Skyfall (aka Bond 23)

[jye4ever]

Well, that is an objective fact jyecat.

I noze, Ize just a sore loser.

 

[intothevoid]

I noze, Ize just a sore loser.

 

[thenammagazine]

https://blogs.indiewire.com/theplay...hristopher-nolans-dark-knight-films-20121018#

Nolan changed things... forever.

So given Nolan stole from Bond, indirectly Mendes just copied Bond anyway.

 

[jye4ever]

So given Nolan stole from Bond, indirectly Mendes just copied Bond anyway.

Yup.

 

[intothevoid]

So given Nolan stole from Bond, indirectly Mendes just copied Bond anyway.

Nolan used stylistic elements of the classic Bond films, but what inspired Mendes (based on the interview) is not so much the style as the substance. (and in any case those Bond style scene were more prevalent in Inception and TDKR than TDK perse).

That's why I think Skyfall has the potential to be the best Bond film in a very long time, possibly ever.

But i'm no Bond expert

 

[jye4ever]

Nolan used stylistic elements of the classic Bond films, but what inspired Mendes (based on the interview) is not so much the style as the substance. (and in any case those Bond style scene were more prevalent in Inception and TDKR than TDK perse).

That's why I think Skyfall has the potential to be the best Bond film in a very long time, possibly ever.

But i'm no Bond expert

TDK is a remake of Thunderball.

 

[intothevoid]

TDK is a remake of Thunderball.

TDK originally stood for:

Thunderball Don Right

Right doesn't start with a K

 

[jye4ever]

Right doesn't start with a K

Crap, caught it before I could fix.

 

[thenammagazine]

Nolan used stylistic elements of the classic Bond films, but what inspired Mendes (based on the interview) is not so much the style as the substance. (and in any case those Bond style scene were more prevalent in Inception and TDKR than TDK perse).

That's why I think Skyfall has the potential to be the best Bond film in a very long time, possibly ever.

But i'm no Bond expert

Being a huge Bond fan, I can see many of the aspects from the Bond movies in the "substance" Nolan "created." Everything from gadgets, the Alfred/Q similarities and the suave nature, to the Bond girls. Hell, the Karloff's Mummy we got in TDK was pretty much on par with Grace Jones in View to a Kill.

 

[jye4ever]

Being a huge Bond fan, I can see many of the aspects from the Bond movies in the "substance" Nolan "created." Everything from gadgets, the Alfred/Q similarities and the suave nature, to the Bond girls. Hell, the Karloff's Mummy we got in TDK was pretty much on par with Grace Jones in View to a Kill.

 

[intothevoid]

Can't argue there

 

[DiFabio]

It'd be nice if these characters and movies could be inspired by, you know, the actual characters and source material instead of something else. All this hybridity is annoying. It seems ridiculous to say that you're not interested in doing a Bond flick, but get intrigued because of a Batman one. RAH, RAH, RAH, RAH, POST 9/11 TERROR. RAH, RAH, RAH, DARK, DARK, DARK. Gimme a break, all this **** is starting to sound the same.

I call director **** sucking.

*sees Sam Mendes is from the UK*

There we go.

 

[jye4ever]

It'd be nice if these characters and movies could be inspired by, you know, the actual characters and source material instead of something else. All this hybridity is annoying. It seems ridiculous to say that you're not interested in doing a Bond flick, but get intrigued because of a Batman one. RAH, RAH, RAH, RAH, POST 9/11 TERROR. RAH, RAH, RAH, DARK, DARK, DARK. Gimme a break, all this **** is starting to sound the same.

I call director **** sucking.

*sees Sam Mendes is from the UK*

There we go.

But the word is that SF is great.

Lets see, maybe the TDK of Bond films.

 

[DiFabio]

Oh I don't think Sky Fall will be bad, I'm pretty excited myself.

But this DARK KNIGHT, DARK KNIGHT, DARK KNIGHT, DARK, DARK, DARK, 9/11, 9/11, 9/11, being drilled into anything and everything is getting a tad repetitive.

Bond is celebrating his 50th, this film is going to be a part of that. Don't say, "meh, wasn't interested in Bond at first, well not until I saw DARK KNIGHT, THAT inspired me". It's Bond, do Bond your way. A chance at helming a Bond movie should be inspiration enough, especially if you're a 40s something filmmaker from England. Yeah, everything inspires something but just shut the **** up about it and just make your movie. Of course if something is a hit or a money maker you want to try and mimic or copy that, but now it's getting to the point where it's pretty nauseating.

