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Review: Skyfall (2012)
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Mark Leeper
Nov 13, 2012, 11:06:45 AM11/13/12
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SKYFALL
(a film review by Mark R. Leeper)
CAPSULE: James Bond is after a stolen list of MI6 agents
who have been placed in terrorist cells. At the same
time all of MI6 is under attack from someone who has
access to the inside of the organization. Bond is
fighting an enemy that has his knowledge and skills.
This is a strong, fast, and sexy action story that gives
us something different from the Bond films we have seen
before. SKYFALL has a darker tone than we have seen in
the past from the series. Sam Mendes directs a script by
Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and John Logan. Rating:
high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
DR. NO had a flamboyant villain plotting a spectacular crime--
toppling US rockets--and James Bond got in the way. GOLDFINGER had
a flamboyant villain plotting a spectacular crime--destroying the
gold in Fort Knox--and James Bond got in the way. THUNDERBALL had
a flamboyant villain plotting a spectacular crime--holding Miami
for ransom with a nuclear device--and James Bond got in the way.
That is a plot, repeated so many times in Bond films, is a standard
template for a film in the series. But notice I skipped a film.
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE had SPECTRE trying to get a cryptographic
device and to embarrass the British Secret Service. While the
story was progressing the first-time viewer was not sure where it
would be going. In FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE Bond was just living by
his wits and trying to keep himself and a Russian cipher clerk
alive. That was a believable plot for an adult spy thriller.
Because it avoided the standard plot it was considered one of the
best Bond films. It was a story that was easy to believe. Few
Bond films depart from the template story, but in SKYFALL there is
no giant spectacular crime for Bond to avert. The villain has the
capability to do great damage, but he has something else in mind.
Carrying out a vendetta is more what he wants. That does not
require much suspension of disbelief from the viewer. It helps to
make SKYFALL one of the more intelligent Bond thrillers. SKYFALL
is Daniel Craig's second Bond story (his first two films comprised
a single story) and the writers chose to again avoid the overworked
spectacular crime plot and instead to give us a story with an
unpredictable arc.
Opening the film is a very long chase set in Turkey and featuring
motorcycles and trains. Bond is trying to recover a computer hard
drive that contains a list that could prove very damaging to MI6 if
released publicly. And that is just what his enemy is doing in a
manner like WikiLeaks. Soon Bond finds he is facing a new kind a
villain, a foe who has all of Bond's training and ability and who
additionally is a master of hacking in cyberspace. This man
strikes at the very heart of MI6 with grudges that hit very close
to home.
Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Paul Haggis writing CASINO ROYALE
thumbed their noses at even the most established tropes by having
Bond ask if he looked like he would care if his martini was shaken
or stirred. For me, anyway, that was the best line in an entire
series that always prided itself on its bon mots. It suggested
that a lot of the Bond formula nonsense was going away. SKYFALL
brings even more distance from the pop-art Bond of the 1960s and
1970s. Bond gets only two gadgets from the new and incidentally
very youthful Q. He gets a gun that only he can fire and a radio
for tracking. Gone are the days when Bond was in some strange
situation and he by luck happened to have just the right tool in
his pocket, a tool he never had before and would never have again.
These "just the right weapon" contrivances are mostly gone from the
formula.
One thing that does need to change but has not is Bond's most
useful weapon, the almost supernatural luck Bond could always count
on. In GOLDFINGER, Bond overhears just the right phrase that Bond
can use to save his life. In THUNDERBALL, Bond just happens to run
into people involved in stealing a nuclear device. The super-luck
plot contrivances should have been dropped overboard like the
gadgets and the martini preferences. In SKYFALL, Bond cracks the
whole case because he happens to find a gambling chip and guesses
that it is important. Much more of the plot is still driven by
Bond's overwhelming luck. And the writers have gotten so blas‚
about the whole matter that early in the film Bond is apparently
killed, and then without bothering to give any explanation, the
script calls for him just to be alive again. The script never
bothers to tell us how he escaped death. He just lucked out.
Bond's over-reliance on writer-provided luck has always been a
serious flaw of the series. And even James Bond's luck could not
prevent Daniel Craig from aging six years since CASINO ROYALE.
There are several comments that Bond is getting older and slowing
down. A lot of Bond fans will be disappointed when Craig is too
old to play an effective Bond.
Just to create some continuity with the series there are numerous
memory jogs from the older Bond films. Names like "Moneypenny"
appear again, and Bond's old Aston Martin plays a large role in
this film. That is fine. Bond films are allowed to borrow from
themselves. However, the film also does a lot of borrowing from
other films that had previously copied Bond. The opening chase
sequence, twenty minutes in length, is strongly influenced by the
Bourne films. Javier Bardem is a very different villain for the
Bond films, but his mannerisms and bizarre speech borrow a lot from
Bardem's Anton Chigurh in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. Even more odd,
the final act of this story seems to crib from Sam Peckinpaw's
STRAW DOGS.
Daniel Craig cements his reputation as the best and the most
ruthless of the screen Bonds. But we see him facing really
different situations. A large middle section takes Bond to an
exotic and challenging locale that Bond has never seen before, the
London Underground at rush hour. Dame Judy Dench (sadly losing her
eyesight and heading toward retirement) is given her juiciest role
in any of her Bond films. Ralph Fiennes seems to have a minor and
dispensable role in the story, but it is clear by the end of the
film why we see so much of him. Albert Finney is almost
unrecognizable in a role that did not require an actor of his
talent. On the other side of the camera Daniel Kleinman had
created all the title sequences from GOLDENEYE to SKYFALL with the
exception of A QUANTUM OF SOLACE. His style does lend an air of
class to the proceedings.
