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Downtown 
"Welcome back, Billy Buck"
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 Posted - 11/30/2006 : 03:13:17
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It may be fresh and new but it's still James Bond.
Anyway, I don't share Ali's impression of the film but his thoughtful criticisms got me to examine certain scenes more closely, which I always like to do. |
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demonic 
"Cinemaniac"
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Posted - 12/01/2006 : 20:52:21
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quote:
Originally posted by benj clews
Maybe it's not realistic in the real-world sense, but in the Bond universe it's far from the ridiculousness of previous Bond outings.
You're quite right. And almost for that reason alone I do think it makes it the best Bond film in over twenty years. The more I think about it the more I enjoyed actually - perhaps the level of brutality - I can't think of more realistic fist fights in a recent action film. Also Eva Green is haunting me... 
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Demisemicenturian
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 12/01/2006 : 23:05:37
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quote:
Originally posted by benj clews
there's an agonsing scene involving a chair towards the end that you wonder how it's allowed in a film kids will be going to see as well.
I was totally astonished that this was in a 12A. I have no clue how they got that one through. It was horrific for me as an adult to watch, as great as he looked in it. |
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Demisemicenturian
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 12/01/2006 : 23:16:37
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Haven't got time to read the whole thread now, so sorry if I repeat anything.
I decided in advance to knock a point off, so I gave it 4/5. The reason is that they treated Brosnan shoddily. It wasn't fair that he never knew he was on his last one. The franchise could have been rebooted just as well in one film's time.
That said, I did like the reboot very much, and the whole idea of Bond at his rough diamond stage, blah blah blah. Craig was suited to this, but so would countless actors be. It was the plot and dialogue that brought that across. Bond should be non-blond and non-ugly. Unfortunately, he is lacking in these departments, although he has got the body for a new macho Bond. He should have had his hair dyed, though. This would also have helped him in non-Bond roles which are of course difficult for them usually. Another advantage he has is that he is not Sean Connery, the worst person in the world, so I can't complain really.
I also found it a bit long (though I wasn't bored), with the odd ending, and then the other ending, and then the other ending. I know the point was to surprise you, but it still came across a bit rickety.
A small thing that annoyed me was that Bond falls for a very obvious tic being his opponent's bluff-revealer. There is no chance in hell that a top player would do anything like that, and a secret agent (or any half intelligent person) would realise that immediately.
Little references like how he gets a certain car and how he has his Martini were very nice, though. |
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silly 
"That rabbit's DYNAMITE."
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Posted - 12/02/2006 : 01:14:21
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I guess I need to research Bondism a bit more, but I'm having a hard time understanding why it is such a big deal what color his hair is.
Hmm.
I didn't particularly care for the bad guy, but whatever. At least it wasn't Doctor Evil (asking for one. million. dollars.) |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 12/02/2006 : 09:03:25
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quote:
Originally posted by silly
I guess I need to research Bondism a bit more, but I'm having a hard time understanding why it is such a big deal what color his hair is.
I believe that would be Ian Flemming's fault - that's how he was written.
(I may be wrong but I thought the phrase "tall, dark and handsome" was Bond related.)
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Downtown
"Welcome back, Billy Buck"
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Posted - 12/02/2006 : 13:22:38
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quote:
Originally posted by silly
I guess I need to research Bondism a bit more, but I'm having a hard time understanding why it is such a big deal what color his hair is.
Hmm.
It isn't.
Fleming wrote Bond to be dark haired (actually, his physical description bares a striking similarity to Ian Fleming). He also wrote him as having been born in the 20s. |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 12/02/2006 : 14:01:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Downtown
He also wrote him as having been born in the 20s.
So... if they place a new movie in the era of the 2050s, and give us a dark haired Bond, we'll really be back on track again?
(That is something to look forward to!)
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Demisemicenturian
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 12/03/2006 : 01:20:27
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| It's O.K. to change the date as we are at a different date to when he was writing. However, we are not in a world where dark hair has stopped existing. It is also vastly easier to dye hair than to set a film in the past. I just cannot see how a blond person can be suave; it's just one of those things. |
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benj clews
"...."
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Posted - 12/03/2006 : 02:35:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Salopian
I just cannot see how a blond person can be suave; it's just one of those things.
Er... isn't that blondist? Kinda' like saying you can't see how a black man could be charming or how a woman could be funny?  |
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Demisemicenturian
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 12/03/2006 : 03:54:33
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It's not really like saying those things, since those things aren't true.  |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 12/03/2006 : 07:54:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Salopian
It's O.K. to change the date as we are at a different date to when he was writing. However, we are not in a world where dark hair has stopped existing. It is also vastly easier to dye hair than to set a film in the past. I just cannot see how a blond person can be suave; it's just one of those things.
In a sense, you're right. If they had chosen Clive Owen, well... that would have been one hellofa suave Bond. If he ever has to go blonde for a part, he'd look dorky.
(Blonde men aren't generally suave, but blonde women certainly can be.)
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benj clews
"...."
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Posted - 12/03/2006 : 12:26:11
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quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
In a sense, you're right. If they had chosen Clive Owen, well... that would have been one hellofa suave Bond. If he ever has to go blonde for a part, he'd look dorky.
(Blonde men aren't generally suave, but blonde women certainly can be.)
Hmmm... I'm not convinced. Even saying this is the case "generally" sounds a bit off.
I think it's more likely you've formed an opinion of what blonde people are "generally" like based on all the blonde people you've ever met.
Which makes it prejudice
The alternative is that you've formed an opinion of what suave people look like, given what the media tells you is suave. Certainly, the definition of suave makes no reference to hair colour. |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 12/03/2006 : 12:47:01
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quote:
Originally posted by benj clews
Which makes it prejudice
You're darn tootin', it is!
And I stand by my right to be prejudiced when it comes to who or what I think is suave and who or what isn't. So there! [insert whatever smilie you prefer here]
Of course, there are exceptions to even my rule. Paul Newman was blonde-ish, and he was as suave as they come! Still is, if you ask me. Robert Redford was almost suave when he did Great Gatsby but otherwise fell short. Brad Pitt had the potential to be suave but never reached it. Peter Lawford was suave. Jude Law can sometimes be suave. The problem with Craig isn't only that he's blonde, its that he's ugly too. (Okay, "ugly" is a bit harsh. I don't find him sexy, and I really think Bond should be sexy.)
The truth is, voice also has something to do with being suave. The British accents help. Sean Connery was probably more suave than he looked because of his velvet speaking voice. That's also what makes women swoon at bald Patrick Stewart. While Craig has a nice sounding voice, it isn't quite smooth enough for my taste.
(This doesn't mean I'm not going to see the movie. I'm aching to see it - I'm a die-hard Bond fan!)
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benj clews
"...."
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Posted - 12/03/2006 : 13:11:40
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The more I think about it, the more I think Craig was a clever choice for Bond.
There seems to be a large number of women who find him attractive (my other half included), yet I think he looks like a bit of a nasty piece of work, i.e. this is the first Bond that actually looks like a cold-hearted killer to me. In my mind, to achieve both of those (albeit not the former with CL - you can't please all the people...) with a serious actor is a trick in itself. |
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Casino Royale
