SPECTRE - Bond 24

[Jokes & Bats]

21. The World is Not Enough - 4 out of 10 - Bond at his most Boring. Some of the worst action scenes on any Bond film. Opening action was good though.

Wow. Loved TWINE.

Robert Carlyle was an excellent villain and the shoot-out in the underground nuclear facility was excellent - as was the fight against the helicopters at the caviare factory. The twist with Electra was well handled and the opening sequence on the Thames was outstanding.

Loved Brosnan as Bond.

 

[JAWS]

Goldfinger belongs in the great category. It's easily the most iconic film in the series, and it introduces the white tuxedo, the Aston Martin, two of the best villains ever in one film, the technology and gadgets sequence, and the pre-credits sequence that wasn't part of the main storyline, which other films copied.

I know Goldfinger started the "Bond formulas" I just always found it a bit boring... Odd Job was cool as was Auric... I just thought the film was a bit boring.. It was good just not my fav. Mind you this list is just my opinion.... I have no issues with people putting Goldfinger up higher... Its just not a "great" one for me. ust a very good one... I Would probably like it better if it was not so many peoples fav Now I find it overrated.

Wow. Loved TWINE.

Robert Carlyle was an excellent villain and the shoot-out in the underground nuclear facility was excellent - as was the fight against the helicopters at the caviare factory. The twist with Electra was well handled and the opening sequence on the Thames was outstanding.

Loved Brosnan as Bond.

But the Ski Chase and the Helicopter saw sequence are two of the most awkward poorly done action scenes in the entire series IMO. I know you like the Helicopter scene bit it just poorly shot, choreographed, and a silly idea overall. It would be more at home in a campy Moore Movie. Christmas Jones is awful. IMO the idea of the Villain failed. The Villain should have been great. A Man who could feel no pain and push himself farther then any man should have been awesome... Seriously if they did not tell us that he would be no different then any henchman.

Electra was cool but this was the first Bond film to put Judi as M in the middle of the action and for that Electra can go to hell

 

[JAWS]

I'm going today, finally, and now that I read that JAWS enjoyed it more than SF it has really got me pumped again because other than our disagreements over G14 and AOU, that man has great taste!

Hell, he's mostly right about G14.

But i'll still hold my ground on AOU.

I still think people were turned off that Avengers saved a made up eastern european country instead of a real city, preferably in the USA.

Americans, so easily offended.

Aw thanks Jye....

But Now I am worried that I got you over hyped and you will be disappointed

instead of a real city

 

[carbo-fation]

I liked it a lot. Def. better than Skyfall. Felt like an actual Bond movie. Fitting chapter in the Craig line up. Don't listen to the reviews. Go see it for yourself.

 

[Rorywan]

Saw this last week and wasn't terribly impressed. Opening was fun, the rest was just ok. Time for another reboot I think.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Saw Spectre last night.

The GOOD: not as bad as all that.

The BAD: not as good either.

It is long -- the number one killer in the Bond villain arsenal. If they could tear themselves from the pretty photography and horridly boring set-ups they could bring these in at just under 2 hrs and they'd be all the better for it.

Odd choice in the two female (Bond girls) -- Craig seems lost somewhere in the middle -- has a choice to do an older woman or a child. He does both.

Villains were good I thought. The Hinx fight was great. The car chase was muddled with intercutting. The snow chase mad e no sense. In fact, much of the movie made no sense. But hey -- they gave Blofeld a crater base, so I can't complain. The medical scene was great too (I thought).

To me this was on par with Skyfall, which despite its accolades, I still find quite boring for long stretches.

Its funny, the Bond producers are so enamored with Goldfinger, they are constantly giving nods to that landmark film (in the last three films, and I'm not just talking about the Aston Martin) and yet the only time they didn't is the one time they walked away with something original and still the best: Casino Royale.

 

[jye4ever]

Got back at 945pm, here are my pros and cons and overall rating:

Better than SF but CR remains king. QOS remains in last place.

