SPECTRE Review Thread

[Ray_Rogers]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

What's funny is Brosnan reportedly really wanted them to do a "dark a gritty" reboot and then told him no, did the films they did with him, then rebooted it with a different actors. I feel bad for Brosnan because of that. Despite Goldeneye being great he kind of got screwed.

And it's been a while since I watched Die Another Day, but I agree the first two acts are pretty decent. Not great but decent. That third act though... it's so bad.

If you do play video games, Everything or Nothing is a proper send off for Brosnan compared to the piss-poor Die Another Day. It even has Willem Dafoe as a Bond villain with related ties to Christopher Walken's Max Zorin from A View to a Kill.

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers

If you do play video games, Everything or Nothing is a proper send off for Brosnan compared to the piss-poor Die Another Day. It even has Willem Dafoe as a Bond villain with related ties to Christopher Walken's Max Zorin from A View to a Kill.

I said this the first time I played that game. It's so much better than Die Another Day. A great game too, just a hair behind Goldeneye.

[Infernal King]

I find Casino Royale entertaining in certain bits/scenes/sequences/fits and starts but overall it's a mixed bag, a problematic package.

I'm sure I have Everything or Nothing squirreled away somewhere in my house so I shall have to look for it and play it soon. Sounds good. I've listened to the theme song by Mya and it is enjoyable.

[Walts Ghost]

HER and INTERSTELLAR Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema to Replace Roger Deakins on BOND 24; May Shoot on Film

It was incredibly disappointing to hear that cinematographer Roger Deakins would not be returning for Bond 24 after doing such a stunning job on Skyfall. However, as production on the next Bond installment is poised to get underway in December, director Sam Mendes has now settled on Deakins’ replacement, and it’s an excellent choice. In Contention reports that Hoyte van Hoytema will be the cinematographer on Bond 24, marking yet another fantastic notch in what’s becoming a heck of a run in the director of photography’s career. The Dutch-Swedish cinematographer first came to prominence for shooting the original Let the Right One In, going on to do equally arresting work on films like Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and last year’s Her. Most recently, though, he nabbed his most high profile film to date as Christopher Nolan hand-picked him to replace his longtime collaborator Wally Pfister on the upcoming Interstellar.

And not only is Hoytema a brilliant choice to shoot Bond 24, but the movie might actually be shooting on film this time around.

Kris Tapley over at In Contention broke the news that Hoyte van Hoytema will be the cinematographer on Bond 24, which is fitting given that Tapley was the one who revealed that Deakins wouldn’t be returning in the first place. It was an unfortunate departure on Deakins’ part, especially since Skyfall director Sam Mendes was coming back.

Understandably, though, Deakins had a scheduling conflict with his longtime collaborators the Coen brothers, as he’ll be shooting their next film Hail, Caesar! during Bond 24‘s production after Skyfall rendered him unable to shoot Inside Llewyn Davis.

Hoytema is certainly one of the most promising up-and-coming cinematographers working today, though after this recent string of films I think we can hardly refer to him as “up-and-coming” anymore. Tapley adds that, while unconfirmed, he’s hearing that Bond 24 will be shot on film after going digital (to astounding results, mind you) on Skyfall. Hoytema obviously shot Interstellar on film and did wonderful work on Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy in the format as well, but he shot Her digitally with the Arri Alexa so he’s really proven that he can capture amazing images either way.

This is very exciting news indeed, especially to film nerds like myself. I thought Hoytema’s work on Her was jaw-dropping, and I’ve been looking forward to seeing what he does with the IMAX format on Interstellar. What about you, fellow cinephiles? Are you pleased with this choice as Deakins’ replacement? Who are some of your favorite cinematographers working today? Show some love to these under-recognized yet vitally important crafstmen and women in the comments below.

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[Kevin Holly]

Originally Posted by cornbread_1788

Ranked so high!!!!!!

Haha, yes.

Dr. No is a true classic, that one I'm surprised you think I rank too high. It really defines classic era Bond for me, even though it's the first and certain elements are missing.

Thunderball I also love. All of Connery's first four are really great, and it's hard to put them into any kind of order. I think just my love of water and such gives that one an edge.

The Man With The Golden Gun - yeah, I know a lot of people don't like this one. I thought it worked brilliantly, Christopher Lee is great, Britt Ekland is hot, and it's Moore's best imo.

Live and Let Die - yeah, I like blaxploitation, and I like Bond, and I happen to think this is a case of a Bond film meshing with a currently popular genre working (rather than, say, Moonraker). I don't know, this one always gets me, from the opening track, to Baron Samedi. I watched this thing on repeat with my brother and cousin when we were kids.

As for A View To A Kill - yeah. All the preferers of the hard-edged Bond seem to hate this. Even the Moore apologists and fans don't like this one. It's typically taken as an example of why Moore is not that great. And yet, I love it. The entire first half, which deals with horse racing and really doesn't have much spying, for some reason I like those scenes a lot. I guess I just enjoy watching the idle rich go about their business. Then the house from Phantasm is used. And Walken is great.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Infernal King

The story I heard is that Brosnan wanted to do Casino Royale after Die Another Day (Tarantino offered to direct). I don't think he had a "dark and gritty reboot" conversation before then.

I think he wanted it before then, but I could be wrong. I know the prisoner aspect of Die Another Day was done to appease his wishes for a harder edge to the story. Too bad about the second half!

[Infernal King]

Interstellar?

Craig's Bond needs to go to outer space.

[jpthomas27]

Originally Posted by Darth Marcus

I think Moore drew on the main differences himself when he said:

"I played Bond as a lover. Daniel does it as a killer."

