It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
^ Back to Top
The MI6 Community is unofficial and in no way associated or linked with EON Productions, MGM, Sony Pictures, Activision or Ian Fleming Publications. Any views expressed on this website are of the individual members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Community owners. Any video or images displayed in topics on MI6 Community are embedded by users from third party sites and as such MI6 Community and its owners take no responsibility for this material.
James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
Comments
If you read my posts you will see I did no such thing.
The climax of TLD is the plane cargo net fight and Bond blowing up the bridge.
The Whitaker scene is an epilogue.
Yeah, that's a good way of thinking about it. Still, the rest of the film deserved better. I heard they were going to make it more elaborate with lasers etc
What Whitaker with a laser gun? Sounds a bit silly....
LTK was without doubt ahead of its time, and I appreciated it then and now! It holds up really well, a good story with an excellent Bond, and one of the best villains in the series, and thrilling action sequences. It has aged far better than the over-rated and dull GE which came 6 years later!
Good to see another Dalton fan. I think you've hit upon the key word - Flemingesque. After a decade of the Moore films with his, err, unique take on the character, some people couldn't handle Dalton's back to Fleming approach.
EDIT: what do you think about Dalton continually hitting Whitakers small shield. Surely a black mark against it?
TLD holds up better and, as others have said, has a more "classic" aspect.
Yeah think TLD has aged a lot better than LTK, which was not so much ahead of it's time as a mis-step for the series and very 80's.
Even the man himself has apparently said he doesn't understand the fan appreciation for LTK.
Watched SKYFALL in a sleepless night this week.
Skyfall could easily be the greatest Bond movie ever but Bardem ruins it, completely.
Worst overacting, pain faces and death scene ever.
It's borderline parody comedy. Most of his ridiculous dialogue (rat talk, mommy talk) as well.
Imagine someone like Mads Mikkelsen had played Silva.
All Bardem can do is look funny in wigs.
Too bad. This way SF will forever remain at the bottom of my list.
The most ridiculous escape in movie history up to that subway crashing through the floor could even be forgiven if someone actually capable of acting had played the part.
I prefer Le Chiffre as well, but Silva is great, as is Greene.
I last watched this in early May, but discussion of Martin Campbell on various threads and the importance of competent direction for the next Bond film compelled me to revisit it tonight.
It was an outstanding experience, as it always is. I just love this film, and I believe it gets better with age. Sure, some scenes are a little dated, but the performances by the supporting cast, the sheer flair inherent in the film and the Bondian style more than make up for that. It has a campiness to it (performances & dialogue) that I enjoy. Also, the colours and scenes pop nicely on blu ray. In particular, the Severnaya interior scenes when Orumov and Xenia steal the Goldeneye are still crisp.
Brosnan stood out for me this time, and in a positive way. After watching Dalton's debut in TLD yesterday, I have to say that I much prefer Brosnan in GE (controversial opinion perhaps..). He is super cool in this film, and while he does overdo the acting in a self conscious way in some scenes (particularly at MI6 with Q & especially with MP), there is no denying he makes a stylish Bond here. Calm, collected, dapper and unflappable, in contrast to Dalton's slightly more animated & harried approach. There is very little hint of 'Brosnanisms' or the legendary 'pain face'. I expected it when Trevelyn was ostensibly killed in the pretitles, but instead Brosnan shows his distress in a very restrained Bondian fashion. The only time it makes an appearance is when he's being squeezed to death by Xenia, and that's quite understandable given the circumstances. Campbell did a fine job keeping Brosnan in check here, and I wish he had played Bond like this during the rest of his tenure. If he had, he might have easily rivaled Moore as my #2 Bond actor, rather than sitting ignominiously at the bottom of the pile (5 or 6 depending on my mood) as he does now.
