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SPECTRE: Official Critics Review Topic (accumulative topic, NO SPOILERS, just links)
Down below a collection of all the (mainly British) reviews of "SPECTRE". Most reviews are rated with a stars-system. Highest rated review is on top:
full 5 stars:
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, MI6-HQ.com, @DoubleoNothing: "Whilst 'Skyfall' was a critical and financial success, there were many amongst the dedicated fans that felt it veered too widely from the classic James Bond mould and simply had too many contrivances..[.........]..With 'SPECTRE', Mendes has really flexed his directing muscles. It is fair to say that Mendes is more at home with actors and eliciting performance than with cinematic savoir-faire, but with 'SPECTRE' there are some beautiful flourishes that really show that Mendes is far more than an actor's director, far more than a theatre director who has transposed his craft to the screen.":
https://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/spectre-review-spoiler-free?t=&s=&id=03994
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, The Guardian (Peter Bradshaw): "James Bond is back, stylish, camp and sexily pro-Snowden":
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/oct/21/spectre-review-james-bond-is-back-stylish-camp-and-sexily-pro-snowden
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, The Times: "This fourth outing for Daniel Craig as James Bond is achingly cool, as sleek and powerful as the silver Aston Martin DB10 that races through the movie.":
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/film/article4592879.ece
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, The Telegraph: "A swaggering show of confidence":
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/james-bond-spectre/review/
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, The Daily Mirror: "James Bond is back with a brutal blast as SPECTRE is rated best EVER":
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-reviews/james-bond-back-brutal-blast-6677940
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, Sunday/Daily Express (Allan Hunter): "It's James Bond at his spectacular best":
http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/613833/James-Bond-Spectre-review
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, Sunday/Daily Express (Henry Fitzherbert): "SPECTRE is the best Bond ever!":
http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/614169/Spectre-James-Bond-Daniel-Craig-review-film-Mississippi-Grind-The-Last-Witch-Hunter
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, Evening Standard (Ben Travis: "Until Innaritu's The Revenant comes out, Spectre shrugs off the weight of Skyfall's success and sets upon out-doing it.":
http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/spectre-first-review-perhaps-even-better-than-skyfall-a3096316.html
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, The Daily Star: "Craig shines in another belting Bond flick":
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/movies/471350/Film-review-SPECTRE-12A
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, The Sun: "This is no typical Bond movie but it still delivers":
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/6703636/First-review-of-James-Bond-movie-Spectre.html
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, SFX Magazine (GamesRadar.com): "Perfect hybrid of vintage Bond panache and Craig era grit. Almost the true 50th anniversary film three years late...":
https://twitter.com/NickSetchfield/status/656938253346557952
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, HeatWorld.com: "James Bond 007 is back in the most Bond Bond film EVER!":
http://www.heatworld.com/2015/10/spectre-review-james-bonds-007-is-back-watch-trailer-and-see-release-date
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, IATA Magazine: "it rivals #CasinoRoyale and IMHO is better than #Skyfall":
https://twitter.com/Rob_Coppinger/
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, Der Tages Anzeiger (SWISS): ""SPECTRE" is a classic 007-flick....if it wasn't for that cute mouse who showed up":
http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/kultur/kino/bond-und-die-lebenden-toten/story/19316709
--> ■ ■ ■ ■, De Telegraaf (DUTCH): "Marvellous spectacle with some shabby pieces":
http://www.telegraaf.nl/filmenuitgaan/film/filmrecensies/24651800/__Filmrecensie__Spectre__.html
4 out of 5 stars:
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, The Guardian/The Observer (Mark Kermode): "Another stellar outing for Bond":
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/oct/25/spectre-review-another-stellar-outing-for-bond-mark-kermode[/b]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5xfbHPcNn4
