Film Thread

[igor_balis]

I’ve never seen James Bond.

I don't think you're missing out on much, personally. My mates were going through them in order during lockdown, I got about as far as the 4th one and just couldn't stomach watching any more. I've seen a few other ones from different eras as well, and I don't really get the appeal. I might be being unfair, but it feels like there's not really much depth to any of them, they're quite formulaic, and thus they live and die on whether or not you find them fun, and largely I find them a pretty tedious slog to get through.

In their defence, it probably does it no favours that it's such a cultural institution that you can easily know how they work as films without ever actually watching one.

[Ian]

They are, for the most part, just fun action films. I don't think there's lot depth to miss.

The Craig ones are a bit more overwrought in place but they're still broadly just action films of vary quality.

[wullie]

It's a series that caters to all tastes over time. If you like moody introspection and punching Daniel Craig's your man, if you like knob gags and slide whistles Roger Moore's got you covered.

[igor_balis]

They are, for the most part, just fun action films. I don't think there's lot depth to miss.

The Craig ones are a bit more overwrought in place but they're still broadly just action films of vary quality.

Aye I think that's basically what I was getting at, just more succinct. I just don't find em fun personally.

[Baz]

They are, for the most part, just fun action films.

That's me out forever.

[Dave.]

It's a series that caters to all tastes over time. If you like moody introspection and punching Daniel Craig's your man, if you like knob gags and slide whistles Roger Moore's got you covered.

This is it. I think you need to see at least two films from each Bond before writing them off completely. They are all action films but each Bond had their own interpretation of the role. For example, Moonraker and Licence To Kill are two very different films.

[Ian]

Strong "really you need to give this until series 4" energy there, Dave.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's only 11 movies (Lazenby only had one) to know for sure if you like Bond or not. That's nothing.

[igor_balis]

I've seen bond films from different eras and I think for all the tonal differences and different ways the lead actors play the role...I mean, @wullie saying they cater to all tastes is a bit of a stretch.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They're fun action films, with distinctive iconography that stretches out across the decades, and an absolute belter of a John Barry theme tune (this is very underrated as a reason for their popularity, for me Clive). No shame in liking or not liking them.

[Dave.]

Strong "really you need to give this until series 4" energy there, Dave.

[phonics]

I think they're largely quite crap.

The new Mission Impossibles are far better than any James Bond output. Hell, Fast and Furious 5 is better than any Bond movie.

[wullie]

I've seen bond films from different eras and I think for all the tonal differences and different ways the lead actors play the role...I mean, @wullie saying they cater to all tastes is a bit of a stretch.

All tastes between moody fistfights and Carry On Spying at least.

[igor_balis]

All tastes between moody fistfights and Carry On Spying at least.

Okay I'll give you that.

[Kikó]

I edge towards largely mediocre films with the odd exception. The latest Craig set were all excellent.

Similar to star wars. Had a few good ones but mostly crap.

[Dave.]

And finally, the film thread has been hijacked into the James Bond film thread and rightfully so. It's only taken 20 years.

[Giggles]

[Alex]

And finally, the film thread has been hijacked into the James Bond film thread and rightfully so. It's only taken 20 years.

I apologise to the other film enthusiasts for my role in this. I'll be done soon, I promise!

[Alex]

Speaking of which, the conclusion of The Brosnan years:

Tomorrow Never Dies

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6/10

The World Is Not Enough

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Not good. This is one of my least favourites of the series. I just found myself constantly losing interest. I don't think Robert Carlyle was well cast in this at all. Although it doesn't help that his character was just rubbish. The plot wasn't interesting. Denise Richards playing some sort of Lara Croft take on a nuclear physicist was proper daft and she was also not good at all in it. It's like they realised it was all very shit and uninteresting so brought back Robbie Coltrane as Valentin to a little something, and I loved that character in Goldeneye, but even he just felt shoehorned in for no reason.

Pierce is fine I guess but he can only work with the material he's given. I think Elektra King was a good character to be fair, and Sophie Marceau was the best thing about this film. It was proper obvious she was playing him from the off though. So yeah, just not very good. I didn't like it. One of the low points for me. 4/10

Die Another Day

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Let's start by acknowledging the very valid concerns. Yes the whole "Korean men changing their genetic code to be white" thing is ridiculous. Ditto the invisible car. There's a lot of naff CGI that has aged quite badly. It's also got more than it's fair share of terrible dialogue, particularly between Bond and Jinx. BUT. Fuck it, I really liked this one!

It felt a lot like Brosnan doing a Roger Moore style Bond movie. Well, the decidedly grittier intro section with him being a prisoner of war and all that aside, which I loved as a set up. But after that. Over the top gadgets? Check. Effortless womanising complete with very tongue in cheek dialogue? Check. Ridiculous bad guy (complete with ridiculous henchman) with ridiculous evil plan? Check. All the main hallmarks present. It had some big, dumb action set pieces that tied it all together. Was it largely a bit stupid? Yes. Was it also a lot of fun? Absolutely. The sword fight scene with Gustav Graves (who reminds me of Elon Musk) is probably emblematic of the entire film for me. Daft as hell but really enjoyable. I just thought it was a fun watch. 7/10

[Dave.]

