19 replies to this topic

[Jet Set Willy]

Saw it today. In a word....brilliant!!!

I kept finding myself getting more and more angry as the film unfolded, not at the film itself, but all those bloody critics who were slagging this film off. Kermode and Rye in particular sprung to mind, when certain scenes cropped up I was thinking `b...b...but this was supposed to be crap! This wasn't supposed to make me feel an adrenalin rush, gripped on the edge of my seat. What went wrong?

It is a definite departure from the Bond series as we know, yet still strangely familiar at the same time. One of my mates thought it was better than CR, but didn't feel like a Bond film, another of my mates said this was more like a Bond film than CR....you can see why this is dividing the critics. I've never know a film to be able to divide audiences so much. For that, QOS is unique, not just for a Bond film, but for a film in general.

There was so much to take in, I need to see it again....ASAP! I thought the humour level was just right...the same amount that was used in CR (Dench had all the best lines for this). Although the action content was more than CR, there was still plenty of story and depth to the other scenes. In fact, the middle third has hardly any action at all, making me baffled as to why critics have stated otherwise.

Loved Dominic Greene, superbly slimy, and a much better villain than Le Chiffre. Likewise I thought the Bond girls were better in this than CR. And as for Craig himself?

He is now my favourite Bond. He has beaten Connery this time with this performance. Cold, ruthless, efficient, yet deep, brutal killing machine. He is much better in this than CR (if that is at all possible).

There was so much to love about this film...the opening Aston chase (Bullitt on steroids is a very fitting description), loved the 70's retro title sequence, hell even White's song sounded good, loved the boat chase, loved the plane scene, loved the fight in the apartment, loved the opera house scene, loved the way it was shot, loved the battle with Greene at the end, loved the scene with Mathis and Bond on the plane, with Bond downing his drinks (it reminded me very much of Fleming) and thought the very last scene to conclude the film was just superb!!

This is the film that has rebooted Bond, not CR, which now almost appears like a fairly normal, standard, run-of-the-mill Bond film in comparison to the shock departure that is QOS. The film unfolds like a Fleming novel. Action happens suddenly, without warning, just like the books.

I'm so blown away by what I've seen tonight, I have to see it again just to make sure.....

Probably better than CR (but I'll confirm this on 2nd viewing)....9/10

[sharpshooter]

A great, glowing review. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself.

[Mister E]

Great review !

[mario007]

it's not fair ... for those of us who live in North America ... I can't wait 14 bloody more days!

[sharpshooter]

Spare a thought for those in Australia, it's 18 days.

[Mister E]

Spare a thought for those in Australia, it's 18 days.

[Blonde Bond]

Great review!

I hope I end up feeling like you.

[Leon]

Jet Set we have a very similar view on this film, it is awesome. I've just got back from a halloween party where I was asked about it by a few people and after talking about it so much and time ticking away from having seen it I am starting to really want to watch it again.

Although the action content was more than CR, there was still plenty of story and depth to the other scenes. In fact, the middle third has hardly any action at all, making me baffled as to why critics have stated otherwise.

This is so true, I was constantly thinking back to the bad reviews and thinking "...eh? What utter BS"

[Mister E]

Although the action content was more than CR, there was still plenty of story and depth to the other scenes. In fact, the middle third has hardly any action at all, making me baffled as to why critics have stated otherwise.

That's great to read.

[agian 007]

I CANT WAIT 7 DAYS WHEN BOND COMES IN GREEK.BUT I AM SURE THAT BOND IS BACK TO STAY FOREVER

[Captain Tightpants]

Although the action content was more than CR, there was still plenty of story and depth to the other scenes. In fact, the middle third has hardly any action at all, making me baffled as to why critics have stated otherwise.

That's great to read.

I get the feeling they deliberately made it top-heavy so that the audience learns things as Bond does.

[volante]

There is a real feeling of solitude running through the film, which I only picked up on during conversations during the night.

Now I'm looking forward to seeing it again next week.

I wish they had kept the "Bond theme" in it though.

[quorny]

I saw it last night and was a little disappointed by it.Although Mr Craig was brilliant in it I felt the storyline was a bit lacking,I dont know if this is because it wasnt a Fleming story or what,but it didnt have me on the edge of my seat.The action sequences were stunning and full marks to Daniel Craig for doing most of his own stunts.I felt as though most of the major players in the film just went around scowling at each other(Felix Lightner)for instance and as for Dominic Greene as the villian he just wasnt horrible enough for me.
Im a huge fan of the "new" type of Bond film taking it away from the entendre filled rubbish from the 80s and Casino Royale 2006 was for me the best Bond film ive ever seen,this film in my opinion had something lacking.I think the audiences reaction at the end said it all when everybody stayed in there seats expecting more.However its not a bad film at all,I think maybe a second viewing might be in order

[Jet Set Willy]

I forgot to add one more thing to the experience last night. As I went to the toilet after the film, David Arnold and David Walliams walked out of the cinema, and my mate shook Arnold's hand and told him how brilliant he was. He works in TV, and has interviewed him before, and luckily Arnold remembered him (we both have him as friends on Facebook. I added him as friend only through my mate, but Arnold still accepted me).

