James Bond: 007 - Spectre - Part 10

[Zantera]

Sure but a lot of people were saying the same thing 10 years ago after the lackluster Brosnan films (not including GoldenEye) and then we got Casino Royale.

I think each Bond-actor/era will always bring a few gems and a few duds. With 4 movies, I'd say CR and SF are both top10 Bond-films, CR being my favorite out of all of them, so the Craig-era has been pretty good, with Spectre being solid, even with QoS being a slight disappointment. I don't think they could top CR or SF with another Craig film, but when we get into the next era of Bond with a new actor, I think we can get a few really good ones again. Even Connery and Moore who are considered the two big ones (at least before Craig) both had duds and gems.

 

[Iceman]

So what is the consensus here? Seems mixed among friends/colleagues who've seen it.

 

[Loki882]

Spoiler

Come to think of it, even the Nine Eyes subplot needed a lot of work:
-No country in the world is going to volunteering turn over their surveillance/intelligence-gathering apparatus like that. That’s a really naïve view of how the world works.
-I don’t understand why SPECTRE even needs it because they’re ALREADY spying on everyone and have people everywhere.
-This idea that the movie floats about “surveillance is bad,” doesn’t work because it’s a franchise CENTERED around people who go around the world, spy on people, and kill them if deemed necessary. Moral ambiguity/necessary evil is a fundamental part of this series, and always has been. So introducing this notion now is weird, and the movie doesn’t/say anything interesting about it to boot.

 

[Zantera]

So what is the consensus here? Seems mixed among friends/colleagues who've seen it.

It's pretty much the definition of a 3/5 or 7/10. Enjoyable, fun and you won't regret seeing it, but ultimately falls short of reaching the higher levels of greatness. A very solid film, but it pales compared to Casino Royale or Skyfall. A better film than Quantum of Solace though.

 

[The Shape]

Finally got around to seeing this yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and while it isn't as tight or wholly impressive as Skyfall, it's still a solid Bond entry and isn't close to being the awful mess some people have made it out to be.

There were plenty of great moments throughout, as well as plenty of dull moments. The film sort of loses it's momentum half-way through for a while until it picks up again towards the end. It could have been shorter overall, but it's not a film that I would describe as "boring".

I really do want to see one more Craig Bond film. I feel like he's got one more good one in him before they do another soft reboot.

 

[Iceman]

It's pretty much the definition of a 3/5 or 7/10. Enjoyable, fun and you won't regret seeing it, but ultimately falls short of reaching the higher levels of greatness. A very solid film, but it pales compared to Casino Royale or Skyfall. A better film than Quantum of Solace though.

Oh right, thanks. I'd give it a 7 too. I thought it was good throughout but with some silly, unnecessary stuff and not enough impact from Blofeld (need to see him in future films which I assume is the plan?). I also don't want Bond to fall in love too often, or at least have more of a gap in between films where he does. But the negatives don't really piss me off much as while I've always been a fan of Bond, I don't care as much about the lore outside of just enjoying what's put in front of me...a bit of a casual fan I guess.

 

[Spider-Who?]

So what is the consensus here? Seems mixed among friends/colleagues who've seen it.

I enjoyed the humor and the nods to the old style of Bond films that have mostly been lacking from Craig’s films. It gave the film a certain light-heartedness that fit well with the drama surrounding it.

Roger Deakins’ cinematography was SORELY missed in this film. Skyfall was BEAUTIFUL to look at, but this film just felt flat and dull looking most of the time. The opening shot is cool, but that has more to do with the set and costume design then the actual cinematography. I would have LOVED to see what Deakins did with this scene.

I think it had the best Bond Girls since Vesper.

Bond’s car is GORGEOUS.

Batistia was largely forgettable, but that wasn’t his fault.

Christoph Waltz could have been a good choice, but he was underused/developed and just too quirky to be an evil mastermind. I never felt threatened by him.

------------------------

I’d give it a 7 or 8. It’s a perfectly serviceable Bond film. There have been better films, no doubt, but there have also been far worse. If you’ve liked the rest of Criag’s Bond flicks, you’ll enjoy this one.

 

[The Shape]

I’d give it a 7 or 8. It’s a perfectly serviceable Bond film. There have been better films, no doubt, but there have also been far worse. If you’ve liked the rest of Criag’s Bond flicks, you’ll enjoy this one.

Agreed.

 

[Iceman]

Edit: to S-Who

I think Waltz can be a great Blofeld if they give him plenty to do in a later film.

And agreed, Lea Seydoux was a great Bond girl.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

A 7 out of 10 is a way too generous score in my opinion. I wasn't asking for it to top or even be as good as CR and SF but I was asking for a decent film. I tried but I just find the script for Spectre to be bad but worse than that I find the film mostly kinda boring, soulless and devoid of any good action scenes.

All I could think of during that Helicopter scene, at the beginning of the film, is how stupidly wreckless Bond was being and how many innocent lives he endangered. I could forgive that scene if Bond were a newbie like he was in CR but he is a veteran Spy in Spectre and he does stupid **** like that? It was unforgivable to me and made him come off as a complete *****e.

Anyway I give it a 5.5/10. Better than the 4/10 I'd give Quantum of Solace so that's something I guess.

 

[Warhammer]

Spoiler

Come to think of it, even the Nine Eyes subplot needed a lot of work:
-No country in the world is going to volunteering turn over their surveillance/intelligence-gathering apparatus like that. That’s a really naïve view of how the world works.
-I don’t understand why SPECTRE even needs it because they’re ALREADY spying on everyone and have people everywhere.
-This idea that the movie floats about “surveillance is bad,” doesn’t work because it’s a franchise CENTERED around people who go around the world, spy on people, and kill them if deemed necessary. Moral ambiguity/necessary evil is a fundamental part of this series, and always has been. So introducing this notion now is weird, and the movie doesn’t/say anything interesting about it to boot.

