In all fairness, Mr. Mendes stages a few supersonic chases on water, snow and in the empty streets of both Rome and New York where nothing moves, resulting in a “been there, seen that” effect. Rome without motorcycles and gas fumes, and Manhattan without jaywalkers and traffic jams should tell you something about how much Ian Fleming’s popular Bond stories have degenerated into little more than contrived, formulaic fairy tales
Stupid stupid man. Not as cosmopolitan as he thinks he is...
1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
In all fairness, Mr. Mendes stages a few supersonic chases on water, snow and in the empty streets of both Rome and New York where nothing moves, resulting in a “been there, seen that” effect. Rome without motorcycles and gas fumes, and Manhattan without jaywalkers and traffic jams should tell you something about how much Ian Fleming’s popular Bond stories have degenerated into little more than contrived, formulaic fairy tales
Stupid stupid man. Not as cosmopolitan as he thinks he is...
And it's probably 3 or 4 in the morning when the Rome car chase happens and I'm guessing there aren't many cars on the street at that time of the morning.
And it's probably 3 or 4 in the morning when the Rome car chase happens and I'm guessing there aren't many cars on the street at that time of the morning.
When Ridley Scott was shooting Black Rain's motorcycle race under the FDR in Manhattan I was shocked. I regularly used the road right where they filmed, and one day ALL of the abandoned & burnt out cars were gone. It was so *clean*.
Of course, they need it to be clear for the race, but my point is that in the movies we rarely see any city au naturale.
I lived in Italy forty years ago. I used to go to Rome on Sat and stay overnight on average at least once a month. It's true that it's not packed with crowds and Vespas and Fiats at 3am Sun but Romans dined late and back then they partied late. I doubt if that's changed much and even though the population has dropped a few hundred thousand from about three million then (not including the tourists), I'd be astonished if you could find any stretches of the main roads in the center of the city , such as where the car chase took place, without traffic and people - even in the middle of the week.
Now, there is a little caveat to this. In the summer (especially in August) when it get's really hot businesses shut down and families go to the coasts for some r&r and to cool off. I never went to Rome in those months for the same reason. It's quite possible you probably could see much of the main areas deserted in the middle of the night, so if this story is supposed to be taking place in August it could be plausible. However, given the fact that the characters are dressed in coats at the funeral and that Bond is in snow covered Austria and that it looks pretty cold in the London scenes and we know when these were actually shot, I don't think the story is supposed to be taking place in the late summer.
This film and others (like Rogue Nation, which shows the same fantasy of car and foot chases with constant shooting in London with a total absence of law enforcement or other people or vehicles around) are all guilty of leaving out this reality. At least in the Bourne chases they digitally inserted autos near the chases and crashes to inflate the amount of traffic nearby. However, this is less noticeable given the speed of the takes and the editing.
As long as there are insurance companies and as long as audiences want these type of high speed chases, we will keep seeing them done in empty streets and open roads in deserted areas for the foreseeable future.
The predictions regarding Spectre's comparatively unstellar box office are probably essentially accurate. While I enjoy the film better than Skyfall, as I think it's more traditional and a nod to fans yearning something resembling a Bond film, audiences wanting something else are likely to be disappointed:
I hadn't expected it to take the drubbing from so many American critics. British critics, who generally seem more harsh to me, nonetheless seem to have been open-minded as a group to Spectre. In a lot of ways, Spectre seems like more of an American film, with weaker dialogue and character and more attention on the action, but the bad reviews may be helping to keep audiences away. That's a shame because Spectre is to me miles ahead of both Skyfall and Quantum of Solace.
What's interesting about the Forbes article is how is seems to suggest that the bigger and more epic Bond films, especially if they follow a strong commercial predecessor, do less box office. That is not consistent, but it seems truer more often than not.
I don't understand these arguments that SP will make about $175 million US domestic.
Rogue Nation opened to $55 million and SP beat it by better than 25%. RN ended up doing $195 million US domestic and I see no reason why SP can't do at least $225 million, even allowing for the fact that RN got better reviews.
