Skyfall (50th Anniversary) - Review Thread

[Deexan]

I got nothing more to say except...


...in yo face, Alien!

[Neverending]

Got my tickets booked for 12:07 or in military terms 00:07.

Actually, I'm kidding. But that would be awesome.

[JBond]

You're kidding? My theater actually does have it at 12:07.

[Fanible]

Our midnight on Wednesday was 12:07 as well.

[Neverending]

I know theaters are doing that. I was kidding about having the tickets.

[Fanible]

Suuure.

[carnage4u]

Note - I like some bond movies, but I'm not a "bond junkie"

I enjoyed this movie, and felt it was a huge improvement over the last Bond flick, which to me was a great waste of time.

I felt I enjoyed Casino Royale more, but this movie felt more like a standard bond flick. I really like Daniel Craig as bond, and the pacing of this film was much more on par then the lat film as well.

Good action, pretty interesting story, Villian was good.

on a scale of 1 to 10, I rate it good.

[MovieBuff801]

I'm not really a Bond fan, but I've gotta say: BEST Bond film I've ever seen. Even better than Casino Royale. Craig is at the top of his game, Bardem makes for one HELL of a villain, Dench is up to the task of her meatier role here, the story had me hooked from beginning to end, it had just the right amount of action with no overload of it (QoS), and DAMN, was it well-directed.

I seriously loved it, and can't wait to see it again.

****/****

And, for reference:

Casino Royale - ***1/2 /****
Quantum of Solace - **1/2 /****

[Deexan]

I haven't considered myself a Bond fan since I was young, young enough that my favourite iteration of the character was Roger Moore purely due to the comic relief. The release of the first Brosnan film happened to coincide with the time of my life in which I was getting into more obscure movies so I never really appreciated Bond properly as an adult. I watched Goldeneye and the next couple from the Brosnan era but they just seemed shallow action films that were inherently 'Bond'. Same formula, same set-ups, same characters and scenarios; rinse and repeat. Which is fine, and a worthy tradition to carry on to such a high standard for half a century, but I know for a fact that no Bond film will ever be a classic in my eyes. Not unless it deviates from the formula enough that it no longer is a Bond film. But nobody - including me - wants that.

I really liked Casino Royale. Die Another Day looked so bad upon release that I never bothered to see it and Royale seemed, and was, a big leap forward for the series. Then came Quantum of Solace and with it an avalanche of lukewarm reviews - on CS! in particular - that stopped me from seeking it out. I probably would have avoided Skyfall too if it wasn't free of charge, but it was so I purchased my popcorn and sat down expecting to be wowed considering the near-universal acclaim from around the world.

Did it wow me? At times, yes. I've read on more than a few occasions that Christopher Nolan always wanted to make a Bond film (though recently he said that he no longer feels the need after the Dark Knight Trilogy) and this movie is a pretty good indicator of how it would have looked if Nolan had chosen a different path instead of the Caped Crusader's. Mendes owes a LOT to his fellow Englishman, specifically to The Dark Knight. I haven't been following the production of 007's latest adventure so I don't know if anybody involved with the movie has admitted to being influenced by it but the similarities are obvious. From the cinematography to the characters, settings, motivations, lighting and music - it isn't what I'd call a rip-off, more of an echo of Nolan's colossal achievement. If you're going to use elements from another film you may as well pick one of the best.

Bardem was playfully menacing to just the right degree but also short-changed in terms of how much screen-time he had. Craig fits Bond like a glove, and though I've never thought he had the appropriate face for a 007 his delivery and physique are as good as it gets for the role. The Bond girls could have been better, Naomie Harris looks set to be a great foil but the exotic girl Bond meets in Shanghai/Macau was forgettable despite her outstanding beauty. New Q? I suppose that works. Young or old, Q is Q and the banter between him and Bond is all that really matters and though it wasn't faultless it will surely blossom in future outings. The story was solid enough, as shained mentioned there were some lovely nods to the history of the series and if they are to make one of the Bond films a truly personal affair then they might as well make it the landmark 50 year one.

8/10

[Neverending]

10 years ago, during Bond's 40th anniversary, Die Another Day was released. It was a big movie with effects-heavy action scenes, lots of gadgets, Halle Berry in a bikini, and as many references to the past films as they could fit. Skyfall, on the other hand, is very low-key. Sure, there's a big chase scene in the beginning, a subway crash, and one Michael Bay style explosion. But for the most part, the action scenes are relatively simple shootouts and fist fights. By the time James Bond drives to his homeland of Scotland and says, "let's get old-fashioned", I realized what Sam Mendes and John Logan had done. They made a modernized `60s Bond movie. And just wait till you watch the last scene. After three installments that played with the formula, we're finally back to where we once belonged.

