[grimtales1]

Maybe they will do that in subsequent films
I really liked how they did the Moneypenny scenes - she was hot

[Trsvis_Bickle]

Finally got around to watching it. I really, really wanted to like this film; Casino Royale was an excellent resurrection of the franchise and Craig has given the Bond character more depth than any other actor. Quantum of Solace was dreadful - all that close-up cinematography and jump-cutting. When I saw the rave reviews for Skyfall, I was expecting the ultimate Bond film but it falls way short.

The cast did their best (with the exception of the actress playing Moneypenny who could not act at all) but they really didn't have much to work with. The themes of Bond aging, patriotism and the world changing were handled competently enough and there were some nice references to British culture - Turner's The Fighting Temeraire and a Tennyson poem - but these weren't enough to compensate for the slow pacing and ludicrous plot.

Of course the plots in Bond films don't bear much scrutiny at the best of times but the holes in Skyfall were big enough to drive an Aston Martin through with a helicopter in pursuit. Bond gets shot in the chest with a 'depleted uranium' round, yet this in no way affects his ability to fight another man on a train. He then gets shot again, falls hundreds of feet into a river, then over a waterfall etc. It's just absurd.

Why does Silva set himself up to get captured and then immediately escape? What was the point of getting captured? For a master criminal with massive resources at his disposal, why does his 'plan' involve something as risky as storming Westminster with a pistol and a couple of henchmen? Why does Bond lure Silva to Scotland with no back-up, epecially as he has previously relied on back-up to get off Silva's island?

Exotic locations are a staple of Bond films so why were Shanghai and Macau so woefully under-used? The former could have been an office building anywhere and the approach shot of Macau was at night-time so again, could have been anywhere. Scotland's a fabulous location so why only one shot of Glen Etive and then cut to the comically CGI house?

For me, this was a tragically wasted opportunity to give us the quintessential Bond film. I'm just staggered by the rave reviews. Adele being up for a solitary Oscar is the ultimate irony - a derivative dirge sung in a ridiculous accent.

Roll on the next one - I won't give up yet.

[grimtales1]

Silva does what he did to set a trap, he planned it from the start. He wanted to be captured.

[Trsvis_Bickle]

Originally Posted by grimtales1

Silva does what he did to set a trap, he planned it from the start. He wanted to be captured.

Yes, I said that he intended to get captured. What I'm asking is why? Why bother to get yourself captured if you then immediately escape? Was it so that he could look M in the eye? Surely he could have done that just before he killed her if he had succeeded at Westminster?

[RebelScum]

Originally Posted by Trsvis_Bickle

Yes, I said that he intended to get captured. What I'm asking is why? Why bother to get yourself captured if you then immediately escape? Was it so that he could look M in the eye? Surely he could have done that just before he killed her if he had succeeded at Westminster?

He wanted to humiliate her and rub it her face. Not only did he outwit her by escaping, but carried out an attack in the heart of London right under her nose.

[Daryl Dark]

I thought Silva was a brilliant bad guy - stole every scene he was in.

*** SPOILER ALERTIFICATION ***




I'm kinda glad they killed off Judi Dench I was getting annoyed by her for some reason. Her character was definately past it, not trusting Bond and getting Moneypenny to take the sniper shot was incompetence of the highest order!

[RebelScum]

Originally Posted by bgtension

So the assassin is working for Silva, who wants someone killed in the opposite building already in a room full of his own henchmen??
Why such an elaborate way of doing it, why not just get the henchmen in the room to do it.

Well, a gunshot at close range would make those in the room the prime suspects, and instantly traceable back to Silva. And I guess the whole party would have been seen going up to the room together (CCTV), so whatever method they would have used to kill the guy themselves in the room they would still be the prime suspects.

[grimtales1]

Originally Posted by RebelScum

He wanted to humiliate her and rub it her face. Not only did he outwit her by escaping, but carried out an attack in the heart of London right under her nose.

I was going to say something similar

[lordOfTime]

Originally Posted by Daryl Dark

Bloody loved it - there is a worrying lack of gadgetry in the new Bond films though - I would like to see them marry the new grittier style of Bond with Aston Martins firing rockets.

Or exploding pens Q, I want exploding pens

[Kolin Klingon]

Just watched it - Loved it!

Was shocked by the ending shock.

[Inspiration]

Originally Posted by Trsvis_Bickle

Why does Silva set himself up to get captured and then immediately escape? What was the point of getting captured? For a master criminal with massive resources at his disposal, why does his 'plan' involve something as risky as storming Westminster with a pistol and a couple of henchmen? Why does Bond lure Silva to Scotland with no back-up, epecially as he has previously relied on back-up to get off Silva's island?

I'm going to repeat some of what I said a few days ago. You're viewing Skyfall as if it's a classic traditional Bond flick. IMHO, it simply isn't meant to be. It's a celebration of 50 years of the Bond franchise. And so little things were added to the film to acknowledge this, one of them being Bond returning to his home in Scotland... Skyfall House. It's an examination of the Bond character.. his past.. what drives him.. where he is today.. what his weaknesses are.. what his relationship is with M.. where he is going. With various tips of the hat to the last 50 years, such as the Aston Martin inclusion and the claims they considered Sean Connery for the role of Kincade. They built a film around this concept. So yes.. there are some plot holes. But imho the best way to enjoy Skyfall is to relax and try not to view it as needing to tick all the Bond boxes. Instead, just view it as a movie celebrating 50 years and taking a closer look at Bond the character for once.. rather than looking at who he is sleeping with.

