tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post126575594332548248..comments2023-11-05T02:01:53.847-06:00Comments on Antagony & Ecstasy: ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW BONDERTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491952893581644049noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-1925435783275757832013-10-28T14:22:52.273-05:002013-10-28T14:22:52.273-05:00I mostly agree with your review, especially all th...I mostly agree with your review, especially all the negative stuff. I liked it less than you did.<br />I didn't get the world they were trying to build. We have Q saying they don't do explosive pens anymore, and M dealing with politicians in scenes that seemingly have a "we're dealing with real-world problems" feel. But at the same time everything else in the movie (action, villain, technology, some sets) fall under the "extravagant fantasy" category, in my opinion. The Bourne movies were much better at blending their spy-heroics with a real-world feel. I know Bond is not Bourne but I still don't get this.<br />On the weak motivations of the villain, I'll add that if M hadn't been a female all this "mommy" stuff wouldn't have flied. It all seems to hinge on the fact that because M is a female, she's supposed to have a motherly feel towards all her agents, which I find extremely ridiculous and they never would have attempted anything like that with a male M. I could take her "special" relationship with Bond in other movies but this was too much.<br />I didn't understand all the emphasis in Bond being old, in my opinion it doesn't play with Craig's history of Bond movies, mostly because this is only the third. He must have a past in order to work with the movie's themes, but all the stuff about him being ready for retirement was weird. In "CR" he had just gotten his "00", and it's not like the story was set in the '80s or '90s. And "QoS" just finished up the story of "CR". So how come he's suddenly this super-decrepit dinosaur? Of course Craig doesn't look like a kid but he didn't in "CR" either.<br />And finally, all this effort just to... set up this new era. This would be great and it'd made some sense if Craig was to do at least 3more movies, maybe, but that seems like a very dubious prospect. There was a time when almost all Bond movies were "monster of the week episodes", so to speak, and with Craig it's been all "mithology episodes", so to speak, but to what end?<br />I didn't like 90% of the quibs and humour in the movie either, especially all the inside-jokes, which took me out of the movie every time.<br />Sorry if I rambled too much, I saw the movie yesterday and maybe I should have prepared this better. I'm not even a Bond fan really. I'm probably forgetting something too.<br />Oh yes, the CGI. Call me old-school, or maybe I'm too literal, but I like big-budget movies to get their "epic scope feel" mostly using actual stuff, and I like action movies to use actual elements and blow-up real stuff. Otherwise it's just missing that awesomenesss touch. I didn't expect cgi helicopters in a Bond movie, I even resent miniatures to some degree, but oh well. I didn't like the abandoned island vistas either.<br />I couldn't help but notice the high number of shots in this movie where Bond is standing firmly with both legs well apart staring at some vista or something, many scenes seem to open or close that way, I wondered what it meant. Or maybe there aren't that many of them but I just noticed the few of them for some reason, I don't know.<br />And I'd say Bond didn't have sex with Eve, since she's alive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-39260289582586327502012-11-20T01:36:01.105-06:002012-11-20T01:36:01.105-06:00This series was fantastic, Tim. Great fun to read...This series was fantastic, Tim. Great fun to read whether you're a Bond fan or not. Keep up the good work!<br /><br />For someone like me who's only seen 6-8 of the films (and quite likes them), I have to say, I thought Skyfall was spectacular. It did get a little slow in the middle, some of its plot points were vague, and I agree that the narrow scope of Silva's plot was weird and more disappointing the more you think about it (how on earth did he get so many henchmen for such a personal revenge plot?). And I think there was room for some more charm and quips from Bond in the classic vein. But all that said--yowza, this film brought the excitement and the pretty.