Skyfall & Spectre
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Lex
Administrator
^You must avoid all UK news sites.
It's actually a good thing I avoid reviews before going to see a film I know I want to see, because the Guardian review has the biggest possible spoiler.
So take home message from this post - don't read anything about Skyfall published on the Guardian website.
It's actually a good thing I avoid reviews before going to see a film I know I want to see, because the Guardian review has the biggest possible spoiler.
So take home message from this post - don't read anything about Skyfall published on the Guardian website.
AvecAloes
Donator
Lex - everything you said = valid and truth.
Villain. Insane. As in, insanely well done, and brilliantly executed, and, well, just downright crazy. I thought M let him go in 1996, though? Did I miss something/hear incorrectly? Not that it really matters, although the island that he has been hiding out on for the last however many years seems to be a lot more desecrated than it would have been if he had just taken it over in 2006. Also, speaking of that island, why is it so desecrated? He said that he was able to get everyone to abandon it simply with the threat of biochemical hazard or something, right? So why does it look like it's been through a war? But yes, when he had Bond tied in that chair, well, it made my skin crawl. A good number of people in the theater laughed at that point, but I didn't really think it was meant to be funny, except for the tongue-in-cheek reply from Bond, but perhaps they were laughing to mask their discomfort? I could see that, I guess. But I wanted them to shut up. Ha.
Q...oh, dreamy sigh. I fell in love with him immediately (and no, Force, not just because he's hipster-y!). I thought his introduction into the series was excellent, and I can't wait to see more with him. And I loved how Bond immediatelylost the personalized pistol that he was specifically instructed by Q to not lose...classic Bond.
M: I, too, was shocked that she died in the end. Even when they revealed her injury in the tunnel, I figured that Bond would find her and stabilize the wound, and that she would be alright. Frankly, we expected the groundskeeper to die (likeable old man introduced? Kill him off!, seems to be the trend in most movies), so I was pleased that he did not, but then that was immediately overshadowed by my utter shock as M passed in Bond's arms. How emotional. I suppose, as far as Judi Dench goes, it might just have been her time to move on from the series, as she is getting up there in years, and who knows really when the next film will come out...but the interaction between Bond and M in this film was so well done, so poignant and real, that it seems a real shame that it had to end this time.
This exactly. The tension surrounding his character was immediately broken during the inquiry with M, when he interrupted the, um, ohhh blanking on the title that woman had, but whatever, when he interrupted her to insist on hearing from M - hilarious.
Money.Freaking.Penny. And dayyyum, she's hot. Doesn't hurt
Yup. All of that, and THE THEME.
I greatly desire to see this film again.
Q...oh, dreamy sigh. I fell in love with him immediately (and no, Force, not just because he's hipster-y!). I thought his introduction into the series was excellent, and I can't wait to see more with him. And I loved how Bond immediatelylost the personalized pistol that he was specifically instructed by Q to not lose...classic Bond.
M: I, too, was shocked that she died in the end. Even when they revealed her injury in the tunnel, I figured that Bond would find her and stabilize the wound, and that she would be alright. Frankly, we expected the groundskeeper to die (likeable old man introduced? Kill him off!, seems to be the trend in most movies), so I was pleased that he did not, but then that was immediately overshadowed by my utter shock as M passed in Bond's arms. How emotional. I suppose, as far as Judi Dench goes, it might just have been her time to move on from the series, as she is getting up there in years, and who knows really when the next film will come out...but the interaction between Bond and M in this film was so well done, so poignant and real, that it seems a real shame that it had to end this time.
Lex said:
This exactly. The tension surrounding his character was immediately broken during the inquiry with M, when he interrupted the, um, ohhh blanking on the title that woman had, but whatever, when he interrupted her to insist on hearing from M - hilarious.
Money.Freaking.Penny. And dayyyum, she's hot. Doesn't hurt
Lex said:
Yup. All of that, and THE THEME.
I greatly desire to see this film again.
