Do none of you think the bad guy sending a chauffeur-driven limousine to pick Bond up (to his destiny with torture) from the middle of nowhere as idiotic? You don't just hop in a car to your enemy's place and then hand-over your gun.
This type of rubbish may have worked in the 60s, but it doesn't work today.
(This is my main gripe with the film)
What's Bond's alternative?
Bond allows himself to get captured so he can undermine his enemy from within. You know, like Silva in SF or The Joker in TDK.
Just watched it for the 2nd time and the review remains similar to the 1st - the film is intelligently made, not a regular 007 movie, and overall it is good. I will break the details below:
PTS: OK. The "Day of the Dead" setting is good and so is the background music. But it is not as exciting as the one in FYEO (Similar helicopter sequence). You just don't feel pumped up. In FYEO, once 007 gets control of the chopper, you (audience) feel excited (and involved i.e. rooting for 007). The expression of the cat hints at that trouble Blofeld is soon going to get into. Here the PTS failed to evoke such feelings. However, technically the PTS in SP was very good (may be apart from some CGI related to the crashing building)
Title song: Average (<yawn>) .... At the end you can see what was "written on the wall"
Interesting parts: a) In Austria - from when 007 meets Swann to where all 3 (including Q ) discuss SPECTRE in the hotel room, b) In Morocco - almost everything from the stay in L'American to the escape from Blofeld's lair. The torture scene was nicely done as well
Interesting performance(s): This time I was more focused on watching Waltz. You can actually feel what a cruel mind Blofeld has. This is one of the best performances involving Blofeld
Background score: Good for most parts (however it is not very memorable like you would walk out with a few tunes playing in your head) .... Some tunes from SF are repeated
Of the films involving Blofeld in relatively extended role - OHMSS still remains the best. SPECTRE does a good job!
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,993Quartermasters
Do none of you think the bad guy sending a chauffeur-driven limousine to pick Bond up (to his destiny with torture) from the middle of nowhere as idiotic? You don't just hop in a car to your enemy's place and then hand-over your gun.
This type of rubbish may have worked in the 60s, but it doesn't work today.
(This is my main gripe with the film)
What's Bond's alternative?
Bond allows himself to get captured so he can undermine his enemy from within. You know, like Silva in SF or The Joker in TDK.
Or James Bond in DAF.
I actually really enjoyed the old-school civility of the villain toward Bond. It made me smile :007)
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Precisely! The whole point is that Blofeld is a psychopath living under the pretense of being a gentleman -- he is mocking the very society he is trying to enslave. Sending the car is both a character-driven nod to this as well as a concession to the Bond film formula. It's what makes Bond films different than the bizillions of imitators that only get some details right. The only thing missing was something with the moment more than just watching a car drive up and drive away.
That scene when his face was getting drilled was brutal.
It's funny how Q told Bond that the watch told time (in other words, no special effects), and yet later on Bond manages to activate its detonation mechanism.
How do you guys think Bond figured that one out?
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,993Quartermasters
That scene when his face was getting drilled was brutal.
It's funny how Q told Bond that the watch told time (in other words, no special effects), and yet later on Bond manages to activate its detonation mechanism.
How do ypu guys think Bond figured that one out?
Bond is familiar with the watch; Q tells him that it has a 'very loud' alarm, and asks Bond if he knows what he means. Bond smiles and says "I think so."
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
That scene when his face was getting drilled was brutal.
It's funny how Q told Bond that the watch told time (in other words, no special effects), and yet later on Bond manages to activate its detonation mechanism.
I saw SPECTRE again today, and I my opinions of it stayed pretty much the same. Thomas Newman's score is the worst thing about it for me. It works in a few places, like the Day of the Dead music and the romantic music for Lucia and Madeline. The rest of it doesn't work at all for me. The film has a lot of broad (but beautiful) visuals that need proper music to give them meaning. Newman's repetitive rhythmic vamps attempt to provide a mood, but either the mood they provide throws me off or the mood isn't right because the music doesn't do enough to set the mood. The action scenes would also be improved if the music in them could vary the mood more. Because the music isn't developed, that makes what I see on screen seem less developed. For a tense seen, Newman will use one tense chord and repeat it. John Barry, on the other hand, would write a tense piece of music, with a tense chord progression, dynamic and melody to engage the viewer. Except for the few parts I mentioned above, I think Newman's score fails. John Barry was able to add more meaning to a poor film (High Road to China is a great example of this), but Newman's score really holds Spectre back when a good score could have brought out the best in what we see on screen. The finale especially needed some help from the music. Gassy Man explained "Where Spectre starts to break down is when the scenes try too hard to sustain one particular emotion for too long". He blames the writing and direction, but the score is also to blame. A good score could have picked up on nuances in the emotions and emphasised any changes in emotion. Newman's score doesn't vary the moods enough.
