Well, Dad loved it because of the luscious scenery all throughout the film. For me, I hope I could have used the free ticket to watch Popoy and Basha. hehe I'll tell you why, it's not what I hoped for.
Everybody has high expectations for the film, after the very successful Skyfall, they or we expect if not better, a good follow up Bond film.
After 2 and a half hours, I thought I almost watched a Quantum of Solace part 2. The better version of it yet a lot of lack. First miss of the film, or should I say, the weakest part... The dialogue/plot of this film. I mean, I hope the plot is at least half good of Skyfall or Casino Royale but it seems they rushed it. After Sam Mendes declared first that he'll back out of this film then changed mind, that affected this film. I'm not 100% correct but I felt that swift decision to go back did not help. Next time, producers shouldn't insist if the director doesn't want to do it again. It's like I'm watching Moonraker or Octopussy in a more visually appealing way.
Another major flaw, Short times. Short time that menacing Batista screen time. Christoph Waltz as a major villain, even he done his best to act out, but I felt he came short. Short time for Belucci which it shouldn't be. hehe Short time for a marvelous aston martin car, one of the great looking cars shown in a bond film or any film. So, for short. They fell short.
Enough of the short.. Third flaw, or last flaw, the last arc of the film, although it's good looking, I fell flat. I mean, I felt that when they went to this place, I knew I'm going to watch those Bond films like I mentioned above, the streotype bond flick that he visits the villain's HQ and bomb the place. Jeez, I knew it right. Even with good actors and effects, it became predictable and yes, until the last action scene, became Mission Impossible. Good job!
Of course, these are the factors why this film kinda saved it from being Quantum, by an inch. First, give credit to the editor and photographer who really made this film very fun to watch. The night chase, the first action scene and the film did not give me a feeling that is dragging. Although with the biggest flaws, the editing and photography, it's a saving grace. It's nice to watch this film. Another credit goes to the technically possible action scenes. You'll see why Daniel Craig kinda want to give up his role. Geez, he done a lot of action and running and driving and swimming. hahaha Swimming to ehem. Anyway, yeah the action scenes were great, like the one on one by bond and assassin. That was tight and good.
Lastly, the cast ensembled for this film, despite the big flaws, they still done a wonderful job to make this film enjoy to watch unlike Quantum. Christoph Waltz is a great actor, I hope and I know he might be back because of what happened to him. I hope next time, he'll be back better for his character. I love how he deliver the lines and how he shows up every scene, except for that last scene.
Ralph Fiennes is good, Naomi Harris this time has a short part but still good, fit as moneypenny. Batista's character I hoped that will show up at the final action scene. hehe Ben as Q, he got it, just don't change the dude, he's perfect for Q! I mean the main MI 6 characters really fit for their roles.
Of course, Daniel Craig who despite less dramatic scenes this time, but he pushed a lot of action scenes for the whole film. Most of his scenes made sense and some of the time, it's thrilling, like the first scene. It's sad that how this film was made, it looks like and feels that indeed, Daniel made this film, as his final Bond film. I hope he'll do another one, just last one. But if not, that's fine, I'll put him in top 3 as James Bond.
Lastly, the most important part... When the news broke out that Belucci and Seydoux will be one bond film, the first thing I said, Daniel Craig is the luckiest James Bond actor ever. I mean he got all the beautiful bond girls ever! He beat the crap out of Roger Moore and Sean Connery. Geez. Monica Belucci should have been a bond girl before but well, great thing she catched the last bus for being one. hahaha What a legendary beauty.
Then you add Lea Seydoux who I can say, helped the film moving forward, looks stunning especially in that grey dress she wore. She looked like those classy women in black and white films. Very sophisticated and beautiful with those blue eyes. Another great thing, neither of them did not die! Good thing indeed. One of the best bond girls assembled in a bond film.
I should stop right there. hehe Anyway, hmmmm after this film, I don't know what they will do again for James Bond. Strong speculations they may go to a black Bond or very young Bond. I mean Casino Royale is enough for a backstory right?
If I'm the writer or director for Bond, I want Bond to be in a die hard situation. You know like he's doing a mission but he end up like doing other mission because of the situation. I don't know if they done that but that will be interesting. A young Bond will be fine as well. Black Bond, hmmm I don't see Bond as black, not because of the race, but he might end up like Black Dynamite. hahaha
Well, kudos for Daniel Craig for giving us a great montage of present Bond.
By the way, that dude who said this film is a different beast to Skyfall. It is a different beast.
An ugly beast.
Great thing, I have a free ticket for this film. 250 bucks was quite much for this film.
Is 4 years worth the wait? It is..
After Quantum of Solace which was not a good Bond movie, I kinda lower my expectations with this film even with a star studded cast and a wonderful director. Those details was announced just last year after filming returned, due to financial hiccups.
After 2 and a half hours of watching even my Dad fall asleep some parts of the movie, I was amazed how it ran.
I missed the first 5 minutes of the flick because of the long line outside in the ticketing booth but anyhow.. All I can say, this Bond film is at my top 5 great bond films. Of course my number choice is The Spy who loved me, then next is Goldfinger, and the next 2 are Skyfall and Casino Royale, lastly, maybe Goldeneye, or A view to a kill, but I've not decided yet for that 5th spot.
