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"Did i overcomplicate the plot ?" - Skyfall Appreciation & Discussion
Now,i have looked and looked and am surprised to see there is not a straight-forward appreciation thread for Skyfall on here yet.
So,to balance things off against the more critical threads,i have opened this one for Skyfall supporters to discuss the film and the good points involved.
So,to balance things off against the more critical threads,i have opened this one for Skyfall supporters to discuss the film and the good points involved.
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But SF's most enjoyable treat, for me at least, is the cinematography. I can watch and rewatch the Shanghai scenes countless times and not get tired of them.
I loved Newman's score too. And I don't think you can really argue against Deakins photography.
I'm with you on that, @Getafix! One long take... Brilliant!
So many things to love about the film, but I think Craig's acting really stands out. He's called upon to convey so much and does so with classic Craig subtlety. The look in his eyes when the evaluator says "skyfall" in the word association scene is amazing. Most actors (*cough* Brosnan *cough*) would have gone over the top with that reaction. But Craig pulls back and it's all the more powerful for it. In all his Bond films, he goes well beyond just good "Bond" acting, and delivers great acting, period.
You start off your post by bitching about there being too much negativity on this site, but you couldn't resist sneaking in a snide remark about Brosnan.
:P
I loved seeing the DB5 again!
I loved how they included the gadgets too. The bit where Bond is hiding in it and then sets off the machine guns as the henchmen approach the door was brilliant.
Yes, they engaged the icon if you will. Plus we saw how Bond won the Aston Martin DB5 in CR did we not. Bond had (out of his own pocket) added some "optional extras" since that date, I presume.
Yes, SF saw the return of some of the lighter comedic moments in the series, but not in an overt way like during the Moore era, thankfully.
I'm ok with snide remarks, especially when it's only one tiny parenthetical in one comment. But thread after thread after thread devoted to nothing but bashing everything about an entire Bond movie, well, that just got too much for me. (Just take a look at how many threads devoted to hating Skyfall are still on the first page!)
I come here to share my enjoyment of the Bond world, not constantly defend a good Bond film from the critics that want nothing more than to tear it down. Heck, I don't need to come here to have my love of Bond attacked, I get enough of that in the real world. ;-) (And for what it's worth, I really liked Brosnan's tenure as Bond. I just think Craig is a better actor).
With that said, I really don't want to derail this thread. So, back to our regular programing.......
As for the music, the theme song is very strong and appropriate. I feel the soundtrack was a little more than adequate, it did fit the scenes ... but I wanted something more memorable from Newman, and I hope if he returns we do get more (he is indeed talented). I would have loved to have the theme song woven in more often and a bit more of the Bond theme, too. But everything else about the film is of very high quality, in my opinion.
So ... I wrote a lengthy review on the For Original Fans ... thread a while ago. I won't put all of that review here (it is long, category by catetgory; can be found on pg 30 of that thread, if you are interested - there were many fine, detailed reviews about Skyfall there) - but I'd like to share some of what I said on this thread, too.
Here is my take on Craig's Bond in Skyfall, along with expectations before the film came out -
For his 3rd film as Bond, Daniel Craig comes to us after six long years and with the last impression we had of his Bond films as being something like,"QOS: flawed film, stupid editing, darn shaky cam - okay, parts were fine, and at least Craig was solid..." In other words, I am sure he and the producers and director truly wanted to hit this one out of the ballpark, so to speak. Only 2 films with Craig so far, and Casino Royale was an outstanding success, critically and commercially. QOS felt very much like a stumble (I do believe the fine ending helped save it). It was time to step up to the plate (everybody, not just Craig). And Craig's Bond has been taking us on a journey - from the beginnings of Bond as a 00, then finding a woman to truly love only to lose her in horrible circumstances, to seeking and finding a balance of revenge, and to rededicating himself to his profession, becoming a more mature and competent agent (albeit trusting no one).
In Skyfall, Daniel Craig found excellent ground to really shine and let us see Bond as he has changed, matured as agent, and moved on from Vesper's death and betrayal. And everyone, I also believe, was wanting a slightly lighter tone to this film - to bring at least some of the fun back into Bond films. With all that in the brew, it was quite a tall order. Fine acting was needed in order to give the range, the arc, and the subtlety of this Bond. Craig delivers in every way, 100% in my opinion.
