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I don't envy any production team putting something off that scale together in a city like Rome. But its biggest crime for me is that it totally plays against Craig's strengths in terms of how he plays Bond. Far too blaisé. And that's down to Mendes. I'm honestly not sure where all the money went.
Same goes for the plane chase. The logic Bond uses during that pursuit is extremely questionable. If only it were a ski-chase instead. Bond on skis versus 4x4s.
Maybe. I suppose we'll never know. At least we can agree on both the script and the action stuff needing a lift after SP.
I agree and whole-heartedly so. But it's like anything in this franchise. They make YOLT, so they try OHMSS next; OHMSS was seen as a down-turn, they bring back King Connery; TMWTGG was a HUGE disappointment, EoN resurrects with TSWLM; MR was too much, so they do FYEO; LTK was seen as a disappointment and the next film has a new actor and GE is born; DAD over-stepped the boundaries of respectable Bond adventures, they come back with CR...
SP was a misstep , like any of their others-- it doesn't concern me. It would only concern me if Mendes was was back. They always come back stronger after a misstep.
Remember, @CraigMooreOHMSS ... Bond does has a particular "hobby".......
Resurrection, @peter
I really should upgrade to the 4K version, though the Bluray taken from the 4K master looks phenomenal. T2 gets better with age for me, probably down to the fact it's not like the scattergun effects in most films of today.
The plane chase of spectre is far superior to the helicopter chase of MI fallout. Hell the helicopter Pts of spectre is probably better too.
That finale of QOS is something that is just pure insanity and I’ve never seen something like that in a film since. Just a massive set exploding and two men fighting it out, one with an axe.
Fallout does have a super cool bathroom fight, slightly better than the train fight of spectre.
Okay.
But overall the action in bond films is unparalled.
Movies just aren’t able to do exciting action like bond and Fallout is the only film that has come even remotely close.
I really, really don't think so. The helicopter stuff in SP was fine, but without the roll it's nothing to write home about.
The plane chase is embarrassing.
Agreed. That something extra is nearly everything when it comes to action spectacle imho. More than the action itself. Why? Well, because we've pretty much seen it all by now. What's there left to do? So it's all about the details, the reactions, the surprises, the twists.. That's what really makes a sequence for me.
I've gone on and on recently about Cruise in the MI films, but that guy gets it. In recent interviews cast members have commented on how McQ and he agonized over little details in the action sequences and in every instance contemplated how the audience would react and whether the experience would feel authentic for the character. The results speak for themselves.
The now famous opera sequence fight in MI:RN is an example. It's not so much about the fight there, but more about Cruise and his reactions to being overwhelmed by a massive opponent. Shades of Roger Moore, who was the best at this. The way it was interspersed with Faust's attempt to take out the Ambassador made for a thrilling sequence. There's the glove sequence on the side of the Burj in Dubai in GP as well. In the latest film, there's a funny scene when
I agree. The MI sequences weren't all that original, but they were really done well.
When was the last time that Bond got close to this?
Yeah I mean especially when you compare it to the car chase of QOS, it really isn’t exciting
Or any other car chase for that matter.
I like to see another second united directer who replace Alexander Witt and on this moment look like there ask the guy from Safe House. Already worked Spectre, but then not that work.
Chris Corbould stil should be consider to replaced too. All this for not having Nolan Batman or Arrow again.
I like car chase in Rome (as part of the meeting), like austria scenes in there and Q and haven't mind if Lee Smith returned. Exept tdk end of course and stil intrest or he mabey removed extented footage of the villian lair.
I'd go as far as saying that the action in CR is greater than in any other Bond film. Not a single set-piece or fist fight feels shoehorned (the film never could've been an exact copy of the book) or uninspired. It's visceral, character driven, and has a score that matches it 1:1.
QoS starts off terribly with editing so bad it makes me question the editor's life choices. But after the awful plane chase, the editing steadies and we get some great little moments such as the SWAT scene, the fight with Greene (yes, I enjoy it) and even Camille's brawl. And even though I hate most of the action set-pieces in this film, they aren't "lacking" in the sense that there are many instances of action.
Regarding Skyfall, there are countless action scenes that are both exhilarating and beautiful to look at. No other Bond film even comes close in terms of cinematography and it really pays off in the action. The silhouette fight, including the build-up, is excellently done. It forces you to focus on every punch and kick. During the finale, the orange of the muzzle flashes and fire contrast well with the teal blue night environment and it's this atmosphere which makes the action that much better.
