23 replies to this topic

[Trip Aces313416]

i heard minor gripes that the ending was less than impressive. i personally didnt see a problem with it. nice action, great tension, and seeing craig pull that nail out of his back like it was nothing was awesome

Your thoughts?

[sharpshooter]

Good ending to the movie. I liked how the action scene showed a 007 using his creativeness instead of relying on gadgets. Bond with the electic cable for instance. Oh, and I also liked Craig's facial expression whilst pulling out that nail. Tossed it aside as if it were a twig.

Venice is always good to see on film, and the dramatic element of a building sinking into the canal was far out, yet realistic in execution.

[shady ginzo]

I agree that the Climax was satisfying and suited the movie. of course some might see it as a corruption of the climax of the novel (which was more of an anti-climax in most cinematic terms, while still being dramatic for a novel)

The action was exciting and as Trip Aces313146 said, the tension surrounding Vesper's entrapment and ultimate drowning played perfectly off Bond's rapidly decaying love and respect for her, and the bitter turn at the point of which she drowned when we discover Bond could not stop himself from Loving and Hating her at once was in the true spirit of the book

[RazorBlade]

I love the ending. So well played on so many levels as has been mentioned before. Who would gripe about it? Other than the zanies over at craignotbond.com.

[Stephenson]

The question I have about the ending is: Would Bond actually have shot Vesper? He looks ready to just pull the trigger when he says, "Allow me." Then the sniper fires at him. I think he would have taken the shot, but only to wound her. But there is that nagging feeling that maybe he would have gone for the kill (which is why I think Craig was so exciting: you really don't know what the man is prepared to do). Thoughts?

[RevolveR]

Had it come down to it, I don't think he would have killed her. That line was placed just to show us how edgy Bond is.

As far as the Venice scene as a whole goes, I thought it was spectacular and provided sort of a second climax to the film that average film goers did not see coming. The music was particularly well done in my view.

[dodge]

The objections to the ending have stumped me since I first saw the film. The slow-mo, multi-angled showing of the building in collapse--in contrast to the heated fast action inside--took my breath away. Bravo, again, Martin Campbell.

[00Twelve]

It was also a clever way of hiding that the building was only sinking 16 feet below the surface. Camera angles work wonders.

[DaveBond21]

Yes, the building slowly collapsing was great, and I still don't know how they do these special effects.

[00Twelve]

In this case, hydraulics and ballast tanks, I believe.

[Doctor Shatterhand]

Yes, the building slowly collapsing was great, and I still don't know how they do these special effects.

Check out this month's CINEFEX magazine. It has photos of the model effects in CR. The Venice model buildings were huge in comparison to the actual buildings.

[Professor Dent]

The Venice finale was impressive. The buildings were shot as 1/3 scale miniatures. They ended-up being 26 feet tall from the surface of the water to the roof. They did some practical effects on scene with splashing water & real people reacting to a collapsing building that was not there. It was then added in later through special effects magic. This was definitely some of the best miniature work I have seen in a movie in a long time. Very refreshing not to see a complete digital shot. I posted a thread on the Cinefex magazine article about a month ago.

http://debrief.comma...p...&hl=cinefex

[Publius]

The question I have about the ending is: Would Bond actually have shot Vesper? He looks ready to just pull the trigger when he says, "Allow me."

I don't think so. As cheesy as the line I'm referencing is, Bond is wearing armor for most of the film, and has it back on (or at least no longer has anything to hide) by the time it's over. Bond said and implied a lot of things I don't think he really meant, from his seeming eagerness to kill a target (which we're debating over in the Daniel Craig forum) to not being bothered by it to being willing to kill Vesper. He was confused as hell at that point, knew that he hated her for probably screwing him over and playing him for a fool, but deep down just wasn't ready to give up his love for her yet. I don't think he ever really did in the film, or ever really has in the novels, for that matter.

[DaveBond21]

It did have an element of the Brosnan movies about it though, I must say. Not that this is a bad thing.

The shoot-up in the Embassy near the start was like any action movie too (a little like Die Hard). But I still loved it!!

[00Twelve]

The question I have about the ending is: Would Bond actually have shot Vesper? He looks ready to just pull the trigger when he says, "Allow me."