I like the new Bond, who is a more believable character than the
previous Bonds. He would have no place in a John le Carr‚ story,
but he is serious, and I like my Bonds serious. This is not a
perfect Bond film, but it is one of the best. I rate SKYFALL a
high +2 on the -4 to +4 scale or 8/10.
Film Credits: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/>
What others are saying:
<http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/skyfall/>
With each new Bond film I give my ordering of films in the series
from the best to the worst. This may not be consistent with my
previous listings since my opinion of films varies with time.
1 CASINO ROYALE (2006)
2 FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
3 SKYFALL
4 ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
5 QUANTUM OF SOLACE
6 THUNDERBALL
7 DR NO
8 LICENSE TO KILL
9 GOLDFINGER
10 THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH
11 FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
12 YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
13 THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
14 THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
15 OCTOPUSSY
16 TOMORROW NEVER DIES
17 GOLDENEYE
18 DIE ANOTHER DAY
19 DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
20 THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
21 A VIEW TO A KILL
22 MOONRAKER
23 LIVE AND LET DIE
Mark R. Leeper
mle...@optonline.net
Copyright 2012 Mark R. Leeper
(a film review by Mark R. Leeper)
CAPSULE: James Bond is after a stolen list of MI6 agents
who have been placed in terrorist cells. At the same
time all of MI6 is under attack from someone who has
access to the inside of the organization. Bond is
fighting an enemy that has his knowledge and skills.
This is a strong, fast, and sexy action story that gives
us something different from the Bond films we have seen
before. SKYFALL has a darker tone than we have seen in
the past from the series. Sam Mendes directs a script by
Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and John Logan. Rating:
high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
DR. NO had a flamboyant villain plotting a spectacular crime--
toppling US rockets--and James Bond got in the way. GOLDFINGER had
a flamboyant villain plotting a spectacular crime--destroying the
gold in Fort Knox--and James Bond got in the way. THUNDERBALL had
a flamboyant villain plotting a spectacular crime--holding Miami
for ransom with a nuclear device--and James Bond got in the way.
That is a plot, repeated so many times in Bond films, is a standard
template for a film in the series. But notice I skipped a film.
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE had SPECTRE trying to get a cryptographic
device and to embarrass the British Secret Service. While the
story was progressing the first-time viewer was not sure where it
would be going. In FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE Bond was just living by
his wits and trying to keep himself and a Russian cipher clerk
alive. That was a believable plot for an adult spy thriller.
Because it avoided the standard plot it was considered one of the
best Bond films. It was a story that was easy to believe. Few
Bond films depart from the template story, but in SKYFALL there is
no giant spectacular crime for Bond to avert. The villain has the
capability to do great damage, but he has something else in mind.
Carrying out a vendetta is more what he wants. That does not
require much suspension of disbelief from the viewer. It helps to
make SKYFALL one of the more intelligent Bond thrillers. SKYFALL
is Daniel Craig's second Bond story (his first two films comprised
a single story) and the writers chose to again avoid the overworked
spectacular crime plot and instead to give us a story with an
unpredictable arc.
Opening the film is a very long chase set in Turkey and featuring
motorcycles and trains. Bond is trying to recover a computer hard
drive that contains a list that could prove very damaging to MI6 if
released publicly. And that is just what his enemy is doing in a
manner like WikiLeaks. Soon Bond finds he is facing a new kind a
villain, a foe who has all of Bond's training and ability and who
additionally is a master of hacking in cyberspace. This man
strikes at the very heart of MI6 with grudges that hit very close
to home.
Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Paul Haggis writing CASINO ROYALE
thumbed their noses at even the most established tropes by having
Bond ask if he looked like he would care if his martini was shaken
or stirred. For me, anyway, that was the best line in an entire
series that always prided itself on its bon mots. It suggested
that a lot of the Bond formula nonsense was going away. SKYFALL
brings even more distance from the pop-art Bond of the 1960s and
1970s. Bond gets only two gadgets from the new and incidentally
very youthful Q. He gets a gun that only he can fire and a radio
for tracking. Gone are the days when Bond was in some strange
situation and he by luck happened to have just the right tool in
his pocket, a tool he never had before and would never have again.
These "just the right weapon" contrivances are mostly gone from the
formula.
One thing that does need to change but has not is Bond's most
useful weapon, the almost supernatural luck Bond could always count
on. In GOLDFINGER, Bond overhears just the right phrase that Bond
can use to save his life. In THUNDERBALL, Bond just happens to run
into people involved in stealing a nuclear device. The super-luck
plot contrivances should have been dropped overboard like the
gadgets and the martini preferences. In SKYFALL, Bond cracks the
whole case because he happens to find a gambling chip and guesses
that it is important. Much more of the plot is still driven by
Bond's overwhelming luck. And the writers have gotten so blas‚
about the whole matter that early in the film Bond is apparently
killed, and then without bothering to give any explanation, the
script calls for him just to be alive again. The script never
bothers to tell us how he escaped death. He just lucked out.
Bond's over-reliance on writer-provided luck has always been a
serious flaw of the series. And even James Bond's luck could not
prevent Daniel Craig from aging six years since CASINO ROYALE.
There are several comments that Bond is getting older and slowing
down. A lot of Bond fans will be disappointed when Craig is too
old to play an effective Bond.
