853 replies to this topic

[Hockey Mask]

Saw the film last night. It was amazing. Top 5 Bond film and an argument can be made that it's the best in the series. Everyone was on top form and Craig was just magnificent.

any questions, I'll be happy to answer.

Tell me everything and tell me nothing.

[Shrublands]

Saw the film last night. It was amazing. Top 5 Bond film and an argument can be made that it's the best in the series. Everyone was on top form and Craig was just magnificent.

any questions, I'll be happy to answer.

Thanks for this first impression. Out of interest, what would be the other films it joins in your top 5?

[double o ego]

Ok.

It's a bloody brilliant film and if Craig wasn't the best Bond before, well, you wouldn't be laughed at for offering him the crown.

Saw the film last night. It was amazing. Top 5 Bond film and an argument can be made that it's the best in the series. Everyone was on top form and Craig was just magnificent.

any questions, I'll be happy to answer.

Thanks for this first impression. Out of interest, what would be the other films it joins in your top 5?

In no particular order:

FRWL
OHMSS
SF
CR
TB

[Shrublands]

In no particular order:

FRWL
OHMSS
SF
CR
TB

I see, that's impressive company - Is GF just outside that 5 for you?

[Vauxhall]

I've seen a few references to scenes that have been cut from the movie. Anybody got a steer on which ones, or can comment having seen the movie?

[DamnCoffee]

Really interested to know what the...

Spoiler

ejector seat gag is.

[Matt_13]

Monty Norman theme in there?

[sharpshooter]

Really interested to know what the...

Spoiler

ejector seat gag is.

I think it could be

Spoiler

M irritating Bond in the DB5 on the drive to Skyfall, with Bond hovering his finger over the red button.

[MattofSteel]

Double o ego, can you confirm whether or not..

Spoiler

There are in fact three distinct James Bond theme recordings used in the film, including the "Breadcrumbs" track from Newman's OST, Arnold's "The Names Bond...James Bond" cue from Casino Royale, and (wow, if true!) the original Monty Norman/John Barry recording?

And I'm getting specific here, but I'd prefer not to know about the ejector seat gag, so would you be so kind as to answer these questions with separate spoiler tags and label them clearly?

[DamnCoffee]

Really interested to know what the...

Spoiler

ejector seat gag is.

I think it could be

Spoiler

M irritating Bond in the DB5 on the drive to Skyfall, with Bond hovering his finger over the red button.

That would be fantastic, although I think I've found the answer...

Spoiler

Bond and Silva are in the DB5, and Bond ejects himself last minute before driving it into the Ice Lake, with Silva still inside.

[double o ego]

In no particular order:

FRWL
OHMSS
SF
CR
TB

I see, that's impressive company - Is GF just outside that 5 for you?

I like GF but I feel it's overrated. Tbh, the film's saving grace for me is, Gert frobe, the db5, the classic do you expect me to talk line and other bits of iconography and of course Bassey and Barry but other than that, the film doesn't excite me as much as the 5 movies I listed but I suppose GF is somewhere in my top 10. I just don't know where.

Really interested to know what the...

Spoiler

ejector seat gag is.

Spoiler

Bond threatens to use it on M as they share banter in the car.

It's a really great moment.

Monty Norman theme in there?

There are about maybe 2 occasions where we get it but the first time if I remember is when we see Bond and M

Spoiler

go to the garage to get the db5

Double o ego, can you confirm whether or not..

Spoiler

There are in fact three distinct James Bond theme recordings used in the film, including the "Breadcrumbs" track from Newman's OST, Arnold's "The Names Bond...James Bond" cue from Casino Royale, and (wow, if true!) the original Monty Norman/John Barry recording?

And I'm getting specific here, but I'd prefer not to know about the ejector seat gag, so would you be so kind as to answer these questions with separate spoiler tags and label them clearly?

Um....

it's all a blur...um...breadcrumbs is definitely used

Spoiler

when we see the db5

We get the arnold version i think

Spoiler

at the end of the movie

but there's no actual original monty/barry Bond theme used.

There are a few instances where we hear the Bond theme cues littered throughout that honestly, you wont be disappointed at all.

Really interested to know what the...

Spoiler

ejector seat gag is.

I think it could be

Spoiler

M irritating Bond in the DB5 on the drive to Skyfall, with Bond hovering his finger over the red button.

That would be fantastic, although I think I've found the answer...

Spoiler

Bond and Silva are in the DB5, and Bond ejects himself last minute before driving it into the Ice Lake, with Silva still inside.

That's not it at all looool

[DamnCoffee]

Oh! I genuinely did read that somewhere! The actual gag seems a lot better though.