On a sidenote. Adele's song works beautifully with Daniel Kleinman's opening credits. Thomas Newman's score is amazing. I didn't miss David Arnold at all. Roger Deakins cinematography is spectacular. If he doesn't AT LEAST get an Oscar nomination, I will be pissed. And everything you've heard about Javier Bardem as Silva is true. He's the best Bond villain in over a decade.

Overall, it's a great Bond film and will earn its spot among the best. HOWEVER, I still prefer Casino Royale. It had much better entertainment value. Skyfall has a superior story and characters but I was never in awe of anything except the Deakins cinematography and the final scene. Casino Royale, on the other hand, is an edge of your seat thrill ride. Skyfall is just low-key and simple and an excellent throwback. Both are great but they offer two different things so it's just a matter of preference.

[Brock Landers]

Originally Posted by Neverending

10 years ago, during Bond's 40th anniversary, Die Another Day was released. It was a big movie with effects-heavy action scenes, lots of gadgets, Halle Berry in a bikini, and as many references to the past films as they could fit. Skyfall, on the other hand, is very low-key. Sure, there's a big chase scene in the beginning, a subway crash, and one Michael Bay style explosion. But for the most part, the action scenes are relatively simple shootouts and fist fights. By the time James Bond drives to his homeland of Scotland and says, "let's get old-fashioned", I realized what Sam Mendes and John Logan had done. They made a modernized `60s Bond movie. And just wait till you watch the last scene. After three installments that played with the formula, we're finally back to where we once belonged.

On a sidenote. Adele's song works beautifully with Daniel Kleinman's opening credits. Thomas Newman's score is amazing. I didn't miss David Arnold at all. Roger Deakins cinematography is spectacular. If he doesn't AT LEAST get an Oscar nomination, I will be pissed. And everything you've heard about Javier Bardem as Silva is true. He's the best Bond villain in over a decade.

Overall, it's a great Bond film and will earn its spot among the best. HOWEVER, I still prefer Casino Royale. It had much better entertainment value. Skyfall has a superior story and characters but I was never in awe of anything except the Deakins cinematography and the final scene. Casino Royale, on the other hand, is an edge of your seat thrill ride. Skyfall is just low-key and simple and an excellent throwback. Both are great but they offer two different things so it's just a matter of preference.

I agree with everything about this, but I felt more engaged by the action sequences in this one precisely because I felt myself caring more. When Silva dons the Metro Police gear and is making his way towards where M is being questioned by that committee, I was so involved that I wanted to yell "EVERYONE GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE!" I don't remember ever having that much of a visceral reaction during Casino Royale -- don't get me wrong, I like C.R. too. I mean, I became practically giddy at the sight of the classic Aston-Martin. The group I went with even pointed out afterwards to me just how wide my grin was as soon as the car was revealed. I went from being 24 to 12 years old in a matter of seconds as soon I saw it. Part of this reaction could also be how damn good Bardem was in this. Case in point: the scene where M and he first come face-to-face. Oh god...the cyanide.....

I give it a solid 8.5/10, bordering on 9. My favorite movie that I've seen this year is still The Master, but in terms of, I don't know, a "**** yeah!" experience, this is one of the better I've been to in years. I'll post a link to my more thorough review on Sunday.

And just two last words: Berenice Marlohe.

[Neverending]

Originally Posted by Brock Landers

And just two last words: Berenice Marlohe.

I feel like they didn't give her much to do. Miss Moneypenny, on the other hand, talk about awesome!

[Brock Landers]

Originally Posted by Neverending

I feel like they didn't give her much to do. Miss Moneypenny, on the other hand, talk about awesome!

I wasn't talking about her performance. And Miss Moneypenny is gorgeous as well.

[Neverending]

Originally Posted by Brock Landers

I wasn't talking about her performance

I wasn't either. She's like in... 4 scenes. It's a bit underwhelming. This movie wasn't very heavy on Bond Girls. I mean, yeah, Miss Moneypenny had some great scenes, but she was mostly a side character. Judi Dench got the most screentime of all the females in the cast. This has to be a first.

[Brock Landers]

Originally Posted by Neverending

I wasn't either. She's like in... 4 scenes. It's a bit underwhelming. This movie wasn't very heavy on Bond Girls. I mean, yeah, Miss Moneypenny had some great scenes, but she was mostly a side character. Judi Dench got the most screentime of all the females in the cast. This has to be a first.

I hope in the next movie Bond uses the gift he received from M after she died as a weapon against whoever comes at him first. Cue Bond coldly saying "This is from M!" before crushing someone's skull with that painted bulldog statue. Kidding of course, but this IS the franchise that brought us Denise Richards as a nuclear scientist named Christmas Jones.

[Deexan]

Somebody nonchalantly spoiled the film's one major spoiler for me on Halloween within 30 seconds of talking about it, despite me announcing I hadn't seen it yet. Who does that?

Women, that's who.

