Spectre

[cinemabon]

Mike Wilson was so worried about telling Dench they intended to "kill her off" in "Skyfall" that before the luncheon, he called her agent to break the news. According to Craig, she showed up at the lunch all "red eyed and angry." After Craig told her, "But you'll die in my arms, Judy!" she evidently calmed down and by the end of the lunch was laughing. (see Charlie Rose last week).

I love the current supporting cast including Walz and I can't go into why I also like Walz because it would give away the ending. Ralph Fiennes has to play it straight as the head of MI5 about to be decapitated. Oddly enough, his counterpart at MI6 - C, Andrew Scott - played such a great villain in "Sherlock" it's almost impossible to see him as any but a villain. Naomi Harris had other scenes in "Spectre" as they tried to expand her role. But when they entered post production, they cut her part back to the needed scenes as the film ran almost three hours in length. As to Ben Whishaw, he's proved his worth as "Q" giving us the needed comic relief during times of crisis. His role is also expanded in "Spectre" and I can't see anyone else playing the quartermaster.

As to who will be the next Bond, Wilson and Broccoli have promised Craig he can return if he wants to be Bond again. Will he and Mendes repeat another Bond? According to both men on the Charlie Rose interview, they are reluctant to say. Opening week in Europe, "Spectre" broke the previous "during the week" opening held by "Harry Potter..." If Craig and Mendes are offered enough and the script is good, they'll be back. Mendes stated that he and Craig worked closely on the script with writers Logan, Purvis and Wade (sounds like a law firm). When you add in the Foreign BO, 150 million is a strong opening weekend.

[tabuno]

I was really skeptically going to see Spectre and only did so because someone else wanted to see it. First off, I enjoyed Spectre more than I thought I would, but alas, I'm with the majority of Imdb reviewers in feeling that this Bond version doesn't have the same compelling presentation as say Casino Royale (2006). I really was taken aback in a good way with how Sam Mendes directed the car chase scenes, I couldn't believe that car chases could be really improved on the screen that much any more. The Spectre plot was also very involving and kept my interest throughout the movie. I even enjoyed the Roger Moore comedic dialogue that was smoothly and adeptly incorporated into the movie.

Even though I understand of the impossible action scenes of Bond movies, Spectre just seemed use the same variations over and over again so much so that I was getting pretty tired of the repetition and also the illogical escapes, like where does an airplane seemingly come from nowhere? There is a lot more predictability in this movie also, with not a lot of surprises going on. Even Christoph Waltz wasn't able to fully capture the evil incarnate, using his typical on-screen persona, and perhaps too much of a dissociation of his emotions to really scare the audience. I was in fact hoping for a really nice twist with one of the female characters that never came, a pretty big letdown. Overall, Spectre was decent, better than I had anticipated and I'm glad I saw it, but it isn't a Bond movie that I'd care to see again. It's maybe time for Craig Daniel to move on and based on this movie, he is wise to do so on top.

[cinemabon]

The most costly Bond ever has finally made its $300 million dollar budget back as Broccoli and Wilson hold their collective breath. Worldwide grosses passed the 500 million dollar mark this week, making "Spectre" the highest grossing Bond of all time, so there's no denying its popularity. However, I have to agree with you, Tab, on its predictability. The film's ending gives Craig an easy exit. He could say he ended up with the total package (as Bond). He made a ton of money on this movie and could walk away, set for life, destined to be compared to Connery in every aspect. I believe the series has come full circle. After 24 Bond movies, what more is there to say? They've done every book and repeated several with different versions. Perhaps its time to retire Bond permanently and move on to other things.

[tabuno]

If this is Daniel Craig's last Bond film, there is a sense of heroic American/English justice in his sweetheart ending after all the tragedy Bond has endured, even losing a wife and a close girlfriend. bond deserves a sustained, redeeming, and nurturing happiness, hopefully all us do. With Thanksgiving coming up even with all the Christmas commercialism, maybe this particular Bond allows us to reflect on what we truly can be thankful for...for the sacrifice and pain each of endure every single day.

[Johann]

Great stuff guys.

Daniel Craig is a great James Bond.

[cinemabon]

"Spectre" passes the $800 million mark making it the second biggest Bond of all time - second only to "Skyfall" also made by the same director/star arrangement.