A Few Words About A few words about...™ Skyfall -- in Blu-ray (2 Viewers)

[JoshZ]

What are bad are the bluescreen shots in the cable car fight and boat chase.

I believe the cable car scene was more likely rear projection than blue screen. < /nitpicking >

I've always found the shuttle flight and space station quite effective despite obviously not being up to 2001 or Star Wars standard. The budget costs are shown on-screen with the very lavish look of the film.

The movie has some really terrific sets and production design, I'll give it that.

 

[JoshZ]

Totally random, while walking home tonight, someone drove past me blaring Shirley Bassey's "Moonraker" theme from their car stereo. Weird coincdence, unless one of you here drives a yellow Mustang.

 

[SilverWook]

Star Wars came out two years earlier and had much more convincing model and miniature work. The spaceships in Star Wars seemed to have size and weight and physical presence, whereas the shuttles and space station in Moonraker just look like models. I see this as a common problem in Derek Meddings' work, all the way up through GoldenEye. His miniatures are certainly very detailed, but something about the way they're photographed doesn't come across right. Also, the shuttle launches in Moonraker have the same problem as You Only Live Twice, where the booster rockets produce only a small amount of smoke and are clearly illuminated from inside by light bulbs. That's a big suspension of disbelief killer.

But you're willing to believe spacecraft can engage in WWII style dogfights, and have roaring engine sounds in a vacuum? There was a rocket test flown in the 90's that resembles the YOLT rocket. I can only say in my defense I grew up watching those old Gerry Anderson shows, and was probably brainwashed long before I saw Moonraker on the big screen. It was the first Bond I ever saw in a theater, so I do cut it some slack. I am glad the Bond people have largely resisted the lure doing everything CGI, with the exception of Die Another Day.

 

[JoeDoakes]

I liked Skyfall. It's definitely not the best Bond ever (and I think Casino Royale may be the better Craig). However, the title song was the best in a very very long time.

 

[JoshZ]

There was a rocket test flown in the 90's that resembles the YOLT rocket.

I love how it toppled over and exploded at the end.

 

[Oblivion138]

I like Skyfall a lot, but that's mostly to do with the cinematic trinity of Mendes/Deakins/Baird. And also the across-the-board excellent performances (with Ralph Fiennes being easily the most overlooked member of the wonderful cast). The script, however, doesn't exactly concern itself with making much sense a lot of the time. Which is why Casino Royale strikes me as a better films overall. A little narrative cohesion goes a long way. Also, Adele's singing nearly puts me to sleep. I will say, though, that on purely technical terms, I can't think of a better Bond movie than Skyfall.

 

[Yorkshire]

It's very difficult. I think it's the Bond film that tries most to be a good film, rather than a good Bond film. A lot of what is good about it is not something you'd necessarily think of as being typical of a Bond film. But at the same time it's clear that Mendes was aware of other people's concerns that he'd make this a drama and remove the action elements. Steve W

 

[Ejanss]

Almost seems like this was originally groomed to be the big FINALE to the Bond series ("This is the end...")-- It won't be, of course, because of the UK box office, but a sense that they didn't want Quantum of Solace to be the official final "Franchise killer" like License to Kill was for Broccoli, and give it a decent sendoff before anyone else's further attempts to "reboot" it made it even Bourne-ier. There's definitely a Dark Knight Rises series-wrapup feel of Bond coming back from having Everything In His Hero World Blown Up, the same as I've been getting from the trailers to Iron Man 3 and Hangover III, both declared as "final" movies.

 

[FanboyZ]

James Bond will always return. There will never be a "final 007 film".

 

[Brandon Conway]

Originally Posted by FanboyZ
James Bond will always return.
There will never be a "final 007 film".

Yeah, it's more of a wrap up of the prologue than anything. We're basically at the Dr. No through Thunderball starting point - Moneypenny, Q, simple two room office for Moneypenny/M, experienced 007, etc. Now for the meat of the 007 series.
Besides, Craig is locked in for at least two more.

 

[Tom M]

Almost seems like this was originally groomed to be the big FINALE to the Bond series ("This is the end...")-- It won't be, of course, because of the UK box office, but a sense that they didn't want Quantum of Solace to be the official final "Franchise killer" like License to Kill was for Broccoli, and give it a decent sendoff before anyone else's further attempts to "reboot" it made it even Bourne-ier.

I hardly think Quantum would've been a "franchise killer" considering the massive box office for it ($586 million worldwide, $168 million in the US alone). Reviews for Quantum were mixed but it was clearly liked by the masses. Personally, I like it and have no issues with it. Licence To Kill made $156 million worldwide on a $34 million budget. I seriously doubt anyone was disappointed with that. The franchise was derailed by lawsuits and other issues. Broccoli wanted to wait untill everything was settled before making another Bond film (according to him anyway). I personally see NO connection with Bourne and Bond and just don't get why people keep comparing them. Different concepts, styles, etc. As for Moonraker, it was the first Bond movie I saw in theaters and my introduction the character. I'll never hate it. In fact, I love it MORE as an adult than as a 9 year old! I love Roger Moore as Bond! Not that I don't enjoy Connery, Lazenby or the others. They've all been great as Bond, IMHO. I've enjoyed all the Bond movies, to varying degrees, but I've never seen a Bond movie I outright disliked.

