Bond 23 - SKYFALL - November 2012

[powerhour24]

To be honest these are thoughts that had me conflicted the whole time I was watching it fluttering between straining credulity & enjoyment, not a sat after & thought about it analysis.

Ghost Protocol knows it's light, & it's breezy and tries some daring stuff in its first half, unfortunately for me the last section was a bit too reminiscent of the the bad, ridiculous later Connery/all of Moore's Bond films (the scene with Renner in the super computer especially). But the Burj Khalifa scene is far & away the most stunning human-performed stunt put to film I think.

 

[powerhour24]

I kind of feel like I need my eyes checked or half the world is taking crazy pills to call this Deakins' best work. I wouldn't put it over most of his Coens' films, and certainly not over The Assassination of Jesse James.

 

[deep]

I liked Jesse James, but True Grit may be about my favorite.

I watched it once, thought it was good. Then went back and watched it a couple of more times. My opinion went way up with the repeated viewings.

 

[powerhour24]

Agreed on True Grit being a grower, I'd still give Jesse James the edge in cinematography & as an overall film though. But those shots of Rooster & the girl silhouetted against the night sky & desperately riding for help were stunning & haunting. Very memorable.

 

[Lancemc]

I'm just going to take a moment to lazily copy and paste a couple tweets I made yesterday here that apply (not to Skyfall, as I haven't seen it yet):

I feel continually alienated by my own opinion that Roger Deakins is an obviously capable DP, but far from exceptional or interesting ... He displays the pinnacle of Hollywood handsomeness or fashionable visual aesthetic, either conventional/utilitarian as with the Coens ... or more safely stylized (Jesse James), but is it meaningful or stimulating like the work of the late great Harris Savides for example?

 

[Jive Turkey]

Do I have to see the previous 2 Daniel Craig Bond films before I see this one?

 

[deep]

Only if you want to see the better films

direct answer no, this film does not need a set up.

 

[corianderstem]

Loooooooooooooooooooooooved it.

So fun.

 

[powerhour24]

Do I have to see the previous 2 Daniel Craig Bond films before I see this one?

No. This quasi reboots the reboot. It brings the Daniel Craig series much more in line with the tropes of the Bond series that Casino Royale & Quantum of Solace actively avoided & subverted; and the only ongoing continuity thing is the relationship between Dench's M & Craig's Bond.

 

[powerhour24]

I'm just going to take a moment to lazily copy and paste a couple tweets I made yesterday here that apply (not to Skyfall, as I haven't seen it yet):

I feel continually alienated by my own opinion that Roger Deakins is an obviously capable DP, but far from exceptional or interesting ... He displays the pinnacle of Hollywood handsomeness or fashionable visual aesthetic, either conventional/utilitarian as with the Coens ... or more safely stylized (Jesse James), but is it meaningful or stimulating like the work of the late great Harris Savides for example?

I don't know if I'd go so far as to call his work with the Coens "conventional" (O Brother Where Art Thou alone makes that blanket statement untrue), but I've never subscribed to the Deakins as pinnacle of cinematographers school myself either. I'd also contend that his work on Jesse James very much adds to what the film is trying to accomplish, he chilled melancholy of the atmosphere mirroring the two sides of melancholy discontent in the film's 2 title characters, the lush landscapes & use of shadows elevating the tropes of "Western" genre material to something more, something beautiful, etc. It's not a radical breakthrough but it is very much a part of what makes that film so complete.

Maybe you'd care to elaborate more on Savides as a choice whose work was more meaningful. Outside of Zodiac, I always found his photography serviceable but not especially noteworthy beyond a few choice elements in his better work like The Game or weirdly enough even Somewhere.

 

[powerhour24]

But I guess thinking more about your statement, yes he is Hollywood & content to be skillful in that swimming pool (but I continue to set Jesse James apart from that), unlike someone like say Lubezki who brings his maverick artist tendency to Hollywood & isn't satisfied to take a paycheck & make something look generically lavish.

 

[Lancemc]

Well, again, he's very talented. I just fine him lacking in versatility, which isn't in itself a negative, except when I find so much of his work merely serviceable artistically while being that kind of Hollywood attractive. His work with the Coens is definitely some of his most stimulating, but even some of the time not very interesting. Jesse James I find a bit affected, eh. Just not really a fan of that film in general.

Savides popped into my head just because they're somewhat contemporaries and he's been on my mind lately, RIP. But he was a continually explorative and challenging DP, his work with Van Sant varied and wonderfully textural, always evocative. Then his work with Fincher in a different register, same with Coppola and Baumbach from that and so on. Not to make it all about versatility, in general he's more of an artist to me, whereas Deakins is a measured expert journeyman.

I do have his digital work really stimulating so far though and he's a great interviewee.

 

[deep]

"Skyfall" opened to massive success, proving that moviegoers are still obsessed with Bond ... James Bond. Arguably, one of the major draws of James Bond films is their litany of sexy Bond girls.

The James Bond of "Skyfall," Daniel Craig, sat down with Global Grind and was asked who he would cast as a Bond girl -- Rihanna or Beyonce.

