Register  |  Sign In
View unanswered posts | View active topics It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 7:07 am



Reply to topic  [ 59 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
 Spectre 

What grade would you give this film?
A 29%  29%  [ 5 ]
B 29%  29%  [ 5 ]
C 24%  24%  [ 4 ]
D 18%  18%  [ 3 ]
F 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
Total votes : 17

 Spectre 
Author Message
Let's Call It A Bromance
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:22 pm
Posts: 12333
Post Spectre
Spectre

Image

Quote:
Spectre (2015) is the twenty-fourth James Bond film produced by Eon Productions. It features Daniel Craig in his fourth performance as James Bond, and Christoph Waltz as Ernst Stavro Blofeld, with the film marking the character's re-introduction into the series. It was directed by Sam Mendes as his second James Bond film following Skyfall, and was written by John Logan, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Jez Butterworth. It is distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and Columbia Pictures. With a budget of $300 million, it is tied with Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End as the second most expensive film ever made.

The story features James Bond's first encounter with the global criminal organisation Spectre, marking the group's first appearance in an Eon Productions film since 1971's Diamonds Are Forever, and tying Craig's series of films together with an over-arching storyline. Several recurring James Bond characters, including M, Q and Miss Moneypenny return, with the new additions of Léa Seydoux as Dr. Madeleine Swann, Dave Bautista as Mr. Hinx, and Monica Bellucci as Lucia Sciarra.

Spectre was released on 26 October 2015 in the United Kingdom on the same night as the world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall in London, followed by a worldwide release. The film has received mostly positive early reviews from critics.


Fri Oct 30, 2015 6:21 pm
Profile WWW
Pure Phase
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:33 am
Posts: 34865
Location: Maryland
Post Re: Spectre
With a clue found during an unauthorized operation in Mexico City, stalwart assassin and spy James Bond (Daniel Craig) pursues a mysterious organization as vast as it is nefarious. The search spirits him from London to Rome to Tangier and beyond, uniting him with a beautiful doctor (Léa Seydoux) and drawing him closer to a foreboding figure from his past (Christoph Waltz). For 45 minutes, perhaps an hour, this is a solid and well-crafted Bond film, directed by Sam Mendes with technical aplomb, if not an overt sense of enthusiasm or joie de Bond. Much of the Day of the Dead sequence at the start unfolds in a single shot, gorgeous and coiling, and it perfectly reintroduces the audience to the athletic, well-tailored, slightly haunted Bond played by Craig. The Roman interlude is also dynamic, buoyed by menacing nocturnal photography and a melancholy, sexy, too-brief performance by Monica Bellucci as the widow of a criminal recently pushed by Bond from a helicopter in midair.

Then, however, the film (lasting an ungodly-feeling two-and-a-half hours) loses steam...and loses more steam...and then its mind. The molasses-paced second act is interminable and discursive; momentum lolls just as it should reach fever pitch. And the third act, not enlivened by a typecast and underutilized Waltz, is deeply uninspired and a tad daft in the way it pins the crux of international malfeasance to a troubled period during Bond's childhood. It is a misguided contrivance in a film also plagued by tonal uncertainty; the general air of Bond-in-the-drone-era severity sits uneasily alongside forced nods to the naughty-lad camp humor of the franchise's Roger Moore era. This is never more groan-inducing than when a harsh, well-staged fistfight on a train instantly segues into a sex scene.

During one third-act scene, Bond surveys a room of photographs. We see, among others, the faces of Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, and Eva Green. The (harebrained) idea: the events of Casino Royale and Skyfall were, it is revealed, orchestrated by the Waltz antagonist, and he is now using the images to taunt and demoralize his foe. EVERYTHING HAS BUILT TO THIS! Cue the dramatic music! The (sad) truth: it is truly a hallway of reminders, reminders of far superior films.

C+

_________________
ImageImageImage

1. The Lost City of Z - 2. A Cure for Wellness - 3. Phantom Thread - 4. T2 Trainspotting - 5. Detroit - 6. Good Time - 7. The Beguiled - 8. The Florida Project - 9. Logan and 10. Molly's Game


Fri Nov 06, 2015 12:48 am
Profile
Pure Phase
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:33 am
Posts: 34865
Location: Maryland
Post Re: Spectre
This is a coincidence, but the scenes near the end with Bond and M and Blofeld and co. running around London almost feel copy and pasted from the third act of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation.

