11 replies to this topic

[Ravenstone]

Right.....where to start?

Well, we watched it twice. That should tell you something. And I would have expected a second viewing, straight on the heels of the first, would have shown up all the weaknesses. And you know what? It didn't.

It's simply fantastic. Better than Casino Royale. The Bond Girls are far more likeable - I always found Vesper bloody annoying. She couldn't just smile - she just wrinkled her face up like she'd just caught a whiff of something unpleasant. Deeply unlikeable, I thought. Easily the most annoying thing in Casino Royale, and for my money, the film's big weakness. This, though, is a different beast. The action is excellent.

There's been criticism it's too short - It's about 1 hour 45. Plenty long enough.

They say there's no plot - I say there weren't paying attention.

This is easily the least Americanised Bond I've seen in a very long time, if ever. The plot is there; they tell you everything you need to know. But they only tell you once. They don't insult you by reminding you every five minutes of what it is they're supposed to be doing, because they don't seem to assume the audience has the attention span of a goldfish.

Bourne? Just shut up. Right now. I'm not even going to demean myself by addressing any Bourne references in reviews, because that's just lazy journalism. It's not Bourne. It's Bond. And Bond could kick Bourne's amnesiac butt without breaking into a sweat. Simple as that.

The car chase - excellent. Fight scenes - excellent. Foot chase - fan[censored]ingtastic. Daniel Craig - bloody cool, calm, suave, cunning and a killer. Oh God, is he a killer.

Humour? There's loads of it!
"Careful - I think she has handcuffs" - "I certainly hope so"
"When people say 'we've got people everywhere' you expect it to be hyperbole. Florists say it all the time."
"You should just say CIA, Felix. I got this number by asking the taxi driver where you were."
"What about Slate?" - "Tell her he was a dead end."

Soundtrack - I thought it was great. There seems a lot more of the Bond theme motif running through it.

Gun barrel walk at the end - so what? Most of the audience, in both viewings, were busy picking up their things to leave. Very few people care about the bloody thing. And it makes perfect sense being where it is. This is a retcon. Bond is not the same man as Goldfinger Bond. He's just out the special services. He's had his career in the Navy, few years' SBS service, Special Intel, and now Double-O. But he's just an SBS Royal Marine in a tuxedo. He's rough around the edges still. Quantum of Solace shows him getting far more panache and polish into his act. By the end of the film, he's the Bond who deserves a gun barrel walk. If you stuck it at the beginning, particularly as Quantum just picks up more or less where Casino ends, it would slow the film down. It would be all kinds of wrong. It's at the end, and it's exactly where it should be.

There's lovely references throughout. Bond on a bike in one shot looks just like Steve McQueen in The Great Escape. Things remind you of other things - Live and Let Die, Goldfinger, Man With The Golden Gun, Living Daylights... it goes on. It's all those things, and yet none of them. Which is what makes it bloody perfect in my eyes.

It's bloody marvellous. I'm refraining from reconsidering my list of favourite Bond films, simply because I feel it needs to stand the test of time a bit, and I don't want to go rushing into things. But by God, I'd be very surprised if it isn't in the top three.

Oh yes. "James Bond Will Return". I was jumping up and down at that point.

Brutal. Barbaric. By, by God - it's Bond. And it's Beautiful

[Fiona Volpe lover]

Wow thats the most positive review of it I've read! Maybe it will be fantastic after all.......

[dakitt]

here here dude you just made a new friend, totally agree damn 2 more years to wait for the next argh!!

[HildebrandRarity]

8.5 from 10? A 9?

[Bureau Of Weapons]

Wow thats the most positive review of it I've read! Maybe it will be fantastic after all.......

It deserves that review because it is that damn good. The negative reviews are a discgrace in my opinion. The beginning is action heavy but it is all very brief and does not swamp the film.

There are plenty of moments away from action with character development. Judi Dench gets a great outing in this one.

[DamnCoffee]

Brilliant review, very postitive. I guess I will find out tomorrow.

[Ravenstone]

9/10. Aw, dammit, okay - 9.5

It is a seriously good film. God alone knows what the bad reviews were all about. Maybe they all went to see High School Musical III instead. They certainly weren't watching the same film I saw.

M is excellent. Judi Dench is magnificent.

[volante]

Yes its a rollercoaster ride.
Yes its a rushed story line.
Yes the Bond theme is missing.
Yes I loved it.

A couple of tender moments too, all in all excellent.

I loved the way Elvis, kept touching his wig.

[ACE]

Right.....where to start?

Well, we watched it twice. That should tell you something. And I would have expected a second viewing, straight on the heels of the first, would have shown up all the weaknesses. And you know what? It didn't.

