SPECTRE - Your reviews. NO SPOILERS.

1262729313234

Comments

  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    edited November 2015 Posts: 17,687
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    @andmcit, because of SP, Blofeld discusses how he was the author of all of Bond's pain, and how every time he interfered and meddled in his affairs, he took someone from him. It kind of patches up the massive plot hole of how Silva planned everything that he did in SF, and knowing that SPECTRE was behind it all and assisting, it makes me interested in going back and rewatching that, imagining Blofeld behind the scenes pulling all the strings.

    One can imagine Blofeld setting up the whole PTS in the *hopes* of Bond failing (Bond getting actually shot must have been like Christmas!).
  • Posts: 1,068
    Ok fair point yes there's some tidying up that I couldn't originally square with Silva's amazingly accurate planning / foresight and support - thank you @Creasy47

    I still can't live with the astounding ineptitude of the entire Mi6 'team' (including Bond the most) who all behaved probably worse than a bunch of rookie Boy Scouts leaving us with a really weak finale. When I first rolled my eyes when the DB5 showed up I should've just left them there.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,687
    andmcit wrote: »
    Ok fair point yes there's some tidying up that I couldn't originally square with Silva's amazingly accurate planning / foresight and support - thank you @Creasy47

    I still can't live with the astounding ineptitude of the entire Mi6 'team' (including Bond the most) who all behaved probably worse than a bunch of rookie Boy Scouts leaving us with a really weak finale. When I first rolled my eyes when the DB5 showed up I should've just left them there.

    Oh yeah, still a movie full of holes & questionable writing, but on the whole a good bit more digestible with the SP backup IMO.
  • Posts: 485
    chrisisall wrote: »
    andmcit wrote: »
    Ok fair point yes there's some tidying up that I couldn't originally square with Silva's amazingly accurate planning / foresight and support - thank you @Creasy47

    I still can't live with the astounding ineptitude of the entire Mi6 'team' (including Bond the most) who all behaved probably worse than a bunch of rookie Boy Scouts leaving us with a really weak finale. When I first rolled my eyes when the DB5 showed up I should've just left them there.

    Oh yeah, still a movie full of holes & questionable writing, but on the whole a good bit more digestible with the SP backup IMO.

    I suppose one interesting take would be that Silva was not only supported by SPECTRE but perhaps his own achievements were the efforts of SPECTRE as well and he was just full of a little bit more bluff about his achievements due to his mummy issues.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,687
    Cowley wrote: »
    chrisisall wrote: »
    andmcit wrote: »
    Ok fair point yes there's some tidying up that I couldn't originally square with Silva's amazingly accurate planning / foresight and support - thank you @Creasy47

    I still can't live with the astounding ineptitude of the entire Mi6 'team' (including Bond the most) who all behaved probably worse than a bunch of rookie Boy Scouts leaving us with a really weak finale. When I first rolled my eyes when the DB5 showed up I should've just left them there.

    Oh yeah, still a movie full of holes & questionable writing, but on the whole a good bit more digestible with the SP backup IMO.

    I suppose one interesting take would be that Silva was not only supported by SPECTRE but perhaps his own achievements were the efforts of SPECTRE as well and he was just full of a little bit more bluff about his achievements due to his mummy issues.

    Again, agreed in more spades!
  • QsAssistantQsAssistant All those moments lost in time... like tears in rain
    Posts: 1,812
    I finally got around to seeing SPECTRE a couple days and I have to say that I loved it! I may have to see it a second time in theaters.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    edited November 2015 Posts: 40,371
    @andmcit, that ineptitude is one of my biggest complaints in SF, there's no way around it. Also, I laid out a nice vision of the Craig era somewhere around here, detailing what Bond did from CR on, how it interfered with SPECTRE's plans, and what ESB did to combat that and take someone from him. If you think about it, it's all really obvious, but just seeing it typed out was very cool and should make re-watching the entirety of Craig's era when it's all said and done that much more interesting.

