SKYFALL: FANS' REACTIONS - GUARANTEED SPOILERS

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  • Posts: 3,327
    RC7 wrote:
    I thought they were supposed to be raising the bar with the Craig movies. In hindsight, I think the abundance of 'fantastic script' comments, were actually just people thinking M's death = good script.
    Either that, or the script dialogue, which I thought was very well written in SF, probably one of the best ever in terms of character dialogue. Much of it was very natural and didn't feel forced or too cheesy, like many previous P&W scripts have done.

    The line when M mutters `I've really fucked things up this time, haven't I,' just sounded very sincere, realistic and downbeat.

    Or Mallory's `there's no shame in admitting you've lost a step.'

    Previous dialogue has contained too many clever sounding, contrived, corny lines.

  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    RC7 wrote:
    I thought they were supposed to be raising the bar with the Craig movies. In hindsight, I think the abundance of 'fantastic script' comments, were actually just people thinking M's death = good script.
    Either that, or the script dialogue, which I thought was very well written in SF, probably one of the best ever in terms of character dialogue. Much of it was very natural and didn't feel forced or too cheesy, like many previous P&W scripts have done.

    The line when M mutters `I've really fucked things up this time, haven't I,' just sounded very sincere, realistic and downbeat.

    Or Mallory's `there's no shame in admitting you've lost a step.'

    Previous dialogue has contained too many clever sounding, contrived, corny lines.

    I agree with both of you. M's death and the aspect of going into Bond's past where things never experienced before in the series, so I can understand the excitement to a point on being a part of that for the cast and crew. The thing that impresses me about the film and its story is its thematic material, and the masterful Tennyson scene, now my favorite moment of the series. While I don't know for sure yet if it is the best script of the series, it did have some fantastic dialogue, a great thing about Dan's era, and it all felt real and well delivered. That is partly Logan and partly the acting talent, as well. It took the characters farther than you thought it would, and you really do get to a whole new level with Bond and connect with him greater than ever before. Some may say it is dangerous to go back into his past, but Skyfall does a great job at going far enough while still retaining the mystery surrounding his early life. Bond is one of the great character studies and it shows in this film and era, when in previous films/eras he felt one dimensional and parodied. Why I love this era so much is because it isn't afraid to go that extra mile and take a risk by going deep into who Bond is and how he ticks, showing both his strengths and vulnerabilities unashamedly.
  • Posts: 11,425
    Nice to see a genuine discussion about the merits of SF. It's taken three plus months to get here but now the dust is settling I feel the real considered views are beginning to emerge.

  • edited February 2013 Posts: 2,081

    --- While I don't know for sure yet if it is the best script of the series, it did have some fantastic dialogue, a great thing about Dan's era, and it all felt real and well delivered. That is partly Logan and partly the acting talent, as well. It took the characters farther than you thought it would, and you really do get to a whole new level with Bond and connect with him greater than ever before. Some may say it is dangerous to go back into his past, but Skyfall does a great job at going far enough while still retaining the mystery surrounding his early life. Bond is one of the great character studies and it shows in this film and era, when in previous films/eras he felt one dimensional and parodied. Why I love this era so much is because it isn't afraid to go that extra mile and take a risk by going deep into who Bond is and how he ticks, showing both his strengths and vulnerabilities unashamedly.

    I just have to agree with Brady once again - well put. :-bd
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    RC7 wrote:
    I thought they were supposed to be raising the bar with the Craig movies. In hindsight, I think the abundance of 'fantastic script' comments, were actually just people thinking M's death = good script.
    Either that, or the script dialogue, which I thought was very well written in SF, probably one of the best ever in terms of character dialogue. Much of it was very natural and didn't feel forced or too cheesy, like many previous P&W scripts have done.

    The line when M mutters `I've really fucked things up this time, haven't I,' just sounded very sincere, realistic and downbeat.

    Or Mallory's `there's no shame in admitting you've lost a step.'

    Previous dialogue has contained too many clever sounding, contrived, corny lines.

    Yeah I agree, I thought the dialogue was very good. I think I would still go for Silva's introduction and subsequent exchange with Bond, as the stand out moment. I agree with Brady, the Tennyson scene is really powerful, but it has the benefit of Newman's score to add emotionsl weight, whereas the Silva intro is just raw performance, plain and simple.

