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Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
#26
Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
I dunno. I think w/ CR they pretty much tried to make this Bond more "real" than the previous ones. It's still out there but they toned him down in ridiculousness.
I like certain Bond films. Moore's era ruins it for me. Can't say much for Dalton. I barely remember anything aside from him on a cello case, was it a cello case? Goldeneye was awesome but has aged very badly in certain things. Everything after that and before CR is road down in quality.
I like the tone they've given Bond now. Just isn't as far fetched as they made him to be. Which, for me, is an issue that just drove it down in quality. It actually seems like they're treating Bond now like an actual film trying to do something than being the cookie cutter nonsense it was. In other words, toning it down to be more in line w/ what Bond is supposed to be via the source to some degree.
I like certain Bond films. Moore's era ruins it for me. Can't say much for Dalton. I barely remember anything aside from him on a cello case, was it a cello case? Goldeneye was awesome but has aged very badly in certain things. Everything after that and before CR is road down in quality.
I like the tone they've given Bond now. Just isn't as far fetched as they made him to be. Which, for me, is an issue that just drove it down in quality. It actually seems like they're treating Bond now like an actual film trying to do something than being the cookie cutter nonsense it was. In other words, toning it down to be more in line w/ what Bond is supposed to be via the source to some degree.
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Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
It was a cello case.
I loved the tone and what they did with Casino Royale. That's probably my 3rd favorite Bond movie. I thought it was a great setup to show how Bond became the Bond we've come to know. Unfortunately, now 4 films in... I don't think they've brought back enough of what makes Bond...Bond. I thought the last scene of Skyfall showed promise that that is where the franchise would be moving towards. I think this film is somewhat in the right step, which is why I think I'd rank it higher than the last 2 entries. I guess I'd be more for a lighter outing. Not everything needs to be so brooding,
I loved the tone and what they did with Casino Royale. That's probably my 3rd favorite Bond movie. I thought it was a great setup to show how Bond became the Bond we've come to know. Unfortunately, now 4 films in... I don't think they've brought back enough of what makes Bond...Bond. I thought the last scene of Skyfall showed promise that that is where the franchise would be moving towards. I think this film is somewhat in the right step, which is why I think I'd rank it higher than the last 2 entries. I guess I'd be more for a lighter outing. Not everything needs to be so brooding,
#29
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
This movie is getting ripped apart on IMDB. I'll still go see it because I've enjoyed every Bond film on some level. (Diamonds are Forever is my least favorite though). If Spectre is a total bomb then I'm ready to officially call 2015 as one of the worst years in film. The summer was garbage and really nothing before that besides Kingsman. Even the Marvel flicks fell a bit flat for me.
#30
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
This movie is getting ripped apart on IMDB. I'll still go see it because I've enjoyed every Bond film on some level. (Diamonds are Forever is my least favorite though). If Spectre is a total bomb then I'm ready to officially call 2015 as one of the worst years in film. The summer was garbage and really nothing before that besides Kingsman. Even the Marvel flicks fell a bit flat for me.
I've enjoyed this year, but then I'm on the Mad Max: FR band wagon after a couple rewatches and actually really enjoyed Man from U.N.C.L.E.
#31
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
Spoiler:
Still, I enjoyed it overall, although it felt like the parts didn't quite equal a satisfying whole. And it wouldn't hurt them to shave a half hour or so off these things.
#32
Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
....And the trend of helicopters crashing to the ground without exploding continues....
A very weak conclusion, but I still didn't mind this. It's got some nods to some of my most favorite previous Bond movies:
Q out in the field with 007 (License to Kill)
Scrap-aboard-train (From Russia With Love,Spy Who Loved Me)
Didn't even know the leading lady was from Blue/Warmest Color. And man, sure was a lot of hype for Bellucci...Who only appears in two small scenes.
A very weak conclusion, but I still didn't mind this. It's got some nods to some of my most favorite previous Bond movies:
Q out in the field with 007 (License to Kill)
Scrap-aboard-train (From Russia With Love,Spy Who Loved Me)
Spoiler:
Didn't even know the leading lady was from Blue/Warmest Color. And man, sure was a lot of hype for Bellucci...Who only appears in two small scenes.
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Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
Saw this earlier today. I liked it a good bit.
