Skyfall (50th Anniversary) - Review Thread

[saveus1011]

Originally Posted by donny

Just out of curiosity, for the people that saw this, any idea where you may rank this in the bond movies? I know its only been out for a few days, but just seeing how people view it at this point.

1. From Russia With Love
2. Skyfall
3. Goldfinger
4. Casino Royale
5. Goldeneye

[Neverending]

Originally Posted by saveus1011

1. From Russia With Love
2. Skyfall
3. Goldfinger
4. Casino Royale
5. Goldeneye

Fascinating.

[saveus1011]

I really loved this movie.

[JBond]

I find it more fascinating that people can already decide where it ranks among the others. I grew up with these movies and have seen them several times. I couldn't possibly tell you where this one stands yet, except to say it's likely in the top 5.

[PG Cooper]

Originally Posted by JBond

I find it more fascinating that people can already decide where it ranks among the others. I grew up with these movies and have seen them several times. I couldn't possibly tell you where this one stands yet, except to say it's likely in the top 5.

Same here.

[Dracula]

Originally Posted by Daniel

Are you really missing what is happening here? These films are, essentially, prequels. They are showing us the Bond that existed before his resolve was cemented. We see the origins of Moneypenny, James' refusal to be romantically involved with a woman again after the events in CR, a series staple Q, and Bond essentially becoming the agent we grew up with. I think this is pretty obvious and obviously why the gun barrel opening happens at the end of the movie: to signify that we are now fully 100% with the Bond that, as stated before, we grew up with.

Think of this as a three-part installment reboot of the entire series. Or, at least, an origin story told over the course of three movies.

Originally Posted by JBond

Nope, the gun barrel was at the end of the last two movies.

That's the thing, Bond was supposed to be "fully 100% Bond" at the end of Casino Royale, but then Marc Forester came in and was like "no, now he'd fully 100% Bond," and now Sam Mendes has come in and said "no, this time he's fully 100% Bond.

Also, almost all of this reboot stuff seems completely incongruous with all the talk in the film about Bond being part of "the old times" and "getting too old for this." If this is supposed to be some kind of origin story, where did he get that old Austin Martin with the ejector seat and the machine guns? All that stuff would have made more sense if this was, like, Pierce Brosnan's seventh movie or something and they hadn't done any reboot stuff to begin with.

Originally Posted by Daniel

Also, you being a Bond purist, I am a little surprised you were so taken aback at the "lack of action" in this film. I recall most of the movies not being some action-packed romp full of constant gunfire and explosions, and I think Brosnan's films (arguably the weakest of the entire franchise, save for Goldeneye) went more for action than for capability. What more were you looking for?

It's not about quantity of action so much as the fact that most of the quality action scenes are front-loaded. It has its best action scene (or at least its most Bondian) at the beginning, and instead of escalating things from that point the action scenes just got smaller and smaller and the film's final set piece was probably its weakest.

Even that opening fight on top of the train wasn't a complete standout, it failed to top the "top of moving train" sequence from Mission: Impossible, a comparison that the film outright invites by making a list of agent identities into its macguffin.

[JBond]

I agree, Bond better be "back" now...but I don't see them tossing M, Q and Moneypenny. The real problem is directors don't come back to do more.

Personally, I don't see these as prequels anymore.

Most of us think the final action scene was outstanding. Sorry you didn't think so.

You know, other movies, including Bond, has done a top of the train chase.

[Dracula]

Anyway, my ranking at this point would probably be something like:

1. From Russia With Love
2. Goldfinger
3. The Spy Who Loved Me
4. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
5. Goldeneye
6. Casino Royale
7. The Living Daylights
8. For Your Eyes Only
9. Dr. No
10. Licence to Kill
11. Thunderball
12. The World is Not Enough
13. Skyfall
14. Tomorrow Never Dies
15. You Only Live Twice
16. Live and Let Die
17. Die Another Day
18. View To a Kill
19. Octopussy
20. Quantum of Solace
21. The Man With the Golden Gun
22. Moonraker
23. Diamonds Are Forever

[Dracula]

Originally Posted by JBond

You know, other movies, including Bond, has done a top of the train chase.

Yeah, I'm not calling it a ripoff, I'm just saying that if you're going to invite a comparison to a fifteen year old movie from a competing series of spy films you should probably not only match but surpass that scene, and this didn't.

[saveus1011]

The final action scene was icing. Loved every second of it.

And while the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE comparisons are valid, the harddrive really just becomes background to Silva's overall plan. In addition, I find the train chases are equally as exciting in both pictures.

