453 replies to this topic

[Guy Haines]

I've just noticed that BBC website link but it's more a reviews compilation. I guess we'll have to wait until Mark Kermode gives his verdict, and Radio 4's Front Row programme - both, at a guess on Monday evening when - guess what? - most Bond fans who can get there will be at the flicks!

 

Sharpshooter, you may be right about your second spoiler also - the spark that lights the fuse of the storyline.

[Pierceuhhh]

"...bordering on camp..."
"... acts like QOS never existed..."
"... a bloated mess..."

This is all music to my ears! Bond movies have different criteria to "proper" movies. We all understand that.

I don't want this to win any Oscars. I want it to be a giant, messy, controversial 2hr30min milestone that fans can debate for years to come and that comes to define the 2010s, whatever this decade of Bond may end up looking like.

I want Craig's YOLT, his MOONRAKER, his DAD.

[sharpshooter]

I agree. We have the muscle bound henchman, the supervillain and the tricked out car. This Bond universe is now fully established, so embrace it and have some fun. And it's all going to be presented through the grounded prism of the Craig era, anyway. I can't see it being utterly absurd or cringeworthy in execution. 

[Guy Haines]

I agree. We have the muscle bound henchman, the supervillain and the tricked out car. This Bond universe is now fully established, so embrace it and have some fun. And it's all going to be presented through the grounded prism of the Craig era, anyway. I can't see it being utterly absurd or cringeworthy in execution.

Craig said himself he doesn't do "shtick" but it does sound like SP is a "James Bond film" rather than a "film about James Bond". With the references back to SF which the producers an directors have been indicating right from last December we'll get some "emotional depth" I imagine, but more traditional Bond elements also.

My guess is that this will be the Craig era's answer to Thunderball - a traditional mid to late 60s going on early 70s Bond but with Craig's added depth and grittiness.

[SecretAgentFan]

Well, that´s where the critics have a Pawlowian reflex, of course.

 

Bond - stripped down, re-booted:  OH, HEY, GUYS, WE´RE ALLOWED TO SAY NICE THINGS NOW, NOBDOY WILL FIND OUT THAT WE LOVE THE CAMP-ASPECTS!

 

Bond - restored with former elements:  DAMN, WHAT IF PEOPLE WILL CONSIDER US LOWBROW?  NAW, WE´LL HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS JUST ENTERTAINMENT AGAIN...

[Shrublands]

Well, that´s where the critics have a Pawlowian reflex, of course.

 

Bond - stripped down, re-booted:  OH, HEY, GUYS, WE´RE ALLOWED TO SAY NICE THINGS NOW, NOBDOY WILL FIND OUT THAT WE LOVE THE CAMP-ASPECTS!

 

Bond - restored with former elements:  DAMN, WHAT IF PEOPLE WILL CONSIDER US LOWBROW?  NAW, WE´LL HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS JUST ENTERTAINMENT AGAIN...

 

True in some respects.

 

But It's also why I find the glowing, 5 star reviews from the the broadsheets like The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian very pleasing.

[Guy Haines]

Well, that´s where the critics have a Pawlowian reflex, of course.
 
Bond - stripped down, re-booted:  OH, HEY, GUYS, WE´RE ALLOWED TO SAY NICE THINGS NOW, NOBDOY WILL FIND OUT THAT WE LOVE THE CAMP-ASPECTS!
 
Bond - restored with former elements:  DAMN, WHAT IF PEOPLE WILL CONSIDER US LOWBROW?  NAW, WE´LL HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS JUST ENTERTAINMENT AGAIN...

 
True in some respects.
 
But It's also why I find the glowing, 5 star reviews from the the broadsheets like The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian very pleasing.

I doubt if the three newspapers named would have given five stars if the film had been of 70s, 80s or even 90s vintage - with the possible exception of Dalton's two. No offence meant to late Connery, Moore or Brosnan fans but their films never seemed to get more than perfunctory reviews from most of the highbrow reviewers (the early Connery films - being early might have left critics shocked by the violence, amused by the irony - unless the reviewer was already familiar with Bond from the books in which case they might find the humour either welcome or dreadful!)

I think it will be, as with SF, Craig as Bond and Mendes as director which has won them over. I might be wrong but that's my hunch. Which has set the bar high for whoever takes over from both.

[iexpectu2die]

 

Well, that´s where the critics have a Pawlowian reflex, of course.

 

Bond - stripped down, re-booted:  OH, HEY, GUYS, WE´RE ALLOWED TO SAY NICE THINGS NOW, NOBDOY WILL FIND OUT THAT WE LOVE THE CAMP-ASPECTS!

 

Bond - restored with former elements:  DAMN, WHAT IF PEOPLE WILL CONSIDER US LOWBROW?  NAW, WE´LL HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS JUST ENTERTAINMENT AGAIN...

 

True in some respects.

 

But It's also why I find the glowing, 5 star reviews from the the broadsheets like The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian very pleasing.

 

Precisely. Bond is on the front page of several UK broadsheets with glowing 5 star reviews. I'm pretty sure that in the public conscience today, Spectre is brilliant. 

[PPK_19]

Empire's Spectre review is up

 

4 stars, same as Skyfall.

[SecretAgentFan]

So, it seems that SPECTRE really delivers what I want from Bond...

[Shrublands]

 

 

Well, that´s where the critics have a Pawlowian reflex, of course.

