Skyfall (aka Bond 23)

[CelticPredator]

It's not just void who brought it up. There was at least 3 posters here who said "It was OK but I all I could think of was BATZZMANNNn"

 

[CelticPredator]

Get out of here, Skyfall was great. STFU.


Bond ain't gay, and neither was Silvia (well, I dunno, maybe). He was just trying to make Bond uncomfortable and Bond brushed it off with his usual charm (like in Casino Royale when he was getting his balls bruised).

The film talks about change but it also clings to tradition. James Bond exemplifies the old and is still very much the same Bond he was 50 years. If anything, Skyfall celebrates Bond's 50 years on screen in a fresh new way. They don't make fun of the old Bond films, they embrace it. The subtle and not so subtle homages to the other 007 films were brilliant. From "For her eyes only" to literally showing shaken not stirred. Also, let's not forget the return of the Aston Martin.

Don't feed into all the nonsensical Nolan Batman comparisons, this celebrates Bond, period. Silvia is a typical Bond villain, Bond is Bond, the plot revolves around spies and the secret service just like all the previous Bond installments. If anything, Nolan was inspired by Bond, not vice versa. I also saw more Mission Impossible, The Fugitive and Home Alone influences than anything else. It was a Bond film, period.

Forget about that though. Back to Bond. The opening almost made me weep with nostalgia with Adele's "Skyfall" theme, just like most of the other Bond intros. The song and animation was brilliant. They never once betrayed the character of Bond. In Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, Bond was too grim and serious, in this, the quips are back and Bond is just as good as his predecessors. The back and forth with Q, the little there was, was just a brilliant as the back and forth with the old Q. The action scenes were terrific and the cinematography was beautiful. It wasn't boring like most of the other "supposed" great cinematography in other films. Right away I noticed different principles and elements of design. Symmetry (when M is looking out the window and the rain and also the flag covered caskets of the deceased agents) and brilliant color (especially in Shanghai with those colorful advertisements in the highrise) . You could tell they tried to use as many exotic locations as possible, and they pretty much cover everything a movie goer would want to see in a film. The action is there, the sex, the humor, the guns, the scenery, the drama. Skyfall was great. Much better than that boring turd, Quantum of Solace.

This feels like a celebration of Bond while also keeping it fresh and new, the end is a testament to this.


Seeing the new M and Moneypenny with Bond taking on a new mission is just as cool as it was with Connery, or Brosnan or any of the other Bonds. Great film. Great Bond, James Bond.

Yeah! You tell that idiot!

 

[DiFabio]

That was my plan all along. I even didn't see it when I posted that that night.

That's my proper review/response. I enjoyed it.

One critique, and it's my only one, is about half way through it was sort of dragging and carrying on too long. Pretty much right before the Skyfall house and the raid to get M.

 

[intothevoid]

Youz lucky it's 330am in the UK.

I'm in listen only mode right now

That was my plan all along. I even didn't see it when I posted that that night.

That's my proper review/response. I enjoyed it.

One critique, and it's my only one, is about half way through it was sort of dragging and carrying on too long. Pretty much right before the Skyfall house and the raid to get M.

Agreed - pacing could have been better

And as for the 'nonsensical TDK comparisons'
Tell that to mr Mendes
The influence is there, whether you like it or not

 

[GodzillaSpawn]

Just got back from FINALLY seeing this. I loved it. I think it was better than CR. The only thing I think CR had was a more badass ending. I was hoping the final confrontation between Bond and Silvia would be more exciting. I wanted a super spy ninja-fist fight like the fight he had in the skyscraper. I really liked the sexy girl but of course Silvia ended her storyline real quick. Silvia was an interesting villain....far better than anything in recent memory. But the cinematography, music, acting, action----all top-notch. Very thrilled with it and will buy on Blu Ray.

 

[jye4ever]

Get out of here, Skyfall was great. STFU.


Bond ain't gay, and neither was Silvia (well, I dunno, maybe). He was just trying to make Bond uncomfortable and Bond brushed it off with his usual charm (like in Casino Royale when he was getting his balls bruised).

The film talks about change but it also clings to tradition. James Bond exemplifies the old and is still very much the same Bond he was 50 years. If anything, Skyfall celebrates Bond's 50 years on screen in a fresh new way. They don't make fun of the old Bond films, they embrace it. The subtle and not so subtle homages to the other 007 films were brilliant. From "For her eyes only" to literally showing shaken not stirred. Also, let's not forget the return of the Aston Martin.

