Today's Movie

[emmilou]

.....and....well, what a movie! It's Bond, Jim, but not as we know it.
best opening sequence? Yes.
best drinking game? Oh, yes!!
But after that? It Morphs into a dark Shakespearean homoerotic Oedipal stew. For gawds sake, it is even slooowww in parts!
Best Bond movie ever? No. But that's because it is not a Bond movie by established convention. It takes it main cues from the Bourne trilogy and stirs in a rich helping of Bond back story. So, it is satisfying but not in the way you might think.
Hats off to Mendes for some superb cinematography. And Craig for a truly craggy performance....and surely his last as Bond?.

He has another 2 to do, the next in 2014. The only reason the gap was so long this time from the last one was the row with MGM etc....

[Graham Breeze]

Saw the Bond film Friday and was very disappointed apart from a few moments. I kind of expected it but thought I'd give it another chance. Don't agree with Wheeze on the opening sequence unless he means the bridge fall which was brilliant. I do however agree with Wheeze on the 'superb cinematography.' Those scenes in Scotland were spectacular. If you like over the top explosions and chases mixed in with some serious moments then you'll like this. I'd give it 3 out of 10.

3/10

OK CL what 10/10 DVDs do you "play and play again?"

Impress me!

[Wheeze]

Saw the Bond film Friday and was very disappointed apart from a few moments. I kind of expected it but thought I'd give it another chance. Don't agree with Wheeze on the opening sequence unless he means the bridge fall which was brilliant. I do however agree with Wheeze on the 'superb cinematography.' Those scenes in Scotland were spectacular. If you like over the top explosions and chases mixed in with some serious moments then you'll like this. I'd give it 3 out of 10.

Sorry, I was bit imprecise. By best opening sequence I meant the credits sequence, starting from the rifle shot and then the song. The 'Opening sequence' proper is hackneyed by comparison with Casino Royale which is still miles ahead. Perhaps Craig is too old for parkour chasing now!
for me, a solid 8/10.
IMHO, Craig should check out now whilst he's ahead. No one likes an ageing Bond. Brosnan hung on far too long.

[Graham Breeze]

Sorry, I was bit imprecise. By best opening sequence I meant the credits sequence, starting from the rifle shot and then the song. The 'Opening sequence' proper is hackneyed by comparison with Casino Royale which is still miles ahead. Perhaps Craig is too old for parkour chasing now!
for me, a solid 8/10.
IMHO, Craig should check out now whilst he's ahead. No one likes an ageing Bond. Brosnan hung on far too long.

Openings?

Well there is the opening 3 1/2 minute sequence in a single-take of A Touch of Evil (dir. Orson Welles 1958) with Russell Metty as cinematographer. Every film maker knows of it. Sheer brilliance. Apart from the awesome technical expertise on display it is only after watching the film that you realise the opening is like an opera overture with all the themes hinted at.

Orson Welles: self-destructive flawed genius?

[Stolly]

Openings?

Well there is the opening 3 1/2 minute sequence in a single-take of A Touch of Evil (dir. Orson Welles 1958) with Russell Metty as cinematographer. Every film maker knows of it. Sheer brilliance. Apart from the awesome technical expertise on display it is only after watching the film that you realise the opening is like an opera overture with all the themes hinted at.

Orson Welles: self-destructive flawed genius?

I think the opening scene in The Player was superb (for all done in one shot) - 7.5 minutes or something like that. Almost certainly as a homage to a touch of evil.

As for the opening sequence of Sky Fall - it was brilliant. I loved the whole film in fact and its easily the best bond yet. Some great one liners too - the scottish gamekeeper saying 'welcome to scotland' and calling M Emma, Moneypenny saying that they were sure to a couple more close shaves. Also the best baddy in a bond film too I think

[Graham Breeze]

I agree about The Player.

I saw it the week it opened and I told everybody that would listen that it would win Oscars by the truck load.

[stevefoster]

As for the opening sequence of Sky Fall - it was brilliant. I loved the whole film in fact and its easily the best bond yet. Some great one liners too - the scottish gamekeeper saying 'welcome to scotland' and calling M Emma, Moneypenny saying that they were sure to a couple more close shaves. Also the best baddy in a bond film too I think

Saw it last night and thoroughly enjoyed it, it's escapism from the real world. Agree with wheeze on the bourneishness, but nowt wrong with that, enjoyed them too. Great one liner when Bond leaps on to the back of the train and the stunned lady lets him in, 'Health and Safety':thumbup:

[Hes]

I thought Sky Fall was the best James Bond film I've seen in years and really loved the return to London and Scotland for the majority of the film. Daniel Craig was superb and I hope he carries on as Bond. Judi Dench and Albert Finney were great together in the old house. I'm a big fan of Javier Bardem and was a bit unsure when he first came on the screen with that awful hairdo and repeating his lines all the time but what seemed like hammy acting turned into a performance truly in the spirit of Bond baddies and I thought he was great. Liked Money Penny and Q a lot. I thought the opening sequence was mainly a bit naff but with some really good bits among the corny ones but it was totally in keeping with the Bond film style though so I've no complaints. I like the darker grittier Bond films, they are more up my alley. Bring on the next one!

[Hank]

Saw 'Man on Wire' at the weekend. Fascinating documentary about a French bloke who wire-walked between the Twin Towers in the '70s. No permission for the attempt, so he had to smuggle a ton of gear up there, rig the wire overnight and walked back and forth several times with zero protection before being arrested.

[Wheeze]

I finally watched Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy the other week and really enjoyed it. I noted that a few of the male characters shed a tear or two. You don't get that in James Bond. Some genuine emotion in situations of loss and betrayal, good stuff!

And I finally watched it too...picked it up in a 2 for £10 deal at HMV. And I can see why! A waste of £5 and my evening. Poor, disjointed, unconvincing characterisation and plain boring. I readily admit to comparing it in my head to the peerless BBC production and I suppose that characters who have several episodes to develop are at an advantage. But Alec Guiness IS Smiley so I guess the film was always going to be on a sticky wicket for me.

Oh, and JB blubbing in that one scene in Skyfall carried more power and emotion than the entire film of TTSP.