Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

Because you said it was better than Octopussy. Why don't you let the movie marinate in your brain a little before making such grand claims?

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

You're an octopussy.

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

You're an octo-bitch!:mad2:

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

You love me, you know it.

I can't wait to see this movie. Taking the family to an IMAX screening on Sunday. Roger Moore says it's the "best bond ever made"

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

Too awkward if I sit right behind and breathe hot popcorn breath on the back of your neck and recite the dialogue right after the actors on screen?

P.S.-Just kidding! I'm going to see it tonight so maybe another time?

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

Just came back from seeing it in IMAX. Really excellent, one of the best Bonds ever. On a par with Casino Royale.

Some of the best acting and directing ever in a Bond. Sam Mendes, please keep directing Bonds for awhile.

One of the least humorous (but there was enough) and formulaic Bonds ever but that's not at all a bad thing. Enough Bondish touches to satisfy any Bondophilic. But perhaps the next one could be a little lighter just for a change of pace. About my only criticism is .

4.5 stars/5.

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

I think a better request would have been less abstract. Comparing it to the ones you did don't really do much for some of us. I think we need to know how it stacks up against Casino Royale for a true idea.


P.S. - How long would you say this will run in IMAX? I won't be able to make it out to see it in this format until next weekend, and want to make sure it won't be replaced by the new Twilight.


I am happy to see that getting a reputable director and cast seems to have helped elevate things.

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

Sorry, it was late and I was at work. I'll give a more detailed review later.

As for IMAX, I don't know how long it will stick around. I imagine it will have better legs than Twilight.

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

So what's different with the IMAX print to the normal print? If any?

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

More importantly, how much of the movie is actually in IMAX ratio? I have tickets for tomorrow's 7:00 pm showing. Guess I'll know soon enough.

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

what do you mean by that?

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

Okay, more full review:

Sam Mendes takes Bond somewhere he's never been before--home. The triumph of Skyfall is that it makes Bond personal, something he's generally not. This has been the aim of all of the Craig films, Casino Royale with his love for Vesper, Quantum with his need for revenge, but Skyfall hits the bullseye dead center. Craig has never been better as Bond, nor Judi Dench better as M.

Javier Bardem is electric in his role, who at times reminded me of The Joker in the way that he had plans within plans within plans. If Casino Royale is Bond Begins, then Skyfall is most definitely Bond's Dark Knight.

The action is tense because the writers dare to really put things on the line. You know Bond will make it out of the movie alive, but no one else seems safe. The movie also re-introduces many elements that are quintessential Bond, the most obvious one being Q. But if you're a longtime Bond fan, there will be moments in this movie where you'll burst into applause before even realizing that's what you've done.

My only issue with the film is they make a big deal of how Bond is past his prime physically, but despite a few nods to his weakened condition, he ends up being just fine when the story demands it. It would have been nice to see him fail or struggle a little more. However, suspension of disbelief is paramount for a Bond film, so I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

There's so much to love about this film. Roger Deakins' cinematography is exquisite. Thomas Newman's score fits in perfectly. The Adele title track feels like it could have been for a Bond film in 1969. In fact, I would say this is the best Bond film since 1969. On Her Majesty's Secret Service was the last time the filmmakers let Bond be this vulnerable. Overall, I'd rank it as the third best Bond film of all time, with From Russia With Love at #1, and On Her Majesty's Secret Service at #2 (and Goldeneye at #4 and Casino Royale at #5, for reference).

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

Oh, and the IMAX ratio is listes at 1.90:1 on IMDB. It's a constant ratio. It never fills up the whole screen, nor does it jump to 2.40:1 at any point.

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

I'm pretty damn excited to see this. I haven't watched a trailer or teaser in some time and I've even managed to avoid hearing the song. I thought it would be better to hear the song for the first time in the theater while watching the opening credits.

I'm going to an afternoon showing before work tomorrow. I've never seen a flick in IMAX and I was thinking this should be the first. Any thoughts on whether I should pay the extra and see it in IMAX?

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

I thought, aside from one or two shots that looked soft, the IMAX transfer was very good and the flat aspect ratio makes it more immersive.

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

I'm curious where you would rank Goldfinger?

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

On a scale from 1 to 10 could somebody rank:

Casino Royale
Quantum of Solace
Skyfall

Thank you for your cooperation.

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

I'll give you my full rankings.

1. From Russia With Love
2. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
3. Skyfall
4. Goldeneye
5. Casino Royale
6. The Spy Who Loved Me
7. Dr. No
8. Thunderball
9. Live and Let Die
10. Diamonds Are Forever
11. The Man With The Golden Gun
12. Goldfinger
13. Moonraker
14. The Living Daylights
15. For Your Eyes Only
16. Licence To Kill
17. Tomorrow Never Dies
18. You Only Live Twice
19. The World Is Not Enough
20. Die Another Day
21. Octopussy
22. Quantum of Solace
23. A View To A Kill

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

No Never Say Never Again?

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

Wow.

You're awfully kind with Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker.

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

Those are the EON productions only. NSNA is interesting, but a sidenote to the EON films.

I enjoy them. :shrug:

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

Just came back from seeing Skyfall. I liked it (a lot) but didn’t love it. No spoilers from me beyond the fact that it is essentially a re-reboot of Bond. Basically, it is less Casino Royale 3: Skyfall and more the movie Die Another Day should have been. This is made abundantly clear right from the beginning and therefor there were no surprises for me regarding any of the characters or events.

As for Javier Bardem, his performance was great but the character was frankly uninteresting.

That aside, the action is great, the music is wonderful, and the photography is gorgeous. So it’s still a fun time and definitely a movie I look forward to adding to my collection.

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

Some good list, but YOLT needs to be higher. Also for AVTAK, i'd say A colonoscopy-bag toting Moore spearheading an army of stuntdoubles is still a lot better than fucking Bourne 4: Quantum of Solace.

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

You Only Live Twice is embarrassing. Bond in yellowface, and the basis for almost every joke in Austin Powers.

Re: Skyfall (Mendes, 2012) — The Double-O Reviews Thread
 

Overall, I thought "Skyfall" was a little too long in the set-up section, needed some trimming as I felt I was ahead of the story unfolding once the antagonist finally shows up, but it does pick up steam in the mid-section, but seemed to drag out with less sense of menace from the bad guy and the finale lacked punch for me (sure, some decent pyro-technics, but I wanted character fireworks, but the film didn't really get there).

The lighting by Roger Deakins is nice in that it usually looks like it's being lit with ambient lighting, so scenes look quite natural. Sam Mendes does a good job directing, just wished I liked the script more in terms of plot, plus I didn't really "feel" Javier Bardem's presence as the bad guy as powerful as his Oscar turn in "No Country for Old Men". Seems to me, Daniel Craig's getting a bit old to be running around as James Bond, a point that the film hammers home, perhaps he's got 1-2 more 007 films in him, and it's on to the next incarnation.

I give it 2.75 stars, or a grade of B-.