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"Did i overcomplicate the plot ?" - Skyfall Appreciation & Discussion

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  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    Actually, it was interesting! And I was trying to concentrate on the score anyway ...
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    SF isn't without its faults and I'm not overly fond of the score overall. In fact, I think its weak for the most part but that Tennyson scene with Bond emerging from Westminster underground station and running through the streets to M's aid is remarkable; Newman's shining moment of the film.
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    I feel that they could have used the score from the dragon boat scene and also Bond approaching Silva's island on the yacht ,more during the film.

    It doesnt have the strongest score throughout,CR has that honour with all the Craig Bond films.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,189
    I really like the score for the Tennyson scene. I remember when I first brought the soundtrack I'd often skip straight to it.
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    One of the things i like about SF is the way DC's Bond is quipping more,smiling more,and throwing out some good one-liners.

    I hope thats something they continue in BOND24...
  • Suivez_ce_parachuteSuivez_ce_parachute
    Posts: 2,015
    barryt007 wrote: »
    I feel that they could have used the score from the dragon boat scene and also Bond approaching Silva's island on the yacht ,more during the film.

    Well, can't we think now that this dragon boat scene score looks more like EON's idea than Newman's ? It seems the producers know a thing or two about Bond, finally...
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    Yep..the penny might have finally dropped !
  • GetafixGetafix
    Posts: 11,425
    jobo wrote: »
    4EverBonded wrote:
    That scene has the very best music of the entire soundtrack in it. That is what I'm talking about! But there is precious little more like that. I found the soundtrack suitable but not enough of those kinds of moments.

    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

    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:

    watch?v=1q4OGXhisbw

    From about 50 and onwards.



    watch?v=1qg3Hdg7xrg

    watch?v=PSgQemXBBMw

    watch?v=IR9J5NqvtIM

    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.

    Hmmm. So Williams' score for Raiders of the Lost Ark "works against the film"? You learn something new every day.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited September 2014 Posts: 12,480
    Oh just thought I'd bump this appreciation thread for one of my favorite Bond films. ;)

    Let the back and forth ranting banter begin anew!

    I adore Skyfall's cinematography, acting, production design, theme song, and Judi's farewell. =D>

    Plot holes? Sure, you can discuss those. Some folks are bothered a lot. But they do not take away from an overall outstanding Bond film experience for me.

    As always, we are simply posting our opinions. But there is mine in a nutshell.
  • Pajan005Pajan005 Stockholm, Sweden
    Posts: 432
    Very glad this thread exists.
  • jobojobo
    edited September 2014 Posts: 7,507
    Getafix wrote: »
    Hmmm. So Williams' score for Raiders of the Lost Ark "works against the film"? You learn something new every day.

    Well, it's my opinion of course, and I know I'm in the minority. But I think the Raiders score is by far Williams' most overrated work, and it doesn't live up to his usual high standards (I might throw in a big, fat IMO for good meassure...). The theme song/main tune (or whatever you call it) is pretty good, but the action music... is annoying, to pompous and theatrical... and it never stops... an it never calms down... it's distracting! It's Williams on speed with additional coffein injection.

    I guess it illustrates the film as a whole though. A drawn out, exaggerated, OTT, cheesy to the point of vulgar action fest with little substance designed for an american audience... I think I'll just never get its allure... But that's, needless to say, IMHO. Or well, come to think of it, it's probably not that humble...

    But that's enough about Indy on a Skyfall thread... :\"> :P
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited September 2014 Posts: 12,480
    I like the score for Raiders because it fits it so perfectly, like the old serials of yesteryear - but you are right, it is ... bombastic at times! But I find the film great fun and the music enjoyable.

    For Skyfall - what a lovely, lilting and lush theme song! And the downside is that it was woefully underused.

    I also enjoyed the entire PTS, one of my favorites in the series.
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    edited November 2014 Posts: 4,399
    (deleted)
  • WalecsWalecs On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    Posts: 3,157
    jobo wrote: »
    Getafix wrote: »
    Hmmm. So Williams' score for Raiders of the Lost Ark "works against the film"? You learn something new every day.