[JBond]

The train scene sold me when there was one continous shot of Bond's head rising up to meet the ceiling only to miss it as the tunnel ended. Yeah.

[Neverending]

Originally Posted by Dracula

If this is supposed to be some kind of origin story, where did he get that old Austin Martin with the ejector seat and the machine guns?

Bond stole the Aston Martin in Casino Royale when he was spying on Bloody Eye's gal pal. One can assume all those gadgets were included somewhere in-between Quantum of Solace and Skyfall. When Q was introduced, they did say he was the "new" Q. So, there was another Q. We just never saw him.

the action scenes just got smaller and smaller and the film's final set piece was probably its weakest.

I kind of like that because it felt like the movie was slowly transitioning into a `60s Bond film, which tended to have simplistic action scenes. Those big, stunt-filled, action sequences didn't become the norm till the Roger Moore era.

Originally Posted by Dracula

Anyway, my ranking at this point would probably be something like:

1. From Russia With Love
2. Goldfinger
3. The Spy Who Loved Me

23. Diamonds Are Forever

The story of our lives.

Originally Posted by saveus1011

I find the train chases are equally as exciting in both pictures.

Mission Impossible takes the cake:

VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:

[sshuttari]

Mission Impossible had one original movie and the rest were just rip off the first one.

While Bond tries to change with the times and tries harder to be more relevant.

[Justin]

Mission: Impossible was really the only spy movie of the bunch, while the sequels (the ones I've seen, anyway) were just bloated action movies.

[Angelixx]

Just saw Skyfall tonight. Loved it.

Spoiler!!! Click to Read!:

I totally called that girl being Moneypenny the moment after the shaving scene ended with not showing them having sex. If there is a woman who isn't M and Bond doesn't bang her, there's a reason for it.

I also loved the use of the original theme and that they implied a shaken not stirred moment rather than having him say it.
This film had probably my favourite title sequence of all the Bond films too. I love Adele's song.

[Tolkien]

While Adele is amazing, the song itself wasn't as great as I thought on it's own. but once I heard it with the opening sequence, it grew on me rather quickly. The sequence itself is amazing and fits so very well with the mental/physical state of Bond during the film.

[JBond]

I agree. The song and sequence work great as a total package.

[Neverending]

Originally Posted by Angelixx

I totally called that girl being Moneypenny the moment after the shaving scene ended with not showing them having sex.

I totally called it months ago when it was leaked online . I'm surprised JBond hasn't cursed me out for spoiling the movie for him. M dying, Ralph F. as the new M, Moneypennny, and Bond going back to his childhood home were leaked in the summer. The only info that was incorrect was Silva. I think most people expected him to be connected to Bond instead of M.

[JBond]

If things were spoiled for me, I forgot. I knew what Skyfall was, though.

[SnoBorderZero]

I've seen every Bond I'd say personally...

Top 5
1. Goldfinger
2. From Russia With Love
3. Thunderball
4. Skyfall
5. The Spy Who Loved Me

Bottom 5 (from least **** to ****tiest)
1. The Man With the Golden Gun
2. A View to a Kill
3. Never Say Never Again
4. Die Another Day
5. Moonraker

[Neverending]

Daniel Kleinman has posted the opening title sequence. Now you can watch it over and over again:

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=97058

[saveus1011]

Originally Posted by The Professor

I've seen every Bond I'd say personally...

Top 5
1. Goldfinger
2. From Russia With Love
3. Thunderball
4. Skyfall
5. The Spy Who Loved Me

Bottom 5 (from least **** to ****tiest)
1. The Man With the Golden Gun
2. A View to a Kill
3. Never Say Never Again
4. Die Another Day
5. Moonraker

We must've seen a different Thunderball.

[shained]

Originally Posted by Neverending

I totally called it months ago when it was leaked online . I'm surprised JBond hasn't cursed me out for spoiling the movie for him. M dying, Ralph F. as the new M, Moneypennny, and Bond going back to his childhood home were leaked in the summer. The only info that was incorrect was Silva. I think most people expected him to be connected to Bond instead of M.

Why would you even want too know all that stuff!?

Crazy.....

[Tolkien]

I know, right? Who goes looking for that kind of news? And when found, why post it?

[Wyldstaar]

I just got back from an abandoned attempt to see Skyfall. There was absolutely NOWHERE to park because of the the damned Twi-hards who arrived three hours early to see the midnight showing. Guess I'll see it tomorrow. Don't these kids have school tomorrow?