UnderwaterBattle007 wrote:
Anyone else pick up on the "safe house" at the end being called "Hildebrand"
Yeah that was a nice little nod. Proper Bond fans all would of smiled.
I hope Mr Hinx somehow survived and is scarred and mangled in someway. Did he just have his thumbnails painted silver? Or were they meant to be some sort of small knifes? Just when he gouges the guys eyes out during the meeting I noticed they were silver.
I really thought shooting the helicopter down with a pistol seemed a tad too far fetched. He looked like he was over a mile away. The ending being in London reminded me of Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation. Sort of similar.
It's definitely not DC's best performance. I also felt they were re-using some dialogue from CR. During the train sequence when Bond and Swann are talking. I'm sure she says something about "Why does he kill people" etc. It reminded me of Bond and Vesper from CR.
Blofeld also said that Bond had interfered in his business (probably when Bond stopped the guy blowing up the plane in CR). So he decided to hurt him by interfering in Bonds business, thus killing Vesper. He just kept on punishing Bond. Wasn't all down to his dad paying more attention to Bond.
I like when Blofeld names all the people that he had interfere in Bonds business. LeChiffre, Greene and Silva. Bond simply replies; "Yes, all dead."
I'm not ragging on it, just with watching it twice in one day I picked up on stuff. Probably backfired a bit haha. Also which bloody train drops you off at a station in the middle of the desert? hahaha )
"Sic Parvis Magna"
"Greatness From Small Beginnings."
Although a minor detail, outside of Bonds' tacticool side arm in the PTS and tge 2000s version of a AK carbine wielded by a number of SPECTRE guards, I noticed how stubbornly the film stuck with pistol fire action.
'Alright guard, begin the unnecessarily slow moving dipping mechanism...'
Saw the film last night and loved it. Curiously it's the first Bond film in a long time which I thoroughly enjoyed at first viewing.
It reminded me of FRWL - a solid intriguing espionage film with mystery and suspense, rather than a big cartoonish explosion-fest. Waltz and Bautista were brilliant. Sadly Monica Bellucci was a little underused. I thought Craig and Lea Seydoux were fantastic - real chemistry.
Not sure if anyone has mentioned it but the subtle little nods to Bond fans were brilliant- especially the name on the door of the safe house towards the end of the film. Pure class. -{
Edit: Oops just spotted UndewaterBattle007 did. ;%
First post, Just watched it, overall I enjoyed it, but have come away feeling it was lacking somewhere but can't quite put my finger on it. I thought there was a slight nod to FRWL, with the the way the barrels dragged Mr Hinx out of the train after a brutal fight, the way they introduced the Spectre organisation was brilliant, building the Blofeld into a Super Boss villain, but then didn't use that to its full potential,I need to watch it again and reflect a bit more.
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
Spectre is good, but I can see a lot of Bond fans here, like fanboys in general, are blind to its undeniable flaws and are overrating it. Once the film hits Blu-ray early next year I hope we will see these fans posting more balanced and objective reviews.
All films are flawed.
It must be a bit deflating to actually work on a film---all that energy and effort---only to have such little regard for the final product, and it's a shame that that's where you're coming from. But IMO you should prepare for many fans liking it more than you do :007) Cheers!
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
As soon as Bond steps onto of that landing and you see Mexido City lit up with Day of the Dead celebrations – you know you are on to a winner. This Bond had to be made. The threads had to be picked up. The highly-charged pace sets its stall out right from the off, with a blistering opening scene that'll have you picking your jaw up from the floor.
Daniel Craig is believed to be the best James Bond. Whatever you think about that, Craig has persistantly played Bond straight. The humour suits his character. Of course it helps that he is co-producer which gives Craig some weight. In this one he is quite lusty. Kissing the Mexican girl, kissing Lucia with passion and nearly tearing the clothes off Madeleine. This is contrasted with a sincerity. I was stunned in the film where he tries to get Madeleine not to watch her father killed. His explosian of rage nearly blows the screen away.
Madeleine Swann is played by French actress Lea Seydoux. She has a difficult relationship with her father and plenty of bad memories. She overcomes this by rediscovering his background at the L'Americain hotel in Tangier. The secret room showed memories of her treasured by her father.(I love the scene where Bond threatens the mouse) She's particularly effective during the torture scene. Monica Belluci is good as Lucia Sciarra and we nearly watch her principal execution. She gets a good close up as she knows she is going to her death.