That scene when his face was getting drilled was brutal.
It's funny how Q told Bond that the watch told time (in other words, no special effects), and yet later on Bond manages to activate its detonation mechanism.
How do you guys think Bond figured that one out?
Q told 007 that the "Alarm" makes a loud sound
I'd forgotten about that. Quite a relevant point.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Loud.
Unlike the PENS they don't make anymore... )
RIGHT?!?! )
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Eon, past and present, would say that they make these films for the fans who plop their money down---not constipated, mewling milquetoasts who don't understand the first thing about this series, or its character.
Eon, past and present, would say that they make these films for the fans who plop their money down---not constipated, mewling milquetoasts who don't understand the first thing about this series, or its character.
{[]
I do admit to taking a liberty there: in all honesty, I have no true insight as to the state of their gastric health -{
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I saw SPECTRE again today, and I my opinions of it stayed pretty much the same. Thomas Newman's score is the worst thing about it for me. It works in a few places, like the Day of the Dead music and the romantic music for Lucia and Madeline. The rest of it doesn't work at all for me. The film has a lot of broad (but beautiful) visuals that need proper music to give them meaning. Newman's repetitive rhythmic vamps attempt to provide a mood, but either the mood they provide throws me off or the mood isn't right because the music doesn't do enough to set the mood. The action scenes would also be improved if the music in them could vary the mood more. Because the music isn't developed, that makes what I see on screen seem less developed. For a tense seen, Newman will use one tense chord and repeat it. John Barry, on the other hand, would write a tense piece of music, with a tense chord progression, dynamic and melody to engage the viewer. Except for the few parts I mentioned above, I think Newman's score fails. John Barry was able to add more meaning to a poor film (High Road to China is a great example of this), but Newman's score really holds Spectre back when a good score could have brought out the best in what we see on screen. The finale especially needed some help from the music. Gassy Man explained "Where Spectre starts to break down is when the scenes try too hard to sustain one particular emotion for too long". He blames the writing and direction, but the score is also to blame. A good score could have picked up on nuances in the emotions and emphasised any changes in emotion. Newman's score doesn't vary the moods enough.
I'm not as troubled by Newman's score -- and I was unimpressed with his for Skyfall -- but I will say a more Barry-esque score absolutely would have improved those scenes. In many ways, ponderous scenes requires something else, such as rousing music, to make them work, and there's no doubt that Mendes had a tendency to rely on ponderous scenes to imply depth.
I thought it was excellent, really really enjoyed it.
After the godawful Skyfall, SPECTRE was very welcome for me.
It also did not feel too long as I had feared it might, the 2-and-a-half hours passed quickly, and I could have actually watched a bit more.
Everything was great from the locations to the action to the little jokes. Craig also performs well, and I think they actually finally let him "be" Bond.
The only gripe I could come up with was that Mr. Hinx was criminally under-used, I would have loved to have seen more from him. The train fight was epic, real edge of your seat stuff which made you fear for Bond. Craig's Bond has kinda torn through the bad guys before, and whilst he came out with bumps and cuts, he never really got a good kicking where you are left wondering how he will win.
Lucia Sciarra could have done with more screen-time too, they make a massive thing about having Monica Bellucci in the film (about time) but then hardly use her!
Loved the ending where he gets his DB5 back! I was grinning from ear-to-ear as they drive off -{
Saw it tonight at an early charity screening here in NZ.
Absolutley loved every minute of it. It just felt like a Bond film, and an older style Bond at that - it felt very confident in itself delivering the goods and it certainly did.
Also, for me, this is Craig's best performance as Bond - I thought he was outstanding in this, I actually liked him as opposed to his other ones.
the opening sequence in Mexico city is the most stunning ever
lots!!!! of great scenes throughout.
my only criticism is the over fabrication of London locations, the new mi5 building as far as I'm aware doesn't exist, and moving part of Camden lock to vauxhal was pushing it,
That scene when his face was getting drilled was brutal.
