SPECTRE - Bond 24

[The Clown Prince of Crime]

So Moore was the 'no hat' pioneer.

Yes, he was the first...he had to show that glorious 70's hairdo.

 

[thecapn]

My thoughts!

Spoiler:

The good - for the first time since Die Another Day, I felt like I was watching a Bond film. I said it earlier in the thread, but it seems like ever since Craig came on, they've been aiming for making a modern thriller that happens to have James Bond in it; This is a James Bond movie that happens to be a modern thriller. I really enjoyed all of the nods back to previous films, both Craig's and others. I thought Bautista put in a great turn as another memorable henchman, the train fight was especially brutal just like in "From Russia With Love," and I particularly liked the fact that the safehouse was called "Hildebrand Rarities" as a nod to the Fleming books.

The bad - The story definitely needed some work. I keep waffling back and forth especially on the ring. It had DNA from ALL of Bond's villains? Really? That's a bit preposterous. It doesn't seem that the Sciarra mission was all a setup, yet that's the only way it makes sense to have a planted element like that. And the funny thing is, it didn't NEED to be that way. There's nothing that was required from that plot point. If Q had just found that Oberhauser's DNA was on it, it would've moved the plot forward the exact same way.

They didn't even bother explaining how Quantum and Spectre are connected...which stretches my belief. It's like it's just a buy-in that they're the same thing, and you're just supposed to ignore the differences. I kept waiting for one like about how Quantum was the name of Spectre's R&D wing or something like that. Would've taken about 2 seconds and made all the difference in the world.

And does anyone else really buy that Silva was in on all of it? I don't. There was never any indication that there was anyone else involved in his plot. This didn't have to tie in EVERY SINGLE movie with a nice little bow. It felt forced.

Also, why was White's saferoom behind plaster? Wasn't the whole point of the fact that he kept visiting that room that he used it? Did he plaster over the wall every single time he was there?

I also agree with a previous poster that I wish C would've ended up being the big baddie at the end, instead, in a turnaround, and that Oberhauser was his lackey. Just would've given it more pop. And I could totally see Scott playing both Blofeld AND Moriarty

Moneypenny really didn't serve much of a purpose considering how they built her up in Skyfall.

The editing needed work. There's no way this needed to be a 2 and a half hour film. It seemed like Mendes was so keen on keeping his cool cinematography (which was great, BTW) that he just left shots in because they were pretty, not because they moved along the plot. I didn't care for that. There were entire sequences that were utterly unnecessary...and left in just because they looked cool.

Overall, I left the theater smiling. I really enjoyed it, despite it's flaws, and I'll go see it again before it leaves the theater.

 

[Irvy]

Spoiler:

It's in no way a bad movie but as others have said it does drag a bit and lacks the haunting class of Skyfall, Deakins is missed.

The opening is up there as one of the best in the franchise, the long tracking shot and then Craig finally showing some swagger and confidence.

We pretty much all knew that Waltz would be Blofeld, great that he's back but he was vastly underused and his motives are laughable, Daddy loved you more than me so I killed all your girlfriends

Great that they finally put the gun barrel back where it should be.

DC and Belluci actually make a better couple than the blonde who could be his daughter, the forced romance was awkward.

It's hard to explain but they keep doing this thing where each movie is a soft reboot and they have to feed us more origins bs. The ham fisted tying together of all the Craig movies was lazy and doesn't make much sense. We got the backstory out the way in CR, just let DC have fun with self contained stories.

 

[cmiller99]

 

[a-dev]

Not something I expected to see posted here.

 

[CallMeTheDoctor]

To me this might be literally the best Bond film. It ties Casino Royale for sure, I'll have to see it a second time to really be for sure, but this film was amazing. Gonna need to do my review soon!

 

[cmiller99]

Not something I expected to see posted here.

Now that's a movie I'd pay to see

 

[Rorywan]

I like everyone involved but found the movie to be very mediocre. Great opening them lost the plot.

 

[jedibear]

Well, here's my two cents....no spoilers here.

I liked it. Better than Skyfall. After reading all the critics lock-stepping over at RT how it dragged, I was pleasantly surprised that I never felt the urge to check the time. I thought it was paced just fine. I'll give Mendes his due....the man knows how ti make a gorgeous looking movie...it looked great.

Craig is really good (again) and I liked the "callbacks", both visual and story-wise. Thought it worked great. And if this is it for Craig, at least he's leaving it on a solid note here.

A good show....