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, The Huffington Post (.co.uk): "Daniel Craig As James Bond Is On Cracking Form, With Contemporary Plot But Nostalgic Nods Too":
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/10/22/james-bond-spectre-review-daniel-craig_n_8354940.html
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, Empire Magazine: "Full marks to Mendes, Craig, Waltz, Fiennes and the location finder.":
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=138905
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, DenOfGeek.com: "Craig brings history and mortality to Bond; in SPECTRE's swerving, sinister plot, he remains its vital, beating heart":
http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/spectre/37455/spectre-review
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, Daily Mail: "A movie that warrants ALL the hype with 007 returning to his murderous, glamorous best":
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/reviews/article-3283684/Spectre-review-Bond-s-white-suit-spectacular-joyride-film-BRIAN-VINER-says-Spectre-warrants-hype.html
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, IndieWire (Demetrios Matheou): "The Zen Perfection of 'SPECTRE', nostalgic Feast for Bond Fans":
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/review-the-zen-perfection-of-spectre-nostalgic-feast-for-bond-fans-video-20151021
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, Scotland Herald: "Exhilarating Bond for these post-Snowden times":
http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/13887147.Alison_Rowat_film_review__Spectre/
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, BBC Radio 1: "Rhianna Dillon brings you the first Spectre review fresh from the screening in London's Leicester Square":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKA6yycTBls
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, BBC.com/culture: "From vodka martinis to exploding buildings, Spectre is stuffed with old Bond movie ingredients":
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20151022-film-review-is-spectre-the-best-bond-yet
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, DigitalSpy.co.uk: "Spectre will go down as Craig's stab at going full-blown BOND - big, bold and a bit more like Roger Moore":
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/review/a674869/spectre-review-daniel-craig-embraces-bonds-classic-formula-but-it-doesnt-pack-skyfalls-emotional-punch.html#~prPaTWaLateNbz
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, TheArtsDesk.com: "Surely Daniel Craig can't quit just as he's getting so good at it?":
http://www.theartsdesk.com/film/spectre
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, Algemeen Dagblad (DUTCH): "Daniel Craig has to stay as agent 007!":
http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1023/Film/article/detail/4168786/2015/10/23/AD-ziet-Spectre-Daniel-Craig-moet-blijven-als-James-Bond.dhtml
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, GamesRadar.com/TotalFilm: "SPECTRE ranks as a sleek, pulse-pounding if slightly overlong entertainment that should have little trouble emulating its predecessor":
http://www.gamesradar.com/spectre-review/
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, ITV News: "Exciting action and laugh out loud funny":
http://www.itv.com/news/2015-10-22/james-bond-spectre-review-spectacular-action-scenes-and-surprisingly-funny/
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, NME.com: "Almost a decade after "Casino Royale" stripped 007 back to his barest essentials, Spectre is the gradual layering back on of the old garb":
http://www.nme.com/reviews/various-artists/16306
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, NoMoreWorkHorse.com (IRISH): "If you’re not already a Bond fan this may be the movie that converts you and if you are you will analyse it to death":
http://nomoreworkhorse.com/2015/10/24/spectre-film-review/
3.5 out of 5 stars:
--> ■ ■ ■ ▪ □, IGN.com: ""SPECTRE" – the 24th official entry – delivers entertaining if unspectacular thrills":
http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/10/22/spectre-review
--> ■ ■ ■ ▪ □, Starburst Magazine: ""SPECTRE is an integrated remake of "Thunderball" and "You Only Live Twice" starring the core cast of the Daniel Craig-era":
http://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/latest-reviews-of-movies/13485-spectre-review
--> ■ ■ ■ ▪ □, RTE.ie.com (IRISH): "The Spy Who Bugged Me":
http://www.rte.ie/ten/reviews/movies/2015/1024/737225-review-spectre/
3 out of 5 stars:
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, The Independent: "Watching Bond be Bond, I didn't know whether to fist pump or facepalm":
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/reviewing-spectre-while-having-a-crisis-of-masculinity-a6703636.html
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, Evening Standard (David Sexton): "No license to thrill":
