James Bond In Skyfall - - - Part 12

[Golgo-13]

I've been studying all week. Have to wait until next week to catch it.

I read a quote from Sam Mendes who said that they tried every which way to incorporate the gunbarrel into the intro, but it just didn't fit.

I'm sure they'll return to putting the gunbarrel at beginning with the next film, since this marks a return to form.

The QoS director said the same thing; how can you not make a gunbarrel work? It's independent from what's going on in the film/opening sequence itself..always has been. These directors are over thinking it.

 

[Marvolo]

I read a quote from Sam Mendes who said that they tried every which way to incorporate the gunbarrel into the intro, but it just didn't fit.

I'm sure they'll return to putting the gunbarrel at beginning with the next film, since this marks a return to form.

Don't forget the year on the bottle that Silva uses to pour Bond a glass: 1962, the year Dr. No was released, which was fifty years ago. Hence, the anniversary this year.

What better way to salute this franchise's longevity than with a drink from a 1962 wine bottle?

That was a 1962 Macallan Scotch. Not wine.

 

[Marvolo]

I've been studying all week. Have to wait until next week to catch it.



The QoS director said the same thing; how can you not make a gunbarrel work? It's independent from what's going on in the film/opening sequence itself..always has been. These directors are over thinking it.

"I tried very hard to put the gun barrel at the beginning and my intention was always to do that. If you see the film, the film starts with Bond walking down a corridor towards camera and lifting a gun. And of course the gun barrel is him walking, stopping and lifting a gun. When I put the two together, it looked ridiculous!"

Sam Mendes

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=35699

The opening shot was a gunbarrel in itself. It didn't need the traditional one. Besides the gunbarrel fits perfectly with the last scene of the film.

 

[DyeLorean]

I would like to mention, since that almost nobody else did, the opening credits. I thought it was one of the best. Great surreal visuals, the atmosphere of that opening was spectacular.

 

[Liam_H]

The QoS director said the same thing; how can you not make a gunbarrel work? It's independent from what's going on in the film/opening sequence itself..always has been. These directors are over thinking it.

In that case is it that big of deal that its at the end? I know its just part of the Bond tradition/lore.

 

[Spider-Fan]

What would be more intriguing...

Spoiler

Is if Bond never wavered in his determination. Again, it would add mystery to the character and really make you wonder what the hell is wrong with Bond psychologically.

Instead, we were given a feigned attempt at exploring Bind's origins that amounted to nothing more than him destroying his childhood home fir no real reason.

I don't think that route would have added anything to the movie. Bond was conflicted, and what they did in the movie worked better with the mirror duality he had with Silva. I don't think having him just not question anything would have added anything. In fact, I think the fact he did added more mystery as to what Bond was thinking in several scenes.

 

[Mr.?]

Three things that irked me on two viewings:

Two chatty older women next to me commenting on every single thing. Whenever Daniel Craig had his shirt off or did something remotely charming they just swooned. Then their was a period of time when he didn't have his shirt off then when he did again, one of them went, "Thank you."

And then in the finale when Silva sees Kinkaid and M in the distance with the flashlight people kept muttering, "Stupid." Um... you do realize that it's night and they're old right? How else are they going to get to the damn chapel?

Also when Skyfall was revealed. Everyone whispered, "Skyfall!" or "Hey, it's Skyfall!" Just wanted to make sure you knew that, it's Skyfall.

I had a couple in front of me and my friend who answered their ringing phone and were passing it back and forth. Also some suspicious looking guy in a long leather coat walked in halfway through the movie and walked in while reaching in his coat pocket. Especially after that TDKR theater shooting happened I just muttered to myself "what an *******". Those two things distracted me during the movie twice during key moments so Im going to see it again at an earlier showing.

 

[Visceral]

well done blackheart, that is cool


Another small part i liked was at the beginning when bond was upset that his college had been shot and wanted to stay and help him, it immediately added a human character to bond.

 

[ThePhantasm]

A cool analysis of the film that I saw in a comment over on Roger Ebert's blog:

Spoiler

The central Tennyson quote by M is the key to the whole film (incase you missed the relevance of the Fighting Temarare by Turner earlier on). Throughout the film tradition is constantly threatened by modernity - and each time a tempered version of tradition comes up trumps. There are countless examples... Bond is shot not by the mistake of someone on the ground, but because of the high tech communication. MI6 new building is destroyed and they're safer in ancient WW2 tunnels. Silva is a tech genius, but Bond (and M) is repeatedly called out of touch or old. And of course, the final sequence can be seen as one giant metaphor - the high tech invaders storming Bond's castle with all their equipment and Bond has ancient rifles and a knife. And how does he finally beat Silva - by the most simple weapon he has. There is so much of this throughout the film I can't remember it off the top of my head. The whole film is about the interaction of tradition and modernity.

The reading I take from the film is as Tennyson says: time will give you a beating, but hold onto your history and traditions and they will steel you against anything that comes at you. That's exactly what James Bond does.

