Spectre

[nostatic]

In a highly rare move, we went to the theater to see a movie. I won't spoil any plot points (umm, there aren't many ), but we both enjoyed the film. Lots of callbacks to classic Bond, many great (yet not very believable) action sequences, and there actually was a bit of a message folded in.

I would rank it below Casino Royale and Skyfall (which I thought were two of the best Bond films), but way above Quantum of Solace, and worth the price of admission. Plus Christoph Waltz is just plain creepy...

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by nostatic

I would rank it below Casino Royale and Skyfall (which I thought were two of the best Bond films), but way above Quantum of Solace, and worth the price of admission. Plus Christoph Waltz is just plain creepy...

My exact thoughts, down to Waltz's creepiness. Add to that, Bautista was horrible, Monica Bellucci's talent was wasted and they could have done better that Lea Seydoux.

[GH85Carrera]

Were there any explosions and blowin stuff up real good going on or was it the all intellectual Woody Alan type of movie?

I will for sure want to see it.

[Chocaholic]

Didn't like Skyfall. Too touchy-feely and not enough classic Bond style. Good to hear this one was more in keeping with what many want from a Bond movie.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Didn't like Skyfall. Too touchy-feely and not enough classic Bond style. Good to hear this one was more in keeping with what many want from a Bond movie.

I did not care for Skyfall either. Bond failed at all of his missions in that move and he did not get the girl.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by nostatic

many great (yet not very believable) action sequences,

This is getting a bit old in current action films. I think the majority of audiences immediately spot the silly action and over the top effects but film makers continue to pile 'em on. We're not stupid, quit shoveling that crap.

[yellowperil]

Originally Posted by KNS

This is getting a bit old in current action films. I think the majority of audiences immediately spot the silly action and over the top effects but film makers continue to pile 'em on. We're not stupid, quit shoveling that crap.

Amen to that. They need a few less crash and burn, a little more realism and a bit of plot. IMO Also IMO they need a new Bond. This guy pouts too much and looks TOO
much like Vlad Putin.

[5String43]

Review in the LA Times speculates that this probably will be the last film with Daniel Craig as Bond. And it also speculates that this may be the last Bond film ever, contending that "Spectre" wraps up most, if not all, of the plot points suggested in preceding films. I dunno. We plan to see it this weekend.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

My exact thoughts, down to Waltz's creepiness. Add to that, Bautista was horrible, Monica Bellucci's talent was wasted and they could have done better that Lea Seydoux.

fwiw I don't think Bautista was horrible - just not exactly a "developed" character. Then again, he's in the mold of Chen from Dr. No.

Bellucci's character did seem tacked on. They could have cut that whole sequence and gotten a much tighter film.

Don't know that I agree about Seydoux. I really am not into blondes but I found her compelling.

Skyfall is maybe my favorite Bond film precisely because he fails at his mission. That movie had a lot of subtexts about aging, relevance in modern society, and dealing with our past. So definitely more serious, less popcorn, but ymmv.

This one the "message" is much more hamfisted, but no less relevant.

Craig is my favorite bond, followed by Connery. The rest...meh.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by nostatic

fwiw I don't think Bautista was horrible - just not exactly a "developed" character. Then again, he's in the mold of Chen from Dr. No.

Bellucci's character did seem tacked on. They could have cut that whole sequence and gotten a much tighter film.

Don't know that I agree about Seydoux. I really am not into blondes but I found her compelling.

Skyfall is maybe my favorite Bond film precisely because he fails at his mission. That movie had a lot of subtexts about aging, relevance in modern society, and dealing with our past. So definitely more serious, less popcorn, but ymmv.

This one the "message" is much more hamfisted, but no less relevant.

Craig is my favorite bond, followed by Connery. The rest...meh.

Bond is like Superman, no matter how ridiculous the situation, no matter the odds, they are supposed to succeeded in the end.

[nostatic]

Bond did kill the bad guy at the end of Skyfall. So there was some win. Just was a much more ambiguous ending which I like but certainly is not the typical Bond or Hollywood approach.

[nostatic]

This is a good review that talks about some of the meta-themes in Spectre (no real spoilers)

In Spectre, James Bond Battles His Midlife Crisis | WIRED

[dan88911]

Planning to see it tomorrow.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by nostatic

In a highly rare move, we went to the theater to see a movie...

I haven't been in a theatre for at least 10 years but we'll go next Friday afternoon.

[masraum]

We saw it today. We agree that it was not as good as Casino Royale or Skyfall. I'd have to see Quantum of Solace again to know for sure how to rate those two.

Spectre was a good action movie, but not a great movie. They had some nice hat-tips to the old Bonds.

The villain was to the missus and I, not that scary or creepy. Javier Bardem was VERY creepy in Skyfall. The actor that played C, was also an excellent villain (Moriarty) in the BBC Sherlock series. If they'd let Andrew Scott play something similar to Moriarty in Sherlock, it would have made for a much better villain.

I haven't seen "The Martian". I think there's a chance that we would have liked that better, but the missus is a Bond fan (as am I), so that was a no brainer.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Bond did kill the bad guy at the end of Skyfall. So there was some win. Just was a much more ambiguous ending which I like but certainly is not the typical Bond or Hollywood approach.

It was different, but still very good I thought. Sometimes it's nice to have something different.

It could have been worse.

This, IMO is the worst of the worst of the Bond Films, and this is probably the worst action scene from any of them.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by masraum

The villain was to the missus and I, not that scary or creepy. Javier Bardem was VERY creepy in Skyfall.

Agree on this one. Between No Country and Skyfall, Bardem wins the creepy bad guy award in perpituity.

I though Walsh was creepier in Inglorious Basterds. He makes that movie for me. In Spectre I kept waiting for him to really make me squirm but he never really did. He was evil, but not nightmares evil.

Still, far worse ways to spend $30 and 2.5 hours...

[nostatic]

I thought it looked "warm" from the get-go. There is a difference...

Filmmakers Return to 35mm Film for Spectre | Digital Trends

[speeder]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

and they could have done better that Lea Seydoux.

I thought she made the film, the best thing in it by far. I saw it a while back in a private screening and I've had to keep my lips sealed about it up until now. I agree with most reviews that it's *middle of the pack* in terms of modern, (Daniel Craig), Bond flicks but they can't all be Casino Royale. It's actually amazing that they are able to stamp out as many of them at the quality level they've maintained for so long, it's really unparalleled in the world of film franchises.

[nostatic]

We just finished watching Casino Royale. Definitely a much stronger plot, though I think I still prefer Skyfall by a hair as it is a darker film - my wife prefers Casino Royale.

The Spectre theme song is flat out horrid.

Now watching Archer. It is a super-spy kinda weekend...