Swan was kind of pointless in there. She was an interesting prop/motivation but pointless really. Wasn't written all that well. Waltz's intro was very nice. He's not in it enough and doesn't really present a threat aside from damn near edging the cliche Bond villain. Nice makeup on him. His motivation wasn't interesting to me either.
I actually liked Bellucci a lot. An actual woman instead of the "girls" that Bond gets. She is still sexy as hell. And her and Craig rocked the sexuality they had to get. That's always bothered me a lot in most of the Bond films. Their aren't enough "women" for Bond. Too many young females they love to cast, that's more an industry issue too.
Bautista was awesome. I kind of wished he spoke more. His one line wasn't all that great.
This one brought a bit more of the cheeky nature of the franchise and it didn't gel well with the tone for me.
The torture bit didn't make sense.
I did like that it had a lot of searching for Bond.
I feel like Mendes tried too blend to much for what he brought and what Bond was for the franchise.
That Spectre meeting was all kinds of awesome. Probably the best part aside from the intro. That thing was awesome.
I liked title credits they had for this one. Listening to the theme made me think that the music itself fit Bond but Sam Smith's voice didn't match right with the music.
I kind of got tired of that sand yellow color they went with on this one a good bit. Worked at times but when it didn't... it just didn't.
Swan was kind of pointless in there. She was an interesting prop/motivation but pointless really. Wasn't written all that well. Waltz's intro was very nice. He's not in it enough and doesn't really present a threat aside from damn near edging the cliche Bond villain. Nice makeup on him. His motivation wasn't interesting to me either.
I actually liked Bellucci a lot. An actual woman instead of the "girls" that Bond gets. She is still sexy as hell. And her and Craig rocked the sexuality they had to get. That's always bothered me a lot in most of the Bond films. Their aren't enough "women" for Bond. Too many young females they love to cast, that's more an industry issue too.
Bautista was awesome. I kind of wished he spoke more. His one line wasn't all that great.
This one brought a bit more of the cheeky nature of the franchise and it didn't gel well with the tone for me.
The torture bit didn't make sense.
I did like that it had a lot of searching for Bond.
I feel like Mendes tried too blend to much for what he brought and what Bond was for the franchise.
That Spectre meeting was all kinds of awesome. Probably the best part aside from the intro. That thing was awesome.
I liked title credits they had for this one. Listening to the theme made me think that the music itself fit Bond but Sam Smith's voice didn't match right with the music.
I kind of got tired of that sand yellow color they went with on this one a good bit. Worked at times but when it didn't... it just didn't.
#34
#35
Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
Lou Lumenick nails it with his one-and-a-half star review in the New York Post:
http://nypost.com/2015/11/05/spectre...-you-to-death/
Some excerpts:
http://nypost.com/2015/11/05/spectre...-you-to-death/
Some excerpts:
“A license to kill is also a license to not kill,” M lectures his new boss in the 24th James Bond film, “Spectre.” Well, it’s not a license to bore as much as this bloated drag manages to do.
...
This follow-up to his hugely successful “Skyfall” brings back a grumpy Daniel Craig for his fourth (and I’d guess final) outing as Bond. Often visibly bored, he seems downright annoyed when he’s called upon to deviate from his “realistic” Bond to deliver Roger Moore-style quips — and utterly disinterested when required to fake the kind of chemistry with his leading ladies that Sean Connery managed so effortlessly.
...
As the movie’s chief assassin, wrestler Dave Bautista is meant to evoke classic Bond villains like Oddjob and Jaws, but his personality-free character only suffers from comparison as Bond emerges without a scratch from attack after attack.
...
“Spectre” scenically meanders through Rome, Austria and Tunisia during its frequently mind-numbing 2½ hours. Aside from the occasional explosion or chase sequence, it’ll bore the living daylights out of you.
...
This follow-up to his hugely successful “Skyfall” brings back a grumpy Daniel Craig for his fourth (and I’d guess final) outing as Bond. Often visibly bored, he seems downright annoyed when he’s called upon to deviate from his “realistic” Bond to deliver Roger Moore-style quips — and utterly disinterested when required to fake the kind of chemistry with his leading ladies that Sean Connery managed so effortlessly.
...
As the movie’s chief assassin, wrestler Dave Bautista is meant to evoke classic Bond villains like Oddjob and Jaws, but his personality-free character only suffers from comparison as Bond emerges without a scratch from attack after attack.
...
“Spectre” scenically meanders through Rome, Austria and Tunisia during its frequently mind-numbing 2½ hours. Aside from the occasional explosion or chase sequence, it’ll bore the living daylights out of you.
