I'm with you. In concept, this truck chase should have been amazing, but John Glen doesn't stage it with any oomph. It just happens. There's zero panache to the editing of the scene either.
I disagree on the editing. It delivers on the action while also rewarding us with numerous 'character moments'.
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
Thanks for selecting this one, Higgins. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and more importantly I enjoyed Dalton and re-discovered why I like him so much as 007. He does “grim Bond” so much better than Craig’s often one-note portrayal.
I used to think he was better in TLD but I’ve re-assessed that- here, he’s bloody brilliant and as Shady said above the rest of the cast rises to match him.
It’s not a perfect film- we’ve discussed the weaknesses above- but it has risen in my estimation after this viewing.
Once again, thank you Higgins for this chance to vindicate Timothy Dalton and his portrayal of James Bond.
Thanks for selecting this one, Higgins. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and more importantly I enjoyed Dalton and re-discovered why I like him so much as 007. He does “grim Bond” so much better than Craig’s often one-note portrayal.
I used to think he was better in TLD but I’ve re-assessed that- here, he’s bloody brilliant and as Shady said above the rest of the cast rises to match him.
It’s not a perfect film- we’ve discussed the weaknesses above- but it has risen in my estimation after this viewing.
Once again, thank you Higgins for this chance to vindicate Timothy Dalton and his portrayal of James Bond.
I agree. LTK is the best of the Daniel Craig-style Bond films... because Glen's team really did have their roots in original, vintage Bond, and because Tim has a greater emotional register than Craig. It's a shame John Barry couldn't score it.
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
I enjoyed the evening a lot. LTK is different, but often in a good way. Shoot the costume and hair departemts, rewrite the Leiter scene, a Thai Barrelhead and it would have been one of the best. And I would've always wonder what Ridley Scott's LTK would have been like.
Thanks for selecting this one, Higgins. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and more importantly I enjoyed Dalton and re-discovered why I like him so much as 007. He does “grim Bond” so much better than Craig’s often one-note portrayal.
I used to think he was better in TLD but I’ve re-assessed that- here, he’s bloody brilliant and as Shady said above the rest of the cast rises to match him.
It’s not a perfect film- we’ve discussed the weaknesses above- but it has risen in my estimation after this viewing.
Once again, thank you Higgins for this chance to vindicate Timothy Dalton and his portrayal of James Bond.
Well, and who has told you 100 times that LTK is better than TLD?
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I especially like how the film (led in this case by MGW) takes a few unused Fleming scenes and extrapolates a whole story about them. I only wish that subsequent films had done the same (CR06 excepted).
First off: I'm not bashing anyone who likes this movie. To each their own, and it would be a boring world if we all liked the same things.
But honestly, this is absolutely one of the worst films in the franchise in my opinion. The look of the film is terrible with some really bad looking cinematography (especially in the interior scenes) that makes the film feel like an episode of television, the shot compositions are never interesting, and it's all edited together with absolutely zero tension to keep things interesting. Add in some truly bad acting from .
For a second, I thought that you where speaking about TLD because everything even applies much more to it
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
So, anybody wants to repeat that LTK looks like a TV episode?
Agreed. The first halves of LALD and TMWTGG are much more TV-like.
Maybe in terms of 'look' but not in terms of direction. Guy Hamilton at least knew how to compose an interesting shot and properly block action.
Glen's style is workmanlike and unispired. Ridley Scott was makeing "Someone to watch over me" and "Black rain" aroud this time - just the type of edgy, talented director TLD needed.
But honestly, this is absolutely one of the worst films in the franchise in my opinion. The look of the film is terrible with some really bad looking cinematography (especially in the interior scenes) that makes the film feel like an episode of television, the shot compositions are never interesting, and it's all edited together with absolutely zero tension to keep things interesting. Add in some truly bad acting from Talisa Soto, Carey Lowell, some of the extras, and even Dalton in quite a few spots, and it's simply hard for me to engage with the film.
I accept the TV-episode criticism in some scenes, and the bad acting (though it isn't unique in that among Bond films. Exhibit A- Halle Berry. Exhibit B- Tanya Roberts). The film is not perfect but it does show a genuine attempt to capitalise upon the strengths of its leading man- Dalton could never do the one-liners as expertly as Roger Moore, so they're played down- and try to inject something different into the Bond series. The action scenes are genuinely enjoyable (I love the whole sequence from the manta ray to Bond throwing money from the plane) and thrilling (the truck chase is one of the best Bond climaxes, topped by Bond setting Sanchez alight). The plot of Bond infiltrating Sanchez's empire is well-handled and well-acted, as is the whole "Bond as rogue agent screws up another operation" angle.
A weakness is how quickly everything is sorted out at the end, with "happy Felix" and James being accepted back so readily. But- because movie.
Overall, it works for me though I can point out a few weaknesses.
Comments
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I disagree on the editing. It delivers on the action while also rewarding us with numerous 'character moments'.
I used to think he was better in TLD but I’ve re-assessed that- here, he’s bloody brilliant and as Shady said above the rest of the cast rises to match him.
It’s not a perfect film- we’ve discussed the weaknesses above- but it has risen in my estimation after this viewing.
Once again, thank you Higgins for this chance to vindicate Timothy Dalton and his portrayal of James Bond.
Just after Dalton has set Sanchez on fire:
Mrs. Higgins: „ Does he cry again??!“
You can‘t make this up!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Yes. That's it.
My sympathies to Mrs Higgins
I agree. LTK is the best of the Daniel Craig-style Bond films... because Glen's team really did have their roots in original, vintage Bond, and because Tim has a greater emotional register than Craig. It's a shame John Barry couldn't score it.
Well, and who has told you 100 times that LTK is better than TLD?
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
A huge weakness in my eyes (or should I say ears?), but he had suffered a ruptured oesophagus and wasn't scoring anything at this point.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I must have missed that in your constant Dalton-slagging, and concentration on its box-office performance.
Agreed. The first halves of LALD and TMWTGG are much more TV-like.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
For a second, I thought that you where speaking about TLD because everything even applies much more to it
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Glen's style is workmanlike and unispired. Ridley Scott was makeing "Someone to watch over me" and "Black rain" aroud this time - just the type of edgy, talented director TLD needed.
You should side with your allies and not disagree and argue
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I accept the TV-episode criticism in some scenes, and the bad acting (though it isn't unique in that among Bond films. Exhibit A- Halle Berry. Exhibit B- Tanya Roberts). The film is not perfect but it does show a genuine attempt to capitalise upon the strengths of its leading man- Dalton could never do the one-liners as expertly as Roger Moore, so they're played down- and try to inject something different into the Bond series. The action scenes are genuinely enjoyable (I love the whole sequence from the manta ray to Bond throwing money from the plane) and thrilling (the truck chase is one of the best Bond climaxes, topped by Bond setting Sanchez alight). The plot of Bond infiltrating Sanchez's empire is well-handled and well-acted, as is the whole "Bond as rogue agent screws up another operation" angle.
A weakness is how quickly everything is sorted out at the end, with "happy Felix" and James being accepted back so readily. But- because movie.
Overall, it works for me though I can point out a few weaknesses.