Lex
Administrator
^
And you MUST! I've been to see it twice now and I'm thinking about buying it when it comes out - which isn't something I often do with movies. But it's one of those I think I could watch so many times and just not be bored.
Javier Bardem has to be one of the best Bond Villains of all time.
Seeing it the second time reminded me that one of my favourite moments in the film is when M is in the courtroom and Rodriguez has escaped and is on his way to kill her, it was IMMENSELY SUSPENSEFUL I CAN'T EVEN GRASP IT!
Seriously, at that moment I had actual WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN I CAN'T HANDLE THIS butterflies everywhere.
Anyway I apologise for my terribad feels in the previous few sentences but yes, one of my favourite moments in the film. The whole thing was just so well acted in my opinion, the interactions between M and Bond in particular are carried so well because a ton of it is non-verbal but still incredibly obvious because of how well it's done.
I hope to hell they keep the director for the next one. I'm disappointed and sad that M ended up dying though it ended up being handled really well IMO. There's just so many opportunities for her to die and then it's like... OK she can't possibly die now... NOPE.
Ugh so goooooood, want to see it again now!
TALK ABOUT MORE THINGS PLEASE FINALLY SOMEONE ELSE ON TLS HAS SEEN IT!!!
Javier Bardem has to be one of the best Bond Villains of all time.
Seeing it the second time reminded me that one of my favourite moments in the film is when M is in the courtroom and Rodriguez has escaped and is on his way to kill her, it was IMMENSELY SUSPENSEFUL I CAN'T EVEN GRASP IT!
Seriously, at that moment I had actual WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN I CAN'T HANDLE THIS butterflies everywhere.
Anyway I apologise for my terribad feels in the previous few sentences but yes, one of my favourite moments in the film. The whole thing was just so well acted in my opinion, the interactions between M and Bond in particular are carried so well because a ton of it is non-verbal but still incredibly obvious because of how well it's done.
I hope to hell they keep the director for the next one. I'm disappointed and sad that M ended up dying though it ended up being handled really well IMO. There's just so many opportunities for her to die and then it's like... OK she can't possibly die now... NOPE.
Ugh so goooooood, want to see it again now!
TALK ABOUT MORE THINGS PLEASE FINALLY SOMEONE ELSE ON TLS HAS SEEN IT!!!
AvecAloes
Donator
Lex, I know! The camera flashing briefly to the screen showing the messages urging them to get M to safety ASAP going ignored by M so she can stand her mother effing ground while knowing that the person who so greatly wants her dead is probably just moments away from arriving and wreaking havoc was so suspenseful, but the way that M so clearly had her wits about her was almost calming, yes?
Remember all those naysayers who were preemptively complaining that Craig wouldn't be a good Bond? To them, I say: Suck it.
Remember all those naysayers who were preemptively complaining that Craig wouldn't be a good Bond? To them, I say: Suck it.
X-SOLDIER
Harbinger O Great Justice
- AKA
- X
I know I've been meaning to write in here for a while, so let's see if I can get anything down before I leave work. (It's been a VERY different week for me, with me taking on different job roles, and having a new schedule etc. etc). ANYWAY:
X
Casino Royale re-established James Bond's character, and by the same token, Skyfall really finishes that job in re-establishing the rest of the James Bond world. I was hesitant about the new Q, but after completely loving Ben Wishaw in Cloud Atlas, he's equally marvelous here, and I was totally sold on him the moment he matter-of-factly requested for James to bring everything back in one piece (which he most obviously doesn't).
I had totally called Gareth Mallory being the new M, much sooner than I had figured that Eve was the new Money Penny and although I got both before their reveals, it didn't make them any less excellent. The return to the old padded door classic James Bond was slowly reintroduced very well, while showing the most wonderful respect to those passing the torch - most notably Judi Dench. Javier Bardem was an effective and quite interesting villain, and just made Judi Dench's M that much more strong. (His body horror moment was FUCKING scary).
