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I mean, it’s not particularity elaborated on. But you do get to see the nasty bruises and there’s the ‘he didn’t like me at all’ line. Also Moneypenny pretty much tells him he’s off duty so can’t get records to run Lippe.
That and I’m not sure if there’s any other reason Bond would visit a health clinic conveniently located near a NATO base (except to harass the nurses, and even that comes off as more a ‘fuck it, if I’ve got to be here…’ sort of thing).
Oh yes, I remember that bit now. Yes it sort of works to connect those up doesn't it! :)
I don't know if there's supposed to be any thought by M given to the location of the spa; it's probably the only one of the films where Fleming's propensity for coincidence and pure luck made it to the movie version. I mean, why does he even go to chase up Domino as a lead? I get that she's hot, but even 007 puts the potential deaths of millions as a higher priority than getting his leg over occasionally! :D
Haha, yes there’s definitely an element of ‘don’t think too hard’ about it.
I understand that they were looking for really awesome action to open the film with; it's in the PTS' DNA to have a big spectacle going on. The problem with the jetpack now, apart from all the logistics of getting the bloody thing all the way up there before the car that left the funeral sooner than Bond arrived at the chateau, is that it doesn't look half as cool as the poster promises. Also, the thug shooting without aiming -- it's a surprise he didn't shoot himself -- and the AM failing to make a speedy escape and being forced to blow half a swimming pool of water at the armed thugs, are things that could have been handled better.
One thing I've always noticed about films like TB, YOLT, and DAF is that when an awesome stunt (and the jetpack is, in itself, awesome!) was pulled off, everything surrounding the stunt didn't seem too big of a concern anymore. I don't mean to disparage any of the amazing stunt work in the Bonds, let me be clear on that. It's just that while some people's jaws may have been on the floor from the jetpack stunt, that, alone, isn't enough to make the PTS great. Attention should still be paid to completing this micro-adventure in a satisfying manner, both in terms of action and the story it's trying to tell. I get no sense of danger or menace from the chateau guards, and if the jetpack is supposed to make me pump my fists, then don't blow the moment by asking me to laugh at goons who are stopped by impossible water cannons.
Agree totally. One of the best for me!
LTK would be my other guess.
Anyway, we're back again with our number 16:
SPECTRE (2015)
featuring a baddie whose family name is mispronounced the entire movie.
Bond's Dias de Los Muertos adventure received one silver medal, making SP the lowest ranked entry with a top 3 finish.
Another 4th place and five more top 10's were also noted.
Five other members, however, rated it in the bottom 5. Its lowest score was 23rd, which it received on three occasions.
An entry with both fans and detractors, SP obtained a total of 96 points.
It’s certainly not bad, and the helicopter stunts are amazing. The cgi and rear projection are quite noticeable at times though.
It’s well crafted, but other pts have done it better.
It's almost like a mini film in itself with building up the mystery, I think it could also worked for an introduction of the new Bond actor without knowing where Bond is, in all of the people wearing mask in the festival and we, audiences need to guess out where was he.
It's a very classic entrance to an otherwise disappointing, kinda meh film, and Craig had chemistry with Stephanie Sigman (if I remember her name correctly), it's a great opening, and there's the action.
It's not without its flaws too, the action while greatly choreographed, was left unnoticed by the people who were still continuing in the festival despite the danger and risk of that helicopter fight, lacking in a bit of realism, perhaps, when in real situation, they should all start a commotion and run away, perhaps, probably in the crumbling buildings too before that (when the apartment was bombed), they should all got noticed by it and started running out of that place, and there's that couch gag (to which felt out of place).
But still a great one, maybe it would've changed a bit in my rankings, it's been a while since I've posted my official rankings and moods do changed and as we notices several flaws upon rewatching, so, it might no longer be in my Top 4 now, but still great.
It could have been trimmed by a couple of minutes and we could have done without 'The dead are alive' nonsense ( How great it would have been to see the gunbarrel opening up onto the parade!) Oh well, I guess its down to SP being so unpopular around here!
While I understand the film's unpopularity due to Fostergate, I don't quite get what's wrong with the PTS on its own.
But the leadup to it is absolutely great, it's visually pretty stunning with the parade, the superb one-shot thing which is one of the most stylish things in a Bond ever, and I love the sofa gag so much. Craig's best gunbarrel for my money, and Bond in a skeleton mask feels curiously Flemingy as well. The music's great too- who doesn't love the Bond theme kicking in as he saunters across the rooftops?
I have some minor issues with it. I personally don’t like the ‘the dead are alive’ title card as it feels a bit on the nose. The long take at the beginning is impressive, but I generally think long takes need to maintain some sort of tension (ie. Touch of Evil with the bomb in the car, the car chase in Children of Men etc.) This just feels a bit too style over substance. The colour scheme is also a bit odd and yellowish, slightly lacking in good old Bondian vibrancy.
That said I’m a fan of this one and think it’s one of the highlights of SP.
It has all the elements, for me, to make a great PTS, but it's not (IMO, not trying to be contrarian to others), but there is something I feel off about it. Perhaps the pacing? That although there is this "one-shot" trick, and it seems like everything is moving forward, it still feel lumbering to me.
When I break it up into little chunks, I can't but help but admit that I love the idea of the parade, LOVE Bond in a skeleton mask and costume, love the quick change in the room, and love the idea of him walking across the rooftops; I'm all in on him on an "assignment" to kill Sciarra, and the fight in a contained space like a helicopter is music to my ears.
But as a whole, it just doesn't "click" for me. I don't know why......
We are! And yes, failed to mention the color palette too. The cinematography as a whole in the film is very off-putting to me, and I'll personally never understand those who champion it as one of the best looking installments of the series.
@peter, I saw a couple reviews right before the film released in the States that seemed to suggest it was one of the better tracking shots they ever saw, which had me very excited, but not only is it not a true tracking shot (not that I have an issue with sly cutting and editing if it's an impressive enough sequence), but it's just Bond walking about and nothing more. Doesn't impress me.
I may throw in the film tonight just to watch the PTS , but yes, I can’t put my finger on why it doesn’t click for me… There’s an element missing, and I wondered about the pacing… before the assassination scene and chase, you’re right, @Creasy47 , it’s just Bond walking.
Where’s the urgency?
The PTS is similar to a short film, and there’s nothing longer than poorly made short films! The same may apply here. We don’t have context as to why 007 is in the middle of this parade… so bring us up to speed faster, or with more exciting visual cues than Bond strolling along in the middle of a parade…..
Hmm, I don’t know…
I’ll watch tonight and see what it tells me then, 😂
I wish you luck. I hate to admit it but I'm dreading revisiting it during my Bondathon this month. It's the only time I rewatch it.
Yeah, the cinematography is a bit odd in SP. I think part of it is Hoytema’s style (he’s very accomplished, although there’s always a drabness to his cinematography that I don’t think Bond should have) and another part of it is them leaning into it visually. That and I suspect they wanted to recreate the magic of SF’s cinematography but went about it in the wrong way (I don’t think Deakins would have been a fan of the long take). Bit too much style not enough substance.
I wouldn’t say it’s as ugly as something like TWINE, and in itself it’s well crafted, just not quite right.
You’re right, after the gun barrel, it could have opened up with Bond setting up the assassination on the rooftop; below is the parade….
Things go awry.
Chase in the streets, and so on….
You’ve plopped us right into the action.
In all fairness to a production that seemingly had its rear end whooped and no time left before going to cameras, I understand they had to rewrite the scene because of Craig’s injury. I haven’t read the script in ages, so I don’t remember what the original action beats were….