One James Bond Movie Changed How A City Celebrates A Famous Holiday

Summary

The opening sequence of Spectre highlights a Day of the Dead celebration.
Spectre received a mixed reception, but the opening sequence is regarded for its technical achievement.
Spectre’s Day of the Dead opening sequence helped inspire a real parade in Mexico City.

James Bond has always been an influential cinematic spy franchise, but one of Daniel Craig’s outings actually changed how a real city celebrates a beloved holiday. Daniel Craig took over the James Bond role from Pierce Brosnan, starting with 2006’s Casino Royale, which acted as a soft reboot for the spy, allowing things to begin fresh. Craig went on to appear in another four films as 007, with his time as the super spy often regarded as having given audiences some of the character’s best films.

While Casino Royale still stands out as a franchise highlight, Craig’s tenure also gave fans Skyfall, a top-tier Bond installment. The actor’s run as James Bond came to an end with the divisive No Time to Die, which sought to subvert expectations as to what could be done with the character. Despite his time as Bond having ended, Craig left his mark on the franchise, with his five films helping to influence real change thanks to a holiday celebration shown in one of them.

Collage of different versions of James Bond

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Spectre Was Daniel Craig’s Penultimate Turn As James Bond

Craig’s time as James Bond thankfully had more highs than lows. Many fans were unhappy with Quantum of Solace, but this was offset by the likes of Skyfall. However, there were installments like 2015’s Spectre, a middle-of-the-road adventure for the spy. The film told a standard story that tried to lump in long-foreseen twists to lackluster results, while still delivering on the thrills fans have come to love and enjoy about the franchise.

Spectre brought back Sam Mendes to direct after the studio was pleased with his work on Skyfall. Craig led the cast, which also included Christoph Waltz, Dave Bautista, Léa Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, and Naomie Harris. The story continues from the events of Skyfall, allowing James Bond to become truly connected beyond characters, as the spy’s past was fleshed out with some unique elements. Spectre continues to add to Bond’s backstory, bringing in Waltz for a phone-in reveal as Blofeld, one of the franchise’s most prominent villains, who is also now the spy’s adopted brother.

While Blofeld’s story missed the mark, fans still enjoyed new additions, like Bautista’s Hinx, who served as a classic series enforcer, and Seydoux’s Madeleine, who proves to be a cryptic force in Bond’s life. Still, even for those who didn’t love Spectre, the movie’s opening sequence is well remembered as an eye-catching technical achievement.

Spectre‘s Opening Sequence Involves A Day Of The Dead Celebration

mexico_city_spectre_filming helicopter scene

The opening sequence of Spectre features a long, continuous tracking shot of the spy that intricately weaves him through a Day of the Dead celebration. The scene shows James Bond in a skeleton mask, walking through the festivities, alive with thousands of people lining the streets in appropriate garb. The camera follows Bond as he tracks a target through the streets and into a hotel, with the camera following him, uninterrupted, or so it is made to seem.

The scene erupts into chaos, with Bond becoming embroiled in an action-heavy chase. Bond and his target are eventually dangling from the side of a helicopter, throwing punches as it swings them over the massive crowds below. The sequence has gone down as one of the best moments in any James Bond film, with cinephiles the world over relishing the technical wizardry used to stitch it together.

However, one of the most significant elements of the scene is the Day of the Dead celebration that frames the sequence. The size and scale of the celebration were captured practically where possible, with the crowd-filled streets Craig was walking through lined with real people. The sequence was filmed in Mexico City, and thanks to the celebration, the city’s plans for the holiday forever changed.

James Bond Helped Change Mexico City’s Day Of The Dead Celebration

james bond spectre daniel craig day of the dead

The Day of the Dead parade crafted by Sam Mendes and the production of Spectre helped inspire Mexico City. In Mexican culture, the Day of the Dead is a day of remembrance for those who have passed away, with many celebrating with families. However, the holiday often evokes elaborate celebrations, sometimes marked with skeletons and face paint, meant to embrace life. As reported by The Independent, the mayor of Mexico City, Miguel Ángel Mancera, was inspired by what he saw on display in the 2015 film, with hopes to replicate it for the city for real.

In 2016, a year after the release of Spectre, Mexico City hosted its inaugural Day of the Dead parade. Allowing their citizens to celebrate with a large-scale parade, inspired by the antics of a cinematic super spy, this parade has since transformed how Mexico City celebrates each year. Almost a decade after their first Day of the Dead parade, the tradition continues to thrive, with James Bond to thank. Spectre may have received a mixed reception upon release, but for Mexico City, it may well be the most influential James Bond movie of all time, with its Day of the Dead parades showing no signs of stopping in the coming years.