Posted on 11/07/2015 5:56:15 AM PST by Perdogg
I am not even sure what I saw was a James Bond Movie. The franchise has turned into cinematic equivalent of NFL Europe. The latest film is essentially a carbon copy of Mission Impossible Rouge Nation, in fact, some of shot locations appear to be same. The movies steals from Bill Graingers Code Name November as well.
The movie opens up in Mexico City on the Day of the Dead, I guess this is supposed to some sort of pun, but any way, the pre-title sequence is not a good as some critics have said. The quality film cause the action scenes to be jerky, somewhat reminds of the scene in last Die Hard movie. Everything is so predictable.
Afterward it transitions into the embarrassedly creepy title sequence with the title song. Usually this is the best part, but the high pitch Sam Smith and the creepiness of the title sequence made me want to look away get it over with. The title sequence remind me of the promotional art work that used to advertise the final short-stories after the death of Ian Fleming. In fact, the back story in part comes from the short-story Octopussy.
Then back to London where we find out that the 00 section is on the chopping block as this merger between MI-6 and MI-5 is about to take place. Then off to Rome where Bond is trying to hunt down the widow of the man he killed in Mexico City. She is played for 5 minutes by Monica Bellucci.
Bond finally meets the organization. The scene is which we are introduced to Spectre is reminiscent of that of Thunderball and the scene in the novel. Except it is not as good. There does not seem to be any reason for the existence of SPECTRE, we are never told. Then we go this pointless and tedious car chase through the streets of Rome. Bond is reunited with Mr. White from Casino Royale and Quantum where we find out that Mr White has a beautiful daughter played by Lea Seydoux, who seems to have only tight fitting clothing, not that I am complaining. He is living in seclusion and strikes a deal with Bond to have Bond protect his daughter. Lea Seydoux was actually in Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol. I wonder if this was some sort of inside joke. You Ghost Protocol and Spectre.
After an hour of moaning a groaning by Craig, anti-hero and villain are reunited in some of silliest dialog ever. Bond is tortured (along with audience) and the big hook is dropped. Fanboys will like it, but at this point in movie you just want the movie to end and is not impressed with the big revelation with the usual prop. In fact, I am not sure any under 30 will really understand it or care to understand it. The villain played by Chistoph Waltz is Solomon Lane is the same character from Rogue Nation.
Again, leave to the writers to screw the film up. This movie lacks originality. It robs the remaining the literary connection to Fleming. Bond is no longer Bond, he is part of the Mission Impossible Force. Q is essentially Benjie. The movie does not seem to have relevance any more to series. This is not fault of the Craig era, but this started somewhere in the Brosnan era.
Craig cannot act. There was an attempt to lighten up the movie with humor, but all of the gags seem to fall flat and are ill timed. The weird thing about the movie is that movie is a tribute film, but to whom? Perhaps, the film is Craig last. I wish EON would relinquish control over the movie but whether the movie is bad or good, it is going to make money.
The music is good. However, the producers decided to reuse the musical themes established in Skyfall, so there is a lot of rehashed music.
One Star. Which is better than the No Star I gave Skyfall.
ping
Saw it last night and enjoyed it.
Speaking of tight fitting clothing - have you noticed that in every post-apocalyptic movie/TV show all the women wear the tightest clothes?
Not that there’s anything wrong with it...!
We all love the Bond Brand, fast cars, fast girls big thrills and some international suspense.
But I prefer reality.
Le Carre got this over Flemming.
George Smiley is my Bond
I found the new Tom Hanks film “Bridge of spies” enjoyable and there were no fags
I just want to applaud the intro to this post...cracked me up.
I thought the U2 shootdown was really hinky but otherwise I liked the film
Very informative, in its way. I perceive that you enjoyed writing the review more than you enjoyed watching the movie.
There is nothing like the anticipation of a new James Bond film. For 53 years and 24 films, Eon Productions has offered the only consistent cultural touchstone that has lasted throughout my lifetime. I’m only a few years younger than the franchise, and the promise has always been kept: “James Bond Will Return.”
As a five-year-old I stood in line with my dad for “Diamonds are Forever.” I saw “Live and Let Die” at a drive in (remember those?). And I’ll never forget the thrill of watching Roger Moore’s James Bond ski off that cliff in “The Spy Who Loved Me.” This franchise means more to me than just a couple hours of escapism in the dark.
I go back again to the word “touchstone.” The musical score, the “Bond, James Bond,” the cars, girls, and gadgets not only thrill but serve as a kind of photo album that regularly unlock one cherished memory of mine after another — not just memories of watching the movies, but who I was and where I was at the time.
The lights fade. The James Bond Theme swells. A gun barrel searches for its target. A man in a tuxedo holding a Walther PPK steps into view. Shoots in a crouch. Blood drips. The James Bond Theme explodes. Bliss.
Unfortunately, that blissful feeling faded pretty quick into numbness with “Spectre.” Is it as bad as “Quantum of Solace,” which is by far the worst of the franchise? No. But it’s close.
Gosh he was a hoot in Red
Eeeew.
You gotta admit he looks like Micheal Milken
We aint talking romance lol, it’s a bad guy role.
I really liked the Soviet spy, Rudolph Able in Bridge of spies.
Don’t get me wrong but I liked his coolness.
Hanks: Aren’t you worried?
Able: Would it help?
He does look quite a bit like Milken.
why are you trying hijack this thread?
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