    Also, after my third viewing of SP last night, I'd say that the PTS is probably Top 3 or Top 5 in the series for me, and SP itself (still can't remember what my rankings were exactly) has to be in the Top 5. It's too entertaining and wonderfully paced (though as I was saying yesterday, I'd alter how it's all wrapped up) to not love that much.
  • 2nd time yesterday. Still love it. Much, much better than SF. The London ending for me is the only weak point. 3rd time today!
  • Posts: 5,767
    Getafix wrote: »
    Not sure about that. The Marvel films tend to be more sure footed. They know what they're trying achieve. Characters are consistent etc. I also think Marvel have a 'plan' in terms of where the next film and the character are going.

    EON never seem to quite know what they're trying to achieve from film to film. It's all a bit slapdash and all over the place. Consequently the films tend to be very hit or miss, with little consistency.
    No, Marvel claim to have a plan, but they don´t really bother when they make the next film, the character development and story connections are quite confuse in actuality.

  • edited November 2015 Posts: 60
    I'm a little late in leaving my thoughts on the film, I saw it the night it opened here in the U.S. I saw it twice, first time leaving I definitely enjoyed it, wasn't disappointed at all. Hinx is an amazing henchmen, the best since Onnatopp i'd say. Waltz is great but as others have said a bit underused. Craig is on top form. The train fight is fantastic! And the SPECTRE meeting and basically everything in Rome have some of my favorite parts. Saw it a couple days later and the errors I find with it seemed to glare really badly for me. The two of those being the script and the score. I actually really enjoy Newmans score on Skyfall, but I found it to be pretty bad on SP, sounds like generic filler action movie music in some areas. And I feel like this film is lacking in the script. I would have preferred more on developing Bond and Swann's relationship, and more SPECTRE and way less of Mr. C and M, Q and Moneypenny running around helping Bond like the Mission Impossible movies. Also, I think it would have been a better move to make the finale happen at SPECTRE's crater lair and just extend that part of the movie. Now that it has set with me for 3 weeks I might go back and watch it for a 3rd time with fresh eyes and re evaluate how I feel about it. Right now I'd rank it as Craig's 3rd best. With CR being number 1, and SF being 2nd.
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    I still liked the ending in question. I'm a loner.
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    Posts: 10,586
    mcdonbb wrote: »
    I still liked the ending in question. I'm a loner.

    No you're not.
  • Posts: 1,068
    jake24 wrote: »
    mcdonbb wrote: »
    I still liked the ending in question. I'm a loner.

    No you're not.

    I liked the ending too. You know where it's all going for B25 though
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    Thanks guys but I mean
    the London showdown before the Blofeld shot down. Didn't much care for the unnecessary Bond Swann ending forcing a tired solution. Sorry.
  • edited November 2015 Posts: 1,068
    mcdonbb wrote: »
    Thanks guys but I mean
    the London showdown before the Blofeld shot down. Didn't much care for the unnecessary Bond Swann ending forcing a tired solution. Sorry.

    I was
    I am referring to the face to face with spectre tendrils in the bullet proof glass with ESB which leads to the climax detonation collapse of the Mi6 building at Vauxhall Bridge which was totally immense and very well done.

    I don't mind the chase down to Westminster Bridge too though at any point the helicopter could've veered away from the river maing the chase a bit 'yeah sure' but it did set up the second face off. I just feel the open ending of ESB's fate sets B25 to be his film with or without MS.ive seen the evil for always slip away to fight another day in countless things so to actually bring him down and have M make a citizen's arrest is nicely symbolic after ESB effectively killed his predecessor.

    I liked the leap of faith into the rubble arrest netting through the core of the building from M's office too though Bond should've just said, "if you you trust me hold on" not do you trust me?
  • meredith44meredith44 the great unknown
    Posts: 9
    I don't feel really justified to make any opinions yet, because SP is one of four Bond movies I've seen... but let's try.

    It's been a while since I've seen it. What remained in my mind, is the glaring contrast between the brilliance of CR (which I saw after SP, on my computer) and... well, SP.