He is competent, tenacious (the china bulldog on M's desk is in every way appropriate for him), and driven. After he is shot, we see him truly stepping back and stepping away from his profession and his world. Physically damaged, recovering yet you can see he is feeling burnt out and wounded psychologically, not just from a bullet and near drowning. He is taking his time, trying not to jump right back into his old world with MI6 - especially as his boss ordered Eve to "take the bloody shot" that in his opinion was not necessary and was an insult to his professionalism to finish the job himself. He has a rare chance, as Mallory pointed out, to live a different life, on his own terms, to really escape. But watching London, and MI6 in particular, under attack sears him to his very core. And he cannot walk away. Bond's love of his country, and his deep-seated belief that he can make a real difference, makes him go back. So he does.
This film takes some time to show us Bond struggling physically and mentally, failing the tests, yet reporting for duty ready to do whatever it takes. When he returns, there are many changes - MI6 now working in a tube bunker, Eve now assisting Mallory, his old apartment sold, Mallory himself a "bureaucrat" whom Bond is immediately skeptical of, and, to top it off, a new Q - looking barely old enough to shave. When Bond and Q finish their first meeting and show a grudging acknowledgment and tenuous acceptance of each other, and Bond says, "Brave new world," that is a GREAT line, because it actually speaks for a lot about this story.
So let me just say, I loved this portrayal by Craig. I enjoyed every moment of it. His interaction with each character was spot on. The concentration of Daniel Craig has got to be one of his greatest assets because he was 100% committed in every scene. He did not show exactly the same attitude or behavior with all the other characters; he was real and fully present in every moment onscreen. And we could see Bond change in this film until at the end he is fully functioning, redeemed professionally, personally rededicated, and (finally!) ready to allow himself to have a little fun in his life, too.
* * * * * * *
With a stellar supporting cast that really shone and incredibly gorgeous and at times stunning cinematography by Deakins, I think Skyfall is one of the top Bond films in the series. It will probably stay in my top 10.
It wouldn't be in my top 3 if it wasn't as good as it was. :-bd
It will never leave my top 10 but where to put it is a mystery for me ,its #8 at the moment,and i know it will rise when i next view it.
It has some fantastic moments,eg Bond and Q in the gallery and the pyjamas comment - brilliance.
It's a powerful film but with the humour and one-liners that make it a non-heavy experience.
Roll on Bond 24 i say,and thank God DC has signed on for 2 more flicks !
I ADORE the score in Skyfall, and I find it very underrated. It would rank as one of the best scores in the series in my opinion. It is grand and epic as Bond tradition requires, it is filled with lush harmonies and creative modulations and variation of themes and motives. And not least it has more variety in texture and style than what we have been used to with Arnold. I do indeed like Arnold's scores as well, but he always had a tendency for over indulgence. His over usage of the Bond theme in the Brosnan films, and the title track themes in CR, turned towards overkill at times. I find Newman's score to be a lot more creative, and it usually fits perfectly with every scene.
And for those who say the score "isn't memorable enough" (??), just listen to this:
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So as this is the appreciation for Skyfall thread, let me add: that particular sequence is one of the standout things about this film; simply stunning. :-bd
Plus overall, Deakins incredible cinematography during the entire film - pretty awesome. And how I love Bond and Eve's banter as they walk thru the casino; perfect. ;)
That scene is indeed one of the aesthetical highlights of the film, not least music wise. But in my opinion there are several of them throughout the movie, and I'll list a few of them underneath:
From about 50 and onwards.
I really think Newman's contribution to the magic of these scenes should not be overlooked. And I want to make another point: The purpose of music in film is never to overshadow the content of the scenes, but to make a fitting backdrop. I think very few Bond scores achieves this better than this one. Just notice in my last example how the music perfectly blends with the proceedings and general build up on screen, making it an even more powerful moment. Some composers, like John Williams for instance, have a tendency to go overboard with scale and epicness to the point were the music in itself starts to take center stage. Raiders of the Lost Ark and License to Kill (for a bond reference) are examples of films were there are just to much "memorable music" through out, to the point were it almost works against the film. With Newman's score this never happens. I think it's all very tastefully done.
In my opinion Mendes, Deakins and Newman were an absolute perfect match, and together they made Skyfall one of the most aesthetically pleasing films ever. It's a shame they will not all be united for the next one.
Interesting to hear Judi in ... what language was that? Spanish? :)