Bond 24 - SPECTRE

[Eric Paddon]

I think my problem is that I could tell right away they were going for a tone that just does not represent what a Bond movie is supposed to be for me. I just do not want uber-dark and humorless stuff which is how "Casino Royale" was basically being marketed, seemingly, plus I found it absurd at the time to retain Judi Dench in a rebooted Bond universe that would have the effect of calling attention to the previous films. Also the fact that Craig just in terms of look, does not indicate Bond to me at all. I obviously can't judge how he acts the part but the vibe I got at the time did not impress me and its kept me away since then. Obviously since I have the Blu-Ray set I can watch those first two any time I want to, but the mood hasn't hit me for it.

[AndyDursin]

I understand your reservations Eric as I've echoed the same sentiment. SKYFALL at least is very, very good and better than any of the Brosnan pictures, and it's worth checking out. I liked CASINO ROYALE though its BOURNE IDENTITY tonal and visual influences were transparent -- QUANTUM OF SOLACE on the other hand is useless and worth avoiding altogether.

[DavidBanner]

There actually is humor in all of Craig's Bond films - it's just not over the top stuff like Brosnan adjusting his tie underwater in World is Not Enough or the bird doing a double take in one of Moore's movies. I would recommend that Eric actually take some time to see Casino Royale for himself. There were a LOT of people who complained about Craig's casting who changed their minds after they actually saw him in that movie. And his work with Judi Dench was quite good as well.

I also note that the Bond films have always been derivative of whatever was considered current and "hip". From the blacksploitation stuff in Live & Let Die, to the naming of the villain Jaws for Spy Who Loved Me to the sci-fi stylings in Moonraker to the Miami Vice material in License to Kill, even to the reboot of the character a la Batman Begins for Casino Royale. And yes, there's definitely a bunch of Bourne Supremacy in both Casino Royale and Quantum. Or as some put it at the time, The Bond Identity.

[AndyDursin]

"THE MAN WITH THE SPECTRE RING" lol

[mkaroly]

I'm excited - looks good!

[John Johnson]

Anyone else think that Bond's parents were members of Spectre? Perhaps Bond and Blofeld were brothers? LOL

[AndyDursin]

A little dash of Harry Potter there? Lol

That would be...convoluted...at least imo

[Paul MacLean]

I'm intrigued -- it looks promising. I just hope it's not a direct sequel to Skyfall, the way Quantum of Solace was to Casino Royale (i.e. a storyline with no life of its own independent of the previous film).

I loved Skyfall (Newman's score notwithstanding), so I am looking forward to this one (Newman's score notwithstanding!).

And at least it doesn't star Benedict Cumberbatch!

[AndyDursin]

Adele joining Shirley Bassey as the only artist to perform multiple Bond songs (I don't really count Herb Alpert lol) --

Good call -- apparently they picked her over whatever Sam Smith recorded. And given her contribution was the only musical element that stood out in SKYFALL, that's another plus.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest- ... ng-Spectre

[Monterey Jack]

I have no problem with this...it'd be nice if her theme song were used more prominently in the underscore (aside from one token quote in Skyfall), but I'll take what I can get.

Still wish they'd get Shirley Bassey back, though...she proved she could still belt it out at the Oscars a few years back.

[AndyDursin]

They had their chance when Arnold wrote this for her on QUANTUM OF SOLACE and they didn't like it. Granted, it's no "Surrender" from TOMORROW NEVER DIES, but it's at least better than that hideous title track they used.

[Monterey Jack]

Jesus...they rejected TND's "Surrender" and that?! What were they THINKING?! It'd be like if they got a new Bond song from Paul McCartney or Duran Duran, but decided to go with another autotuned Madonna track. Do they even CARE about the rich musical legacy of the series?

[AndyDursin]

Prior to Adele, they basically have rolled snake-eyes on all of these recent songs. They vetoed "Surrender" in favor of Sheryl Crow -- and that song did nothing (plus it sucked). Garbage, Chris Cornell were both forgettable -- at least Arnold wrote those songs, but they didn't sell. I think the atrocious Madonna song DID sell, but that was probably the last time a Bond song had done anything until Skyfall.

[John Johnson]

[John Johnson]

Nice reference to OHMSS.