Previous Bond films have been recently screened on British TV, no doubt to coincide with the cinema release of the latest Bond film; 'Spectre'. So it is then that this reviewer has once again recently seen 'Quantum of Solace' (2008), and 'Skyfall' (2012).
'Quantum' had Mathieu Amalric playing a bad guy controlling a powerful organization, which amongst other things, had seized control of all of the water in a desert. The film was classic Bond, Mathieu himself was very good in his role. As he was in the Hitchcockian-like 'Love is the Perfect Crime' 2013.
'Skyfall' also had a powerful organization, this time headed-up by Javier Bardem. However, this organization was merely used by the camp rogue-agent Bardem, with his Mummy-issues, as his own private vehicle to exact his revenge. It had an excellent opening song by Adele, an interesting 'first-time' confrontation, and also some interesting origin back-stories. Despite this however, there was a distasteful 'spilt whisky' scene, that was alien to the Bond universe, and the recent TV showing, made me notice, what I had not picked up at the cinema showing; namely that the analysis of the Moneypenny bullet seemed illogical.
Thus fully prepped in the Bond universe, this reviewer was looking forward to a cinema visit to see the latest recorded exploits of Agent Bond, James Bond, in the newly released 'Spectre'.
The film is rated 12A in the UK, thus is suitable viewing for teenagers and older persons. It opens with the familiar MGM and Columbia icons but they are somewhat dark, perhaps to suggest the dark plot that will unfold. Most of the film is actually shot in a golden hue that no doubt is meant to suggest a classic Bond-era look and theme. Which it does, though for me that hue was just a spot too golden at times.
After the studio icons the film opens proper with a scene set in Mexico. Trailers have shown parts of this scene but they are not able to show the full majesty of the scene. It is set in Mexico, as it celebrates 'The Day of the Dead'. However it is not the colour or the garishness that catch the eye but rather the opening tracking-shot itself. Noticing it may take you out of the picture a bit, but it is perhaps one of the most impressive tracking shots ever filmed and you can only gawp at it in all it's majesty. It is a bravura piece of work by Director Sam Ramis, (who previously directed 'Skyfall'), comparable to the very best by Alfred Hitchcock or Martin Scorsese.
As the trailers show, Agent Bond claims that he was on holiday but it seems that rather he has gone rogue. He then proceeds through the rest of the film looking for people and finding them, going into buildings and then coming out of them. He travels the world doing this and much of the filming of this is very good. London and Rome in particular are two cities where many great iconic scenes and key locations are shown. The overall effect being of watching a glossy travel ad. Then there are the buildings. There seems to be almost a fetish about the buildings in the film. Buildings are approached, we seem them in all of their grandeur, they are entered, and we have a scene with tension building. However these scenes just go on far too long, there is no real tension, after which the building is easily and quickly exited. The entire film seems little more than a collection of set-pieces of entering buildings that are stunning for various reasons.
Why Bond looks for someone is never logically explained. How this leads to the next scene is also tenuous too. The action of James Bond's fellow agency members is not believable, realistic, or make sense. This also applies to members of other agencies, as well as to the members of the evil organization too.
Why Bond should look for these people he searches for, and why others should care if he finds them, is just unbelievable nonsense. This just went on and on, and was incomprehensible. After about a good half of this film, a couple of people walked out. I cannot blame them. This was such a stupidly written plot. There were some interesting plot twists but most could have been predicted before they happened. The chase scenes were rather unrealistic and as there was no real sense of a threat of danger, they were thus unexciting and uninteresting. By contrast, the fight scenes were brutal and good. There was a little humour, but like the action and the plot, these all seemed a little forced as if they were trying too hard, thus the overall effect was a little silly.
Of the actors, Daniel Craig was excellent as Bond. This Bond is now experienced and mature, with a hint of greying hair. He is also a spot cynical. It was a fine performance. Rory Kinnear, son of Roy, continues in the role he previously played in 'Quantum' and 'Skyfall'. Ralph Feinnes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw also return to their 'Skyfall' roles. Andrew Scott is good in his role too. We get a very solid performance from Dave Bautista, and also from Lea Seydoux too.
The trailer for 'Spectre' suggested a spot too much action for my taste, in reality some of the talky scenes reminded me of 'Wacky Races' and 'Sons and Daughters', ( I will leave you dear reader, to try to spot which ones those were), and aching for more action instead of all of the exposition. The film opened and closed well, those scenes could not be bettered and as such are a fine tribute to all involved. However, sadly, most of the central core of the film was illogical and unbelievable, and confusing, thus frankly, ending up as boring.
