145 replies to this topic

[MattofSteel]

This goes out to anyone out there.

SKYFALL - the most suspenseful Bond film of all time?

Top 3?

Easily. Not even close. It uses its narrative in a way that's not unprecedented for good thrillers, but certainly unprecedented for Bond. Doesn't feel like near a 2 and a 1/2 hour film.

[Judo chop]

This goes out to anyone out there.

SKYFALL - the most suspenseful Bond film of all time?

Top 3?

Easily. Not even close. It uses its narrative in a way that's not unprecedented for good thrillers, but certainly unprecedented for Bond. Doesn't feel like near a 2 and a 1/2 hour film.

I'm gonna just go ahead and infer the second sentence is the start of a double negative (ie. Not even close [to not being close to the most suspenseful Bond film of all time]) and say... yippeee!!

[S K Y F A L L]

Thanks to everyone who's seen the movie and took the time to sharing something with those who haven't seen the film, its really helped kill the time until the North American release.
I haven't heard a negative review yet and so glad its doing so well, can't believe the wait is over.

[Vesper And Tracy]

This goes out to anyone out there.

SKYFALL - the most suspenseful Bond film of all time?

Top 3?

No.

It doesn't beat From Russia With Love, Thunderball, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, The Spy Who Loved Me, GoldenEye, Casino Royale and Quantum Of Solace.

The stuff about Bonds parent's grave and all the crying at the end kills it.

The first 85 percent of the movie is great, though.

Good movie...but you asked about it from a "Bond" perspective.

Also, it's way too London- and UK-centric to be a movie about a 00 or an MI6 operative..

I thought that London and the UK was the realm of Scotland Yard/MI5. Non?

MI6 and the 00 Section is, supposedly, all about the Secret Services' involvement outside the UK, I thought. Non?

Edited by Vesper And Tracy, 08 November 2012 - 10:17 PM.

[MattofSteel]

This goes out to anyone out there.

SKYFALL - the most suspenseful Bond film of all time?

Top 3?

Easily. Not even close. It uses its narrative in a way that's not unprecedented for good thrillers, but certainly unprecedented for Bond. Doesn't feel like near a 2 and a 1/2 hour film.

I'm gonna just go ahead and infer the second sentence is the start of a double negative (ie. Not even close [to not being close to the most suspenseful Bond film of all time]) and say... yippeee!!

Ha. Sorry, I did mean to say it is easily the most suspenseful Bond film. The other examples mentioned are all exciting, but fairly telegraphed and structured on the Bond template IMO. Skyfall has, literally, almost no concern for that. It's truly a rapidly constructed narrative. And the 'third act slowing down, becoming muddled' stuff is just bollocks, far as I'm concerned.

[Bucky]

Saw it last night at midnight in IMAX and loved it. I look forward to seeing it again, just wondering though, is it better to see it in IMAX or a regular theater because I am kind of curious about what the experience is with the wider aspect ratio compared to the taller one for IMAX.

[Vauxhall]

Just saw it. SKYFALL is a triumph.

Fantastic to read! Really pleased you enjoyed it, Harms.

To steal Vauxhall's line: Wow...

[Joe Bond]

Finally saw it today at the first IMAX showing. I think it was well worth the wait. It's hard for me to really compare it to other films in the series since it's so different from what I'm used to but still totally Bond. It really feels like they done a pretty darn good job of capturing the mood and spirit of the Fleming novels. This is the type of Bond film that I've been waiting for ever since Casino Roayle was released and am so happy that its finally happened. I'm still pinching myself whether I just saw what I saw. While I've heard it's similar to some of the Nolan Batman films I never really got that vibe. Skyfall has a very nice wit to it that lightens the mood from time to time while also staying serious and on the ball. Visually stunning and despite the fact it was shot digitally it looks great with some scenes having stunning clarity while still looking like film. It makes me very optimistic about digitally shot movies. I think the main titles was like a work of art and once they started it was like overloading my visual sense in a good way. While I really like the titles of Casino Royale, I think these were just as good but maybe a tad better. I did feel it flew by quicker than even Casino Royale so while there is a lot of dialog sequences, thankful for that, the pace is always perfect. I really can't say how it compares to the rest of the series but it's an amazing movie in its own right and probably the best action movie of the year.

