Last Bond Movie You Watched

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  • Posts: 19,339
    barryt007 wrote: »
    Agreed. Elektra was the main villain in my opinion.
    Yes for sure...no comparison.
    If I recall correctly, Renard was to be taller, and a muscular giant in the first draft. At least I remember reading it that way, and had a scar on his face similar to that of Blofeld's. But, much of the lines were the same.

    The lines could still work if they were delivered by an intimidating figure,something Carlyle wasn't,alas.

  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    barryt007 wrote: »
    barryt007 wrote: »
    Agreed. Elektra was the main villain in my opinion.
    Yes for sure...no comparison.
    If I recall correctly, Renard was to be taller, and a muscular giant in the first draft. At least I remember reading it that way, and had a scar on his face similar to that of Blofeld's. But, much of the lines were the same.
    The lines could still work if they were delivered by an intimidating figure,something Carlyle wasn't,alas.
    Agreed. Carlyle was just the wrong choice. He's better off as a Denbigh type of a character rather than a main villain.
  • Posts: 19,339
    barryt007 wrote: »
    barryt007 wrote: »
    Agreed. Elektra was the main villain in my opinion.
    Yes for sure...no comparison.
    If I recall correctly, Renard was to be taller, and a muscular giant in the first draft. At least I remember reading it that way, and had a scar on his face similar to that of Blofeld's. But, much of the lines were the same.
    The lines could still work if they were delivered by an intimidating figure,something Carlyle wasn't,alas.
    Agreed. Carlyle was just the wrong choice. He's better off as a Denbigh type of a character rather than a main villain.

    That's more like it,a political slimeball or someone bankrolling a main villain etc.
    Even in the final fight with BrosnanBond he didn't look like he could take him.
  • ThunderballThunderball playing Chemin de Fer in a casino, downing Vespers
    Posts: 814
    I hope someday we'll have a movie where the main Bond villain is a woman that Bond lusts after, like if Fiona was the main villain of TB instead of being Largo's lackey. Something like that.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    I hope someday we'll have a movie where the main Bond villain is a woman that Bond lusts after, like if Fiona was the main villain of TB instead of being Largo's lackey. Something like that.
    I'd love that, as well.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,395
    You mean TWINE?
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    You mean TWINE?
    Someone more actively involved, he means, I think, rather than being the chairman of the operation.
  • ThunderballThunderball playing Chemin de Fer in a casino, downing Vespers
    Posts: 814
    Yes, Mr Devlin, that's what I mean. It was bungled in TWINE. I think they meant to have Elektra as the main villain and it could've worked if they reduced Renard down to a lackey that only appeared a couple of times and have more Bond vs Elektra scenes.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    edited March 2018 Posts: 15,423
    @Thunderball If you're into comics, try the 2016 James Bond comic book, Hammerhead, where the main antagonist is a woman and is more actively involved. You might like it.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond_007:_Hammerhead
  • ThunderballThunderball playing Chemin de Fer in a casino, downing Vespers
    Posts: 814
    Thanks for the recommendation, I'll check it out.
  • mattjoesmattjoes Julie T. and the M.G.'s
    Posts: 7,021
    I watched Thunderball. A few brief thoughts:

    - The Shrublands segment is a bit slow, but it's gratifying to see the pieces of the plot come together, and understanding what exactly Lippe, Fiona, Angelo and Largo are up to. I also enjoy the brief callback to Jacques Bouvar's death. Everything feels satisfyingly interconnected in the story.

    - Once we arrive in the Bahamas, the film moves at a very, very quick pace. No time wasted, with virtually every scene moving the plot forward in some way and getting out of the way as soon as possible. Bond does quite a bit of detective work in this film, which is great fun.

    - Having said that, I would point out something I read in another review: the film kind of lacks a centerpiece; a great scene to become embedded in your mind. Presumably, the climactic underwater battle was meant to be just that, but it isn't that good.