 

[jamesn50mm]

Saw this earlier. It was ok. The thing I loved about sky fall was it's simplicity. It was a revenge movie, it didn't try to be anything else. This was sort of similar but having it wrapped in the world domination plot didn't really feel right to me. As others have said, the villains were horrible under used and the main motive was silly. But, with all the flaws, I feel like this was a good ending to Craig's bond franchise, it tied the whole series together fantastically and it's nice to actually see an ending to a bond series, if this is indeed it for Craig.

Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk

 

[gagaliya]

What a disappointment, there are so many holes and ridiculous parts that just makes you face palm. See spoiler

Spoiler:

Everything fell apart after James Bond arrived at the enemy base in the desert.

1) why did the locks on the surgical chair all disengaged after the girl threw a bomb at the villain Ernst. How does an explosion unlock the locks?

2) why the hell did the entire base blow up after James fired a few shots from his pistol? None of us could figure this out. Is it serious that such a sophisticated global world domination organization will design their base by exposing some sort of gas pipe that links everything and will explode the whole base right on top for people to shoot at with pistols...

3) this villain which the movie spent so much time build up, is possibly the most weak and stupid idiot in all of bond films. More powerful and well funded than basically multiple nation, flys around in a single helicopter that can get shot down by a tiny pistol. And what's the point trying to play that find the girl game with bond, instead of just shooting him and the girl. There is nothing to gain from it especially after he tried it already and ended up losing the whole base.

This whole thing was just so stupid, how bond took down the villain. A local street gang will be more difficult and less idiotic than this guy.

What a horrible disappointment to end th series.

 

[The Clown Prince of Crime]

What a disappointment, there are so many holes and ridiculous parts that just makes you face palm. See spoiler

Spoiler:

3) this villain which the movie spent so much time build up, is possibly the most weak and stupid idiot in all of bond films. More powerful and well funded than basically multiple nation, flys around in a single helicopter that can get shot down by a tiny pistol. And what's the point trying to play that find the girl game with bond, instead of just shooting him and the girl. There is nothing to gain from it especially after he tried it already and ended up losing the whole base.

This whole thing was just so stupid, how bond took down the villain. A local street gang will be more difficult and less idiotic than this guy.

What a horrible disappointment to end th series.

Spoiler:

It's not worst than this though 5:28

 

[slackerboy]

It's not worst than this though 5:28

Bah, insulting the Roger Moore movies will get you nowhere with me. He had some clunkers, but they're a lot of fun.

 

[JAWS]

Well, here's my two cents....no spoilers here.

I liked it. Better than Skyfall. After reading all the critics lock-stepping over at RT how it dragged, I was pleasantly surprised that I never felt the urge to check the time. I thought it was paced just fine. I'll give Mendes his due....the man knows how ti make a gorgeous looking movie...it looked great.

Craig is really good (again) and I liked the "callbacks", both visual and story-wise. Thought it worked great. And if this is it for Craig, at least he's leaving it on a solid note here.

A good show....

I thought it moved at a much quicker pace then Skyfall. First time viewing I liked this more then Skyfall.... Skyfall improved with a second viewing because I knew that M died. I was really tired of her being a part of the action like in the Pierce films.

Anyways I thought Skyfall dragged so I don't get why this drags anymore.

Solid 8 out of 10 first viewing. I would put it up there with the best of the Bonds.

What a disappointment, there are so many holes and ridiculous parts that just makes you face palm. See spoiler

Spoiler:

Everything fell apart after James Bond arrived at the enemy base in the desert.

1) why did the locks on the surgical chair all disengaged after the girl threw a bomb at the villain Ernst. How does an explosion unlock the locks?

I think the Bomb was supposed to disconnect the chair... It's silly yes... But action films do stuff like this all the time.

2) why the hell did the entire base blow up after James fired a few shots from his pistol? None of us could figure this out. Is it serious that such a sophisticated global world domination organization will design their base by exposing some sort of gas pipe that links everything and will explode the whole base right on top for people to shoot at with pistols...

Dude... You must hate the majority of Bond films

3) this villain which the movie spent so much time build up, is possibly the most weak and stupid idiot in all of bond films. More powerful and well funded than basically multiple nation, flys around in a single helicopter that can get shot down by a tiny pistol. And what's the point trying to play that find the girl game with bond, instead of just shooting him and the girl. There is nothing to gain from it especially after he tried it already and ended up losing the whole base.

He wanted Bond to die trying to save the girl or live and feel the pain.. The man like to inflict pain on Bond... He was nuts... And like all Bond Villains he was an egomaniac and thought he was the smartest guy in the world. I guess I was just willing to go along for the ride.