Christopher Waltz is the superbaddie. I never thought that Blofeld would come back. I thought he was consigned to history. Of all the modern baddies this is the actor who could portray him. His introduction is enjoyable. Sitting in shadow at the meeting, and slowly turning the tables on 007. There have been comments about his history against Bond is too shallow. The fact that he harbours a grudge against Bond as his father "liked Bond more". But I think it is more then that. He realises that Bond is a menace. That Bond can bring him down. His emnity with Bond is more strategic then anything else.
For those looking for a superhenchman Mr Hinx does very well.The size of him is incredible. Dave Bautista is an ex WWE ex proffesional mixed martial artist he over whelms Bond. Bautista is memorable for nearly gouging out a persons eyes (my partner had to look away) before twisting his neck. He comes into his own in the railway carriage scene which is one of the most memorable scenes in the film. My memory of him is actually Bond in a panic trying to get away
More interesting is Andrew Scott as Denbigh. Fresh from playing Moriaty in Sherlock he takes the role of a Whitehall Mandarin. One of the things about the British secret service is the sheer lack of change. But due to Cameron and his cuts the Bond films have never been so timely. He is actually defeated by democracy at one point; and just cant resist winding up the stalwarts. I'd guessed that he was working for Spectre at the beginning. How many of our politicians work for them – rather then us? James Bond's greatest enemy is actually government cuts
Ralph Fiennes as Action M is quite memorable. His tussles with Denbigh are quite epic. Its a fight to the death and he knows it. Moneypenny is useful and I love her and Q trying to persuade Action-M that they have a trace on Bond at 'Rules'. And who exactly is that in Moneypennys bed? Q is a delight. A busy little man at home in the basement. I loved him in that Austrian hotel room checking out Oberhauser. And on the cable-car surrounded by henchman.
Sam Smith's title song is utterly forgettable. But it is the background design work by Danny Kleineman which is the highlight here. His great octopus design enfolds them and comes across as quite creepy as its tentacles wrap around the figures. Funnily enough, the Sam Smith orchestra rendition which is heard in the love scenes.
Rome works well. Theres a sweep of choral music as the cars sweep around St Peters basilica. And the car chase is exciting as Bond tries out the Q gadgets which aren't working yet. The Austrian Alps are my favourite location with that icy lake being very creepy, and meeting Mr White was like something from Hammer house of horror (ie the ravens). The Sahara is where the film begins to stumble but when you think about it is the nearest patch of wilderness nearest Europe, apart from the Arctic and Russian steppes.But things pick up back in London and we built to an effective climax involving the MI6 building.
So how does that leave us? I imagine Blofeld being at the behest of the British government in a maximum security prison. Wormwood Scrubs Blofeld? And the next one is his break for freedom? Daniel? Well, he's being very cautious, he has said "he's up for doing more" but that depends on the studios and when the accolades come in for this one – he'll be contacted. Babs Broccoli would like a Mendes-Craig solution. Roger Moore was in his position in the eighties. He made FYEO by the skin of his teeth and we ended up with seven films
Daniel hasn't gone anywhere. He keeps the world on tenterhooks
/
1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
So how does that leave us? I imagine Blofeld being at the behest of the British government in a maximum security prison. Wormwood Scrubs Blofeld? And the next one is his break for freedom? Daniel? Well, he's being very cautious, he has said "he's up for doing more" but that depends on the studios and when the accolades come in for this one – he'll be contacted. Babs Broccoli would like a Mendes-Craig solution. Roger Moore was in his position in the eighties. He made FYEO by the skin of his teeth and we ended up with seven films
Daniel hasn't gone anywhere. He keeps the world on tenterhooks
Great review of the film, I think he has one more left in him, that's if Craig wants to do one. He's left Bond Franchise in amazing condition without doubt the most successful since Connery's peak. I think if Spectre gets near or even beats Skyfall for box office results (it's done big business already in the U.K, which is to be expected), I could see everyone behind the scenes basically saying "name the price" for one more Bond film. I think Craig gets by cause he's not pretty boy handsome like Brosnan, so he doesn't look too different from the Craig that was in Casino Royale to now. So one more film when he's 50 would be a great way to say goodbye. I doubt Sam Mendes will do another one for a while though.