Blofeld is handled so poorly in general. I s'pose Waltz does his Waltz bit well enough (I have seen it described as "fruity menace"), but he leaves a very minor impression. And his motive (papa loved James more!) is so, so deflating and misjudged. And the, "I now call myself...Ernst Stavro Blofeld!" reveal is super-reminiscent of the widely criticized game Star Trek into Darkness played. (He is not Khan, ha ha, nudge nudge, ha ha.) Blofeld just becomes a fan-servicing name in a vacuum.

_________________
ImageImageImage

1. The Lost City of Z - 2. A Cure for Wellness - 3. Phantom Thread - 4. T2 Trainspotting - 5. Detroit - 6. Good Time - 7. The Beguiled - 8. The Florida Project - 9. Logan and 10. Molly's Game


Fri Nov 06, 2015 1:07 am
Profile
Keeping it Light
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2015 8:06 am
Posts: 11185
Location: Bright Falls
Post Re: Spectre
Interesting, nice review. Disappointing to see that Rotten might have it at the right end, but I'm still looking forward to finding out myself.


Fri Nov 06, 2015 1:09 am
Profile
Rachel McAdams Fan
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:13 am
Posts: 14544
Location: LA / NYC
Post Re: Spectre
While not as sensational as Skyfall (which is easily my favorite Bond film), this was a blast and highly entertaining and thrilling. All the action setpieces were great - I LOVED the opening sequence and the train scene. I also think it tied together the Daniel Craig movies very nicely so that if he doesn't return, this would be a satisfying ending for this particular Bond. Also the climax was great - I don't get the complaints people seem to have over it. A-


Fri Nov 06, 2015 1:31 am
Profile YIM
Grill
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 6:38 pm
Posts: 3682
Location: Here
Post Re: Spectre
Loved it.
A

List! With longer review and discussions to follow.

1. Casino Royale
2. Spectre
3. Skyfall
4. Quantum of Solace

Yeah I made a whole list too haha

_________________
i'm back


Fri Nov 06, 2015 2:23 am
Profile
Extraordinary
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:25 am
Posts: 18843
Location: San Diego
Post Re: Spectre
Do you guys recall what M said C stood for? My friends are saying careless but I heard another word.


Fri Nov 06, 2015 3:23 am
Profile
Extraordinary
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:25 am
Posts: 18843
Location: San Diego
Post Re: Spectre
I didn't like this all that much unfortunately. Pretty dull. I think you pretty much covered what I thought David.

The "romance" between Bond and Lea Seydoux felt so unnatural. I liked her character when she was first introduced but as she somehow falls for Bond she becomes less of a character and more of a standin.


Fri Nov 06, 2015 3:31 am
Profile
We had our time together
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 4:36 am
Posts: 13269
Location: Vienna
Post Re: Spectre
I thought it was fucking fantastic. Maybe better than Skyfall. I had a blast watching this.


Fri Nov 06, 2015 6:01 am
Profile WWW
Pure Phase
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:33 am
Posts: 34865
Location: Maryland
Post Re: Spectre
publicenemy#1 wrote:
Do you guys recall what M said C stood for? My friends are saying careless but I heard another word.

Yes, it is careless. It would be funnier if they just let the moment stay ambiguous because my (laughing) audience's minds went to another, more vicious c word, I believe.

A few more observations:

1. Léa Seydoux is incredibly gorgeous and a talented performer (as evidenced by, among other films, Farewell, My Queen and Blue Is the Warmest Color), but she has zero chemistry with Daniel Craig. It is SO unbelievable and almost...creepy when she becomes instantly Hot for 007 after the train fight. If the creative team were positing the Bond/Madeleine relationship as a poignant and redemptive counterpart to the doomed love in Casino Royale, they badly failed. Seydoux just registers as another fleeting and ornamental Bond girl, and Craig's testy, sexy, layered chemistry with Eva Green remains singular.

