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Whether you think GE is overrated or not (I love it - always have done, always will), it's MILES ahead of Brozza's other flicks - even if it's not Brozza's best performance.
At least its director actually returned a few years down the line to outdo himself and make one of the truely great entries in the series (something none of Brozza's other directors managed) - so he must have done something right first time for them to bring him back 11 years later. CR paved the way for the success of the Craig era. A lot of CR's brilliance can be attributed to Campbell - and the way he stages certain scenes - as well as Dan.
No GE = No Casino Royale (in it's current form) = No Skyfall
That's my new equation and I'm sticking to it ;)
I'm not saying that GE is better than those films (it's not) but it's success does play a significant part in what we have now.
I like all three of these movies (maybe not so much DAF - too goofy for my taste and lacking in actual tension) but they have their fare share of weaknesses.
Fleming had Bond unfit for duty in FRWL and to a lesser extend TMWTGG. In TB ttoo, to a degree.
In Dr No he was recovering from his brush with death at the end of the FRWL book too.
You also forgot to mention YOLT where Bond was probably at his lowest point. He'd actually messed up previous missions and, according to M, was becoming a security risk. The idea was that the particularly challenging mission at the 'Castle of Death' would knock him back into shape.
Th villain(s). Bardem is extremely good. He is menacing and scary. Also, it does take some time before we find out it's him Bond has to go after. This builds up tention. Is he the best villain then? No, for me, not. I prefer Grant, Dr.No and of course Fiona Volpe. And maybe Adolfo Celi's Largo. Still, that's not a bad score!
The supporting roles. Well, I really liked Eve and she's set up perfectly throughout the film. Her and Craig seem to have exactly the right chemistry. Dench as M shines! Not the best M ever, but very, very close and learning so much about her position and the way she makes decisions is very interesting too. Ralph Fienes is a very cool character as well, and I'm extremely happy with him at the end.
Even when it comes to the Bond-girl Severine, who's underused but played extremely well, there are just a few i can think of that I like more, and they're all from decades ago. She certainly looks the part! I never understood the hype around Eva Green, but if there's one starting for her i'm inclined to step on that bandwagon.
The filming, editing etc. are all done very nicely, with the right pace. Is it the best? I don't know, CR's filming was outstanding as well, as with several other films. But it is close to the top.
All in all, is it the best? No, i don't think so, but it has many qualities which will make it a classic I think. Many people will rank it very, very high indeed.
The problem with looking at the old 60's classic are two things -
1) nostalgia gets in the way, judgement gets clouded very easily, coupled with fond childhood memories when first watching these movies. All this plays a part to how we judge these old films now, so it is difficult to evaluate them coldly, dispassionately, on their own merits.
2) The old films are now very dated, and not all in a good way. The terrible back projection in FRWL (particularly noticeable in the Venice ending scene on the gondola), or the poor boat chase action sequence, which just looks terrible comparing it to modern standards. The PTS scene in Skyfall is far better as an action sequence than anything seen in the 60s' classics, mainly because techniques have improved dramatically over the past 50 years.
OHMSS I find to be one of the best movies in the franchise, but it is not without its flaws. The Hilary Bray dubbing over Lazenby I still find shockingly awful, a real low point to the movie. Had this been done now to one of Craig's films, it would be universally panned. Lazenby's acting is very poor in OHMSS when comparing his acting abilities to Craig. There is no comparison whatsoever. The action sequences are also badly edited in many scenes, including the speeded up beach fight. Today, most of this looks quite naff.
FRWL is also very slow in parts, and plods on far more than Skyfall is criticized for. FRWL's main strength is the build-up between Connery and Shaw on the train, but take that out of the equation and the rest of the film pans out like an average spy thriller, and probably not as exciting or engaging as Skyfall overall.
GF is an undisputed classic, fairly flawless IMO, and is endlessly rewatchable. But I can see myself feeling this way with Skyfall too once I own it on Blu Ray.
So as as much as I can understand you not wanting to get carried away with the hyperbole of the new film, likewise the nostlagia you feel for the old 60's films may be equally clouding your judgement too.