Just to create some continuity with the series there are numerous
memory jogs from the older Bond films. Names like "Moneypenny"
appear again, and Bond's old Aston Martin plays a large role in
this film. That is fine. Bond films are allowed to borrow from
themselves. However, the film also does a lot of borrowing from
other films that had previously copied Bond. The opening chase
sequence, twenty minutes in length, is strongly influenced by the
Bourne films. Javier Bardem is a very different villain for the
Bond films, but his mannerisms and bizarre speech borrow a lot from
Bardem's Anton Chigurh in NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. Even more odd,
the final act of this story seems to crib from Sam Peckinpaw's
STRAW DOGS.
Daniel Craig cements his reputation as the best and the most
ruthless of the screen Bonds. But we see him facing really
different situations. A large middle section takes Bond to an
exotic and challenging locale that Bond has never seen before, the
London Underground at rush hour. Dame Judy Dench (sadly losing her
eyesight and heading toward retirement) is given her juiciest role
in any of her Bond films. Ralph Fiennes seems to have a minor and
dispensable role in the story, but it is clear by the end of the
film why we see so much of him. Albert Finney is almost
unrecognizable in a role that did not require an actor of his
talent. On the other side of the camera Daniel Kleinman had
created all the title sequences from GOLDENEYE to SKYFALL with the
exception of A QUANTUM OF SOLACE. His style does lend an air of
class to the proceedings.
I like the new Bond, who is a more believable character than the
previous Bonds. He would have no place in a John le Carr‚ story,
but he is serious, and I like my Bonds serious. This is not a
perfect Bond film, but it is one of the best. I rate SKYFALL a
high +2 on the -4 to +4 scale or 8/10.
Film Credits: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/>
What others are saying:
<http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/skyfall/>
With each new Bond film I give my ordering of films in the series
from the best to the worst. This may not be consistent with my
previous listings since my opinion of films varies with time.
1 CASINO ROYALE (2006)
2 FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
3 SKYFALL
4 ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
5 QUANTUM OF SOLACE
6 THUNDERBALL
7 DR NO
8 LICENSE TO KILL
9 GOLDFINGER
10 THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH
11 FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
12 YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
13 THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
14 THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
15 OCTOPUSSY
16 TOMORROW NEVER DIES
17 GOLDENEYE
18 DIE ANOTHER DAY
19 DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
20 THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
21 A VIEW TO A KILL
22 MOONRAKER
23 LIVE AND LET DIE
Mark R. Leeper
mle...@optonline.net
Copyright 2012 Mark R. Leeper
moviePig
Nov 13, 2012, 11:51:17 AM11/13/12
to
On Nov 13, 11:06 am, Mark Leeper <mlee...@optonline.net> wrote:
> ...
Odd to never say NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN...
--
- - - - - - - -
YOUR taste at work...
http://www.moviepig.com
> ...
--
- - - - - - - -
YOUR taste at work...
http://www.moviepig.com
Mark Leeper
Nov 13, 2012, 12:45:56 PM11/13/12
to
On Tuesday, November 13, 2012 11:51:17 AM UTC-5, moviePig wrote:
>
>
> Odd to never say NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN...
>
>
Good point. Let me explain.
>
>
> Odd to never say NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN...
>
>
I said "in the series." I do not consider NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN to be in the Eon series. It tries to mimic the series, but so do a lot of films. It is a James Bond adventure, but so are the first and second CASINO ROYALE adaptations. Eon's is the only James Bond series. Even there it is hard to consider it just one series since the Daniel Craig Bonds are so different from the Roger Moores.
-- Mark
Gutless Umbrella Carrying Sissy
Nov 13, 2012, 12:06:10 PM11/13/12
to
Mark Leeper <mle...@optonline.net> wrote in news:8e2818e2-b5a3-4e65-
8e03-813...@a6g2000vbl.googlegroups.com:
> In SKYFALL, Bond cracks the
> whole case because he happens to find a gambling chip and guesses
> that it is important.
"Just happens to find"? It's in a case for a piece of specialized
equipment, competely out of place, _in the possession of the guy Bond
*knows* stole the hard drive_, and he *guesses* it's important? OK,
it might have been a little better if he'd found it in the guy's
pocket, but visually, that wouldn't have been as easy to follow, and
it makes no difference. It's *clearly* important.
> There are several comments that Bond is getting older and slowing
> down. A lot of Bond fans will be disappointed when Craig is too
> old to play an effective Bond.
It does leave them with a bit of a continuity dilemma when Craig bows
out. They've made Bond being a bit over the hill part of character.
Do they cast an older actor as the next Bond, and while he's on the
edge of too old, he never goes over it? That'll get old in a real
hurry. Do they reboot the series again? That'll just suck. They
thoroughly busted the idea that "James Bond" is a cover name (not
that there was any real doubt from previous films), passed on to each
new 007. I have doubts they can pull a rabbit out of that hat.
--
Terry Austin
"Terry Austin: like the polio vaccine, only with more asshole."
-- David Bilek
Jesus forgives sinners, not criminals.
8e03-813...@a6g2000vbl.googlegroups.com:
> In SKYFALL, Bond cracks the
> whole case because he happens to find a gambling chip and guesses
> that it is important.
equipment, competely out of place, _in the possession of the guy Bond
*knows* stole the hard drive_, and he *guesses* it's important? OK,
it might have been a little better if he'd found it in the guy's
pocket, but visually, that wouldn't have been as easy to follow, and
it makes no difference. It's *clearly* important.