2. People chided Skyfall a bit for lifting storytelling and structural elements from Christopher Nolan's Batman films. So it is amusing how this film almost says, "Wait, we forgot two." One is the divisive, plot-propelling introduction of a new and vast surveillance program. And the save-yourself-or-die-trying-to-save-her race against the bomb at the end is at least slightly reminiscent of the Joker's murder of Rachel.

3. The idea of Christoph Waltz's Blofeld being behind the events in the prior Craig entries falls flat in general, but it is particularly wrong in relation to Javier Bardem's Silva, who seems such a charismatic, fractured, and insane free agent driven by his burning hatred of M and the British government. It is neutering in a way to recast him as the mere pawn of a heavy as milquetoast as the one played by Waltz.

_________________
ImageImageImage

1. The Lost City of Z - 2. A Cure for Wellness - 3. Phantom Thread - 4. T2 Trainspotting - 5. Detroit - 6. Good Time - 7. The Beguiled - 8. The Florida Project - 9. Logan and 10. Molly's Game


Fri Nov 06, 2015 8:37 am
Profile
You must have big rats
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:28 pm
Posts: 92093
Location: Bonn, Germany
Post Re: Spectre
David wrote:
publicenemy#1 wrote:
Do you guys recall what M said C stood for? My friends are saying careless but I heard another word.

Yes, it is careless. It would be funnier if they just let the moment stay ambiguous because my (laughing) audience's minds went to another, more vicious c word, I believe.

A few more observations:

1. Léa Seydoux is incredibly gorgeous and a talented performer (as evidenced by, among other films, Farewell, My Queen and Blue Is the Warmest Color), but she has zero chemistry with Daniel Craig. It is SO unbelievable and almost...creepy when she becomes instantly Hot for 007 after the train fight. If the creative team were positing the Bond/Madeleine relationship as a poignant and redemptive counterpart to the doomed love in Casino Royale, they badly failed. Seydoux just registers as another fleeting and ornamental Bond girl, and Craig's testy, sexy, layered chemistry with Eva Green remains singular.

2. People chided Skyfall a bit for lifting storytelling and structural elements from Christopher Nolan's Batman films. So it is amusing how this film almost says, "Wait, we forgot two." One is the divisive, plot-propelling introduction of a new and vast surveillance program. And the save-yourself-or-die-trying-to-save-her race against the bomb at the end is at least slightly reminiscent of the Joker's murder of Rachel.

3. The idea of Christoph Waltz's Blofeld being behind the events in the prior Craig entries falls flat in general, but it is particularly wrong in relation to Javier Bardem's Silva, who seems such a charismatic, fractured, and insane free agent driven by his burning hatred of M and the British government. It is neutering in a way to recast him as the mere pawn of a heavy as milquetoast as the one played by Waltz.


I liked the film more than you did (albrie tI was disappointed still), but many of your criticisms are spot on.

The whole "Oh, there is a bigger organization behind EVERYTHING"-idea is just silly and almost random.

I mean they could just as well have ANOTHER organization in the next film that controlled Blofeld and all the other ones. Ad infinitum. I mean there was no indication or implication whatsoever in the previous films that anyone was behind all that.

Also, I found it amusing how the film very obviously tried to ignore Quantum of Solace. Even when, in the finale, Bond walks past the phtographs of Vesper, Le Chiffre, Silva etc. there is no photo of Dominic Greene, hehe. Ironically, QoS is the film Spectre is most similar to.

_________________
The greatest thing on earth is to love and to be loved in return!

Image


Fri Nov 06, 2015 8:59 am
Profile WWW
Pure Phase
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:33 am
Posts: 34865
Location: Maryland
Post Re: Spectre
It almost recreates Quantum of Solace's desert-compound finale.

_________________
ImageImageImage

1. The Lost City of Z - 2. A Cure for Wellness - 3. Phantom Thread - 4. T2 Trainspotting - 5. Detroit - 6. Good Time - 7. The Beguiled - 8. The Florida Project - 9. Logan and 10. Molly's Game


Fri Nov 06, 2015 9:28 am
Profile
Forum General
User avatar

Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2004 1:53 pm
Posts: 8626
Location: Syracuse, NY
Post Re: Spectre
I found it enjoyable enough. I do agree it was definitely long and I felt a bit restless but it was entertaining and fun for the most part. People seemed happy on the way out too, I heard quite a few positive comments and there was some clapping. It should have positive WOM.