Craig didn't hesitate to name Rihanna the victor of that contest. Why? "She's dirtier."

and make Justin Bieber the villain
guarantee that will shatter all box office records

Justin Bieber Wins Villain Of The Year NME Award Night Before His Birthday | Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com

 

[PhilsFan]

I LIKE this movie.

 

[lazarus]

more like SkyFAIL, amirite??


Deep's hyperbolic negativity is wrong, as usual.

One of the best in the series, easily.

 

[corianderstem]

I was reading some chatter today about what some folks disliked about it ... while I had to agree with some of the points, I don't care. I still had a blast watching it.

 

[Lancemc]

more like SkyFAIL, amirite??


Deep's hyperbolic negativity is wrong, as usual.

One of the best in the series, easily.

And with such tough competition too.

But no, I'm rather excited. Seeing it Wednesday.

 

[lazarus]

And with such tough competition too.

Really my thoughts exactly. I think the series overall has been a lot of fun (though I find the Brosnan Bonds rote and boring), but very few have any merit as cinema.

So I was pretty optimistic a legit director and cinematographer were going to have a big effect.

 

[PhilsFan]

I liked Brosnan as Bond, but I agree, the scripts were weak during that era. I don't think it was his fault. And I did like Goldeneye a lot.

 

[Lancemc]

There are really only a small handful of Bond films I really like - From Russia With Love, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, The Spy Who Loved Me, both Craig films to varying degrees. And that's more or less it. I need to revisit Dr. No though, as I feel that one might hold up rather well. Otherwise, yeah, the all the rest are enjoyable in their Bond-ness with a few exceptions, but wholly worthless.

 

[lazarus]

Dr. No is very good. And of course I'd have to add Goldfinger to that list.

And I have a soft spot for You Only Live Twice. There's some really cool visuals in that film along with the Roald Dahl script, and of course you have some of the obnoxious set pieces that would be fodder for films like Austin Powers.

Plus, Connery in yellowface.

 

[LemonMelon]

I liked this film quite a bit. It's a B+ or so, sunk partially by a rather bland narrative and a contrived "oh jeez we've been around 50 years let's get back to basics" and "fucking hell, we're old" attitude that kept the thing grounded. It was tough to get swept away, as gorgeous as Mendes assured this film would look (everything in Macau, damn). Otherwise, I only have positive comments to make. As much as I bitch about how creaky the film seemed at times, the action sequences, particularly in the first 5 and last 30 minutes were highly memorable. Most of the actors were terrific, particularly Bardem, who put in a hammy and uniquely likable performance. Craig's Bond isn't Rambo anymore, which is good, even though he's growing old before his time. We put up with Brosnan longer than we have thus far enjoyed Craig; don't retire him yet.

It was a bit too self-aware for my liking, but also warm, fun and easy on the eyes. Glad I saw it.

I have not, for the record, seen Solace; the reviews at the time were so mixed that I didn't feel the need. Now, I'm in a Bond sort of place, so I'll give it a chance.

 

[LemonMelon]

Forgot to mention, I thought Adele's tune was one of the best Bond themes in a very long time. I had somehow managed to avoid hearing it once before seeing the film, so I can now associate it with that classic Bond credits imagery.

 

[corianderstem]

I'm not sure I ever got around to seeing any of the Brosnan Bonds.

 

[Lancemc]

I liked this well enough. On par with the last two, I guess. Peaks early with the first set-piece and opening credits, which might be the series best. Holy shit, the overrunning tone of the film is annoying though. Would make a great drinking game: every time somebody says "old," "old-fashioned," "old ways," or some other such derivation. Mendes remains as unsubtle a filmmaker as ever, and I wasn't overly impressed with his action filmmaking. It's no Casino Royale in terms of maintaining a groove, and that film did a lot to craft its own iconography instead of revisiting old iconography with a thousands winks and nudges. Whatever. Handsome movie though, far from Deakins best work.

Made me want to revisit True Grit for that.

 

[LemonMelon]

Hey, I agree with literally every word Lance wrote, down to the letter.

 

[lazarus]

Not even a mention of the Shanghai neon scenes, Lance?

Certainly not typical for Deakins.

 

[Lancemc]

Not typical, no. His work on In Time definitely shows here with further embellishment. They were very attractive. The silhouetted fight in one-shot in that sequence was another highlight of the film.

 

[deep]

I liked this well enough. On par with the last two, I guess. Peaks early with the first set-piece and opening credits, which might be the series best. Holy shit, the overrunning tone of the film is annoying though. Would make a great drinking game: every time somebody says "old," "old-fashioned," "old ways," or some other such derivation. Mendes remains as unsubtle a filmmaker as ever, and I wasn't overly impressed with his action filmmaking. It's no Casino Royale in terms of maintaining a groove, and that film did a lot to craft its own iconography instead of revisiting old iconography with a thousands winks and nudges. Whatever. Handsome movie though, far from Deakins best work.

Made me want to revisit True Grit for that.

thank you
I had about the same impressions, I obviously am not as articulate as you.

 

[phanan]

Bond 50, which is the new box set of all the films, is on sale today only at Amazon for $99.99. That's 22 films on Blu-Ray for a hundred bucks.