#36
Senior Member
Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
Second best Craig era film in my opinion, with Casino Royale #1.
Also, with each passing film it becomes more in more clear that James Bond is NOT a code name assumed by multiple agents that replace eachother, and is only one person haha I wish people would stop with that ridiculous theory.
Also, with each passing film it becomes more in more clear that James Bond is NOT a code name assumed by multiple agents that replace eachother, and is only one person haha I wish people would stop with that ridiculous theory.
#37
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
Saw it. A bit long, but overall I liked it. Definitely more of an homage movie than anything else. Will probably say more later, but for now, here are my rankings of the reboot Bonds:
1)Casino Royale
2) Skyfall
3) Spectre
4)Quantum of Solace
Let me say that I liked all of the above and still don't get the hate for QoS. In fact, if you put all four of them together they make for one hell of a Bond story. Only real issue:
1)Casino Royale
2) Skyfall
3) Spectre
4)Quantum of Solace
Let me say that I liked all of the above and still don't get the hate for QoS. In fact, if you put all four of them together they make for one hell of a Bond story. Only real issue:
Spoiler:
#39
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
Also, not that I am taking any cues from the credits sequence, but they should seriously consider Christoph Waltz for Doc Ock in the rebooted Spider-Man franchise.
#40
Moderator
Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
Saw it tonight in a packed showing (7:15pm). I liked it, but didn't love it. For me the Craig films go:
Skyfall - A
Casino Royale - A-
Spectre - B+
Quantum of Solace - C
The only thing that bugged me was Andrew Scott being cast as "C"...
Still a good Bond flick, the first 30 minutes were great! The rest seemed like a rehash of the previous three films.
Skyfall - A
Casino Royale - A-
Spectre - B+
Quantum of Solace - C
The only thing that bugged me was Andrew Scott being cast as "C"...
Spoiler:
Still a good Bond flick, the first 30 minutes were great! The rest seemed like a rehash of the previous three films.
#41
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
I saw it tonight and liked it for the most part. I feel like this one might get better with repeat viewings. My main issue with it was that it felt a bit on the long side and it could have lost a bit to make it a more solid film. Waltz and Bautista were both great. I agree that this film felt more like an homage to classic Bond yet it still wasn't as over the top as some of the Bond films.
As for my rankings of the Craig Bond films I'd probably say:
Casino Royale
Skyfall
Spectre
Quantum of Solace
I think his run as Bond has been overall solid and don't really dislike any of his films though.
As for my rankings of the Craig Bond films I'd probably say:
Casino Royale
Skyfall
Spectre
Quantum of Solace
I think his run as Bond has been overall solid and don't really dislike any of his films though.
#42
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Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
Second best Craig era film in my opinion, with Casino Royale #1.
Also, with each passing film it becomes more in more clear that James Bond is NOT a code name assumed by multiple agents that replace eachother, and is only one person haha I wish people would stop with that ridiculous theory.
Also, with each passing film it becomes more in more clear that James Bond is NOT a code name assumed by multiple agents that replace eachother, and is only one person haha I wish people would stop with that ridiculous theory.
---------
Yeah. Andrew Scott had no subltety to his character. You knew immediately his was going to be the c unt that was going to be a pain the ass. I found that whole character pointless. It could have been just MI6 (or just Bond) vs. Spectre. That would have been much more interesting.
That meeting though. That thing was masterful. Just the location, the variety of people in there. Etc. Just amazing world building there. It was like that Opera scene in QoS where so much is adding up w/ the world and it's right there.
Spectre had a a lot of highs. But it's lows are side plots and some character scripting.
That torture bit was just irrelevant really. It did nothing. Aside from being slightly disturbing. It would have been better to have him tied to a chair and gotten the crap beaten out of him. A more human and realistic type of torture. Cut the fancy torture. Just have him get the crap beaten out of him by someone. CR does this so well cuz it literally strips EVERYTHING about Movie Bond away when it comes to the "torture moment" that it actually has a depth to it. This film has a lot of promise but it is veering too much to the Movie Bond gimmicky nature almost for me. I think that's the issue really. Whether that's what Mendes wanted or not, that's how it veers for me. Villain inviting Bond to his location, gimmicky torture, bland Bond girl devising, humor is a bit too self aware at times, etc. It's a bunch of little things that don't kill it for me but it does impact it considering the tone he's rolling out but then he's doing this or that too where it doesn't gel enough to be fitting of that world.