Scorupco is just incredible and I couldn't take my eyes off her tonight. From the opening scene with Boris to the final clinch with Brosnan just prior to Serra's travesty of a song, she's mesmerizing. She's an excellent actress. I love her character's spark & initiative too. Such a step up from whiny Kara & Pam from the Dalton period. Famke is another standout. She brings Xenia Onatopp to life. Her beauty and cinematic charisma is also apparent from that first now iconic experience in the Ferrari in Monaco. Speaking of that chase, I wonder how much it cost? Surely less than the one in SP, and yet it's far more thrilling and scenic, even today. Gottfried John and Sean Bean own their scenes, and are pitch perfect. I believe Bean was one of the younger adversaries in a Bond film at the time, and his relative youth makes for a more appealing conflict.
I think the finale is one of the best, if not the best since the great Ken Adam left the series. The Janus HQ is stylish and Bondian, and the conflict between 006/007 develops nicely to an excellent, visceral fight atop the satellite. I'd say it's the best one since FRWL (although since topped by the CR stairwell encounter).
Special mention must go to Eric Serra. I know he gets slammed here, but I really enjoy his score for the film. It fits like a glove, and has a modern, industrial sound which I find fresh even today. I also like the 'chanting' which underpins the Russian scenes and even enjoy the often denigrated 'Ladies First'.
Anyway, this was a great viewing experience. Such a shame that it all went downhill from here, after such a promising start. Martin Campbell, thank you sir for one of my best cinematic experiences, and a film that keeps on giving.
My previous comments from when I watched it in May are below for anyone who's interested.
http://www.mi6community.com/index.php?p=/discussion/comment/590304/#Comment_590304
It's a movie that doesn't make a lick of sense, but that's mostly because it's not in the business of making sense. From Bond's faked death to SPECTRE's rocket launching scheme, there's not a minute that adds up logically nor an iota of regular plot development. Fortunately, the movie is brisk, shiny, and stylish enough to make the viewer forget most of these lapses. The fight on the Kobe docks is great, as is the finale, and the helicopter magnet and Little Nellie are instantly memorable.
Unfortunately, Connery was bored to tears by this point and clearly mails in his performance. The decision to kill off Aki weakens the movie, because Bond spends all his time building a relationship with her only to have a ride in the hay with Kissy. Pleasence's Blofeld is iconic, but his line readings are really wonky when he has to emote. His regular voice works well, though, so it's not all bad. Helga Brandt is an obvious ripoff off Fiona Volpe, but she does the job well. Tiger Tanaka is also a charismatic ally, if not up to the standard of Kerim Bey.
All in all it's a perfectly middling Bond, slotting in between TLD and TND on the old Bond ranking. It also shades TB by virtue of being significantly less dull, although the gap has been narrowing lately.
If I applaud something to Roger is how he looked thecway to not be compared to Sean so even if im not crazy about Moore his style. The comparisons never came that strong.
In summary: Even when they're highly flawed, Bond films are nearly always highly entertaining and enjoyable.
Yes, as @FoxRox pointed out, there is much to enjoy here, despite the well known and often pointed out flaws.
One of the most action packed films of the series and for that same reason one of the most entretaining.
Pierce is definitely great in this, he improved a lot and dors look much more confident especially its noticed in his more serious moments like Killing Dr Kaufman and the death of Paris.
He does look much better with a nicer haircut and better costumes much more fitting which helps him in being much more believable.
While the romantic chemistry wasn't that great with Way lin. It was compensated by the great one he had with Paris and well even if we didn't have Ms Carver I wouldn't have liked a Brosnan bond film where he doesn't get the girl at the end.
The score its one of the best and it has one of the most exciting pre titles sequences of all time.
Im so glad i re watched this film
@DaltonCraig007, that oil rig track (To Hell With Blofeld) is superb, and shows Barry's mastery. It segues effortlessly into so many different melodies (including a smooth incorporation of the Bond theme) before ending with a great version of the 007 theme.
I also really like the way Barry brings in the Bond theme during the hovercraft sequence (just after MP says her bit). He brings in a breezy backing which evokes the sound of the vehicle. Masterful and a great score.