<br /><br />Deakins' cinematography is magnificent--if he doesn't get an Oscar this year, I might cease my belief in God. And I want to offer a very firm vote of approval for the climax--it was definitely a direction I wasn't expecting, and I was totally aware that it wasn't standard Bond procedure, but it was just *so awsome* (and yes, I'm okay using that formulation). It was genuinely thrilling in a way I've never seen Bond do--go on the defensive at the end--there was no telling how the sequence would turn out, unexpected but brilliant things kept happening like Silva's Apocalypse Now entrance, the car machine guns, and the drop into the icy lake. Basically, it thrilled me to no end, and it satisfied me emotionally, too.<br /><br />So anyway--you were too hard on it, Tim!StephenMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16588260639227694557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-13224557742288350172012-11-19T10:48:41.044-06:002012-11-19T10:48:41.044-06:00Your review sees the film largely as I did, with o...Your review sees the film largely as I did, with one notable exception: Severine.<br /><br />Like you I loved her character, so full of potential and promise, and so I was upset when she died. But I didn't read it as a misogynistic waste, but as the real turning point of the film for Bond.<br /><br />That scene had narrative impact that for me, was the apex of the film. It was Bond's moment of truth and he dropped the ball. He failed not just himself, but the girl. Severine counted on him, trusted him with every ounce of hope she had left in the world, and he used her. After she died - when he kills the guards - it's visceral and cool, but that success remained as hollow for me as it did for Bond. When it came down to it, Severine's life ended as horrifically as it was lived, and that touched me.Wyrmdoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00924072775886424673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-68458685503638107152012-11-16T13:02:16.704-06:002012-11-16T13:02:16.704-06:00You were too hard on it, Tim!
Really
Personally ...You were too hard on it, Tim!<br /><br />Really<br /><br />Personally I thought Bardem's villain was incredible, definitely one of my series favorites. And it seemed like most of your complaints were unjustified. Like someone said, the lifestyle porn was more there than you give it credit. Ragging on it trying to make a deeper Bond makes no sense to me either. It seems like you give things such low grades just because it didn't exactly fit into the image of what a Bond movie should be. I dunno my mind is all over the place but I am supremely disappointed in this review :Pjjjonatronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11572727325348235494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-49316280517921385992012-11-15T11:49:21.895-06:002012-11-15T11:49:21.895-06:00Like other people have already said, I too want to...Like other people have already said, I too want to thank you for this wonderful retrospective. Waiting for a new review every Sunday was always a highlight of my week. Still with this done, it's time to get back to reviewing shitty Disney sequels! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01560748360235621278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-20269816695905636962012-11-14T14:09:25.584-06:002012-11-14T14:09:25.584-06:00I'm not sure if the rebooted series ever expli...I'm not sure if the rebooted series ever explicitly said that the Craig Bond was working class, but the Fleming novels - and the various other apocrypha that have come out since he died featuring the character - are quite explicit that Bond comes from some higher echelon of middle class privilege. Considering the more malleable world of class in Britain today, it's possible to imagine that the Craig Bond would have a more downmarket accent, despite his advantages. There's no reason he has to sound or look like one of the Fox brothers.rick mcginnishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04238756880941710637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-28426410248001779982012-11-13T22:44:36.463-06:002012-11-13T22:44:36.463-06:00The gloominess of the last act doesn't sit qui...The gloominess of the last act doesn't sit quite right with me. There should be a certain joyousness to Bond as he foils another plot; he relishes this stuff. But the whole to-Hell-and-Back/Resurrection theme doesn't feel Bond-like at all. And trying to compensate by fitting in as many playings of the classic theme song as possible still doesn't make up for it. <br /><br />This is also yet another film (the Avengers, among others) that uses the Dark Knight plot point of capturing the villain halfway through the movie just so we can