> There are several comments that Bond is getting older and slowing
> down. A lot of Bond fans will be disappointed when Craig is too
> old to play an effective Bond.
out. They've made Bond being a bit over the hill part of character.
Do they cast an older actor as the next Bond, and while he's on the
edge of too old, he never goes over it? That'll get old in a real
hurry. Do they reboot the series again? That'll just suck. They
thoroughly busted the idea that "James Bond" is a cover name (not
that there was any real doubt from previous films), passed on to each
new 007. I have doubts they can pull a rabbit out of that hat.
--
Terry Austin
"Terry Austin: like the polio vaccine, only with more asshole."
-- David Bilek
Jesus forgives sinners, not criminals.
trotsky
Nov 13, 2012, 6:06:17 PM11/13/12
to
moviePig
Nov 13, 2012, 6:26:24 PM11/13/12
to
legit Bond vs. the David Niven CASINO ROYALE comedy. Meanwhile,
though, was CR done another (non-Craig) time?
Obveeus
Nov 13, 2012, 6:41:58 PM11/13/12
to
NETFLIX has (or used to) it, but the story sort of cuts off because it was
live TV and they ran out of time.
Message has been deleted
Rich
Nov 14, 2012, 12:08:02 AM11/14/12
to
trotsky <gms...@email.com> wrote in
news:LrGdnSWMjfj0Tz_N...@mchsi.com:
He once opined that he doesn't like the "rough stuff."
news:LrGdnSWMjfj0Tz_N...@mchsi.com:
Mark Leeper
Nov 14, 2012, 6:23:59 AM11/14/12
to
On Nov 13, 12:06 pm, Gutless Umbrella Carrying Sissy
<tausti...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Mark Leeper <mlee...@optonline.net> wrote in news:8e2818e2-b5a3-4e65-
> 8e03-8139e1978...@a6g2000vbl.googlegroups.com:
> Terry Austin
What are the chances that there would be exactly one clue that looks
like it is worth following up on? It is a chip used for
identification purposes I guess. But Bond lucks into exactly the
right way to use the chip. Through the whole series Bond get
tremendous help from just lucky breaks and coincidences.
-- Mark
<tausti...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Mark Leeper <mlee...@optonline.net> wrote in news:8e2818e2-b5a3-4e65-
> 8e03-8139e1978...@a6g2000vbl.googlegroups.com:
>
> > In SKYFALL, Bond cracks the
> > whole case because he happens to find a gambling chip and guesses
> > that it is important.
>
> "Just happens to find"? It's in a case for a piece of specialized
> equipment, competely out of place, _in the possession of the guy Bond
> *knows* stole the hard drive_, and he *guesses* it's important? OK,
> it might have been a little better if he'd found it in the guy's
> pocket, but visually, that wouldn't have been as easy to follow, and
> it makes no difference. It's *clearly* important.
> --
> > In SKYFALL, Bond cracks the
> > whole case because he happens to find a gambling chip and guesses
> > that it is important.
>
> "Just happens to find"? It's in a case for a piece of specialized
> equipment, competely out of place, _in the possession of the guy Bond
> *knows* stole the hard drive_, and he *guesses* it's important? OK,
> it might have been a little better if he'd found it in the guy's
> pocket, but visually, that wouldn't have been as easy to follow, and
> it makes no difference. It's *clearly* important.
> Terry Austin
What are the chances that there would be exactly one clue that looks
like it is worth following up on? It is a chip used for
identification purposes I guess. But Bond lucks into exactly the
right way to use the chip. Through the whole series Bond get
tremendous help from just lucky breaks and coincidences.
-- Mark
Evelyn Leeper
Nov 14, 2012, 8:31:51 AM11/14/12
to
and Leiter was British.
There are also four BBC radio adaptations: YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, DR. NO,
GOLDFINGER, and FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE.
--
Evelyn C. Leeper
Obama. Sandy. Win some, lose some.
Evelyn Leeper
Nov 14, 2012, 8:32:55 AM11/14/12
to
years old (which seems like the absolute minimum, given he is fairly
highly placed in the network by then), then in 2012's SKYFALL he would
be 75 years old. Right perky for 75, I'd say.
moviePig
Nov 14, 2012, 8:56:00 AM11/14/12
to
On Nov 13, 10:30 pm, Lewis <g.kr...@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:
> In message <3bdf7d2d-9a46-48a9-806c-c7c773d63...@l18g2000vbv.googlegroups.com>
I'd agree. I recall THUNDERBALL as the first Bond that, though okay,
clearly began the series' descent ...and NSNA for Bond's very
practical (i.e., anti-miraculous) escape in the gym, almost what you'd
expect from a resourceful yet human agent.
> In message <3bdf7d2d-9a46-48a9-806c-c7c773d63...@l18g2000vbv.googlegroups.com>
> moviePig <pwall...@moviepig.com> wrote:
>
> > On Nov 13, 11:06 am, Mark Leeper <mlee...@optonline.net> wrote:
> >> ...
> >> With each new Bond film I give my ordering of films in the series
> >> from the best to the worst. This may not be consistent with my
> >> previous listings since my opinion of films varies with time.
>
> >> 1 CASINO ROYALE (2006)
> >> 2 FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
> >> 3 SKYFALL
>
> I would reverse those three.
>
> > On Nov 13, 11:06 am, Mark Leeper <mlee...@optonline.net> wrote:
> >> ...
> >> With each new Bond film I give my ordering of films in the series
> >> from the best to the worst. This may not be consistent with my
> >> previous listings since my opinion of films varies with time.