Also, was the F-bomb that M dropped the first one of the series? I think there may have been another in the Dalton era but I can't be sure.

[IanTheCool]

Originally Posted by Deexan

Somebody nonchalantly spoiled the film's one major spoiler for me on Halloween within 30 seconds of talking about it, despite me announcing I hadn't seen it yet. Who does that?

Women, that's who.

Also, was the F-bomb that M dropped the first one of the series? I think there may have been another in the Dalton era but I can't be sure.

lol I love that you used the smallest blackout possible for that. So that we know it can only be one of two characters.

[Deexan]

[PsYkOoOoO]

Just came home from watching this. Exhilarating from beginning to the end. I liked it better than Casino Royale, but I'd have to watch that one again. I thought the highlight was definitely Javier Bardem, although his death scene was underwhelming (that's not a spoiler since, hey, it's a Bond movie). Also, I'd have liked more of Q. But all the throwbacks to the older Bonds, the humour and the fights (especially the stuff in Shanghai) were all great.

8/10

[bbf2]

Question for those that have seen the film:

My friends and I were thinking of seeing this tonight, the thing is, I saw Casino Royale but I never saw Quantum of Solace. Does it matter or does it start a new story? Most people I've talked to who saw QoS said they don't even remember what happened in it.

[FranklinTard]

guy tried to steal the lions share of the worlds fresh water reserves, bond prevailed.

don't bother watching it. it was honestly terrible, anyone that says different was drunk when watching it.

[saveus1011]

Originally Posted by bbf2

Question for those that have seen the film:

My friends and I were thinking of seeing this tonight, the thing is, I saw Casino Royale but I never saw Quantum of Solace. Does it matter or does it start a new story? Most people I've talked to who saw QoS said they don't even remember what happened in it.

It's not that bad, and no you don't need to see it.

[Neverending]

Skyfall is largely standalone. You don't have to see any of the Craig films to understand it.

[JBond]

Originally Posted by Deexan

Also, was the F-bomb that M dropped the first one of the series? I think there may have been another in the Dalton era but I can't be sure.

So I wasn't the only one who heard that? I thought maybe she said "fouled up."

Otherwise, yeah, that would be the first F-bomb of the franchise. The S-word has been dropped here and there. More recently it's common. Though one found it's way into Live and Let Die.

[Daniel]

James Bond is a household name in my family. Countless hours have been spent with my dad, mom, and sisters watch every installment of the long-standing franchise, all of them several times over. There has never been a movie I disliked, even some of the ones considered stinkers. My love for the different iterations of Bond has had some disparities, with me holding Connery in the highest of regards, but, thinking Dalton was letting the namesake character fade out on a bad note. Brosnan came in and was able to command a certain coolness that earlier Bonds exuded, but, there was a certain je ne sais quoi that he was lacking. When Daniel Craig was announced as the new Bond, I was hesitant, mostly because I hold this franchise in high regards and didn't want to be further let down. We were first treated to Casino Royale, an extremely capable throwback to the older style of Bond films with a fresh yet familiar take of the series. There was a certain arrogance to Craig that grated on me a bit, but, I had to take into consideration that we were dealing with a "green" Bond who needed to have his resolve and humility cemented into place.

There was so much promise when the next Craig installment, Quantum of Solace, came out, but, deflation seemed to be the resounding emotion as the movie lost all the magic that Royale managed to capture. It could be said that Skyfall had nowhere to go but (no pun intended) up. Still, director Sam Mendes wasn't going to let this movie excel by comparison's terms alone, he was determined to make a bold statement: Bond is not dead.

And so we begin with a rather tried and true sequence of Bond in a convoluted mess, ending in what appears to be his untimely death. However, Mendes has the aforementioned point to make here, and we see Bond return for love and protection of country when its security infrastructure is threatened. Bond's return proves to be a taxing experience for M, since she was ultimately responsible for his supposed demise. That said, it makes for a rather intense plot when villain Silva, someone else's life that M held in her hands, re-emerges and reveals he has chosen a different path from Bond. Where he ends up, and his attitude toward the institutions he once swore to protect are an interesting dichotomy from Bond, whose first-hand experience of Silva's choices and subsequent outcome are likely a big part responsible for some of the humility he embraces.

The ride that is Skyfall is nothing short of elegant. A myriad of scenes interlaced with that Bond charisma, and action that doesn't always come from the muzzle of a gun. There are chase scenes that take slower paces, yet, the fingers remain tensely gripped on the armrest because Skyfall manages to make us care so damn much about everyone in this film. In the end, things might seem cold on the surface when we come full circle to the "present day," if you will, Bond we grew up with, but, this is a rich and emotional story that gives us a rare, deep look into Bond's psyche. There are no frills or moments wasted as we are given an explicit insight into what compels and moves a man whose only loyalty is to a sense of honor he has tested in the hottest of fires.

10/10