The bit at Skyfall was handled very well, and managed to give enough, without feeling like it was overly indulgent in minor details or background that I was hoping would be left mostly mysterious.
Unfortunately I haven't got much more time to write, but hopefully that captures most of my feelings.
I had totally called Gareth Mallory being the new M, much sooner than I had figured that Eve was the new Money Penny and although I got both before their reveals, it didn't make them any less excellent. The return to the old padded door classic James Bond was slowly reintroduced very well, while showing the most wonderful respect to those passing the torch - most notably Judi Dench. Javier Bardem was an effective and quite interesting villain, and just made Judi Dench's M that much more strong. (His body horror moment was FUCKING scary).
The bit at Skyfall was handled very well, and managed to give enough, without feeling like it was overly indulgent in minor details or background that I was hoping would be left mostly mysterious.
Unfortunately I haven't got much more time to write, but hopefully that captures most of my feelings.
X
anothercid
Human, being
I really don't like most Bond films. I think they're cheesy and dumb and I can't relate to their values at all. I had enjoyed the Daniel Craig run so far, but the thing is neither Casino Royale nor Quantum of Solace felt especially Bond-y to me. Not only were they a stripped-down, right-from-the-beginning reboot of the series, they were also incredibly thorough deconstructions of the character. There was a sense in both films that the Bond we were watching wasn't the Bond we knew; at least, not yet.
So I'll admit that pretty early into Skyfall, when I realised that the character had very much come full circle and what I was watching was a Bond film right down to it's Union Jacked undies, my heart sank a little and I thought: well, it's finally come to this. Suppose it had to happen really, them's the breaks, now let's just get this over with.
One of the absolute best things that good art can do is prove dicks like me completely wrong.
Skyfall is a great film and possibly the finest conclusion to a trilogy* I've ever seen. For one thing, Sam Mendes turns out to be a fantastic action director (who knew?); the fights and stunts are exciting and feel real, but unlike Quantum of Solace, never feel like they're getting in the way of the story. The script is fantastic; the dialogue is sharp and funny, the characters are well-defined and there's a theme of "the old and the new" running through the film which is well utilised and, given how the movie itself is keeping a very well-worn character fresh while still staying true to his roots, appropriate.
As ever, the heart of the movie is Bond's relationship with Judi Dench's M (easily my favourite thing to come out of these movies); this time round, though, the focus is less on Bond and more on M, her past and her sins, and where Bond fits into that. I've always loved their dynamic and I'm glad it's such a strong focus this time round.
Javier Bardem's performance as the villain is fantastic; he manages to be genuinely threatening, while at the same time maintaining an almost pantomime level of camp evil à la Micheal Sheen in the Twilight movies (that series' lone saving grace). It's a huge gamble - the sort of scenery-chewing performance-of-a-lifetime that could feel out of place and would completely derail a lesser movie - so the fact that it totally works is remarkable.
Supporting characters are a pretty cool bunch all round. I especially loved Ben Wishaw's Q, although that might be mainly because I love Ben Whishaw. I just do. I've been wanting big things for that boy ever since Nathan Barley.
I suppose my only real issue with the film - and this isn't even a fair criticism - is that I don't think it leaves anywhere especially interesting for the current run to go. Every story I was interested in is concluded, and because of that (and my natural pessimism) I feel that any new films will probably be a lot blander and less interesting. Not necessarily bad, just less substantial or thematically interesting. I've been wrong before, though. I suppose it could happen again. Theoretically.
* I feel I should qualify this, since whether it technically counts as a trilogy is debatable, given the long-running series it's part of and the solid probability of more Daniel Craig Bond films to come. Whereas most Bond films (all the ones I've seen, anyway) are meant to be stand-alone stories with a shared protagonist, the current run strikes me more as a linked series, chronicling a man's journey towards becoming the James Bond we know.