http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/film/spectre-film-review-no-license-to-thrill-a3097166.html
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, The Irish Times: "James Bond back on form, but...":
http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/spectre-review-james-bond-back-on-form-but-1.2404967
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, ScreenDaily.com: "Mendes and his production have reimagined the SPECTRE criminal gang for 2015 and it’s one of the production’s more successful elements":
http://www.screendaily.com/reviews/spectre-review/5095793.article?blocktitle=The-Latest&contentID=598
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, The Hollywood Reporter: "Spectre contains enough dazzle and derring-do to keep the Bond brand afloat, but not enough to make it a game-changing reboot in the manner of Skyfall":
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/spectre-film-review-833833
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, WhatCulture.com: "James Bond Is Ridiculous Again In This Disappointing (But Fun) Outing":
http://whatculture.com/film/spectre-review-disappointing-but-fun-james-bond-is-ridiculous-again.php
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, TimeOut London: "Sam Mendes and Daniel Craig take James Bond for another spin, with messy but enjoyable results":
http://www.timeout.com/london/film/spectre
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, HeyUGuys: "They expanded the character [James Bond] far too much":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqesjQEAYcU
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, TheMovieBit.com (IRISH): "It’s a very slick commercial for Tom Ford’s gorgeous tailoring and numerous designer eyewear that shade SPECTRE from its glaring flaws.":
http://www.themoviebit.com/2015/10/spectre-review_24.html
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, The Skinny: "Daniel Craig is back as super spy James Bond in Spectre, but the 007 franchise is back to its old":
http://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/spectre-daniel-craig
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, WOW247.co.uk: "A good Bond, but not a great Bond":
http://www.wow247.co.uk/2015/10/22/spectre-review-a-good-bond-but-not-a-great-bond/
2 out of 5 stars:
--> ■ ■ □ □ □, The Financial Times: "SPECTRE: tailoring, tie-pins and a wobbly tone":
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/eec8fbde-7809-11e5-933d-efcdc3c11c89.html
--> ■ ■ □ □ □, GQ Magazine (BRITISH): "SPECTRE feels overcooked":
http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2015-10/22/spectre-film-review-helen-o-hara
--> ■ ■ □ □ □, IndieWire Oliver Lyttelton: ""SPECTRE" will please both the hardcore and the more casual fan":
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/review-sam-mendes-spectre-starring-daniel-craig-christoph-waltz-lea-seydoux-ralph-fiennes-20151021
--> ■ ■ □ □ □, CineVue: "Perhaps, if Craig hangs up his holster, it may breathe new life into the franchise":
http://www.cine-vue.com/2015/10/film-review-spectre.html
reviews with no rating:
--> The Wrap: "“Spectre” is strongest is when it explores the central theme: What is the point of men like Bond in an era where information is power and drones can do his job without racking up an eye-watering bar tab and dry cleaning bill?":
http://www.thewrap.com/spectre-review-007-james-bond-daniel-craig-christoph-waltz/
--> LittleWhiteLies.co.uk: "Bond 24 is an enormous, multi-tentacled beast!":
http://www.littlewhitelies.co.uk/theatrical-reviews/spectre-32122
--> Cinetelerevue.be (FRENCH): ""SPECTRE" is a spectacular 007 but can't top "SkyFall"":
http://cinetelerevue.be/fr/nous-avons-vu-le-nouveau-james-bond.html?cmp_id=7&news_id=34783
--> The Irish Examiner (IRISH): "SPECTRE is ambitious and entertaining at times, but there is that nagging feeling that more could have been done":
http://www.irishexaminer.com/technow/movies/spectre-review-361232.html
Reviews counted:
49: Total Reviews counted so far
15: Reviews with 5.0 stars
16: Reviews with 4.0 stars
03: Reviews with 3.5 stars
11: Reviews with 3.0 stars
04: Reviews with 2.0 stars
Average rating so far:
3.888 stars ≈ 4 stars
Rating it the Tomatometer-way, but with MI6-co.uk-objectivity:
I strictly exclude 2.5 stars, 2 stars, 1.5 stars and 1 star reviews from the "Fresh"-list. Every review that has 3 stars or higher I put into the "Fresh"-field. I have taken a more extensive look at how RottenTomatoes.com is branding reviews with "Fresh" and "Rotten", and sometimes they mark 3-stars reviews with "Rotten" and other 3-stars reviews with "Fresh", which is inaccurate if you ask me. Furthermore, I excluded reviews who doesn't have any star-rating at all, as I want to stay as objective as possible (RottenTomatoes.com sometimes scans the non-star-rated reviews in a very subjective way and include them into the Tomato-count).