    SP was fun to watch, but I think I'd expect more from it now. Some more depth. More script, character backstory (but please PLEASE keep Bond's childhood out of it!). Waltz was somehow disappointing to me, did not scare me a bit. The score was nice, but was all too similar to other Newman's soundtracks; I really loved Dodd's CR music, so compared to it SP appears bland. The theme song... would be great sung by a woman (excuse me for my unwanted feminism), I actually like the melody and the lyrics (although both are quite simple).

    And the Seydoux/Craig duo is not as genuine as Greene/Craig to me. Oh, the irony. But it's true. In the latter I felt the development of the relationship. None of this in SP. Sadly.

    I know these are quite vague words, but I'll leave myself some more room for comment for when I get the DVD and the opportunity to analyze what exactly did not harmonized in me.
  • edited November 2015 Posts: 11,425
    meredith44 wrote: »
    I don't feel really justified to make any opinions yet, because SP is one of four Bond movies I've seen... but let's try.

    It's been a while since I've seen it. What remained in my mind, is the glaring contrast between the brilliance of CR (which I saw after SP, on my computer) and... well, SP.

    SP was fun to watch, but I think I'd expect more from it now. Some more depth. More script, character backstory (but please PLEASE keep Bond's childhood out of it!). Waltz was somehow disappointing to me, did not scare me a bit. The score was nice, but was all too similar to other Newman's soundtracks; I really loved Dodd's CR music, so compared to it SP appears bland. The theme song... would be great sung by a woman (excuse me for my unwanted feminism), I actually like the melody and the lyrics (although both are quite simple).

    And the Seydoux/Craig duo is not as genuine as Greene/Craig to me. Oh, the irony. But it's true. In the latter I felt the development of the relationship. None of this in SP. Sadly.

    I know these are quite vague words, but I'll leave myself some more room for comment for when I get the DVD and the opportunity to analyze what exactly did not harmonized in me.

    There's an excellent female cover of Writings on the Wall here. A lot have people have said it sounds better than Smith's own version.



    In the movie though, with the wonderfully OTT and camp titles, I thought it all turned out pretty well.
  • edited November 2015 Posts: 11,119
    Getafix wrote: »
    meredith44 wrote: »
    I don't feel really justified to make any opinions yet, because SP is one of four Bond movies I've seen... but let's try.

    It's been a while since I've seen it. What remained in my mind, is the glaring contrast between the brilliance of CR (which I saw after SP, on my computer) and... well, SP.

    SP was fun to watch, but I think I'd expect more from it now. Some more depth. More script, character backstory (but please PLEASE keep Bond's childhood out of it!). Waltz was somehow disappointing to me, did not scare me a bit. The score was nice, but was all too similar to other Newman's soundtracks; I really loved Dodd's CR music, so compared to it SP appears bland. The theme song... would be great sung by a woman (excuse me for my unwanted feminism), I actually like the melody and the lyrics (although both are quite simple).

    And the Seydoux/Craig duo is not as genuine as Greene/Craig to me. Oh, the irony. But it's true. In the latter I felt the development of the relationship. None of this in SP. Sadly.

    I know these are quite vague words, but I'll leave myself some more room for comment for when I get the DVD and the opportunity to analyze what exactly did not harmonized in me.

    There's an excellent female cover of Writings on the Wall here. A lot have people have said it sounds better than Smith's own version.



    In the movie though, with the wonderfully OTT and camp titles, I thought it all turned out pretty well.

    Yesterday I went to see "SPECTRE" a 3rd time. And my friend Thomas liked it a lot, but also said "It's again a typical James Bond film".

    I think this comment once used to be a true positive benchmark of the franchise. But after the franchise got shaken and stirred up dramatacially....and perhaps confusing way too....with critically acclaimed films like "Casino Royale" and "Skyfall", people actually forgot that they were Bond films.

    I said it a thousand times. The first three Craig films are not just good Bond films....but also very good films, apart from the franchise tag. It's what created many new fans/lovers who don't think in Bond thropes like we do.

    And once a movie like "SPECTRE" turns up, those people and reviewers are in for a disappointment. Although I have to say that the foundation for a more typical Bond film with all of the formularic elements, was already present in "Skyfall" (Q, M, Moneypenny, a killer of a theme song).