So I'll admit that pretty early into Skyfall, when I realised that the character had very much come full circle and what I was watching was a Bond film right down to it's Union Jacked undies, my heart sank a little and I thought: well, it's finally come to this. Suppose it had to happen really, them's the breaks, now let's just get this over with.
One of the absolute best things that good art can do is prove dicks like me completely wrong.
Skyfall is a great film and possibly the finest conclusion to a trilogy* I've ever seen. For one thing, Sam Mendes turns out to be a fantastic action director (who knew?); the fights and stunts are exciting and feel real, but unlike Quantum of Solace, never feel like they're getting in the way of the story. The script is fantastic; the dialogue is sharp and funny, the characters are well-defined and there's a theme of "the old and the new" running through the film which is well utilised and, given how the movie itself is keeping a very well-worn character fresh while still staying true to his roots, appropriate.
As ever, the heart of the movie is Bond's relationship with Judi Dench's M (easily my favourite thing to come out of these movies); this time round, though, the focus is less on Bond and more on M, her past and her sins, and where Bond fits into that. I've always loved their dynamic and I'm glad it's such a strong focus this time round.
Javier Bardem's performance as the villain is fantastic; he manages to be genuinely threatening, while at the same time maintaining an almost pantomime level of camp evil à la Micheal Sheen in the Twilight movies (that series' lone saving grace). It's a huge gamble - the sort of scenery-chewing performance-of-a-lifetime that could feel out of place and would completely derail a lesser movie - so the fact that it totally works is remarkable.
Supporting characters are a pretty cool bunch all round. I especially loved Ben Wishaw's Q, although that might be mainly because I love Ben Whishaw. I just do. I've been wanting big things for that boy ever since Nathan Barley.
I suppose my only real issue with the film - and this isn't even a fair criticism - is that I don't think it leaves anywhere especially interesting for the current run to go. Every story I was interested in is concluded, and because of that (and my natural pessimism) I feel that any new films will probably be a lot blander and less interesting. Not necessarily bad, just less substantial or thematically interesting. I've been wrong before, though. I suppose it could happen again. Theoretically.
* I feel I should qualify this, since whether it technically counts as a trilogy is debatable, given the long-running series it's part of and the solid probability of more Daniel Craig Bond films to come. Whereas most Bond films (all the ones I've seen, anyway) are meant to be stand-alone stories with a shared protagonist, the current run strikes me more as a linked series, chronicling a man's journey towards becoming the James Bond we know.
I also think that the relationship between Bond and Judi Dench's M is at the heart of all three movies and really binds them together; that ends with her death.
Ghost X
Moderator
Okay, so I was mistaken about seeing this film last wednesday. I have just seen it. I think the mistake I made was walking in with high expectations. I should stop doing that. 3/5 stars. I think Casino Royale was better.
The film had a very British production feel behind it. I get the same feel when I watch the modern Doctor Who, and many other shows that come from the motherland. I don't recall this feel when watching either Casino Royale or Quantum of Solace. If you haven't guessed already, I don't like the British production feel 
. I tried to ignore it for the most part. I'm not saying I dislike Doctor Who either, just the feel given to it by the production 
.
I liked Bond for the most part. I don't think the out-pouring of emotion suited him though. I liked the villain for the most part, except the batshit mummy issues. I don't think they suited him. What the modern Bond films lack is the standout henchmen. I want a guy chucking ashtrays and Lurch-like characters with steel jaws.
M's character admittedly does grate on me. The groundskeeper was out of place. The bond women were cheesy, I don't recall getting that feel in the previous two bond films. They seemed like they'd fit better in the classic bond films (a bad thing). Did anyone else notice Moneypenny's walk. It did not look natural. Q was all right.
Basically, I liked the film from where Bond fights the chinese bodyguard up until when they go to Skyfall. Granted some things amused me in the final act. One thing I discussed with my friends as the credits were rolling was how much one had to suspend their belief in some of the scenes, but I guess that happens with any action movie.
It didn't feel like a Bond film to me.