    - I appreciate the little glimpses of sadism and creepiness sprinkled throughout the film: Vargas' unsettling behavior, Largo kissing the Spectre ring after ordering Quist's murder, Largo's cigar and ice torture.

    - I didn't find the underwater scenes uninteresting or boring, though I did feel the final battle ran too long. It could've been a minute and a half shorter and we wouldn't have missed anything.

    Good film. I like it more now.
  • BondAficionadoBondAficionado Former IMDBer
    Posts: 1,889
    Went through Skyfall again today and what a blast it is!

    This film simply works. Even starting with the much-hated opening shot. I can overlook that choice because the gunbarrel at the very end makes you leave the viewing all upbeat (same goes for QoS. Fight me). Oh, and the humor is to my liking. Very dry, very Craig. SP was awful in that regard.

    The Skyfall PTS is one of the very best imho. Taking us on a long journey and immersing us in the location just like the old films used to do. The action during the scene is top-tier stuff: we go from foot to car to motorcycle to digger to train. Reminds me of TSWLM in an abstract kind of way. The scene makes great use of Harris as MP too. As much as I want to see Bond do things solo in the films, I do appreciate her role here immensely.

    The "take the bloody shot" moment is as tense as when I first saw the film in the theater. Bond falling to his 'death' should've killed him but it's a movie... a movie in a franchise where people have blown up from ingesting an air gun bullet. And anyway, his 'death' is an important part in driving home the theme of him being dated and (apparently) a redundant part of society. He's an underdog in this film and it takes the entire movie for him to prove his worth (and to a lesser extent his profession), which is why I believe M says at the ending that she at least "got something right." Comes full circle.

    A lot of members here moan about the plot-holes, but I can't see them. Well, none that are important enough to talk about I mean. The plot makes perfect sense and is one of the more simpler stories in the franchise tbh. What makes this film complicated are the rich themes interwoven throughout.

    Another thing I see a lot here is that the majority don't think that Skyfall is an action packed film. I really don't get it. Skyfall has LOADS of action. I've already mentioned the PTS, but there's the Shanghai scene (one of my favs in all the films), the courtroom shootout and the explosive finale. All have much going on and the latter two have soooo much shooting. Makes GE look like a picnic in comparison. And once Silva escapes, there's the tube explosion and several chases before they even reach the courtroom! Most of the film is either building up to an action sequence or the sequence itself so I would rank it as one of the most action-heavy Bond films. No joke.

    P.S. The fight at Skyfall is so exhilarating and beautiful (Deakins!!) that it could be my favourite Bond finale. I know I've spewed a ton of hyperbole in these past few paragraphs, but I honestly mean it. It's one of the dozens of reasons why Skyfall has always been in my top 3.

    P.P.S "Waste of good scotch" is such a damn good line. He cared for Severine and fought for her, but he isn't going to cry about her demise - especially not in front of Silva as it's a sign of weakness and would be unprofessional. You also have to remember that Vesper's betrayal and subsequent suicide hardened him and he was already a relatively emotionally detached guy to start off with. It's Bond. That's who he is and how he should behave. It's no accident they left it in the final cut.





  • Posts: 12,466
    Glad to see someone else here heap praise on SF. I’ve noticed a sad lack of SF love on the boards. For me though - a Top 5 Bond film!
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    FoxRox wrote: »
    Glad to see someone else here heap praise on SF. I’ve noticed a sad lack of SF love on the boards. For me though - a Top 5 Bond film!

    Same here.
  • mattjoesmattjoes Julie T. and the M.G.'s
    Posts: 7,021
    Regarding Thunderball, I just wanted to add Connery's on fire in this one. Cool, energetic and charming. Great performance.
  • 00Agent00Agent Any man who drinks Dom Perignon '52 can't be all bad.
    Posts: 5,185
    mattjoes wrote: »
    Regarding Thunderball, I just wanted to add Connery's on fire in this one. Cool, energetic and charming. Great performance.