[Matt_13]

The Bond film I've always wanted to see. More later, but for now I can say that I'm very happy.

[Johnboy007]

Definitely worth the four year wait (was it really four years???). Absolutely loved it.

[Chief of SIS]

This may seem odd but not only a good Bond film, easily one of the best action movies I have ever seen.

[Bucky]

While I want to see it a few more times before I rank it among my favorites, I think I can already say that it is my favorite of the Bond films with an original story.

[Elvenstar]

I really hope the wait will pay off & you'll enjoy it Judo chop as much as alot of ppl do

great to see all these nice comments!
went to IMDB board & it let me down a bit but now Im in high spirits again

Edited by Elvenstar, 09 November 2012 - 01:54 PM.

[Bucky]

I really hope the wait will apy off & you'll enjoy it Judo chop as much as alot of ppl do

great to see all these nice comments!
went to IMDB board & it let me down a bit but now Im in high spirits again

IMDB is full of negative people, I only go there anymore if I just want to laugh at the rediculousness of it all.

[Elvenstar]

I really hope the wait will apy off & you'll enjoy it Judo chop as much as alot of ppl do

great to see all these nice comments!
went to IMDB board & it let me down a bit but now Im in high spirits again

IMDB is full of negative people, I only go there anymore if I just want to laugh at the rediculousness of it all.

i should have been smarter ))
i quite loved to read the Avengers board in the summer (except some annoying trolling from Nolan fans)
thought SF one wouldnt be unbearable

Edited by Elvenstar, 09 November 2012 - 01:56 PM.

[nickjb007]

Saw the 7:25 screening yesterday in Raleigh at an IMAX screening was sold out. I have to see it again. I was blown away it is in the top 5 for best Bond movies. But it's also just a great movie. I'm still trying to get my thoughts together. I'm sure I will see it again this weekend.

[starschwar]

Just saw it. I want to weigh in on a few of the more common things I've been hearing about the movie. I'll keep specifics to an absolute minimum.

• Best Bond film? No.
• Top five worthy? No.
• Top ten? Yes, just barely.
• Better than Quantum of Solace? Yes, much.
• Better than Casino Royale? No.
• Best villian in the series? No, not even close.
• Best title sequence? A very close second.
• Worthy 50th anniversary flick? Absolutely.

All in all, it didn't live up to some of the hype, but it's a solid entry in the series, and well worth watching.

[Kelly Smith]

Solidly in my top 5. Craig looks more comfortable in the role,much as Roger did in TSWLM. Photography and locations outstanding. Unlike some others here, I found Newman's music very enjoyable, not obtrusive at all but just the perfect accompaniment to many scenes. I tried to stay spoiler-free this last year and was successful for the most part. However, I did inadvertently read one spoiler about 7 months ago because it was in the bloody headline of the article! Of course i immediately went to the writer's house and kicked him in the cobblers.

I kept trying to forget about it to no avail. I suppose staying ignorant about Bond 24 will be impossible unless I stay internet and TV free for a year.

Yeah, that's not gonna happen.

If you haven't seen The Sixth Sense yet, please stop reading now.



Worst spoiler event in my life? Before I saw The Sixth Sense, I was listening to my favorite morning radio show when one of the hosts said, "I saw Sixth Sense and loved it. I gotta tell you, I was completely blown away by the ending. I mean, who could have seen that coming? Bruce Willis was dead!"


In any event, Skyfall is a great Bond movie.

Edited by Kelly Smith, 10 November 2012 - 01:31 AM.

[byline]

Saw the 7:25 screening yesterday in Raleigh at an IMAX screening was sold out. I have to see it again. I was blown away it is in the top 5 for best Bond movies. But it's also just a great movie. I'm still trying to get my thoughts together. I'm sure I will see it again this weekend.