I expect SP to be at about $140 million US domestic after this weekend, which will make a prediction of $175 million total look prety silly.
I don't understand these arguments that SP will make about $175 million US domestic.
Rogue Nation opened to $55 million and SP beat it by better than 25%. RN ended up doing $195 million US domestic and I see no reason why SP can't do at least $225 million, even allowing for the fact that RN got better reviews.
I expect SP to be at about $140 million US domestic after this weekend, which will make a prediction of $175 million total look pretty silly.
And the idea that the worldwide gross will be $650 million is truly ludicrous. It will be near $500 million after this weekend and it won't have even opened in China.
I think it will likely still be top this weekend although The Coopers could jump it, but next week the Hunger Games opens and that will blow it away. It may be a strong second, but significantly behind that one I suspect.
I think it will likely still be top this weekend although The Coopers could jump it, but next week the Hunger Games opens and that will blow it away. It may be a strong second, but significantly behind that one I suspect.
This film will sell DVD's and BR in the millions when it's available, it's made a boat load already.
Slating Bond is a pastime with some critics, anyone who thinks this is the worst Bond film in 30 years has been mind f~~~~d by Blofeld.
Scott Mendelson, in particular slagged SP. Now he appears to be hoping for a very weeak box office ($650 million? Really??) to somehow justify his review.
If SF had been a disaster critics would be loving this movie, but they all gave it rave reviews & it did crazy BO, so naturally they will no longer hail the king. They build 'em up so they can enjoy the rush of knockin' 'em down, the impotent power hungry little trolls. X-(
I think it will likely still be top this weekend although The Coopers could jump it, but next week the Hunger Games opens and that will blow it away. It may be a strong second, but significantly behind that one I suspect.
This film will sell DVD's and BR in the millions when it's available, it's made a boat load already.
Slating Bond is a pastime with some critics, anyone who thinks this is the worst Bond film in 30 years has been mind f~~~~d by Blofeld.
Agree, have not seen Spectre yet, but it can't possibly be worse than QoS...
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
Scott Mendelson, in particular slagged SP. Now he appears to be hoping for a very weeak box office ($650 million? Really??) to somehow justify his review.
Which why I'd love his hyperbolically negative review to be of a $900 million smash hit :v
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Scott Mendelson, in particular slagged SP. Now he appears to be hoping for a very weeak box office ($650 million? Really??) to somehow justify his review.
Which why I'd love his hyperbolically negative review to be of a $900 million smash hit :v
It's funny. Scott Mendelson is a pretty big Bond fan and has contributed to several feature-length Bond commentaries on the Out Now podcast. He also defends his viewpoint in one (in short, QoS is underrated, and while DAD may be bad, it didn't bore him as much as Spectre did). I might not agree with his opinion, but it doesn't come from a critic with a grudge.
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
Scott Mendelson, in particular slagged SP. Now he appears to be hoping for a very weeak box office ($650 million? Really??) to somehow justify his review.
Which why I'd love his hyperbolically negative review to be of a $900 million smash hit :v
It's funny. Scott Mendelson is a pretty big Bond fan and has contributed to several feature-length Bond commentaries on the Out Now podcast. He also defends his viewpoint in one (in short, QoS is underrated, and while DAD may be bad, it didn't bore him as much as Spectre did). I might not agree with his opinion, but it doesn't come from a critic with a grudge.
Yeah, Bond fans are totally capable of hyperbole in their negativity, LOL...one need look no further than these boards {[] At least he doesn't condemn it for being a Bond film, which many Yank reviewers have
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Scott Mendelson, in particular slagged SP. Now he appears to be hoping for a very weeak box office ($650 million? Really??) to somehow justify his review.
Which why I'd love his hyperbolically negative review to be of a $900 million smash hit :v
It's funny. Scott Mendelson is a pretty big Bond fan and has contributed to several feature-length Bond commentaries on the Out Now podcast. He also defends his viewpoint in one (in short, QoS is underrated, and while DAD may be bad, it didn't bore him as much as Spectre did). I might not agree with his opinion, but it doesn't come from a critic with a grudge.