So 'our' Tomatometer would be:
45: "Fresh" reviews
04: "Rotten" reviews
Adjusted Tomatometer: 91.837 ≈ 92%
One final remark: I am not sure if I can continue this when the USA reviews come in :-O! It's wayyy too much work. So if someone would like to take over? Please be my guest later this week :-).
full 5 stars:
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, MI6-HQ.com, @DoubleoNothing: "Whilst 'Skyfall' was a critical and financial success, there were many amongst the dedicated fans that felt it veered too widely from the classic James Bond mould and simply had too many contrivances..[.........]..With 'SPECTRE', Mendes has really flexed his directing muscles. It is fair to say that Mendes is more at home with actors and eliciting performance than with cinematic savoir-faire, but with 'SPECTRE' there are some beautiful flourishes that really show that Mendes is far more than an actor's director, far more than a theatre director who has transposed his craft to the screen.":
https://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/spectre-review-spoiler-free?t=&s=&id=03994
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, The Guardian (Peter Bradshaw): "James Bond is back, stylish, camp and sexily pro-Snowden":
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/oct/21/spectre-review-james-bond-is-back-stylish-camp-and-sexily-pro-snowden
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, The Times: "This fourth outing for Daniel Craig as James Bond is achingly cool, as sleek and powerful as the silver Aston Martin DB10 that races through the movie.":
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/film/article4592879.ece
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, The Telegraph: "A swaggering show of confidence":
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/james-bond-spectre/review/
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, The Daily Mirror: "James Bond is back with a brutal blast as SPECTRE is rated best EVER":
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-reviews/james-bond-back-brutal-blast-6677940
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, Sunday/Daily Express (Allan Hunter): "It's James Bond at his spectacular best":
http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/613833/James-Bond-Spectre-review
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, Sunday/Daily Express (Henry Fitzherbert): "SPECTRE is the best Bond ever!":
http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/614169/Spectre-James-Bond-Daniel-Craig-review-film-Mississippi-Grind-The-Last-Witch-Hunter
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, Evening Standard (Ben Travis: "Until Innaritu's The Revenant comes out, Spectre shrugs off the weight of Skyfall's success and sets upon out-doing it.":
http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/spectre-first-review-perhaps-even-better-than-skyfall-a3096316.html
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, The Daily Star: "Craig shines in another belting Bond flick":
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/movies/471350/Film-review-SPECTRE-12A
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, The Sun: "This is no typical Bond movie but it still delivers":
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/6703636/First-review-of-James-Bond-movie-Spectre.html
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, SFX Magazine (GamesRadar.com): "Perfect hybrid of vintage Bond panache and Craig era grit. Almost the true 50th anniversary film three years late...":
https://twitter.com/NickSetchfield/status/656938253346557952
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, HeatWorld.com: "James Bond 007 is back in the most Bond Bond film EVER!":
http://www.heatworld.com/2015/10/spectre-review-james-bonds-007-is-back-watch-trailer-and-see-release-date
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, IATA Magazine: "it rivals #CasinoRoyale and IMHO is better than #Skyfall":
https://twitter.com/Rob_Coppinger/
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ ■, Der Tages Anzeiger (SWISS): ""SPECTRE" is a classic 007-flick....if it wasn't for that cute mouse who showed up":
http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/kultur/kino/bond-und-die-lebenden-toten/story/19316709
--> ■ ■ ■ ■, De Telegraaf (DUTCH): "Marvellous spectacle with some shabby pieces":
http://www.telegraaf.nl/filmenuitgaan/film/filmrecensies/24651800/__Filmrecensie__Spectre__.html
