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Chris C 
"Four words, never backwards."
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 Posted - 10/06/2012 : 16:35:41
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Bond season is upon us - Happy 50th, JB.
The new movie will be out on 26th October (in the UK). I know very little about it. I don't want to hear anythingabout it before I see it, other than the words "It's much better than Quantum of Solace".
Anyway, the theme tune has been released. Adele sings it, sounding a lot like Shirley Bassey. Click here to listen. |
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benj clews 
"...."
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Posted - 10/06/2012 : 17:08:41
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Wasn't too taken with the song initially (quite slow and Diamonds Are Forever-y, I thought) but it's definitely a grower. Plus, if past experience is anything to go by, I'll love it 50 times more once I hear it piped out over the top of the Bond title sequence (heck, that even made Madonna's Die Another Day bearable to me).
As for the film, got my tickets booked for opening night at the London BFI IMAX (this is the first Bond film shot in IMAX, trivia fans). Can. Not. Wait. |
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ChocolateLady 
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 10/10/2012 : 09:48:03
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Well, Chris - I can say one thing for sure - ANYTHING would be better than Quantum of Solace. I'm hoping that Sam Mendes does his magic and makes Daniel Craig a bit more suave, because he's just not good looking enough for any of these women to give him a second look, unless he's got some charm. And in his first two movies he was about as charming as a bag of ...
As for the song... I'm not totally convinced, but like Benji says, it is a grower. I'm thinking they went with Adele because of her retro sounding voice, which I get. But this is the third in the reboot of the franchise, so I as hoping for something a bit more rocky. Garbage's theme song is still my favorite.
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Beanmimo
"August review site"
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BaftaBaby 
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 10/29/2012 : 14:14:03
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Here's a Bond that successfully dusts off the cobwebs of a creaky franchise without losing the spirit of Fleming. With some re-inventions, some [long overdue - imho] character revelations, and a teensy hint of what's to come, Sam Mendes has steered Bond's galleon from smooth to choppy waters and back again.
And, if it hasn't quite come to rest without a dent or two, the current generation of Bond-goers won't have missed out - and will be able to place the tale in its contemporary context.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the presentation of women. From the title song itself, written and performed by the brilliant Adele, we not only get a subliminal insight into the title's meaning, but I believe it's the first 007 intro song written by a woman.
Add to that M's brief back story governing her seemingly ruthless choices; the replacement of gratuitously cheap female character name puns with some sass, both by the sexy one and the efficient one; Bond's no-nonsense willingness to take a bullet and more in the line of duty; and the high quality of support acting that helps round out Craig's own performance - and it all adds up to a rousing romp made with wit and intelligence.
Of Dame Judi, of course, there's no doubt she explores every nuance; Bardem's portrait of demented evil rivals his Chigurh; and I do believe, ladies & gents, that effete Ben Wishaw has found his true metier - the nerd you learn to love.
Craig continues to convince. I believe in decades to come, he'll come to be regarded as the Bond most suitable and most engaging - although there have been rumours bandied that the equally brilliant Idris Elba might become the first black Bond.
To continue my transport metaphor ... What Mendes and team have achieved is a 007 vehicle that breaks speed limits, corners the curves, fills up with turbo-gas, coasts through stunning scenery - and all on a road paved with pure charm.
Hey, I think she likes it!!
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 10/29/2012 : 14:34:25
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Okay, Bafta - but does Mendes give Craig some charm in this one? He was - up until now - wholly harsh and without any charm, making him not in the least bit sexy since he isn't all that good looking.
Idris Elba as the first Black Bond? Ooohhh... I'm chills all over and already drooling if that comes to pass. Talk about hard AND sexy - he's got them both, plus a sly and dry sense of humour. His stint as "Luther" proved all that beyond a shadow of a doubt. |
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BaftaBaby
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 10/29/2012 : 14:42:35
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quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
Okay, Bafta - but does Mendes give Craig some charm in this one? He was - up until now - wholly harsh and without any charm, making him not in the least bit sexy since he isn't all that good looking.