I was gutted that I missed them, as I'd loved to have met Arnold in person, but apparently this morning my mate phoned me up to tell me Arnold responded to a message he sent him afterwards, and said he would sign our CD covers if we send them in the post to him (which I'm doing today). Arnold also said thanks for the glowing review my mate gave him in the message, telling him the film was brilliant, loved the score, the John Barry (circa 1971) moments, etc.

[double o ego]

Saw it today. In a word....brilliant!!!

I kept finding myself getting more and more angry as the film unfolded, not at the film itself, but all those bloody critics who were slagging this film off. Kermode and Rye in particular sprung to mind, when certain scenes cropped up I was thinking `b...b...but this was supposed to be crap! This wasn't supposed to make me feel an adrenalin rush, gripped on the edge of my seat. What went wrong?

It is a definite departure from the Bond series as we know, yet still strangely familiar at the same time. One of my mates thought it was better than CR, but didn't feel like a Bond film, another of my mates said this was more like a Bond film than CR....you can see why this is dividing the critics. I've never know a film to be able to divide audiences so much. For that, QOS is unique, not just for a Bond film, but for a film in general.

There was so much to take in, I need to see it again....ASAP! I thought the humour level was just right...the same amount that was used in CR (Dench had all the best lines for this). Although the action content was more than CR, there was still plenty of story and depth to the other scenes. In fact, the middle third has hardly any action at all, making me baffled as to why critics have stated otherwise.

Loved Dominic Greene, superbly slimy, and a much better villain than Le Chiffre. Likewise I thought the Bond girls were better in this than CR. And as for Craig himself?

He is now my favourite Bond. He has beaten Connery this time with this performance. Cold, ruthless, efficient, yet deep, brutal killing machine. He is much better in this than CR (if that is at all possible).

There was so much to love about this film...the opening Aston chase (Bullitt on steroids is a very fitting description), loved the 70's retro title sequence, hell even White's song sounded good, loved the boat chase, loved the plane scene, loved the fight in the apartment, loved the opera house scene, loved the way it was shot, loved the battle with Greene at the end, loved the scene with Mathis and Bond on the plane, with Bond downing his drinks (it reminded me very much of Fleming) and thought the very last scene to conclude the film was just superb!!

This is the film that has rebooted Bond, not CR, which now almost appears like a fairly normal, standard, run-of-the-mill Bond film in comparison to the shock departure that is QOS. The film unfolds like a Fleming novel. Action happens suddenly, without warning, just like the books.

I'm so blown away by what I've seen tonight, I have to see it again just to make sure.....

Probably better than CR (but I'll confirm this on 2nd viewing)....9/10

Well revied and I share your sentiments. Although, M had great lines, I felt Bond had the best lines. His humoure,

Spoiler

"don't bleed to death", "If the americans wanted lechiffre's soul they should have made a deal with a priest"

just to name a couple.
QoS is superb film and it is better than CR. More importantly, it felt like an actual intelligent spy thriller, which to my surprise after reading numerous negative reviews had, a great deal of depth and character development, particularly in the case of Bond's character. He grew up in this movie.

Spoiler

The ending with Yusef was fantastic and really put his and vesper's character into more perspective.

It's easy to see why some people didn't get this movie or didn't like it and that's fair enough but to me and evidently to you and others, this film made a lot of sense and it works beautifully. I'm off to see the movie twice again today.

There is a real feeling of solitude running through the film, which I only picked up on during conversations during the night.

Now I'm looking forward to seeing it again next week.

I wish they had kept the "Bond theme" in it though.

It was there, in full glory at the end. Also, throughout the film, there were variations of the Bond theme, more so than in CR.

[ACE]

Saw it today. In a word....brilliant!!!

I kept finding myself getting more and more angry as the film unfolded, not at the film itself, but all those bloody critics who were slagging this film off. Kermode and Rye in particular sprung to mind, when certain scenes cropped up I was thinking `b...b...but this was supposed to be crap! This wasn't supposed to make me feel an adrenalin rush, gripped on the edge of my seat. What went wrong?

It is a definite departure from the Bond series as we know, yet still strangely familiar at the same time. One of my mates thought it was better than CR, but didn't feel like a Bond film, another of my mates said this was more like a Bond film than CR....you can see why this is dividing the critics. I've never know a film to be able to divide audiences so much. For that, QOS is unique, not just for a Bond film, but for a film in general.

