Skyfall Cinema Review

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“Some men are coming to kill us. We’re going to kill them first.”

A contender for the best Bond film in over three decades; one of the best films of the year; and almost certainly the best action-film of the year – Skyfall is a magnificent conclusion to what could easily be described as Daniel Craig’s Bond reboot trilogy. After all, by the end of this film, Bond is finally established as the man who walked on-screen, ready-made, in all those classic older chapters.

Through Craig’s three movies, we have at last been given some true depth and insight into the legendary icon that was created some 60 years ago and immortalised on screen half a Century ago. By providing us with this depth, Craig has arguably also catapulted himself into pole position to be classed as the definitive Bond.

Fans may love Connery for being the one who started it all; they may enjoy Moore’s alternative take...


Read the full review...
 
Wow. Cas I always read your reviews with great interest and we seem to be on the same wavelength in what we like. If its possible this review has made me even more excited about seeing this. If it can best casino royale ( one of my all time favourite bonds ) then I will be very happy. IMAX tommorrow night and I can't wait!
 
Just come back from Odeon at Liverpool One Imax, settle yourself in for a ride, brilliant, utterly brilliant. What going to the flicks should be like. Big screen big sound. Yes I do like Bond movies and iv seen most of them at the flicks being the wrong side of 50 but this was just on another level. Enjoy!:thumbsup:
 
Great review as always. Just one minor comment on the wording:

Heavy on action, thin on character, it had the momentum of a Bourne film – a crescendo of increasingly loud and elaborate action sequences frenetically edited together into one big blur – however it felt more like the extended conclusion to Quantum, than a new story in its own right.

I'm guessing that should say Casino Royale, not Quantum? If so, totally agree - this is how I'd describe QOS, which IMO is a relatively weak Bond film in its own right.
 
Some friends of mine think my obsession with the world of Ian Fleming's James Bond is boarder line certifiable. My collection includes over 130 various James Bonds cars, several tens of books and many many posters (original and re-prints) so when a new Bond is announced am to say a little excited. After MGM went belly up a few years ago, Mr Bonds world was literary shaken and stirred. Fortunately the cocktail settled and yet again the world would have there next sip. Now if you think my last few lines are a little cheesy and obvious then just wait until you see Skyfall, a 2 hour 23 minute drag of a film full of cliche dialogue and hokey acting. Picture the scene, Sunday 28th October 20:20 hours at the home of Bond premiers The Odeon Leicester Sq, London. A rain sodden cold dark evening, but nothing could dampen the crowds enthusiasm for what we were about to watch, the brand new James Bond film Skyfall. Inside the crowd buzzed, every new advert that came onto the screen was greeted with huge cheers, whistles and woop woops. I kept my eyes closed through out this 20 minute onslaught of product placement ads but this time in reverse, watches, after shaves etc etc, so even before the movie began we had pretty mush seen most of the action from the up coming movie in snippets of 30 seconds long. Three trailers showed, including Peter Jacksons reboot of LOTR triolgy, The Hobbit or when Peter Jacksons done with it The Quiteabit Long Hobbit. (Peter! Remove not add!) Then the lights dimmed and the certificate card was projected on the screen (in 8K oops sorry UltraHD+) the noise was huge as the whole cinema erupted with cheers etc. Then immediately the problem for me started, no classic gun barrel (again) opening just a shrill of two notes from the Bond theme to open the movie. Next was the opening action scene, that was a mix of old style analogue action and some pretty doggy cgi effects (why?!) after this ended and the new diva started warbling I was a pretty happy chappy, then I remembered The Dark Knight Rises beginning and how I thought that was going to be amazing. The next 2 hours 23 Mins dragged for me and I also think a large proportion of the crowd also, as that sixth sense feeling surrounded me. Where to start, Sam Mendes, yeah lets start there, some press etc said some while back, that at last Bond gets a great director, well sorry lets look at his track record and how it qualifies him for the job? American Beauty, a nice film I liked it when I saw it, but would I watch it again, No. Road to perdition his best work but paced accordingly to his kind of style, his work is always paced slowly and you can see this in Skyfall, it just doesn't work. The Bond franchise has had some amazing directors in its history and if I were one of those guys I would be enraged with comments like that are being thrown around. Peter Hunt Bonds editor for the first three Bonds and editor on The Ipcress File (Still today a master class in editing) and then he directed OHMSS, which is still a stand out Bond albeit a awkward star. Guy Hamilton director of Several Bonds is to me the Greatest of them all, he put the franchise on the map with Goldfinger, his own personal life experiences where added to the mix and Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang became the bond we all adore today. So Sam thank you but the cheques in the post. The acting, hokey stiff awkward these are words that spring to mind, when did Daniel Craigs Bond become Roger Moores Bond? Bad obvious quips and also when did Bond become a wordsman? He just didn't stop talking. I found myself saying under my breath 'Shut Up Daniel and Boom Boom' quite a lot through the film, thanks Basil. The only saving grace in this movie was Javier Badhairday Bardem, without doubt a master in acting ability, cheesy yet a wink in the eye. When did Bond also become a team player? did the producers want a link to the Olympics and have people routing for Team JB? Bond has always should be a man apart, a one man army, Skyfall felt and looked like an episode of Spooks. We were also introduced to a new Q, the stiff awkward dreadful written script just left me wanting to run home and ask my girlfriend who is doing a CGI animation course to somehow superimpose Desmond Llewlyn into Skyfall. Ben Whishaw (whos past work is superb) is the worse Q of them all, even John Cleese was somewhat (not a lot really) better. Naomie Harris was I'm affraid another actress who has and always will act like she is on TV, I don't see her acting the appeal myself, but unfortunately she will be back for the next movie. People say if you don't have nothing nice to say, don't say anything, well if we all took that as true, Mr Bond in his next movie might end end surfing in CGI world again and raising one eyebrow as he delivers another painful retort. Give me Quantum of Solace any day over this effort , and that was just average too.
 
