＂Skyfall＂- Your Opinion?

[jyl]

I liked it more than Quantum, less than Casino. Craig does a great job, as does Dench and Bardem. The locations are suitably exotic. But the story was weak, I don't want to be a spoiler so I won't say more.

[gecc]

I cried...when they shot up the DB5

[Hugh R]

I'm pretty sure they didn't shoot up the DB5, by the way, that was a real DB5, in Goldfinger they called it a DB5, but it was actually the last DB4, that was rebadged, and indistinguishable from the DB5.

I have a counterpart at Sony who is checking for me, but here is my rationale. 1) When the bullets hit the front of the "DB5, they made dents in the paint. Any bullet, even a 22 would have gone right through the aluminum body. 2)they showed bullets hitting the windshield but not going through, see comment #1 above. 3) they showed the roof being blown off, the way a DB4, 5 or 6 was made with a tubular steel frame, the roof acted as a pretty good roll cage, and would not come off, unless they cut it first. My $0.02 on the matter, and I thought the same thing as well until I thought about it. BTW, I used to own a DB4 for 35 years, and I work in motion picture production safety in Hollywood.

Again, I have a colleague at Sony who produced the film that is double checking for me. He wasn't there, but a local UK safety consultant was there.

[jyl]

I assume a non-running replica was shot up, wouldn't you say?

[Hugh R]

Yes, I think so. The driven car was real and the close ups of it parked at his childhood home looked like a real DB5 to me. I'll post specifics when I hear more. OTOH, in Casino Royale, they flipped five Aston Martin DBS for real.

[MFAFF]

H,

Agreed a 'real DB5' would not have withstood an attack by a feather duster (BTDT!).. but James Bond's DB5 is different... the windscreen was armoured...and I think the front was as well (we know about the rising rear bullet screen..).
So all in all very accurate...

You know I think I'll have to watch all those early ones again
(damn... its tough but somebody has to do it...I know htere are those who can give me chapter and verse already....however first hand research is always needed)

They did trash a few DBSes, let alone the Alfas (including a driver I believe)...however the majority of the stunt Vanquishes in the previous iteration (on the ice) were not Astons...

All that said I felt we were treated to too much of JB's baggage....we know he's a dark soul...that much is clear from the first film...it is part of the appeal...the unknown, the mysterious. Bringing light to bear on it lifts that veil and somehow diminishes the mystique.

Mind you Sam Mendes is a very different sort of Director....so it does all fit together in its own way.

[GothingNC]

My daughter and I enjoyed the film.

I thought it was almost as good as Casino Royale.

As the Aston, a minature was used for the final scene.

James Bond Skyfall crew turned to 3D printers for Aston Martin DB5 stunt double - SlashGear

[Schumi]

Saw the movie last night. It was a great movie, lots of bond-themes and old-style music cues ala Sean Connery years, but the story line didn't feel like a bond movie.

GoldenEye is still my #1. This is up there though. Had some very intense and dramatic moments. I thought some of the 'new' character introductions could have been done a bit sneakier though.

And man I called the introduction of the 'new' female character (at the end...) way back in the beginning of the movie, and was waiting the whole film for them to mention what her name was.

Joseph Fiennes was great as he always is in everything.

[gt350mike]

My wife and I saw the movie this weekend and although they spent too much time bridging the characters for the next release, we still loved it; location shots were amazing, loved seeing the DB5 again (and its stunt double), plus Javier was a great villain. On the negative side, the theme song was forgettable and the girls were about as sexy as an old maid. Not sure how everyone else feels, but Eva Green from Casino Royale was one of the top Bond women.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by gt350mike

On the negative side, the theme song was forgettable

Saw the movie in an XD theater and thought Adele's vocals were AMAZING.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by Schumi

And man I called the introduction of the 'new' female character (at the end...) way back in the beginning of the movie, and was waiting the whole film for them to mention what her name was.