Pros:
Great opening credits, song worked ok in that context. Certainly better than QOS song.
Most gorgeous cinematography of not only any Bond movie, it puts most other movies to shame!
Gorgeous atmosphere.
Track shots that will blow your mind (Bond on the roof in Mexico for example).
Action!
Soundtrack was spectacular and actually helped with the pacing.
Train battle was brutal, just brutal!
Helicopter scene!
Building collapse in Mexico.
Even the explosions were gorgeous!
The most creepy/scary villain introduction in cinema history, not just Bond history, cinema history, up there with The Exorcist!
Hinx's other killing.

Spoiler

All the technicians standing up in the dark at Blofeld's lair. It was minor yet effective

Taylor Swift was a decent enough Bong girl (we know where that's going don't we Jaws).
Acting.
Q.
Locations as pretty as the girls this time out, maybe even prettier.
And of course DC.




Cons:
Script, Script, Script!
I was half hoping that his girl

Spoiler

turned out to be on Blofeld's side, I think I would've been ok with that.

Blofeld went from really scary to just "hey, look at me i'm all powerful.....yawn".
Car chase kind of a bore, he was even using the phone while in the process of driving a super car.
Snow chase was just ok, Inception did it better.
Hinx being ejected out of windshield even though prior scene had him wearing his seatbelt.

Spoiler

Hinx dumb line before his death. He should've just been a decapitation, would've been a perfect ending of that brutal fight. It just came off silly and went against how his character was being portrayed.

Bond unscathed after

Spoiler

having a needle inserted thru his head.

Money who?
All the villains at meeting driving super cars lol.
Questionable series connections.


Bottom line for me:

I know i'm coming off negative with those cons, but overall A WIN!

I was NOT bored.

It was a good Bond movie. Compare it to some of the bad ones and you'll see just how good it is.

Better than SF simply because of the cinematography alone!

Taking the wife next, lets see how I feel about it after my 2nd viewing.

Did I mention how beautiful this movie was?

Mexico/Austria/Italy

 

[Wor-Gar]

Good review, Joseph. I concur.

 

[Platty]

The main issues for me is waltz feels very underused and the relationship between bond and leya sedoux doesn't feel natural at all. Very forced.

 

[JAWS]

Got back at 945pm, here are my pros and cons and overall rating:

Better than SF but CR remains king. QOS remains in last place.

Pros:
Great opening credits, song worked ok in that context. Certainly better than QOS song.
Most gorgeous cinematography of not only any Bond movie, it puts most other movies to shame!
Gorgeous atmosphere.
Track shots that will blow your mind (Bond on the roof in Mexico for example).
Action!
Soundtrack was spectacular and actually helped with the pacing.
Train battle was brutal, just brutal!
Helicopter scene!
Building collapse in Mexico.
Even the explosions were gorgeous!
The most creepy/scary villain introduction in cinema history, not just Bond history, cinema history, up there with The Exorcist!
Hinx's other killing.

Spoiler

All the technicians standing up in the dark at Blofeld's lair. It was minor yet effective

Taylor Swift was a decent enough Bong girl (we know where that's going don't we Jaws).
Acting.
Q.
Locations as pretty as the girls this time out, maybe even prettier.
And of course DC.




Cons:
Script, Script, Script!
I was half hoping that his girl

Spoiler

turned out to be on Blofeld's side, I think I would've been ok with that.

Blofeld went from really scary to just "hey, look at me i'm all powerful.....yawn".
Car chase kind of a bore, he was even using the phone while in the process of driving a super car.
Snow chase was just ok, Inception did it better.
Hinx being ejected out of windshield even though prior scene had him wearing his seatbelt.

Spoiler

Hinx dumb line before his death. He should've just been a decapitation, would've been a perfect ending of that brutal fight. It just came off silly and went against how his character was being portrayed.

Bond unscathed after

Spoiler

having a needle inserted thru his head.

Money who?
All the villains at meeting driving super cars lol.
Questionable series connections.


Bottom line for me:

I know i'm coming off negative with those cons, but overall A WIN!

I was NOT bored.

It was a good Bond movie. Compare it to some of the bad ones and you'll see just how good it is.

Better than SF simply because of the cinematography alone!

Taking the wife next, lets see how I feel about it after my 2nd viewing.

Did I mention how beautiful this movie was?

Mexico/Austria/Italy

Pretty much agree on all counts (especially the score)... Glad you enjoyed it.


