Skyfall (film) - James Bond

[bassman]

A clip of the theme for Skyfall: I love it! The return of the classic Bond theme!

[Neil]

The reviews are coming in... and generally seem very +ve! http://www.totalfilm.com/reviews/cinema/skyfall It all adds up to the 007 adventure we’ve been waiting for: a flawlessly assembled thrill ride with a cast to die for and a nakedly emotional undertow. Happy birthday, Mr Bond.

[MinionZombie]

I'm trying to avoid the reviews generally - but am pleased to hear it's doing very well indeed on that front. Sky Movies have dedicated a channel just to Bond movies, so it's the idea time for me to catch up with all the Bonds before Goldeneye. I've seen the Brosnan and Craig flicks, but none of those before, so it was about time to rectify that - Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and Thunderball have all been ticked off the list thus far.

[bassman]

007 meets Q

[shootemindehead]

I watched 'Casino Royale' and 'Quantum of Solace' back-to-back a few days ago in prep for 'Skyfall'. I have to say, when viewed directly after 'Casino Royale', the sequel is much more enjoyable and although I am still nowhere to being a "Bond fan", I really like what they've done with this itteration. In fact, it's probably the best reboot of a series I've yet encountered, especially when one considers how terribly stale the franchise had become. In his short time as the character, Craig has become THE Bond for me, which says a lot for him. He inhabits the role completely and makes it his own. I like his no-nonsense approach. done with this itteration. In fact, it's probably the best reboot of a series I've yet encountered, especially when one considers how terribly stale the franchise had become.

[Neil]

I watched 'Casino Royale' and 'Quantum of Solace' back-to-back a few days ago in prep for 'Skyfall'. I have to say, when viewed directly after 'Casino Royale', the sequel is much more enjoyable and although I am still nowhere to being a "Bond fan", I really like what they've done with this itteration. In fact, it's probably the best reboot of a series I've yet encountered, especially when one considers how terribly stale the franchise had become. In his short time as the character, Craig has become THE Bond for me, which says a lot for him. He inhabits the role completely and makes it his own. I like his no-nonsense approach. done with this itteration. In fact, it's probably the best reboot of a series I've yet encountered, especially when one considers how terribly stale the franchise had become. Really enjoyed Casino Royale, but found Quantum a little bit tedious. Especially the daft shaky cam nonsense!

[shootemindehead]

Yeh, I was very meh about 'Quantum of Solace' when I first saw it, especially after 'Casino Royale' turned out to be so good. Hopefully 'Skyfall' will up the game a bit. It'll be a shame to see it die.

[MinionZombie]

Sky Movies have been showing all the Bond movies on a dedicated channel this month, so it was the ideal opportunity to see about catching up with all the Bond movies I'd not yet seen (everything pre-dating Goldeneye - which was the first Bond movie I saw, back in the cinema in 1995 with my Dad - I had seen all the ones after, and including, Goldeneye). Anyway - currently in the midst of The Spy Who Loved Me - I'm rather enjoying getting to see them in such quick succession. It's cool to see changing styles in social attitudes as well as filmmaking techniques, and the franchise in general as the movies tick along. There's been some not-so-good ones along the way, but there's also been some spiffing ones too. Even the iffy ones have good bits to them. As for Skyfall - I'm really looking forward to it. Casino Royale was the dog's bollocks. It was officially the tits. I love that flick - it's so damned cool. It's one of those movies where if it's on, it's so easy to start watching it and find yourself getting wrapped up in it. Quantum of Solace - CR was a hard act to follow, and yes the shaky cam was decidedly over-done, the script was (as they've admitted) unfinished (Craig has said he didn't really understand where he was half the time, but with Skyfall he's very happy), and the pacing was really weird (shedloads of action up front, then a big flabby mid-section, then more action to finish it off). There were some nice nods to previous flicks, some good bits of style, some nice action beats, Bond moments etc, and I would like them to finish the Quantum arc after Skyfall - just with a script akin to CR, and with a director akin to Martin Campbell (who directed Goldeneye and Casino Royale).

[Neil]

Anyway - currently in the midst of The Spy Who Loved Me - I'm rather enjoying getting to see them in such quick succession. I love TSWLM! It's a great "Glam" bond! ie: Over the top, with lots of silly gizmo's and baddies... But does it perfectly. In fact, no body does it better!

[MinionZombie]

I love TSWLM! It's a great "Glam" bond! ie: Over the top, with lots of silly gizmo's and baddies... But does it perfectly. In fact, no body does it better! One of the best Bond themes, I'd have to say. Thoroughly enjoying it, so I am. The Man With The Golden Gun was a really good Moore flick, and TSWLM is shaping up likewise (will finish it off tonight). There's definitely a shift in tone, and as you say, it's one of the more exuberant Bond films, but I suppose each new Bond defines a new era. Moore's are unlike Connery's, and Craig's are unlike Brosnan's etc. Connery is perhaps a little bit more severe - under the surface at least - compared to Moore's sheer suavity. Connery's did feel more like the thug in a good suit with good education. Brosnan was very much a suave Bond too, in-line with Moore in some regards, and I feel that Craig is perhaps more in-line with Connery. Craig has that brooding danger to him, someone who has had a bit of a struggle up the ladder compared to some of his cohorts. Lazenby was only around for one flick - he did a decent job, mind - so his impact wasn't much by comparison, but it was a difficult position to be in if you think of the time (he was the first guy to take over from Connery, even though Connery came back for Diamonds Are Forever before Moore took over), but again I think Lazenby was going for an increased sauvity, which Moore gave rise to himself. We'll see about Dalton when I get to his flicks in-due-course. "Baby, you're the best..."

[bassman]

Dalton was basically a failed attempt at what they inevitably accomplished with Craig. He was a more down to earth Bond, not afraid to get his hands dirty. Especially in License to Kill. Dalton, even in only two films, was a very underrated Bond, imo.

[MinionZombie]

Dalton was basically a failed attempt at what they inevitably accomplished with Craig. He was a more down to earth Bond, not afraid to get his hands dirty. Especially in License to Kill. Dalton, even in only two films, was a very underrated Bond, imo. I'm looking forward to seeing License To Kill - it was finally released uncut in the UK recently (and is showing as such on Sky) - uncut it's rated 15, which is highly unusual for a Bond movie. Before Brosnan they were basically all PG rated, after Brosnan the 12 (and now 12A) became the standard rating for these flicks, but License To Kill stands out as a 15 due to it being (from what I've heard) noticeably more violent in certain regards than the other flicks.

[bassman]

Yeah, LTK is a pretty violent movie. Especially by earlier Bond movie standards. It was funny revisiting that movie several years back. I had never noticed that a young Benicio Del Toro is the Baddie's second in command....

[AcesandEights]

I don't think I was ever able to sit through a single Timothy Dalton Bond film. Weren't they all phoned in?

[bassman]

I don't think I was ever able to sit through a single Timothy Dalton Bond film. Weren't they all phoned in? License to Kill is an awesome bond film, imo. Probably one of my top ten. The Living Daylights has more of an 80's light hearted flare to it, but still an enjoyable entry in the vein of Roger Moore's later films. I think if Dalton was given more time and the proper writers/directors, he could now be considered one of the greatest bonds by the majority of fans.