Campaigners Criticize Mexican Government for Spending Millions on James Bond Movie Jack Shepherd - The Independent
go to original November 1, 2015

SPECTRE features Day of the Dead festival (James Bond 007)

At the beginning of Spectre there is one long shot featuring Daniel Craig’s James Bond walking through a Mexico City’s Day of the Dead festival, dressed in a skeleton costume. It has been praised by critics for being a fantastic set-piece and has reportedly boosted tourism in the city.

However, it has since been unveiled that the Mexican government allegedly bargaining with producers, offering financial incentives and tax rebates of over $20 million to portray Mexico favorably in the film.

One local campaigner, Felipe Jurez, is hoping to hit back at the government. He told The Mirror: “He may be able to save the world but not even James Bond can rescue our image.”

According to the report, city chiefs demanded the countries reputation for corrupt cops and drug crimes not be mentioned in the film.

“The Government demanded 007 brush this country’s problems under the carpet robbing those who need that money most of vital services,” Jures continued.

“How many teachers or doctors would that cash have provided? It is a disgrace how our leaders put Hollywood before its own people. Poverty is so rife here, $20 million is a life changing amount for so many communities. Box offices around the world will be raking in millions, what have we got to show for it - nothing.”

The campaigner, along with hundreds of others, is demanded the Government justify their actions. The allegations were first brought to light by the Sony email hacking scandal.

Read the rest at The Independent

Related: Spectre, Film Review: An Exhilarating James Bond Spectacle That Really Didn’t Need to Add Depth (The Independent)

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