For the record, the 3 60's films you mention sit in my top 5, along with CR and Skyfall...... B-)
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Thank you. I've found this at times too. Some otherwise exciting action scenes are undermined by dodgy back projection/editing.
Some examples:
-The bobseleigh fight at the end
-the chase amongst the car derby with Bond and Tracy (Rigg says "James, how do we get out" twice" and in one her lips don't even move. There's another shot where you can blatantly tell they've flipped the camera round).
I take your point about nostalgia clouding one's judgement but then that's what gives most movies their magical appeal and without it Star Wars, Ray Harryhausen, Jaws, Indiana Jones, and ET to a lesser extent, would not be held up as anything particularly special.
As much as I regard Skyfall as a great "modern" Bond picture I still think the hype has overtaken its true merits and gives those that haven't seen it yet (our American cousins) a distorted expectation level that just can't be matched when they experience the film, unless they are the sort of person that has to buy into something as not be seen as being obtuse. In no way am I poking holes in Skyfall as I think it's an exceptional movie with probably as many flaws as you pointed out in OHMSS. It's just I don't quite think it's the full-throttle, Gold Star Bond experience many here think it is. I fully expect Bond 24 to be actually better than this entry and believe everything is now in place for Bond to do what he does best and that is to have a bloody good mission.
I would disagree. Yes, on these forums perhaps, but for regular moviegoers the film delivers. At least in this country (Netherlands) where Skyfall broke the record for any Bondfilm in its opening weekend, and 5th overall, after 3 Harry Potter films and one Lord of the Rings.Film critics give it 4 to 5 stars out of 5. I have no reason to believe the American public would react differently then the UK's or my own country's people.
The passage of time does wonders for films, it elevates them from being great movies to undisputed classics, this is why I think its unfair to judge Skyfall as a film that cannot compete with the 60's films. It doesn't have the luxury of a 40 year time lapse inbetween, along with nostalgia and happy memories.
If a stranger who knew nothing about Bond, watched for the very first time FRWL, OHMSS, GF and Skyfall, I hazard a guess Skyfall would come out on top. It is actually a far better film in terms of its direction, production qualities, acting calibre and very strong script.
Sure, the 60's films suffer from inferior production values, but likewise Skyfall suffers from being too new, and doesn't have the luxury of nostalgia. If the hype is reaching fever pitch with Skyfall, it is no more than it deserves. If this will cloud people's expectations going in to the movie, so be it. It's far better being in this position, with almost unanimous praise from critics the world over, than a film being absolutely slated and getting 22% on Rotten Tomatoes, in the hope that no one will be have too much of a high expectation.
Indeed it's difficult to compare a Bond made in 2012 with those of the 60's, but in terms of pure entertainment value SF is a great movie, it's just you won't find me fawning over it when I can see things in it that don't quite make it the best Bond movie ever in the whole wide world regardless of age. I think CR still nudges SF as a better Bond movie overall.
a) like @NicNac I didn't think any modern film could capture Ian Fleming's world. But...
Silva's backstory, Bond's indecision as he attempts to shoot the glass off Servine's head, the whole "Bond is out of shape" (FRWL, TB, YOLT), M writing Bond's obituary etc... Makes me feel Skyfall captures the world of Fleming.
YES
b) The direction, the cinematography, the script, set design...
YES
c) In spades, and in a very innovative way...
YES
d) Judging by this place, I'd say, bu and whole, anyway...
YES
e) Only time will tell, but it looks encouraging...
Aside from the few problems, Sam Mendes did a fantastic job! A job so well that I saw it three times within the space of one week!
Though I never could consider it better than Casino Royale, especially when seeing it in the light as a "Bond film", to which Casino Royale, to me atleast, is made closer in the form of a Bond film. I also rewatched Goldfinger today, and I have to say that I also prefer that to Skyfall, given that I gave Goldfinger a 10/10, and Skyfall an 8.5, with Casino Royale at a 9/10.
So, overall, "no", from my point of view, it is not the best Bond film ever. It comes close, but even if it were a better film overall, it isn't much of a Bond film when compared to most in the series.
Personally, it is currently my third favourite.
Indeed. I especially like the track from the Istanbul scenes... I keep humming and listening to it over and over on iTunes..
Well, I agree with that bit.
This