Controversial opinions about Bond films

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  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    edited August 2017 Posts: 9,020
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  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,333
    To criticise the script of SP is grotesque considering SF has the worst written script of all the Bond films.
    Die Another Day will always have that honor.
  • Posts: 14,858
    bondjames wrote: »
    Controversial opinion: Bardem was too good as Silva. Unfortunately, the next villain was always going to come up short (literally as well as figuratively), which is what happened.

    I disagree but I don't think it is controversial as Waltz's performance is not exactly universally praised.

    Controversial opinion: the Bond girl may be the hardest character to write and cast.
  • Posts: 1,162
    bondjames wrote: »
    Controversial opinion: Bardem was too good as Silva. Unfortunately, the next villain was always going to come up short (literally as well as figuratively), which is what happened.

    I don't think Walz's failure has anything to do with how good Bardem was or not. To me he plays it much too close to Ledger to be considered remarkable.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    edited August 2017 Posts: 9,020
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  • Posts: 1,162
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    bondjames wrote: »
    Controversial opinion: Bardem was too good as Silva. Unfortunately, the next villain was always going to come up short (literally as well as figuratively), which is what happened.

    I'd say it's a combination of that and some poor writing on SP. If the likes of Waltz and Seydoux are coming across as wooden and/or unimpressive, the script needs major tweaking.

    I don't think she is any less wooden in MI, which leads me to assume that's probably all she can. Where Walz is concerned, doesn't he always do the neurotic/sardonic type? Problem is that's simply not enough to play an iconic nemesis.
  • Posts: 1,162
    Skyfall is a good movie, it's just not a good Bond film. Casino is a good movie and a good Bond film, that's the difference IMO. And QoS is neither.

    Actually quite a few people I know consider the first hour of CR an action movie and the second half the Bond part ( of which quite a few think it drags too much for their liking )
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Controversial opinion: the Bond girl may be the hardest character to write and cast.
    Why do you say this? They just have to show up and look good most of the time. Chemistry with the lead actor is important too, I suppose.
    --
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    bondjames wrote: »
    Controversial opinion: Bardem was too good as Silva. Unfortunately, the next villain was always going to come up short (literally as well as figuratively), which is what happened.

    I'd say it's a combination of that and some poor writing on SP. If the likes of Waltz and Seydoux are coming across as wooden and/or unimpressive, the script needs major tweaking.

    I don't think she is any less wooden in MI, which leads me to assume that's probably all she can. Where Walz is concerned, doesn't he always do the neurotic/sardonic type? Problem is that's simply not enough to play an iconic nemesis.
    She was pretty wooden in MI-GP, but Cruise was smart to use her in an essentially non-speaking capacity, which is where she's best. If I'm not mistaken, I think it was Waltz who recommended her to Mendes.

    With Waltz, I sometimes get the feeling he's a one trick pony, and he gave us everything he could give in his first two Tarantino performances. Nowhere to go but downhill from here on out.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    edited August 2017 Posts: 9,020
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  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited June 2017 Posts: 23,883
    The train to Montenegro and the whole Casino sequences are what make CR a classic.
    Plus the fantastic ensemble cast that even manages to elevate Craig.
    I agree with this. The casino sequences make the film, and the cast is first class.
  • Posts: 676
    It's obvious if he had just played Blofeld with nothing different than that one line, everyone and its dog would praise Waltz in SP.
    Yeah, no.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,122
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Oh I don't do rankings. New controversial opinion: I find them pointless. My Bond movies fit in various "wide" categories: love it, like it, sort of ok, rather bad and don't bother.
    I enjoy seeing individual rankings of the films to see where folks are coming from. But yeah, I'll only order them in wide swaths myself with the lowest level being the equivalent of 'good'.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    edited August 2017 Posts: 9,020
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  • edited June 2017 Posts: 337
    DAF might've been a troubled production, but again it goes for it. It doesn't waddle around or not know where it's going. It's a camp film from the start. It doesn't try to make Bond something he's not. My biggest issues are with the padded middle and the plot, which is one of the more convoluted ones.
    Skyfall is a good movie, it's just not a good Bond film. Casino is a good movie and a good Bond film, that's the difference IMO. And QoS is neither.

    Perfectly put.
  • BMW_with_missilesBMW_with_missiles All the usual refinements.
    Posts: 3,000
    Here's my controversial opinion: I miss when the producers were okay with Bond being a bit intentionally cheesy. Everything has to be serious now. There's no more brazen, OTT fun.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    edited June 2017 Posts: 8,159
    Casino Royale starts to age, and not to its advantage. It has slipped in my ranking to No 12.
    The whole Venice sequence is a mess and confusing.
    The jump and run sequence after the PTS is exciting and well directed but it's not Bond.
    The train to Montenegro and the whole Casino sequences are what make CR a classic.
    Plus the fantastic ensemble cast that even manages to elevate Craig.

    Completely agree, you've nailed it. Ironically the marketing gimmicks and padding of the first and third act are what people remember the least about this film. If they hadn't held back with the rest of the film, and not bottled it at the end by throwing in another action sequence where it wasn't needed, then Casino would really be the masterpiece we're supposed to believe it to be.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    edited August 2017 Posts: 9,020
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  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    I agree, but then Craig can't do cheesy, he can't do much of anything really except run, sweat, hand-fight, and have about the same facial expression in every other scene.