I think the one thing I disagre with most people is the use of Christopher Waltz. I thought he was perfect. Yes he was not in the film a ton but you felt his presence the whole time and when he was on screen I loved him.

2nd viewing for me will probably be tomorrow.

 

[CallMeTheDoctor]

The one thing that I agree and has bothered me was the use of Bellucci and Seydoux. I felt like they used Bellucci just to kind of plant the flag and say, 'Hey! We got the oldest Bond girl in this movie!'

Seydoux wasn't my first pick when I heard of her casting; and largely because nothing comes close to Green for me. But I actually really like her and might be my favorite Bond girl after Vesper.

However, I admit her use in the film was random especially considering

Spoiler

She was White's daughter, and White is essentially the reason why Vesper died. I feel like they tried to pull something like Chinatown and have Bond just fall in love with the man's daughter whom killed a huge love in his life. Even writing that seemed outrageous.

 

[JAWS]

(we know where that's going don't we Jaws).

We sure do... All I could think is that Craig needs to return so he can be part of what is the most iconic thing to ever happen to Bond.

 

[CallMeTheDoctor]

Honestly, if this was Craig's last (I know he's contracted for another), I'd say he left on a great note. It's a perfect ending.

 

[spindrift]

GREAT movie- I loved it- and I hope it's Craig's final as it's fitting and a perfect place to stop. If Sony loses the dustribution and someone else picks up the Bond franchise they should start with a new Bond..we'll see..

 

[spindrift]

Got back at 945pm, here are my pros and cons and overall rating:

Better than SF but CR remains king. QOS remains in last place.

Pros:
Great opening credits, song worked ok in that context. Certainly better than QOS song.
Most gorgeous cinematography of not only any Bond movie, it puts most other movies to shame!
Gorgeous atmosphere.
Track shots that will blow your mind (Bond on the roof in Mexico for example).
Action!
Soundtrack was spectacular and actually helped with the pacing.
Train battle was brutal, just brutal!
Helicopter scene!
Building collapse in Mexico.
Even the explosions were gorgeous!
The most creepy/scary villain introduction in cinema history, not just Bond history, cinema history, up there with The Exorcist!
Hinx's other killing.

Spoiler

All the technicians standing up in the dark at Blofeld's lair. It was minor yet effective

Taylor Swift was a decent enough Bong girl (we know where that's going don't we Jaws).
Acting.
Q.
Locations as pretty as the girls this time out, maybe even prettier.
And of course DC.




Cons:
Script, Script, Script!
I was half hoping that his girl

Spoiler

turned out to be on Blofeld's side, I think I would've been ok with that.

Blofeld went from really scary to just "hey, look at me i'm all powerful.....yawn".
Car chase kind of a bore, he was even using the phone while in the process of driving a super car.
Snow chase was just ok, Inception did it better.
Hinx being ejected out of windshield even though prior scene had him wearing his seatbelt.

Spoiler

Hinx dumb line before his death. He should've just been a decapitation, would've been a perfect ending of that brutal fight. It just came off silly and went against how his character was being portrayed.

Bond unscathed after

Spoiler

having a needle inserted thru his head.

Money who?
All the villains at meeting driving super cars lol.
Questionable series connections.


Bottom line for me:

I know i'm coming off negative with those cons, but overall A WIN!

I was NOT bored.

It was a good Bond movie. Compare it to some of the bad ones and you'll see just how good it is.

Better than SF simply because of the cinematography alone!

Taking the wife next, lets see how I feel about it after my 2nd viewing.

Did I mention how beautiful this movie was?

Mexico/Austria/Italy

Almost Kubrickian in gorgeous photography and amazing compositions.

 

[slackerboy]

I'm glad y'all are liking it more than I did. Maybe it's just me.

 

[jye4ever]

I can't get the image out of my head of Blofeld's highwaters.

 

[Wor-Gar]

I can't get the image out of my head of Blofeld's highwaters.

And no socks. A villain has to be comfortable.

Can't wait to bash a Blofeld with "highwaters".

 

[Irvy]

I hope the next one opens with the wedding shootout instead of at the end

 

[thecapn]

I hope the next one opens with the wedding shootout instead of at the end

That'd be interesting, except...

Spoiler

The new girl isn't Tracy, and they've been pretty specific about sticking to canon in the Craig films...