    I see "SPECTRE" entirely as the fourth step in getting Bond more 'Bond'. It's the 4th part of a beautiful quadrilogy in which we see Bond becoming 'Bond'. I did see it like that. Sadly many others didn't. Apparently they still long for a lot of drama (death of famous characters, etc.). I don't. In "SPECTRE" I sometimes had a weird, but great feeling of watching Connery's 8th outing of 007.

    Once I told my friend Thomas all of the above he said: "Hmmm, I really need to rewatch the Craig-films more properly then. I think I really like "SPECTRE" then!"

    Time also for a quick updated ranking from my side:

    Masterpieces!!!:
    01 --> 9.5/10 --> 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'
    02 --> 9.3/10 --> 'From Russia With Love'
    03 --> 9.0/10 --> 'Skyfall'
    04 --> 8.8/10 --> 'Casino Royale'
    05 --> 8.3/10 --> 'Thunderball'
    06 --> 8.0/10 --> 'Doctor No'


    Good films!:
    07 --> 7.7/10 --> 'SPECTRE' (NEW !!)
    08 --> 7.4/10 --> 'Octopussy'
    09 --> 7.4/10 --> 'For Your Eyes Only'
    10 --> 7.3/10 --> 'The Living Daylights'
    11 --> 7.1/10 --> 'Goldfinger'
    12 --> 7.0/10 --> 'Licence To Kill'


    Average films:
    13 --> 6.7/10 --> 'The World Is Not Enough'
    14 --> 6.5/10 --> 'The Man With The Golden Gun'
    15 --> 6.3/10 --> 'Quantum Of Solace'
    16 --> 6.1/10 --> 'The Spy Who Loved Me'
    17 --> 6.0/10 --> 'Diamonds Are Forever'
    18 --> 5.8/10 --> 'Moonraker'


    Fun stuff for us Bond fans, but as a standalone film bad and sometimes even stomach-turning!:
    19 --> 5.6/10 --> 'Live And Let Die'
    20 --> 5.5/10 --> 'Never Say Never Again' (non-EON)
    21 --> 4.8/10 --> 'Tomorrow Never Dies'
    22 --> 4.5/10 --> 'You Only Live Twice'
    23 --> 4.2/10 --> 'GoldenEye'
    24 --> 3.4/10 --> 'A View To A Kill'
    25 --> 2.8/10 --> 'Die Another Day'
    26 --> 1.2/10 --> 'Casino Royale' (non-EON)

  • meredith44meredith44 the great unknown
    Posts: 9
    Getafix wrote: »
    meredith44 wrote: »
    I don't feel really justified to make any opinions yet, because SP is one of four Bond movies I've seen... but let's try.

    It's been a while since I've seen it. What remained in my mind, is the glaring contrast between the brilliance of CR (which I saw after SP, on my computer) and... well, SP.

    SP was fun to watch, but I think I'd expect more from it now. Some more depth. More script, character backstory (but please PLEASE keep Bond's childhood out of it!). Waltz was somehow disappointing to me, did not scare me a bit. The score was nice, but was all too similar to other Newman's soundtracks; I really loved Dodd's CR music, so compared to it SP appears bland. The theme song... would be great sung by a woman (excuse me for my unwanted feminism), I actually like the melody and the lyrics (although both are quite simple).

    And the Seydoux/Craig duo is not as genuine as Greene/Craig to me. Oh, the irony. But it's true. In the latter I felt the development of the relationship. None of this in SP. Sadly.

    I know these are quite vague words, but I'll leave myself some more room for comment for when I get the DVD and the opportunity to analyze what exactly did not harmonized in me.

    There's an excellent female cover of Writings on the Wall here. A lot have people have said it sounds better than Smith's own version.



    In the movie though, with the wonderfully OTT and camp titles, I thought it all turned out pretty well.
    Oh, this cover is indeed nailed.

    For me it was too monotonous with the titles. I like to listen to it on its own, but I think that some another song would be a better fit for a theme than WotW.
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    meredith44 wrote: »
    I don't feel really justified to make any opinions yet, because SP is one of four Bond movies I've seen... but let's try.