That is a great explanation, but I think it's exactly the way it should be. You have to keep in mind the timeline of the series. Technically, Craig's bond came much earlier in time. Craig lost is true love, the only women he wanted to be with and is now scorned and emotionless. He feels nothing for anyone. He doesn't care about his own life let alone anyone else's.

Every other actor that played Bond played him later in the timeline. He had ruled out ever being in love again and decided to simply enjoy women on a very basic level rather than getting involved with them. He became a lover rather than a killer over time, but in the time that Craig plays the character he has not yet become that person... He is a killer with a broken heart in the Craig era. It's not because of Craig, it because it is the correct way to play him at that time in his life. Craig was the right choice to play "THAT" Bond, from "THAT" time period.

[Samus Aran]

Originally Posted by Infernal King

The story I heard is that Brosnan wanted to do Casino Royale after Die Another Day (Tarantino offered to direct). I don't think he had a "dark and gritty reboot" conversation before then.

No way would they let Tarantino direct. The Bond movies are like the Marvel movies where director creativity and style goes to die because they have to appease the product line of the studio heads.

[Infernal King]

Nooooo not the timeline derail again.

Originally Posted by Samus Aran

No way would they let Tarantino direct. The Bond movies are like the Marvel movies where director creativity and style goes to die because they have to appease the product line of the studio heads.

I know there was no chance, even though I would have liked to see it. On the other hand, the Bond producers have created a certain amount of quality control over the series, as it has lasted for 50+ years and rarely do the movies become terrible.

I have my doubts that Marvel Studios will still be making movies 50 years from now.

[Kamelot]

Originally Posted by jpthomas27

Craig was the right choice to play "THAT" Bond, from "THAT" time period.

+1
Craig was a great choice for the Bourne-esque Bond movies but I just don't see him being the lover that the character will eventually become.
I can only hope they find a good-looking dude in the vein of Brosnan and Moore after these Craig movies and bring the swinging swag back to the series

[Ben_UK]

When I skipped past that news there, my heart almost skipped a beat, I thought it read that Wally Pfister was doing Bond 24. Thank the lord he isn't. I'd rather not see his blurry, out of focus, crushed blacks and overtly orange skin tones in any film, let alone a Bond film.

[JimDiGriz]

Originally Posted by Infernal King

Interstellar?

Craig's Bond needs to go to outer space.

Roger beat him to it though!

I love Moonraker

[Darth Marcus]

Originally Posted by Infernal King

Nooooo not the timeline derail again.

Yeah, I'm not going down that road.

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

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Awesome! I assume this has to do with the deal Kodak made with the studios that celluloid is to be used on some projects, so this is exciting! A great eye for visuals using what is arguably the best source for capturing images makes me an excited Bond fan! Her had some gorgeous imagery, and Interstellar looks beautiful as well!

[Kevin Holly]

Originally Posted by Infernal King

The story I heard is that Brosnan wanted to do Casino Royale after Die Another Day (Tarantino offered to direct). I don't think he had a "dark and gritty reboot" conversation before then.

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised. Look at the November Man. That was not necessarily great, but it was a damn fine spy film, and a lot grittier than the Brosnan Bonds. If he would have played Bond like that (and I'm not suggesting it's his "fault" that he did not get to), then I probably would have liked him a lot more.

[nashcameronn]

Originally Posted by jpthomas27

That is a great explanation, but I think it's exactly the way it should be. You have to keep in mind the timeline of the series. Technically, Craig's bond came much earlier in time. Craig lost is true love, the only women he wanted to be with and is now scorned and emotionless. He feels nothing for anyone. He doesn't care about his own life let alone anyone else's.

Every other actor that played Bond played him later in the timeline. He had ruled out ever being in love again and decided to simply enjoy women on a very basic level rather than getting involved with them. He became a lover rather than a killer over time, but in the time that Craig plays the character he has not yet become that person... He is a killer with a broken heart in the Craig era. It's not because of Craig, it because it is the correct way to play him at that time in his life. Craig was the right choice to play "THAT" Bond, from "THAT" time period.

With the exception of Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, all Bond films tell their own separate story. There's no continuity. Casino Royale isn't like a prequel to all other Bond films.

[Darth Marcus]

Originally Posted by nashcameronn

With the exception of Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, all Bond films tell their own separate story. There's no continuity. Casino Royale isn't like a prequel to all other Bond films.

You summed up in two sentences what I would have taken paragraphs to describe.

[Foggy]

Pretty much loved Hoytema's work in everything, most particularly Tinker Tailor, really excited to see what he can pull off here.

[Darth Marcus]

Lea Seydoux Boards James Bond 24

Lea Seydoux Boards James Bond 24

By BAZ BAMIGBOYE FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 16:26 EST, 9 October 2014 | UPDATED: 02:24 EST, 10 October 2014

Blue is the Warmest Color star Lea Seydoux has, according to The Daily Mail, signed on to play a femme fatale in the upcoming 24th James Bond franchise entry. According to the outlet, Seydoux will begin doing table reads with her co-stars in November and then take time to find the proper look and overall tone of her character before cameras roll in December.

Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw are returning for the 24th installment, which will again be directed by Skyfall helmer Sam Mendes. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson will produce.

Seydoux has also appeared in films like Inglourious Basterds and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.

Still without an official title, Bond 24 is scheduled to hit theaters on November 6, 2015.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by Darth Marcus

Lea Seydoux Boards James Bond 24

Hmm... she doesn't strike me as a femme fatale. But then again, they can't all be Fiona Volpe or Xenia Onatopp.