>
> >> 1 CASINO ROYALE (2006)
> >> 2 FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
> >> 3 SKYFALL
>
>
> > Odd to never say NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN...
>
> I liked it more than Thunderball.
> > Odd to never say NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN...
>
I'd agree. I recall THUNDERBALL as the first Bond that, though okay,
clearly began the series' descent ...and NSNA for Bond's very
practical (i.e., anti-miraculous) escape in the gym, almost what you'd
expect from a resourceful yet human agent.
mikeos
Nov 14, 2012, 1:12:14 PM11/14/12
to
On 14/11/2012 05:08, Rich wrote:
>
>> Roger Moore should be kicked out of the series.
>
> He once opined that he doesn't like the "rough stuff."
>
or the acting stuff (except for the eyebrows),
>
>> Roger Moore should be kicked out of the series.
>
> He once opined that he doesn't like the "rough stuff."
>
Adam H. Kerman
Nov 14, 2012, 2:10:35 PM11/14/12
to
Mark Leeper <mle...@optonline.net> wrote:
>Few Bond films depart from the template story [supervillain plotting a
>spectacular crime], but in SKYFALL there is no giant spectacular crime
villains, and we've seen brother against brother in many, many Bond
films, although siblings competing for mother's attetion is a variation
on the theme. We've also had pure revenge stories in Bond.
>With each new Bond film I give my ordering of films in the series
>from the best to the worst. This may not be consistent with my
>previous listings since my opinion of films varies with time.
> 1 CASINO ROYALE (2006)
Gosh. Not ranking a Connery film first.
> 2 FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
> 3 SKYFALL
> 4 ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
> 5 QUANTUM OF SOLACE
Gah. This one is last, or near the bottom, of my list.
> 6 THUNDERBALL
> 7 DR NO
> 8 LICENSE TO KILL
All right. I'm fond of this movie, but plenty of others aren't.
> 9 GOLDFINGER
> 10 THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH
> 11 FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
> 12 YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
> 13 THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
> 14 THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
> 15 OCTOPUSSY
> 16 TOMORROW NEVER DIES
> 17 GOLDENEYE
> 18 DIE ANOTHER DAY
> 19 DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
I rank this one a lot higher. The plot doesn't work. They're remaking YOLT.
But, dammit, the jokes are the best in the series.
>Few Bond films depart from the template story [supervillain plotting a
>spectacular crime], but in SKYFALL there is no giant spectacular crime
>for Bond to avert. The villain has the capability to do great damage,
>but he has something else in mind. Carrying out a vendetta is more
>what he wants. That does not require much suspension of disbelief from
>the viewer. It helps to make SKYFALL one of the more intelligent Bond
>thrillers. SKYFALL is Daniel Craig's second Bond story (his first two
>films comprised a single story) and the writers chose to again avoid
>the overworked spectacular crime plot and instead to give us a story
>with an unpredictable arc.
I hate to disagree, but resentment is the typical motivator of Bond
>but he has something else in mind. Carrying out a vendetta is more
>what he wants. That does not require much suspension of disbelief from
>the viewer. It helps to make SKYFALL one of the more intelligent Bond
>thrillers. SKYFALL is Daniel Craig's second Bond story (his first two
>films comprised a single story) and the writers chose to again avoid
>the overworked spectacular crime plot and instead to give us a story
>with an unpredictable arc.
villains, and we've seen brother against brother in many, many Bond
films, although siblings competing for mother's attetion is a variation
on the theme. We've also had pure revenge stories in Bond.
>With each new Bond film I give my ordering of films in the series
>from the best to the worst. This may not be consistent with my
>previous listings since my opinion of films varies with time.
> 1 CASINO ROYALE (2006)
> 2 FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
> 3 SKYFALL
> 4 ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE
> 5 QUANTUM OF SOLACE
> 6 THUNDERBALL
> 7 DR NO
> 8 LICENSE TO KILL
> 9 GOLDFINGER
> 10 THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH
> 11 FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
> 12 YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE
> 13 THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
> 14 THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
> 15 OCTOPUSSY
> 16 TOMORROW NEVER DIES
> 17 GOLDENEYE
> 18 DIE ANOTHER DAY
> 19 DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
But, dammit, the jokes are the best in the series.
Message has been deleted
Message has been deleted
Evelyn Leeper
Nov 15, 2012, 10:47:52 AM11/15/12
to
On 11/15/12 12:16 AM, Lewis wrote:
> In message<50a39d87$0$1240$607e...@cv.net>
>
> And Sherlock Holmes is like 150! And that Lincoln fellow is over 200!
>
Except that the Holmes films are still set in Victorian/Edwardian
London, and LINCOLN is set in the 1860s, but DR. NO is set in the 1960s
and SKYFALL in 2012.
> In message<50a39d87$0$1240$607e...@cv.net>
> Evelyn Leeper<ele...@optonline.net> wrote:
>> They already have a continuity dilemma. If Bond in 1962's DR. NO was 25
>> years old (which seems like the absolute minimum, given he is fairly
>> highly placed in the network by then), then in 2012's SKYFALL he would
>> be 75 years old. Right perky for 75, I'd say.
>
> Uh huh.
>> They already have a continuity dilemma. If Bond in 1962's DR. NO was 25
>> years old (which seems like the absolute minimum, given he is fairly
>> highly placed in the network by then), then in 2012's SKYFALL he would
>> be 75 years old. Right perky for 75, I'd say.