4 out of 5 stars:
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, The Guardian/The Observer (Mark Kermode): "Another stellar outing for Bond":
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/oct/25/spectre-review-another-stellar-outing-for-bond-mark-kermode[/b]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5xfbHPcNn4
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, The Huffington Post (.co.uk): "Daniel Craig As James Bond Is On Cracking Form, With Contemporary Plot But Nostalgic Nods Too":
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/10/22/james-bond-spectre-review-daniel-craig_n_8354940.html
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, Empire Magazine: "Full marks to Mendes, Craig, Waltz, Fiennes and the location finder.":
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=138905
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, DenOfGeek.com: "Craig brings history and mortality to Bond; in SPECTRE's swerving, sinister plot, he remains its vital, beating heart":
http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/spectre/37455/spectre-review
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, Daily Mail: "A movie that warrants ALL the hype with 007 returning to his murderous, glamorous best":
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/reviews/article-3283684/Spectre-review-Bond-s-white-suit-spectacular-joyride-film-BRIAN-VINER-says-Spectre-warrants-hype.html
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, IndieWire (Demetrios Matheou): "The Zen Perfection of 'SPECTRE', nostalgic Feast for Bond Fans":
http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/review-the-zen-perfection-of-spectre-nostalgic-feast-for-bond-fans-video-20151021
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, Scotland Herald: "Exhilarating Bond for these post-Snowden times":
http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/13887147.Alison_Rowat_film_review__Spectre/
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, BBC Radio 1: "Rhianna Dillon brings you the first Spectre review fresh from the screening in London's Leicester Square":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKA6yycTBls
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, BBC.com/culture: "From vodka martinis to exploding buildings, Spectre is stuffed with old Bond movie ingredients":
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20151022-film-review-is-spectre-the-best-bond-yet
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, DigitalSpy.co.uk: "Spectre will go down as Craig's stab at going full-blown BOND - big, bold and a bit more like Roger Moore":
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/review/a674869/spectre-review-daniel-craig-embraces-bonds-classic-formula-but-it-doesnt-pack-skyfalls-emotional-punch.html#~prPaTWaLateNbz
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, TheArtsDesk.com: "Surely Daniel Craig can't quit just as he's getting so good at it?":
http://www.theartsdesk.com/film/spectre
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, Algemeen Dagblad (DUTCH): "Daniel Craig has to stay as agent 007!":
http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1023/Film/article/detail/4168786/2015/10/23/AD-ziet-Spectre-Daniel-Craig-moet-blijven-als-James-Bond.dhtml
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, GamesRadar.com/TotalFilm: "SPECTRE ranks as a sleek, pulse-pounding if slightly overlong entertainment that should have little trouble emulating its predecessor":
http://www.gamesradar.com/spectre-review/
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, ITV News: "Exciting action and laugh out loud funny":
http://www.itv.com/news/2015-10-22/james-bond-spectre-review-spectacular-action-scenes-and-surprisingly-funny/
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, NME.com: "Almost a decade after "Casino Royale" stripped 007 back to his barest essentials, Spectre is the gradual layering back on of the old garb":
http://www.nme.com/reviews/various-artists/16306
--> ■ ■ ■ ■ □, NoMoreWorkHorse.com (IRISH): "If you’re not already a Bond fan this may be the movie that converts you and if you are you will analyse it to death":
http://nomoreworkhorse.com/2015/10/24/spectre-film-review/
3.5 out of 5 stars:
--> ■ ■ ■ ▪ □, IGN.com: ""SPECTRE" – the 24th official entry – delivers entertaining if unspectacular thrills":
http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/10/22/spectre-review