To me it's a B+, it has a lot going for it but the script needed to be washed over again and realized what fit in the world tone and what doesn't.
Craig is a great Bond. I like this Bond. He actually has a soul to him whereas so much of Movie Bond was just a walking and talking action figure doing stuff that was cool. I like Bond, the character. But I also want to give a damn about his mindset. Craig Bond does that very well.
Last edited by Solid Snake; 11-07-15 at 04:19 AM.
#43
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
My main issue with this film is that it never seemed like anything was at risk. Blofeld already had the capability to look into MI6's cameras, so I didn't feel like the world was at risk. And we know Bond never dies, so that's out. The only time I felt there was danger was Q's scene at the ski resort. Everything else had a kind of Avengers 2 tone where you knew nothing bad was going to happen and no main character was going to die and it would be OK in the end.
Still a lot of really cool sequences. My third favorite of the Craig films.
Still a lot of really cool sequences. My third favorite of the Craig films.
#44
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#45
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Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
I just don't think people understand a sliding/floating timeline/continuity. Which is kind of sad if not awkward.
Movie Bond was the same motherfucker throughout all the canon ones. He goes w/ the times and specifics of the era get left behind but the actions remain true. Then we got the reboot. And here we are now.
That theory stuff is just a sad c unt's way to get shit making sense for them to make them happy. Whatever.
I still wish we could get a properly adapted Bond film based on the source. Bond w/ his era mindset and nature. Things put into period and culture context. Those books were pretty cool. I'd kill to have Bond set in his proper period w/ Fassbender as Bond w/ a budget of at most $20 million for each film based in Fleming's source text. Those books were pretty dang cool.
Still love Casino Royale the most. That book made me understand a card game better than the Craig film. Jesus, that thing made no sense to me w/ how the film shows it. Also.. the book had a great ending line to it.
Movie Bond was the same motherfucker throughout all the canon ones. He goes w/ the times and specifics of the era get left behind but the actions remain true. Then we got the reboot. And here we are now.
That theory stuff is just a sad c unt's way to get shit making sense for them to make them happy. Whatever.
I still wish we could get a properly adapted Bond film based on the source. Bond w/ his era mindset and nature. Things put into period and culture context. Those books were pretty cool. I'd kill to have Bond set in his proper period w/ Fassbender as Bond w/ a budget of at most $20 million for each film based in Fleming's source text. Those books were pretty dang cool.
Still love Casino Royale the most. That book made me understand a card game better than the Craig film. Jesus, that thing made no sense to me w/ how the film shows it. Also.. the book had a great ending line to it.
#46
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Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
I was entertained. Too long, and the plot was a little too convoluted (it doesn't help that Casino Royale is the only Craig film I've seen more than once), but I liked seeing the M-Q-MP team in action, Christoph Waltz is awesome in pretty much anything, and Lea Seydoux is beautiful. I agree that introducing Waltz was great, though it reminded me a bit too much of Eyes Wide Shut. When Swan left on her own, I thought there'd be more too it, like she'd come back as a badass, not just get abducted.
3.5 stars feels about right.
3.5 stars feels about right.
#47
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
The theory that Bond is just a code name actually makes a lot of sense to me and was one thing that irritated me with Skyfall. The guy doesn't age and changes appearance throughout the course of fifty years and is a spy. It seems logical to me that MI6 would just use the Bond and 007 monikers as code names for agents throughout time. That way whoever was Bond at the time keeps a somewhat low profile because people don't know who he really is.
#48
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Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
The theory that Bond is just a code name actually makes a lot of sense to me and was one thing that irritated me with Skyfall. The guy doesn't age and changes appearance throughout the course of fifty years and is a spy. It seems logical to me that MI6 would just use the Bond and 007 monikers as code names for agents throughout time. That way whoever was Bond at the time keeps a somewhat low profile because people don't know who he really is.
#49
Senior Member
Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
#50
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Spectre (Mendes, 2015) — The Reviews Thread
I don't take huge issue with it but logically it does make a lot more sense in my mind. Plus I don't see why it's a weird idea to grasp when clearly MI6 uses other code names for certain people within the organization and that's been acknowledged in some of the films (the Q and M characters have been acknowledged directly by Bond as being the new so and so character before). I still enjoy the films regardless.