>
>
> And Sherlock Holmes is like 150! And that Lincoln fellow is over 200!
>
Except that the Holmes films are still set in Victorian/Edwardian
London, and LINCOLN is set in the 1860s, but DR. NO is set in the 1960s
and SKYFALL in 2012.
Dave Head
Nov 15, 2012, 11:09:23 AM11/15/12
to
On Tue, 13 Nov 2012 08:06:45 -0800 (PST), Mark Leeper
<mle...@optonline.net> wrote:
>One thing that does need to change but has not is Bond's most
>useful weapon, the almost supernatural luck Bond could always count
>on.
Oh, H, if the bad guys can steal an encrypted hard drive and, in a
<mle...@optonline.net> wrote:
>One thing that does need to change but has not is Bond's most
>useful weapon, the almost supernatural luck Bond could always count
>on.
week or 2 have it decrypted, no problem, then JB can have supernatural
luck. Decrypting modern encrpytion in a week or 2 would also be
supernatural luck...
Bill Anderson
Nov 15, 2012, 11:14:07 AM11/15/12
to
fiction. The continuity can be whatever you want it to be.
--
Bill Anderson
I am the Mighty Favog
moviePig
Nov 15, 2012, 11:29:29 AM11/15/12
to
On Nov 15, 11:14 am, Bill Anderson <billanderson...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On 11/15/2012 10:47 AM, Evelyn Leeper wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 11/15/12 12:16 AM, Lewis wrote:
> >> In message<50a39d87$0$1240$607ed...@cv.net>
> On 11/15/2012 10:47 AM, Evelyn Leeper wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 11/15/12 12:16 AM, Lewis wrote:
> >> Evelyn Leeper<elee...@optonline.net> wrote:
> >>> They already have a continuity dilemma. If Bond in 1962's DR. NO was 25
> >>> years old (which seems like the absolute minimum, given he is fairly
> >>> highly placed in the network by then), then in 2012's SKYFALL he would
> >>> be 75 years old. Right perky for 75, I'd say.
>
> >> Uh huh.
>
> >> And Sherlock Holmes is like 150! And that Lincoln fellow is over 200!
>
> > Except that the Holmes films are still set in Victorian/Edwardian
> > London, and LINCOLN is set in the 1860s, but DR. NO is set in the 1960s
> > and SKYFALL in 2012.
>
> Dennis the Menace has been five years old for over 60 years. It's all
> fiction. The continuity can be whatever you want it to be.
I'm my own grandpa,
> >>> years old (which seems like the absolute minimum, given he is fairly
> >>> highly placed in the network by then), then in 2012's SKYFALL he would
> >>> be 75 years old. Right perky for 75, I'd say.
>
> >> Uh huh.
>
> >> And Sherlock Holmes is like 150! And that Lincoln fellow is over 200!
>
> > Except that the Holmes films are still set in Victorian/Edwardian
> > London, and LINCOLN is set in the 1860s, but DR. NO is set in the 1960s
> > and SKYFALL in 2012.
>
> Dennis the Menace has been five years old for over 60 years. It's all
> fiction. The continuity can be whatever you want it to be.
I'm my own grandpa
It sounds funny, I know
But it really is so
I'm my own grandpa
- Homer and Jethro
Message has been deleted
Evelyn Leeper
Nov 15, 2012, 12:51:21 PM11/15/12
to
On 11/15/12 12:41 PM, Lewis wrote:
> In message<50a50ea8$0$9799$607e...@cv.net>
> failed to express it.
>
In DR. NO, set in 1962, Bond is at least 25 years old. Therefore he was
born in 1937 at the latest.
In SKYFALL, therefore, he must be at least (2012-1937) or 75 years old.
Clearly, he isn't.
> In message<50a50ea8$0$9799$607e...@cv.net>
> Evelyn Leeper<ele...@optonline.net> wrote:
>> On 11/15/12 12:16 AM, Lewis wrote:
>>> In message<50a39d87$0$1240$607e...@cv.net>
>>> Evelyn Leeper<ele...@optonline.net> wrote:
>>>> They already have a continuity dilemma. If Bond in 1962's DR. NO was 25
>>>> years old (which seems like the absolute minimum, given he is fairly
>>>> highly placed in the network by then), then in 2012's SKYFALL he would
>>>> be 75 years old. Right perky for 75, I'd say.
>>>
>>> Uh huh.
>>>
>>> And Sherlock Holmes is like 150! And that Lincoln fellow is over 200!
>>>
>
>> Except that the Holmes films are still set in Victorian/Edwardian
>> London,
>
> Sometime. There were at least two set during WWII
>> On 11/15/12 12:16 AM, Lewis wrote:
>>> In message<50a39d87$0$1240$607e...@cv.net>
>>> Evelyn Leeper<ele...@optonline.net> wrote:
>>>> They already have a continuity dilemma. If Bond in 1962's DR. NO was 25
>>>> years old (which seems like the absolute minimum, given he is fairly
>>>> highly placed in the network by then), then in 2012's SKYFALL he would
>>>> be 75 years old. Right perky for 75, I'd say.
>>>
>>> Uh huh.
>>>
>>> And Sherlock Holmes is like 150! And that Lincoln fellow is over 200!
>>>
>
>> Except that the Holmes films are still set in Victorian/Edwardian
>> London,
>
>
>> but DR. NO is set in the 1960s and SKYFALL in 2012.
>
> I'm sure you think you have a point here, but so far you have completely
>> but DR. NO is set in the 1960s and SKYFALL in 2012.
