suliman on 9/11/2008 at 02:22
Well, being the Bond fan that I am, I just watched it. I don't think I was ever this conflicted about whether I like a movie or hate it.
It's as if they completely ignore the things that made CR rock in the first place. There's much more action this time around, and almost no character moments. Now, the action scenes, despite their direction being closer to Batman Begins' "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON" school of directing than to CR's, are actually pretty cool. The problem with this one is the plot.
The whole thing just feels like an afterthought of CR. Bond's motivation is basically... being angry. Characters from CR return just for the sake of being there(hi Felix). The movie sets this very cool premise of a shadow group that infiltrated every branch of the government and bla bla bla(and yes, I know it's been done to death. So were zombies. It's still awesome when done right), only to (spoiler?)throw it out the window and go with the usual Bond Villain Evil Conspiracy™.
It just feels so very, very... cheap. I dunno. It's pretty hard to put into words. It feels as if they finished filming the first movie before schedule and decided to film another one in the remaining time just for the heck of it. Or as if they took a vacation between two serious Bond films and filmed this in the middle. Again, very hard to explain.
Also, the most pretentious shootout-to-the-sound-of-opera since Face/Off:D
jay pettitt on 9/11/2008 at 10:26
Yeah, I saw the new Sony Erricson Titanium C902 Silver Cyber-Shot Bond film last night and it wasn't really worth the cycle ride into town. Disorientating action scenes interspersed with...
Virgin Atlantic air hostess - Would you like freshly squeezed orange juice with your breakfast sir?
Jay - Ooh yes please.
...product placement skits. Don't feel bad if you miss this one.
I pretty much switched off during the whole thing so I wasn't really paying attention to the Tosca shoot out, but yeah - it was awful. Now it's morning I can't seem to decide whether to buy a Range Rover or a Hydrogen powered Ford SUV. Grrr.
Morte on 9/11/2008 at 10:53
Yeah, it was pretty disappointing. Thin script, poorly directed action sequences, and probably the least menacing villain ever. It's bloody impossible to figure out what's going on in that opening chase scene until it's over.
On the plus side, Daniel Craig is still the best Bond, Olga Kurylenko is good as the obligatory babe, and Judi Dench is in fine form. Pity the script is more interested in getting them to the next action scene rather than letting them do anything particularly interesting.
Fingernail on 9/11/2008 at 11:42
Yeah, it was totally unmemorable really. I think I missed a whole speedboat thing near the beginning cos I was replying to a text, and it really didn't make any difference.
nicked on 9/11/2008 at 13:45
I quite enjoyed it, but I agree. It was a good Bond film, but seemed to have completely forgotten how CR took it to the next level, and fell back on standard cliches.
thefonz on 9/11/2008 at 13:49
I agree with everything being said here - it was a very disappointing experience and when I emerged relatively unscathed from it, I turned to my friend and when we tried to say if we liked it or not, neither of us could do so.
Seemed very much like an afterthought to CR - which I regard as one of the best Bond movies made.
Its a shame, because they had such a great ending in CR and they've fluffed it completely and now they're left in a bad shape with what direction to take the bond character they've got.
Indeed, talking about it on the way home, the comment was made that "this is where bond is at the very start of the movies years ago - he's got over his anger, he doesnt give a shit about women anymore and he's only focused on getting the job done". In that Bond has grown up and is ready to take on the supervillains etc. Since the world is much bigger than he thinks in the first one.
Saying that, i LOVE daniel craig's take on the character since he feels most real - and it would be a crying shame if he doesnt return. But they need to get more close and personal with the storylines.
Ostriig on 9/11/2008 at 15:40
Meh, it was an ok watch. I didn't have high artistic expectations of it, so it turned out to be pretty much what I had thought I payed for at the cinema entrance. I liked the action scenes, like the fighting on the scaffolding around the beginning of the movie, thought they carried a pretty powerful quality to impacts, the characters' inhuman resistance to punishment notwithstanding. I absolutely hated their attempts at giving Bond some emotional depth, though. "It'd be a pretty cold bastard who didn't want revenge for bla bla whatever". Piss off.
Starrfall on 9/11/2008 at 16:14
Ok so I don't really pay attention to Bond movies, but here's what is striking me about this one: without trying, I have heard more about Madagascar 2 than I have about this movie.
I mean there was tons of shit about Casino Royale when it came out, but it's like they don't want to tell anyone about this one.
the_thiefster on 9/11/2008 at 17:11
**spoilers here, read on if you want to**
Sorry gotta say I disagree with the majority's sentiments here. I like the movie. I'd classify it as great, while CR is perfect. Yeah, I like CR better, but QOS is still a great Bond movie. At least, compared to the last 2 Brosnan movies
Things I liked: great action sequences, and contrary to what people feel, I like how Bond tries to shut himself off from emotions, but fails to eg the last scene where he tries to protect Camille, and throughout the show, you can tell that he can't really forget about Vesper
Things I didn't like: not enough character development to it - as in, CR did this perfectly with Bond, portraying him as a cocky arrogant bastard with a weak spot; Vesper was also more or less portrayed in the same way. OTOH I felt Camille was weaker, but that doesn't mean she's a cardboard character as in so many Hollywood films. Another thing was that the plot was too complex. I understand this is a double edged sword - on one hand, MI6 keeps following a series of dead ends. It adds to the feeling of desperation of trying to get to Quantum, but OTOH it's easy to get lost in the trail
I'd give it a 4.5/5 overall. Not the best Bond movie, but I had more fun with this than I did with Iron Man, which I also classify as a great movie this year. Oh and it's definitely better than Indy Jones 4
Scots Taffer on 10/11/2008 at 00:21
you guys are killing my bond boner :(