    Of course you should feel justified. You're assessing the movie as it was presented to you. Your opinion is very much valid and as such, either you liked what you saw or you didn't.
    It's been a while since I've seen it. What remained in my mind, is the glaring contrast between the brilliance of CR (which I saw after SP, on my computer) and... well, SP.

    Yes, CR still remains Craig's best and to be fair CR is arguably the best Bond movie since 1969.
    SP was fun to watch, but I think I'd expect more from it now. Some more depth. More script, character backstory (but please PLEASE keep Bond's childhood out of it!). Waltz was somehow disappointing to me, did not scare me a bit. The score was nice, but was all too similar to other Newman's soundtracks; I really loved Dodd's CR music, so compared to it SP appears bland. The theme song... would be great sung by a woman (excuse me for my unwanted feminism), I actually like the melody and the lyrics (although both are quite simple).

    SP is definitely an incredibly fun movie to watch, particularly after the more downbeat SF. I think with Mendes at tge helm at the preproduction time allocated for SF a much better script with certain expectations were warranted. SP is the longest Bond movie in the series and with Mendes' stewardship one would expect for characters and subplots to be more fleshed out, developed and explored, allowing for audiences to be more invested in what's unfolding before us, much like what CR was able to accomplish. I didn't mind the back story for Bond because very little time was spent on it and better yet, Bond himself wasn't reflecting or dwelling on it for more than 2 minutes throughout the whole film.

    Regarding Newman's score. The guy just isn't right for Bond. Aside from a few tracks in total from both SF and SP tge guy's contribution is just so half hearted and does nothing to properly compliment the film let alone help elevate it. I'd take Arnold's superior Bond work over Newman each and every time. As for Sam Smith, I liked it, didn't love it but I do agree with those the song is best sung by a female vocalist.
    And the Seydoux/Craig duo is not as genuine as Greene/Craig to me. Oh, the irony. But it's true. In the latter I felt the development of the relationship. None of this in SP. Sadly.

    I know these are quite vague words, but I'll leave myself some more room for comment for when I get the DVD and the opportunity to analyze what exactly did not harmonized in me.

    I thought the relationship between Bond and Swann was mire or less alright and yes, they jumped the shark with that I love you line. Had the film expounded more on the development if these two characters together and what they can really offer each other then their relationship would have been much more credible. The relationship between Bond and Vesper, Bond and Tracy accomplished conveying a credible romance and again, bare in mind SP is the longest Bond movie in tge series. The time was definitely there to allow for these flaws not to happen but again, SP's main and glaring problems are scripting issues. EoN have known this for years but astonishingly do very little to do anything about it.
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    andmcit wrote: »
    mcdonbb wrote: »
    Thanks guys but I mean
    the London showdown before the Blofeld shot down. Didn't much care for the unnecessary Bond Swann ending forcing a tired solution. Sorry.

    I was
    I am referring to the face to face with spectre tendrils in the bullet proof glass with ESB which leads to the climax detonation collapse of the Mi6 building at Vauxhall Bridge which was totally immense and very well done.

    I don't mind the chase down to Westminster Bridge too though at any point the helicopter could've veered away from the river maing the chase a bit 'yeah sure' but it did set up the second face off. I just feel the open ending of ESB's fate sets B25 to be his film with or without MS.ive seen the evil for always slip away to fight another day in countless things so to actually bring him down and have M make a citizen's arrest is nicely symbolic after ESB effectively killed his predecessor.

    I liked the leap of faith into the rubble arrest netting through the core of the building from M's office too though Bond should've just said, "if you you trust me hold on" not do you trust me?

