5th anniversary of SkyFall

walther p99

Next month marks 5 years since Skyfall first entered cinemas in the UK, then the rest of the world the following months. What were your initial thoughts on the film when you first saw it? Have your thoughts changed in the last 5 years? If so, how?

For me it was the most exciting build-up to a Bond film I've had yet. I remember a friend telling me that the year leading up to the film's release was probably the closest we'll get to the Bond-mania of the 60's. And it wasn't hard to see why, Bond and Craig were everywhere from the Olympics to SNL. My initial thoughts on the film upon leaving the theater was that it was the best Bond film I ever saw and 5 years later my stance remains the same. Beyond everything from its villain to cinematography it was simply the type of Bond film I wanted to see.

ichaice

I was very disappointed when I saw it in the cinema and felt the same on subsequent viewings. I feel it's a pretty good film until Silva appears. I actually tried to watch it again at the weekend and stopped after the Macau Casino scenes.

To be fair though compared to Spectre, Skyfall is a masterpiece.

Napoleon Plural

I agree with ichaice, quite a depressing film after the also depressing QoS. Admittedly a higher standard of film-making, and more going on, but also a lot of plot holes that I can't abide. Mine was - and still is - a minority opinion.

A lot of it I found distasteful, such as Silva the villain. I've seen bits of it since, and not revised my view, though I enjoyed Spectre a lot. I know others feel differently.

But wow, five years is a long time.

Gala Brand

Skyfall was an outstanding film. Huge favorite with critics and audiences, highest grosses of all time for a Bond film, and multiple Oscar nominations.

Little noticed was the fact that it set off a boom in spy films, something a Bond film hadn't done since the Sixties.

Number24

Skyfall is a very well made movie. Silva's plan shouldn't be examined too closely, but we have to remember that plot holes and questionable plotting happened in the older movies and we accept them. Silva's og introduction in the movie is one of the best and Craig is an excellent Bond. Like many of the newer Bond movies the best stunts are early in the film, but M's death is a great "stunt" in itself.

walther p99

Napoleon Plural wrote:

But wow, five years is a long time.

Yeah it doesn't seem like that long ago but it was. 2012 was one of the best years I ever had and Skyfall was just the cherry on top of it. So I often feel nostalgic when watching the film now.

Asp9mm

I love SKYFALL. For the first time in years I went into it knowing nothing about the film.

Chriscoop

I love Skyfall, I saw it on its opening night ( general release) there was a great buzz surrounding it leading up to its release and the critics mostly gave good reviews, I don't really care what critics say but it's nice to hear good things about Bond, initially I was a bit disappointed, as one of the few who rates qos I was looking forward to something different than what Skyfall was, but as with every Bond film I got a lot of positives from it. I went again for a second viewing near the end of the cinema run and enjoyed it far more, then bought the dvd on release and every subsequent viewing never diminishes my enjoyment. I know the plot holes are glaring, and it has problems but I over look them and just enjoy the ride.

The Domino Effect

Some films get better with reflection over the following days or weeks while others sometimes get worse. Although I thoroughly enjoyed SF when I saw it, my appreciation for it grew over the following days and when I ventured to see it again a week or so later, I enjoyed it even more. Yes, there are problems and there are things I would have done differently. but overall I thought it was very good and second only to CR among the DCs.

walther p99

The Domino Effect wrote:

Some films get better with reflection over the following days or weeks while others sometimes get worse. Although I thoroughly enjoyed SF when I saw it, my appreciation for it grew over the following days and when I ventured to see it again a week or so later, I enjoyed it even more. Yes, there are problems and there are things I would have done differently. but overall I thought it was very good and second only to CR among the DCs.

What did you appreciate more on the subsequent viewings?

The Domino Effect

It was just the overall feel of the film. Over the following days as I mulled bits in my head, I just found that it was tighter and better constructed than I had initially thought. Spectre was the opposite. Although I still enjoy it, it actually suffered upon reflection (and by reflection, I didn't mean a deep and probing analysis, just a few random thoughts).