 

[chaseter]

Someone told me the old caretaker was supposed to be Connery. Thank GOD that didn't happen.

 

[Kane52630]

I was totally imagining that was supposed to be Connery when I saw it. lol

 

[ThePhantasm]

Yeah, I had a feeling that role was originally meant for Connery. Though I'm glad it didn't happen... that would have been too distracting and fourth wall breaking for me.

 

[Drizzle]

Something I forgot to mention...

Spoiler

When they were at Skyfall, did M say "I f***ed this up"? Because that would make that the first f-bomb in the series.

 

[ThePhantasm]

Something I forgot to mention...

Spoiler

When they were at Skyfall, did M say "I f***ed this up"? Because that would make that the first f-bomb in the series.

Yeah, she did. I caught that too.

 

[A Necessary Evil]

On both - Yeah, originally it was Connery. I agree, it would have felt tacky to include him.

@Drizzle- yup. Made me rethink it when I heard it too. Lol

 

[Bruce Malone]

I felt they that should have used the bond girls better which is a shame because i actually like the actresses. It's just that their roles could have been so much better fleshed out.

I know we'll probably never get another vesper caliber like female to play off craig but i felt they could have come closer to that approach with either of them.

Also anyone notice the unwritten rule in craig bond films so far?

Spoiler

It seems whichever bond girl craig sleeps with dies however the one's he doesn't live.

I wonder if that is a deliberate thing?

 

[the dmg]

I'll post a review on Skyfall later, but I just came back from a first viewing and it was ****ing awesome. That is all.

 

[The Guard]

I felt they that should have used the bond girls better which is a shame because i actually like the actresses. It's just that their roles could have been so much better fleshed out.

My girlfriend pointed out that M was pretty much a Bond girl in this one.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

My girlfriend pointed out that M was pretty much a Bond girl in this one.

She has been since TWINE. She has been a very hands on character, getting more and more involved since TWINE.

 

[Bruce Malone]

I could imagine the shower scene going very differently with M in place.

 

[DJ Kornphlake]

Did anybody catch other 007 nods? My own observation:

Spoiler

Dr. No - The main villain has a island hideout.

From Russia With Love - Bond trying to obtain a device of importance in Turkey.

Goldfinger - The classic Ashton Martin with gadgets, the overlook from the hill, the main villain being bigger than the evil organization.

Thunderball - Bond being retrieved by MI6 and the main villain being stabbed from behind.

You Only Live Twice - Bond thought to be dead and later in the film, being in disguise with a hat to match.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Losing a loved one at the end.

Diamonds Are Forever - The scorpion.

Live And Let Die - Bond stepping on reptiles to escape.

The Man With The Golden Gun - The use of mirrors.

The Spy Who Loved Me - The "Bond girl" being Bond's equal, a villain with fu**ed up teeth.

For Your Eyes Only - Bond's line of "For her eyes only."

Octopussy - The chase and fight on the train.

A View To A Kill - The main villain being psychotic and having a distinct look because of his blonde hair as well as an obsession with computers.

Goldeneye - The main villain being Bond's equal.

The World Is Not Enough - The girl Bond was after being afraid of the main villain, leaving an ominous presence. MI6 HQ being attacked and M being the focus of the film.

Die Another Day - An MI6 agent was captured and tortured for political purposes.

Casino Royale - The Ashton Martin he won in the poker game.

Quantum Of Solace - Bond doesn't hook up with the Bond girl at the end.

There were other nods too. I only remember a few:

Spoiler

GF: Bond saying "you must be joking" to Q.

GE: Q mentioning the exploding pen.

DAD: Bond with a beard. Being considered not fit for duty. Confrontation on an ice lake at the end.

Another possible nod:

Spoiler

Dr. No: Q giving Bond a new gun, complete in with gun case.

 

[MadVillainy]

Saw this. In short: it was great.

I liked just about everything. I can't really think of any complaints. I really liked how they brought up age and growing old/becoming outdated. Cinematography was awesome, score was great, acting was superb.

I will say storywise and script wise, this is the best Bond film. A lot of really good themes, good callbacks to character's pasts, a really scary/threatening "real world" villain, and very funny without being corny or silly. However, Casino Royale is still probably my favorite.

I think they set it up really well for the future [BLACKOUT]Fiennes as M? Great. Harris as MoneyPenney (who didnt see this coming)? Great[/BLACKOUT]

Overall I rate this an 8/10

 

[Superhero 101]

Spoiler

What was M's last line?

 

[TheWiseGuy487]

That was a 1962 Macallan Scotch. Not wine.

D'oh, that's what it was! I was trying to think of different names for wines and spirits, but that for some reason escaped me.

Still, the 1962 on the bottle was a clever Easter egg.

 

[Gold Samurai]

I could imagine the shower scene going very differently with M in place.

Thanks for the image *hurls*

I do wonder what dench would have been like in the 60's with connery