[univex]

FRWL
OHMSS
SF
CR
TB

Wow, that´s my kind of list! With maybe GF replacing CR with intermittence. Now I know we´ve got a winner

[Shrublands]

In no particular order:

FRWL
OHMSS
SF
CR
TB

I see, that's impressive company - Is GF just outside that 5 for you?

I like GF but I feel it's overrated. Tbh, the film's saving grace for me is, Gert frobe, the db5, the classic do you expect me to talk line and other bits of iconography and of course Bassey and Barry but other than that, the film doesn't excite me as much as the 5 movies I listed but I suppose GF is somewhere in my top 10. I just don't know where.

Not having seen Skyfall, your top 5 looks very like my top 5, but I’d have to stretch it to 6 and have GF and TSWLM in there too.
So for me it’s FRWL, GF, TB, OHMSS, TSWLM and CR.
If Skyfall sits comfortably with that company, I shall be over the moon.

[double o ego]

My review

Let me first of all say, that I hate writing reviews. The only reviews I feel compelled to write about are movies that I love and enjoy and believe are worth writing about and with Skyfall, it’s simply going to be hard because I feel like vomiting everything I know about it and all my excitement for it all in this review. I won’t at least I hope I won’t.


So, essentially, I was one of many people who attended the Skyfall premiere last night at the Royal Albert Hall. The second time in my life I’ve attended a movie premiere, the first being for Disney’s Lion King back in the mid 90s or whenever it was.
Anyway, let me say that this was a big deal, a major event and although I got to walk along the red carpet and was mere meteres away from Daniel Craig, I wasn’t too fussed about the individual stars but more the overall atmosphere and experience of being part of Bond history, British history and cinematic history.


Once I walked past the db5 and found my way off the red carpet and into the actual building, I was taken aback by the vastness of the Albert Hall. It was massive and the seats were comfy too. We were entertained by this military orchestral band who played renditions of various Bond themes, which included the likes of the main Bond theme, GF, DAF, Nobody does it better and a few others but the stand out for me was the ridiculously awesome rendition of OHMSS. Amazing!
Anyway, once the stars and Mendes came out to introduce the movie, it was time to spectate on a 2hr20min footage that’s been 4 years in the making.


Let me just say that, I’ve never been to any screening which generated as many cheers and applauds that SF got. The audience cheered no less than about 5 times throughout the movie and the cheers were justified believe me.
The film opens with the typical all too Bondish, dun dun! Musical notes as Craig’s Bond, stealthily moves in the shadows of a hallway, trying to salvage a mission that’s gone wrong. We then have Bond and his field agent colleague, Eve in pursuit of an assassin to retrieve what he stole. The action is fast paced, breath taking and most importantly, watchable. None of that shaky cam/quick cut chop editing nonsense that plagued QoS. The spectacular culmination of this PTS gives the impression that Bond is now sleeping with the fish and what follows is Daniel Kleinman’s amazing title sequence that boasts striking colours of doom and gloom, water graves, girls and guns, all appropriately accompanied by a shortened version of Adele’s haunting SF theme. This is a Bond film.


The story is refreshingly simple but handled in a superiorly engaging way that manages to allow the human brain to not be bored but at the same time not be drowned with action sequences every 2 minutes. The core characters really shine and are amazingly developed, although, I did feel that Berenice Marlohe’s Sevarin was underused and could have done with a bit more screen time but her presence in the movie serves a purpose that is at least adequate enough to not spend time moaning about and still enjoy everything going on around her. Eve played by Naomie Harris imo has great chemistry with Craig and they have this flirtatious, camaraderie going on through out the movie and it’s put to amusing use in Macau.
Dench as M is on blistering top form, why did they wait for 7 movies in order to really perform?? Jeez. Dench earned her pay cheque for this movie. Ralph Fiennes as Mallory was superb and I think it’s best that the less I say about him the better. Bardem as Silva forced his way into the villainous ranks of the likes of, Ledger’s joker, Hannibal Lecter and even Hans Gruber. Bardem was creepy, calculating and I dare say that had it been any other of the previous Bond actors in the role as Bond, Bardem would have outshone them and stolen the limelight and I don’t say that lightly because I’m a Connery fanboy!


As for Craig. Lord have mercy! This guy had his contract renewed for him to do at least another 2 after SF a little while ago and I you’ll see why the producers are anxious to keep him on board. Craig is an acting juggernaut that delivers the performance of his career imo. Craig is human, imperfect, lethal, determined and brings the humour like you’ve never seen before. These aren’t childish or juvenile, cheesy jokes. Craig delivers the humour with brilliant one liners, great banter and body language that never ever outstays its welcome. Make no mistake about it, if you didn’t think Craig was a good Bond, if you though he lacked charm and humour, send me a private message, requesting for some nice tasty crow to eat. Craig delivers a definitive performance.
There are gadgets!