B-

_________________
Top 10 Films of 2016

1. La La Land
2. Other People
3. Nocturnal Animals
4. Swiss Army Man
5. Manchester by the Sea
6. The Edge of Seventeen
7. Sing Street
8. Indignation
9. The Lobster
10. Hell or High Water


Fri Nov 06, 2015 9:32 am
Profile YIM WWW
You must have big rats
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:28 pm
Posts: 92093
Location: Bonn, Germany
Post Re: Spectre
David wrote:
It almost recreates Quantum of Solace's desert-compound finale.


In fact, one of my colleagues was wondering during the screening, whether it was the exact same compund, hehe.

Also, I love Waltz in Inglourious Basterds and Django, but this should be the final straw of casting him as a villain. He acts well, but his performance is always the same. He essentially playd Hans Landa in Django as well. And he plays version of that very character in so many other films now. It has to stop.

_________________
The greatest thing on earth is to love and to be loved in return!

Image


Fri Nov 06, 2015 9:40 am
Profile WWW
Extraordinary
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:25 am
Posts: 18843
Location: San Diego
Post Re: Spectre
Waltz is completely wasted here. I think the script is to blame as he doesn't really have much to do.


Fri Nov 06, 2015 12:49 pm
Profile
Grill
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 6:38 pm
Posts: 3682
Location: Here
Post Re: Spectre
Things I loved:
The performances
Mr. Hinx as the henchman. He was badass.
The On Her Majesty's Secret Service tone (the clinic, snow, Blofeld, new love, etc.)
The opening in Mexico
The Train fight
Lea Seydoux and Naomi Harris :wub2: :wub2:
Q in the field
Just having Blofeld and not killing him at the end
The Vesper callbacks
The cinematography and beautiful locations
Finnes. Finnes. Finnes. He is a wonderful M.
I know there are others but this'll do.

Things I didn't like:
Andrew Scott
The theme. Sam Smith man. I do NOT like that song.
The length (it felt like the 2 1/2 hours it is)
Having Silva be apart of SPECTRE. He is the only villain from previous movies that it doesn't fit well. The others are very believable but I think Silva should've stayed just a rouge agent hellbent on revenge.
No skiing! More of a megafan wish.
I definitely thought about Hans Landa while watching Waltz. Oh well.

Here is my full ranking of all 24 films. I have re watched all of them over the course of two years:

1. Casino Royale
2. From Russia with Love
3. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
4. Goldeneye
5. Spectre
6. Live and Let Die
7. Goldfinger
8. Skyfall
9. The Man with the Golden Gun
10. Dr. No
11. Quantum of Solace
12. License to Kill
13. The Spy Who Loved Me
14. You Only Live Twice
15. The Living Daylights
16. For Your Eyes Only
17. Thunderball
18. Tomorrow Never Dies
19. A View to a Kill
20. Diamonds Are Forever
21. Octopussy
22. Moonraker
23. The World is Not Enough
24. Die Another Day

Sorry for the long post. I'm just so happy with more Bond!

_________________
i'm back


Fri Nov 06, 2015 12:55 pm
Profile
Superfreak
User avatar

Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2005 12:54 am
Posts: 21876
Location: Places
Post Re: Spectre
Not a bad film and better than QOS, but really, its about nothing. Blofeld feels like no threat, all the romance is forced...Hinx is just stupid. His entrance is such a Joker rip off to boot.

_________________
Ari Emmanuel wrote:
I'd rather marry lindsay Lohan than represent Mel Gibson.


Sat Nov 07, 2015 1:08 am
Profile
---------
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 10:42 pm
Posts: 11808
Location: Kansas City, Kansas
Post Re: Spectre
I've never really enjoyed any Bond films in the past, but for some reason, this one I liked. I thought the screentime amount for Waltz for perfect.

The only thing that bothered me was his lack of any realistic plan in London.