This is very much how I feel. Hubby and I went to the 6:30 p.m. screening tonight in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia (regular screen, not IMAX). I loved every bit of it. More than "Casino Royale"? No, but I think that's just because "Casino Royale" was my first Bond love. Hubby had been a fan of the series for far longer than I, but "Casino Royale" holds a special place in his heart, too. It was just so new and different, and very much the kind of Bond we both wanted to see. "Skyfall" continues that trend, and I'm still wrapping my thoughts around it. We plan to go again next Saturday, so maybe I'll be better able to articulate my thoughts after a second viewing. But all in all, it's a very satisfying film ... on many levels. Not just a great Bond film, but a great film period.

[NATO Sub]

Worst spoiler event in my life? Before I saw The Sixth Sense, I was listening to my favorite morning radio show when one of the hosts said, "I saw Sixth Sense and loved it. I gotta tell you, I was completely blown away by the ending. I mean, who could have seen that coming?

I lived in London when "The Usual Suspects" was released. They had posters all over the tube and some wag had added a big arrow with "Keyser Soze" pointing to the appropriate character to one of the line up photos posted at the end of the platform at Piccadilly Circus station . Still a good film though...

Skyfall - loved it, been twice already and my wife and I will go and see it again before the end of the month.

Craig looks great as Bond, the humour is back - but not too cheesy. There is real emotional depth to the characters and the whole thing has been made with a level of care and expertise I never dared hope for.

Thank you to everyone involved in it's production!

[201050]

No spoilers.

Loved it! As someone who loved Casino Royale but hated Quantum (one viewing only, don't own), a new 007 film has been a long time coming indeed. Skyfall did not disappoint. Great performances all around, great story - again, very grounded. Bardem was fantastic, but truthfully - Naomie Harris made the film for me. Holy cow. Her physical beauty is distracting (in a great way), and her performance is perfect. I also like the nods to the history of the franchise. They were few, not at all distracting, fit within the story, and handled expertly.

It was equally wonderful to get away from shaky-cam, image-a-second editing. The scenes are allowed to breathe, particularly the more cerebral passages. Also, hats off to Mr. Mendes and Mr. Newman for recapturing the atmosphere of Bond. The new Q also worked very well. He's much more fleshed out than in films passed and worked perfectly for this more realistic direction.

Well done on every level. If I had to rate it at this early stage, I'd say it's a definate Top 5, possibly number two or three. After a few more viewings, it could overtake Casino Royale at the top - and that's coming from 40+ years of nerddom.

Second viewing in the morning - no, not just to see Eve again. ;-)

Edited by 201050, 10 November 2012 - 04:59 PM.

[DamnCoffee]

Also, it's way too London- and UK-centric to be a movie about a 00 or an MI6 operative..

.....

[EyesOnly]

Also, it's way too London- and UK-centric to be a movie about a 00 or an MI6 operative..

.....

I see your point considering the 00's specialize in international affairs. But don't forget there are exceptions (please see Moonraker novel).

Edited by EyesOnly, 10 November 2012 - 05:50 PM.

[Double-0-Seven]

I've posted comments elsewhere but I'll post my non-spoiler version for those who haven't seen the film yet.

It's perhaps the most suspenseful Bond movie of all time. It doesn't feel like it's two and a half hours because the pacing builds very well to an impressive climax. The reviews saying the third act falls apart are crazy. The third act is the best because of the incredible build up to it. Is it the best Bond film of all time? Hard to say until we can give it a few years to sink in. Definitely a contender though. It's so different yet so Bond. Craig is brilliant, Dench is brilliant, Bardem is brilliant... the whole thing is brilliant. Mendes is welcome back at any time.

If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and go!

[Tarl_Cabot]

I saw Skyfall last night....fantastic. I need to see it a few times before I can rank it-the novelty of it makes it hard to be objective(in one year I'll know where it sits). I think the Craig era is a solid 3-0 with 3 knock outs. I love all three of his films. I'll attempt a review later.

[JimmyBond]

Also, it's way too London- and UK-centric to be a movie about a 00 or an MI6 operative..

.....

