116 replies to this topic

[The Shark]

Very Wally Ftisherish in the same way as Hoytema's work on INTERSTELLAR did? I don't know, maybe it's chiaroscuro of the indoor scenes or something, but SKYFALL had a much brighter natural light. Almost looking overexposed in some shots (Severine's yacht and Bond on the rooftop come to mind). Everything looks more muted here.

 

I'm not slamming the look. Just noting a difference from the previous film. Perhaps the switch back to 35mm has something to do with it.

[Harmsway]

The look is definitely more muted, but then again, the footage here is from all of the moodier sections of the film.

[The Shark]

True, and it might not have much in common with the final DI pass.

[Vauxhall]

The look is definitely more muted, but then again, the footage here is from all of the moodier sections of the film.

Yes. The Austrian action scenes should be extremely bright, and the Mexico sequence bursting with colour.

[sharpshooter]

And going by the trailer, the cinematography will be as good as Skyfall.

[x007AceOfSpades]

Personally, just based on the few shots we've seen, I think it looks better than Deakins' work on Skyfall. I wouldn't necessary call the scenes color muted, especially since we were shown the more moodier and suspenseful scenes. I'm sure Mexico will look vibrant as can be and Austria will be stunning.

 

As for Hoytema, I've been impressed with the man's work, and after he amazing collaboration with Christopher Nolan on Interstellar, I have no doubt he'll have another great collaboration with a great director like Same Mendes.

[Vauxhall]

As for Hoytema, I've been impressed with the man's work, and after he amazing collaboration with Christopher Nolan on Interstellar, I have no doubt he'll have another great collaboration with a great director like Same Mendes.

 

Agreed. I was touting van Hoytema for quite a while before he was actually announced. Have you seen HER? I can't think of many more visually striking films of recent years. 

[x007AceOfSpades]

 

As for Hoytema, I've been impressed with the man's work, and after he amazing collaboration with Christopher Nolan on Interstellar, I have no doubt he'll have another great collaboration with a great director like Same Mendes.

 

Agreed. I was touting van Hoytema for quite a while before he was actually announced. Have you seen HER? I can't think of many more visually striking films of recent years. 

 

Her is a very beautiful piece of digital cinematography. Brilliant film on every level, but the cinematography is gorgeous in it.

[Harmsway]

I'm not ready to say I prefer Van Hoytema's work to Deakins' work. Skyfall had such a rich, clean appearance.

But what we do see looks good. I'm excited to see how Van Hoytema films Mexico.

[seawolfnyy]

I'm not at all worried about the cinematography in this film. Everything we've seen has suggested a bright, vibrant affair. We know that the Mexico sequence is full of color and that there are daytime scenes in Austria so there's no need to worry there. Even the moodier scenes looked great.

[Emrayfo]

Deakin's work on SF was probably my favorite part of the film. But based on what we've seen so far of SPECTRE Hoytema will deliver something just as special.

[Mr_Wint]

...generic. That's the only word I can think of to describe what we have seen so far.
 
Color correction has been used extensively from QOS and onward. That means a lot of teal and orange. Casino Royale had rich and vivid colors and I wouldn't mind a return to that.

[SecretAgentFan]

Hoyte van Hoytema´s work is anything but generic - so, no worries.

[Robinson]

It's funny to hear people talk about cinematography but only mention the colors highlighted in the trailer & commercial footage that we've seen. To me that's only a small part of screen composition. Camera placement, the framing of actors and the background as well as camera movement are elements that can't be ignored. 

 

I'll render my final judgement, once I see the film on the big screen - IN ABOUT FIVE MONTHS!!!!! 

[SecretAgentFan]

It's funny to hear people talk about cinematography but only mention the colors highlighted in the trailer & commercial footage that we've seen. To me that's only a small part of screen composition. Camera placement, the framing of actors and the background as well as camera movement are elements that can't be ignored. 

 

I'll render my final judgement, once I see the film on the big screen - IN ABOUT FIVE MONTHS!!!!! 

 

Well said!

[Pierceuhhh]

It's best to wait to see the actual movie, obviously, but the look is disappointing. The flashes we see of Mexico look like a funeral on Coronation Street, not a vibrant Dio de los Muertos. What's the point of spending money going to all these locations if they all look like they were shot indoors on Pinewood's most orange soundstage? Although the set photos indicate the shoot has been plagued by miserable weather, so maybe it couldn't be helped!

[SecretAgentFan]

It's best to wait to see the actual movie, obviously, but the look is disappointing. The flashes we see of Mexico look like a funeral on Coronation Street, not a vibrant Dio de los Muertos. What's the point of spending money going to all these locations if they all look like they were shot indoors on Pinewood's most orange soundstage? Although the set photos indicate the shoot has been plagued by miserable weather, so maybe it couldn't be helped!

 

 

These small snippets of film already lead you to disappointment?  C´mon. The first teaser already had so many shots of breathtaking beauty, and the "orange" glow of some night scenes is perfectly fine, especially considering the fire and ice-idea.

 

Patience, Mr. uhhh!

[blueman]

I kinda thought SF looked meh at times, especially location photography (why did Turkey look like a London suburb?), also fight scenes were awfully static - I think the Mr. Slate fight in QOS spoiled me quite a bit, Forster shot the heck out of that thing and the editing was exquisite.  Bring back some action like that, please.