I don’t want to really talk about it because it’s best you watch it but the use of gadgets are very much present but rightfully so, does not overshadow Bond.
I don’t want to risk spoiling things for you all but I’ll say this, SF is an amazing movie, it’s easily movie of the year and beats the likes of TDKR and Avengers and you must go and see it. A fine film that really delivers and brings everything full circle and proves that Bond is not only back but steals the crown away from all the other pretenders to the throne. I hope I’ve said enough and not too much or too little.
If you have any questions, I’ll do my best to answer them.

rating: 4.5/5

[univex]

Same here. Although that´s not the Moore flick I´d choose And I´ll never say which, even under torture. (this in reference to Shrublands post)

[Shrublands]

Same here. Although that´s not the Moore flick I´d choose And I´ll never say which, even under torture. (this in reference to Shrublands post)

Oh, go on! You're amongst friends!

[univex]

Same here. Although that´s not the Moore flick I´d choose And I´ll never say which, even under torture. (this in reference to Shrublands post)

Oh, go on! You're amongst friends!

I´m just a sucker for Maud Adams, and the baddie was Christopher Lee! How can you not like that?!?

Apart from that, I do love LALD, FYEO and TSWLM (blast, I love them all, except for the one Brosnan disaster flick and DAF). But TMWTGG (if you skip over the song) is brilliantly fun. And isn´t that what a Moore Bond film is all about? Fun?

There, said my piece.

As for double o ego´s review. Good show. For a guy who doesn´t enjoy writing reviews, that was very well done old chap. Cheers. Gonna read it again now.

[Judo chop]

Dench as M is on blistering top form, why did they wait for 7 movies in order to really perform?? Jeez. Dench earned her pay cheque for this movie.

This is something I've been looking to hear. Er... waiting to read.
Whatever.
I've always felt Dench has been underused, so much to the point that M becomes annoying. (In hindsight, I can hardly believe that an actress of her caliber abided the entire Brosnan era!)
I hope you aren't hyperbolizing, d-o-ego.

[double o ego]

Dench as M is on blistering top form, why did they wait for 7 movies in order to really perform?? Jeez. Dench earned her pay cheque for this movie.

This is something I've been looking to hear. Er... waiting to read.
Whatever.
I've always felt Dench has been underused, so much to the point that M becomes annoying. (In hindsight, I can hardly believe that an actress of her caliber abided the entire Brosnan era!)
I hope you aren't hyperbolizing, d-o-ego.

strictly honourable

[DamnCoffee]

If anyone could tell me. I would really like to know how M drops the F-bomb. If anyone can remember the actual line?

[univex]

If anyone could tell me. I would really like to know how M drops the F-bomb. If anyone can remember the actual line?

Yes, quite curious to know that as well. Loved how Dame Judi anwsered that red runway question about being the first M to swear: "Surely Bernard Lee must have swore".

How cool.

[double o ego]

Spoiler

she and Bond are at SF manor, in a barn, having a quiet moment and she somberly says to Bond, "I really ed things up didn't I"

[univex]

Thank you. Seems well placed.

[Shrublands]

Spoiler

she and Bond are at SF manor, in a barn, having a quiet moment and she somberly says to Bond, "I really ed things up didn't I"

Sounds fantastic. Love it.

[DamnCoffee]

The feels I have for Dame Judi! Love her.

[QuantumOfRoyale]

Saw the film last night. It was amazing. Top 5 Bond film and an argument can be made that it's the best in the series. Everyone was on top form and Craig was just magnificent.

any questions, I'll be happy to answer.

Don't know how to spoiler tag this, so just PM me the answers if too spoiler heavy.

1. Is the movie purely stand-alone, or are the events of CR and QoS mentioned?
2. Are there any hints about the plot / specifics of Bond 24?

[Forever007]

Double O Ego,

Great spoiler free review. Gave us great insight without giving away the film. I only have one question. Is the Gunbarrel at the beginning of the film in traditional fashion?

Thanks

[Vauxhall]

Is the Gunbarrel at the beginning of the film in traditional fashion?

Spoiler

No. It's at the end.

[QOS4EVER]

double o ego

One thing that has been constantly worrying about this movie is my fear of it not having intense fast paced quick action scenes

like this from Casino Royale






or this from Quantum Of Solace





Please put my fear to rest !