Now as I said earlier, SP is the only reason we're talking about the modern action lacking. Only the train fight is above par to be honest. Everything else feels stale and detached. Reminds me of FYEO, actually. I can't pinpoint whose fault it is, but I don't find these scenes exciting or well thought out. It's not helped with its pathetic excuse of a score either. Newman lazily unified his Pixar scores together with SF's. The color grading in SP is also distracting enough.
So 3/4 of the 'modern' films aren't action lacking, but yes, the most recent entry was.
Tonally, I don't think this works so well with Craig Bond. The guy's basic looks suggest hard boxer-like physicality, in contrast to Roger Moore for instance. There's something about the way that fight plays out, and the strange one-liner delivery afterwards, which just doesn't work for me. Unfortunately, it was a precursor to many scenes in SP, including the rightly maligned car chase. Tom Cruise did this sort of thing far better in the MI:RN Opera fight imho.
The severity of the Hinx fight better suits his Bond persona, but in this case I wish they hadn't gone for the white dinner jacket and red carnation (his idea, according to Temime), which (imho at least) doesn't quite work so well for him. Few can really pull that look off. They have to be more careful how they position his Bond in the next one. Like some other members, I'd prefer if they commit directionally to gritty, raw and brutal, but somehow I don't think they will.
I think lighting is where SF is in a league of its own among Bond films. Some of the night scenes, like the fight you mentioned, really come alive as a result.
However in terms of shot composition and framing, I think there are quite a few other Bond films which can compete with it.
This area of action movies really has improved over the last 10/20 years. The speed and intensity portrayed now is just superb but IMHO Bond is "behind the curve" in this area although CR did have some decent scenes.
Bond needs to pick a niche too (which suits the lead actor) and play within it. Of late, I've detected a rudderless nature to the action, as though they're trying to be all things to all people.
I don't think it matters if what they do is less extravagant, vicious or ambitious in comparison to another franchise. I just think they need to make sure it's done well and contextually (as well as tonally) fits the portrayal, film and scenario. It has to resonate and be credible with the audience. Even the smallest action scene can be impactul...or not. An example is what preceded the rightly lauded CR stairwell, the actual fight and also the immediate aftermath, all of which provided character insights as well as thrills.
Slightly better? The SP train fight is catching the bathroom fight in Fallout's fade...hard.
It's that the action itself lacks tension or excitement. With a few exceptions of course.
Take the scene is SP when Bond is in the plane chasing Hinx in the jeep. Somehow a vehicular chase involving a plane getting it's wings torn off, crashing and trying to drive on the snow in the Austrian Alps is a weak and forgettable action scene. Wether it's poor directing or editing this type of thing is typical of the last couples of films.
I don't think many of us here are complaining that there's a lack of action in the films, it's just that the action we have been getting, in the last film especially, wasn't up to much.
The Connery films weren't action flicks, no. But they did have several iconic action moments that were really well done.
The last point though is bang on. I'd have loved if SPECTRE had turned out to be that kind of film instead of the bloated behemoth that we got. Something low-key, focusing on the spycraft and being an atmosphere driven flick. It's no coincidence that in the film as is, it's many of those more atmospheric, smaller-scale moments that are the most memorable.
1) London Eye Ferris wheel - bit of a no-brainer suggestion. It's a big wheel, it's in London. Did I mention it's round too. Like a wheel. :P
2) Fight inside and hanging from rollercoaster cabin. I think this could be one of the best/most insanely dangerous stunts ever. Bond or the villain hang onto the side of a rollercoaster. You would need to build a special rollercoaster track to make this possible. Imagine if Bond is hanging onto the front of the first rollercoaster cabin as it hurtles down the track! I don't think that has been done in film history? (could be wrong) If it's too dangerous to film you can cheat with greenscreen and CGI.
3) Bond chases someone down a water chute. Similar to 2) but easier to film and less dangerous.
4) Car chase done with Bond driving in reverse. The villains pursue Bond, Bond's car turns around and he races along a busy road in reverse. We had a small bit of that in FYEO but my idea is a longer car chase scene and Bond's car is in reverse throughout the entire chase. Bond's car is designed with reverse gears (!) so he can drive at a fast speed.