Considering the events of the film, it's not like he had a choice.

[Morgan]

Saw it last night and what a HUGE disappointment!

1) No opening gun barrel motif! Mendes had promised a classic Bond film but no opening gun barrel is a major disappointment. Since the series reboot was completed with QOS this is a heinous oversite depsite using it at he end.

2) How in hell does Bond survive the fall after beng shot? They don't touch on that very important plot point. I guess classic Bond means cartoon Bond! Pity since the efforts of CR and QOS brought Bond back to some form of realism.

3) DB5 used with gadgets from Goldfinger is a direct slap in the face of any real Bond fan's intelligence since he won that car in CR sans any gadgets. Mendes being a little too cute trying to force an association with Craig's Bond vs Connery's. CR and QOS count so no way in hell he has that specific car!

4) Ridiculous plot points that make no sense:

a) Skyfall name being used as Bond's family home.
Mi6 leaving crumbs for Silva to follow yet abanding Bond and M with no backup.
c) Bond allowing assassination to take place in Shanghi before taking action.

[The Shark]

2) How in hell does Bond survive the fall after beng shot? They don't touch on that very important plot point. I guess classic Bond means cartoon Bond! Pity since the efforts of CR and QOS brought Bond back to some form of realism.

http://www.popularme...stories/4344037

That said, CR and QOS were hardly that realistic. Bond's crane and art gallery stunts (especially the way he lands and contorts his body) would be impossible in real life without breaking bones and tearing muscles, or not to forget Bond and Camille unharmed after opening their parachute only a few seconds before hitting the ground (AKA Skydivegate, second only to Mathisgate when it comes QOS's controversial scenes).

3) DB5 used with gadgets from Goldfinger is a direct slap in the face of any real Bond fan's intelligence since he won that car in CR sans any gadgets. Mendes being a little too cute trying to force an association with Craig's Bond vs Connery's. CR and QOS count so no way in hell he has that specific car!

It's not the same car. It's right hand drive and loaded with Bond's personal modifications. It's likely Bond left Dimitrios's DB5 outside Nassau's Lynden Pindling International Airport when he took the flight to Miami

4) Ridiculous plot points that make no sense:

a) Skyfall name being used as Bond's family home.

Why doesn't that make sense?

Mi6 leaving crumbs for Silva to follow yet abanding Bond and M with no backup.

Having the cavalry behind the nearest hill would probably have deterred Silva from coming after M. M agreed to be used as bait, and that only would have worked Silva was sure Bond and her alone.

c) Bond allowing assassination to take place in Shanghi before taking action.

Then he would have blown his cover too early.

[Morgan]

Saw it last night and what a HUGE disappointment continued..

The film was also very drab and honestly quite boring at times. Only bright spot was Javier Bardem's performance. And how the hell does he escape from Mi6? Mendes takes way to many liberty's in trying to make this a classsic Bond.


No one loves Bond more than I do thus my dissapointment after waiting 4 years post QOS to have Mendes and company only give us what is essentially another reboot.
Too bad Mendes didn't think about CR and QOS a little more. So I'll use a line from the film, "Think On Your Sins" Mr. Mendes.

Maybe in 2014 we'll finally finish with rebooting this series and get on with it!

There are a few people out there who haven't seen the movie yet, so please, let's keep the spoilers out of the non-spoiler section.
-JimmyBond

Edited by JimmyBond, 10 November 2012 - 11:28 PM.

[JimmyBond]

Your second and third points are valid criticisms of the film (I don't view those bits as bad though, but I can understand them). But everything else just seems a bit pedantic.

Onto the plot points: I'm not sure what's wrong with Skyfall being the name of Bond's family home. What would have been a more suitable name then? At least they tied the title into the film, unlike the last film. And the second point, Bond was setting a trap for Silva, he wanted Silva to think that they were alone and helpless. Bond wanted to end it on his terms.

And as for the last one, so Bond lets some guy he doesn't even know die. I'm sure he wanted to let Patrice complete his mission otherwise the people in the other building might have become suspicious when the businessman didn't die.