Don't feed into all the nonsensical Nolan Batman comparisons, this celebrates Bond, period. Silvia is a typical Bond villain, Bond is Bond, the plot revolves around spies and the secret service just like all the previous Bond installments. If anything, Nolan was inspired by Bond, not vice versa. I also saw more Mission Impossible, The Fugitive and Home Alone influences than anything else. It was a Bond film, period.

Forget about that though. Back to Bond. The opening almost made me weep with nostalgia with Adele's "Skyfall" theme, just like most of the other Bond intros. The song and animation was brilliant. They never once betrayed the character of Bond. In Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, Bond was too grim and serious, in this, the quips are back and Bond is just as good as his predecessors. He's suave AND lethal. The back and forth with Q, the little there was, was just a brilliant as the back and forth with the old Q. The action scenes were terrific and the cinematography was beautiful. It wasn't boring like most of the other "supposed" great cinematography in other films. Right away I noticed different principles and elements of design. Symmetry (when M is looking out the window and the rain and also the flag covered caskets of the deceased agents) and brilliant color (especially in Shanghai with those colorful advertisements in the highrise) . You could tell they tried to use as many exotic locations as possible, and they pretty much cover everything a movie goer would want to see in a film. The action is there, the sex, the humor, the guns, the scenery, the drama. Skyfall was great. Much better than that boring turd, Quantum of Solace.

This feels like a celebration of Bond while also keeping it fresh and new, the end is a testament to this.


Seeing the new M and Moneypenny with Bond taking on a new mission is just as cool as it was with Connery, or Brosnan or any of the other Bonds. Great film. Great Bond, James Bond.

Will da reel DiFabio plz stand up.

Great review, eloquent is an understatement.

I am Silva to DiFabio's Bond.

Ewwwwwwww

Yeah! You tell that idiot!

That was my plan all along. I even didn't see it when I posted that that night.

That's my proper review/response. I enjoyed it.

One critique, and it's my only one, is about half way through it was sort of dragging and carrying on too long. Pretty much right before the Skyfall house and the raid to get M.

Look, either you liked it or not.

I'm in listen only mode right now

Just got back from FINALLY seeing this. I loved it. I think it was better than CR. The only thing I think CR had was a more badass ending. I was hoping the final confrontation between Bond and Silvia would be more exciting. I wanted a super spy ninja-fist fight like the fight he had in the skyscraper. I really liked the sexy girl but of course Silvia ended her storyline real quick. Silvia was an interesting villain....far better than anything in recent memory. But the cinematography, music, acting, action----all top-notch. Very thrilled with it and will buy on Blu Ray.

 

[sifu74]

Movie was boring, worse of the three that Craig has been in.

 

[jye4ever]

Movie was boring, worse of the three that Craig has been in.

I agree.

 

[GodzillaSpawn]

I still am surprised to see people who think "Solace" isn't by far the worst of the Craig films. I think the other two blow it out of the water....and most people I know can't stand QoS. Not that it means anything to you guys. lol

 

[ZaCHw117]

I love the new Bond, but only because of the value behind them.

QoS was OK, but was WAY too ****ing serious. It wasn't at all what Bond should've been. Bond can be serious, but it has to be fun. No matter what. That's why the series is what it is. A dead serious Bond is not worth anyone's time, because it goes against everything he is.

SkyFall was the perfect combination of the two. I hope the next film ups the comedy, and camp a bit more. But to a degree. Stay in the Connery era, stay away from Rodger Moore level camp.

Sometimes going against the norm is what produces the best of the best.

As long as I enjoy it, regardless if it's serious or unbondlike I don't worry about TIS WAZNT WAT BEND IZ SUPEZ TEH BEH.

I'm in listen only mode right now



Agreed - pacing could have been better

And as for the 'nonsensical TDK comparisons'
Tell that to mr Mendes
The influence is there, whether you like it or not

I don't know, yeah I see TDK in there a bit. But more Lord of the Rings: Return of the King vibe is what I got from the film.

waits for difabio's head to explode.

Movie was boring, worse of the three that Craig has been in.