I don't think so. As cheesy as the line I'm referencing is, Bond is wearing armor for most of the film, and has it back on (or at least no longer has anything to hide) by the time it's over. Bond said and implied a lot of things I don't think he really meant, from his seeming eagerness to kill a target (which we're debating over in the Daniel Craig forum) to not being bothered by it to being willing to kill Vesper. He was confused as hell at that point, knew that he hated her for probably screwing him over and playing him for a fool, but deep down just wasn't ready to give up his love for her yet. I don't think he ever really did in the film, or ever really has in the novels, for that matter.

I'll definitely second that, as (in the novels) he can no longer listen to "La Vie En Rose" and visits her small grave marker every year. To be honest, I'd love to see a short scene of him doing just that, as a reference to Fleming.

[byline]

The question I have about the ending is: Would Bond actually have shot Vesper? He looks ready to just pull the trigger when he says, "Allow me." Then the sniper fires at him. I think he would have taken the shot, but only to wound her. But there is that nagging feeling that maybe he would have gone for the kill (which is why I think Craig was so exciting: you really don't know what the man is prepared to do). Thoughts?

I don't think so. IMO, he said "Allow me" in the heat of the moment. He was furious with Vesper, but as was clearly demonstrated later on, he still loved her. Her betrayal was still sinking in, and too much for him to take right then.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

It did have an element of the Brosnan movies about it though, I must say. Not that this is a bad thing.

I think it was necessary to throw in a Brosnan movie type element to the finale of CR. The final half hour with no action sequences would have seemed anti-climactic cinematically. Even as far back as 1963, they added a lot more action to the FRWL finale(the helicopter pursuing Bond and the flotilla chase) because they realized they needed more action from a cinematic perspective.

The shoot-up in the Embassy near the start was like any action movie too (a little like Die Hard). But I still loved it!!

Very apt description. I've often described the first half of CR as a Bruce Willis type film(with elements of Steve McQueen, especially with the Bullitt-type airport sequence).

[Forward Look]

The question I have about the ending is: Would Bond actually have shot Vesper? He looks ready to just pull the trigger when he says, "Allow me." Then the sniper fires at him. I think he would have taken the shot, but only to wound her. But there is that nagging feeling that maybe he would have gone for the kill (which is why I think Craig was so exciting: you really don't know what the man is prepared to do). Thoughts?

If that was the case, wouldn't have Bond emphasized the "me" part of his allow me line, just to show the audience that Vesper had jilted him? He could have said "Allow ME" to himself, which would reveal his own feelings about the situation. But, probably just to wound her as you quoted.

[Vauxhall]

I think it's important to think that by the end of the movie, Bond wouldn't kill someone if he thought they may have useful information which could be used. This (and the fact he loves her) is why I think he would only ever shoot to wound Vesper rather than kill her. That "allow me" is likely to have been made in the heat of the moment, but there is some believability in the argument that he wants to take control of the situation himself.

[Mister Asterix]

i heard minor gripes that the ending was less than impressive. i personally didnt see a problem with it. nice action, great tension, and seeing craig pull that nail out of his back like it was nothing was awesome

Your thoughts?

[mra]I

[Keir]

What problem could anyone have with it? My girlfriend and I- who I had taken to Venice the summer before- looked at each other for the umpteenth time in amazement during this scene. The death of Vesper was haunting; perhaps the most haunting episode in any of the previous films. One can see how Bond is affected for the rest of his life...

[thecasinoroyale]

Yeah, I loved it! It was tense and filmed wonderfully to create excitement, drama and tension.

Craig had some great fights there and the stunt work was amazing, hence the falls, fighting and nail-gun!


It gave more leverage when Bond locks eyes with Vesper and almost coems to a halt in that split-second before the lift falls.


Very powerful, exciting and dramatic stuff!

[Publius]

Just saw it again not too long ago, and surprisingly found it one of my favorite parts of the film. Craig is stone-cold here and doing some of his coolest moves and best fighting, and Arnold's score is probably at its strongest. Really a thrill to see Bond go up against a group of baddies all at once without having them be faceless, uniformed goons who only take one hit to kill.

Also, I think I see a different angle to the "allow me" line in that Bond seems to not only be expressing his rage, but his willingness to shoot Gettler regardless of what the man is threatening to do to Vesper. It's more of an "I don't really care about her right now, so feel free to do whatever as I give you a new eyeball" intent than an "let me kill her instead" one.

[Flash1087]

In retrospect, I have to go with Publius' idea. At first I took it to mean he wasn't going to give Vesper the satisfaction of dying at another's hand, but when you put it like that it makes sense. He's so desperately intent on killing Gettler for what he's done that Vesper would almost be collateral damage to him right then.