Remington

ichaice wrote:

I was very disappointed when I saw it in the cinema and felt the same on subsequent viewings. I feel it's a pretty good film until Silva appears. I actually tried to watch it again at the weekend and stopped after the Macau Casino scenes.

To be fair though compared to Spectre, Skyfall is a masterpiece.

This was pretty much my first reaction as well. I was watching it recently and enjoyed it more than usual. Doesn't hold a candle to CR and QOS but it's better than SP. Just gotta be in the right mood for it. Can't believe it's been five years though. My first time seeing a Bond on the big screen.
-{

Dryden

I spent a fair bit to get the chance to see Skyfall at the first opportunity - putting my daughter in childcare for the day for example.

My testament to how good I thought it was is that I felt it was worth every penny and my opinion hasn't changed since then.

chrisno1

Like many of the poster's here, I was very eager to see SKYFALL on the opening day and booked a ticket for a showing at Leicester Sq Odeon.
Despite my best intentions I was genuinely excited by the prospect of a Bond movie with so much pedigree behind it - director, photographer, the cast - and for the first half it delivered in spades even if I rejected out-right Bond's survival of his PTS shooting as an impossibility (a blatant re-imagine of YOLT if ever there was one). It looked fabulous, the script was well-worked, the plot had legs and felt very contemporary.
Once the action left the Far East I almost lost interest in it as it felt less and less like a Bond movie. I disliked the focus on Bond and M's relationship. Similarly disliked there was no central love-story (well, except Bond and M....) I hated the noisy endless explosions and the conveniences of situations created by the scriptwriters, which seemed to materialise without logic. It was so slow towards the end and I did not feel very happy when I left the cinema.
It was very well made, it does have a great cast, but it lacked a happy or even a frivolous heart and I'm afraid that shows. It was and still is the most maudlin Bond film I've ever watched.

Bond44

Skyfall was a great film and perfect for 2012. There seemed to be a real buzz around it that year. It was a film I really identified with and loved it's focus on London (perfectly times given the Olympics). Great clothes, accessories and watches a film I really went to town on (cost me a fortune over the years). I think it's only trumped by CR which just pips it at the post in my books given it was Flemings first.

It's a great entertaining watch I love to watch time and time again for some reason I never tire of watching it.

Just a personal option of course.

Cheers :007)

Agent Double-O Daniel

Hear hear! I have to agree. While I love CR, SkyFall is my favorite DC Bond film thus far.
I do not have a favorite early Bond film due to the fact I've only seen a 3 or 4 of them. Sacrilege I know! but fear not I plan to see them. . Cheers -{

Bond44 wrote:

Skyfall was a great film and perfect for 2012. There seemed to be a real buzz around it that year. It was a film I really identified with and loved it's focus on London (perfectly times given the Olympics). Great clothes, accessories and watches a film I really went to town on (cost me a fortune over the years). I think it's only trumped by CR which just pips it at the post in my books given it was Flemings first.

It's a great entertaining watch I love to watch time and time again for some reason I never tire of watching it.

Just a personal option of course.

Cheers :007)

Mr_Osato

It is a good film, well made, well acted and a solid interesting story. That said, it is not a movie I would watch often. Same with QoS. I am in the minority here, but I preferred Spectre. And of course Casino Royale.

heartbroken_mr_drax

Very well made film and I agree with Mr Osato that it would fall into the category of watched-least because of the tedium in it. Parts of it are quite indulgent too like M's reading of the poem - things about the film just make me go "meh".

That's why such a well made film is so low in my rankings...

philpog

With the exception of DIE ANOTHER DAY, this is the only Bond film I have not been able to sit through a second time. I find it badly structured, insufferably pretentious and boring.

angelicbond

I adore Skyfall. I have seen it easily 30 plus times...as well as pulling out my favourite scenes to watch when I am in the humour.

