Lea Seydoux, Waltz, and Belluci were wasted on this film. That twist is the dumbest thing I've seen in the entire Bond franchise. This cast and Bond deserve better than that crap script. There's a version of this film somewhere in the universe were someone ripped the laptop away from Logan or whoever wrote this, said "NO." and then did it right.
Hm. Even today, the film has a constant kinetic energy that pushes you through each scene. It's constantly driving from one shot to the next with a consistently exciting, vibrant and dangerous feel to each piece of dialogue, each mannerism from Bond and each piece of action.
Skyfall and Spectre...don't have that. They're like molasses in comparison.
The opening scene I would go so far as to say was bad, the plane chase was ok but lacked tension, and the train fight was done much much better in From Russia With Love.
Hoytema can't shoot action, and Mendes doesn't seem to know how to direct it here (although Skyfall had pretty great action so maybe he was just burnt out).
I'd even say Nolan has shot action better than here. Mendes can't even get great performances, even though he's been an actors' director. Ben Whishaw and Lea Seydoux are wasted (unlike in The Lobster). It's all just very serviceable that it's forgettable. I hope Mendes gets his funk back when he's off Bond.
Hm. Even today, the film has a constant kinetic energy that pushes you through each scene. It's constantly driving from one shot to the next with a consistently exciting, vibrant and dangerous feel to each piece of dialogue, each mannerism from Bond and each piece of action.
Skyfall and Spectre...don't have that. They're like molasses in comparison.
Spectre I'd agree with. Skyfall I would disagree with vehemently, the second half of the film (barring a brief pause before act 3 begins in earnest) is very fast-paced and stylishly shot.
I'm increasingly coming to the conclusion that I was just a couple of years too young when I first saw it for Casino Royale to be "my" Bond film and thus Skyfall filled the void instead.
Lea Seydoux, Waltz, and Belluci were wasted on this film. That twist is the dumbest thing I've seen in the entire Bond franchise. This cast and Bond deserve better than that crap script. There's a version of this film somewhere in the universe were someone ripped the laptop away from Logan or whoever wrote this, said "NO." and then did it right.
Lea Seydoux, Waltz, and Belluci were wasted on this film. That twist is the dumbest thing I've seen in the entire Bond franchise. This cast and Bond deserve better than that crap script. There's a version of this film somewhere in the universe were someone ripped the laptop away from Logan or whoever wrote this, said "NO." and then did it right.
Mexico intro was piff, such a cool introduction to Bond in that day of the dead getup and the helicopter stuff was entertaining. Definitely the best Craig opener since Casino Royale. And then it went downhill from there.
There are a handful of scenes I really enjoyed such as whenever Bautista was on screen (seriously if you told me that Christoph Waltz and Moriarty would get outshined by a henchman played by Bautista I'd laugh, how did this happen). He shared every memorable action scene with Bond, particularly the train brawl. And he had this mischievous look to him with some menace. Great job from him, real physical beast too.
Waltz felt wasted, who didn't see that character reveal coming. At least the cat was fluffy. Did not like the backstory they had to give him to entwine with Bond's, why da fuck was that needed?
The movie just plodded along tbh. I really enjoyed the opening scene, the car chase and the train action sequence. Also the scene with Mr. White. Everything else just had me kind of bored. Cut half an hour from this damn movie and the script really needed to be fixed up.
A few other thoughts:
- visuals were a step down from Deakins' Skyfall but god damn Mendes' bond movies are still by far the best looking spy action movies you can find. The austria scenes in particular were beautiful (loved the shot of the cabin as Bond was on the water). It's like a fashion and tourism movie. I want to go to there.
- Bond no longer has any of the sharp edge that he once had in casino and quantum. even in skyfall they had some really cool hand-to-hand combat with the sniper. here it's just all gone. Mendes neutered Daniel Craig
- Ralph Fiennes is a HORRIBLE M, the biggest travesty of these mendes bond films is getting rid of Judi Dench and replacing her with this cookie-cutter shit. Great actor but he's just a wasteman in this role.
- I really like Ben Whishaw as Q, not a big fan of the character's return to the franchise but he's doing a good job anyways
- why the hell does Mission Impossible 5 and this have the same snooze-inducing finales in the streets of London? they both have the honorable distinction of trying to put my ass to sleep with their last action scenes.
- speaking of MI5, where that had an Ingrid Bergman-esque lead actress Lea Sydoux in here reminded me a lot of Grace Kelly during the scenes in Tangier. God damn, so classy.
anyways for this year;
spy > mission impossible 5 > spectre >= man from uncle > kingsman
it's a serviceable bond flick, better than any of the non goldeneye brosnan films tbh. But it's also kind of boring and just goes through the motions. Mendes' made some damn good looking films but they aint that hot, get some fresh direction
casino royale > quantum of solace = skyfall >>>>>>> spectre
edit: sorry about the wall of text. I drone on because I care...
anyways for this year;
spy > mission impossible 5 > spectre >= man from uncle > kingsman
it's a serviceable bond flick, better than any of the non goldeneye brosnan films tbh. But it's also kind of boring and just goes through the motions. Mendes' made some damn good looking films but they aint that hot, get some fresh direction
casino royale > quantum of solace = skyfall >>>>>>> spectre
Kingsman is way better than Spectre, even just the humour and Colin Firth and finale and action blow Spectre out of the water. Spectre is such a snooze.
Just watched it...well it was pretty self-aware and something of a parody, but I enjoyed it. More than Quantum of Solace, more than Skyfall and at least as much as Casino Royale.