Precisely! It's not impossible for a bad movie to be commercially successful - and the other way round. So even if SP makes 2 billion dollars, Mendelson's review won't be invalidated.
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
edited November 2015
No. Just more balanced His opinion is valid, sure, but it's also a bit ridiculous, in my opinion...and the fact that he's written two subsequent articles on SP in which he explains and tries to justify it is somewhat telling. So in my opinion, SP should just make bank B-)
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I'm getting the impression that the only country where the majority of critics didn't like Spectre is the U.S., is that correct? The vast majority in the UK and Canada liked it, I know for sure. Haven't too much about the critical reception in Europe etc. Peculiar if that is in fact correct.
I haven't read all of the reviews, certainly, but i checked in on quite a few from the U.K. and the U.S., and there does seem to be a more sizable like for the film there than here. The gist from the critics is that they're upset it's a Bond film. That is, the criticize the Bond formula. In general, even the criticisms compliment the action and acting and even directing. Many of the criticisms also focus on the writing, but what's interesting is that it's less about the dialogue and plotting and more about the execution, and there are the cliches about Bond being a holdover or that the films have too long of a running time.
In all fairness, Mr. Mendes stages a few supersonic chases on water, snow and in the empty streets of both Rome and New York where nothing moves, resulting in a “been there, seen that” effect. Rome without motorcycles and gas fumes, and Manhattan without jaywalkers and traffic jams should tell you something about how much Ian Fleming’s popular Bond stories have degenerated into little more than contrived, formulaic fairy tales
Stupid stupid man. Not as cosmopolitan as he thinks he is...
I don't recall 007 going to New York in Spectre 8-) ... Looks like the author removed that line about Manhattan from his review. At least he knows that he's a moron then...
My current 10 favorite:
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
I'm getting the impression that the only country where the majority of critics didn't like Spectre is the U.S., is that correct? The vast majority in the UK and Canada liked it, I know for sure. Haven't too much about the critical reception in Europe etc. Peculiar if that is in fact correct.
We American love stupid movies with Seth Rogan.
"Some men are coming to kill us. We're going to kill them first."
Assuming Mendelsohn is really a Bond fan, rooting for a bad box office after his negative review makes even more sense. Now he can say nobody liked the film, not just him and the weak box office proves it was bad.
On the other hand, a reviewer who doesn't like Bond isn't going to care about the box office at all. They'll just say, "No accounting for taste."
Assuming Mendelsohn is really a Bond fan, rooting for a bad box office after his negative review makes even more sense. Now he can say nobody liked the film, not just him and the weak box office proves it was bad.
On the other hand, a reviewer who doesn't like Bond isn't going to care about the box office at all. They'll just say, "No accounting for taste."
It's amazing that a film that is taking this much money can even be remotely considered a potential failure. However if it just manages to cover total costs (inc marketing budget) it will be a major disappointment to the 'Money'. Going big budget, Big Bang was as I have said elsewhere was always risky as by comparison to Skyfall SP was likely to be a hostage to fourtune. It might have been a smarter move, and an even better movie to scale it down a bit, focus on a really tight script rather than relying on huge set pieces. As much as I like the film, there is nothing to compare to the genuine tension generated during the Casino scenes in CR which cost comparatively little to make.
Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
I agree CR is the better film, but given the " Almost hatred" some reviewers have
for it, and the "depressed" mood of some fans over how much it's going to make.
I'll put my head above the trenches and say, I'm very upbeat about Spectre and
Think it will make a bloody fortune.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Comments
Stupid stupid man. Not as cosmopolitan as he thinks he is...
It's the movies
"Better make that two."