Plus I think the whole Scotland thing was also Bond basically taking the fight against Silva to ground he knew.. a location he would have the advantage and a location he knew Silva won't have infiltrated. Why fight him in whitehall when he can take him to Scotland where he knew he had the advantage. In that respect it makes sense. Plus if you wanted to question everything you could argue why didn't he just take a sniper rifle and shoot Silva the moment he landed on the helicopter. But then there would be no plot for the ending of the film. Although I do feel Silva should have escaped and continued into the next movie. A huge waste that.

And finally.. the Adele song doesn't deserve that. It's a brilliant song that sold the film perfectly.

[grimtales1]

I think the song worked very well when played with the title sequence, if that makes sense. Not one of the best Bond songs (doesnt seem as good when played "outside" the film to me), but better than Another Way to Die!

[CJClarke]

Originally Posted by grimtales1

I think the song worked very well when played with the title sequence, if that makes sense. Not one of the best Bond songs (doesnt seem as good when played "outside" the film to me), but better than Another Way to Die!

I dislike the Adele song (although i will admit that it does play better with the opening titles in the film, as much as i dislike Adele in general), but i have to agree that it is leaps and bounds better than Another Way to Die, but that's still not saying much considering that someone farting down a microphone for 3 minutes is better than that travesty of a Bond theme.

[lordOfTime]

Originally Posted by grimtales1

I think the song worked very well when played with the title sequence, if that makes sense. Not one of the best Bond songs (doesnt seem as good when played "outside" the film to me), but better than Another Way to Die!

I get what you mean but I think the song deserves more recognition than that. I think the song will go down as one of the classics in the collection through the years...

But than that, it has a wonderful rhythm, it's very atmospheric, and Adele is a good singer, and British!

It's quite comparable to Diamonds are Forever in it's feeling and for me it's a great throwback.

Originally Posted by CJClarke

I dislike the Adele song (although i will admit that it does play better with the opening titles in the film, as much as i dislike Adele in general), but i have to agree that it is leaps and bounds better than Another Way to Die, but that's still not saying much considering that someone farting down a microphone for 3 minutes is better than that travesty of a Bond theme.

Another Way To Die... a good track in itself but for me it is a Bond theme in nothing but name. Took me ages to warm to it

[grimtales1]

I agree that Skyfall (the song) sounded like Diamonds are Forever as well for me

[brangdon]

Originally Posted by Inspiration

Why fight him in whitehall when he can take him to Scotland where he knew he had the advantage.

Because he didn't have the advantage there. The enemy had attack helicopters and a large supply of goons and weapons. Bond had a shotgun and an old gameskeeper (or whatever he was). Let's not forget how badly it turned out for him: he failed in his primary goal.

[gregrichards]

Skyfall is coming out on digital download on 5th of February and on DVD and blu-ray on February 18th in the UK I can't wait.

http://www.007.com/skyfall-blu-ray-d...tes-announced/

[J B Oddsocks]

Originally Posted by gregrichards

Skyfall is coming out on digital download on 5th of February and on DVD and blu-ray on February 18th in the UK I can't wait.

http://www.007.com/skyfall-blu-ray-d...tes-announced/

I'm really looking forward to getting it on Blu-ray. Does anyone know if there is going to be a Steelbook version? HMV had plans to sell one but now they've gone under.......

[Ted Cunterblast]

Originally Posted by J B Oddsocks

I'm really looking forward to getting it on Blu-ray. Does anyone know if there is going to be a Steelbook version? HMV had plans to sell one but now they've gone under.......

Could have picked up the US dvd yesterday, .but the blu ray should be available by Thurday so I decided to wait.

[grimtales1]

Maybe Amazon will be stocking the steelbook?

[Lady Spice]

I finally saw it yesterday.

I enjoyed it. I liked all the homages to Bonds past, and a nod to Bonds future. I liked the ending, and think the new castings for Q and M are excellent. Wouldn't have minded a few more gadgets, but there is an economic crisis, so maybe MI6 are making cutbacks too.....

The only other thing I will say is this. I do not understand why some people thought that it deserved an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. I mean, really? Why? It was entertaining enough, but not Best Picture Oscar worthy. Was it?

Just my opinion of course.

[JEFF62]

Originally Posted by Lady Spice

I finally saw it yesterday.

I enjoyed it. I liked all the homages to Bonds past, and a nod to Bonds future. I liked the ending, and think the new castings for Q and M are excellent. Wouldn't have minded a few more gadgets, but there is an economic crisis, so maybe MI6 are making cutbacks too.....

The only other thing I will say is this. I do not understand why some people thought that it deserved an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. I mean, really? Why? It was entertaining enough, but not Best Picture Oscar worthy. Was it?

Just my opinion of course.

Probably because it would make a change from the usual serious films that win these awards. Personally I would love to see Skyfall win best picture and Daniel Craig best actor, Sam Mendes best director. It should sweep the board and win 12 oscars! I really liked it in 1992 when Silence Of The Lambs won all five major awards. It made such a change.

[Johnny Clay]

^ Skyfall comes from Sony, who already have two entries on the best picture list (Amour & Zero Dark Thirty, both a touch more 'Oscar-type' than Bond perhaps).

Three would look a bit greedy

Skyfall is a day or two away from leapfrogging TDKR in takings, btw. Ka-pow!

[grimtales1]

Daniel Craig and Judi Dench at least deserved noms (I mean 'nominations' people!) They were brilliant
As for Naoemie Harris...
Wouldnt it be cool if Skyfall overtook TDKR and ended in 7th place (007) on the all time list?

[EVILSPEAK]

It's now the 8th highest grossing film in box office history with $1,077,752,887 and $3 million behind The Dark Knight Rises. Unadjusted for inflation of course.