    He's the best actor to play the role.
  • Posts: 1,162
    RC7 wrote: »
    I agree, but then Craig can't do cheesy, he can't do much of anything really except run, sweat, hand-fight, and have about the same facial expression in every other scene.

    He's the best actor to play the role.

    If range is what makes a great actor he is clearly not.
  • Posts: 14,858
    @bondjames Because Bond girls need to have a special kind of beauty and, while they were not always the best actresses, they need to be very good at playing iconic characters, sometimes fairly complex ones. It's not enough to be eye candy. That's why Teri Hatcher was a poor Bond girl: badly written and a milf/girl next door look that was neither exotic nor mysterious.
  • RC7RC7
    edited June 2017 Posts: 10,512
    RC7 wrote: »
    I agree, but then Craig can't do cheesy, he can't do much of anything really except run, sweat, hand-fight, and have about the same facial expression in every other scene.

    He's the best actor to play the role.

    If range is what makes a great actor he is clearly not.

    He's superb. Always makes me laugh when I see people trying to take him down.
  • Posts: 12,837
    RC7 wrote: »
    I agree, but then Craig can't do cheesy, he can't do much of anything really except run, sweat, hand-fight, and have about the same facial expression in every other scene.

    He's the best actor to play the role.

    Definitely. Don't think he's the best Bond, isn't my favourite anyway*, but in terms of actual acting talent? He shits all over the rest of them.

    *speaking of, am I the only one who finds ranking the actors really hard? I can rank the films fine but I think every actor has been perfect for the time they were cast and played their own version of Bond brilliantly, so I find it really challenging to rank them. I know Dalton is without a doubt my favourite. And I've always had a soft spot for Brosnan so he'd probably be 2nd. But past that I can't do it because I always feel bad putting any of them low down on the list.
  • Posts: 1,162
    RC7 wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »
    I agree, but then Craig can't do cheesy, he can't do much of anything really except run, sweat, hand-fight, and have about the same facial expression in every other scene.

    He's the best actor to play the role.

    If range is what makes a great actor he is clearly not.

    He's superb. Always makes me laugh when I see people trying to take him down.

    Interestingly (and perhaps tellingly) you ignore the range part.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    RC7 wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »
    I agree, but then Craig can't do cheesy, he can't do much of anything really except run, sweat, hand-fight, and have about the same facial expression in every other scene.

    He's the best actor to play the role.

    If range is what makes a great actor he is clearly not.

    He's superb. Always makes me laugh when I see people trying to take him down.

    Interestingly (and perhaps tellingly) you ignore the range part.

    See - Logan Lucky.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,159
    RC7 wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »
    I agree, but then Craig can't do cheesy, he can't do much of anything really except run, sweat, hand-fight, and have about the same facial expression in every other scene.

    He's the best actor to play the role.

    If range is what makes a great actor he is clearly not.

    He's superb. Always makes me laugh when I see people trying to take him down.

    Interestingly (and perhaps tellingly) you ignore the range part.

    See - Logan Lucky.

    Have you seen it?
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 8,611
    @RC7 is very, very, very right- DC is the best actor to play the role (and that takes nothing away from the splendid actors to have played the role. However, none of them, including Connery, could have ever have done the balls crunching scene in CR).

    Controversial opinion: the forth act of CR is among the best in the series-- I love seeing Bond falling in love, then the cold splash of betrayal, then battling through a battle he's already lost...
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    Posts: 10,588
    RC7 wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »
    I agree, but then Craig can't do cheesy, he can't do much of anything really except run, sweat, hand-fight, and have about the same facial expression in every other scene.

    He's the best actor to play the role.

    If range is what makes a great actor he is clearly not.

    He's superb. Always makes me laugh when I see people trying to take him down.

    Interestingly (and perhaps tellingly) you ignore the range part.

    See - Logan Lucky.

    Have you seen it?

    The trailer is proof enough that Craig has undebiable range.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    edited August 2017 Posts: 9,020
    .
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,159
    jake24 wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »
    RC7 wrote: »
    I agree, but then Craig can't do cheesy, he can't do much of anything really except run, sweat, hand-fight, and have about the same facial expression in every other scene.

    He's the best actor to play the role.

    If range is what makes a great actor he is clearly not.

    He's superb. Always makes me laugh when I see people trying to take him down.

    Interestingly (and perhaps tellingly) you ignore the range part.

    See - Logan Lucky.

    Have you seen it?

    The trailer is proof enough that Craig has undebiable range.

    It's proof someone dyed their hair and put on a funny voice. Until we've actually seen the film we can't judge the performance. It should go without saying, really.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 8,611
    @BondJasonBond006, I'm confused by you. You seem like an engaged and quirky guy, but you act as if the entire world is hood-winked when it comes to Craig's talent (both as Bond and other characters), but you're the only one to see through all of that.

    To me, that's just being deluded. I suppose that's my controversial opinion for the moment.
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