Thanks Cas,
I watched Skyfall today based on your review and I really enjoyed it. It was great to see Dame Judi Dench in a more pivotal role whlist Daniel Craig & Javier Bardem were excellent. After the slightly disapointing QoS, Skyfall was a real return to form.
 
The product ads were played to death before the film however the cinematography and filming of the film was stunning. I thought it was proper classic bond.
 
it was a mixed bag for me as i posted in the main thread, however, the island is a real place that has fascinated me prior to seeing it in this film...

Hashima Island - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
. Like a few felt let down. What happened to the vast conspiracy of industrialists. The poor acting (except for Albert finney). Oh weres the baddie - just happens to be in the black audi 5 yards away! I want to be captured and put in a glass case (Avengers anyone?).the lame effect (dodgy face aka darkman?). Tube crash (die hard 3?). Oh and what tube is an train is empty at rush hour? Bond slips on boat for quickie _next morning standing on deck surrounded by armed guards errr explanation? Field agent that just happens to be good secretary and called moneypenny! The new Q who is so thick he plugs the supper hacker spy come baddies laptop directly in to the MI6 network. Sorry more I think about it the worse it was.
 
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Some friends of mine think my obsession with the world of Ian Fleming's James Bond is boarder line certifiable. My collection includes over 130 various James Bonds cars, several tens of books and many many posters (original and re-prints) so when a new Bond is announced am to say a little excited. After MGM went belly up a few years ago, Mr Bonds world was literary shaken and stirred. Fortunately the cocktail settled and yet again the world would have there next sip. Now if you think my last few lines are a little cheesy and obvious then just wait until you see Skyfall, a 2 hour 23 minute drag of a film full of cliche dialogue and hokey acting. Picture the scene, Sunday 28th October 20:20 hours at the home of Bond premiers The Odeon Leicester Sq, London. A rain sodden cold dark evening, but nothing could dampen the crowds enthusiasm for what we were about to watch, the brand new James Bond film Skyfall. Inside the crowd buzzed, every new advert that came onto the screen was greeted with huge cheers, whistles and woop woops. I kept my eyes closed through out this 20 minute onslaught of product placement ads but this time in reverse, watches, after shaves etc etc, so even before the movie began we had pretty mush seen most of the action from the up coming movie in snippets of 30 seconds long. Three trailers showed, including Peter Jacksons reboot of LOTR triolgy, The Hobbit or when Peter Jacksons done with it The Quiteabit Long Hobbit. (Peter! Remove not add!) Then the lights dimmed and the certificate card was projected on the screen (in 8K oops sorry UltraHD+) the noise was huge as the whole cinema erupted with cheers etc. Then immediately the problem for me started, no classic gun barrel (again) opening just a shrill of two notes from the Bond theme to open the movie. Next was the opening action scene, that was a mix of old style analogue action and some pretty doggy cgi effects (why?!) after this ended and the new diva started warbling I was a pretty happy chappy, then I remembered The Dark Knight Rises beginning and how I thought that was going to be amazing. The next 2 hours 23 Mins dragged for me and I also think a large proportion of the crowd also, as that sixth sense feeling surrounded me. Where to start, Sam Mendes, yeah lets start there, some press etc said some while back, that at last Bond gets a great director, well sorry lets look at his track record and how it qualifies him for the job? American Beauty, a nice film I liked it when I saw it, but would I watch it again, No. Road to perdition his best work but paced accordingly to his kind of style, his work is always paced slowly and you can see this in Skyfall, it just doesn't work. The Bond franchise has had some amazing directors in its history and if I were one of those guys I would be enraged with comments like that are being thrown around. Peter Hunt Bonds editor for the first three Bonds and editor on The Ipcress File (Still today a master class in editing) and then he directed OHMSS, which is still a stand out Bond albeit a awkward star. Guy Hamilton director of Several Bonds is to me the Greatest of them all, he put the franchise on the map with Goldfinger, his own personal life experiences where added to the mix and Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang became the bond we all adore today. So Sam thank you but the cheques in the post. The acting, hokey stiff awkward these are words that spring to mind, when did Daniel Craigs Bond become Roger Moores Bond? Bad obvious quips and also when did Bond become a wordsman? He just didn't stop talking. I found myself saying under my breath 'Shut Up Daniel and Boom Boom' quite a lot through the film, thanks Basil. The only saving grace in this movie was Javier Badhairday Bardem, without doubt a master in acting ability, cheesy yet a wink in the eye. When did Bond also become a team player? did the producers want a link to the Olympics and have people routing for Team JB? Bond has always should be a man apart, a one man army, Skyfall felt and looked like an episode of Spooks. We were also introduced to a new Q, the stiff awkward dreadful written script just left me wanting to run home and ask my girlfriend who is doing a CGI animation course to somehow superimpose Desmond Llewlyn into Skyfall. Ben Whishaw (whos past work is superb) is the worse Q of them all, even John Cleese was somewhat (not a lot really) better. Naomie Harris was I'm affraid another actress who has and always will act like she is on TV, I don't see her acting the appeal myself, but unfortunately she will be back for the next movie. People say if you don't have nothing nice to say, don't say anything, well if we all took that as true, Mr Bond in his next movie might end end surfing in CGI world again and raising one eyebrow as he delivers another painful retort. Give me Quantum of Solace any day over this effort , and that was just average too.