 

[automaton]

Spoiler

Skyfall similar to The Dark Knight? aside from the Shanghai scene (was it the same set?), and the villain, complete with facial deformity and sense of humor, the films were not all that similar. yes, the villain dressed as a police officer in both films… got caught on purpose and engineered an escape plan in both films… placed a gun in another character's hand and pointed it at himself in both films… destroyed the orphan hero's Manor (the location of the tunnel or cave that served as the catalyst for the boy becoming a man) in both films (ok, that was Batman Begins)… and yes, the hero did have elderly gentlemen serving as estate keepers… and in both movies, the hero did fail to save the damsel in distress due to personal shortcomings… but aside from that…

 

[Fernandofan08]

Yknow the only thing that annoyed me with all bond films, is the complete over use of the bond theme. I mean, just about every fight scene, theres always the bond theme there. Its allright for one movie, but like 6 times each damn film? Its just annoying. Id much rather have more original score than just relying mostly on the same bond theme.

Hell, I LOVED that sort of techno style theme they used in the trailer. That was awsome. Couldve used that more. But its like the intro, to me, it just... I dont know. Just abit, tiresome listening to the same chords over and over for the past 50 years of films. Some musical silence is actually better, just listening to the natural sounds instead of the 'da da dada, da da daaaaa' every frickin movement.

 

[Fernandofan08]

Spoiler

Skyfall similar to The Dark Knight? aside from the Shanghai scene (was it the same set?), and the villain, complete with facial deformity and sense of humor, the films were not all that similar. yes, the villain dressed as a police officer in both films… got caught on purpose and engineered an escape plan in both films… placed a gun in another character's hand and pointed it at himself in both films… destroyed the orphan hero's Manor (the location of the tunnel or cave that served as the catalyst for the boy becoming a man) in both films (ok, that was Batman Begins)… and yes, the hero did have elderly gentlemen serving as estate keepers… and in both movies, the hero did fail to save the damsel in distress due to personal shortcomings… but aside from that…

Pretty much alot of main points then eh! Ever thought about the london chase and TDK. Lets just say, rigging a helicopter to force the GCPD underground. Rigging a train to force bond and everyone above ground? There was alot of Batman in this film, but Batman used alot of Bond.

The way I look at both films; superb crime thrillers. As they should be.

 

[intothevoid]

Spoiler

Skyfall similar to The Dark Knight? aside from the Shanghai scene (was it the same set?), and the villain, complete with facial deformity and sense of humor, the films were not all that similar. yes, the villain dressed as a police officer in both films… got caught on purpose and engineered an escape plan in both films… placed a gun in another character's hand and pointed it at himself in both films… destroyed the orphan hero's Manor (the location of the tunnel or cave that served as the catalyst for the boy becoming a man) in both films (ok, that was Batman Begins)… and yes, the hero did have elderly gentlemen serving as estate keepers… and in both movies, the hero did fail to save the damsel in distress due to personal shortcomings… but aside from that…

Yknow the only thing that annoyed me with all bond films, is the complete over use of the bond theme. I mean, just about every fight scene, theres always the bond theme there. Its allright for one movie, but like 6 times each damn film? Its just annoying. Id much rather have more original score than just relying mostly on the same bond theme.

Hell, I LOVED that sort of techno style theme they used in the trailer. That was awsome. Couldve used that more. But its like the intro, to me, it just... I dont know. Just abit, tiresome listening to the same chords over and over for the past 50 years of films. Some musical silence is actually better, just listening to the natural sounds instead of the 'da da dada, da da daaaaa' every frickin movement.

I agree - less is more when it comes to the Bond theme

Pretty much alot of main points then eh! Ever thought about the london chase and TDK. Lets just say, rigging a helicopter to force the GCPD underground. Rigging a train to force bond and everyone above ground? There was alot of Batman in this film, but Batman used alot of Bond.

The way I look at both films; superb crime thrillers. As they should be.

Yupp

 

[K07]

Spoiler

Skyfall similar to The Dark Knight? aside from the Shanghai scene (was it the same set?), and the villain, complete with facial deformity and sense of humor, the films were not all that similar. yes, the villain dressed as a police officer in both films… got caught on purpose and engineered an escape plan in both films… placed a gun in another character's hand and pointed it at himself in both films… destroyed the orphan hero's Manor (the location of the tunnel or cave that served as the catalyst for the boy becoming a man) in both films (ok, that was Batman Begins)… and yes, the hero did have elderly gentlemen serving as estate keepers… and in both movies, the hero did fail to save the damsel in distress due to personal shortcomings… but aside from that…

Hmmm... I only really picked up on the whole being caught/dressed like a cop bits. These might be a stretch but the similarities are there.

I agree with DiFabio, though. Nolan was inspired by Bond. He took the BEST elements from Bond and made them fit in his action movies. All three Batman films and Inception have Bond all over them. But unlike Bond, it's not stuffed with camp and annoying "tradition." Mendes (and Campbell and whoever the guy that directed QoS was) all took a page from Nolan's book and decided to get rid of the crap that plagued these films and keep the things essential to the LITERARY CHARACTER.