This whole thing was just so stupid, how bond took down the villain. A local street gang will be more difficult and less idiotic than this guy.

What a horrible disappointment to end th series.

Well I think Craig will be back and those who know the Bond films should be able to see were this is going (OHMSS)...

I know this wont change your mind but
My responses in Bold.

 

[JAWS]

My thoughts!

Spoiler:

The good - for the first time since Die Another Day, I felt like I was watching a Bond film. I said it earlier in the thread, but it seems like ever since Craig came on, they've been aiming for making a modern thriller that happens to have James Bond in it; This is a James Bond movie that happens to be a modern thriller. I really enjoyed all of the nods back to previous films, both Craig's and others. I thought Bautista put in a great turn as another memorable henchman, the train fight was especially brutal just like in "From Russia With Love," and I particularly liked the fact that the safehouse was called "Hildebrand Rarities" as a nod to the Fleming books.

The bad - The story definitely needed some work. I keep waffling back and forth especially on the ring. It had DNA from ALL of Bond's villains? Really? That's a bit preposterous. It doesn't seem that the Sciarra mission was all a setup, yet that's the only way it makes sense to have a planted element like that. And the funny thing is, it didn't NEED to be that way. There's nothing that was required from that plot point. If Q had just found that Oberhauser's DNA was on it, it would've moved the plot forward the exact same way.

They didn't even bother explaining how Quantum and Spectre are connected...which stretches my belief. It's like it's just a buy-in that they're the same thing, and you're just supposed to ignore the differences. I kept waiting for one like about how Quantum was the name of Spectre's R&D wing or something like that. Would've taken about 2 seconds and made all the difference in the world.

And does anyone else really buy that Silva was in on all of it? I don't. There was never any indication that there was anyone else involved in his plot. This didn't have to tie in EVERY SINGLE movie with a nice little bow. It felt forced.

Also, why was White's saferoom behind plaster? Wasn't the whole point of the fact that he kept visiting that room that he used it? Did he plaster over the wall every single time he was there?

I also agree with a previous poster that I wish C would've ended up being the big baddie at the end, instead, in a turnaround, and that Oberhauser was his lackey. Just would've given it more pop. And I could totally see Scott playing both Blofeld AND Moriarty

Moneypenny really didn't serve much of a purpose considering how they built her up in Skyfall.

The editing needed work. There's no way this needed to be a 2 and a half hour film. It seemed like Mendes was so keen on keeping his cool cinematography (which was great, BTW) that he just left shots in because they were pretty, not because they moved along the plot. I didn't care for that. There were entire sequences that were utterly unnecessary...and left in just because they looked cool.

Overall, I left the theater smiling. I really enjoyed it, despite it's flaws, and I'll go see it again before it leaves the theater.

While I hate that you refer back to Die Another Day.... Yes this felt very much like a Bond film and that was a good thing. I liked the other films (not QOS) but it was nice to get that fun Bond feeling back.

 

[JAWS]

Could not agree more. I actually liked Skyfall the least of all 3 Craig flicks. CR > Quantum > Skyfall

Quantum was just OK the first time I saw it, but when I saw it on Bluray later on, I liked it much much more.

While I would not call Skyfall overrated I will say that if the film did not have probably the best Bond villain ever then people would see this as an average Bond film... I seriously can not think of one major action set piece in the film. All I can think of is the villain... He was great... But he was all that stuck out.. Even more then Bond.

 

[JAWS]

Critics are saying go see the Peanuts movie this weekend instead.

Between that horrible song and Craig acting like Josh Trank, they may be right.

WTF happened!

Critics can be idiots... this was a very good Bond film... 2nd after CR I think but I have to see it again.

Damn, I had high hopes from this since I thought the Craig Bond films were getting better and better with each new release.

I think I will still try and see this weekend.

It's a quality Bond film.

That's not good because QOS sucks.

True that...

So if I follow correctly, this movie features a villain from previous movies?

I feel like my lack of viewing older films might make this more enjoyable for me, nothing to setup expectations of any kind.

I am a pretty big Bond fan.. I have seen all of them several times over. I think the this film will be enjoyable either way... But I really enjoyed the references back to the older films as far as the villain goes.

I don't either.

Casino Royal is still the best Craig Bond flick.

Skyfall was decent.

Quantum was Jason Borne, not Bond.

Still seeing this and Peanuts this weekend.

Skyfall is good but CR is the best. This is not CR but as good if not better then Skyfall. But I require repeat viewing before I make the final call.