    One of the bits that worked least well for me was the ending. I've brought it up before on another thread, but I thought the 'Eve, Eve Moneypenny line didn't work. I'd have had the shot of Bond atop MI6, cut to desk nameplate - reading 'E. Moneypenny', pan up to reveal Eve. What they did felt clunky and slightly patronising to the audience. To suggest Bond didn't know anything about Eve, including her name, didn't work for me. I also didn't think the line 'With pleasure M, with pleasure' worked. It didn't seem to roll off the tongue, in the way you'd expect from Dan.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    I agree about the Tennyson scene's music. Without Newman's score there the moment wouldn't hold as much emotive weight, the same with every film that has this type of content. That's the beauty of film scores, being that they can make a tense, shocking, epic or emotional scene that much more palpable. Tennyson is likely my favorite track of the score to be honest. I love how it slowly builds in repetition to the sweeping finish that makes you imagine that you are running to save a loved one with everything you have left in your body, which is actually what Bond is doing. Just a truly beautiful score in every imaginable way, and it makes the Tennyson scene that much better for it being there.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    I agree about the Tennyson scene's music. Without Newman's score there the moment wouldn't hold as much emotive weight, the same with every film that has this type of content. That's the beauty of film scores, being that they can make a tense, shocking, epic or emotional scene that much more palpable. Tennyson is likely my favorite track of the score to be honest. I love how it slowly builds in repetition to the sweeping finish that makes you imagine that you are running to save a loved one with everything you have left in your body, which is actually what Bond is doing. Just a truly beautiful score in every imaginable way, and it makes the Tennyson scene that much better for it being there.

    Yeah it's probably one of the best parts of the score. I've run down Whitehall listening to it, not down the middle of the road mind!

  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    RC7 wrote:
    I agree about the Tennyson scene's music. Without Newman's score there the moment wouldn't hold as much emotive weight, the same with every film that has this type of content. That's the beauty of film scores, being that they can make a tense, shocking, epic or emotional scene that much more palpable. Tennyson is likely my favorite track of the score to be honest. I love how it slowly builds in repetition to the sweeping finish that makes you imagine that you are running to save a loved one with everything you have left in your body, which is actually what Bond is doing. Just a truly beautiful score in every imaginable way, and it makes the Tennyson scene that much better for it being there.

    Yeah it's probably one of the best parts of the score. I've run down Whitehall listening to it, not down the middle of the road mind!
    Oh, I wish I lived in London! I would do that every single day!

    I always use the track as the last piece of my workouts, and it really gives you an insane amount of energy, strength and determination even if you are completely exhausted to power through it all.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 41,007
    @RC7, wow. You've no idea how jealous I am. I, too, would do that as often as I could.
  • edited February 2013 Posts: 6,601
    Getafix wrote:
    Nice to see a genuine discussion about the merits of SF. It's taken three plus months to get here but now the dust is settling I feel the real considered views are beginning to emerge.

    I don't know, if this is possible, but if we stay away from attacking and hence the need to defend, why not.

    @RC7 - yes, the Moneypenney scene could have been handled differently, like " So, Miss Moneypenney, I am looking forward to a few more close shaves" in just giving her dialogue to Bond.

    - More detail in Greece..

    I might be able to think of one or two more scenes, but on a whole and I said that before, the film was successful, because it was excecuted so well. In the way of -" Do I really care, if there is really a plothole or two?"
    IMO a lot is done a certain way to make a bigger impact, to make it look more beautiful, give more drama etc.
    I can just flow with that's on screen and enjoy it, IF its done well.
    I didn't have that with QOS, so I am not THAT biased.
  • doubleoego wrote:
    I knew Sevarine was going to die from the moment Bond revealed those goons weren't her bodyguards. What did surprise me was, that I was expecting her to one, have more screen time and two, have a scenery chewing role. Heck, I think she has maybe 90 seconds more screen time than cigar girl from TWINE.

    Well, she may not have had a "scenery chewing" role but she did give an incredible performance in the casino scene. In fact, that one scene alone was some of the best acting from a "Bond girl" in the whole series. Her incredible confidence, which starts to become more forced, then starts to break, then recovers. To see this woman desperately trying to hold it together was interesting but also a bit heartbreaking. I can't say enough about how well the progression of her performance was in that scene.

    As for her short screen time it's not too different from some other secondary Bond girls. But I really appreciated the fact that her death surprised me, as I've said in other threads when something surprises you in a film as formulaic as a Bond film that's a *great* thing.