At the moment I don't think very much to it but I'll have to wait and see, I'm one of those people who can never make their mind up one way or the other.
I just felt it was kind of all show but no trousers, very flashy and undeniably well shot yet underneath is just seemed incoherent and worse still just a generic action film that someone has tried to turn into a Bond film. Daniel Craig seemed like he wasn't giving it his all and while the producers have tried to give us a more vulnerable Bond for the first three films, here it just seemed like they have ignored that and produced a stock action hero. He had next to no chemistry with either Seydoux or Bellucci (who was criminally underused), how they both ended up sleeping with him I don't know because both scenes seemed very jarring and uncomfortable. The way they used Mr White also annoyed me because they kind of turned him into a pitiful character when he has been a major villain and we as an audience shouldn't feel that, additionally the way other film's villains tied into Spectre was not explained satisfactorily. Blofeld was underused and even when he was, he was just a stock Mendes villain (and not his best either) who is deranged yet also amateurish. I didn't find him unsettling or creepy, just odd/pantomime and certainly not intelligent enough to be in his position. Bond's total lack of any emotion in the torture scene was such a wasted opportunity. His plot was skipped over far too briefly and the ending in MI6 was so cliché (typical Bond/damsel in distress) and ridiculous. Naturally they will have to bring ESB back but they way they did it was very strange, Bond not shooting him just seemed so out of character. The whole London subplot was just odd, the implications of this "9 eyes" thing weren't really mentioned and MI6 was made to look very weak plus the Denbigh character wasn't fleshed out enough to be of any consequence. I would also argue that the script was dire, probably the worst since DAD because of how non-senseicle it was while also somehow being largely unfunny.
Big plusses though: Train fight was absolutely brilliant, so intense and Bautista's physicality was used extremely well. The ending was very original and well executed. Car chase through Italy was pretty well done (nice bit of humour) and the parachute ending was very Bondian. I also liked how Q and M were used and the settings overall were perfect for the film. PTS was classic even if the CGI was overdone, the helicopter fight was magnificent.
King Kamal, you hit upon many of the things that irked me. I did like the film and suspect upon more viewings I will like it even more but Waltz, to me, was under used. As well, I think the Rome intro of him was masterful and set him up as this intimidating and powerful character....but that set up never really delivered elsewhere. Things became almost "small" with him later in the film. Monica's usage is almost universally agreed to as too short.
Thinking about it now, it felt as though it was a film trying to be a Bond film, mixing classic Bond with modern Bond, and it didn't have that soul that other Bond films have. It just sort of felt.....empty, it didn't feel like as much heart went into it, compared to SF or CR.
Thinking about it now, it felt as though it was a film trying to be a Bond film, mixing classic Bond with modern Bond, and it didn't have that soul that other Bond films have. It just sort of felt.....empty, it didn't feel like as much heart went into it, compared to SF or CR.
Rather like the Brosnan efforts. Just what "soul" did Die another Day have?
1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
Oh, and whilst I think about it, the soundtrack was pretty poor. Was there any new stuff? Most of the stuff I remember was from SF, which I thought was quite Dissapointing. Did the OHMSS theme in the trailer even turns up in the film?
Millennium Force, you've basically hit upon my feelings about the film on my first viewing. Definately need a second viewing soon to confirm it but some of the film did feel rather hollow at times and missed a certain Bond vibe. Hard to put my finger on it. Other times such as the PTS or the train fight it felt like a Bond film but the moments were few and far between.
Oh, and whilst I think about it, the soundtrack was pretty poor. Was there any new stuff? Most of the stuff I remember was from SF, which I thought was quite Dissapointing. Did the OHMSS theme in the trailer even turns up in the film?
Thomas Newman's score was very lazy, especially for the climax of the film which is just recycled from Skyfall. Newman actually botched some scenes with his noise. Mendes has to take the blame for that; his friendship with Newman is clouding his ability to accept Newman should not be scoring these films.
No, the OHMSS theme does not appear but that's a good thing as there's no reason for it to be used.
Oh, and whilst I think about it, the soundtrack was pretty poor. Was there any new stuff? Most of the stuff I remember was from SF, which I thought was quite Dissapointing. Did the OHMSS theme in the trailer even turns up in the film?
Thomas Newman's score was very lazy, especially for the climax of the film which is just recycled from Skyfall. Newman actually botched some scenes with his noise. Mendes has to take the blame for that; his friendship with Newman is clouding his ability to accept Newman should not be scoring these films.