Idris Elba as the first Black Bond? Ooohhh... I'm chills all over and already drooling if that comes to pass. Talk about hard AND sexy - he's got them both, plus a sly and dry sense of humour. His stint as "Luther" proved all that beyond a shadow of a doubt.
As you know, I totally disagree with you about Craig. And judging by the amount of "drooling" over him all over the internet, I'm not alone. I've thought he was sexy from the early days of The Mother, and Layer Cake. I think he's incredibly charming, with a great line in twinkle and irony. Plus, he's the best Bond actor, no contest.
But, I definitely agree about Elba. Somewhere in this 4UM is my review of him as Mumbles in Guy Ritchie's Rocknrolla. Seminal! 
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benj clews
"...."
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Posted - 10/31/2012 : 16:23:50
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quote:
Originally posted by ThirteenBabe
From the title song itself, written and performed by the brilliant Adele, we not only get a subliminal insight into the title's meaning, but I believe it's the first 007 intro song written by a woman.
Only if you ignore Madonna's Die Another Day- which would be quite understandable  Sure, she co-wrote it with a man, but then, so did Adele.
quote:
Craig continues to convince. I believe in decades to come, he'll come to be regarded as the Bond most suitable and most engaging - although there have been rumours bandied that the equally brilliant Idris Elba might become the first black Bond.
I don't want to imply the Bond producers are backward-thinking, but I'm not sure how this could ever come to pass. They've categorically stated James Bond is not a title that's passed from one agent to another and so we'd have to assume this is in fact the same person as currently portrayed by the decidedly-non-black Daniel Craig.
Given how protective of the property Wilson and Broccoli are I simply can't see how they'd be fine with straying so drastically from the Fleming description of Bond (heck- they've only relented on casting a non-British actor once (and look how THAT turned out) in 50 years). Much how I'd be surprised if we ever saw a female James Bond. |
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BaftaBaby
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 10/31/2012 : 18:06:08
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quote:
Originally posted by benj clews
quote:
Originally posted by ThirteenBabe
From the title song itself, written and performed by the brilliant Adele, we not only get a subliminal insight into the title's meaning, but I believe it's the first 007 intro song written by a woman.
Only if you ignore Madonna's Die Another Day- which would be quite understandable Sure, she co-wrote it with a man, but then, so did Adele.
quote:
Craig continues to convince. I believe in decades to come, he'll come to be regarded as the Bond most suitable and most engaging - although there have been rumours bandied that the equally brilliant Idris Elba might become the first black Bond.
I don't want to imply the Bond producers are backward-thinking, but I'm not sure how this could ever come to pass. They've categorically stated James Bond is not a title that's passed from one agent to another and so we'd have to assume this is in fact the same person as currently portrayed by the decidedly-non-black Daniel Craig.
Given how protective of the property Wilson and Broccoli are I simply can't see how they'd be fine with straying so drastically from the Fleming description of Bond (heck- they've only relented on casting a non-British actor once (and look how THAT turned out) in 50 years). Much how I'd be surprised if we ever saw a female James Bond.
Yeah, of course, you're right - Die Another Day ... I'm a bit hesitant to talk about it, though, because at the time in the biz there was talk that she was offered the gig and accepted it to further push her then collaborator Mirwais - and it was mooted she wanted carte blanche to revamp it to suit her album. But it sounds as though you agree with the opinion that, though the song was v. successful, it just wasn't very good.
As for the ethnic Bond etc - it's just a rumour pouring out of the web - if you can pour a rumour!!!
How was the flick in IMAX? |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 10/31/2012 : 21:28:09
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Um... Ahem...
Carly Simon's song "The Spy Who Loved Me" had its lyrics written by Carole Bayer Sager, music by Marvin Hamlish.
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 10/31/2012 : 21:39:10
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quote:
Originally posted by ThirteenBabe
quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
Okay, Bafta - but does Mendes give Craig some charm in this one? He was - up until now - wholly harsh and without any charm, making him not in the least bit sexy since he isn't all that good looking.