 

[intothevoid]

Bond is celebrating his 50th, this film is going to be a part of that. Don't say, "meh, wasn't interested in Bond at first, well not until I saw DARK KNIGHT, THAT inspired me". It's Bond, do Bond your way. A chance at helming a Bond movie should be inspiration enough, especially if you're a 40s something filmmaker from England. Yeah, everything inspires something but just shut the **** up about it and just make your movie. Of course if something is a hit or a money maker you want to try and mimic or copy that, but now it's getting to the point where it's pretty nauseating.

For yeww!

If he's inspired by it, good! He's being honest about his inspiration. I hate it when people (artists, politicians, anyone) just tow the line

'blah blah Bond great British icon.. absolute honour to be a part of this blah blah blah'
'blah blah our new record is the best one we've done yet'

Stuff like THAT is what's nauseating to me.

Not stuff like 'actually I couldn't give a **** about Bond'
But then I saw this great film, and it gave me ideas on how to make it work and make it relevant.

Or 'the new record is really different, we couldn't get anything to sound good but then we heard some of what xxx was doing and it was inspiring'

That's genuine, that's the truth, that's more interesting to hear.

 

[DiFabio]

You don't know if it's the truth though. I don't know either. You'd be surprised how much stuff you read that isn't necessarily true.

POLITICS MAN, POLITICS.

Nolan did the same **** with that interview where he mentioned he was "inspired" by Return of the King and was gunning for a similar effect even though, really, they have nothing in common (other than trying to market a trilogy). It was more for actual strokin' and promotin' (like those comments above might be) than anything true. Or maybe not, who knows. I don't know any of these filmmakers, just their body of work.

In the end though, I think it's essentially telling the fanbois and filmbois what they want to hear. Audiences love these connections. "If you loved product A that was successful and made a ton of money, wait until you see product Z, it's inspired by it!"


There's also the possibility that I'm just being a cynical ****er, but I don't think I'm that far off. That's how this **** works and we all gobble it up. In reality, "reality shows" are scripted, celebrities endorse things they don't care about, and people have products they need to promote at any cost, for themselves or for the studios.

 

[intothevoid]

You don't know if it's the truth though. I don't know either. You'd be surprised how much stuff you read that isn't necessarily true.

POLITICS MAN, POLITICS.

Nolan did the same **** with that interview where he mentioned he was "inspired" by Return of the King and was gunning for a similar effect even though, really, they have nothing in common (other than trying to market a trilogy). It was more for actual strokin' and promotin' (like those comments above might be) than anything true.

Essentially "what the fanbois and film want to hear".


There's also the possibility that I'm just being a cynical ****er, but I don't think I'm that far off. That's how this **** works and we all gobble it up. In reality, "reality shows" are scripted, celebrities endorse things they don't care about, and people have products they need to promote at any cost, for themselves or for the studios.

Well, to be honest the reason I think it's a genuine comment is because from every trailer I've got a very Nolan vibe from this film. That's the only reason i've been excited about it. I haven't even seen the last Bond film but I can't wait to see this one.

The proof will be in the pudding though - we'll see if there's anything in the film that can be considered similar in any way to the Nolan films.

 

[DiFabio]

Javier Bardem (especially in the cell). That's the only thing I can see.

But even then, it could even echo Silence of the Lambs (especially in the cell). I remember all the stretched out connotations of Anton Chigurh and the Joker.

As far as film and Hollywood goes today, you could literally do a "6 degrees of Kevin Bacon" type deal with film plots, themes, and inspiration. Seems more like glorified recycling than anything to take pride or admiration in.

 

[ZaCHw117]

I don't think that Mendes was trying to say that he drew direct inspiration from TDK itself, and put that inspiration into SF. (Character types, story arcs etc.) He was more shooting towards how big blockbuster movies are generally considered money makers and not decent films. He was inspired by Nolan's direction to make a blockbuster movie, that's above the set curve. He even goes on to say that he wasn't interested, in doing a Bond until he saw DC's portrayal of the classic icon. Not from seeing TDK and thinking, "WOW IMMA MAKE A BOND FLICK IN THE SAME STYLE AS TDK."

That's it.

I think you're looking into it a bit too much DiFabio.

 

[intothevoid]

Well to me its more about the themes/story rather any specific characters and scenes.

For example Nolan's films generally always explore moral dilemmas, the gray areas in life where the lines between right and wrong are blurred and then facing the consequences of decisions you make. So they may be big and flashy but there's substance there.

I haven't been reading any spoilers or anything so not really sure what ideas this film may or may not explore. But what seems clear is Mendes doesn't just want to delivery a big flashy Bond flick which entices you to watch it with its snazzy trailer but you pretty much forget about it the day after you walk out of the cinema.

Also the shooting style appears very similar to Wally Pfister's style - I looked up who's doing the cinematography after I saw the initial trailers for the film and its Roger Deakins - one of Wally's inspirations. So there's that too. Actually it's rumoured that going fwd Nolan's looking to hire Deakins as Wally's retiring from the cinematography job.