There was so much to take in, I need to see it again....ASAP! I thought the humour level was just right...the same amount that was used in CR (Dench had all the best lines for this). Although the action content was more than CR, there was still plenty of story and depth to the other scenes. In fact, the middle third has hardly any action at all, making me baffled as to why critics have stated otherwise.
Loved Dominic Greene, superbly slimy, and a much better villain than Le Chiffre. Likewise I thought the Bond girls were better in this than CR. And as for Craig himself?

He is now my favourite Bond. He has beaten Connery this time with this performance. Cold, ruthless, efficient, yet deep, brutal killing machine. He is much better in this than CR (if that is at all possible).

There was so much to love about this film...the opening Aston chase (Bullitt on steroids is a very fitting description), loved the 70's retro title sequence, hell even White's song sounded good, loved the boat chase, loved the plane scene, loved the fight in the apartment, loved the opera house scene, loved the way it was shot, loved the battle with Greene at the end, loved the scene with Mathis and Bond on the plane, with Bond downing his drinks (it reminded me very much of Fleming) and thought the very last scene to conclude the film was just superb!!

This is the film that has rebooted Bond, not CR, which now almost appears like a fairly normal, standard, run-of-the-mill Bond film in comparison to the shock departure that is QOS. The film unfolds like a Fleming novel. Action happens suddenly, without warning, just like the books.

I'm so blown away by what I've seen tonight, I have to see it again just to make sure.....

Probably better than CR (but I'll confirm this on 2nd viewing)....9/10

Great stuff Jet Set Willy. I love your view of the film.

[Lazenby880]

A great review Jet Set, with lots of interesting points. It *does* unfold quite like a Fleming novel, and like you I will have to watch it again to confirm just how highly I think of it. For now though QoS is an outstanding piece of work.

[Zorin Industries]

Great thoughts Jet Set. Thank you. I will say it again, why are the people that are for the film so much more eloquent than those that didn't? I've yet to read an eloquent and believable bad review.

[Davospy]

It's great to see people are loving QoS so much. I really loved it and want to give it a proper review, but have to go out to work..boo.
where no doubt i will bore everyone silly.

yeah

[Jet Set Willy]

I've just returned from a third viewing of QoS, and the faults have started to become more apparent this time round. I know exactly where the faults lie too.

1) We don't see enough of normal life situations inbetween the action set-pieces. In CR, Bond was human. We could imagine Bond eating and drinking. In this, he doesn't have time, and doesn't need food to refuel. It's like he's running on Duracell batteries. QoS was lacking down time, extra padding, normal life situations inbetween. It needed the audience to catch its breath again and relax before the next action peak.

2) Bond was human in CR. We saw Bond get hurt. We saw Bond hesitate before jumping off cranes, we saw him nervous before being tortured - hell we even saw him recovering in hospital. In QoS, for some reason this element has been removed. We (the audience) no longer fear that Bond is in danger, as he has reverted back to the super human Brosnan ways again. There was one shot in QoS, when Craig is at the wheels of the plane, with bullets flying all around him, and he looks like he is gasping to catch his breath, that he is struggling. Sadly, this was a fleeting moment. We needed more of that kind of look, the danger element, that Bond could get hurt. Something for the audience to have empathy with. Will he make it or won't he, etc. CR delivered this in spades. After the freefall scene, we needed a couple of minutes showing Bond and Camille recovering, crawling along the ground, checking to see if anything is broken, tending to each other, etc. Instead, the next shot they are both fine and healthy and walking as though nothing has happened.

3) The Dan Bradley action sequences. I personally don't have a problem with them, and think they were the highlight of QoS, but I appreciate this kind of style, confusion, shaky cam, fast editing, will lose the audiences, if the other parts of the glue is not strong enough in holding it all together.

QoS on third viewing has been a bit of a disappointment now for me. I have started to see the flaws in the movie, and understand now why so many critics have ganged up on this one. Someone should have told Forster to watch CR again to make him realise why that film was so successful - and it was because of point 2 above. Bond was human. In QoS, he wasn't.

Still delivers entertainment on a purely basic action level, and still has its brilliant moments throughout, but lacks the realistic, human side which was so strong in CR. Even with its faults, its still one of the best films in the franchise, mainly because it is completely void of cheesiness, and still remains Flemingesque, despite these gripes. The problem for QoS is, it had big shoes to fill in the path of its predecessor - which is now what I would refer to as a classic. CR was near perfection.

8/10 (mainly because Craig still delivers in it, even if other parts are sadly lacking).

Edited by Jet Set Willy, 16 November 2008 - 09:39 PM.