I apologise to the other film enthusiasts for my role in this. I'll be done soon, I promise!

I half thought about doing my own reviews combined with ratings then I realised I wouldn't be able to score any of them less than a 6.5/7 so rating them would be a giant waste of everyone's time.

[Giggles]

I half thought about doing my own reviews combined with ratings then I realised I wouldn't be able to score any of them less than a 6.5/7 so rating them would be a giant waste of everyone's time.

Do it.

Good long write ups like Alex too

[Ben]

I’ll read them, do it Dave.

[Gray Fox]

And you could give us James Bond POWER RANKINGS at the end of it.

[Alex]

I half thought about doing my own reviews combined with ratings then I realised I wouldn't be able to score any of them less than a 6.5/7 so rating them would be a giant waste of everyone's time.

You should definitely do it. It's interesting to see other peoples takes on them all.

[igor_balis]

Die Another Day is arguably one of the worst songs ever made, let alone the worst Bond theme.

[igor_balis]

Mad to think Madonna still thinks she's a sex symbol now, and it was already tragic then.

[Shindig]

Yeah, it's like she's doing all the ageing Liz Hurley isn't. And I'd put money down on her shagging one of her adopted sons.

[Yevrah]

Giving Die Another Day a 7/10 should see the white jacket reached for. Are you watching these movies while doing nothing else? No mobile/internet browsing, just watching?

[Ian]

Mad to think Madonna still thinks she's a sex symbol now, and it was already tragic then.

Last photo I saw of her I genuinely wouldn't have known it was her if not for the caption.

[Lofty]

My main takeaway from Goldeneye now, as it was then, is I'd happily let Famke Janssen shag me to death.

[Dave.]

Die Another Day is arguably one of the worst songs ever made, let alone the worst Bond theme.

Die Another Day is a somewhat bizarre song in fact it doesn't work under any circumstances. Hear it on the radio and it's an instant switch-off. However (and against all logic) it works well when played over the opening credits.

Giving Die Another Day a 7/10 should see the white jacket reached for. Are you watching these movies while doing nothing else? No mobile/internet browsing, just watching?

I think it gets too much stick. Yes, John Cleese is a bad Desmond Llewellyn substitute. Yes, Halle Berry is a pretty dreadful Bond girl. Yes, the film falls to pieces after Iceland.

BUT there is plenty to enjoy in the first hour and people do forget this. The opening sequence is one of best in the entire series and the prisoner exchange is well done. I even enjoyed the fencing scene but appreciate if this isn't to others taste.

[Baz]

What just happened?

[Dave.]

What just happened?

Quoted wrong post.

Fixed now.

[Dave.]

My main takeaway from Goldeneye now, as it was then, is I'd happily let Famke Janssen shag me to death.

100% this.

[phonics]

BUT there is plenty to enjoy in the first hour and people do forget this. The opening sequence is one of best in the entire series and the prisoner exchange is well done. I even enjoyed the fencing scene but appreciate if this isn't to others taste.

Nope it was awful. That whole hoverboat shit was terrible.

[Dave.]

Nope it was awful. That whole hoverboat shit was terrible.

I can't agree. For an action film of it's type in 2002, it was perfectly fine.

Also something you need to remember is that the Bond films need to work hard to create tension. For the most part, the plot is obvious in that Bond doesn't die. The opening scene in Die Another Day succeeds in doing this. Bond's cover is exposed. He escapes but is captured and is sent to prison and tortured. This is something that hadn't been explored in any of the previous films. Also having North Korea as the villains was very topical for the time.

[Alex]

Casino Royale

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An outstandingly good film and definitely my new favourite. Craig not only embodies but also really dials up all the qualities of the character that I wanted to see more of over the series. The brashness combined with the insecurity. The brutality. The conflict and the doubt. The collateral damage of his actions. The whole idea that he is a custom built killing machine. A bit of a monster really, but one that M has built/want to be that way. But with a real person lingering inside.

The fact he finally lets somebody in and then how it ends, just sealing him back up completely as an ice-cold killer, is a brilliantly tragic ending and a perfect way to start a reboot. "The bitch is dead" carried more weight than maybe any line I can cite from the series so far.

I loved how grounded and simple the story was. There was no massively complicated plot whatsoever. The poker scenes work really well in terms of breaking things up. Especially when he's playing opposite an actor as good as Mads, who I would watch read the phone book. I wasn't quite expecting the bollock torture scene either. That was grim, Christ. They don't downplay the brutality of his world and what he does at any point actually. The fight scene on the stairs is amazing. It's like Connery on the train for the modern world. Vesper just watching him choke the life out of a man and the effect it has on her. Fantastic.

Eva Green is amazing in this, by the way. I'd have just happily let her keep the money and gone evil for her.