It's funny how Q told Bond that the watch told time (in other words, no special effects), and yet later on Bond manages to activate its detonation mechanism.
How do you guys think Bond figured that one out?
Q told 007 that the "Alarm" makes a loud sound
I'd forgotten about that. Quite a relevant point.
Q did tell Bond about the special feature. Tho it was a veiled comment, something about the alarm being very loud. Said in a way to convey it can be used as an explosive device.
Loud.
Unlike the PENS they don't make anymore... )
Kind of makes you wonder if they forgot that line in SF.
Skyfall: "Exploding pens? We don't really go in for that sort of thing anymore."
Spectre: Bond uses a car with machine guns, flame thrower, and ejector seat, as well as having a n exploding watch.
Loud.
Unlike the PENS they don't make anymore... )
Kind of makes you wonder if they forgot that line in SF.
Skyfall: "Exploding pens? We don't really go in for that sort of thing anymore."
Spectre: Bond uses a car with machine guns, flame thrower, and ejector seat, as well as having a n exploding watch.
I don't recall if the watch was mentioned as a standard issue. If not, may be, we can consider it as a dispensable prototype
I really enjoyed it if I'm being honest. The opening tracking shot, the credit sequence, Rome, Austria, Morocco - I loved it all...
My biggest problem was something I predicted with a great deal of concern almost a year ago - specifically regarding Blofeld's motivations and the effective rewriting of Bond's history. The film just didn't need Bond and Blofeld to effectively be half brothers...what did this add?! Nothing in my opinion, yet another example again of trying to "make it personal" to Bond and this alienated me in the process.
Otherwise great, though the climax was something of an anti-climax, if you will.
I also don't see that Bond and Swann riding off together means they are hitched, no more than when Bond and Goodhead flew around the Earth at the end of Moonraker...
Thank you! I thought i was the only one thinking this. The brother stuff didn't add anything. We didn't saw any emotion.
Also no emotion between Bond and Swann.
a) Hustle and bustle of the city (Mexico City)
b) Rome after mid-night (relatively quite)
c) Desolated / empty snow capped mountains in Austria (also OHMSS has such a setting to a small connection to that last film featuring Blofeld in a extended role); and mostly bright environments
d) Desolated / empty desert of Morocco; and a mix of bright and dark environments
e) Back to hustle and bustle of the city and darkness of night
Saw it again in IMAX this past weekend in an almost completely empty theater except for maybe 15 others, my opinion of it didn't improve. The opening scene is fantastic and Lea Seydoux is hypnotic like Eva was in Casino Royale, and its certainly a BOND movie but theres really nothing special about it, just a standard action film. I would be highly impressed of it tops Skyfalls success, it doesn't seem to have the momentum that SF did.
I'm having trouble with some of the hate that is being thrown towards SPECTRE. I loved it. While the ESB personal connection with 007 I could have done without, everything else was top notch. The CGI didn't bother me in the slightest... DC looked relaxed and comfortable in the role (not bored as some othere have said)...and I didn't have an issue with the ending. It's about time that Craig's Bond goes off at the end and has a bit of fun with the girl. For the Craig tenure, I would put this behind CR, but definitely above the dire and non-fun Skyfall.
The cgi didn't bother me also, I'm so glad it wasn't 'Skyfall motor chase'- bad.
The ending though was very lame. And yes he deserves to have fun with the girl, but it was too lovey. Walking romantic hand in hand was very bad.
I liked that they got the cat in there, didn't think they'd do that. Still not crazy about the "family" connection but I really liked how they built Blofeld as a character so I'm not too concerned with it. I thought it was a nice touch that Bond gives him the scar.
Comments
What's Bond's alternative?
Bond allows himself to get captured so he can undermine his enemy from within. You know, like Silva in SF or The Joker in TDK.
Or James Bond in DAF.