--> ■ ■ ■ ▪ □, Starburst Magazine: ""SPECTRE is an integrated remake of "Thunderball" and "You Only Live Twice" starring the core cast of the Daniel Craig-era":
http://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/latest-reviews-of-movies/13485-spectre-review
--> ■ ■ ■ ▪ □, RTE.ie.com (IRISH): "The Spy Who Bugged Me":
http://www.rte.ie/ten/reviews/movies/2015/1024/737225-review-spectre/
3 out of 5 stars:
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, The Independent: "Watching Bond be Bond, I didn't know whether to fist pump or facepalm":
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/reviewing-spectre-while-having-a-crisis-of-masculinity-a6703636.html
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, Evening Standard (David Sexton): "No license to thrill":
http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/film/spectre-film-review-no-license-to-thrill-a3097166.html
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, The Irish Times: "James Bond back on form, but...":
http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/spectre-review-james-bond-back-on-form-but-1.2404967
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, ScreenDaily.com: "Mendes and his production have reimagined the SPECTRE criminal gang for 2015 and it’s one of the production’s more successful elements":
http://www.screendaily.com/reviews/spectre-review/5095793.article?blocktitle=The-Latest&contentID=598
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, The Hollywood Reporter: "Spectre contains enough dazzle and derring-do to keep the Bond brand afloat, but not enough to make it a game-changing reboot in the manner of Skyfall":
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/spectre-film-review-833833
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, WhatCulture.com: "James Bond Is Ridiculous Again In This Disappointing (But Fun) Outing":
http://whatculture.com/film/spectre-review-disappointing-but-fun-james-bond-is-ridiculous-again.php
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, TimeOut London: "Sam Mendes and Daniel Craig take James Bond for another spin, with messy but enjoyable results":
http://www.timeout.com/london/film/spectre
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, HeyUGuys: "They expanded the character [James Bond] far too much":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqesjQEAYcU
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, TheMovieBit.com (IRISH): "It’s a very slick commercial for Tom Ford’s gorgeous tailoring and numerous designer eyewear that shade SPECTRE from its glaring flaws.":
http://www.themoviebit.com/2015/10/spectre-review_24.html
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, The Skinny: "Daniel Craig is back as super spy James Bond in Spectre, but the 007 franchise is back to its old":
http://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/spectre-daniel-craig
--> ■ ■ ■ □ □, WOW247.co.uk: "A good Bond, but not a great Bond":
http://www.wow247.co.uk/2015/10/22/spectre-review-a-good-bond-but-not-a-great-bond/
2 out of 5 stars:
--> ■ ■ □ □ □, The Financial Times: "SPECTRE: tailoring, tie-pins and a wobbly tone":
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/eec8fbde-7809-11e5-933d-efcdc3c11c89.html
--> ■ ■ □ □ □, GQ Magazine (BRITISH): "SPECTRE feels overcooked":
http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2015-10/22/spectre-film-review-helen-o-hara
--> ■ ■ □ □ □, IndieWire Oliver Lyttelton: ""SPECTRE" will please both the hardcore and the more casual fan":
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/review-sam-mendes-spectre-starring-daniel-craig-christoph-waltz-lea-seydoux-ralph-fiennes-20151021
--> ■ ■ □ □ □, CineVue: "Perhaps, if Craig hangs up his holster, it may breathe new life into the franchise":
http://www.cine-vue.com/2015/10/film-review-spectre.html
reviews with no rating:
--> The Wrap: "“Spectre” is strongest is when it explores the central theme: What is the point of men like Bond in an era where information is power and drones can do his job without racking up an eye-watering bar tab and dry cleaning bill?":
http://www.thewrap.com/spectre-review-007-james-bond-daniel-craig-christoph-waltz/
--> LittleWhiteLies.co.uk: "Bond 24 is an enormous, multi-tentacled beast!":
http://www.littlewhitelies.co.uk/theatrical-reviews/spectre-32122
--> Cinetelerevue.be (FRENCH): ""SPECTRE" is a spectacular 007 but can't top "SkyFall"":
http://cinetelerevue.be/fr/nous-avons-vu-le-nouveau-james-bond.html?cmp_id=7&news_id=34783