    I think it's his best performance, and thats why it's my favorite movie of his.
  • LeonardPineLeonardPine The Bar on the Beach
    Posts: 3,996
    Spectre

    There's a lot I like in this film and I enjoy it but for the most part it just doesn't work.

    The script leaves a lot to be desired. It's badly worked out and making Blofeld behind all of Craig's previous Bond adventures is both lazy and a bad idea.

    Too many nonsensical moments the main one being Mr White asking Bond to protect his daughter yet fails to mention that their conversation is being recorded on CCTV for all to see and hear.

    It's a shame as there's a good film in there somewhere. Craig is as good as he can be with the poor material, I like Lea Seydoux, Christoph Waltz does his best with what he has and it's well shot.

    The PTS is excellent and deserves a better film. The car chase is pretty naff and the less said about the plane chase the better.

    Best scene in the film and the best fight for many years is Bond vs Hinx. It's brutal, fast and very well edited. I also rather like the Colonel Sun inspired torture scene.

    The music I actually don't mind even though Newman repeats some of his stuff from SF.

    Overall I think the film is a confused mess and looks like it was made up as it went along. When you consider QoS had an unfinished script yet is far superior to this then it's a sad state of affairs.
  • Posts: 12,466
    00Agent wrote: »
    mattjoes wrote: »
    Regarding Thunderball, I just wanted to add Connery's on fire in this one. Cool, energetic and charming. Great performance.

    I think it's his best performance, and thats why it's my favorite movie of his.

    It’s my second favorite Connery performance after DN. With DN you get his edgier side and with TB you get his lighter side, but both still are quite balanced.
  • mattjoesmattjoes Julie T. and the M.G.'s
    Posts: 7,021
    P.P.S "Waste of good scotch" is such a damn good line. He cared for Severine and fought for her, but he isn't going to cry about her demise - especially not in front of Silva as it's a sign of weakness and would be unprofessional. You also have to remember that Vesper's betrayal and subsequent suicide hardened him and he was already a relatively emotionally detached guy to start off with. It's Bond. That's who he is and how he should behave. It's no accident they left it in the final cut.
    I've never understood the complaints about this moment of the film. Indeed, Bond's behavior makes perfect sense. That line about scotch is great, as is the whole scene.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    Went through Skyfall again today and what a blast it is!

    This film simply works. Even starting with the much-hated opening shot. I can overlook that choice because the gunbarrel at the very end makes you leave the viewing all upbeat (same goes for QoS. Fight me). Oh, and the humor is to my liking. Very dry, very Craig. SP was awful in that regard.

    The Skyfall PTS is one of the very best imho. Taking us on a long journey and immersing us in the location just like the old films used to do. The action during the scene is top-tier stuff: we go from foot to car to motorcycle to digger to train. Reminds me of TSWLM in an abstract kind of way. The scene makes great use of Harris as MP too. As much as I want to see Bond do things solo in the films, I do appreciate her role here immensely.

    The "take the bloody shot" moment is as tense as when I first saw the film in the theater. Bond falling to his 'death' should've killed him but it's a movie... a movie in a franchise where people have blown up from ingesting an air gun bullet. And anyway, his 'death' is an important part in driving home the theme of him being dated and (apparently) a redundant part of society. He's an underdog in this film and it takes the entire movie for him to prove his worth (and to a lesser extent his profession), which is why I believe M says at the ending that she at least "got something right." Comes full circle.

    A lot of members here moan about the plot-holes, but I can't see them. Well, none that are important enough to talk about I mean. The plot makes perfect sense and is one of the more simpler stories in the franchise tbh. What makes this film complicated are the rich themes interwoven throughout.

