better the more you watch it and are able to peel back the layers. Love it so much!

[@ninjanibba4259]

I get what you’re trying to say, but Safrin just comes in and out of the movie with no impact on Bond till the end, that’s not very compelling, especially when they don’t even meet until the 3rd act, it’s disconnected

[@palomasaudios2676]

And My father's been a Bond fan most of the times and I got introduced to it when I was 4 was just 7 years old when I started Casino Royale in the second grade and now I am 22 since I watched No Time To Die..and that too 2 years before I graduate my bachelors'

[@InimicalWit]

I like how, like the point about the film you were making, when you pointed out what Safin’s name sounded like, you didn’t spell out his entire name for us. ;)

[@PierluigiPuccini]

This makes the movie even better. And I loved it already.

[@raizara4523]

The story might be better if the main Antagonist still be Blofeld And Safin Is a Central Antagonist who consume by his vengeance and become a Puppet for blofeld Before this movie was released. I thought the Blofeld plot would be like Solomon Lane. He escaped by the new villain who need him to cooperate the evil plan and finally showing how terrifying and ruthless is he like lane did in mi: fallout And bond will face blofeld last time as the last battle and the last enemy I think the movie should show how terrifying and ruthless is Waltz's Blofeld. Regardless of being imprisoned. Like Sending All of Spectre's Assassin to hunt bond (like Mr.Hinx Return as Jaw )or make more an unexpected attack to bond or government like he did at the opening. But Most of Spectre agent are killed at the party And blofeld had only 5 minutes screentime and 3 minutes of voice speech

[@MrTardis11]

Fantastic analysis and opinions. I do agree Lyutsifer Safin is underrated. It’s not about how long he has on screen it’s what he does that makes him so intriguing and why he does it. There are a lot of personal motivations there, and yes he has a serious God complex issue. Actually Mathilde biting his hand gave him her DNA 🧬 which allowed him to create the vile and poison Bond, tragic. So while Bond was off trying shoot his way to the blast doors, Safin was busy putting that vile together. Yes Rami Malek was perfect casting, he’s so creepy and unsettling in every scene not just the opening. I think it’s clever the way he took down Spectre and Blofeld but ultimately when Safin died as you said he wasn’t leaving behind the legacy that Bond was. Bond saved his family and the world. I think Bond ultimately found a bit of a redemption, he learned to love again and realise the value of family, notice how over the 5 films Craig’s bond opens up a lot more emotionally. Safin was probably a delightful child but could never recover from his family’s deaths. I agree not every villain needs a big speech about their plan, you just have to pay attention and read the story as it unfolds. He’s a great villain and it seems pretty clear why he’s executing the plan the way he is and yes in the end he ends up looking pathetic despite being the one who kills Bond.

[@sauron6064]

I think Safin’s death could have been better. Maybe Bond could have shot him in the stomach and then they both get blown up my the missiles.

[@MrTardis11]

@@sauron6064 I suppose so but perhaps Safin needed to die before Bond cause it may have disrupted the emotional punch of Bond’s final goodbye to Madeleine and Mathilde

[@barisbal7782]

i found it extremely hypocritical that people devaluate him just because they dont get his motivations and background and instead of bother to analyse, they deemed him as a villain who lack those things. yet, end up putting lesser bond villains and their angry little man motivations on pedestal

[@wingedferret5713]

​@@sauron6064 but not every villain needs to be explained to be fuckin awesome. Goldfinger is an absolutely diabolical villain and one of the best in movie history. Not much backstory, hes just a cunt. Yet he is still so cool

[@palomasaudios2676]

And another thing, Safin's plotline did remind me of a few female villains plotline where like them, he was also nearly murdered and his life was ruined by a powerful man. Like Jennifer Check, Amy Dunne, Sandie, Love Quinn or Elektra King another Bond villain from The World Is Not Enough.

[@wingedferret5713]

But elektra took control of him, which is what i loved

[@nalaplama9767]

For one of the few times I agree you I really thought safin was a good villain great job

[@gtaipan7422]

34:02 "'We are both poisoned with knowledge'." Thanos: "You're not the only one who's cursed with knowledge." An extraordinary reminding quotes together. 😁

[@lifeofaustin1062]

Well if No TimeTo Die wasn't already my favourite, this video might have just sealed it!

[@AstridHVinnysMama]

All of this! Thank you for posting this. I loved Safin & thought Rami Malek did a fantastic job. I also love what Rami & Guillermo Del Toro said in that panel discussion. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one out there that appreciates Safin & Rami’s performance. The only complaint I have is that he should’ve had more screen time.