No, the OHMSS theme does not appear but that's a good thing as there's no reason for it to be used.
IMO the theme from OHMSS is a Bond theme and should be used in a future film during an action sequence, it's one of if not the best theme after the James Bond theme. It would give a nod to the history of Bond.
The music in the pre creits was exceptional, after that in the film not very good, but I need to see the film again.
Who says Hinx is dead, the way his hand moved after the snow sequence shows he is like Jaws indestructible, the fact he went out of the train suggests he could come back, we never saw a body X-(
Oh, and whilst I think about it, the soundtrack was pretty poor. Was there any new stuff? Most of the stuff I remember was from SF, which I thought was quite Dissapointing. Did the OHMSS theme in the trailer even turns up in the film?
Thomas Newman's score was very lazy, especially for the climax of the film which is just recycled from Skyfall. Newman actually botched some scenes with his noise. Mendes has to take the blame for that; his friendship with Newman is clouding his ability to accept Newman should not be scoring these films.
No, the OHMSS theme does not appear but that's a good thing as there's no reason for it to be used.
IMO the theme from OHMSS is a Bond theme and should be used in a future film during an action sequence, it's one of if not the best theme after the James Bond theme. It would give a nod to the history of Bond.
The music in the pre creits was exceptional, after that in the film not very good, but I need to see the film again.
I'm glad the OHMSS theme was not used in SP. The OHMSS theme was a theme for a specific film, not for Bond like the James Bond Theme and 007. I wouldn't be opposed to an OHMSS-inspired theme being used in a score, like in AVTAK and DAD. The action themes in those two films take the descending four notes from OHMSS and use them in a different context. But that would have meant Thomas Newman would have had to use a little melody in his score.
Don't worry too much, despite the flaws it's still much better than any of the Brosnan films.
That in itself is very reassuring to me, as Brosnan was far from the series nadir (except for act 3 of DAD)
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
Who says Hinx is dead, the way his hand moved after the snow sequence shows he is like Jaws indestructible, the fact he went out of the train suggests he could come back, we never saw a body X-(
Blofeld and Hinx will be back IMO.
The climax of the film would have been more satisfying with a final encounter with Hinx, resulting in a typically satisfying henchman death (e.g. Oddjob's electrocution).
Positive:
-The classic Gunbarrel in the beginning. Right where it belongs and very nice that it was 'flat' again.
-The long shot in the beginning of the movie. This ware very nicely done!
-Beautiful Pre Title Sequence
-Beautiful titles. Very great!
-Car sequence very nice!
-Hinx
-Hildebrand nod
-Bond asking the guy on the train to take care of his clothes (i think frwl nod)
-Beautiful action in the snow
-The scar! (although i would like to see some bald guy)'
-Q is very good in this one. I like the character.
-Train fight was very nice!
-The joke with the aston martin. It's for 009 :-)
-The explosion in the end.
-Monica. I like it that we have an older woman.
Negative:
Not much of a story: I miss the 'villain with the evil plan'
The song isn't that great.
Mr white was too weak
I didn't recognize Blofeld in the meeting, I thought i would see a familiar face but i didn't. You should experience 'o no it's him' but i thought ' who's that?'
Blofeld was not very threatining
The music wasn't spectacular
The joke with 009's music. This is so Johnny English
The ending of Bond walking away to the girl feels very unbond.
Too much M, Tanner and moneypenny in London.
Madeleine (isn't a beauty in my opinion, that's not a problem )but i miss the chemistry of her character.
Overall the movie felt a bit too slow. There definitely were some 'speed up' points. A lot of nice things but some points also dissapointing.
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
Don't worry too much, despite the flaws it's still much better than any of the Brosnan films.
That in itself is very reassuring to me, as Brosnan was far from the series nadir (except for act 3 of DAD)
I'd say the whole of DAD.. ) ) )
Well, there were bits that I liked :007) Maybe that's why I'm not frightened by the more dire SP reviews )
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
Who says Hinx is dead, the way his hand moved after the snow sequence shows he is like Jaws indestructible, the fact he went out of the train suggests he could come back, we never saw a body X-(
Blofeld and Hinx will be back IMO.
