219 replies to this topic

[Kara Milovy]

I saw MUNICH last night. There's no doubt Craig is a very fine actor, but I got no Bond vibe at all. Spy vibe is not the same as Bond vibe; not to me anyway.

But it's a brilliant movie, very thought-provoking.

The amazing performance was Lonsdale. Too bad he was already a Bond villain, he'd make a perfect LeChiffre.

[Harmsway]

The amazing performance was Lonsdale. Too bad he was already a Bond villain, he'd make a perfect LeChiffre.

Agreed. Lonsdale was great. Geoffery Rush also was great fun.

[Alex Zamudio]

I just saw Munich, what a great film! enjoyed every minute of it. And Daniel Craig looks fantastic in it, a very cool performance, he is going to be a very interesting James Bond.

Regards

[ACE]

Munich

What an excellent film. A real spy thriller with the weight and humanity one would expect. A dramatically complex yet concise picture. Very good screenplay, wonderful storytelling, subtle imagery.

Bana gave a compelling and layered lead performance. Dan Craig is forceful in his scenes. Michael Lonsdale is the memorable cameo. His characterization is rich and worldly.

OK, the swerves from truth and the moral equivalency arguments can be debated (I was troubled by neither and knew a lot about the subject and story). But it is a thoughtful meditation on the world of espionage, counter-terrorism and realpolitik.

An important piece of edu-tainment.

[pgram]

Saw it yesterday.
It was good, not excellent, but good.
As far as Danny is concerned, he definitely looks better on screen, moving, than in still fotos. He looks strong, and does have a presence and a commanding voice. Shot from certain angles he may look bigger in CR and not so ugly- I really trust Campbell on this. Yet, I am still not convinced. I still think he lacks elegance and sophistication. I am not judging him based on his role in Munich, but from minor details in his moves, expressions, micro-behaviour. And I still think he will be a hard sell for non bond fans. I guess we 'll have to wait...

[Lounge Lizard]

I too saw Spielberg's Munich yesterday. As I was one of the few people who liked War of the Worlds, I'd say that 2005 was another annus mirabilis for Spiely. Munich is not the masterpiece some make it out to be, but it's a very solid, sometimes blackly comic thriller nonetheless, set in the shady world of 1970s terrorism and counter-terrorism- a world in which terrorists have acquired a glamorous image (be they PLO or Rote Armee Fraktion), everybody works for everybody and information is the most valuable commodity. It's like an improved version of Ronin, with added weight. Eric Bana is convincing as the young sabra who is willing to make sacrifices for his country, and is then torn apart by guilt and paranoia. His superiors may tell him that his country has become a safer place, but he himself is afraid to sleep in his own bed. The opening scenes break down the Munich events of 1972 in a seamless flow of archive footage and tense re-enactment- perfect docudrama. I'd say that the rest of the film displays a similar sense of movement, though it's a little too detached to be called 'alive'- and in the second half, the pace begins to drag as Munich hammers home its philosophical points. The first murder in Rome is right out of a 1970s movie (I was somehow reminded of The Godfather), and the framing of the shots, the harsh colours and the raw grasp of location backed up this '1970s vibe'. The murders then become increasingly grisly, chief among them a bombing in a tourist hotel that is nothing more or less than what it should be: terror. Once I'd read about it, I was a little worried about a scene presumably set in the Dutch village of Hoorne (somehow, Dutch 'locations' always look like Czech forests in recent Hollywood pictures), but it was rather convincingly done.

Stand-out performances were, in my opinion, those of Irish actor Ciaran Hinds (I love to watch his long, ironic face) and Michael 'Drax' Lonsdale (as the mysterious patriarch of a 'family of spies'). And Daniel Craig was in it, wasn't he? As some of you may know already, I'm a fan of Dan- and he doesn't disappoint here. His Steve is a tough Afrikaner soldier, a no-nonsense workaholic, who prefers to use guns on the targets and then move on swiftly. He doesn't care for the symbolic value of the post-Munich killings, he just wants his revenge ('the only blood I care for is Jewish blood'). Throughout the film, Steve manages to be optimistic and passionate, entertaining and irritating the other team members with his loud cursing and brash humour. For all we know he might even be a psychotic, but we really learn very little about him- and in the end, even he seems to be more than a little shaken when things go awry for the Mossad team. And he sings the Temptations classic 'Papa Was a Rolling Stone'. Looks like Daniel Craig has finally become a 'face'.

[Santa]

Ciaran Hinds! Now he would be a truly cool Bond villain!

[Loomis]

The amazing performance was Lonsdale. Too bad he was already a Bond villain, he'd make a perfect LeChiffre.