That's a really fantastic point.

And to many that keep bringing up that people who were mixed about this film are hypocritical to Skyfall, a truly great film can make one overlook such things. That's the name of the game.

 

[Golgo-13]

Batistia was largely forgettable, but that wasn’t his fault.

Yes. I keep reading how great people thought Batista was; and i suddenly think to myself, "Did these people see the same cut of the movie as i did?".

People over praised him for his role in GOTG. It was o.k but nothing special. His role in SPECTRE could have been played by any over sized guy, who had little to no drama training.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I think Batista has presence, which makes him memorable to people, even if his role is small. I thought he was great in GotG and found him effective here. The sad part was he didn't get enough to do.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I reject the idea the assertion I am overlooking the Skyfall's flaws. I am not overlooking SkyFall or Casino Royale's flaws.

In general I don't get the hype over Batista so I agree that the praise he is receiving for Spectre is baffling to me.

 

[Golgo-13]

Anyway I give it a 5.5/10. Better than the 4/10 I'd give Quantum of Solace so that's something I guess.

I think the story for 'Quantum' was much more coherent, and in the grand scheme of things, made more sense.

 

[MadVillainy]

So what is the consensus here? Seems mixed among friends/colleagues who've seen it.

It's pretty much the definition of a 3/5 or 7/10. Enjoyable, fun and you won't regret seeing it, but ultimately falls short of reaching the higher levels of greatness. A very solid film, but it pales compared to Casino Royale or Skyfall. A better film than Quantum of Solace though.

Eh I kinda disagree. I feel like the general consensus on average is somewhere between 6 and 6.5. Not terrible, not great, barely passes. I guess. At least that's from what I've seen. I might be biased though because I, personally, would probably give it around a 6.5

And agreed, Lea Seydoux was a great Bond girl.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but what made her great?
I havent really heard much about her so I dont know if I'm in the minority, but I didnt think she was good really.

I mean the acting wasnt bad, but I didnt get anything out of her character. They didnt know what to do with her. She was shown to know how to use a gun and I think she shot one once.
I dont think she was funny, charismatic or anything. I dont see how she's any better than the lady from Skyfall or Ola Kurylenko from Quantum.

 

[Iceman]

Yes. I keep reading how great people thought Batista was; and i suddenly think to myself, "Did these people see the same cut of the movie as i did?".

People over praised him for his role in GOTG. It was o.k but noting special. His role in SPECTRE could have been played by any over sized guy, who had little to no drama training.

True, but the likes of Oddjob, Nik-Nak and Jaws weren't roles that required the actors to be well versed in Shakespeare either.

 

[MadVillainy]

I think Batista has presence, which makes him memorable to people, even if his role is small. I thought he was great in GotG and found him effective here. The sad part was he didn't get enough to do.

This.


Also, at least for me, it probably helps that Batista was in the best scene of the movie (the train fight)

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I reject the idea the assertion I am overlooking the Skyfall's flaws. I am not overlooking SkyFall or Casino Royale's flaws.

in general I don't get the hype over Bautista so I agree that the praise he is receiving for Spectre is baffling to me.

He actually has the look that he will hurt you, has good comedic timing and can also turn on the crap eating grin.

 

[Warhammer]

I am glad Big Dave is getting credit especially as a fan of his from his WWE days.

 

[Warhammer]

I reject the idea the assertion I am overlooking the Skyfall's flaws. I am not overlooking SkyFall or Casino Royale's flaws.

In general I don't get the hype over Batista so I agree that the praise he is receiving for Spectre is baffling to me.

If you loved Skyfall, you overlooked it's flaws. There's no debate.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but what made her great?
I havent really heard much about her so I dont know if I'm in the minority, but I didnt think she was good really.

I mean the acting wasnt bad, but I didnt get anything out of her character. They didnt know what to do with her. She was shown to know how to use a gun and I think she shot one once.
I dont think she was funny, charismatic or anything. I dont see how she's any better than the lady from Skyfall or Ola Kurylenko from Quantum.

I love Lea, but I didn't find much for her here. The role was just too shallow. She also had no chemistry with Craig.

 

[Iceman]

Eh I kinda disagree. I feel like the general consensus on average is somewhere between 6 and 6.5. Not terrible, not great, barely passes. I guess. At least that's from what I've seen. I might be biased though because I, personally, would probably give it around a 6.5

Ok. I was interested in seeing what the average view was on here compared to what I've seen outside (which is very mixed).

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but what made her great?
I havent really heard much about her so I dont know if I'm in the minority, but I didnt think she was good really.

I mean the acting wasnt bad, but I didnt get anything out of her character. They didnt know what to do with her. She was shown to know how to use a gun and I think she shot one once.
I dont think she was funny, charismatic or anything. I dont see how she's any better than the lady from Skyfall or Ola Kurylenko from Quantum.

I don't really think of the best Bond girls as the best actresses (or besst acting performances), similar to a lot of iconic Bond iconic villains (especially the silent ones!) I found her interesting and I think I'll remember her and Vesper from this era longer than the others. Although I'll say again I don't want Bond falling in love this regularly, give it a few films in between at least!

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I am glad Big Dave is getting credit especially as a fan of his from his WWE days.

Good actor, bad wrestler imo.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

For me, Vesper and Tracy are easily the best Bond girls. They had character, layers. The roles required actual acting. It was like they wanted to do that with Lea, but just stopped writing the character.