In my top 5 Bond films easily, and Craig cemented himself as the Best Bond since Connery.

walther p99

It's interesting to see that the common criticism from those who did not enjoy the film seems to be that its too languid and too pretentious. I can understand how someone could feel that the film was both of those things though.

welshboy78

Love PTS
Love Enjoying Death
Love London
Love Shanghai / Macau
Not keen on Silva intro
Not keen on capture / London Tube
Love Skyfall Lodge / Finale

nafets47

Skyfall is my favorite film period, followed closely by The Dark Knight.

I have watched Skyfall more than any other film (except maybe a Disney film I saw when I was kid nearly 100X).

The film changed how I dress in all regards, it had a great message: No matter how far you fall, you can make it back up.

Fantastic piece of cinema.

Best,
Stefan

zaphod99

It benefitted from following the lamentable QOS ( iknow it has its fanbase here ) so the bar was low. I liked it and thought Silva the best Villain for a long time. It misses being top 5 for me due to the Mommy Dearest and Home Alone elements.

Chriscoop

zaphod99 wrote:

It benefitted from following the lamentable QOS ( iknow it has its fanbase here ) so the bar was low. I liked it and thought Silva the best Villain for a long time. It misses being top 5 for me due to the Mommy Dearest and Home Alone elements.

" lamentable" or unconventional or unique or not atypical, I don't think qos can be fairly described as deplorable or even very bad.
I think you'll also find the bar was set differently as opposed to low.

walther p99

QOS is unfortunately wedged between the two most highly regarded and loved Craig Bond films. I was always a fan of QOS outside of some of its horribly edited action scenes. For me the film excels in its quieter moments like Bond on the plane and Mathis's death scene. I like it for being different and handicapping itself by removing the majority of Bond's trademarks. Its way more polarizing then Skyfall ever was or will be though.

Chriscoop

The only thing that disappointed me about qos when I first saw it was that it ended. But since I see the run time as perfect for such a high octane bond installment. It was my enjoyment of qos that lead to my initial disappointment of Skyfall and how the reboot started with cr ended with qos, bond was suddenly an aged and despondent agent at the back end of his career, of course with Bond films the positives I glean soon overcome any negatives.

walther p99

Chriscoop wrote:

bond was suddenly an aged and despondent agent at the back end of his career, of course with Bond films the positives I glean soon overcome any negatives.

Yeah that's an understandable criticism i've seen for Skyfall. We essentially have only seen the book ends of Craig's Bond's 00 career.

Sir Miles

Chriscoop wrote:

The only thing that disappointed me about qos when I first saw it was that it ended. But since I see the run time as perfect for such a high octane bond installment. It was my enjoyment of qos that lead to my initial disappointment of Skyfall and how the reboot started with cr ended with qos, bond was suddenly an aged and despondent agent at the back end of his career, of course with Bond films the positives I glean soon overcome any negatives.

I agree 100% -{

Dirty Punker

Sir Miles wrote:

Chriscoop wrote:

The only thing that disappointed me about qos when I first saw it was that it ended. But since I see the run time as perfect for such a high octane bond installment. It was my enjoyment of qos that lead to my initial disappointment of Skyfall and how the reboot started with cr ended with qos, bond was suddenly an aged and despondent agent at the back end of his career, of course with Bond films the positives I glean soon overcome any negatives.

I agree 100% -{

{[] but I see Quantum as a very extended post credits sequence for CR or as its action packed climax.
I wish that (like YOLT and OHMSS) SPECTRE would've come before Skyfall.
Maybe it was meant to symbolise how much time Craig (and the Bond fans) waited for Skyfall.
:v

zaphod99

walther p99 wrote:

Chriscoop wrote:

bond was suddenly an aged and despondent agent at the back end of his career, of course with Bond films the positives I glean soon overcome any negatives.

Yeah that's an understandable criticism i've seen for Skyfall. We essentially have only seen the book ends of Craig's Bond's 00 career.

I feel the same. It seems that DC's Bond went from rookie to Warhorse without passing through prime. That probably explains my disappointment with QOS as I was hoping for the promised finished article and never felt we got it. I may be being too hard on QoS,perhaps because I liked CR so much.