>
> failed to express it.
>
In DR. NO, set in 1962, Bond is at least 25 years old. Therefore he was
born in 1937 at the latest.
In SKYFALL, therefore, he must be at least (2012-1937) or 75 years old.
Clearly, he isn't.
moviePig
Nov 15, 2012, 1:30:07 PM11/15/12
to
On Nov 15, 12:51 pm, Evelyn Leeper <elee...@optonline.net> wrote:
> On 11/15/12 12:41 PM, Lewis wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > In message<50a50ea8$0$9799$607ed...@cv.net>
> On 11/15/12 12:41 PM, Lewis wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Evelyn Leeper<elee...@optonline.net> wrote:
> >> On 11/15/12 12:16 AM, Lewis wrote:
> >>> In message<50a39d87$0$1240$607ed...@cv.net>
> >>> Evelyn Leeper<elee...@optonline.net> wrote:
> >>>> They already have a continuity dilemma. If Bond in 1962's DR. NO was 25
> >>>> years old (which seems like the absolute minimum, given he is fairly
> >>>> highly placed in the network by then), then in 2012's SKYFALL he would
> >>>> be 75 years old. Right perky for 75, I'd say.
>
> >>> Uh huh.
>
> >>> And Sherlock Holmes is like 150! And that Lincoln fellow is over 200!
>
> >> Except that the Holmes films are still set in Victorian/Edwardian
> >> London,
>
> > Sometime. There were at least two set during WWII
>
> >> but DR. NO is set in the 1960s and SKYFALL in 2012.
>
> > I'm sure you think you have a point here, but so far you have completely
> > failed to express it.
>
> In DR. NO, set in 1962, Bond is at least 25 years old. Therefore he was
> born in 1937 at the latest.
>
> In SKYFALL, therefore, he must be at least (2012-1937) or 75 years old.
> Clearly, he isn't.
But, in a long unused closet in the bowels of MI6, there hangs a
> >>>> They already have a continuity dilemma. If Bond in 1962's DR. NO was 25
> >>>> years old (which seems like the absolute minimum, given he is fairly
> >>>> highly placed in the network by then), then in 2012's SKYFALL he would
> >>>> be 75 years old. Right perky for 75, I'd say.
>
> >>> Uh huh.
>
> >>> And Sherlock Holmes is like 150! And that Lincoln fellow is over 200!
>
> >> Except that the Holmes films are still set in Victorian/Edwardian
> >> London,
>
> > Sometime. There were at least two set during WWII
>
> >> but DR. NO is set in the 1960s and SKYFALL in 2012.
>
> > I'm sure you think you have a point here, but so far you have completely
> > failed to express it.
>
> In DR. NO, set in 1962, Bond is at least 25 years old. Therefore he was
> born in 1937 at the latest.
>
> In SKYFALL, therefore, he must be at least (2012-1937) or 75 years old.
> Clearly, he isn't.
portrait...
nick
Nov 15, 2012, 1:34:58 PM11/15/12
to
On Nov 15, 11:14 am, Bill Anderson <billanderson...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On 11/15/2012 10:47 AM, Evelyn Leeper wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 11/15/12 12:16 AM, Lewis wrote:
> >> In message<50a39d87$0$1240$607ed...@cv.net>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 11/15/12 12:16 AM, Lewis wrote:
> >> Evelyn Leeper<elee...@optonline.net> wrote:
> >>> They already have a continuity dilemma. If Bond in 1962's DR. NO was 25
> >>> years old (which seems like the absolute minimum, given he is fairly
> >>> highly placed in the network by then), then in 2012's SKYFALL he would
> >>> be 75 years old. Right perky for 75, I'd say.
>
> >> Uh huh.
>
> >> And Sherlock Holmes is like 150! And that Lincoln fellow is over 200!
>
> > Except that the Holmes films are still set in Victorian/Edwardian
> > London, and LINCOLN is set in the 1860s, but DR. NO is set in the 1960s
> > and SKYFALL in 2012.
>
> Dennis the Menace has been five years old for over 60 years. It's all
> fiction. The continuity can be whatever you want it to be.
>
> --
> Bill Anderson
>
> I am the Mighty Favog
Occasionally though, the continuity can get unintentionally
> >>> years old (which seems like the absolute minimum, given he is fairly
> >>> highly placed in the network by then), then in 2012's SKYFALL he would
> >>> be 75 years old. Right perky for 75, I'd say.
>
> >> Uh huh.
>
> >> And Sherlock Holmes is like 150! And that Lincoln fellow is over 200!
>
> > Except that the Holmes films are still set in Victorian/Edwardian
> > London, and LINCOLN is set in the 1860s, but DR. NO is set in the 1960s
> > and SKYFALL in 2012.
>
> Dennis the Menace has been five years old for over 60 years. It's all
> fiction. The continuity can be whatever you want it to be.
>
> --
> Bill Anderson
>
> I am the Mighty Favog
disturbing, like the poor old Keane kids in The Family Circus, trapped
in toddler-hood and early youth for infinity.
Message has been deleted
trotsky
Nov 15, 2012, 5:27:20 PM11/15/12
to
On 11/15/12 4:12 PM, Lewis wrote:
> In message <50a52b99$0$9813$607e...@cv.net>
> So you think that the movies depict the life of a real person?
>
> Batman has been fighting crime for over 70 years, he must be like 100!
For some reason James Bond as an octogenarian doesn't sound all that
bankable.
> In message <50a52b99$0$9813$607e...@cv.net>
>
> Batman has been fighting crime for over 70 years, he must be like 100!
