Is this ever explained?
What an absolute abysmal way to end a good villain and take a solid movie completely out of it's realistic grounding and into the absurd. Was a cartoonish death that necessary?
I never understood that. Are the taxi drivers, barmen, etc. all his allies? What about that parade where they carry the coffin? How does Kananga convince these civilians to commit manslaughter?
Thanks in advance!
https://preview.redd.it/xqsx9d2bx7e71.jpg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5895dc332e4dbf7cae66b85264b9f1d952422df9
Dr. Kananga (played by American actor Yaphet Kotto) is the main antagonist of the 1973 film Live and Let Die. Besides being an international drugs baron, he is also the dictator of the Caribbean island nation of San Monique. This behooves his activities in the narcotics industry in many ways, as the poppy fields of San Monique are at his full disposal, and his position as a government figurehead provides him with diplomatic immunity in the United States, where most of his drugs are trafficked. To maintain anonymity when moving about on the wrong side of the law, he conducts much of his business in the guise of a Harlem gangster named Mr. Big, who wears an Afro and says things like "Names is for tombstones, baby!" and "Take this honky outside and waste him!" He owns a chain of restaurants in New York and New Orleans called Fillet of Soul, and uses those restaurants as fronts. He keeps his minions in line with the dark threat of voodoo, and, to that end, employs clairvoyant Tarot card reader Solitaire, and the terrifying Baron Samedi, who uses trickery to impersonate the voodoo god of the dead.
Bond is sent to investigate Kananga after three British agents, in diverse locations, have been killed while looking into the dictator's affairs. It just so happens that Kananga is gearing up for a huge power move in the American narcotics market; he's going to flood the country with an absolute assload of free heroin. Not only will this drive competing drug dealers out of business, but it will increase the number of addicts exponentially. Kananga will then jack up his prices and make even more money off of all the lives he's destroyed.
In the final confrontation, Kananga ties Bond and Solitaire to a winch and prepares to lower them into a pool of sharks. Bond breaks free and attacks Kananga, and the two men fall into the pool. During the vicious struggle, Bond forces Kananga to swallow a compressed gas pellet (ammunition for a shark gun). Consequently (and nonsensically), Kananga turns into a helium balloon, floats up into the air, and bloodlessy explodes. Truly the most ridiculous death in the entire 007 series.
https://preview.redd.it/y4q5grpcx7e71.jpg?width=236&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3e818145bd851f9bec921287363ef850149c139e
The villain of the novel Live and Let Die bears few similarities to Yaphet Kotto's characte
... keep reading on reddit β‘
Does anyone know the history Florida Water and Kananga water and why its so often used in the Caribbean and how it became popular? I know its used for cleansings and stuff and Kananga is used more for the dead and also used more in the English protestant countries in the Caribbean vs Florida Water is used more in Hispanic countries. And how back in the day quality of these items were so much better like Florida Water use to come in a glass cork screw bottle and was made with better ingredients.
The scene starts off promising enough--Mr. Big asking Bond "did you mess with that?" Misogyny and objectification on the part of Mr. Big aside, Bond says, "That's between me, Solitaire, and Kananga. I'll tell him when I see him."
For starters, Bond basically just told him, "Yes. Yes, I did. Twice actually. Second time was her idea."
Bond is a spy--an expert in lying. Why didn't he just "No. Whatever gave you that idea?" Or maybe a dig at Kananga? "Well, never had the chance. but are you telling me Kananga is having trouble keeping her satisfied?"
OK, fine. So Mr. Big rips off his (own) face, revealing he actually IS Kananga. And the question still stands, and now Bond switches to "Well, not the kind of thing a gentleman discusses."
Excuse me? Why didn't Kananga say, "WHAT? Not 30 seconds ago, you said you'd tell me when you saw me, well, HERE I AM? What's going on between you and Solitaire?"
And again, Bond might just as well have said, "You bet I did. You seen that cute little birthmark she has, right... oh, never mind."
Then Kananga goes into the whole "I'll cut Bond's finger off with each wrong answer" and then doesn't do it.
It does immediately precede the scene putting Bond (actually Ross Kananga, the croc wrangler!) in middle of a bunch of alligators and crocs, so there's that. But just with the scene made more sense.
His wife posted on his Facebook page not long ago. So very sad. He was a fantastic enemy of Bond, and of course had a role in Alien and many other great movies.
https://www.facebook.com/ykottoaliendiary/posts/4173637739326542
>I'm saddened and still in shocked of the passing of my husband Yaphet of 24 years. He died last night around 10:30pm Philippine time.
>
>This is a very painfall moment for me to inform you all fans, friends and family of my husband.
>
>We still have a lot of plans honey that we discussed you have a lot of interviews waiting and you have movie offers like G.I. Joe and the movie of Tom Cruise and others. You still have plan to release your book and build a religious organization based on Yogananda's Teachings.
>
>You played a villain on some of your movies but for me you're a real hero and to a lot of people also. A good man, a good father, a good husband and a decent human being, very rare to find.
>
>One of the best actor in Hollywood a Legend. Rest in Peace Honey, I'm gonna miss you everyday, my bestfriend,my rock.I love you and you will always be in my heart.Till we meet again!
Florida water used to be my go to for awhile but recently Iβve been loving kananga water. It smells so much sweeter and itβs a little bit gentler on my spirit.
Anyone care to do that βmathβ for me?
