Skyfall short review.

[amanuensis1]

I saw Skyfall over the weekend; surprisingly, though it was an engaging film, and I would certainly say it's a good action film, I didn't really like it. I love Bond films; I go into them to watch Bond thwart nuclear countdowns and save the world and pull out cool gadgets and be all kinds of smooth. And to see the latest Bond Girl and how she measures up. A Bond film where he's lost his mojo and where M has as much screentime as Bond does? It's interesting, but it's not what I go to see. I won't say more than that outside of a cut; discussion invited in the comments.

I love Daniel Craig's stoic Bond, and Judi Dench is always brilliant, but I walked out of Skyfall with a craving to watch Moonraker again. Sigh.

Comments

[lauriegilbert.livejournal.com]

You may've convinced me to actually see this one. I haven't enjoyed a Bond film before so this one being different may be the ticket!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I see a lot of reviewers saying how refreshingly different this one is, and I imagine that's why it's not clicking with me. I loved Casino Royale but this one seems like we're stuck in origin limbo, or something like. ^_^

[soawen.livejournal.com]

I was ambivalent as well. I love Judi Dench's M, so I was fine with her having so much screen time, but honestly, Q? A radio transmitter and a gun? And what was with the whole "so you're a victim of human trafficking and forced prostitution, so we'll fuck and watch you get killled"-thing? Mood killer, that one.

Good movie, just not a Bond movie.

(Also, my brother's scream of pain at the whole "Who says it's my first time"-scene was delicious. Apparently Bond wasn't supposed to be bisexual. At least if it wasn't with Q or Ralph Fiennes.)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Oh, the tragic thing is, I got NO slashy vibes over that scene; I thought both of them were just winding each other up, Silva with the creepy and Bond with the brash. Tragic, I tell you!

[soawen.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know. More the pity. But Brother is still unable to distinguish between slashy vibes and posturing. He is also convinced that relationships between two friends are hotter than between two enemies/reluctant allies, the poor dear.

He is young.

He will learn.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

*has gigglefits*

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Haha. *laughs* You see, I liked it. I thought it was very 'Bond'. Except for the part where everyone in Scotland speaks with an English accent. But I concede your point: Moonraker it ain't.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I thought it was a good film and I enjoyed what I watched, but I kept thinking, "NUCLEAR COUNTDOWN, DARNIT!" ^_^

[tealightwhimsy.livejournal.com]

I really liked it but it's also only the third Bond film I've ever seen (all Daniel Craig). However, I will say that finally being able to hear Ralph Fiennes say (half) my name (sort of) probably sugar-coated any feelings I might have otherwise had about it the film.

The scene with Silva: I also saw that as them winding each other up but still appreciated all the touching as well as the nervous tittering that rolled around the theater ;-)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

The scene with Silva: I also saw that as them winding each other up but still appreciated all the touching as well as the nervous tittering that rolled around the theater ;-) Yes! You've summarized my reaction exactly. ^_^

[lunarennui.livejournal.com]

your thoughts are almost word for word what justin and i said as we walked after seeing it. add in 'my skull is seven times too small for my brain' and 'yeah, next time i say the word IMAX please just kick me in the balls'.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I've found a few people who said similar things; the reviewer in the San Francisco Chronicle was gratifying, saying (paraphrasing) "It's good, but another one like this could kill the franchise. One is enough. Stoppit."

[lunarennui.livejournal.com]

justin said that he'd read that the idea is to 'reboot the concept'. to which i still say 'um what? you can't REBOOT james bond.'

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Well, they did reboot him in Casino Royale, but, yanno, THAT'S ENOUGH. You DIDDIT already, get on with the Bond we want to see!

[lunarennui.livejournal.com]

*flails in the direction of last comment made* WHERE ARE MY CAR CHASES AND OKAY YES HE'S A MANWHORE BUT COME ON I WANT HIM BEATING PEOPLE UP AND STUFF. (insert something intelligent there, i'm exhausted and my body keeps wandering off to paint the bloody stairwell edging against my will.)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

AND NUCLEAR COUNTDOWNS.

[lunarennui.livejournal.com]

DON'T FORGET THE EXTENSIVE 'THIS IS WHY I AM A VILLAIN AND LET ME TELL YOU AT GREAT LENGTH HOW I AM GOING TO KILL YOU AND WHATEVER WHORE YOU WERE WITH WHOM I HAVE ALREADY FUCKED OR INTEND TO LATER WHILE THIS COUNTDOWN WILL GO ON FOR FAR LONGER THAN IT REALLY DOES.'

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

And don't forget the dramatic escape capsule/submarine pod/thingy! I love those.

[lunarennui.livejournal.com]

really! it isn't a bond movie without those. or the infinite gizmos that bond gets at the beginning of every mission which all irritate him and turn out to be useful.

[lunarennui.livejournal.com]

actually, as per 'casino royale', you can. it's just really not fun.