[@classicmiriam]

Wow. Personally I loved the film. I totally get that Safin is terrifying. But I have always been a fan of Rami Malik.

[@1ofthe3]

I’m here to defend Safin’s over all character. No Time To Die felt like the biggest Easter egg basket we were ever given with so many fond references to other films and games (cybernetic eye!) I’m here to say that Safin gave me heavy Hugo Drax vibes with his base, motives, fascination with the Fox Glove as Drax was to the Orchid. There are a couple more comparisons but, I mean to tell you Safin felt very much like a… “down to Earth” version of Drax 😂 albeit: more psychologically twisted. SPECTRE was not aware of how close Drax came to destroying humanity including them. Safin’s rise to destroy them was a great plot twist because for over 60yrs we (the audience) have really only been putting up with SPECTRE plots, it was nice to see them caught by surprise for a change - only this time dealt with in one swift blow like a PG version of G.O.T’s: Blood Wedding 😂 Safin did what other Bond villains never could -no thanks to story plots. Having Bond die hurt me because I was already dealing with my dad’s passing and Bond was a tremendous part of my childhood with my dad so that was one more nail in the coffin. If only they could have let him retire. That would have been a more fitting and dignifying end of an era, and most certainly would have been more comforting to me to see a good hero live on and retire after already losing my real one. As for a villain like Safin, they don’t come by too often. I look forward to seeing more of your content!

[@ikeflaherty8910]

If there ever was a villain that would have killed Bond in an equal 1 on 1 it wouldn’t have been Saffin, I think it’s clear Saffin isn’t a physical threat but more of a psychological/administrative, that’s why he ambushes Bond and gets the tables turned regardless. If there was ever a villain that would have killed Bond in a video game equal footing scenario it would be 006 or Red Grant.

[@articleanteater]

Yes yes yes. More bond videos

[@LeonWick526]

If Safin is a great villain, then can't we agree that Christoph Waltz's Blofeld is great too? I have hard time understanding how people praise NTTD when it has many of the same problems Spectre has (contrived plot points, underwhelming villain, etc.) and the same people don't like Spectre.

[@olandofuller5588]

I just wanted the game 🎮 to come out with the movie. Golden Eye 2020

[@DavidHutchinson0713]

I enjoyed Spectre, for what it's worth. The one Craig Bond film that failed to me would be Quantum of Solace; my god, rewatching it always feels like a headache because of the goddamn editing. Anyway, much like the film itself, I've always enjoyed Waltz as Blofeld; thought he was underrated.

[@wingedferret5713]

​@@DavidHutchinson0713 my issue is he doesnt really act like blofeld. He acts more like the joker. When he says "finish the mission" and wants bond to kill him, it took me out of the film, blofeld hates bond deeply and would never let bond win

[@dmann5938]

Safin lowkey scared me when I watched it 😂😂. Like almost to the same level as Thanos, Green Goblin (in No Way Home), Scarlet Witch (Multiverse of Madness) and Riddler (The Batman). This rarely happens since I don’t get scared easily

[@pacorka9943]

Safin is just a guy with a very powerful weapon. They could have gone into his character more but chose not to. This movie is good but it has plenty of flaws in the writing.

[@bigkraus1]

The problem is he went from finally getting revenge and killing off all of Spectre two wanting to take out most of the populations of the world with no real reason why to explain the shift… Stromberg, Drax, and even Zorin had a reason for what they were going to do and that was the plan from the beginning…

[@sauron6064]

I have searched for a while and I never found a definitive answer.

[@rhodriwilliams2599]

Although I disagree on how well established Saxon was, I always enjoy seeing a positive view on something I see negatively (I actually quite like safin) makes me appreciate it more

[@wickdaline8668]

I knew there were reasons I was on the fence about Safin and now I know why.

[@FilmSpeak]

Glad I could help!

[@obviouslyPSM]

Only watching NTTD once, but I liked Safin. I couldn’t really put why into words, but I think you just did that for me.

[@palomasaudios2676]

Thank you so much for this. This is what I've been trying to tell others who insult and degrade him.

[@FilmSpeak]

My pleasure! I'm glad there's a group of us out there who love this character.

[@BlamefulEye36]

The only villain to successfully kill Bond is definitely un-deserving of an underrated title!! He outsmarted Blofeld,SPECTRE,and Bond all at once!!

[@phan643]

I think Saffin had potential and was unsettling which is great for a Bond villain , though they didn't give him enough screen time , or explain how he was in love with Madeline...she was a child when they met and there's a big gap after that , we don't know if the actually ever had a romantic relationship.