--> The Irish Examiner (IRISH): "SPECTRE is ambitious and entertaining at times, but there is that nagging feeling that more could have been done":
http://www.irishexaminer.com/technow/movies/spectre-review-361232.html
Reviews counted:
49: Total Reviews counted so far
15: Reviews with 5.0 stars
16: Reviews with 4.0 stars
03: Reviews with 3.5 stars
11: Reviews with 3.0 stars
04: Reviews with 2.0 stars
Average rating so far:
3.888 stars ≈ 4 stars
Rating it the Tomatometer-way, but with MI6-co.uk-objectivity:
I strictly exclude 2.5 stars, 2 stars, 1.5 stars and 1 star reviews from the "Fresh"-list. Every review that has 3 stars or higher I put into the "Fresh"-field. I have taken a more extensive look at how RottenTomatoes.com is branding reviews with "Fresh" and "Rotten", and sometimes they mark 3-stars reviews with "Rotten" and other 3-stars reviews with "Fresh", which is inaccurate if you ask me. Furthermore, I excluded reviews who doesn't have any star-rating at all, as I want to stay as objective as possible (RottenTomatoes.com sometimes scans the non-star-rated reviews in a very subjective way and include them into the Tomato-count).
So 'our' Tomatometer would be:
45: "Fresh" reviews
04: "Rotten" reviews
Adjusted Tomatometer: 91.837 ≈ 92%
One final remark: I am not sure if I can continue this when the USA reviews come in :-O! It's wayyy too much work. So if someone would like to take over? Please be my guest later this week :-).
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Comments
■ ■ ■ ■ ■, MI6-HQ.com, @DoubleoNothing: "Whilst 'Skyfall' was a critical and financial success, there were many amongst the dedicated fans that felt it veered too widely from the classic James Bond mould and simply had too many contrivances..[.........]..With 'SPECTRE', Mendes has really flexed his directing muscles. It is fair to say that Mendes is more at home with actors and eliciting performance than with cinematic savoir-faire, but with 'SPECTRE' there are some beautiful flourishes that really show that Mendes is far more than an actor's director, far more than a theatre director who has transposed his craft to the screen.":
https://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/spectre-review-spoiler-free?t=&s=&id=03994
Me too @RC7. I'm starting to believe that any bit of backlash or negativity in reviews now mostly exists due to the comparison made with "Skyfall" and not because of what "SPECTRE" offers us....
This could be the Bond-film that fans like as much as "Casino Royale".
Yeah, a review that says 'Not as good as Skyfall' isn't even a review. It's just a pointless assertion.
It seems to be mainly the foreign (American) press who are down on the film(?). With the exception of the Indie, the british press, both tabloid and broadsheet is pretty positive/very positive.
This sort of thing is good for word of mouth
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34600980
In the top 5 read articles on one of the UKs most visited websites...
What do you think darling :-P?
Still, it could say something about "Skyfall"s future status as a 'classic evergreen'?
I'd say high 80's or perhaps close to "Skyfall"s 92%.
Anyway, Empire Magazine review for "SPECTRE" is online:
■ ■ ■ ■ □, Empire Magazine: "Full marks to Mendes, Craig, Waltz, Fiennes and the location finder.":
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=138905
And now let's compare this review with Empire's reviews for Craig's previous three Bond films:
"CASINO ROYALE":
■ ■ ■ ■ □, Empire Magazine: "Daniel Craig has done more with James Bond in one film than some previous stars have in multiple reprises.":
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=10199
"QUANTUM OF SOLACE":
■ ■ ■ ■ □, Empire Magazine: " The only real caveat is that while it’s exciting and imaginative, it’s not exactly anyone’s idea of fun.":
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=134523
"SKYFALL":
■ ■ ■ ■ □, Empire Magazine: "Cool but not camp, respectful of tradition but up to the moment, serious in its thrills and relatively complex in its characters.":
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=137076
http://www.nu.nl/film/4150064/nieuwe-james-bond-krijgt-5-sterren-van-britse-kranten.html
I think the Dutch can call themselves 'Surrogate-Brits' now :-P.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/eec8fbde-7809-11e5-933d-efcdc3c11c89.html
"After the sombre excellence of Skyfall, Spectre tries to tweak the formula while clearly being thrown into panic at the thought."