There was a burst of surprised laughter in the theater when that happened and I was thinking "seriously - you didn't see that coming?"

[Steve Carlton]

So, what's the back story on that? Miss Moneypenny finally find a man?

[jyl]

After seeing Skyfall, I have a strong desire to purchase a new suit.

[twait01]

Yes my suits are looking distinctly out of date after seeing that. I enjoyed it greatly, almost as entertaining as Casino Royale. This is a different movie than the usual Bond fare with the dark personal themes. Not worse, just a little different. Almost like they're trying to out Bourne the Bourne series with the tortured hero.

[Evans, Marv]

The wife & I saw it yesterday. We both liked it, not that it was a great movie, but it was a Bond movie which made it worth seeing. I liked the intermittent theme music & thought when he opened the garage door to reveal the DB5(4?) was one of the best parts. I saw the first movie in New York right after it came out. I think the new Bond is pretty good compared to some of the pansy types of the past.

[fanaudical]

Just saw it tonight. I think Bardem plays the creepiest Bond villian ever...

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by MRM

The Bond as written by Ian Fleming was tormented by demons of the past. In the books, especially early on, he was much crueler, though equally open to great mercies and romantic flourishes. In fact, one of his lingering grievances with MI6 and M was that he was originally considered little more than an assassin, a killer, an expendable thug that the Service didn't care too much whether he lived or died, no matter the quality of the service he provided. The original Double Os were a response to Soviet spies operating in the West that couldn not be arrested and brought to justice the usual way. They were to be identified and killed - hense the need for Double Os. Bond did something in the War that got him selected to be one of the first Double Os. This was a mixed blessing and a mixed compliment to him.

He's had problems his whole life, from watching his parents die to his unexplained but traumatic war experience, to losing Tracy to his ongoing concern that he is stuck in a job he'll do until he dies, in which he is not fully appreciated, and for which his total loyalty is required to people who will not give any loyalty in return (sound familiar, anyone?).

On Her Majesty's Secret Service is probably the best example of the original Bond as written by Fleming, although George Lazenby was clearly the weakest actor ever to play Bond, even considering Timothy Dalton. Bond is dark and brooding and smart and cunning and is the match for all the nefarious enemies, foreign and domestic that he has to encounter. But he is never common or uncouth: He is Bond.

I very much disagree that Lazenby was the weakest Bond actor..
Fleming wrote Bond to be a dandy, like Fleming was. He even said that he wrote Bond to his liking.
Bond smoked the same packs of cigarettes, used the same toiletries etc etc.

So all in all, Lazenby was the closest thing to Fleming's Bond.
And he had the saddest script, so now he's called the weakest actor to play Bond, which is really not a fair assesment.

And i really don't get why the current one is so often called "the best Bond according to the books" when in fact he's a brute force tool..
he's not in any way the Fleming Dandy Bond from the books. He's the opposite.
He does not look like anything that came out of Eton college.. he's not refined enough..

[911-32]

I saw the actual DB5 used in the movie - as driven by the original Stig, Ben Collins who did most of the stunt driving - a couple of weeks ago. After the London premiere, it was driven straight to the RAC Club and parked in the foyer. Lovely car and no bullet holes

[quaz]

I am sorry, but every time I now see Bardem on film the only thing that I hear is the Selio Kontos song from American Dad played over and over again.

[motion]

Originally Posted by 911-32

I saw the actual DB5 used in the movie - as driven by the original Stig, Ben Collins who did most of the stunt driving - a couple of weeks ago. After the London premiere, it was driven straight to the RAC Club and parked in the foyer. Lovely car and no bullet holes

Very cool!

I enjoyed it... production was very good. I don't care so much for the latest Bond, though. Not enough of a gentleman. Villain was awesome. Plot had plenty of holes, and some stuff was so corny the audience was laughing. That shouldn't happen in a Bond movie. Not enough gadgets and car chase scenes. Not enough beautiful women, either.