    Well, it's my opinion of course, and I know I'm in the minority. But I think the Raiders score is by far Williams' most overrated work, and it doesn't live up to his usual high standards (I might throw in a big, fat IMO for good meassure...). The theme song/main tune (or whatever you call it) is pretty good, but the action music... is annoying, to pompous and theatrical... and it never stops... an it never calms down... it's distracting! It's Williams on speed with additional coffein injection.

    I guess it illustrates the film as a whole though. A drawn out, exaggerated, OTT, cheesy to the point of vulgar action fest with little substance designed for an american audience... I think I'll just never get its allure... But that's, needless to say, IMHO. Or well, come to think of it, it's probably not that humble...

    But that's enough about Indy on a Skyfall thread... :\"> :P

    I do respect your opinion, and I agree that Williams is often bombastic and theatrical when he scores, particularly with Indiana Jones movies... but that's exactly what makes me so addicted to them.

    That's why, going back on topic, I feel like Newman's score is pretty weak.
  • RC7RC7
    edited September 2014 Posts: 10,512
    HASEROT wrote: »
    SF was a film, that i'll be 100% honest here... walking out of my first viewing in the theater, i knew i liked it, but i wasn't sure how much... it wasn't an immediate love affair like i had walking out of CR....

    I felt the same. In fact I wasn't even walking out of the cinema, I was walking out of the premier. I turned to my girlfriend and we both commented, 'It wasn't CR was it?' I thought the occasion may have clouded my judgement; the atmosphere, the experience, Craig right there in front of me. Yet it wasn't enough, even for an evening, to tip its appeal past that of CR. I thought and still do think it's head and shoulders above QoS for entertainment, but I still don't think Craig has surpassed his debut, which is disappointing in a sense.
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    edited November 2014 Posts: 4,399
    (deleted)
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited September 2014 Posts: 11,189
    RC7 wrote: »
    HASEROT wrote: »
    SF was a film, that i'll be 100% honest here... walking out of my first viewing in the theater, i knew i liked it, but i wasn't sure how much... it wasn't an immediate love affair like i had walking out of CR....

    I felt the same. In fact I wasn't even walking out of the cinema, I was walking out of the premier. I turned to my girlfriend and we both commented, 'It wasn't CR was it?' I thought the occasion may have clouded my judgement; the atmosphere, the experience, Craig right there in front of me. Yet it wasn't enough, even for an evening, to tip its appeal past that of CR. I thought and still do think it's head and shoulders above QoS for entertainment, but I still don't think Craig has surpassed his debut, which is disappointing in a sense.

    With me it was the other way round in relation to the first viewing. It took me a couple of viewings to really appreciate CR. With SF I came out buzzing.

    I still think CR is Craig's best film overall though.
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    edited November 2014 Posts: 4,399
    (deleted)
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited September 2014 Posts: 11,189
    With SF I wanted to watch it again straight away haha (I saw it at the Odeon Leicester Square) . With CR I was thinking "I liked it but it just felt really different" (in fact I remember I went home and stuck GE on), then I saw it again a few days later and was like: "this is actually great".

    I think I've realised I'm a bit of a sucker for "slightly cheesy" Bond. I like Bond to at least be a bit silly...but not overly so.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    Loved Skyfall from the first, very buzzed leaving the theater. My strong positive feelings for it have not wavered. I think CR is the better film, but not by a lot. I really did not find much to fault with in Skyfall at first, or a few months later; I still don't. @haserot you made a great list of such memorable things about the film; thanks. :)
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    The cinematography is perhaps the best in the series, it truly is some beautiful work by Deakins. The opening titles and song are also fantastic, and the titles are my favourite post-Binder work.

    A big thumbs up to the humour, too. It's the first Craig film to have made me laugh.

    Bardem makes for a good villain, and retains the consistent high standard of Bond villains of the Craig era (yes,I really dig Dominic Greene!).

    I love all the scenes that feature the underground, and the courtroom shoot out also made for great action.