    Oh ok ...I agree with you.
  • dominicgreenedominicgreene The Eternal QOS Defender
    edited November 2015 Posts: 1,756
    Not sure if this counts as a spoiler review, but seeing as people are throwing around
    Blofeld
    I figured maybe not. I'll use spoilers anyway:
    As a Bond fan, I love this movie, it's an amazing experience. But it has a lot of problems, as I can now admit being able to view this film objectively. Calvin Dyson addressed them pretty well in his Youtube review. The first half of the movie is excellent. It's fun, and it doesn't try too hard while being very entertaining. My big problem is very little here, which is the "C" subplot. Then we get to Austria, with the painfully long exploration of the home and the useless crow scare "homage". The "Word of an Assassin" was a very good scene. Then we hit the clinic, and we hit our first big problem, which is Swann, who is basically bland. I also have a problem to the very uninteresting Denby which drags down the compelling journey Bond is on. Nobody cared for it, and yet it felt necessary to have it there. Maybe the story could have gone along with all that bs cut out and just focusing on Spectre. Then we head to Morocco, where the fun stops and the plot comes to a very, very slow halt. We go deeper into the Swann character (the audience doesn't care), using L'American only to play the "oh it was here all along!" cliche. I really wanted to know what was on the Vesper tape. Damn. Then again we have some awkward train conversation that forces an eye rolling question of morality on us, which lasts like... a minute, but we're supposed to believe there's an intense connection and there isn't. Craig trys way to hard to impress a girl he just barely met, he should have been more like "whatever, you're here anyways". She should have been more dependent on him, that would have been more believable. Anyway, I don't buy Craig's connection to her at all. Then there's a fight scene, very good, then it keeps dragging on and on... car through the desert... FINALLY the Moroccan lair. Very good stuff. ESB's introduction is good, dialogue here is good. The biggest problem with Blofeld here though is that is objective isn't clear. He has no direction, only power to... see people? There's no menace in his plan. Then we have a very, very odd scene where Madeline is shown her father's death. Bond imo GREATLY EXAGGERATES the reaction to it. He should have been much more calm, and got way too emotional and out of character, as if he was in love with Madeline. Bond isn't a fool for love and he should be cool as ice. The audience is lead to believe the tapes were edited or something to make it seem Bond killed Mr. White, or something else bad, which would have been interesting. It's actually funny, the opening of the film demonstrates what the second half of the film lacks, menace. The helicopter was flying around in the crowd, it would have been a disaster for it to have crashed. There was none of this or any tension in Blofeld's plan. So basically what you have is a skeleton of an evil plot and unbelievable character connections which is the film's biggest problem. It tried to be deep and personal when it should have just stayed a classic Bond adventure, instead of trying to pull a CR mashed with it. Anyway, the ending is cool but the finale also lacks any intimidation other than the fact that some girl we never cared for (who was going to leave anyway) might die. Now I'm rambling. I still really enjoy this film, the first half is 9/10, Austria turns into 7/10, in Morocco 6/10, Train 8.5, Lair 8/10, finale 7/10. So ultimately I give this film a 7.6 on an objective level.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,687
    SPECTRE entertained me more than any other Bond in nearly two decades.
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    chrisisall wrote: »
    SPECTRE entertained me more than any other Bond in nearly two decades.

    On a shear Bond excitement level yes ...or at least since CR
  • Posts: 533
    I enjoyed "SPECTRE". It had it's problems. But I enjoyed how the ghosts of Bond's past (well, Daniel Craig's Bond) seemed to play out in this film. When the movie revealed that the former "M" (Judi Dench") had been the one responsible for Bond's adventures in Mexico City, I got the feeling that she was trying to put final closure on a mission that began in "CASINO ROYALE". Everything about this movie seemed to hint death and ghosts - the pre-credit sequence on the Day of the Dead, the movie's title song, the reappearance of Mr. White, etc. I also enjoyed how this movie connected the Quantum organization with SPECTRE.

    My real problem with this movie is the leading lady, Léa Seydoux. Don't get me wrong. She gave a very good performance. And I'm glad that the screenwriters allowed her character to face the ghost of her father, Mr. White and his connection to SPECTRE. But Seydoux had no screen chemistry with Daniel Craig. None, whatsoever. He had better chemistry with his previous leading ladies - including Eva Green, Olga Kurylenko and Naomie Harris. Two, Ralph Fiennes is too young to be portraying M to Craig's Bond. They are barely five years apart. The producers could have hired someone older than Mr. Fiennes. Or they could have hired the actor for a new and younger Bond.