Hmmm.... imagine if they did announce him as Le Chiffre. Wouldn't be opposed to it, myself. And there's precedent - Maud Adams, Joe Don Baker, etc.

[Skudor]

Not an entirely dumb idea. My favourite villain - not sure how I'd feel about re-using him, but he would make a good Le Chiffre.

[double-O-Durg]

Lonsdale as Le Chiffre, the campaign starts here.

Craig has cemented his position as Bond in my eyes. Best Bond moments:

1 - the bit where he changes the radio
2 - shooting the street lamp with his silenced pistol
3 - Getting up with his gun when he thinks someone is breakin in
4 - His 'am i the only one who just wants to shoot these guys?' speech.

Pure genius.

[Mr Malcolm]

I went to see Munich last night. It's a very good film, although quite cold and distant, and perhaps a shade overlong. Nonetheless, it's an important and extremely relevant film, and beautifully made, and really captures the political and moral complexities of the Israel/Palestine conflict.

One aspect that I think should have been included from the real-life history was the team murdering an innocent Norwegian who was assumed to be a terrorist. From a story point of view, I can understand why this was left out (it was important that we feel some sympathy for Eric Bana and his team despite their actions, and this may have destroyed that sympathy), but given how this is such an issue at the moment, I feel it would have been worth exploring. On its own merits, however, Munich is great.

As for Daniel Craig, I really don't think we have anything to worry about as far as Bond is concerned. He was very convincing as a ruthless assassin, and despite playing a vengeful bigot, even managed to elicit a fair bit of sympathy from me. Roll on November.






Oh, and Welshcat, if you do read this: Dan the Man even gets to sing a little bit in this film, and he's not got a bad voice at all. I think we're on to a winner here with Bond!

[007_Stef]

THis film is absolutely amazing. Its Spielbergs best in my mind. The underlying stories are intruiging.

i just want to see if anyone else noticed this
SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVNT SEEN MUNICH YET!!!


SPOILERS


SPOILERS

The character PAPPA by Lonsdale is Bana's father in the movie. It isnt said anywhere in the movie, but the underlying message clearly shows it. When Bana first meets PAPPA, they compare hands, they have the same hands. They then go for a walk in the garden where lonsdale says "you can call me pappa." WHen Bana leaves PAPPA's place,PAPPA says "i wish i had a son like you," while Louis gives a look that can say that he is your son.

also, later on , when PAPPA calls oon the payphone, he calls Bana by his name, Bana replies by saying how do you know my name???..

its all linked. Even the mossad leaders and israeli government knew when they were going to send bana on the mission, that Bana would have a reliable source, bana's own father.

thats why the character played by rush screamd when he came to ask who their source was, he didnt care if someone was going to hear, he already knew their source, he was just wanting to make it seem like he didnt know.

Also, when Bana asked his mother if she wanted to know what he had done,,,she said no,,,,she knew,,,,she realy DID know.

there are probably many other giveaway factors,,,

also, too me...the song that craig sings in the car "pappa was a rollng stone" shows how influential Pappa was.

thats all i have to say...anyone agree??

[double-O-Durg]

Interestng theory 007_Stef but Mosko Alkalai filmed scenes as Avner's father. He visited him in prison - but they were cut out due to the running time so you're theory can't be write. Spielberg was having a father figure for Avner in Pappa due to the absence of his own father, due to his Mossad duties which is why its a weight on his shoulders to leave his own family, bcoz he knew what happened to his dad.

Edited by double-O-Durg, 23 February 2006 - 11:27 AM.

[Andrew]

Anyone know when this should be out on DVD?

[Righty007]

Anyone know when this should be out on DVD?

I was wondering the same thing. Munich, The Matador, and Remington Steele - Season 3 are on the top of my list.

[jaguar007]

Anyone know when this should be out on DVD?

according to DVD Town, it will be released in the US on May 9th


http://www.dvdtown.c...nichondvd/3188/

[Righty007]

Anyone know when this should be out on DVD?

according to DVD Town, it will be released in the US on May 9th


http://www.dvdtown.c...nichondvd/3188/

The same day as the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Stadium Arcadium. Thanks.

[Daddy Bond]

Has anyone else seen the cardboard display case for the Munich DVD's at the local store? Is that Daniel Craig pictured about half-way down the display with rain running down his head? If so, egads! That guy sure can look pretty dog ugly when he needs to! Please tell me that's not him! Tell, me I'm wrong.

Even beat up with a shaggy beard and PJ's, Brosnan looked pretty composed and suave - loved the scene of him walking into the hotel in Hong Kong.

This is NOT an anti-Craig post. Nope, I think he looks fine as Bond, especially in some of the pics that have come out the past month or so...think he'll do great in CR - a bold and interesting move for the Bond film franchise, but even so...