Idris Elba as the first Black Bond? Ooohhh... I'm chills all over and already drooling if that comes to pass. Talk about hard AND sexy - he's got them both, plus a sly and dry sense of humour. His stint as "Luther" proved all that beyond a shadow of a doubt.
As you know, I totally disagree with you about Craig. And judging by the amount of "drooling" over him all over the internet, I'm not alone. I've thought he was sexy from the early days of The Mother, and Layer Cake. I think he's incredibly charming, with a great line in twinkle and irony. Plus, he's the best Bond actor, no contest.
But, I definitely agree about Elba. Somewhere in this 4UM is my review of him as Mumbles in Guy Ritchie's Rocknrolla. Seminal!
We will agree to disagree with how sexy or not Craig is in general. However, I must insist that in both Casino and Quantum, he was directed to portray Bond with practically NO charm at all. Even the most hunky man on earth will NOT be attractive to a woman if he doesn't have some charm.
That, together with action scenes that were CGI'd into the realm of humanly impossible, but obviously done so they could be translated directly into the video game, were a big part of what made them both distasteful to me. Quantum's story was so convoluted, you couldn't follow anything; and the best thing about the Bond-Vesper romance in Casino was that she DIDN'T sigh "Oh, James" (but came awfully close).
I could go on... but... I'm hoping Mendes didn't fall into any of those traps.
I have to admit that I have my doubts that they'll ever really cast a black or female Bond. But we can dream, can't we?
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Edited by - ChocolateLady on 10/31/2012 21:40:04 |
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benj clews
"...."
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Posted - 11/01/2012 : 14:32:54
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quote:
Originally posted by ThirteenBabe
How was the flick in IMAX?
It looked utterly fantastic- most notably the Shanghai scenes and the opening sequence. The fight on the train and the bike chase across the rooftops (where you could really appreciate the truly seamless blending of Craig's face onto what must have been a stunt biker) came across as especially precarious and really got the adrenaline going.
The whole thing was really crisp of course, but those the external action scenes were definitely the stand-out moments. |
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Chris C
"Four words, never backwards."
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Posted - 11/03/2012 : 16:16:58
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Went to see the film this morning. Both me and Mrs C really enjoyed it. Full of action, it's a back-to-basics, few-frills-attached Bond for the 21st century. You could probably cut Quantum of Solace out of the Bond story line and not miss anything from the continuity of the story.
I have to agree with what BaftaBabe said, and more eloquently than I could hope to do. I like DC as Bond, and I think he's more like Fleming's original Bond, and the early movie Bond, than anything we've had since. I like the new Q, and Javier Bardem does a very good line in creepy.
Mild spoiler: There are several references through the movie of the "out with the old, in with the new" kind, emphasising that this is a New Bond and that's the way it's going to be.
Oh, and as a follow-up to my original post, it's much much better than Quantum of Solace. |
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Chris C
"Four words, never backwards."
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Posted - 11/03/2012 : 16:19:00
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quote:
Originally posted by benj clews
quote:
Originally posted by ThirteenBabe
How was the flick in IMAX?
It looked utterly fantastic- most notably the Shanghai scenes and the opening sequence. The fight on the train and the bike chase across the rooftops (where you could really appreciate the truly seamless blending of Craig's face onto what must have been a stunt biker) came across as especially precarious and really got the adrenaline going.
The whole thing was really crisp of course, but those the external action scenes were definitely the stand-out moments.
Visually, the silhouetted fight in the skyscraper was my favourite bit. |
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benj clews
"...."
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Posted - 11/06/2012 : 10:44:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Chris C
Visually, the silhouetted fight in the skyscraper was my favourite bit.
It was very nicely shot but I did find it a bit of an odd stylistic change that kind of took me out the film somewhat. For me, it made the fight less perilous or involving, in fact, thinking about it now it almost felt like a Bond title sequence mid-film  |
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Chris C
"Four words, never backwards."
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Posted - 11/06/2012 : 23:31:30
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| Daniel Craig has signed up for the next two Bond movies. I have heard on the grapevine that they could be filmed as a two-parter. |
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Skyfall