  • I rank it seventh of the 23 official Bond pictures, in between Licence to Kill and Dr. No. I do think Silva is quite possibly the best villain in the franchise, much of it due to Bardem's terrific performance. I have a feeling Casino Royale or Skyfall question will become as common as FRWL or Goldfinger. My answer is Casino Royale, but Skyfall is very good. I wrote some further thoughts on my blog and also have my rankings of all 23 pictures from worst to best, if you care to read.

    http://toddmthatcher.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/the-007-files-skyfall/

    http://toddmthatcher.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/the-007-files-my-rankings-of-all-23-james-bond-movies/
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    doubleoego wrote:
    I knew Sevarine was going to die from the moment Bond revealed those goons weren't her bodyguards. What did surprise me was, that I was expecting her to one, have more screen time and two, have a scenery chewing role. Heck, I think she has maybe 90 seconds more screen time than cigar girl from TWINE.

    Well, she may not have had a "scenery chewing" role but she did give an incredible performance in the casino scene. In fact, that one scene alone was some of the best acting from a "Bond girl" in the whole series. Her incredible confidence, which starts to become more forced, then starts to break, then recovers. To see this woman desperately trying to hold it together was interesting but also a bit heartbreaking. I can't say enough about how well the progression of her performance was in that scene.

    As for her short screen time it's not too different from some other secondary Bond girls. But I really appreciated the fact that her death surprised me, as I've said in other threads when something surprises you in a film as formulaic as a Bond film that's a *great* thing.

    Yeah her scenes at the casino were brilliantly acted. I just had it in my head we were going to get something more substantial from her by way of screen time and an aggressive performance but I think her acting was flawless and she conveyed a credible vulnerability that joins the ranks of Diana Rigg and Eva Green.
  • hoppimikehoppimike Kent, UK
    Posts: 290
    Getafix wrote:
    Nice to see a genuine discussion about the merits of SF. It's taken three plus months to get here but now the dust is settling I feel the real considered views are beginning to emerge.

    Yeah erm, also I think for those like me who weren't so keen... dwelling on a film you don't like gets boring after a while!

    Best that we all stick to what we like I guess ^^
  • edited February 2013 Posts: 12,837
    Severine was brilliant, which I have to admit surprised me.

    To be honest as the actress really didn't seem very experienced or anything, I just expected a good bit of eye candy who hangs around with Bond for a bit then either A- dies or B- shags him at the end.

    But she really surprised me. She sold the tragic backstory extremely well and although I would've liked more screen time for her, her death did what it was meant to (shock the audience). When Silva was taking aim I thought "surely they're not killing her off already", but they really surprised me. This also sold Silva as a villian (although I reckon the rat speech, for my money the best bit of the film, had already done that).
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    edited February 2013 Posts: 17,823
    I really just wish the shower boink was taken out, or changed to merely sleeping side by side. It was just to get Bond laid, and Severine, given her profession & background, was a poor choice.
  • edited February 2013 Posts: 2,081
    Severine was brilliant, which I have to admit surprised me.

    To be honest as the actress really didn't seem very experienced or anything, I just expected a good bit of eye candy who hangs around with Bond for a bit then either A- dies or B- shags him at the end.

    But she really surprised me. She sold the tragic backstory extremely well and although I would've liked more screen time for her, her death did what it was meant to (shock the audience). When Silva was taking aim I thought "surely they're not killing her off already", but they really surprised me. This also sold Silva as a villian (although I reckon the rat speech, for my money the best bit of the film, had already done that).

    The same here. I had never even heard about Bérénice before and haven't seen anything else she has done. I've found her somewhat irritating in all interviews I've seen; she tries too hard and fails there, seems sort of fake (unlike the rest of the cast who all seem charming and natural). But she was fab as Severine, an interesting character, played really well, and I also wouldn't have minded seeing her more. In SF she was definitely the positive surprise in the cast.
  • hoppimikehoppimike Kent, UK
    Posts: 290
    chrisisall wrote:
    I really just wish the shower boink was taken out, or changed to merely sleeping side by side. It was just to get Bond laid, and Severine, given her profession & background, was a poor choice.

    It's weird because I didn't even feel uncomfortable about it, so it surprised me that others did. I didn't even put it together really, although it did seem a bit quick.

    Other than the speed of it it didn't bother me, I mean she's a grown woman o.O
  • ShardlakeShardlake Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 4,043
    I thought she knocked it out the park as Severine, her scenes with Craig in the casino were fantastic and the dialogue really sparkled between them, the beretta line is a beaut.
  • RC7RC7
    edited February 2013 Posts: 10,512
    hoppimike wrote:
    chrisisall wrote:
    I really just wish the shower boink was taken out, or changed to merely sleeping side by side. It was just to get Bond laid, and Severine, given her profession & background, was a poor choice.

    It's weird because I didn't even feel uncomfortable about it, so it surprised me that others did. I didn't even put it together really, although it did seem a bit quick.