Also, I gotta agree with Fernando regarding the theme being overbearing in this series. I loved, Loved, LOVED the end of CR because the entire movie doesn't include his trademark greeting or the theme music. And then at the end? BOOM! It was perfect.

QoS strayed further from the camp/tradition than CR did. So when Skyfall started sprinkling those references/tradition/witty banter in, it was like seeing a friend you haven't seen in a long time and you welcomed it with open arms. I hope the next ones don't spiral down into the abysmal garbage the way Brosnan's did. Goldeneye was great but look what happened in four short movies

 

[DiFabio]

And then the influences of the Fugitive when 007 is pursuing Silvia. That's straight from the dam sequence and Chicago hospital chase.

And then the influences from Home Alone. I could hear this theme when M, 007 and Kincade were setting the traps, especially when M was putting the gun powder in the chandelier lights,

[ame]https://youtu.be/sXFEpLXBbTg[/ame]


How about all the Mission Impossible homages like when he jumps and hangs from the elevator or any of the other spy moments in the film? Let's not forget Old Country for No Men where Javier Bardem was once again a villain a step ahead everyone, blowing **** up and killing people. How about those CGI Komodo dragons? That was straight out of Indiana Jones.


Anyone see that movie with Dustin Hoffman (can't remember the name) where he holds himself up in the house? Skyfall's end fight is exactly like that. Hell, there's some Dredd, Precinct 13 (the original) and Lethal Weapon in there as well. I might have even seen I am Legend in there, sans Will Smith of course. Wait, DIE HARD 3 JUST CAME TO MIND WHEN THE SUBWAY CARS CRASH THROUGH THE TUNNELS AND JUST MISS SAM JACKSON! OMG.

Or how about that one movie, Goldeneye (really doesn't relate to this film in anyway though, not as much as TDK)? Where James Bond and Alec Trevelyan (006) were orphans and Alec Trevelyan turns out to be a traitor to the MI6 agency? He even mentions the Q department, mocks the gadgets (like the watch and pen) and . . . *GASP* says patronizing things about Q and M. He knows everything Bond knows!!!






Fact is, if you're looking for it, you can find influences in just about any film out there. Most of them are inspired by something that was already done.


But nah, let's just focus on NOLEN BATMAN, like we do in every single thread. I think that's what bothers me most is just how fixated people are on the fact that this film may or may not contain influences or references from "TEH GOD NOLEN AND HIS BETMEN MOVIES". "OMG, MONEYPENNY BROKE THE SIDE MIRRORS ON THE CAR JUST LIKE BETMENZ!"

It's Bond, pure and simple. Who gives a **** what influenced this particular film and what didn't. I think what this film did was take the most exotic, appealing environments (Shanghai complex, London, Skyfall) that all varied from one another and took the most appealing scenarios from successful films and made a great James Bond film. But that's just me.

 

[Khev]

Wow, the only thing that popped into my head that was remotely TDK related while watching Skyfall was that the villain was amused at being incarcerated and even under the most maximum of security was able to escape but even that all started with Silence of the Lambs not Nolan.

 

[mfoga]

The people who keep thinking they stole all that from batman are crazy. I will give you the villain but the rest your reaching. What was Bruce Wayne the first and only rich orphan? Batman must have been the first film ever with a car chase in a city too. Hell why not bring up the fact they used cameras to film both movies. They both had directors too.

I mean seriously are you guys on Nolans nut that hard?

I bet you could find ways some dumb romantic comedy with like batman.

 

[Snadinator]

The people who keep thinking they stole all that from batman are crazy. I will give you the villain but the rest your reaching. What was Bruce Wayne the first and only rich orphan? Batman must have been the first film ever with a car chase in a city too. Hell why not bring up the fact they used cameras to film both movies. They both had directors too.

I mean seriously are you guys on Nolans nut that hard?

I bet you could find ways some dumb romantic comedy with like batman.

No one is saying stolen. It was however clearly inspired by TDK (which is a good thing). I think the director even said he drew inspiration from it.

 

[intothevoid]

Noone said mendes 'stole' anything.

We're talking about inspiration. I'll believe what the Director himself says he is inspired by, and not a bunch of internet experts

https://collider.com/sam-mendes-skyfall-the-dark-knight/204523/

The parallels in the story aside - some of which are obvious, and some might well be coincidences, it's really the tone and approach which feels like a Nolan film to me.