What's the Latest Thing You Saw at the Cinema?

The Perks Of Being a Wallflower

This is the best film I have seen this year - which was NOT what I expected to type!

This is not a simple sugary rom-com, but a well observed thoughtful piece of drama, really - go and watch it.

M

Looper II

No, not the sequel - but my further thoughts.

Above I wrote:

The time elements may not quiet work on reflection - but nothing that will distract you in the moment.

And while I think that is true if you stop and think about it afterwards, and you are at all like me, it will really start to bug you .....it just doesn't work, at all.

But it is well acted, and an emotional ride while you are strapped in!

M

Very good. Great acting.

Hubble 3D at the Science Museum Sat 13th. 

Absolutely stunning images, sound and at 40 minutes just the right amount of time to have those nasty 3D glasses on.

How do people watch 2+ hour movies with those bloody things on, headache inducing.

Very interesting documentary.

Hilarious black comedy. Highly recommended.

"Celebration Day", the Led Zep film, yesterday. Very good it is too, although the bass was a bit lacking at the cinema I saw it at.

Argo. Well done.

Skyfall

Really enjoyed this. I generally prefer things when it is slightly more grounded, so no genius trying to take over the world.

I preferred the earlier films when Saltzman was co-producing, with a grittier feel.

Realistic? Course not, but some good stunts and more plot than usual - and looks great.

M

Skyfall (warning: spoilers follow)

Mildly enjoyable but unfocused. I don't think Mendes had a clue about where he wanted to take Bond. There is some comedy here but the timing is mostly off, not all that much is actually happening for most of the film, and the villain starts off clever but irritating, and degrades into a creepy joker without a credible motivation. Overall the film missed a sense of pace, and after a good set-up for something uber-grand, the finale didn't really work. The score was appalling, except when the old tunes kicked in. At one point, I expected an homage to the A-Team theme but that didn't happen.

It's good to have 007 back, though. Craig did well despite the uneven direction (he suffers, too - quipping mildly smart one liners in the heat of action then being shot in the chest is an odd combination). Dench was also great as ever although all she had to do was repeat herself over and over again. Fiennes, Q and other cast were fine. And love the tune sung by Adele!

So - reasonably OK film but I hoped for more after two great films. Next time, different director and writers, please.

EJ

Skyfall

EJS this sounds like a good chat for round the pub, suffice it to say that I disagree. I thought this was a great Bond, and even has some good arguments for being the best Bond.

On the earlier two - I really enjoyed Casino Royale, and thought Quantum was a train wreck.

M

+1 paul

We dragged ourselves out to see Skyfall last night. We both enjoyed it and I agree it's up there with the best of Bonds, maybe THE best. It's great fun, which is what Bond films are supposed to be!

M.,

Appreciate your views, and in this we probably have to agree to disagree, which is something best done over a couple of guinness

For me, definitely not near the top of the franchise - currently I'd probably rank it above Die Another Day, and about at the level of The Man with the Golden Gun. Both Casino Royale and Quantum near the top, with The Spy who loved me, From Russia with love, Thunderball, Octopussy, The Living Daylights and Goldeneye.

Cheers,

EJ

It didnt feel like Bond.

Was very good in places, but as EJS said it didnt know which direction to go in. Shame as i didnt even mind the last one but casino was a stonker.

Good film none the less, just not Bond

This is good ...a proper discussion!!

So, as we can't get near the Guinness:

'Is Skyfall the best Bond ever?'.

My personal answer to this is 'probably yes', but I know that my father's would be a resounding NO. We all bring different things to Bond, and so look for different pay offs.

In my father's case he knows that Bond is ludicrous, and so looks for the maximum in high octane stunts and humour, in his opinion the height of the Bonds is Roger Moore.

In my case, whilst I freely acknowledge that Bond is FAR from reality, I do prefer my main man played straight, with no mugging to the camera please. So the Bond's that I most value include Connery, Dalton and Craig.

But what else do I look for? Personally I want some grit. To me Harry Saltzman was a great part of the early mix, evidenced by his involvement in the Harry Palmer movies. I also value a more believeable story, not for me the mastermind looking to take over the world. I much prefer the smaller stories, such as the remake (?) of Casino Royale. This gives a plotline that is on a human scale that I can invest in. Otherwise we see all those devices that were so effectively sent up by The Incredibles.

So how does Skyfall measure up for me, and here we will enter SPOILER territory!

I thought the opening sequences were great, and led into the main plot, rarther than just being a throw-away.
I think Craig did a great job, and had an emotional journey to follow, which he did well.
Bardem is a really good actor, and was given some material to work with; he was nuts, and with good reason.

Dench was brilliant - esp in the final scene with Bardem.

So a realistic film?

Rubbish. NO spy could walk around using his real name. The general stupidities exist: Sheltering behind car doors / wood from bullets; being shot and not going into shock; being near grenades and being able to just carry on ......and so on - but these are the staples of most action films.

The computer mcguffins. They obviously had spoken to someone with some knowledge, but the use of these sub-plots was silly - but moved the film to the next set-piece, and I was happy to put my brain into neutral and go with the flow.


A Bond film?

I have some sympathy for those who think not. Why? This was a film that had some real characterisation and an emotional arc for the actors - which I thought was great, and would like this to become the standard for Bond.


A disappointing last act?

Not for me. I loved the change of pace, and the concentration on the main protagonists.



I think this is great Bond - but I can understand those whose boat this don't float.

M

Saw "Skyfall" last night at the Odeon Leicester Square. While it was a very exciting, well-acted Bond, it's nowhere near the best-ever (for me, that's still the first three).

It was a tad overlong and suffered from that depressing tendency of mainstream movies to look increasingly like computer games.

That said, it was a lot better than "Quantum of Solace" and I liked the new Q (Ben Wishaw).

It does have some excellent one-liners though doesn't it?

"Not very comfortable, is it?"
...
"Oh, go on, eject me. See if I care."

_________________________

"What were you expecting? An exploding pen?"

_________________________

"This is M"
"Pleased to meet you Emma."

(Actually I though Albert Finney was brilliant throughout his part)

__________________________

We really enjoyed it. A great movie, and a good way to celebrate 50 years.

I saw Skyfall.

Bond trying to knockout the villains on his own in his manor house was a joke. Surely M has more resources at her disposal??

Setting booby traps etc in the manor house reminds me of Home Alone. I think that kid is much smarter than Bond

"Where is the Bond Girl" my wife asked......

It was the fellow spy who decided to stay in the office ! And not become a field agent ----- Moneypenny

Skyfall - I left feeling underwhelmed given the hype. I agree with the view that the film lacked a specific direction and some of the plot-lines were so predictable.

Maybe I was expecting too much and the franchise has been overtaken by the likes of Jason Bourne, which had a much stronger embedded story-line. Also Shirley Bassey rules for me when it comes to Bond songs.

In terms of creativity, the likes of Goldfinger make Skyfall look tame IMHO. ...and no gadgets!

Also, the lack of a rotating front number-plate on the DB5!

I went to see "Celebration Day" again last night - it's even better second time around, with "Kashmir", "No Quarter", "TSRTS" and "Trampled Underfoot" as highlights.

Lincoln, in Houston last week. Our party enjoyed it, great performances from actors, director and photography all round, and an important subject.

Cheers,

EJ