And no it wasn’t tragic because of some emotional connection. It’s tragic because Kananga’s character deserved a more dignified and realistic death than what was given to him: a gadget-induced cartoonish balloon blowup.

Who approved of Kananga’s fate? Likely the same guy who decided to add a slide whistle into car barrel roll stunt earlier in the movie probably. But that’s not to say I don’t enjoy the whimsy of the whistle scene for the sound effect, since it didn’t have an effect on the outcome of the stunt. Kananga’s death at the hand of the gadget, with his body literally inflating like a balloon and absurdly floating to the ceiling, has to be one of the most baffling Bond villain deaths ever. Pop!