I never expect Bond films to be great, but I expect them to be entertaining. This definitely was that. The action was completely over the top and there were many situations which defied all logic. But this is typical in James Bond films.
Honestly, I think most of the criticisms I have heard of this movie could be levelled at the preceding Daniel Craig movies.
I did feel bad for the villains in this though. Bond could defeat Terminator with his pinkie...
Actually digesting it, yeah, the narrative continuity in this felt particularly jarring and the twist felt silly. Otherwise, Quantum of Solace also had a plot which jumped about all over the place and Skyfall had the crumy finale. Casino Royale was definitely the most consistant, although I found it a bit boring.
Craig better not return for Bond 25. Spectre is a bit weak but I think it gives the character a decent send-off. If the next movie is in the same continuity it will be pretty stupid.
- visuals were a step down from Deakins' Skyfall but god damn Mendes' bond movies are still by far the best looking spy action movies you can find. The austria scenes in particular were beautiful (loved the shot of the cabin as Bond was on the water). It's like a fashion and tourism movie. I want to go to there.
Gotta admit, although I didn't like Newman's music in either films, I really do love Voluntary Retirement. The somber music was great in Skyfall, and it's even used throughout Spectre, too, though oddly enough not listed on Spectre's OST?
Just got out too, I didn't feel it was awful but I didn't love it either, maybe slightly below Skyfall but definitely ahead of QoS and below Casino Royale
Edit: big wtf at the Revenant trailer spoiling so much though, I had been avoiding media outside of the initial trailer which was fantastic and this one just goes ahead and spoils the entire plot. Conversely I was anxious of seeing the Star Wars trailer since I didn't want to be spoiled on that and the trailer gave away almost nothing.
I saw it earlier tonight. It wasn't great, but not nearly as bad as some of you make it out to be. At the very least, it kept me entertained for its duration, even if half of its scenes were really predictable (the worst for me in that regard was the scene where
Monica Bellucci is attacked at her home
). I also have to say that the title sequence somehow made Writing's on the Wall work, which I didn't think was possible. I think Waltz's character was definitely a disappointment, and they probably should have just merged him with C. But at the same time, I like that the supporting characters are getting more screen time (which is one of the things I really liked about Skyfall, and the thing that made me hope they would massively fuck up during the climax in London, and the 4 / 5 of them would have to go rogue to clean up in the next movie).
Overall, it felt like very standard action / Bond fare, even though I wish so much of it wasn't based off of the earlier Craig movies (and not just in terms of story - honestly, do all of these movies have to start with a chase scene?). Watching the other Craig Bond movies only days ago probably didn't help with this. In conclusion, I definitely rank it above Quantum, but below Skyfall and definitely below Casino Royale.
Craig better not return for Bond 25. Spectre is a bit weak but I think it gives the character a decent send-off. If the next movie is in the same continuity it will be pretty stupid.
Craig could be great if there just was a better more introspective script about the character, one that allowed him to stretch his acting muscles. Maybe that's a foolish wish for a Bond movie to be not as bombastic and not need multiple locals or outdated ideas of disposable Bond girls. None of the scripts have been what Mendes is usually good at.
Just got out too, I didn't feel it was awful but I didn't love it either, maybe slightly below Skyfall but definitely ahead of QoS and below Casino Royale
Edit: big wtf at the Revenant trailer spoiling so much though, I had been avoiding media outside of the initial trailer which was fantastic and this one just goes ahead and spoils the entire plot. Conversely I was anxious of seeing the Star Wars trailer since I didn't want to be spoiled on that and the trailer gave away almost nothing.
Mendes needs to get out of here with these ridiculous multi-year personal revenge plots. That's two movies in a row about personal pasts and unbelievable connections and traps to setup the encounters
I just got out from this. It wasn't that bad.... like no where as bad as you guys are saying it is. I mean a lot of stuff in it was ridiculous but it's something I could still buy into...
Amazing cast, and yeah, they were a little under-utilized, but it was a fine Bond movie.
I really liked Q in this one. And the car. I like the car.
I really really liked.
The movie is maybe a little slow, and the movie would have probably benefitted from the pace of Casino Royale, but I want things that the movie was trying to do to return.
Im even surprised they went that far with Christopher Walt
being Blofeld. The clothes, the cat, even the operation table part were Bond is saved with the watch. And then of course the scar.
I think he neede more screen time but
thank fucking god he wasn't killed, becuase IIRC he was killed in the original script
About being a stupid plotwist, everyone know what was happening, but I fault more te internet as a whole than the movie itself. In this time an age, not even Seven's villian plotwist would have worked, sadly.
The thing I didnt like though, is how false the romantic relationship between Lea Seydoux and Craig is in this movie, is not credible. With Vesper Lyn in Casino Royale, it worked perfectly, it was amazing, you really though Bond give a damn for Lyn. Here the movie ending
or the part with the chair operations
is like, whaaaaat? Yeah no, Im sorry Mendes.
A more beliavable relationship would have helped the whole act with
Blofeld telling that he was fucking about with Bond's life, and the operation chair part.
Still, had a lot of fun with it. I know this thing will not be repeated, because people here dont seem to like it and future directors do not know how to fuck mix old bond with new bond in a perfect way (I only think Mendes could mix it good, but not great, and that for the audience seems totally failure I suppose).
A pity, I want more
I liked it for the action, but the attempt at making it seem like there's something personal at stake in this falls extremely flat, and feels entirely pointless.
Mendes needs to get out of here with these ridiculous multi-year personal revenge plots. That's two movies in a row about personal pasts and unbelievable connections and traps to setup the encounters