The climax of the film would have been more satisfying with a final encounter with Hinx, resulting in a typically satisfying henchman death (e.g. Oddjob's electrocution).
Hinx can recover and Blofeld is a member of Wormwood scrubs - it can roll over to the next one..
1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
I felt the ejector seat in the car should have been left out, especially the way they did it with the steering wheel going in and all these extra seat belts out of nowhere, and even with a parachute. I thought that was a bit cringeworthy and out of place. I think they could have done a funny moment where Bond thinks his seat will be ejected, but it's actually the passenger seat that goes.
I felt the ejector seat in the car should have been left out, especially the way they did it with the steering wheel going in and all these extra seat belts out of nowhere, and even with a parachute. I thought that was a bit cringeworthy and out of place. I think they could have done a funny moment where Bond thinks his seat will be ejected, but it's actually the passenger seat that goes.
i did like that. I like it that you did not know for sure that he was going to eject himself. It seems easy to end a chase like this but i like it that a gadget saves the day.
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
:007) !
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 think I have realised the problem I have is : They did a brilliant job with building the story of Spectre being this huge organised syndicate, and Waltz a ultra cool super villain and Hinx the tough henchman, and then did nothing special with it, there was no grand master plan to nuke fort knox, or create a race of superbeings whilst destroying humanity. All it appears they were doing was trying to control the Spy networks and control the CCTV globally,
Comments
I doubt it; QoS wasn't helped by its title and The Hildebrand Rarity is even less catchy to a casual moviegoing audience.
Yeah that was a nice little nod. Proper Bond fans all would of smiled.
I hope Mr Hinx somehow survived and is scarred and mangled in someway. Did he just have his thumbnails painted silver? Or were they meant to be some sort of small knifes? Just when he gouges the guys eyes out during the meeting I noticed they were silver.
I really thought shooting the helicopter down with a pistol seemed a tad too far fetched. He looked like he was over a mile away. The ending being in London reminded me of Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation. Sort of similar.
It's definitely not DC's best performance. I also felt they were re-using some dialogue from CR. During the train sequence when Bond and Swann are talking. I'm sure she says something about "Why does he kill people" etc. It reminded me of Bond and Vesper from CR.
Blofeld also said that Bond had interfered in his business (probably when Bond stopped the guy blowing up the plane in CR). So he decided to hurt him by interfering in Bonds business, thus killing Vesper. He just kept on punishing Bond. Wasn't all down to his dad paying more attention to Bond.
I like when Blofeld names all the people that he had interfere in Bonds business. LeChiffre, Greene and Silva. Bond simply replies; "Yes, all dead."
I'm not ragging on it, just with watching it twice in one day I picked up on stuff. Probably backfired a bit haha. Also which bloody train drops you off at a station in the middle of the desert? hahaha
"Greatness From Small Beginnings."
It reminded me of FRWL - a solid intriguing espionage film with mystery and suspense, rather than a big cartoonish explosion-fest. Waltz and Bautista were brilliant. Sadly Monica Bellucci was a little underused. I thought Craig and Lea Seydoux were fantastic - real chemistry.
Not sure if anyone has mentioned it but the subtle little nods to Bond fans were brilliant- especially the name on the door of the safe house towards the end of the film. Pure class. -{
Edit: Oops just spotted UndewaterBattle007 did. ;%
All films are flawed.
It must be a bit deflating to actually work on a film---all that energy and effort---only to have such little regard for the final product, and it's a shame that that's where you're coming from. But IMO you should prepare for many fans liking it more than you do :007) Cheers!
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
As soon as Bond steps onto of that landing and you see Mexido City lit up with Day of the Dead celebrations – you know you are on to a winner. This Bond had to be made. The threads had to be picked up. The highly-charged pace sets its stall out right from the off, with a blistering opening scene that'll have you picking your jaw up from the floor.
Daniel Craig is believed to be the best James Bond. Whatever you think about that, Craig has persistantly played Bond straight. The humour suits his character. Of course it helps that he is co-producer which gives Craig some weight. In this one he is quite lusty. Kissing the Mexican girl, kissing Lucia with passion and nearly tearing the clothes off Madeleine. This is contrasted with a sincerity. I was stunned in the film where he tries to get Madeleine not to watch her father killed. His explosian of rage nearly blows the screen away.