    Other than the speed of it it didn't bother me, I mean she's a grown woman o.O

    Out of interest, how old are you?
  • hoppimikehoppimike Kent, UK
    edited February 2013 Posts: 290
    RC7 wrote:
    Out of interest, how old are you?

    27... 28 this year :)

    (it does say on my profile lol)
  • edited February 2013 Posts: 2,081
    hoppimike wrote:

    It's weird because I didn't even feel uncomfortable about it, so it surprised me that others did. I didn't even put it together really, although it did seem a bit quick.

    Other than the speed of it it didn't bother me, I mean she's a grown woman o.O

    I didn't feel uncomfortable about it at all myself - no reason to as far as I was concerned - and was also surprised some people did. :)

  • Posts: 1,407
    Some people say they feel "uncomfortable" just to give the film another negative point (in their mind). I'm sick of hearing some of these excuses
  • hoppimikehoppimike Kent, UK
    Posts: 290
    Tuulia wrote:
    hoppimike wrote:

    It's weird because I didn't even feel uncomfortable about it, so it surprised me that others did. I didn't even put it together really, although it did seem a bit quick.

    Other than the speed of it it didn't bother me, I mean she's a grown woman o.O

    I didn't feel uncomfortable about it at all myself - no reason to as far as I was concerned - and was also surprised some people did. :)

    well, that's good we agree on one thing lol ^^
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,823
    bondbat007 wrote:
    Some people say they feel "uncomfortable" just to give the film another negative point (in their mind). I'm sick of hearing some of these excuses
    It's not an 'excuse', it's a negative point- doesn't keep me from watching or enjoying it, just a bit I wish was differently handled, like in many of my other favourite franchises. Remember the refrigerator nonsense in Indy & the Crystal skull? 20X worse, yet I still love the flick.
  • hoppimikehoppimike Kent, UK
    Posts: 290
    chrisisall wrote:
    bondbat007 wrote:
    Some people say they feel "uncomfortable" just to give the film another negative point (in their mind). I'm sick of hearing some of these excuses
    It's not an 'excuse', it's a negative point- doesn't keep me from watching or enjoying it, just a bit I wish was differently handled, like in many of my other favourite franchises. Remember the refrigerator nonsense in Indy & the Crystal skull? 20X worse, yet I still love the flick.

    Yeah that bit was kinda crazy! I liked the film too though :)
  • edited February 2013 Posts: 12,837
    bondbat007 wrote:
    Some people say they feel "uncomfortable" just to give the film another negative point (in their mind). I'm sick of hearing some of these excuses

    You don't need an excuse to not enjoy the film. It's not having an excuse, it's having a reason for not enjoying it.

    This is coming from somebody who did like it btw.
  • bondbat007 wrote:
    Some people say they feel "uncomfortable" just to give the film another negative point (in their mind). I'm sick of hearing some of these excuses

    You don't need an excuse to not enjoy the film. It's not having an excuse, it's having a reason for not enjoying it.

    Very well put!
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    edited February 2013 Posts: 11,139
    Well, I for one didn't see anything wrong with it. As @hoppimike said, Severine was a grown woman not to mention the fact that she was the one who invited him.
    What were they going to do, drink champagne, go out on the deck and look at the stars or perhaps play a late night game of scrabble?

    Now, if we talk about Bond's advances on the likes of Pussy, Pat, Ms Taro (to a certain extent) and a few others, I think a strong argument could be made as to why some viewers may have felt uncomfortable about those scenes.
    Yet, at the same time, the likes of Sylvia, Tatyana, Fiona and Paris (who was a married woman btw) essentially show up, unannounced, uninvited and put the moves on Bond. Hell, Bond even tells Paris to go home but before you know it...kiss kiss bang bang.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    doubleoego wrote:
    Well, I for one didn't see anything wrong with it. As @hoppimike said, Severine was a grown woman not to mention the fact that she was the one who invited him.
    What were they going to do, drink champagne, go out on the deck and look at the stars or perhaps play a late night game of scrabble?

    All that is fine, but the fact is, it's revealed she is involved in the Macau sex trade. Within minutes of meeting her, we're fully aware she has been psychologically and physically abused from a young age. It doesn't matter how old she is, her mental state is fully apparent. Behind the facade is a lost soul. Morals evolve, just like anything else. The Fleming Bond would have had no problem, but the 21st Century Bond, the Daniel Craig Bond, seems to have heart beneath the ice cold exterior. For that reason, the moment feels like it is a straight reference to the 2D Bond of the 70's, not the character we've seen across the last 3 films.

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