853 replies to this topic

[Hockey Mask]

With those attitudes whats the point of reviews at all? Whats the point of coming to forums like this to read other peoples opinions?

I didn't argue against reading reviews in general, I refute the idea of them forming my opinion of something in advance. And indeed I avoided SKYFALL reviews until I've seen the film myself.

The tomato-metre is a useful tool. Most people read reviews to see if a movie is worth seeing or not or to get recommendations. And the consensus of 100 professional critics is a lot more useful than one. I've seen many movies that would otherwise not have crossed my radar because of it and saved money by avoiding a few turkeys. Most recently RT made me change my plans to see Taken 2 to seeing Frankenweenie instead. A decision I certainly dont regret.

All good and fine, but you can hardly be sure you wouldn't have enjoyed TAKEN 2 also, can you? Of course reviews are useful to help you finding what you want to see. But I'd still rather see for myself if something agrees with my tastes than letting a review - or hundreds of them - make the decision for me.

And life to me isn't solely about just seeing the very best films. At times I also need to watch a damp squib, just so I can appreciate the better ones more. That said I wouldn't feel obliged to watch the nth iteration of franchise/series XYZ, just because I need to see the corpse decaying for myself.

Rotten Tomatoes has a huge impact on whether I see a movie or not. If I have a movie I am interested in I always check ot out on Rotten Tomotes and Metacritic to see it's "grade". I hate to waste time and money on a poor movie and those sites help me focus on the quality choices. Later I may Red Box a movie that I didn't go to the theater for but they don't get my theater money.

[SecretAgentFan]

Dangerous, relying on other people´s (often hugely biased) opinions as really helpful quality indicators.

Critics don´t know films better than you. Reviews are only standpoints, personal perspectives.

I would suggest you only base your decision on whether or not you like a plot, the themes, the actors, the directors, the cinematographer and so on.

Having a majority decide for you is like checking your own brain at the door. It´s the same as voting for a politician because he has the majority behind him saying: yep, he´s good - and we know, so you don´t have to make up your own mind.

[Armand Fancypants]

Wow, I didn't think people actually let reviews influence them anymore.

If I'm going to see a film, I'm going to see it no matter what. If something gets a lot of good press I might be wooed into having a gander if I wouldn't have beforehand, but... my own judgement will I keep on what's good and what's not.

[SecretAgentFan]

And that´s how it should be.

[Hockey Mask]

I am not alone.

[SecretAgentFan]

If that´s what is more important to you...

[Hockey Mask]

If that´s what is more important to you...

It isn't what is important to me as much as what I have the time and money for. Why would I want to waste a rare trip to the cinema on a 42% fresh movie when there is a 95% fresh one playing on the screen next door? I can save the poorly rated movie for a cheap rental if it is still on my radar in six months.

I can't be the only one who thinks this way...EVERYTHING in the movie industry is based on reviews and word-of -mouth.

Edited by 00Hockey Mask, 02 November 2012 - 12:16 PM.

[Dustin]

I can't be the only one who thinks this way...EVERYTHING in the movie industry is based on reviews and word-of -mouth.

Which perhaps accounts for the general situation in the industry.

But I see where you are coming from, and it's certainly sensible to gather some information before investing in a visit to the theatre. That said you may find that sites like RT are only really giving a snapshot of current fads and preferences with reviewers. Lots of films have taken blame for essentially just not meeting with the fashion of the week. In return numerous 'game changing' and 'innovative' productions have received favourable ratings because their menu appealed to what reviewers called the next big thing at the time. I've seen lots of good - and often enough downright splendid - films in my days that weren't in favour with the feuilleton. Had I ignored them because of it I would have missed out on numerous gems.

[SecretAgentFan]

Only one but a very famous example: BLADE RUNNER...

Back then hated and ridiculed.

Now: a masterpiece.

[Hockey Mask]

I would also like to add, if Skyfall had a 3% fresh rating I would still be there opening day.

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

Seen it yesterday. A short review:

I loved it! The most epic and emotionally deep Bond film in years, combining the modern Bond and the classic Bond. I particularily liked the MINOR SPOILERS

Spoiler

bit when Bond tries to "eject" M with the DB5 and the clever use if the headlights Aston machine guns against Silva's guns

and well, everybody applaused in my theatre when MINOR SPOILER

Spoiler

the Aston Martin DB5 is revealed

.

The main titles were awesome, as the Shangai fight. Silva is the best villain since Sánchez: mad and psycopath! and the ending... you know what happens there...

[JimmyBond]

I'm glad you liked it Nicolas I was really curious to hear your opinion.