get an interrogation scene exposing his macabre and grotesqueness, and then have him escape in the most implausible way possible. This is getting to be predictable exploitation on the level of horror-schlock, and its a scenario that needs to be put out to pasture immediately. hayleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01203127598513280855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-39705079768257854762012-11-13T21:14:16.962-06:002012-11-13T21:14:16.962-06:00Thanks everybody for commenting! I hope I won'...Thanks everybody for commenting! I hope I won't put anybody out if I don't go one-by-one responding, but there are some good points raised, and I'm glad to hear everybody liked the marathon so much - it took <i>much</i> more effort to right than I feel it should have, so I'm glad it resonated with people.<br /><br />Also, I have to admit, I was definitely expecting more "you were too hard on the movie"-type comments, and not so many "you were too easy on it". Just goes to show.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09491952893581644049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-38698694951299385782012-11-13T16:50:42.387-06:002012-11-13T16:50:42.387-06:00And on a random note, "skyfall is where we st...And on a random note, "skyfall is where we start" actually makes perfect sense when you remember that skyfall is the name of the home in which Bond was raised.Eugenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00903952413098080954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-71468049341800332682012-11-13T12:56:41.673-06:002012-11-13T12:56:41.673-06:00Not too hard to work in a Man with the Golden Gun ...Not too hard to work in a Man with the Golden Gun reference-- the film actually makes a couple of call-outs to the film and the book.<br /><br />Book: Bond returns as damaged goods and is sent on something of a suicide mission.<br /><br />Film: The hall of mirrors on Scaramanga's island is reflected (ha) is both the opening sequence and in the fight with Patrice.<br /><br />Other than some of the obvious references like the DB5, it's the film that Skyfall evoked most fo rme.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01416757374656780502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-12797829092612301572012-11-13T12:33:21.353-06:002012-11-13T12:33:21.353-06:00Wonderful retrospective, great job Tim!
I agree w...Wonderful retrospective, great job Tim!<br /><br />I agree with a lot of your comments about Skyfall, it's strengths and it's weaknesses, but there's two elements you liked more than I did.<br /><br />-The action sequences. You gave them the full monty, I would gone with 4. They're beautifully-shot, well-edited afairs, but my pulse never quickened like the best of the Martin Campbell-directed action scenes, to make but two films. That opening CR foot chase still remains surpreme. Still, I'll take beautiful-if-comptent action filmmaking over...whatever the FUCK that was in QoS.<br /><br />-The stakes do get lower and lower(that NATO agent list almost completely disappears by the final third of the film), but I don't feel M's death was dramatic enough. She got grazed by some no-name henchmen for God's sake, and then just...kinda died after it was all over. James Bond had one mission in the end of the film, protecting M, and he failed! If the film was suppose to prove how relevent Bond is in a new world, then what does THAT say?<br /><br />That said, I agree with your orignal review score, and do think this is a very good Bond film indeed, if not quite in the highest of tiers that Casino Royale belongs to. Still, it's one of the better films I've seen all year, and it's MILES ahead of QoS on the road to Bond Awesomeness. More importantly, the resolution sets up the Bond franchise in a REALLY exciting place. They can really go wherever they want, and they got the crew to deliver it with! With all the primary players in position on and behind the screen, I'm expecting at LEAST 3 more films of this quality or better within the next ten years. A new Bond adventure every 3 years, with a polished script, the newly minted core of M16, letting go of the past and pushing into the future. For the first time in years, I'm excited about the future of the James Bond franchise!<br /><br />And if they can snag Roger Deakins back, that would be a godsend.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12219137212221355997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-64643825308874561482012-11-13T11:15:53.419-06:002012-11-13T11:15:53.419-06:00Fantastic review series, I really enjoyed it.
