We watched From Russia With Love last night for the first time in high-definition. I saw it many times in the theater, but the Blu-ray was a revelation. I agree with every word of your review.
I would agree if it weren’t for the fact that Jaws should never have been a character in the first place. No disrespect for the actor, but Jaws takes a wrecking ball to the James Bond concept. After Jaws, the series had no integrity left. Think about how much better THE SPY WHO LOVED ME would be if Jaws didn’t bring the whole effort into question by violating the fourth wall. Jaws makes the suspension of disbelief impossible.
The plots began to be re-woven into the fabric of ‘current events’ more. The series had to maintain an integrity that answers the question: Is this something that the British Secret Service would theoretically be involved-in at the highest level?
Pheww, I just got the idea to re-watch Quantum of Solace, and it must be the 5th or 6th time now. And it incredibly gets better with every viewing, being meanwhile a pure watching pleasure in which I can enjoy every pretty second (well nearly every). I’m now easily ready to give it a 10.
It is probably one of the best edited films I have ever seen, and I have seen quite a lot. and the visual beauty of nearly every single shot of the film is just amazing, and the film contains a damn lot of shots. not only the action scenes have a fast editing frequency, also nearly every scene is resolved into fast changing shots from different angles, and it is the editing which doubles the beauty. And it not the showy beauty of films by directors like Ridley Scott or his brother. Not the braggy beauty of the academy award winning films, the hollow beauty of advertisements, no, there lies a deeper beauty in them which is mirrored by the intelligence of the elegant dialogues the inspired acting in which every mimic and every gestic movement seems to be in complete accordance with the story, their inner and outer motives, the film’s politics (it has some), the overall narrative flow. Quantum of Solace is a never expected miracle.
[quote=“chameleon, post:444, topic:544”]Surely you jest! A 10?
I mean, Quantum of Solace is a good bond movie with thrilling action sequences with strong performances, but IMO it’s not as good as Casino Royale.[/quote]
Absolutely agree, chameleon.
I’d understand, if somebody gave Casino Royale 10, but not Quantum Of Solace.
I’d rate both films like this:
Casino Royale - 9/10
Quantum Of Solace - 7/10
Hmm, I may give Quantum another try, but as far as I remember it wasn’t that good.
Casino Royale, which is probably better than every Bond before, is a 7/10. A pretty good Bond, but Quantum is on another level. CR is good craftsmanship, but QoS is inspired brilliance. The Leone of the Bonds.
Frankly said I wasn’t that enthusiastic after the first viewing, even if I was immediately sure that it was the best Bond ever. I gave it only an 8 back in 2008.
But yesterday it was one of those rare viewing experiences I’m always searching for in films. It was simply overwhelming. I could feel every inch of the film with body and mind.
I know a lot. 100, 200, maybe 300 films from all over world, from all decades (since the 20s)
But I never assumed that ever a Bond would have the slightest chance to become one. The best of the older Bonds are 6/10, if viewed without any nostalgia.
[quote=“kit saginaw, post:451, topic:544”]That was looped, edited, and looped again. [/quote]According to the replies underneath some people found it funny for some reason.
[quote=“Stanton, post:454, topic:544”]It is not only funny, it is hilarious.[/quote]I watched about a minute or so of it, maybe I didn’t get what’s funny?
Not surprising after my recent conversion of the family to Bond fans (see previous posts) that we should all troop off to the local cineplex to Catch Skyfall tonight.
I’m not going to write a full review here as it would inevitably touch on content best experienced first hand and I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. What I will say is that outside of the old ones which I am emotionally attached to I would genuinely rate this as one of the very best, maybe the best Bond film. For my money it ticks every box imaginable with the possible exception of a more prominent Bond girl role. It also, thank the lord (or maybe Sam Mendes) leaves the horrible impact editing technique behind in the action sequences and goes back to straightforward but understandable high octane stuff.
Mendes has had a triumph here in my books and was an inspired choice. We get a proper story, real characters, a multi faceted uber villain, great action, some corny gags, car chases, fight scenes (including one under water), explosions etc etc. We also get an excellent blend of taken the series forward while touching base with its past. Frankly, I don’t think he missed a trick.
I know JW was off to see it tonight too so I’ll be interested to hear what he has to say. For everyone else, I’d really recommend it. It’s worth putting up with the shitty cinema experience that is the modern cineplex to get to see it.
They have found a Portuguese vilain this time for a Bond flick, Silva is a most common name here, or the most common name (like Smith), even my kids got Silva in their name, from the mother side of course, I do have some pedigree ;D.
Hope its a small homage to Henry Silva, or the director who comes from Portuguese families (Mendes is another Portuguese common name) picked something from his ancestors. I have to give this late Bonds a chance I like Daniel Craig seems like a nice fellow. The revues for this Bond are quite good, which is somehow strange for a Bond film, normally critics compare Bond films with other Bond films, and never with other films in general, but this time that barrier was broken.
Now I just need to have a car to go the nearest cinema