Yeah, it's more of a wrap up of the prologue than anything. We're basically at the Dr. No through Thunderball starting point - Moneypenny, Q, simple two room office for Moneypenny/M, experienced 007, etc. Now for the meat of the 007 series. Besides, Craig is locked in for at least two more.

Skyfall is the conclusion of the "Origins Of Bond" trilogy that began with Casino Royale. No attempt should be made to see it as anything more. The next film will no doubt be "back to business".

 

[Bob Cashill]

Presumably Ralph Fiennes and Naomie Harris will be back on board, too. Too bad that Sam Mendes won't be; you'd think he want to finish (or begin) what he started.

 

[Tommy R]

I'd be SHOCKED if Finnes and Harris don't come back. I'm sure they have some sort of contract agreement for at least the rest of the Craig era. I wouldn't be surprised if they were slightly smaller roles than in Skyfall, though. I'm crossing my fingers that Jeffery Wright will come back as Leiter. I think he could've been used more in QoS.

 

[Ejanss]

I hardly think Quantum would've been a "franchise killer" considering the massive box office for it ($586 million worldwide, $168 million in the US alone). Reviews for Quantum were mixed but it was clearly liked by the masses. Personally, I like it and have no issues with it. Licence To Kill made $156 million worldwide on a $34 million budget. I seriously doubt anyone was disappointed with that. The franchise was derailed by lawsuits and other issues. Broccoli wanted to wait untill everything was settled before making another Bond film (according to him anyway).

If you've watched the (insanely good) recent documentary "Everything Or Nothing", although they skim over a lot of history to keep it to 90 minutes, they do a good comprehensive job of dissecting What Went Wrong with Licence, why it had received such critical slams for being "dark", "violent" and "depressing", and why it had (unfairly?) taken Timothy Dalton down along with the entire pre-Brosnan franchise, including the legal messes. (Dalton still defends Licence's ugly style with "But 007's not for kids, he's for adults!") it's basically coincidence that Quantum and Licence had almost the exact same story (with the 80's drug dealer replaced with a new headline-trendy 00's water dealer), but most of the reviews for Skyfall made it clear that even if Quantum's box office hadn't been "sabotaged" by Twilight in US theaters, you couldn't blame the critical drubbing it had taken on anybody else. Rogue-Bond without Queen and Country was a nasty thug, and there was no appeal, with or without "running story arcs" or Bourne-cams.

I personally see NO connection with Bourne and Bond and just don't get why people keep comparing them. Different concepts, styles, etc.

Here, either you dropped your white cane, or you missed the car chase at the beginning of Quantum.

 

[SilverWook]

I love how it toppled over and exploded at the end.

Experimental cutting edge rockets tend to do that more than anyone likes to admit. SpaceX is working on something similar now.

 

[Johnny Angell]

Star Wars came out two years earlier and had much more convincing model and miniature work. The spaceships in Star Wars seemed to have size and weight and physical presence, whereas the shuttles and space station in Moonraker just look like models. I see this as a common problem in Derek Meddings' work, all the way up through GoldenEye. His miniatures are certainly very detailed, but something about the way they're photographed doesn't come across right. Also, the shuttle launches in Moonraker have the same problem as You Only Live Twice, where the booster rockets produce only a small amount of smoke and are clearly illuminated from inside by light bulbs. That's a big suspension of disbelief killer.

It's not just the money you spend on FX, but who you hire to do it, and what you think is good enough. Up until recently (don't ask me to define recently) all the "big" effects in Bond were a little cheesy, IMHO. Outer space effects were the cheesiest of all. Bond survived all that because we love Bond. Now we're getting Bond movies with (IMHO) great effects. The production level of the Bond movies have been noticeably raised.

 

[AstonMartin007]

Well I just picked this up as part of the Daniel Craig Bond trilogy Bluray pack, and I have to say it does look great. I saw it in IMAX, but Skyfall really wasn't meant for large format projection, it looked slightly blurry, whereas everything's tack sharp here. I still think the Shanghai scene looked more impressive in the theater, but that's probably because nothing can really duplicate the scale and sound of IMAX.

Maybe I'm seeing things, but it seems that among all the Bond references, there are also some Hitchcock references...the 2 falling bodies, Bond in the beginning and the assassin in the middle, just like Vertigo; Judi Dench's jacket in the beginning looks very similar to the one Madeleine wears in Scottie's house; the train going into the tunnel and Silva hiding among black-capped police remind me of North by Northwest and the burning mansion...Rebecca? I've also always wondered if the detached helicopter tail, given an extra shot, is a reference to the Bin Laden Abbottabad mission.

As for being the best Bond film...nah. I view it in a different light from the other Bond flims, it's a celebration of Bond, the kind of film Die Another Day might've been if there were anyone semi-competent in the crew. Even so, it's a bit too technically accomplished for its own good, the plot really falters during the cringy hacking scene and Sam Mendes just doesn't have the imagination to disguise it. I don't think Niome Harris really justified her presence in the film, she and Craig just don't have the chemistry, and strangely, I thought some of Craig's line deliveries were subpar. As a whole though, it's still entertaining and Craig and Co. have succeeded in rebuilding Bond after the embarrassing Brosnan years. Despite Mendes' reputation though, I think Campbell's Casino Royale is the bolder, fresher film.

If Mendes is doing Bond 24-25, I hope he focuses more on atmosphere and characterization rather than action, there are 1-2 fights in Skyfall that seem superfluous, and we know what Silva thinks of those...