    Skyfall may not be my favourite Bond film by all means, for all it's flaws, BUT it is a Bond film I would watch more than most, as it's great entertainment. What a Bond film should be.
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    edited November 2014 Posts: 4,399
    (deleted)
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,189
    HASEROT wrote: »
    @4EverBonded ..... thank you :)

    @BAIN123.... seeing as how my favorite Bond film is From Russia With Love, i think that probably gives an indication on how I like my Bond films lol... FRWL and CR are my 1 and 2 respectively....... but that doesn't mean i don't like the cheese - every now and then its fun to throw on one of the more "outlandish" Bond films (except for one in particular).

    I think FRWL probably is the best film in terms of quality too. In fact my top 3 films are FRWL, OHMSS and CR, However GF, SF, TSWLM and GE are also in my top 10. I can enjoy the daftness in Bond too when necessary - providing its done with a bit of panache. That's why I don't particularly like DAD or DAF. Silly films but, above all, poorly made.
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    edited November 2014 Posts: 4,399
    (deleted)
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,189
    HASEROT wrote: »
    our top 10s are probably very similar then - with a couple anomalies...

    1. From Russia With Love
    2. Casino Royale
    3. Skyfall
    4. Goldfinger
    5. The Living Daylights
    6. Goldeneye
    7. Octopussy
    8. Thunderball
    9. Live And Let Die
    10. The Spy Who Loved Me

    They are. Mine is:

    1. From Russia with Love
    2. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    3. Casino Royale
    4. Skyfall
    5. Goldfinger
    6. The Spy Who Loved Me
    7. Goldeneye
    8. Dr No
    9. Thunderball
    10. Octopussy
  • jobojobo
    edited September 2014 Posts: 7,507
    @haserot

    Well put! I agree with practically everything in your first post. And it is refreshing to finally see some well deserved praise for the film on these forums... after all the bashing... nitpicking... whining...

    As many of you point out, CR is overall the best Craig film. But that's not to say every Bond film should be like that one. I really like the direction they've gone with Skyfall; a sligtly lighter ("campy" if you like) tone, which was what the series needed, but still keeping with CRs depth and focus on the character of James Bond, showcasing Craigs acting ability. As long as that element is still there, and it's well made, Bond 24 can be as campy as they wan't it to be.
  • GetafixGetafix
    edited September 2014 Posts: 11,425
    jobo wrote: »
    Getafix wrote: »
    Hmmm. So Williams' score for Raiders of the Lost Ark "works against the film"? You learn something new every day.

    Well, it's my opinion of course, and I know I'm in the minority. But I think the Raiders score is by far Williams' most overrated work, and it doesn't live up to his usual high standards (I might throw in a big, fat IMO for good meassure...). The theme song/main tune (or whatever you call it) is pretty good, but the action music... is annoying, to pompous and theatrical... and it never stops... an it never calms down... it's distracting! It's Williams on speed with additional coffein injection.

    I guess it illustrates the film as a whole though. A drawn out, exaggerated, OTT, cheesy to the point of vulgar action fest with little substance designed for an american audience... I think I'll just never get its allure... But that's, needless to say, IMHO. Or well, come to think of it, it's probably not that humble...

    But that's enough about Indy on a Skyfall thread... :\"> :P

    Wow, I've never heard any one describe Raiders like this. If it was just designed for an American audience, it's turned out to be remarkably popular in a lot of other places as well.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,789
    4EverBonded wrote: »
    For Skyfall - what a lovely, lilting and lush theme song! And the downside is that it was woefully underused.

    Agreed. It was one of the best Bond songs ever. When I first heard it released on Youtube I got chills.
  • CrabKeyCrabKey
    Posts: 1,971
    A plus for me is that so much of the film is set in the UK. It's one of the aspects that adds so much to my enjoyment of Sherlock. I never tire of seeing London locations on film. Skyfall is not the film that CR was, but still enjoyable.
  • SaintMarkSaintMark
    Posts: 7,653
    I just hope that the next one is better but with Mendes at the wheel I do not have high hopes. I might just pray for the next performer as Craig has not gotten any better material since CR. A good looking movie is just not enough IMHO.
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