[quantumofsolace]

http://www.denofgeek...led-exploration

[007jamesbond]

Skyfall has dropped to 8.2 for IMDb......sadly it likely there is a lot of fake account giving a one so the average would drop...

[quantumofsolace]

http://www.theweek.c...-hes-vigilante#

[S K Y F A L L]

http://www.theweek.c...-hes-vigilante#

THX QOS, a non-spoiler review.

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

Dangerous, relying on other people´s (often hugely biased) opinions as really helpful quality indicators.

Critics don´t know films better than you. Reviews are only standpoints, personal perspectives.

Indeed. In my country, two newspaper gave SKYFALL a "Very Good" mark while another one (probably written by a bloke with no blood in his veins) gave it "Average" and claimed it "the most boring Bond ever".

Having a majority decide for you is like checking your own brain at the door. It´s the same as voting for a politician because he has the majority behind him saying: yep, he´s good - and we know, so you don´t have to make up your own mind.

"Funny you say so..."



Argentina has debts with the FMI, has its Fragate stuck in Ghana for debts, sky-high inflation, muggers, rapers, drug cartels... but she was voted by the 54%!

[The Shark]

With those attitudes whats the point of reviews at all?

The job of a professional critic is to help someone understand a film, bring a new perspective and challenge their preconceptions. Not to give thumbs up, grades, stars, or recommend it like it was a cheeseburger.

That's what separated Pauline Kael from Leonard Maltin.

[bey-columbo]

A lot of things to say. But above all a big thumbs up to the staff.
The first thing I said me when leaving the film is that it is better than Casino Royale and better than Quantum of Solace.
The Bond Daniel Craig has changed. Much less violent, more humorous however I can not remember the funny replicas without seeing a second time and most importantly, more conventional cinematographicly speaking.

It is a good balance between what it was in CR-QoS and what makes Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan, among others. Daniel Craig plays with excellence, it would be one of the greatest actors currently active ?
Another heavyweight in the film. Javier Bardem. Spanish actor interprets a great mean, crazy and provocative. One of the best for some years ... If you really want to compare with other villains ... Zorin and Trevelyan.
Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes are awesome. Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe are quite goods. Berenice Marlohe acts better than Carole Bouquet and Sophie Marceau without being excellent. Ben Wishaw is brillant as a new Q.

There are tributes to the past, which is very positive. Less than in Die Another Day, but there. The Aston Martin DB5 is really welcome. Also, the old office of M at the end, great. The old office with the door studded leather lining. We saw Dr. No in a kill in 62 to 85. A handful of provocative sentences on Bond and MI-6 in themselves, which questions about the presence of a James Bond film in 2012. Very inventive scenes, almost never seen in the saga. Small selection, attention big SPOILER:

-M that passes before a commission of inquiry headed by a naive minister, the meeting ended in a shootout when the villain arrives.
-M dies in the arms of Bond. Ralph Fiennes is the new M at the end.
-Allusions to-human life James Bond. The tomb of Andrew Bond and Monique Delacroix (his parents) appears in Scotland. His old family mansion, dusty. The gun from his father.
-Bond on a beach in a sort of "cool" community ....
-The villain is gay and try to seduce Bond.
-Scenes in London itself. Never done before (except the PTS of TWINE).
-A fight where you only see the shadows of Bond and killer in the skyscraper in Shanghai.

And if not, how and photography are really worked. Sam Mendes is the best director to have made a James Bond. There are plans, silences ... would never have appreared in Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton and Sean Connery movies.
Peter Hunt on Secret Service of His Majesty was brillant,Terence Young on From Russia With Love remembered Hitchock, Mark Foster on Quantum of Solace, there were atypical things in his camera, Goldfinger Guy Hamilton, especially the golf scene. But Skyfall by Sam Mendes goes up.
Not surprised that a member of staff or teams from the Coen Brothers ... Bond's mansion and the cemetery where his parents are buried, and this is not a criticism, have something a little "heroic fantasy" I think. I will say no more ... A scene in Macau with a Komodo dragon ... it may be recalled sharks in Thunderball, piranhas in You only live twice or alligators in Live and Let Die.
The plot. Fairly drawn from the real news. Not very complex, less complex as Casino Royale, but really not bad. Javier Bardem plays a villain who can remember some young publicized over the years 2010, 2011, 2012 ... It seems that this is a former 00, the illegitimate son of M (Judi Dench M version), which would become an anti-Western terrorist ... it has a little something to remember Alec Trevelyan in GoldenEye.
Sets. Less realistic and more colorful than CR-QoS. In CR, we have seen a construction site, an airport by night ... In QoS, poor streets of Port-au-Prince and those of La Paz ... but in Skyfall it's different, except the island of Silva, consisting of a shabby ghost town. In Skyfall, we see a very glamorous China. In Istanbul as a From Russia With Love or as in the recently Taken 2, any comparison kept. Skyfall is by far one of the best spy movies of recent years. Mission: Impossible 4 and Jason Bourne Legacy, although nice to see, can not hold a candle to Skyfall.
Those who got tired of prosecution and camera shots "to the Jason Bourne", there is more in Skyfall. Daniel Craig is almost all the time elegant dressed. Very elegant.