[Robinson]

I kinda thought SF looked meh at times, especially location photography (why did Turkey look like a London suburb?), also fight scenes were awfully static - I think the Mr. Slate fight in QOS spoiled me quite a bit, Forster shot the heck out of that thing and the editing was exquisite.  Bring back some action like that, please.

My beef is why do we always need to see the Grand Bazaar, to confirm that we're in Istanbul. I actually enjoyed bond walking out of the apartment where Ronson was shot and into the street, where the landscape opens up. 

 

Forster and his DP definitely shot the hell out of QOS but they also edited it to death- probably to make up for the lack of a script (check out Haphazzarstuff.com lengthy review/analysis of QOS, it's brilliant). I felt Forster hit his peak during the Tosca sequence, everything there worked and was visually effective.

 

I get the impression is that whatever Bond film is currently in production, the shadow of the previous Bond flick, looms over the production. I believe that during SF, they wanted to move away from the rapid-fire editing of QOS and let the camera linger a bit on the subjects and locations. 

 

You cannot deny the shot of Severine standing by the open window and the shot of Bond, M and the DB5 aren't memorable and well framed...

 

 

 

 

I'm looking forward to some near-iconic shots from SP. Just FOUR MONTH AWAY!

[blueman]

Yep, they had a lot of lovely static shots.  Just wish the action - kinda important for a Bond film IMO - was up to that level.

 

And I'm aware of the process of filming QOS underwent, just think it produced the best Bond film since OHMSS (very minority opinion, I know), also the closest we'll likely ever get to the proper emotional sequel to that earlier film (also odd thinking of the widely well-regarded OHMSS, it's editing is amazingly choppy, Hunt had to go back and remove as many individual frames from as many scenes as he could to keep the running time down, it's by far the most heavily edited film in the series and never seems to get any flack for it, especially the many hard to follow action scenes as Hunt loved to put his camera all over the place, ala Forster filming the Mr. Slate fight).

 

I'm also very curious about the continuity from SF to SP, seems there's at least mention of the earlier film in SP, and the little I've read of the Whitehall subplot sounds almost like a direct continuation of London/MI:6 stuff.  So, a semi-direct sequel??  This Craig era is certainly blowing a lot of creaky old Bond doors off their hinges very nicely.

[JohnnyWalker]

 

You cannot deny the shot of Severine standing by the open window and the shot of Bond, M and the DB5 aren't memorable and well framed...

 

 

Are you saying they're not memorable? 

[blueman]

I took he was saying they were good shots (agreed).

[Matt_13]

Yeah he was agreeing, and thank you Robinson for directing me to that wonderful review of QoS. Really engaging stuff.

[Robinson]

Apologies if my comment was vague. Yes those are good/if not great shots from Skyfall.

 

Blueman, it's my feeling that QOS will develop a loyal following, over time, as LTK did.

 

Matt_13, my pleasure. Haphazardstuff.com's 007 Series, is really good, very comprehensive and downright funny at times. Overall the website is a must

 

Can't wait for the trailer to be released, so we can pick it apart, like folks are doing with "Batman vs. Superman" as well as "Suicide Squad."

[Harmsway]

Yep, they had a lot of lovely static shots.  Just wish the action - kinda important for a Bond film IMO - was up to that level.

I find Skyfall's pre-title sequence to be a little limp (I'm not sure if it's how it's filmed or how it's edited, but it lacks urgency). The rest of the film's action sequences work for me.

[Matt_13]

Agreed on Skyfall's PTS. The motorcycle bit in particular, while nifty, doesn't feel fast or dangerous enough.

[blueman]

I got the feeling they didn't have the budget to, or just didn't feel they had to, film the fight on top the train as well as they should.  Set a tone.

 

Or maybe they filmed the final fight with the baddie in the empty building, against all that lovely blue with hardly any close shots/editing, and decided hey, it worked against giant jellyfish, let's see if it works on top of a train! (bad idea...)

 

Learning curve for Mendes?  Here's hoping there's no more "lazy" action filming in SP!

[The Shark]

 

Yep, they had a lot of lovely static shots.  Just wish the action - kinda important for a Bond film IMO - was up to that level.

 

I find Skyfall's pre-title sequence to be a little limp (I'm not sure if it's how it's filmed or how it's edited, but it lacks urgency). The rest of the film's action sequences work for me.

 

I think the cold open on the corridor and Bond attempting to aid Ronson is excellent. It only loses me a bit once he jumps in the car. 

[SecretAgentFan]

I got the feeling they didn't have the budget to, or just didn't feel they had to, film the fight on top the train as well as they should.  Set a tone.

 

Or maybe they filmed the final fight with the baddie in the empty building, against all that lovely blue with hardly any close shots/editing, and decided hey, it worked against giant jellyfish, let's see if it works on top of a train! (bad idea...)

 

Learning curve for Mendes?  Here's hoping there's no more "lazy" action filming in SP!

 

I loved the jellyfish-sequence BECAUSE it wasn´t filmed with hectic cuts but in one long take.  That´s what great action filmmaking to me is, and I absolutely hope they will continue in this vein.

[deth]

 

 

Matt_13, my pleasure. Haphazardstuff.com's 007 Series, is really good, very comprehensive and downright funny at times. Overall the website is a must

 

 

 

 

I've only listened/watched the Quantum review of his as I was quite irritated that he kept calling Vesper "Vespa" 

The rest is better I assume? Does he actually know his stuff?