. I tried to ignore it for the most part. I'm not saying I dislike Doctor Who either, just the feel given to it by the production .I liked Bond for the most part. I don't think the out-pouring of emotion suited him though. I liked the villain for the most part, except the batshit mummy issues. I don't think they suited him. What the modern Bond films lack is the standout henchmen. I want a guy chucking ashtrays and Lurch-like characters with steel jaws.
M's character admittedly does grate on me. The groundskeeper was out of place. The bond women were cheesy, I don't recall getting that feel in the previous two bond films. They seemed like they'd fit better in the classic bond films (a bad thing). Did anyone else notice Moneypenny's walk. It did not look natural. Q was all right.
Basically, I liked the film from where Bond fights the chinese bodyguard up until when they go to Skyfall. Granted some things amused me in the final act. One thing I discussed with my friends as the credits were rolling was how much one had to suspend their belief in some of the scenes, but I guess that happens with any action movie.
It didn't feel like a Bond film to me.
ForceStealer
Double Growth
I thought it felt a lot more like a Bond film than Casino Royale ever did. I was just forgiving Casino Royale of that because what they were going for.
Cthulhu
Administrator
- AKA
- Yop
I just / finally watched it, . Generally, I approve of it. Lots, if not shittons of nostalgia - they remind you that it's the 50th anniversary of Bond at the end, after all.
The movie kinda feels out of place when they get to Scotland, as in, change of pace / atmosphere.
I liked the visuals in Shanghai, with the advertising / light and everything. Somehow I paid more attention to the visuals at that point / up until that point - might be nostalgia and getting old, etc. Speaking of, I felt the main theme of the movie was indeed nostalgia / the past / old shit. I didn't mind that, seeing that I partly grew up with JB movies,.
. Generally, I approve of it. Lots, if not shittons of nostalgia - they remind you that it's the 50th anniversary of Bond at the end, after all.The movie kinda feels out of place when they get to Scotland, as in, change of pace / atmosphere.
I liked the visuals in Shanghai, with the advertising / light and everything. Somehow I paid more attention to the visuals at that point / up until that point - might be nostalgia and getting old, etc. Speaking of, I felt the main theme of the movie was indeed nostalgia / the past / old shit. I didn't mind that, seeing that I partly grew up with JB movies,
.
Hisako
消えないひさ&#
- AKA
- Satsu, BRIAN BLESSED, MIGHTY AND WISE Junpei Iori: Ace Detective, Maccaffrickstonson von Lichtenstafford Frabenschnaben, Polite Krogan, Robert Baratheon
Okay so I watched this twice with two different groups of friends on Wednesday and Thursday, so here goes mah opinions:
Overall I like. For all the glitz and glamour of HOE NOES MODERN HACKING, Javier Bardem's act was refreshingly simple for a Bond Villain. Judi Dench!M takes the spotlight. It's quite obvious that Bond 23 was a set up to return the series to a new status quo before the reboot, and that they're pretty much done with origin stories.
imo they did a great job with the new Q and Moneypenny, and I find myself especially fond of the new Moneypenny. She's no longer just a window dressing character played for laughs and flirts - she's an ex-field agent who's worth her weight in MI6, and a woman who should actually be taken seriously.
Like Yop mentioned, some pretty good callbacks to the old films in the series. Not sure if the nostalgic car was altogether that necessary, but hey everyone had a good chuckle out of it so I'm not complaining.
On the flip side... lol Hollywood hacking. A lot of the hackery stuff in Skyfall was hilariously full of wierdass bells and whistles. I'm under the impression that "obfuscation" and "security through obscurity" is kind of the norm, and as always elaborate GUIs on a hacker's computer makes me laugh. Oh, and sure, let's just hook up the big bad's laptop to the MI6 system. Nothing can go wrong, right?