Added ;-). But 2 stars?? Hmmm, let's see...
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-34610056
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-34600864
Here's the consensus: TOMATOMETER
90%
Average Rating: 7.1/10
Reviews Counted: 22
Fresh: 20
Rotten: 2
"Critics Consensus: Spectre nudges Daniel Craig's rebooted Bond closer to the glorious, action-driven spectacle of earlier entries, although it's admittedly reliant on established 007 formula."
Nothing is set in stone after so few reviews but there it is.
I have sorted all the reviews in the opening post from highest rated review to lowest rated reviews. So far 30 reviews have been posted, including just a moment ago the review from The Huffington Post.
Then I did some calculations.......
Reviews counted:
30: Total Reviews counted so far
11: Reviews with 5 stars
11: Reviews with 4 stars
06: Reviews with 3 stars
02: Reviews with 2 stars
So the average rating so far is:
4.033 stars ≈ 4 stars
I can only conclude that on average the reviews have been not 'just OK, slightly lower than "SF"'. No, they are, so far, mostly very good, with only 2 out of 30 reviews that could be brandmarked 'rotten'. Thus reviews so far do indeed mirror the reviews from "Skyfall".
It gets different when you really start reading all the reviews in detail. Then, obviously, a lot of comparisons are made with "Skyfall".
So no reason so far to think lowly of "SPECTRE". It is en route to score a Tomato-meter rating on RT of between 86% and 94%. Let's see what the USA will bring us....
Very nice, now we have the complete picture!
@The_Reaper
Thanks for putting those numbers up, if I had done it I would get bashed by @Germanlady
I'm very glad that most critics give Spectre 4 or even 5 stars. I have a feeling that Spectre can be as good as CR, and I have said so countless times. But ignoring mixed reviews or negating the scores on RT or MetaCritic is just dumb.
And this is exactly as we expected it to be. There are no surprises here. The film appears to be good - not sure if great yet. Given the very high expectations set by SF, that is a positive, because it appears that despite such expectations, SP is measuring up. If the expectations had been lower (as they were when SF followed QoS) then the reviews might have been in total more positive.
As I've said before, and as you allude to above, the real test will be the US media, who love to knock a front runner down a few notches. I am hoping that the positive press continues for the two week period (like it did for SF) so that when the US picks up the baton in a fortnight they will be prevented from unnecessary bashing (although I do welcome critical comments by them if warranted).
I agree with you @BondJasonBond006, all reviews should be counted - the good, and the bad.
It will be interesting to see how IMDB-voters will vote for the film....
My impression is that "SPECTRE" will be the most 'classic Bond', a more welcome return to the 007-formula. BUT this has been done slowly and gently over the course of 4 Bond adventures. Thus I wouldn't be surprised if audience ratings will be higher than critics ratings.
Metacritic still at 70% with 6 good and 4 mixed reviews.
Exactly!
Some of these reviewers have missed the point of what Mendes wanted to achieve. He didn't want to make SF2, he wanted to make a very different movie that celebrates Bond as opposed to exploring the impact of emotional depths. Looks like Mendes etc al succeeded and now more than ever I'm convinced and still hoping some of the reviews that say it's better than SF and in par with CR hold true.
Yeah, I think in some ways, Skyfall is like an albatross around the series' neck. I'm seeing some reviews that say Spectre doesn't match the "emotional stakes" or have the same "impact". Well, how could it? SF had a one off event where they killed a beloved character who'd been a part of the series for 7 films. And people are expecting the followup to match that in terms of impact? Was never possible, was never going to happen, short of actually killing James Bond. And EON knew that chasing that kind of feeling and creating Skyfall II just couldn't work, so it seems like they've focused on doing another style of classic Bond movie.