[@PG-ft6bn]

I guess you didn't understand the movies point. Safin is obsessed with Madeline is because, saving her lufe connects the two of them. Even more than killing does. In his mind the two of them belonged together. They never saw each other from the moment on he saved her life till his visit in her office.

[@phan643]

@@PG-ft6bn No , that's not realistically enough to form a true bond of love , at most it's infatuation exacerbated by Saffin's obvious God complex and abandonment issues. So he really has an obsession with her and feels powerful knowing he could save her , being her savior , her God so to speak. This is more akin to domination than love.

[@gregcunningham1039]

When trying to be persuasive I suggest not characterizing your detractors in such a conveniently simplistic manner. (i.e. assuming to tell us what the counter argument Is). Defending Safin’s uniqueness as a Bond villain (or lack thereof) with the alternative is (your assumption) others DO prefer ‘having my hand held’ or want a ‘plot-spewing monologue (with) villain’s plans simple and kind of in your face’ and who Don’t want to ‘pay attention and read between the lines (to) dissect’ the plot is presumptive and using loaded language to strengthen your point with a weak counterpoint. Just look at the overall negative reaction to SPECTRE and Blofeld’s plot-spewing -in-your-face monologue for confirmation that is Not what Most Bond fans want. Look at the entire successful Reboot of Bond franchise after Brosnan’s Die Another Day to Craig’s Casino Royale thru Skyfall to see this IS what Bond fans Want. (Those Villain’s motivations are clear) Using the Goldfinger plot-spewing mafia scene as an example of an alternative to less-is-more character development is a strawman counterpoint. Most Bond fans-I believe- would agree this, (along with the Beatles -ear-muffs comment) isn’t what fans are demanding in modern Bond movies. So undeveloped motivations are not “enriching” and comparing Safin’s casual release of Mathilde to Dracula draining his victims of blood before discarding them ignores the fact that Dracula KILLS his victims. Just like Safin kills those who may get in his way (the MI6 Lab scientists) Yet Safin sets Mathilde free even though he threatened to kill her minutes before in front of her dad/Bond -and even Though she is still useful in his yet unfinished plot (considering Madeleine has not been cooperating) is non sensical and not the actions of a grand strategist who planned for years to take out SPECTRE. The very least Safin could do is use her to stop Bond from trying to Kill him again since Bond is still loose with a gun. There is only downsides to letting her go, no upside (besides avoiding another bite making Mathilde closer to Dracula than Safin). Also, really how motivated is Safin? He kills an unarmed drunk woman but then gets tricked, shot and ‘converted’ From his Revenge Killing Of All Family Members by a child with one look- and this his Safin’s first act of revenge. Perhaps that is why he has his henchmen do all his revenging from then on-Obruchev to steal the the nanobots, Primo to set up the SPECTRE massacre, Madeleine to kill Blofeld. He is sub-contracting his personal revenge. All for what, to make the world “tidier”? No, because he is also Selling the Nonobots to other anonymous killers who will presumably kill Other people Safin has no quarrel with. So is money his true motivation? Unclear. Vague does Not equal nuanced.

[@lgtory6099]

Possibly my favourite Bond film, simply for the fact that we get a completed character arc for James. It's the perfect ending in my opinion.

[@rewby23]

I've never really followed the Bond movies, I've only watched this and a different one (can't remember the name) but I remember watching this one and being like godDAMN that was metal as fuck to just be like. Yep. Now you can't ever see the person you actually love again because if you do she'll actually die. Safin was such an eerie character as well everything about him and how he acts is so unsettling and it was honestly very interesting to see it all happen.

[@FilmSpeak]

That's amazing. I love hearing non Bond fans' takes on this film and Safin as a character. I've found a lot of Bond newcomers are actually quite creeped out by him and find him to be a great villain! Glad you had such great experience with the film.

[@pontiusporcius8430]

The early connery ones are really good, but for you I recommend licence to kill. It makes this movie its bitch.

[@wingedferret5713]

​@@pontiusporcius8430sanchez is one of my fav villains

[@Ninten007]

I was pretty on board with Safin after first view, but you put why into words for me. He definitely embodies the unique atmosphere of the film. (Also when I typed Safin it autocorrected to Satan. So take what you will from that).

[@DavidHutchinson0713]

I mean, considering his first name of "Lyutsifer" (Russian of Lucifer), the way Safin's name is pronounced, _and_ his godhood complex, the Satan parallels are most definitely intentional

[@GentlemensClubHolyEdition]

I love that his name is just Lucifer satin with a few letter changes

[@jadedinosaur7573]

All that said, I still wish his name was Dr. No. I think the name recognition is really missing from this character, and would have helped him gain more popularity.