B+


Sat Nov 07, 2015 2:14 am
Profile
On autopilot for the summer
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 10:14 pm
Posts: 21628
Location: Walking around somewhere
Post Re: Spectre
Excel wrote:
Not a bad film and better than QOS, but really, its about nothing. Blofeld feels like no threat, all the romance is forced...Hinx is just stupid. His entrance is such a Joker rip off to boot.

Wambulance is on its way.

_________________
Image

Chippy wrote:
As always, fuck Thegun.


Chippy wrote:
I want to live vicariously through you, Thegun!


Sat Nov 07, 2015 5:21 am
Profile
Extraordinary

Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2005 1:53 pm
Posts: 11454
Post Re: Spectre
If you're going to bring the biggest Bond villain of all time you better bring it.

Not even close. David touched on most of my key issues with film. This film was all downhill after the opening sequence really. You know you have a bad movie when James Bond and the Bond girl barely mesh well together. Mike Myers as Dr. Evil probably would have done a better job as Blofeld compared to Waltz here in all honesty.

Also Sam Smith's whiny theme song? Guess it set the tone of the movie well in a bad way.

Outside of Bautista, the mouse may have done some of the best acting in this movie. Or Blofeld's cat. Or the octopus in the opening sequence?

D


Sun Nov 08, 2015 5:20 am
Profile WWW
100% That Bitch
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:42 pm
Posts: 16894
Location: Monterrey, Mexico
Post Re: Spectre
The Day of The Dead is nothing like that. LOL

Besides that I found it good.

B-

_________________

Image
Tongue Pop!


I kneel with Magnus.


Sun Nov 08, 2015 2:22 pm
Profile
Superfreak
User avatar

Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2005 12:54 am
Posts: 21876
Location: Places
Post Re: Spectre
WHY does Bond attack the helicopter pilot mid-air?

Everyone in my audience as like "Is he retarded?".

_________________
Ari Emmanuel wrote:
I'd rather marry lindsay Lohan than represent Mel Gibson.


Sun Nov 08, 2015 7:50 pm
Profile
The Wall
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 10:50 am
Posts: 16163
Location: Croatia
Post Re: Spectre
Excel wrote:
WHY does Bond attack the helicopter pilot mid-air?

Everyone in my audience as like "Is he retarded?".

Action as a whole is the most retarded Bond probably ever had. There's literally no reason for any of action scenes that went on except for the last one in the old/new headquarters. The rest were just token action scenes.


Mon Nov 09, 2015 7:22 am
Profile WWW
On autopilot for the summer
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 10:14 pm
Posts: 21628
Location: Walking around somewhere
Post Re: Spectre
O wrote:
If you're going to bring the biggest Bond villain of all time you better bring it.

Not even close. David touched on most of my key issues with film. This film was all downhill after the opening sequence really. You know you have a bad movie when James Bond and the Bond girl barely mesh well together. Mike Myers as Dr. Evil probably would have done a better job as Blofeld compared to Waltz here in all honesty.

Also Sam Smith's whiny theme song? Guess it set the tone of the movie well in a bad way.

Outside of Bautista, the mouse may have done some of the best acting in this movie. Or Blofeld's cat. Or the octopus in the opening sequence?

D


I really feel like Blofield has always been terrible. I mean literally he has all of 5 lines in the first 3 films. Then Pleasance is only in the end and has been parodied to death. Maybe Terry Salvalis is the quintessential, but that is a rough film. But seriously this villain has always been fucking terrible. It's a great idea on text but on film he has never been justified correctly. Waltz will go down as the best of a truly underwritten character. Anyone who thinks otherwise is just held up on nostalgia.

_________________
Image

Chippy wrote:
As always, fuck Thegun.


Chippy wrote:
I want to live vicariously through you, Thegun!


Tue Nov 10, 2015 5:01 pm
Profile
Grill
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 6:38 pm
Posts: 3682
Location: Here
Post Re: Spectre
Quote:
Maybe Terry Salvalis is the quintessential, but that is a rough film.


How DARE you

_________________
i'm back


Tue Nov 10, 2015 8:46 pm
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Reply to topic   [ 59 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 47 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group.
Designed by STSoftware for PTF.