Of course, they need it to be clear for the race, but my point is that in the movies we rarely see any city au naturale.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Now, there is a little caveat to this. In the summer (especially in August) when it get's really hot businesses shut down and families go to the coasts for some r&r and to cool off. I never went to Rome in those months for the same reason. It's quite possible you probably could see much of the main areas deserted in the middle of the night, so if this story is supposed to be taking place in August it could be plausible. However, given the fact that the characters are dressed in coats at the funeral and that Bond is in snow covered Austria and that it looks pretty cold in the London scenes and we know when these were actually shot, I don't think the story is supposed to be taking place in the late summer.
This film and others (like Rogue Nation, which shows the same fantasy of car and foot chases with constant shooting in London with a total absence of law enforcement or other people or vehicles around) are all guilty of leaving out this reality. At least in the Bourne chases they digitally inserted autos near the chases and crashes to inflate the amount of traffic nearby. However, this is less noticeable given the speed of the takes and the editing.
As long as there are insurance companies and as long as audiences want these type of high speed chases, we will keep seeing them done in empty streets and open roads in deserted areas for the foreseeable future.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2015/11/12/box-office-spectre-tops-300m-can-the-james-bond-series-recover/?utm_campaign=yahootix&partner=yahootix
I hadn't expected it to take the drubbing from so many American critics. British critics, who generally seem more harsh to me, nonetheless seem to have been open-minded as a group to Spectre. In a lot of ways, Spectre seems like more of an American film, with weaker dialogue and character and more attention on the action, but the bad reviews may be helping to keep audiences away. That's a shame because Spectre is to me miles ahead of both Skyfall and Quantum of Solace.
What's interesting about the Forbes article is how is seems to suggest that the bigger and more epic Bond films, especially if they follow a strong commercial predecessor, do less box office. That is not consistent, but it seems truer more often than not.
Rogue Nation opened to $55 million and SP beat it by better than 25%. RN ended up doing $195 million US domestic and I see no reason why SP can't do at least $225 million, even allowing for the fact that RN got better reviews.
I expect SP to be at about $140 million US domestic after this weekend, which will make a prediction of $175 million total look prety silly.
"Better make that two."
This film will sell DVD's and BR in the millions when it's available, it's made a boat load already.
Slating Bond is a pastime with some critics, anyone who thinks this is the worst Bond film in 30 years has been mind f~~~~d by Blofeld.
{[]
"Better make that two."
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Agree, have not seen Spectre yet, but it can't possibly be worse than QoS...
Which why I'd love his hyperbolically negative review to be of a $900 million smash hit :v
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
It's funny. Scott Mendelson is a pretty big Bond fan and has contributed to several feature-length Bond commentaries on the Out Now podcast. He also defends his viewpoint in one (in short, QoS is underrated, and while DAD may be bad, it didn't bore him as much as Spectre did). I might not agree with his opinion, but it doesn't come from a critic with a grudge.
Yeah, Bond fans are totally capable of hyperbole in their negativity, LOL...one need look no further than these boards {[] At least he doesn't condemn it for being a Bond film, which many Yank reviewers have
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Precisely! It's not impossible for a bad movie to be commercially successful - and the other way round. So even if SP makes 2 billion dollars, Mendelson's review won't be invalidated.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I don't recall 007 going to New York in Spectre 8-) ... Looks like the author removed that line about Manhattan from his review. At least he knows that he's a moron then...
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
We American love stupid movies with Seth Rogan.
On the other hand, a reviewer who doesn't like Bond isn't going to care about the box office at all. They'll just say, "No accounting for taste."
It's amazing that a film that is taking this much money can even be remotely considered a potential failure. However if it just manages to cover total costs (inc marketing budget) it will be a major disappointment to the 'Money'. Going big budget, Big Bang was as I have said elsewhere was always risky as by comparison to Skyfall SP was likely to be a hostage to fourtune. It might have been a smarter move, and an even better movie to scale it down a bit, focus on a really tight script rather than relying on huge set pieces. As much as I like the film, there is nothing to compare to the genuine tension generated during the Casino scenes in CR which cost comparatively little to make.
for it, and the "depressed" mood of some fans over how much it's going to make.
I'll put my head above the trenches and say, I'm very upbeat about Spectre and
Think it will make a bloody fortune.