 

Bond - stripped down, re-booted:  OH, HEY, GUYS, WE´RE ALLOWED TO SAY NICE THINGS NOW, NOBDOY WILL FIND OUT THAT WE LOVE THE CAMP-ASPECTS!

 

Bond - restored with former elements:  DAMN, WHAT IF PEOPLE WILL CONSIDER US LOWBROW?  NAW, WE´LL HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS JUST ENTERTAINMENT AGAIN...

 

True in some respects.

 

But It's also why I find the glowing, 5 star reviews from the the broadsheets like The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian very pleasing.

 

Precisely. Bond is on the front page of several UK broadsheets with glowing 5 star reviews. I'm pretty sure that in the public conscience today, Spectre is brilliant. 

 

 

Exactly, and to complete the picture the popular tabloid press such as The Mail, the Mirror, The Sun and The Star are saying the same.

With the BBC providing an overview that headlines ...

 

 

Spectre: Five star reviews greet new Bond movie

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk...t-arts-34600980

[Vauxhall]

Avoid reading The Wrap review if possible. It gives away far more big spoilers than any others (probably breaking a few rules along the way). Humbug.

[DamnCoffee]

Well, Total Film and Empire have both given it 4 stars!

Edited by DamnCoffee, 22 October 2015 - 11:01 AM.

[Vauxhall]

Slightly odd review from GamesRadar (whoever they are). Wonder how often Christoph Waltz has been described as "dismayingly bland". 

[Stokes_]

The GamesRadar review is (I believe) the Total Film review.

 

I think it's where the Total Film magazine is based online.

[Vauxhall]

The GamesRadar review is (I believe) the Total Film review.

 

I think it's where the Total Film magazine is based online.

 

Ah right. Thanks.

[Robinson]

Variety weighs in:

http://variety.com/2...iew-1201622685/

[sharpshooter]

The words

 

Spoiler

'needles' and 'high-tech'

have been used.

Also that it's 'darkly funny' at times yet 'strains the 12A certificate.'

Apparently, 

Spoiler

Bond is strapped to a computerised chair, controlled by Oberhauser, with a tiny robotic drill penetrating Bond's skull twice - with his eyes next in line.

Intense stuff.

[DanMan]

It's seems the main complaint for a lot of reviewers is that it has OTT action, secret lairs, supervillains, henchmen, humor & all the staples of the great 60's and 70's Bond movies. To me this sounds fantastic but to some "high and mighty" film critics this may be seen as regression.

[FlemingBond]

well i read a review with spoilers and it seems my worst fears about the villain and his plot have been realized.

[Harmsway]

Look, the nature of the villain has obvious from the first teaser trailer. You can't say that EON sprung this on anyone.

I, for one, was mostly happy with how they developed that angle by the time shooting started, and it sounds as though they've improved on it since that time.

[PPK_19]

A lot of reviews mention the mawkish ending to the film, too "heart-felt".

I am very curious to see what they mean by that.

[thecasinoroyale]

Great reviews coming in and it seems this could be the nearest "classic" Bond that Craig has done, but I read reviews who say it's too conventional. People want classic Bond, but then they don't...make your mind up!

 

I admit I'm getting a little dismayed at the numerous reviews who mention Waltz is under-used, more so than Bardem, and the "master plan" is nothing but petulant. Which is a real shame, as all reviews seem to weigh in on this and the finale.

 

I know I'll enjoy it, but I know there's certain things I probably don't want to see happen. But I'll hope for the best and am sure they'll pull it off enough to please fans. I hope!

[Armand Fancypants]

Look, the nature of the villain has obvious from the first teaser trailer. You can't say that EON sprung this on anyone.

I, for one, was mostly happy with how they developed that angle by the time shooting started, and it sounds as though they've improved on it since that time.

 

The apparent absence of Bond's emulating Dench's complete disinterest in the villain's "reveal" is a bit of a loss though I think.

[DamnCoffee]

Kermode really likes it! I'm so relieved.

[sharpshooter]

Kermode really likes it! I'm so relieved.

He usually has a good feel for movies, so I'm glad he liked SPECTRE.

[thecasinoroyale]

On the whole, it's going very well!

 

I can't wait to read the Forum reviews from us all who see it as and when, to see our thoughts. That's going to be the best.

[DamnCoffee]

Correction. He loved it. He says Mendes hasn't put a foot wrong, praises the action, Lea's performance. It had two moments that genuinely made him jump? And that 'doesn't happen in most horror movies' he watches. He just gave it the movie of the week. Didn't even have anything bad to say about it. The plot is ludicrious, it has more genuinely laugh out loud moments most comedies have these days, gives you everything you want from Bond. Everything I was hoping for.

 

Now I'm excited. It seems like I need Kermodes opinion for my excitment to kick in. I read a post from someone who saw it who said Kermode was sitting in front of him and he sighed at the end and it looked like he didn't like it. Had me really worried, but his review should be up soon. I'm seriously so relieved, he knows his movies and was bang on with Casino, Quantum and Skyfall. The SPECTRE review should be up soon! I was listening to it live so it'll be uploaded at somepoint today for sure.

 

In the mean time though, even if it's for his classic 'Question Of Sport' rant.

 

 

Edited by DamnCoffee, 23 October 2015 - 03:26 PM.

[Hansen]

Was Skyfall as cheerfully reviewed at its time ?

[FlemingBond]

it's a good thing that the plot has lough out loud moments?