I think many people search for that one definitive movie that will be their go to whenever they want to watch that particular genre.

So its easy and comforting for some to proclaim CR as the "best" Bond movie.

The outdated is now sleek, fast, realistic, cool, gritty and brutal, so why waste time watching Dr. No when they can get their Bond fix with a movie they feel captures everything good about the character in one complete modern package.

Even though it has a 50 year history Bond is really not that difficult to sort out, everyone usually picks the same movies when choosing their top 10.

CR has now taken a permanent spot in that top 10 list, hell, probably even in everyones top 5.

Like I said above I love Bond films and I enjoy most of the incarnations of him. CR is without question a top 5... In fact for me it goes like this..

The Great

1. Casino Royale - 10 out of 10 - Perfect Bond film. Great Song, great music, great villain, great Bond girl, great Bond, great Action!!!
2. From Russia with Love - 10 out of 10 - Was my fav forever until CR. Very realistic Bond.
3. Goldeneye - 10 out 10 - Great Bond Villain. Pierce killed it in this one... Hands down best Action in any Bond film. Some of the best action period.
4. Thunderball - 9 out of 10 - More Connery greatness.
5. The Spy Who Loved Me - 9 out 10 - Moore's best.. Could be a 10 if the music was by John Barry and not disco.
6. Specter - 8 out of 10 - Might go up or down with repeat viewings.
7. Skyfall - 8 out of 10 - Best Bond Villain ever. The villain brings this film up at least by a point.


The Good

8. Dr. No - 7.5 out of 10 - Very good Bond.. Connery is still my fav.. Had my fav bond kill ("your six are up")
9. On Her Majesties Secret Service - 7.5 out of 10 - overrated and underrated. GL does a pretty good job.. the ending helps this become classic.
10. Goldfinger - 7.5 out of 10 - Considered by many to be the best.. I like it but never loved it like so many others.
11. For Your Eyes Only - 7 out of 10 - Serious Moore... Too bad he did not make more like this.
12. You Only Live Twice - 7 out of 10 - Some Campy moments but still a very good Bond film.
13. Tomorrow Never Dies - 6.5 out of 10 - Some great action moments... Awful villain. Pierce was still good... Last time unfortunately.

The Fair

14. The Man with the Golden Gun - 6 out of 10 - One of the best Bond Villains in Christopher Lee... Too bad the film was not a little better.
15. Live and Let Die - 6 out of 10 - Moore's first. he plays it pretty serious and saves the otherwise average Bond film.
16. Moonraker - 6 out of 10 - My first Bond Film. Might be why it's as high as it is.
17. Quantum of Solace - 5 out of 10 - Worst editing in a Bond film with all the quick cuts. Ruined the movie.
18. Octopussy - 5 out of 10 - Bond disguises himself as a clown... Nuff said.
19. License to Kill - 5 out of 10 - Meh... I never cared for Dalton... Young Moore or Young Connery would have made this a better film.
20. The Living Daylights - 5 out of 10 - Same as LTK... Dalton ruins the film for me.


The Bad

21. The World is Not Enough - 4 out of 10 - Bond at his most Boring. Some of the worst action scenes on any Bond film. Opening action was good though.
22. Diamonds are Forever - 3 out 10 - Everyone who blames Moore for Campy Bond needs to watch this again... Awful.
23. A View to a Kill - 2.5 out of 10 - It's been so long since I seen this I really can't recall much about it. I just know I hate it.
24. Die Another Day - 0.5 out of 10 - Good opening action, good Theme song, not bad until it goes to the ice castle but then it turns into the worst Bond film ever... Blah...

 

[The Clown Prince of Crime]

Goldfinger belongs in the great category. It's easily the most iconic film in the series, and it introduces the white tuxedo, the Aston Martin, two of the best villains ever in one film, the technology and gadgets sequence, and the pre-credits sequence that wasn't part of the main storyline, which other films copied.

 

[jye4ever]

I'm going today, finally, and now that I read that JAWS enjoyed it more than SF it has really got me pumped again because other than our disagreements over G14 and AOU, that man has great taste!

Hell, he's mostly right about G14.

But i'll still hold my ground on AOU.

I still think people were turned off that Avengers saved a made up eastern european country instead of a real city, preferably in the USA.

Americans, so easily offended.

 

[shells075]

[/spoiler]

It's not worst than this though 5:28

Poor old Blofeld. James Bond had put him in a wheelchair, made him have to wear a neck brace and caused him to lose all his hair.