Madeleine Swann is played by French actress Lea Seydoux. She has a difficult relationship with her father and plenty of bad memories. She overcomes this by rediscovering his background at the L'Americain hotel in Tangier. The secret room showed memories of her treasured by her father.(I love the scene where Bond threatens the mouse) She's particularly effective during the torture scene. Monica Belluci is good as Lucia Sciarra and we nearly watch her principal execution. She gets a good close up as she knows she is going to her death.
Christopher Waltz is the superbaddie. I never thought that Blofeld would come back. I thought he was consigned to history. Of all the modern baddies this is the actor who could portray him. His introduction is enjoyable. Sitting in shadow at the meeting, and slowly turning the tables on 007. There have been comments about his history against Bond is too shallow. The fact that he harbours a grudge against Bond as his father "liked Bond more". But I think it is more then that. He realises that Bond is a menace. That Bond can bring him down. His emnity with Bond is more strategic then anything else.
For those looking for a superhenchman Mr Hinx does very well.The size of him is incredible. Dave Bautista is an ex WWE ex proffesional mixed martial artist he over whelms Bond. Bautista is memorable for nearly gouging out a persons eyes (my partner had to look away) before twisting his neck. He comes into his own in the railway carriage scene which is one of the most memorable scenes in the film. My memory of him is actually Bond in a panic trying to get away
More interesting is Andrew Scott as Denbigh. Fresh from playing Moriaty in Sherlock he takes the role of a Whitehall Mandarin. One of the things about the British secret service is the sheer lack of change. But due to Cameron and his cuts the Bond films have never been so timely. He is actually defeated by democracy at one point; and just cant resist winding up the stalwarts. I'd guessed that he was working for Spectre at the beginning. How many of our politicians work for them – rather then us? James Bond's greatest enemy is actually government cuts
Ralph Fiennes as Action M is quite memorable. His tussles with Denbigh are quite epic. Its a fight to the death and he knows it. Moneypenny is useful and I love her and Q trying to persuade Action-M that they have a trace on Bond at 'Rules'. And who exactly is that in Moneypennys bed? Q is a delight. A busy little man at home in the basement. I loved him in that Austrian hotel room checking out Oberhauser. And on the cable-car surrounded by henchman.
Sam Smith's title song is utterly forgettable. But it is the background design work by Danny Kleineman which is the highlight here. His great octopus design enfolds them and comes across as quite creepy as its tentacles wrap around the figures. Funnily enough, the Sam Smith orchestra rendition which is heard in the love scenes.
Rome works well. Theres a sweep of choral music as the cars sweep around St Peters basilica. And the car chase is exciting as Bond tries out the Q gadgets which aren't working yet. The Austrian Alps are my favourite location with that icy lake being very creepy, and meeting Mr White was like something from Hammer house of horror (ie the ravens). The Sahara is where the film begins to stumble but when you think about it is the nearest patch of wilderness nearest Europe, apart from the Arctic and Russian steppes.But things pick up back in London and we built to an effective climax involving the MI6 building.
So how does that leave us? I imagine Blofeld being at the behest of the British government in a maximum security prison. Wormwood Scrubs Blofeld? And the next one is his break for freedom? Daniel? Well, he's being very cautious, he has said "he's up for doing more" but that depends on the studios and when the accolades come in for this one – he'll be contacted. Babs Broccoli would like a Mendes-Craig solution. Roger Moore was in his position in the eighties. He made FYEO by the skin of his teeth and we ended up with seven films
Daniel hasn't gone anywhere. He keeps the world on tenterhooks
/
Great review of the film, I think he has one more left in him, that's if Craig wants to do one. He's left Bond Franchise in amazing condition without doubt the most successful since Connery's peak. I think if Spectre gets near or even beats Skyfall for box office results (it's done big business already in the U.K, which is to be expected), I could see everyone behind the scenes basically saying "name the price" for one more Bond film. I think Craig gets by cause he's not pretty boy handsome like Brosnan, so he doesn't look too different from the Craig that was in Casino Royale to now. So one more film when he's 50 would be a great way to say goodbye. I doubt Sam Mendes will do another one for a while though.
