Were the main actors under-utilized? (SPOILERS)
Absolutely_Cart
NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
In my opinion, yes.
Bautista, the henchman, scuffles with Bond three times, and suddenly disappears (with no return) in the 3rd act for no reason. He claimed his character was intelligent and funny, but he was basically just a generic thug with a body made of metal. Jaws and Oddjob had no dialogue and had miles more depth in their character.
Belucci's character is a Bond girl for the first 20 minutes. Bond promises to protect her, but she's basically disappears and is missing from the plot for the rest of the movie.
Andrew Scott's character, Max/C was a corrupt bureaucrat with little character development.
Most disappointingly, Christoph Waltz gets only 5 scenes: a strong introduction, the standard cordial villain-meets-Bond scene, a gratuitous torture scene, a weak climax scene and a generic final scene.
Bautista, the henchman, scuffles with Bond three times, and suddenly disappears (with no return) in the 3rd act for no reason. He claimed his character was intelligent and funny, but he was basically just a generic thug with a body made of metal. Jaws and Oddjob had no dialogue and had miles more depth in their character.
Belucci's character is a Bond girl for the first 20 minutes. Bond promises to protect her, but she's basically disappears and is missing from the plot for the rest of the movie.
Andrew Scott's character, Max/C was a corrupt bureaucrat with little character development.
Most disappointingly, Christoph Waltz gets only 5 scenes: a strong introduction, the standard cordial villain-meets-Bond scene, a gratuitous torture scene, a weak climax scene and a generic final scene.
Comments
Lucia's husband was just used as a plot device to introduce Mr. Hinx (which himself lacked development). And Lucia was largely there just for Bond to have another romantic encounter.
Blofeld (the most evil man in the world) basically just spent all of his on-screen time just pissing off Bond because he has daddy issues.
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Lucias father?????
Good to know that she married her own father. Good to know ALL she did was point Bond in the direction of the Spectre meeting 8-)
Much to his claimed, Bautista was just a generic muscle head. He only said one word in the entire film. Really reminds me of Jaw.
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this is the third Bond film with a great actor named Christopher plays the villain
Lee and Walken were by far the best parts of their otherwise weak films
Waltz unfortunately was not the best part of this one
The writers had to save screen time for the Impossible Mission Force.
Christopher Waltz underused? Perhaps, but we won't know till Bond 25.
Dave Bautista underused? Definitely not. Best henchman for a long time.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
He's a really good henchman, but cmon, you know you wanted to see him fight with Bond one more time in the 3rd act. B-)
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He was fantastic, but personally I would not have wanted the over-used "surprise" of him popping up again 3rd act.
I would just have liked him used a bit more throughout. Maybe knocking off a few more people so we get more idea of what he can do.
Waltz I the other hand is an amazing actor. I can't wait to see what he does in the next film. I think he can possibly be one of the best villians of the series.
Agreed. I think they are saving Mr. Hinx for a return in Bond 25. If he shows up during the climax, they either have to kill him off, have him arrested (not likely to happen) or find another ambiguous way to make him disappear, which would have been a bit repetitious after the train fight.
With regards to Waltz, maybe they can get Tarantino to write and direct Bond 25. Tarantino made him a star.
Monica Bellucci, was another means to an end but an amazing one. This was a return to more classic Bond, with 007 having a tryst for Queen and Country and then moving on. I also liked Bond's reference to his friend Felix (just a prognostication: if DC is back for 25 I believe there will be a Felix Leiter appearence). The Bellucci scenes were all great, even the musical theme. The scene where Bond dispatches her would-be executioners is beautifully shot and acted. Sometimes it's quality over quanity.
The involvement of "M", Moneypenny, and "Q" were appropriate to the story and circumstances. "Q" in this Bond universe is certainly more than just the Quartermaster in overall skill set. Naomi Harris has really claimed the role of Moneypenny in SPECTRE and the look she gives "C" is priceless. Ralph Fiennes turn as "M" is very good also. His handling of the climax illustrates what a great Bond he could have been in his younger days.
maybe one big movie in two halves, like Kill Bill or the last Harry Potter, and it ensures Bond 25 will be dealing with iconic subject matter rather than some new, random, potentially disappointing villain
However, my single biggest problem with the film was that I will never believe the notion that James Bond forgives or feels sympathy for Mr. White after what he did to Vesper and that he'd care at all about protecting his daughter. White was destroying lives and all they did in the script to wipe that out was have him say Spectre went too far by asking him to kill women and children? Give me a break.
Lastly, M sends Bond to kill Skiarra. How'd she know about him or that he'd lead to Spectre? M seemed pretty clueless in the 3 prior films. Does she have an agent better than 007 who found this out? I want to see the movie about that agent. Can Idris Elba play him?
This is where I disagree, and I thought White's character was one of the better parts of the script.
The theme of the Craig movies is that the mission comes first and you can't let personal vendettas slow you down. During the beginning (CR/QOS era) when Bond was a nascent 00, the death of Vesper really affected him. But now that he's been in the field for years and has seen dozens of people die, Vesper has sort of become another casualty to him.
He never forgave White. He was never sympathetic toward White. It was simply a practical bargain, and a business transaction. Bond needed information and in turn Bond would protect his daughter.
Also, White was an extortionist - not a terrorist. He never really killed any innocent people himself. He just collected money from criminals.
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....it's Blofeld
This movie isn't as good as Casino Royal or Skyfall. This is the Phantom Menace of Bond films. Many people are going to say they liked it and then after six months all the dissatisfying elements will be what we most remember.
At least Quantum of Solace had the writers strike as an excuse.
Were you born in the 90s? Nobody born before then liked The Phantom Menace the first time.
Hmmm, so you're six months ahead of everybody else.
You must make a fortune playing the stock market.
Woah! Woah! Woah!
Spectre made some mistakes but it's not on that magnitude of a mess-up.
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Just want to give a mention to Ralph Fiennes portrayal of M in SP - it was fantastic. The way he quietly kicked ass in the end was awesome. Everything was on the line, he played the stress well initially and then worked the way to being an element in winning it all back.
I believe M, Q and Moneypenny have been brilliantly cast and are very well acted.
"Better make that two."
Totally agree. Both excellent.
"Better make that two."
I'm seeing it for the second time tonight. Maybe it'll be different.