For some reason James Bond as an octogenarian doesn't sound all that
bankable.
xekutkit
Nov 16, 2012, 12:11:57 AM11/16/12
to
I have been a James Bond 007 from Dr. No w/ Sean Connery to present-day Bond! Having said that, I must say after watching Skyfall, it is exactly that--it fell like a ton of bricks from the sky! This recent installment of our favorite secret agent's saga is the most disappointing of all!!! The plot sucked bad--and yes literally with the villain making a gay-pass at Bond w/ James actually hinting that it may not have been his first experience--pathetic! They killed off the only remaining vestiges of originally for the next movie by killing off our much-beloved "M" replacing her with a dimwit of a diplomat that neither has her charisma or savvy in the secret-agent business! Do yourself a favor, wait until it comes out on DVD or Netflix--don't waste your money and time like we did!!! Double thumbs down and 0 Stars!!!
nick
Nov 16, 2012, 9:00:17 AM11/16/12
to
On Nov 16, 12:11 am, xekutkit <pnguyen...@csu.fullerton.edu> wrote:
> I have been a James Bond 007 from Dr. No w/ Sean Connery to present-day Bond! Having said that, I must say after watching Skyfall, it is exactly that--it fell like a ton of bricks from the sky! This recent installment of our favorite secret agent's saga is the most disappointing of all!!! The plot sucked bad--and yes literally with the villain making a gay-pass at Bond w/ James actually hinting that it may not have been his first experience--pathetic! They killed off the only remaining vestiges of originally for the next movie by killing off our much-beloved "M" replacing her with a dimwit of a diplomat that neither has her charisma or savvy in the secret-agent business! Do yourself a favor, wait until it comes out on DVD or Netflix--don't waste your money and time like we did!!! Double thumbs down and 0 Stars!!!
Roger Moore begs to differ.
> I have been a James Bond 007 from Dr. No w/ Sean Connery to present-day Bond! Having said that, I must say after watching Skyfall, it is exactly that--it fell like a ton of bricks from the sky! This recent installment of our favorite secret agent's saga is the most disappointing of all!!! The plot sucked bad--and yes literally with the villain making a gay-pass at Bond w/ James actually hinting that it may not have been his first experience--pathetic! They killed off the only remaining vestiges of originally for the next movie by killing off our much-beloved "M" replacing her with a dimwit of a diplomat that neither has her charisma or savvy in the secret-agent business! Do yourself a favor, wait until it comes out on DVD or Netflix--don't waste your money and time like we did!!! Double thumbs down and 0 Stars!!!
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2012/11/roger-moore-skyfall-daniel-craig-bond
Ted Nolan <tednolan>
Nov 24, 2012, 2:19:30 PM11/24/12
to
In article <k80qbb$nld$1...@news.albasani.net>,
motivated by a British betrayal of his ethnic group to the Russians
at the end of WWII and nursed the grudge all through being recruited
and deployed..
I remember liking that one a good bit, you'd think I could recall *more*
about it..
I think Dalton was also the first modern use of having the opening stunt
actually be connected to the main plot.
--
------
columbiaclosings.com
What's not in Columbia anymore..
Adam H. Kerman <a...@chinet.com> wrote:
>Mark Leeper <mle...@optonline.net> wrote:
>
>>Few Bond films depart from the template story [supervillain plotting a
>>spectacular crime], but in SKYFALL there is no giant spectacular crime
>>for Bond to avert. The villain has the capability to do great damage,
>>but he has something else in mind. Carrying out a vendetta is more
>>what he wants. That does not require much suspension of disbelief from
>>the viewer. It helps to make SKYFALL one of the more intelligent Bond
>>thrillers. SKYFALL is Daniel Craig's second Bond story (his first two
>>films comprised a single story) and the writers chose to again avoid
>>the overworked spectacular crime plot and instead to give us a story
>>with an unpredictable arc.
>
>I hate to disagree, but resentment is the typical motivator of Bond
>villains, and we've seen brother against brother in many, many Bond
>films, although siblings competing for mother's attetion is a variation
>on the theme. We've also had pure revenge stories in Bond.
>
>
One of the Dalton entries also had a rouge MI6 agent. IIRC he was
>Mark Leeper <mle...@optonline.net> wrote:
>
>>Few Bond films depart from the template story [supervillain plotting a
>>spectacular crime], but in SKYFALL there is no giant spectacular crime
>>for Bond to avert. The villain has the capability to do great damage,
>>but he has something else in mind. Carrying out a vendetta is more
>>what he wants. That does not require much suspension of disbelief from
>>the viewer. It helps to make SKYFALL one of the more intelligent Bond
>>thrillers. SKYFALL is Daniel Craig's second Bond story (his first two
>>films comprised a single story) and the writers chose to again avoid
>>the overworked spectacular crime plot and instead to give us a story
>>with an unpredictable arc.
>
>I hate to disagree, but resentment is the typical motivator of Bond
>villains, and we've seen brother against brother in many, many Bond
>films, although siblings competing for mother's attetion is a variation
>on the theme. We've also had pure revenge stories in Bond.
>
>
motivated by a British betrayal of his ethnic group to the Russians
at the end of WWII and nursed the grudge all through being recruited
and deployed..
I remember liking that one a good bit, you'd think I could recall *more*
about it..
I think Dalton was also the first modern use of having the opening stunt
actually be connected to the main plot.
--
------
columbiaclosings.com
What's not in Columbia anymore..
0 new messages