7 replies to this topic

[Fro]

First off, let me say I think this film immediately goes into my Top 3 or 4 of all the Bond films. It's easily the best Bond movie since the 60s. There's so many brilliant scenes, and even the stuff bookending the original novel surprised me at how good (and fun) it was. All the acting was great, and it was shot really well.

The main problems I had were with the script and editing:

- No progression in the poker game. It seemed like they'd play a hand and then the guy running the game would announce a hour break. I wanted to see some people going of the game (I know they showed Leiter, but most of the other card players just disappeared). They also basically just showed "the river" on most of the hands. Maybe some of this stuff was cut. If you're not going to show progression in Hold Em, you might as well have played baccarat. The audience needs to feel that we're getting down to the 1 on 1 showdown to Bond and LeChiffre (basically the early hands were meaningless except for character development).

- A couple beats in the Vesper/Bond love arc were missed. It still works pretty well, but it would have been great with the "La Vie En Rose" music and a little dance between Bond and Vesper ala the novel. I think it was also missing a beat between Montengero and Venice which I'll go into later.

- The car chase... way way too short, even shorter than the novel. Hopefully some of this was cut and will show up on DVD.

- The McGuffin for the fourth act, the money, gets seemingly taken out of play. Tying up this loose end really hurts the movie. And a briefcase full of money would have worked much better than what happened. Maybe the password to the account could have been in the briefcase, and that could have been shipped to the redenvous point in Venice. And I think an action scene should have been added between Montenegro and Venice, which would allow Bond and Vesper to bond a bit more as a couple (and show they're still in danger).

I also thought the scene where Vesper is drowning underwater would have been more effective with different music.

The main flaws are the Poker Game and the money.

Edited by Fro, 17 November 2006 - 09:20 PM.

[Harmsway]

- The car chase... way way too short, even shorter than the novel. Hopefully some of this was cut and will show up on DVD.

I don't think anything was really cut. It reads exactly as it plays in the script, and we haven't seen any footage or indication that any more was shot than was shown.

And a briefcase full of money would have worked much better than what happened.

There *was* a briefcase full of money. It's what Vesper was carrying in Venice.

[Fro]

full of money. It's what Vesper was carrying in Venice.

I got the impression that it was the electronic briefcase to access the money in the account (as Mendel showed), and that's why Mr. White took it.

If it was 150 million, it wouldn't fit into a briefcase.

[Loque]

She took the money out of the bank in Venice. Bond phoned the Swiss bank and he was told the money was being emptied out of the account as he spoke... from the Venice branch. The implication was that Vesper had the money in the case and was on her way to hand it over.

[sorking]

full of money. It's what Vesper was carrying in Venice.

I got the impression that it was the electronic briefcase to access the money in the account (as Mendel showed), and that's why Mr. White took it.

If it was 150 million, it wouldn't fit into a briefcase.

Nope, they're right - it was the money in the briefcase, as collected from the bank.

And sure it could have fitted - chances are it wasn't in five Euro notes! :-)

[Fro]

full of money. It's what Vesper was carrying in Venice.

I got the impression that it was the electronic briefcase to access the money in the account (as Mendel showed), and that's why Mr. White took it.

If it was 150 million, it wouldn't fit into a briefcase.

And sure it could have fitted - chances are it wasn't in five Euro notes! :-)

Ah, the notes being in large euro bills would explain things. I was hung up on dollars.

Edited by Fro, 17 November 2006 - 10:17 PM.

[kneelbeforezod]

- A couple beats in the Vesper/Bond love arc were missed. It still works pretty well, but it would have been great with the "La Vie En Rose" music and a little dance between Bond and Vesper ala the novel.

Yeah I think I agree... although what was there was so nicely done and enjoyable that I think it was just a case of me wanting more. A dance would have been lovely.

- The car chase... way way too short, even shorter than the novel. Hopefully some of this was cut and will show up on DVD.

Again, I agree. You can't even call it a car chase really. That's something I'd like to see in the next film... an intense, hardcore, car chase!

I also thought the scene where Vesper is drowning underwater would have been more effective with different music.

Found that scene really moving, and thought the music was just perfect.

[Agent Spriggan Ominae]

full of money. It's what Vesper was carrying in Venice.

I got the impression that it was the electronic briefcase to access the money in the account (as Mendel showed), and that's why Mr. White took it.

If it was 150 million, it wouldn't fit into a briefcase.

And sure it could have fitted - chances are it wasn't in five Euro notes! :-)

Ah, the notes being in large euro bills would explain things. I was hung up on dollars.

It could also have been bearer bonds.