OK. 5/10.
'Quantum' had Mathieu Amalric playing a bad guy controlling a powerful organization, which amongst other things, had seized control of all of the water in a desert. The film was classic Bond, Mathieu himself was very good in his role. As he was in the Hitchcockian-like 'Love is the Perfect Crime' 2013.
'Skyfall' also had a powerful organization, this time headed-up by Javier Bardem. However, this organization was merely used by the camp rogue-agent Bardem, with his Mummy-issues, as his own private vehicle to exact his revenge. It had an excellent opening song by Adele, an interesting 'first-time' confrontation, and also some interesting origin back-stories. Despite this however, there was a distasteful 'spilt whisky' scene, that was alien to the Bond universe, and the recent TV showing, made me notice, what I had not picked up at the cinema showing; namely that the analysis of the Moneypenny bullet seemed illogical.
Thus fully prepped in the Bond universe, this reviewer was looking forward to a cinema visit to see the latest recorded exploits of Agent Bond, James Bond, in the newly released 'Spectre'.
The film is rated 12A in the UK, thus is suitable viewing for teenagers and older persons. It opens with the familiar MGM and Columbia icons but they are somewhat dark, perhaps to suggest the dark plot that will unfold. Most of the film is actually shot in a golden hue that no doubt is meant to suggest a classic Bond-era look and theme. Which it does, though for me that hue was just a spot too golden at times.
After the studio icons the film opens proper with a scene set in Mexico. Trailers have shown parts of this scene but they are not able to show the full majesty of the scene. It is set in Mexico, as it celebrates 'The Day of the Dead'. However it is not the colour or the garishness that catch the eye but rather the opening tracking-shot itself. Noticing it may take you out of the picture a bit, but it is perhaps one of the most impressive tracking shots ever filmed and you can only gawp at it in all it's majesty. It is a bravura piece of work by Director Sam Ramis, (who previously directed 'Skyfall'), comparable to the very best by Alfred Hitchcock or Martin Scorsese.
As the trailers show, Agent Bond claims that he was on holiday but it seems that rather he has gone rogue. He then proceeds through the rest of the film looking for people and finding them, going into buildings and then coming out of them. He travels the world doing this and much of the filming of this is very good. London and Rome in particular are two cities where many great iconic scenes and key locations are shown. The overall effect being of watching a glossy travel ad. Then there are the buildings. There seems to be almost a fetish about the buildings in the film. Buildings are approached, we seem them in all of their grandeur, they are entered, and we have a scene with tension building. However these scenes just go on far too long, there is no real tension, after which the building is easily and quickly exited. The entire film seems little more than a collection of set-pieces of entering buildings that are stunning for various reasons.
Why Bond looks for someone is never logically explained. How this leads to the next scene is also tenuous too. The action of James Bond's fellow agency members is not believable, realistic, or make sense. This also applies to members of other agencies, as well as to the members of the evil organization too.
Why Bond should look for these people he searches for, and why others should care if he finds them, is just unbelievable nonsense. This just went on and on, and was incomprehensible. After about a good half of this film, a couple of people walked out. I cannot blame them. This was such a stupidly written plot. There were some interesting plot twists but most could have been predicted before they happened. The chase scenes were rather unrealistic and as there was no real sense of a threat of danger, they were thus unexciting and uninteresting. By contrast, the fight scenes were brutal and good. There was a little humour, but like the action and the plot, these all seemed a little forced as if they were trying too hard, thus the overall effect was a little silly.
Of the actors, Daniel Craig was excellent as Bond. This Bond is now experienced and mature, with a hint of greying hair. He is also a spot cynical. It was a fine performance. Rory Kinnear, son of Roy, continues in the role he previously played in 'Quantum' and 'Skyfall'. Ralph Feinnes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw also return to their 'Skyfall' roles. Andrew Scott is good in his role too. We get a very solid performance from Dave Bautista, and also from Lea Seydoux too.
The trailer for 'Spectre' suggested a spot too much action for my taste, in reality some of the talky scenes reminded me of 'Wacky Races' and 'Sons and Daughters', ( I will leave you dear reader, to try to spot which ones those were), and aching for more action instead of all of the exposition. The film opened and closed well, those scenes could not be bettered and as such are a fine tribute to all involved. However, sadly, most of the central core of the film was illogical and unbelievable, and confusing, thus frankly, ending up as boring.
OK. 5/10.