[@ericmiller93]

I’m totally on board with you. The issue is a certain amount of the audience does need to be spoon fed. They need big elaborate schemes that are given to them via exposition dumps by the villain while he struts around apathetically pontificating. I did want to see more of Safin, but only because he was so well acted. In the end I think they used him the exact right amount.

[@TevyaSmolka]

looking back at it Safin is a very interesting.

[@joebro391]

Bold move, Cotton!

[@ange1_dsst]

im happy that the writers, directors and producers didn't spoon feed Safin's plan, it makes him more interesting, besides, we as the audience can understand what's going on and can pay attention

[@sfinnera1]

Great analysis I totes agree

[@jackwilliam4436]

Very good analysis, but I have to disagree with the Dracula allegory, at 8:29. In the original novel, Dracula doesn't ever let go of his victims. Even when he got what he wanted from Jonathan Harker (using him to buy property in London, framing him for abducting and eating babies, giving him as a present to the female Vampires who live with him, ...), he still goes on to persecute his family and friends, in London (while he thinks Jonathan is still being held captive in his castle). Dracula does not discard his toys, after playing with them. Even after the blood exchange with Mina, he didn't just abandon her : he turned her into another Vampire. In fact, it is precisely because Dracula acts child-like and never lets go of initially irrelevant people that he ultimately fails. And to say he could have so easily taken over the United Kingdom.

[@prateeksrivastav8257]

I love James bond movies 💞

[@kylekeller7577]

I’m just amazed that he didn’t seem to age in 20+ years.

[@fletcherhamilton3177]

A villain so villainous that he takes out other supervillains!

[@palomasaudios2676]

Also the more I think about it, Mr. Robot is kind of like the Daniel Craig era Bond but in the hacker world and Elliot (Rami Malek) is less arrogant and violent in his approach, where he questions his own purpose and actions. Let's just say he is a mix of Bond and Madeleine. He also suffered a loss and betrayal from his first love like Bond did with Vesper (Angela, except that was out of jealousy and spite on her part and refused redemption and died to preserve her pride) and he is angered both by her betrayal and death, especially how could she choose to die pridefully rather than make it up to him and Darlene, which borders on abandonment. To him, Angela turned out to be like everyone else who abused and used him and then discarded him once they were done with him, which is exactly what Angela did. And like Bond in Quantum, he also becomes a little unforgiving and brutal in Season 4 in order to take down the dangerous group responsible for Angela's betrayal and death. And like Madeleine, there are dangerous men Tyrell and Vera who become obsessed with him because they see him as an idea for something they desire and as a result, he gets brutalized for it by them.

[@FilmSpeak]

Great observation! I can actually see a lot of that. Both engage with the real world and global politics in a similarish way, but the emotional side of things I never considered until reading your comment. Awesome comparison.

[@palomasaudios2676]

@@FilmSpeak Thank you.

[@palomasaudios2676]

@@FilmSpeak And another thing, Elliot has a similar ending to both Bond & Madeleine because it ends with him sacrificing himself to save the world, but instead of dying like Bond, he gets rewarded with a long & healthy life because he remained a pure kind-hearted soul his whole life despite his flaws and vices, even though he may have to deal with PTSD from everything that he went through for years. But like Madeleine, he will always have Angela in his heart and may tell his own kids about the people he cared about.

[@GentlemensClubHolyEdition]

Wait, Mr Robot is in James bond?

[@nikolaiquack8548]

I can agree with you on some of these points and Malek certainly gave a very good performance, but I do think you overreach on a bunch of these arguments. I'm all for interpreting things in media and art, but it's important to interpret something out of the material and not into the material. And I also do wanna say that some of the comments you made can feel a tad bit patronizing. I really like NTTD myself, but I know a lot of people who didn't. I don't necessarily believe it's because they didn't comprehend it all.

[@youknowmyname9606]

What's the background music🎶

[@mrn7356]

Wasn't Vesper once the armor of Bond, in Casino Royale? Bond never directly defeats Spectre, another villains does, Satin. I noticed how Vesper and 006 both betray Bond. And I really think that the Goldeneye Satellites is very parallel. But I also noticed that Bond never got shot or bruised only until Casino Royale, because you can feel his emotion. And with Pierce Brosman, he never got shot or hurt, he had every gadget and weapon for convenience like that ring or or clicking pen, missile on a car? James Bond did die I think it was in Quantum Solace and he got to his car and revived himself.

[@PG-ft6bn]

Safin embodies "Pure Evil" like no others bond villain before. He is death.