It's simply fantastic. Better than Casino Royale. The Bond Girls are far more likeable - I always found Vesper bloody annoying. She couldn't just smile - she just wrinkled her face up like she'd just caught a whiff of something unpleasant. Deeply unlikeable, I thought. Easily the most annoying thing in Casino Royale, and for my money, the film's big weakness. This, though, is a different beast. The action is excellent.

There's been criticism it's too short - It's about 1 hour 45. Plenty long enough.

They say there's no plot - I say there weren't paying attention.

This is easily the least Americanised Bond I've seen in a very long time, if ever. The plot is there; they tell you everything you need to know. But they only tell you once. They don't insult you by reminding you every five minutes of what it is they're supposed to be doing, because they don't seem to assume the audience has the attention span of a goldfish.
Bourne? Just shut up. Right now. I'm not even going to demean myself by addressing any Bourne references in reviews, because that's just lazy journalism. It's not Bourne. It's Bond. And Bond could kick Bourne's amnesiac butt without breaking into a sweat. Simple as that.

The car chase - excellent. Fight scenes - excellent. Foot chase - fan[censored]ingtastic. Daniel Craig - bloody cool, calm, suave, cunning and a killer. Oh God, is he a killer.

Humour? There's loads of it!
"Careful - I think she has handcuffs" - "I certainly hope so"
"When people say 'we've got people everywhere' you expect it to be hyperbole. Florists say it all the time."
"You should just say CIA, Felix. I got this number by asking the taxi driver where you were."
"What about Slate?" - "Tell her he was a dead end."

Soundtrack - I thought it was great. There seems a lot more of the Bond theme motif running through it.

Gun barrel walk at the end - so what? Most of the audience, in both viewings, were busy picking up their things to leave. Very few people care about the bloody thing. And it makes perfect sense being where it is. This is a retcon. Bond is not the same man as Goldfinger Bond. He's just out the special services. He's had his career in the Navy, few years' SBS service, Special Intel, and now Double-O. But he's just an SBS Royal Marine in a tuxedo. He's rough around the edges still. Quantum of Solace shows him getting far more panache and polish into his act. By the end of the film, he's the Bond who deserves a gun barrel walk. If you stuck it at the beginning, particularly as Quantum just picks up more or less where Casino ends, it would slow the film down. It would be all kinds of wrong. It's at the end, and it's exactly where it should be.

There's lovely references throughout. Bond on a bike in one shot looks just like Steve McQueen in The Great Escape. Things remind you of other things - Live and Let Die, Goldfinger, Man With The Golden Gun, Living Daylights... it goes on. It's all those things, and yet none of them. Which is what makes it bloody perfect in my eyes.

It's bloody marvellous. I'm refraining from reconsidering my list of favourite Bond films, simply because I feel it needs to stand the test of time a bit, and I don't want to go rushing into things. But by God, I'd be very surprised if it isn't in the top three.

Oh yes. "James Bond Will Return". I was jumping up and down at that point.

Brutal. Barbaric. By, by God - it's Bond. And it's Beautiful

Ravenstone, I have a very strong feeling that you may very well be an absolute genius! Bloody good points. Lovely review

[Ravenstone]

Ravenstone, I have a very strong feeling that you may very well be an absolute genius! Bloody good points. Lovely review

Aw shucks. Thanks!


And I wasn't best pleased to find someone quoting parts of this review over on another board, and calling me names. Strangely, he didn't seem to feel the need to reply direct to this thread, or indeed, even quote my name on the other board, even though I go by the same name.

I believe cross posting between boards is considered gross breach of netiquette.

[BoogieBond]

Really enjoyed that review.
Yes, and during the Gunbarrell, people were walking out during my showing too. As you said, it confirms some people don't care about it.
Were there any things you really didn't like ?
Once I came out of the cinema, certain things really stood out for me, and I was surprised very few of them were action sequences, considering the film has a fair few action sequences in it.

[Ravenstone]

Anything I really didn't like.....*ponders*

Well, I honestly didn't expect to enjoy it anywhere near as much as I did. I expected to hit the usual bit where you usually have to find an excuse. The low bit. There's always something you have to gloss over. But I honestly can't think of anything.

If I'm utterly, brutally, honest, I would have liked more in the action scenes. Longer. But that's me being utterly utterly selfish. I just wanted to see more. But really, the film is just right.

I'm not saying it's perfect....I would never say that so early on. But I really was so surprised to enjoy it so much. I really thought seeing it again straightaway would show up the weaknesses. I thought the low points would be more obvious. But I enjoyed it just as much the second time - actually probably more, because I knew what was coming next.