I think the cameraman has a seizure at some point, because one of the (conversational) scenes in the movie has shakycam so bad I had to look away. I don't care how intentional that shit is, it never works in conversation unless you're trying to convey that the characters are somehow lurching around on the spot. I thought it was just me sitting too close to the screen (I sat 3 rows from the front the first time around to accomodate 12 people sitting together), but I still had the same issues sitting further back the second time around. I'm normally pretty chill about that sort of thing but this time it was just too distracting for me.
I find Ralph Fienne's character was weak. I don't know what it is - it may be the incredibly little screen time he carries in the film, or just the way he says just about fuckall in the time that he has. He does carry off a personality of some sorts, and again it'll be great seeing him in action in the next couple of Bond films, but
Also, did anyone notice how half the characters really liked standing around in heroic poses: you know, legs wide apart past shoulder width, back straight, hands in pockets? It was mostly Bond doing it but then there's this part where the Bond girl does it next to him and I'm like "lolwut"
Overall I liked it. Plenty of flaws to go around, imo, but some fairly impressive set pieces and a return to the old Bond status quo.
Overall I like. For all the glitz and glamour of HOE NOES MODERN HACKING, Javier Bardem's act was refreshingly simple for a Bond Villain. Judi Dench!M takes the spotlight. It's quite obvious that Bond 23 was a set up to return the series to a new status quo before the reboot, and that they're pretty much done with origin stories.
imo they did a great job with the new Q and Moneypenny, and I find myself especially fond of the new Moneypenny. She's no longer just a window dressing character played for laughs and flirts - she's an ex-field agent who's worth her weight in MI6, and a woman who should actually be taken seriously.
Like Yop mentioned, some pretty good callbacks to the old films in the series. Not sure if the nostalgic car was altogether that necessary, but hey everyone had a good chuckle out of it so I'm not complaining.
On the flip side... lol Hollywood hacking. A lot of the hackery stuff in Skyfall was hilariously full of wierdass bells and whistles. I'm under the impression that "obfuscation" and "security through obscurity" is kind of the norm, and as always elaborate GUIs on a hacker's computer makes me laugh. Oh, and sure, let's just hook up the big bad's laptop to the MI6 system. Nothing can go wrong, right?
I think the cameraman has a seizure at some point, because one of the (conversational) scenes in the movie has shakycam so bad I had to look away. I don't care how intentional that shit is, it never works in conversation unless you're trying to convey that the characters are somehow lurching around on the spot. I thought it was just me sitting too close to the screen (I sat 3 rows from the front the first time around to accomodate 12 people sitting together), but I still had the same issues sitting further back the second time around. I'm normally pretty chill about that sort of thing but this time it was just too distracting for me.
I find Ralph Fienne's character was weak. I don't know what it is - it may be the incredibly little screen time he carries in the film, or just the way he says just about fuckall in the time that he has. He does carry off a personality of some sorts, and again it'll be great seeing him in action in the next couple of Bond films, but
as the new M, Mallory is vastly less interesting, and less fleshed-out than the old one.
Also, did anyone notice how half the characters really liked standing around in heroic poses: you know, legs wide apart past shoulder width, back straight, hands in pockets? It was mostly Bond doing it but then there's this part where the Bond girl does it next to him and I'm like "lolwut"
Overall I liked it. Plenty of flaws to go around, imo, but some fairly impressive set pieces and a return to the old Bond status quo.
Cthulhu
Administrator
- AKA
- Yop
I'm under the impression that "obfuscation" and "security through obscurity" is kind of the norm, and as always elaborate GUIs on a hacker's computer makes me laugh. Oh, and sure, let's just hook up the big bad's laptop to the MI6 system. Nothing can go wrong, right?
That made me chuckle with a "OH DERRP",
. I mean, those aren't hacker terms or anything, they're terms usually used to point out shitty security in software; obfuscation is a technique used to make decompiling (or, making sense of decompiled code) harder, and security through obscurity is a term used for, for example, 'teh top secret encryption code' - good encryption algorithms are public and everyone knows how they work, and that they, in fact, do what they're supposed to.None of which was relevant to that scene, btw,
.