Wow!! Must have been watching a different movie to me, thought it was a great movie, maybe not a "classic" bond movie in that respect, but it is supposed to be a celebration of 50 years of Bond and required a different type movie and more personal, and this delivered in my opinion :thumbsup:
 
Smashing review, as always.

Great story, great villain, great development of M, great backstory for Bond, tremendous performances from the three leads and some great action. Loved it. Thought the ending was brilliant too, very unusual and personal setting for a Bond climax.

In fact I think I preferred it to Casino Royale because, as you say in your review, it feels more like classic Bond.

I don't know whether we'll get any closer to classic Bond though, which isn't such a bad thing. Personal, character-driven tales are what audiences expect now, not pure spectacles like some of the old ones were.

I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually kill Craig's Bond at the end of his quota, the franchise has moved on that much.
 
Smashing review, as always.

Great story, great villain, great development of M, great backstory for Bond, tremendous performances from the three leads and some great action. Loved it. Thought the ending was brilliant too, very unusual and personal setting for a Bond climax.

In fact I think I preferred it to Casino Royale because, as you say in your review, it feels more like classic Bond.

I don't know whether we'll get any closer to classic Bond though, which isn't such a bad thing. Personal, character-driven tales are what audiences expect now, not pure spectacles like some of the old ones were.

I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually kill Craig's Bond at the end of his quota, the franchise has moved on that much.


If you want 'Classic' Bond watch Sean. if you want the real bond READ the books.
 
Ten80p said:
If you want 'Classic' Bond watch Sean. if you want the real bond READ the books.

And of course if you just want a great new Bond movie then watch Skyfall!
 
I found Skyfall to be an enjoyable action thriller with an exciting 'shoot out at the OK Corale' finale. For me it just didn't feel like a Bond movie.

Regards,

Paul
 
And of course if you just want a great new Bond movie then watch Skyfall!

My point exactly...NEW BOND FILM..Is there another? And the above post, SPOOKS Episode but starring Freddy Parrot Face Lookalike Daniel Craig.
 
Ten80p said:
My point exactly...NEW BOND FILM..Is there another? And the above post, SPOOKS Episode but starring Freddy Parrot Face Lookalike Daniel Craig.

Did you just compare Skyfall to an episode of Spooks?!! Nothing ruins credibility better than an unwitting hyperbole. Special.
 
Wow. Cas I always read your reviews with great interest and we seem to be on the same wavelength in what we like. If its possible this review has made me even more excited about seeing this. If it can best casino royale ( one of my all time favourite bonds ) then I will be very happy. IMAX tommorrow night and I can't wait!

Glad you liked the review mate, but did you end up liking the film?!