I just felt it was kind of all show but no trousers, very flashy and undeniably well shot yet underneath is just seemed incoherent and worse still just a generic action film that someone has tried to turn into a Bond film. Daniel Craig seemed like he wasn't giving it his all and while the producers have tried to give us a more vulnerable Bond for the first three films, here it just seemed like they have ignored that and produced a stock action hero. He had next to no chemistry with either Seydoux or Bellucci (who was criminally underused), how they both ended up sleeping with him I don't know because both scenes seemed very jarring and uncomfortable. The way they used Mr White also annoyed me because they kind of turned him into a pitiful character when he has been a major villain and we as an audience shouldn't feel that, additionally the way other film's villains tied into Spectre was not explained satisfactorily. Blofeld was underused and even when he was, he was just a stock Mendes villain (and not his best either) who is deranged yet also amateurish. I didn't find him unsettling or creepy, just odd/pantomime and certainly not intelligent enough to be in his position. Bond's total lack of any emotion in the torture scene was such a wasted opportunity. His plot was skipped over far too briefly and the ending in MI6 was so cliché (typical Bond/damsel in distress) and ridiculous. Naturally they will have to bring ESB back but they way they did it was very strange, Bond not shooting him just seemed so out of character. The whole London subplot was just odd, the implications of this "9 eyes" thing weren't really mentioned and MI6 was made to look very weak plus the Denbigh character wasn't fleshed out enough to be of any consequence. I would also argue that the script was dire, probably the worst since DAD because of how non-senseicle it was while also somehow being largely unfunny.
Big plusses though: Train fight was absolutely brilliant, so intense and Bautista's physicality was used extremely well. The ending was very original and well executed. Car chase through Italy was pretty well done (nice bit of humour) and the parachute ending was very Bondian. I also liked how Q and M were used and the settings overall were perfect for the film. PTS was classic even if the CGI was overdone, the helicopter fight was magnificent.
Rather like the Brosnan efforts. Just what "soul" did Die another Day have?
Not that I noticed- but then I've only seen it once so far.
No, the OHMSS theme does not appear but that's a good thing as there's no reason for it to be used.
IMO the theme from OHMSS is a Bond theme and should be used in a future film during an action sequence, it's one of if not the best theme after the James Bond theme. It would give a nod to the history of Bond.
The music in the pre creits was exceptional, after that in the film not very good, but I need to see the film again.
Blofeld and Hinx will be back IMO.
I'm glad the OHMSS theme was not used in SP. The OHMSS theme was a theme for a specific film, not for Bond like the James Bond Theme and 007. I wouldn't be opposed to an OHMSS-inspired theme being used in a score, like in AVTAK and DAD. The action themes in those two films take the descending four notes from OHMSS and use them in a different context. But that would have meant Thomas Newman would have had to use a little melody in his score.
That in itself is very reassuring to me, as Brosnan was far from the series nadir (except for act 3 of DAD)
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I'd say the whole of DAD..
Positive:
-The classic Gunbarrel in the beginning. Right where it belongs and very nice that it was 'flat' again.
-The long shot in the beginning of the movie. This ware very nicely done!
-Beautiful Pre Title Sequence
-Beautiful titles. Very great!
-Car sequence very nice!
-Hinx
-Hildebrand nod
-Bond asking the guy on the train to take care of his clothes (i think frwl nod)
-Beautiful action in the snow
-The scar! (although i would like to see some bald guy)'
-Q is very good in this one. I like the character.
-Train fight was very nice!
-The joke with the aston martin. It's for 009 :-)
-The explosion in the end.
-Monica. I like it that we have an older woman.
Negative:
Not much of a story: I miss the 'villain with the evil plan'
The song isn't that great.
Mr white was too weak
I didn't recognize Blofeld in the meeting, I thought i would see a familiar face but i didn't. You should experience 'o no it's him' but i thought ' who's that?'
Blofeld was not very threatining
The music wasn't spectacular
The joke with 009's music. This is so Johnny English
The ending of Bond walking away to the girl feels very unbond.
Too much M, Tanner and moneypenny in London.
Madeleine (isn't a beauty in my opinion, that's not a problem )but i miss the chemistry of her character.
Overall the movie felt a bit too slow. There definitely were some 'speed up' points. A lot of nice things but some points also dissapointing.
Well, there were bits that I liked :007) Maybe that's why I'm not frightened by the more dire SP reviews
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Hinx can recover and Blofeld is a member of Wormwood scrubs - it can roll over to the next one..
i did like that. I like it that you did not know for sure that he was going to eject himself. It seems easy to end a chase like this but i like it that a gadget saves the day.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM