Bond, James Bond

User avatar
Rita Hayworth
Posts: 10068
Joined: February 6th, 2011, 4:01 pm

Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by Rita Hayworth »

I'm not interested in Spectre and it's Bond ... Sorry Everyone!
User avatar
Lzcutter
Administrator
Posts: 3149
Joined: April 12th, 2007, 6:50 pm
Location: Lake Balboa and the City of Angels!
Contact:

Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by Lzcutter »

We are looking forward to Spectre and plan on seeing it the day after Thanksgiving. We hope to do a double feature that day and work in either Trumbo or Spotlight as well.

We really like Daniel Craig's portrayal of James Bond and hope the recent chatter about this being his last Bond film won't come to pass.
Lynn in Lake Balboa

"Film is history. With every foot of film lost, we lose a link to our culture, to the world around us, to each other and to ourselves."

"For me, John Wayne has only become more impressive over time." Marty Scorsese

Avatar-Warner Bros Water Tower
User avatar
Rita Hayworth
Posts: 10068
Joined: February 6th, 2011, 4:01 pm

Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by Rita Hayworth »

On Monday, I went to see Spectre on the advice of many of my friends who are retired and convince me to see it. I saw all four films and this how I grade Daniel Craig performance of each of the following 007 Movies.

Casino Royale (2006) ... 3 1/2 Stars
Quantum of Solace (2008) .... 1 star
Skyfall (2012) ... 2 1/2 stars
Spectre (2015) ... 3 stars

I only seen Casino Royale twice and the rest once. I'm not a fan of him as 007 and the reason why that he's blonde and no Connery, Moore, and the others and the reason why is that Barbara Broccoli hired him in the first choice. I was more impressed by the acting of Léa Seydoux as Madeleine Swann and to me was excellent and better than Monica Bellucci who played Lucia.

Léa Seydoux was the real Bond Girl ... Monica Bellucci was not.
User avatar
movieman1957
Administrator
Posts: 5522
Joined: April 15th, 2007, 3:50 pm
Location: MD

Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by movieman1957 »

"Spectre" in my opinion is certainly not the disaster many US critics claim it to be. It may not be "Skyfall" but it is an entertaining film. Like many Bond films you check your standards of belief at the door and sit back and enjoy the ride.

The opening very long tracking shot could not have been easy to do. Well choreographed and a nice mix of close up and medium shots make it an interesting 2 minutes (or whatever it is ) to get going. Along with an exciting fight in a helicopter it gets it going pretty well.

There certainly are nods to prior Bond films. The whole set on the mountaintop of the clinic certainly is a reminder of a similar setting in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." Some humor finds its way in as one shot during a chase was every much in the style of some of the Moore humor.

M & Q have much more to do here than usual and that is good.

My daughter and I disagree on Walz as Oberhauser. She thought him properly menacing more, I think, in the power he wields than his direct personality than I did. He almost seemed casual about it but it may be more about being relaxed about it than menacing.

Overall I thought the story pretty interesting and kind of timely. It could have been shorter but I didn't feel like I was there all night. Overall, I enjoyed it.

For me this is more proof that you need to read more than one critic's opinion. I read a few British critics who really liked it and at least one American critic who blasted it through every sentence he wrote. The truth usually lies more where there is more agreement among several you might read.

If you are a Bond fan I think you'll enjoy it. It is hardly perfect. If you are not then you will likely feel you wasted your time. It is a genre unto itself and I find that there are few casual Bond fans.

(BTW, it would help if you didn't have to sit in the front row.)
Chris

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana."
User avatar
Lzcutter
Administrator
Posts: 3149
Joined: April 12th, 2007, 6:50 pm
Location: Lake Balboa and the City of Angels!
Contact:

Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by Lzcutter »

"Spectre" in my opinion is certainly not the disaster many US critics claim it to be.
Chris,

I totally agree. I knew from various reports that the US critics were calling the movie disappointing and more but I don't read reviews before I see a film because too often even the best critic will reveal too much.

I do have to say, I love Daniel Craig as James Bond. He brings a cool and a lethal edge to the character that no one else has captured. I loved Casino Royale and Skyfall very much and Quantum of Solace not as much.

As for Spectre, both Mr. Cutter and I both enjoyed the film tremendously. Chris' review captures many of the points and I don't want to give too much away.

I loved the homages to previous Bond films, as Chris pointed out Her Majesty's Secret Service and there was an homage to You Only Live Twice as well.

Loved M, Q and Moneypenny and Tanner as Bond's back up team. I first saw Ben Wishaw (Q) on the BBC show The Hour and really like what he is doing with the role of Q.

It may help to watch both Casino Royale and Skyfall (if you haven't seen them) before seeing this film as there are various shout-outs and plot points that reach back to both films.

Like Chris, I found the story line very timely and didn't find the 2 hour and 20 minute running time slow, repetitive or dragging. Though Roger Deakins was unable to return as the Director of Photography on this one, Hoyt Van Hoytema ably takes his place and does a knock-out job with the international locales and especially that opening shot.

But don't let the US critics or the buzz dissuade you from seeing this film. It is a terrific James Bond film and well worth seeing.

PS- I am heartened to see that Daniel Craig is changing his tune about returning as Bond (he is contracted for one more film) and hope that he, Sam Mendes and the rest of the gang return for the next installment.
Lynn in Lake Balboa

"Film is history. With every foot of film lost, we lose a link to our culture, to the world around us, to each other and to ourselves."

"For me, John Wayne has only become more impressive over time." Marty Scorsese

Avatar-Warner Bros Water Tower
User avatar
Lomm
Administrator
Posts: 719
Joined: September 5th, 2013, 9:14 am

Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by Lomm »

I really enjoyed all the Craig Bond films, including this latest outing. I think it calls back to Quantum of Solace more than Casino Royale though, in terms of what you should watch before seeing it.
User avatar
Richard--W
Posts: 42
Joined: January 11th, 2010, 7:40 am

Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by Richard--W »

Forgive me for posting a sour note, but after watching SPECTRE and being reminded of the three entries that led up to it, I feel strongly about this.

Daniel Craig has crapped on James Bond long enough. He and his twisted producers have deconstructed and degraded James Bond out of existence. It's a different thing now. It can never go back to what it was before, because they've spoiled it. I despise the Craig films. I wish somebody could rescue James Bond from the clutches of the evil Broccoli offspring. What they've done to this franchise breaks my heart. They'll never get it right, and it will never be right until an entirely different entity starts making the films.
"To live outside the law you must be honest."
Bob Dylan, 1965
User avatar
movieman1957
Administrator
Posts: 5522
Joined: April 15th, 2007, 3:50 pm
Location: MD

Re: Bond, James Bond

Post by movieman1957 »

So, 007 is going to be a woman. Hmmm
Chris

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana."
Post Reply