    Another thing I see a lot here is that the majority don't think that Skyfall is an action packed film. I really don't get it. Skyfall has LOADS of action. I've already mentioned the PTS, but there's the Shanghai scene (one of my favs in all the films), the courtroom shootout and the explosive finale. All have much going on and the latter two have soooo much shooting. Makes GE look like a picnic in comparison. And once Silva escapes, there's the tube explosion and several chases before they even reach the courtroom! Most of the film is either building up to an action sequence or the sequence itself so I would rank it as one of the most action-heavy Bond films. No joke.

    P.S. The fight at Skyfall is so exhilarating and beautiful (Deakins!!) that it could be my favourite Bond finale. I know I've spewed a ton of hyperbole in these past few paragraphs, but I honestly mean it. It's one of the dozens of reasons why Skyfall has always been in my top 3.

    P.P.S "Waste of good scotch" is such a damn good line. He cared for Severine and fought for her, but he isn't going to cry about her demise - especially not in front of Silva as it's a sign of weakness and would be unprofessional. You also have to remember that Vesper's betrayal and subsequent suicide hardened him and he was already a relatively emotionally detached guy to start off with. It's Bond. That's who he is and how he should behave. It's no accident they left it in the final cut.





    Thank you-- top 5 for me... and will now have another (enjoyable) re-watch!
  • Posts: 12,466
    Yes! We have another fan! Long live SF - down with SP!
  • ThunderballThunderball playing Chemin de Fer in a casino, downing Vespers
    edited March 2018 Posts: 814
    Guess I'm a madman for saying long live Skyfall AND Spectre. In fact, long live all four of Craig's Bond movies so far, especially Casino Royale.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,784
    Me, too, @Thunderball. Me, too.
  • Posts: 12,466
    1. CR
    2. SF
    3. QOS

    4. SP

    1 and 2 are amazing, 3 is very good, and 4 is meh.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    edited March 2018 Posts: 8,205
    FoxRox wrote: »
    1. CR
    2. SF
    3. QOS

    4. SP

    1 and 2 are amazing, 3 is very good, and 4 is meh.

    +1 to this list.

    CR and SF are incredibly re-watchable, with a slight edge to CR; QOS is a very good movie that has really grown on me in the past couple of years; but it's a film that I watch now in then, when I'm in the mood.

    The there's SP, a film I may never again watch in it's entirety.

  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    I've said this before: when I re-watch SP, I forward through the Nine Eyes scenes (I like the concept, just thought execution and "C" were horribly executed (rushed, on-the-nose "evil")), and it becomes a tighter, more enjoyable experience where I can enjoy the structure of the scenes, and; I forward through the London finale, and go from the explosion of Blofeld's HQ straight to Bond asking Q for one more thing. I watch Bond drive off with Madeleine and listen to the Bond theme, roll credits, and go to bed.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,205
    Lol, very close to what I do!
  • Posts: 17,753
    Have to rewatch some Craig Bond soon. Looking forward to see how CR and QoS holds up, but I have to be honest - thinking about dropping the last two. On the last viewing, I could only get through SF with two breaks, and SP I had to force myself through. They just fail to entertain me at all.
  • Posts: 7,415
    Well I'll chip in and speak up for SP. I still find it an easier watch than SF, which still drags for me and apart from the pts I don't find it remotely exciting! Yeah the nine-eyes part and the return to London finale are bad but for me I find a whole lot worse in SF!
  • ThunderballThunderball playing Chemin de Fer in a casino, downing Vespers
    Posts: 814
    FoxRox wrote: »
    1. CR
    2. SF
    3. QOS

    4. SP

    1 and 2 are amazing, 3 is very good, and 4 is meh.

    For me it's

    1.CR - outstanding

    2. SF - great

    3. SP - very good
    4. QOS - very good

    I'm looking forward to doing a complete Daniel Craig Bondathon after Bond 25 is out on blu ray. Though I obviously haven't seen Bond 25 yet, I will say that for me there hasn't been a back to back series of great Bond movies like this since Dalton' s two or going back further, Connery's first four.
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