So yeah. Not just a great Bond film but a really great film in general (not that I'm saying the two are mutually exclusive by any means), absolutely loved it. 9/10

Quantum of Solace

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I watched this right after Casino Royale, as I was aware that one picks up exactly (pretty much) where the other leaves off. I really liked this one too. It's a very different film in many ways though. Casino Royale sets it up with all this taut drama and emotionally damaged backstory and then QoS works as this sort of "now here are all the car chases and action sequences and gunfights!" coda to it. It's like it's louder, more hyperactive but not quite as smart or cool little brother.

There is a bit too much action, if anything. But it does it very well. Generally it's just a full film of him out in the field doing his thing, really. I love the scene where he just effortlessly rumbles their super secret meeting at the opera and starting mugging them all off on the radio.

It doesn't overstay it's welcome either, which I like. I want to say it might be the shortest Bond? Dominic Greene is not the best Bond villain, it has to be said. He's far from the worst either though. I like that they still addressed the "consequence of Bonds actions" angle a little bit too in the form of Fields getting killed basically just because he couldn't help himself from seducing her, otherwise she wouldn't have been involved at all. Likewise, he pulls Mathis back in and basically gets him killed.

After Casino Royale (which is now out on it's own) it sits in the next group down of "very good Bond" for me. 8/10

I do have something of a social life, I swear. I've just had a bit of time off work this week and not a lot to do.

[Ian]

Die Another Day 7/10 and Quantum of Solace 8/10. You've given them collectively about eight more points than they deserve.

[Giggles]

I like QoS.

[Ben]

I’m very much a fan of QoS, I feel it’s better than most give it credit for. It’s short by modern standards as well. Following up the perfection of Casino Royale certainly hurt it significantly. I’d give it a 6/10.

[Ian]

Quantum of Solace is booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooring.

Not everything has to be be massively over the top but "this weird sex pest wants to nick a load of water" is pants and the final stretch is proper meh.

[Alex]

I wasn't aware of all the bad feeling about Quantum of Solace until I read about it online after I had watched it. I was surprised by it. I basically did watch it as a double feature with Casino Royale though. Maybe that has benefitted it?

[Ben]

As part of the full Daniel Craig arc it’s good. If you view it as a stand-alone it’s a bit strange because of the central story, as Ian alluded to.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Quantum of Solace is booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooring.

Not everything has to be be massively over the top but "this weird sex pest wants to nick a load of water" is pants and the final stretch is proper meh.

This.

I watched it at 10am on a Saturday morning and almost dozed off.

[Dave.]

As part of the full Daniel Craig arc it’s good. If you view it as a stand-alone it’s a bit strange because of the central story, as Ian alluded to.

This.

I definitely recommend watching it as a double bill with Casino Royale .

[Giggles]

Goldeneye is on a day early

[Giggles]

As much as I like this, the bike to plane thing is ridiculous.

[Giggles]

Death by Famkke would indeed be a glorious exit.

[Lofty]

Watched 'Last Seen Alive' last night starring Gerard Butler. I strongly suspect it was a geezer teaser.

[Alex]

Skyfall

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This one is fantastic, and my second favourite of the series after Casino Royale. I really like the prevalence of M in this one. She is almost the joint main character and it's a great send off for Judi Dench (who is fantastic in it) departing the series. I like the idea of her being made to look at her past and to confront certain decisions she's made. That's definitely a running theme of the Craig era that I love. They "good guys" are not necessarily always nice and there are sometimes quite horrible consequences for the things they do.

The reintroduction of both Q and Moneypenny were good in this too. Q in particular is great. They're meeting at the art gallery and the banter about how young he is. I like the handling of the new M too.

Silva is my favourite Bond villain, easily. I think Javier Bardem played him amazingly. His introduction scene where Bond is tied to the chair and he just wanders in and gives the big monologue about the island and the rats is top level. That's how you introduce a bad guy on screen. I loved the slightly sinister sexual overtures while he's talking to Bond too, and Bond just not being phased by it at all. I think he's such a good villain because he's almost like an evil, deranged parallel universe version of Bond.

The shooting scene with the girl too was class. Any other Bond you would have thought "he will definitely save her" but no. The way Silva just very deliberately kills with his first shot and they move right on like it's nothing. Brutal.

I like the examination of the series history in this one too, which I think tied in with the 50th anniversary? When he jumps in the old, Connery era Aston Martin and drives off and it plays the old school version of the Bond theme! That specific bit made me grin ear to ear. So cool!

I read that they briefly considered Connery for the Kincade character but decided not to. Although I imagine it's more likely he just didn't want to do it/wasn't that well at the time. To be honest, knowing that, it feels like they specifically wrote the character for him and then didn't change any of the dialogue after not casting him. Albert Finney was great, don't get me wrong. But a lot of the lines ("I've been ready since before you were born" and "Welcome to Scotland!" in particular) just seemed like they should have been coming out of Connery's mouth.

Random final thought on it - Bond running down a London street towards the danger with mayhem all around him while M quotes Tennyson at the hearing was weirdly very rousing and emotional and one of my all time favourite moments in the entire series. It perfectly tapped into all the nostalgia of the series and the fact that Bond kind of represents a somewhat archaic idea of England that doesn't really exist anymore, but still has value.

So, yeah. Fantastic film. 9/10

Two more to go!