If this is him in Munich, does anyone else shudder (at least looking at that pic), thinking that this guy is playing Bond?

Or am I wrong?

Regards

[Harmsway]

Actually see him in MUNICH before judging from a photo on a cardboard stand (and I haven't seen the display, so I don't know what photo you're referring to). MUNICH's worth seeing anyhow (IMO, the best film of 2005).

[JimmyBond]

Munich is an extrodinary film! I couldnt believe how much on his game Spielburg was. Bana was great, and Craig was excellent. Stealing many scenes that he was in. Great film all around and worth the 20 bucks it cost me.

[Andrew]

I'm currently reading the book Vengeance, written by George Jonas, which is what the film was based on. Some have said that it's not accurate, but either way it's a great read and Munich captured it perfectly. The novel goes into the backstory of everyone, especially Avner and shows how he rose through the ranks in the Isreali military. Avner is also 26 in the novel, which I found interesting. We also get a tiny bit more background on Louis, Papa and Le Group.

There are some scenes I wish they filmed from the book for Munich like when Louis informs Avner that Salameh and another name on the list are present in a Swiss church. The team goes to Switzerland and Hans, Steve, and Avner raid the church, killing three Arab men(presumably Salameh's bodyguards) but before they find Salameh they come across three priests and run out. It would have given Steve something more to do in the film.

The book also gets into the teams relationships with each other which is pretty interesting.

It's a great read and I recommed it. Craig did a wonderful job of bringing Steve to the screen, his interpretation is nearly exact.

Edited by Andrew, 28 May 2006 - 05:05 PM.

[Loomis]

Finally caught up with MUNICH on DVD. Possibly Spielberg's boldest, most technically dazzling, and best film.... which is obviously saying a lot. Amazing production design, cinematography and performances.... gripping, moving, thought-provoking stuff from one of the all-time masters of cinema at the very height of his powers. Okay, it's perhaps a little overlong (just to carp a bit), but all things considered this is a truly incredible piece of work. How CRASH beat it to Best Picture I'll never know.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Finally caught up with MUNICH on DVD. Possibly Spielberg's boldest, most technically dazzling, and best film.... which is obviously saying a lot. Amazing production design, cinematography and performances.... gripping, moving, thought-provoking stuff from one of the all-time masters of cinema at the very height of his powers. Okay, it's perhaps a little overlong (just to carp a bit), but all things considered this is a truly incredible piece of work. How CRASH beat it to Best Picture I'll never know.

I liked it for the most part except for the really pretentious sex with terrorist murder on the brain angst scene...WTF??? it makes TWINE look pretty...eh, ok I'll stop.

[Andrew]

it makes TWINE look pretty...eh, ok I'll stop.

Don't even!

I used to not like the end sex scene because of it's disturbing nature but now it's clear that it fits because it's supposed to be disturbing.

I finished reading Vengeance a few weeks ago and it made me appreciate the film even more, although I haven't gotten a chance to have a post-read viewing yet. I DEFINITELY recomend the book.

[Broadsword]

can I ask what on the face of it must be a really stupid question:

do we see DC shift gears in Munich.?????

I thought we do ( and I can't be arsed to go back and check) ..Munich came out about the same time as all that press palarva about him being unable to drive a manual...

I know we don't exactly live in a golden age of journalism (if there ever was one) but it does point to the silliness and vitriol of the press (and down right sloppiness) if they got that bit wrong ...a majormotion picture out there flatly contradicting what journos were writing...

he also handles firearms in that picture ..

I am sorry for the rant ..but journalists just annoy the bollocks off me...GCSE students can do better than most of fleet street...

I hope the press reaction is covered by the 'quality press' (or at least the movie press) when CR is released...cos the press treatment of Danny boy is a story in itself

[Trident]

I still haven't seen Munich because I wanted to wait for the DVD. Now I've just spotted its announcement on amazon. What stuns me about that DVD is this: the cover features Eric Bana holding a gun and I'm quite sure it's a Beretta Model 92 (not the M951 that would have fit into the timeframe). I thought the films events were supposed to happen in the years from 1971 onwards till about 1976 (as was the case with the book the film is based upon). Did Spielberg really make such a mistake or am I completely wrong???

Edited by Trident, 18 June 2006 - 07:00 PM.

[JimmyBond]

The film takes place after the Olympians are killed in Munich and goes on from there.

[Trident]

The film takes place after the Olympians are killed in Munich and goes on from there.

Ok, thanks! But does the film really feature Beretta 92s or is that just on the DVD cover?

[JimmyBond]

Can't help you there, I know next to nothing about guns.

[simon_hrdng]

I havn't seen Munich yet, but i plan to. My dad, who has never seend a Bond film all the way through, had very positive things to say about Daniel Craig.