Story is simple, James Bond is tasked to locate the man who has the HDD from MI6, while catching the dude, he was shot and end up dead as M proclaimed. After sometime, Bond refaces back to MI6, but the terrorist already killing MI6 agents because of the HDD and time is running out to catch the madman. Then, the chase is on to locate the madman and it happens that he knows the past of M. With the help of his associate who shot him, Q and a government offical who try to save MI6 so they can catch this terrorist, James Bond needs to give all to save M and MI6 from destruction even with the blown up headquarters.
Other parts till the end, you need to watch it!
The parts that I can say well did not help the movie. The dialogue is not bad, or so british, it's just well, the nature of Sam Mendes films are really dialogue driven, so this film almost reached the boundary of a lot of talking and the action scenes. That is the reason Dad fell asleep for sometime due to the long dialogue scenes, except for the scenes that it has Berenice Marlohe. =) Other thing that quite bother the film, the use of CG in that Komodo Dragon or that weird looking croc. It's not polished as it may seem but it looks like they rushed making that animal. I don't know if it's real but definitely they did something on that animal to look like big. Besides, it's hard to locate one of those in reality, how about in a film? I hope they used other animals than that thing. Another one, but just a feedback about Silva's lair, hmmmm I hope they have other places than that. I thought they flew to eastern europe for it. But that's fine for the place, it's pretty logical especially with that flow of the story. Ah yes, I hope it had more blood for those action scenes, but it's not really needed as it is beautiflly directed.
First what I love of this film, the action and chasing scenes are long and detailed. It's an experience that takes your breath away, like the first chase, my Dad kinda frown that those new beetles were just thrown away. =) But the pace of it, just magnificent until of course Bond got shot. Then the chase going to the committee hearing, that M almost got shot and run away with Bond. I love the last action sequence it's like Die Hard style with a bit of nostalgia, because of the Aston car there. The action scenes made this film not really bourne like but a James Bond flick like Casino Royale. James is vulnerable but calm, clever and quite cold blooded killer.
Second, I love this flick because of the dialogue and screenplay entails to it. It's been a long time to see a James Bond who has a great story development, with its rise and fall storyline with a great climax at the end. The dialogue, which is not very british, the actors used plain english and great thing no one used like Scottish or Welsh, maybe for Albert Finney's character which is understandable. But the depth of the dialogue of all characters made this film so immense and unlikely for a James Bond film worked. I hope that the screenwriters will go back for the future James Bond flicks. The feeling of each character through it's story really show well and precise to what the story goes. Some surprises also helped the story kept going until the end.
I should really give credit to Sam Mendes because this film is really beyond his usual film. Mostly well, drama flicks. This one, he put some effort more to action than the drama parts because he believed in his cast. That's a great decision for his part so he can focus more in what the movie should show, than the drama scenes. He had faith to this cast and it delivered effortlessly. Although like I said there were parts that quite almost made me fell asleep, the pacing is just right and gives it all at the end. Give credit to the cinematography and context of the locations as well, how he used those locations to blend with the film. Thanks to him, we have a great Bond film for the ages.
Lastly, as the director have faith to his cast, give big credit to the actors. Now, Daniel Craig's best performance as James is here. It is, so this one should help him get good roles in the future. His portrayal of James Bond is coming of age, developing into something in his own, and a good looking Bond. Great looking Bond. Judi Dench also for all the James Bond flicks she made, she gave it all for this one. It's sad that this is the last one, you'll see why, but I really commend her for doing consistenly a lady M, her strong will personality shows here and her passion of serving to MI6 shines here. Another one, Javier Bardem, simply one of the baddest villain James faced in the series. Silva's character is kinda psychotic yet calm madman. That blond hair fits him and simply amazing portrayal from him, I love the scene where he is in the glass cell. Quite scary dude, and how he attacked Skyfall and M.
The supporting characters here are fantastic, from Naomie Harris which we will see her a lot later due to her quirky role. Ah, Ralph Fiennes as a great actor always be, I'm definitely looking forward to see him in the future James Bond flicks, he's quite a copy of those old James Bond bosses. Q is an interesting character to look at it, young, smart and pale looking, very deceiving with those glasses. Albert Finney? Quite suprising character, I am thinking at the end, where is Albert Finney in Skyfall, and realized after a second look, yeah, very clever role for him. Great part for him. Lastly, Berenice Marlohe, well, spoiled milk. What I hate in Daniel Craig's Bond series is all the great looking ladies were killed. Eva Green's character stood the longest screening time but ended up killed. =( Gemma Arterton which I love because I saw her in Quantum of Solace's role, way better looking than Olga, innocently killed. Damn.. Then here, Berenice as I hope she will be saved or lived all throughout like the other Bond girls, was killed abruptly.. Damn, I hope in the next Bond flicks, the better looking lady will live until the end. Please! =) But her role served right for the film, not bad for a first timer actress.
Anyway, for the SkyFall, one of the clever titles for a Bond flick. Interesting to look at James Bond roots and that place is kinda far. Great title for a great film.
The last 2 flicks for Daniel Craig for James Bond will be quite a big pressure because of this great one. But for me, as long the cast is good, not complicated and dumb plot like Quantum and serious acting, I won't put big expectations for the next 2 flicks. As long they deliver, James Bond will live forever.
James Bond will return..