PTS: OK. The "Day of the Dead" setting is good and so is the background music. But it is not as exciting as the one in FYEO (Similar helicopter sequence). You just don't feel pumped up. In FYEO, once 007 gets control of the chopper, you (audience) feel excited (and involved i.e. rooting for 007). The expression of the cat hints at that trouble Blofeld is soon going to get into. Here the PTS failed to evoke such feelings. However, technically the PTS in SP was very good (may be apart from some CGI related to the crashing building)
Title song: Average (<yawn>) .... At the end you can see what was "written on the wall"
Interesting parts: a) In Austria - from when 007 meets Swann to where all 3 (including Q ) discuss SPECTRE in the hotel room, b) In Morocco - almost everything from the stay in L'American to the escape from Blofeld's lair. The torture scene was nicely done as well
Interesting performance(s): This time I was more focused on watching Waltz. You can actually feel what a cruel mind Blofeld has. This is one of the best performances involving Blofeld
Background score: Good for most parts (however it is not very memorable like you would walk out with a few tunes playing in your head) .... Some tunes from SF are repeated
Of the films involving Blofeld in relatively extended role - OHMSS still remains the best. SPECTRE does a good job!
I actually really enjoyed the old-school civility of the villain toward Bond. It made me smile :007)
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
It's funny how Q told Bond that the watch told time (in other words, no special effects), and yet later on Bond manages to activate its detonation mechanism.
How do you guys think Bond figured that one out?
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Bond is familiar with the watch; Q tells him that it has a 'very loud' alarm, and asks Bond if he knows what he means. Bond smiles and says "I think so."
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Q told 007 that the "Alarm" makes a loud sound
I'd forgotten about that. Quite a relevant point.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Unlike the PENS they don't make anymore...
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
RIGHT?!?!
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I do admit to taking a liberty there: in all honesty, I have no true insight as to the state of their gastric health -{
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I thought it was excellent, really really enjoyed it.
After the godawful Skyfall, SPECTRE was very welcome for me.
It also did not feel too long as I had feared it might, the 2-and-a-half hours passed quickly, and I could have actually watched a bit more.
Everything was great from the locations to the action to the little jokes. Craig also performs well, and I think they actually finally let him "be" Bond.
The only gripe I could come up with was that Mr. Hinx was criminally under-used, I would have loved to have seen more from him. The train fight was epic, real edge of your seat stuff which made you fear for Bond. Craig's Bond has kinda torn through the bad guys before, and whilst he came out with bumps and cuts, he never really got a good kicking where you are left wondering how he will win.
Lucia Sciarra could have done with more screen-time too, they make a massive thing about having Monica Bellucci in the film (about time) but then hardly use her!
Loved the ending where he gets his DB5 back! I was grinning from ear-to-ear as they drive off -{
A solid 8.5 out of 10 for me -{
Absolutley loved every minute of it. It just felt like a Bond film, and an older style Bond at that - it felt very confident in itself delivering the goods and it certainly did.
Also, for me, this is Craig's best performance as Bond - I thought he was outstanding in this, I actually liked him as opposed to his other ones.
"Better make that two."
Best bond move since Casino Royal.
the opening sequence in Mexico city is the most stunning ever
lots!!!! of great scenes throughout.
my only criticism is the over fabrication of London locations, the new mi5 building as far as I'm aware doesn't exist, and moving part of Camden lock to vauxhal was pushing it,
apart from this VERY VERY GOOD!!!!
Which can be attributed to the influence of Jason Bourne
Q did tell Bond about the special feature. Tho it was a veiled comment, something about the alarm being very loud. Said in a way to convey it can be used as an explosive device.
Kind of makes you wonder if they forgot that line in SF.
Skyfall: "Exploding pens? We don't really go in for that sort of thing anymore."
Spectre: Bond uses a car with machine guns, flame thrower, and ejector seat, as well as having a n exploding watch.
I don't recall if the watch was mentioned as a standard issue. If not, may be, we can consider it as a dispensable prototype
Thank you! I thought i was the only one thinking this. The brother stuff didn't add anything. We didn't saw any emotion.
Also no emotion between Bond and Swann.
a) Hustle and bustle of the city (Mexico City)
b) Rome after mid-night (relatively quite)
c) Desolated / empty snow capped mountains in Austria (also OHMSS has such a setting to a small connection to that last film featuring Blofeld in a extended role); and mostly bright environments
d) Desolated / empty desert of Morocco; and a mix of bright and dark environments
e) Back to hustle and bustle of the city and darkness of night
{[]
The cgi didn't bother me also, I'm so glad it wasn't 'Skyfall motor chase'- bad.
The ending though was very lame. And yes he deserves to have fun with the girl, but it was too lovey. Walking romantic hand in hand was very bad.
Yeah you're right, that is a nice touch!
I love CR. We dont need CR2, but we do need Martin Campbell!