An adventure which interrogates, which provokes, which succieds !
Perhaps one of the best Bond with CR, Goldfinger and From Russia With Love.

PS :

If you find shocking ortograph mistakes, I want to excuse me. It was a french written review translated in english by a site. Not very well...

Edited by bey-columbo, 03 November 2012 - 07:13 PM.

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

My review: some spoilers regarding the gunbarrel and scenes, but nothing heavy.

http://goldeneyedoss...e-well-not.html

[Aris007]

A quick review, I dont want to tire people here.

A magnificent and utterly exciting film! Well done Mr. Mendes. As Nicolas said probably the most emotionaly deep film of the franchise. Bond's house, M, even Silva's story. These added a lot to the plot.

Music was very good, but I need to watch one more time to notice Newman's job in depth. The main song was very good, but Kleinmann has made better jobs in the past.

The 50-year anniversary was made properly. Small touches here and there got the job done.

Craig was top-notch. Even better than Casino Royale. He seems to be more in the part than ever before. Dame Dench gave a very touching last-time performance. Hat-off to her as well. Javier Bardem did a great job as well. I loved his lunacy as well as his queer-moments.

Locations were stunning especially Scottland. Macau was spectacular. And the London scenes were well built.

Now, may I make a specific point? WELL DONE Mr. Fiennes! I absolutely adored him in the film. He is the M I was looking forward all these years. The final scene was brilliant. I wish he will play in many films in the future. He has great potential for the part.

PS: Put the bloody-gunbarrel in the beginning already!

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

A magnificent and utterly exciting film! Well done Mr. Mendes. As Nicholas said probably the most emotionaly deep film of the franchise. Bond's house, M, even Silva's story. These added a lot to the plot.

Indeed, I found it even deeper than OHMSS and CR. And you know how I enjoy emotional Bond films!

Music was very good, but I need to watch one more time to notice Newman's job in depth.

Err... have you checked your Facebook inbox lately

PS: Put the bloody-gunbarrel in the beginning already!

Yes please, about time!

[Aris007]

Music was very good, but I need to watch one more time to notice Newman's job in depth.

Err... have you checked your Facebook inbox lately

I officialy admire your reaction-times!

[quantumofsolace]

http://www.journal-o...le/9515-skyfall

[Elvenstar]

grrrr
another rotten ((((
we're back @ 94%
http://thepopcornjun...review-skyfall/

[Harry Fawkes]

From Empire on line about the gun-barrel sequence: Sam Mendes has spoken about the decision to do so, during an Apple Store Q&A with Empire's Chris Hewitt. Responding to a question from an audience member who raised the issue of the gun barrel sequence, Mendes replied, "I tried very hard to put the gun barrel at the beginning and my intention was always to do that. If you see the film, the film starts with Bond walking down a corridor towards camera and lifting a gun. And of course the gun barrel is him walking, stopping and lifting a gun. When I put the two together, it looked ridiculous!"
Mendes went on to explain that he is a fan of the gun barrel sequence, which still hasn't officially started a Daniel Craig Bond movie. "For me, I love the gunbarrel logo being at the beginning. It's almost the best bit. Everything is possible in that moment, it's like Christmas Eve. It was frustrating to be not able to make it work in that way."
To see and hear Mendes' answer in its entirety, as well as his thoughts on directing another Bond film (or Star Wars Episode VII!), press play on the video below. And for the whole Meet The Filmmaker interview, go here.

[Elvenstar]

down to 92% ((((

[IcedCamaro]

It had actually gone down to 91% there for a bit so I was pleasantly surprised to see it climb up to 92%.

[The Shark]

Even mortal enemies Roger Ebert and Armond White both like it.

http://posttrib.sunt...in-skyfall.html

http://cityarts.info...secret-service/

[Elvenstar]

It had actually gone down to 91% there for a bit so I was pleasantly surprised to see it climb up to 92%.

it went down to 91 then back to 93 then to 92 now again

@ metacritic its 79%
(Ebert gave it 100 %!!!)