  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,687
    DRush76 wrote: »
    Olga Kurylenko

    Best chemistry for sure. But with Lea it was great too IMO!
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited December 2015 Posts: 23,883
    DRush76 wrote: »
    My real problem with this movie is the leading lady, Léa Seydoux. Don't get me wrong. She gave a very good performance. And I'm glad that the screenwriters allowed her character to face the ghost of her father, Mr. White and his connection to SPECTRE. But Seydoux had no screen chemistry with Daniel Craig. None, whatsoever.
    You're not the first to say that. I've read that on this forum and elsewhere so there must be something to it. I thought she was ok in the role, but is lacking the punch of some of his previous leading ladies, so I really didn't pay all that much attention to it. I would have preferred an expanded role for Ms. Bellucci who I felt he connected better with.
    DRush76 wrote: »
    He had better chemistry with his previous leading ladies - including Eva Green, Olga Kurylenko and Naomie Harris.
    I agree, but it's interesting that you put Harris in there. It's debateable who his leading lady in fact is in SF. Some say Dench. I'd prefer to say Marlohe, and he had better chemistry with her too, although I think he and the lovely Miss Green were unbeatable.
    DRush76 wrote: »
    Ralph Fiennes is too young to be portraying M to Craig's Bond. They are barely five years apart. The producers could have hired someone older than Mr. Fiennes. Or they could have hired the actor for a new and younger Bond
    I agree actually. Dench worked better due to the age difference. There are several British actors who could have been used for M with suitable age difference to Craig.
  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    edited December 2015 Posts: 4,116
    I miss Sir Miles.. but the similar age really doesn't bother me.

    Whenever I see Mr. Fiennes as M my mind races more to how much of a Bond fan he was growing up and how surreal it must feel to be part of that world now.

    Reminds me a bit of Brosnan's history.
  • edited December 2015 Posts: 11,425
    chrisisall wrote: »
    SPECTRE entertained me more than any other Bond in nearly two decades.

    Same here. I can see a lot of faults in SP and things I wish EON and Mendes could have done better. But ultimately SP entertained me a lot more than any Bond film I've seen in the cinema since TLD. That's high praise from me!

    Mendes had already (IMO) taken Craig's Bond in a radically different direction with SF. It was almost as if he'd ignored the tone and direction of the first two DC movies. So if you accept that SF was another mini reboot and go with the flow, SP works pretty well.
  • edited December 2015 Posts: 2,594
    SP is a most enjoyable film but in my opinion, it’s only good but not great due to these reasons:

    The compound in the dessert should have received more screen time. Bond should have had an extravagant dinner with the villain where a different grand master plan was discussed or at least hinted at and Bond worked out the rest.

    We should have got a scene where the villain was watching Bond via satellite and then had the Rolls sent out.

    The whole story to do with Denby (or whatever his name was) and what was happening with the SIS should have been dropped including the scenes in London at the end. This would have allowed for a bit more time to develop Madeline’s character more and the relationship between her and Bond, making it more credible and believable. Other scenes could have developed an alternative plot.

    We should have had a brief scene where we saw Bond get a hold of what he used to pursue the villains in the mountains.

    The whole personal story between Bond and the villain is too Hollywoodsque and clichéd. This was the wrong thing to do in terms of Bond’s background history. It cheapened it a bit. No personal connection would have been much better.

    The music Newman used when Bond was making his way across the lake was all wrong. I was really surprised by this. We should have got something subtle, airy and mysterious.

    It’s a shame because this movie had so much potential and could have been brilliant but they really did mess it up a bit with this wishy washy plot.

    I don’t get these threads. Maybe it’s the internet here in Shanghai. I wrote all this other stuff about how Spectre has almost disappeared from the cinemas here in Shanghai after only having come out on the 13th of November and just lost it all when I hit submit. This often happens.

    I will see the film for a second time today and that will probably be the last time I wll get to see it in the cinema. I bet it will be gone within the next 7 days. It didn't receive near as much publicity on the big screens in the subway stations here in Shanghai as The Transporter did and what The Martian is now receiving. Also, western films always disappear from cinemas in Korea and more so, China after only a short time in the cinema.
Sign In or Register to comment.