Surprised by all the disappointment here, be interested to see if it worked out as expected for you.

Cheers, Cas
 
Sorry if I'm sounding down on Skyfall, we are allowed to differ from your reviews are we not? Great reviews but come on Cas, the storyline Law Abiding Citizen, or Danish TV's The Bridge (Broen) The stupid quips that are endless even when SPOLIER ALERT!
when Emma dies.
No real sense of danger regarding stunts, as all CGI, even dangling from underneath the lift is spoilt by average CGI work. I'm so sorry to be a downer but this year has just been one disappointment after another, Avengers, Dark Knight..But little films that entertained me more (and friends) go unseen and brushed off. I LOVE BOND FILMS but this one was average.
 
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I found it very average too couldnt wait for it to end.
Had high hopes as all the reviews were good i guess i was expecting a different Bond movie.
I enjoyed Casino Royale more and even thats not one of favourite Bond films.
 
. Like a few felt let down. What happened to the vast conspiracy of industrialists. The poor acting (except for Albert finney). Oh weres the baddie - just happens to be in the black audi 5 yards away! I want to be captured and put in a glass case (Avengers anyone?).the lame effect (dodgy face aka darkman?). Tube crash (die hard 3?). Oh and what tube is an train is empty at rush hour? Bond slips on boat for quickie _next morning standing on deck surrounded by armed guards errr explanation? Field agent that just happens to be good secretary and called moneypenny! The new Q who is so thick he plugs the supper hacker spy come baddies laptop directly in to the MI6 network. Sorry more I think about it the worse it was.

All of these I noticed, but they didn't ruin the film for me. I would give it a solid 8 out of 10 - it's definitely entertaining and I feel like its a good addition to the franchise.

The worst bit for me was all the technobabble/cryptography stuff, I just hate hearing it in movies.

And as for the tube train being empty, wait for the blu-ray and pause it just as the train comes through the wall, you'll notice it says "Not In Service" on the front. That explains that one away! :D
 
I quite like the Bond films for what they are... entertaining fun and excapism.

However, I can't call ANY Bond film a great film. They are all formulaic and similar plot wise and seem to be as much about... locations, gadgets, girls and glamour... than they are about real quality plots and scripts.

As I said... I DO like them and I DO own the new bluray boxset... but I can't call any of them... "great". Give me "Raiders..." as an action classic any day over Bond. IMHO. :hiya:

However, I will definately be giving "Skyfall" a full viewing at the cinema (but with my usual Bond reservations and expectations).
 
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Sorry if I'm sounding down on Skyfall, we are allowed to differ from your reviews are we not? Great reviews but come on Cas, the storyline Law Abiding Citizen, or Danish TV's The Bridge (Broen) The stupid quips that are endless even when SPOLIER ALERT!
when Emma dies.
No real sense of danger regarding stunts, as all CGI, even dangling from underneath the lift is spoilt by average CGI work. I'm so sorry to be a downer but this year has just been one disappointment after another, Avengers, Dark Knight..But little films that entertained me more (and friends) go unseen and brushed off. I LOVE BOND FILMS but this one was average.

I don't think I ever made out that you couldn't disagree with my reviews.

Indeed I appear to be in the minority in that I loved it.
 
I don't know whether we'll get any closer to classic Bond though, which isn't such a bad thing. Personal, character-driven tales are what audiences expect now, not pure spectacles like some of the old ones were.

Interesting point. I do hope that they progress on to a more classic outing, as that is arguably what Craig's trilogy has built up to, but you're right, maybe we've come to expect too much. Hopefully they'll be able to get the balance right, and provide classic Bond spectacle and escapist extravagance (Bond girl; villain threatening to take over / destroy the world) whilst also maintaining the welcome character developments that these new entries have become so adept at portraying.

Cheers for the comments, glad you enjoyed the review - and the film! :thumbsup:

Cas
 
I quite like the Bond films for what they are... entertaining fun and excapism.

However, I can't call ANY Bond film a great film. They are all formulaic and similar plot wise and seem to be as much about... locations, gadgets, girls and glamour... than they are about real quality plots and scripts.

As I said... I DO like them and I DO own the new bluray boxset... but I can't call any of them... "great". Give me "Raiders..." as an action classic any day over Bond. IMHO. :hiya:

However, I will definately be giving "Skyfall" a full viewing at the cinema (but with my usual Bond reservations and expectations).

Well I agree that most of the Bonds work better from an escapism point of view, but did you feel the same way about Casino Royale, for example?

Skyfall definitely doesn't fit in with the older classic Bonds in this regard, it's a much more personal story (as with the other Craig films) so perhaps you'll find it more enjoyable...?

Anyways, do let us know,
Cas
 

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