Cri...Fantastic review series, I really enjoyed it.<br /><br />Criticism wise: 1 1/2 for elegant lifestyle porn? Really? Did you fall asleep during the Macao sequence? Surely just the ridiculously gorgeous shot sequence of Bond in a tuxedo, standing in a gondola being ferried to a casino is worth two martini glasses. Or his 'perfect' on receiving the Vesper martini.<br /><br />I find proving myself to not be a robot difficult. Maybe you could dial down your security a little.Eugenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00903952413098080954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-36274585328041776092012-11-13T10:59:38.383-06:002012-11-13T10:59:38.383-06:00Ejector seat, not electors seat. Damn autocorrect!...Ejector seat, not electors seat. Damn autocorrect!Brian Malbonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908354298411555211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-5583802937928763122012-11-13T10:57:51.011-06:002012-11-13T10:57:51.011-06:00"The trouble with company cars is that they&#..."The trouble with company cars is that they're equipped with trackers," says Bond as he turns the key on a dilapidated storage locker and reveals a shiny mint condition Astin Martin straight out of Goldfinger, complete with electors seat and machine gun headlights. Shouldn't that bump up both the gadgets and lifestyle porn just a little?<br /><br />I've been following this blog with enthusiasm for the last six months or more. Keep up the great work.Brian Malbonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908354298411555211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-61234653059430726922012-11-13T09:55:14.821-06:002012-11-13T09:55:14.821-06:00I want to thank you, as well, for the past months ...I want to thank you, as well, for the past months of weekly Bond anticipation; it became something of a Sunday tradition to read about Bond over eggs and orange juice. I recently bought the Bond 50 box set on Blu-ray and have been working through the films one by one, and I've been been enjoying reading each of your entries after watching their corresponding film.<br /><br />Incidentally, the best part about that box set is the space if leaves open for when <i>Skyfall</i> comes on Blu-ray, making <i>Skyfall</i> a wonderful coda in setting up the next 50 years of Bond both onscreen and in corporate-approved merchandising.<br /><br />Thank you again for this wonderful retrospective; from the creative scale you used to differentiate each Bond from the other, to the wonderful review sensibility you bring to the Additional Comments. If the Disneython is the crowning achievement of this blog, certainly Bond 25 (23 + 2) is directly under it. Andrew Testermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17636448677366233823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-61674594520298089582012-11-13T05:16:58.332-06:002012-11-13T05:16:58.332-06:00Thanks for the review. Honestly I thought skyfall=...Thanks for the review. Honestly I thought skyfall= huge fail. Here are the reasons, 1) the film was directed by an Oscar winning director who is capable of telling intimate human stories. But what exactly did the movie amount to? 2) call it escapism fantasy or whatever, Bond is one fictional character that does not need a backstory. He is like that one a-hole friend that you have who is just wrong, but you end up rooting for anyway because he's so charming which brings me to 3) Daniel Craig is a decent actor with absolutely no charm. He works too hard and it shows. That's not what Bond is supposed to be.Groovenationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629730786365840016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-89046699598849873122012-11-13T03:46:21.879-06:002012-11-13T03:46:21.879-06:00Excellent post! Very well written as always, and a...Excellent post! Very well written as always, and an excellent conclusion to your Bond retrospective. Your point about Skyfall's thematic consistency is well made, but you're being far too kind when you say Craig "blends blithe quips with ice-cold brutality better than any Bond actor." <br /><br />I said this in my own review, but Craig is the reason Skyfall comes across as being far less fun than it is. The script has its fair share of quips but Craig's intensity - even when he isn't killing people - tends to dampen the fun. He doesn't really have chemistry with anyone other than M. And he doesn't seem to charm Severine as much as offer her a get out of jail card - help me and you go into witness protection. Don't and I'll probably kill you too. <br /><br />The trouble is, Craig has limited range – he can pull off brutal-cool (Exhibit A: Craig adjusting his cufflinks after landing from the crane) but not relaxed-cool (Exhibits B and C: Craig’s strained exchanges with Eve and Q – it’s not banter if you look like you’re going to eat their eyes, dude). <br /><br />Still, he fits what they're trying to do with the series right now, and if recent interviews (with him and his Bond co-stars) are any indication, there appears to be a PR offensive on to reverse Craig's image as a dour, humourless loner.<br /><br />My review of Skyfall at http://www.spinningthereel.com/skyfall-2/<br />www.spinningthereel.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01130755039654956915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-30624258460921818602012-11-13T03:22:05.574-06:002012-11-13T03:22:05.574-06:00I just want to say a huge thank you for these revi...I just want to say a huge thank you for these reviews. From start to finish they have been a joy, each one eagerly anticipated. I'll really miss not having any more to look forward to. What's your next project going to be?Seamasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13603506055285659476noreply@blogger.com