[wushuliu]

We saw Skyfall at an Imax theater over Thanksgiving for $18 a pop. The movie was solid entertainment. What we hated was the initial commercials that the theater kept looping through the pre-show. The sound was SO LOUD that it was painful to sit through. I checked with the theater manager who advised there was little they could do to mute the sound. It was all Imax's fault (apparently). I'll never do that again.

The 30mins of commercials and promotional crap is making it too hard for me to go to the movies. I hate commercials to begin with. Like hate, hate. Once you calculate the commercial time you basically end up with the big screen equivalent of watching network television. Just one of many reasons why fewer people are going to the movies - in the U.S. anyway.

[jules]

I enjoyed Craig's troubled Bond. Of course the plot had flaws but isn't picking them out after the film, half the fun. What expert gun thieves would have left Bond's father's classic gun in the cabinet eh?

One criticism ... the ending, where Bond stoutly declares himself ready for more just didn't fit with the psychological profile they'd spent most of the film creating. The apparent purpose was to reassure us moronic fans, that just in case we really thought Bond might too unwell to come back for another film, he will. Sorry, but for me ending one series with a promo for the next is annoying. Maybe it's more interesting to enjoy wondering if there will or will not be another Bond movie?

jules

[Mikeinsacramento]

I agree Jules, and if it takes another four years to kick out the next movie, we've likely seen the last of Craig. 

[ajzepp]

I enjoyed Craig's troubled Bond. Of course the plot had flaws but isn't picking them out after the film, half the fun. What expert gun thieves would have left Bond's father's classic gun in the cabinet eh?

One criticism ... the ending, where Bond stoutly declares himself ready for more just didn't fit with the psychological profile they'd spent most of the film creating. The apparent purpose was to reassure us moronic fans, that just in case we really thought Bond might too unwell to come back for another film, he will. Sorry, but for me ending one series with a promo for the next is annoying. Maybe it's more interesting to enjoy wondering if there will or will not be another Bond movie?

jules

Every studio does that, actually. That's one of my main criticisms of larger budget films...they want the audience to have lots of sunshine blown up their arses just prior to leaving the theater. This is why I focus on indy films as much as I do, because there is much more freedom to have an ending that makes you feel like you just took a kick to the cranberries. Even the most recent Dark Knight film sort of sold out in the end...I didn't really like it, and I do agree it takes away from the experience a little (especially for those of us who are smart enough to understand the purpose), but when a studio is going to put up 200 million bucks to get a film off the ground, they're going to have some say in the way people feel when all is said and done. But to be fair, this is not unique to Skyfall....it happens all the time with studio flicks.

[jarcher]

I think I'm really in the minority here, but when I think over the last half dozen plus or so bond movies, there's nothing really memorable (with Casino Royale perhaps an exception).  Where's the wow moments - like the Lotus going into the lake, or even a mini-jet coming out of a trailer - or the hot chick scenes such as an Ursula Andress or Halle Berry coming up the beach?  Where are the really great and memorable super villains with their super fortress HQs?

I don't care if they make a new flavor of the same movie every two to four years.  When I sit down to watch a Bond flick which invariably screens after a post thanksgiving half comatose gorge-fest, I wan't to be blown away w/ the glamour, the sexy ladies, big soundtracks, explosions, chases and some amazing peak gadget moment.  Let's be honest : that's what we really want & remember.  We're not looking for Shakespeare.  We want to be shaken, not stirred. 

[ajzepp]

I think I'm really in the minority here, but when I think over the last half dozen plus or so bond movies, there's nothing really memorable (with Casino Royale perhaps an exception).  Where's the wow moments - like the Lotus going into the lake, or even a mini-jet coming out of a trailer - or the hot chick scenes such as an Ursula Andress or Halle Berry coming up the beach?  Where are the really great and memorable super villains with their super fortress HQs?

I don't care if they make a new flavor of the same movie every two to four years.  When I sit down to watch a Bond flick which invariably screens after a post thanksgiving half comatose gorge-fest, I wan't to be blown away w/ the glamour, the sexy ladies, big soundtracks, explosions, chases and some amazing peak gadget moment.  Let's be honest : that's what we really want & remember.  We're not looking for Shakespeare.  We want to be shaken, not stirred.

I know it's not exactly what you're referring to (and I really do understand your point...honest), but I really thought the Shanghai scenes were absolutely stunning. This was one series of scenes that made me really glad I chose to see this film on the IMAX. The city at night was just amazingly beautiful, and the sense of risk and combined with the visceral reality of being however many stories up in the air with the window shot out really impacted me. I loved every minute of that.

[kbuzz3]

My opinions are similar to the ones above, i.e., craig is great, the script was good here, bardim was good but i must add my 2 cents.

Way way too much Judi Dench.  Its a bond movie not an M movie. 

OTHO and without spoilers im two big thumbs up for moneypenny

[ajzepp]

As of 12/10/12, worldwide total = 918 Million....almost there!!

Currently the 23rd highest grossing film of all-time worldwide.

[wushuliu]

As of 12/10/12, worldwide total = 918 Million....almost there!!

Currently the 23rd highest grossing film of all-time worldwide.

I'm going to keep being grumpy and say that's not saying a whole lot these days. That's not that far ahead of Breaking Dawn and Amazing Spider Man and only 6th for US box office this year. What *is* impressive is how much Skyfall's BO is based on international and shows why they keep making Bond films even when they don't do as well in the U.S.

Dunno why I'm so grumpy about movies this year. Guess somebody has to be. I think it's the commercials I have to sit through. God I hate the commercials.

[Chazro]

I've been a fan since Dr. No.  Even read the series way back when.  The current Bond trilogy has gotten progressively worse with each film.  This last one was plagued with money troubles and it shows, it's the least visually impressive, has more product endorsements (Heineken, really?), and even Daniel Craig has said he wasn't happy with this last film.  Perhaps this film is the least 'Bond-ish' of the entire franchise.  Someone mentioned it featured too much Judi Densch.  The sad part is that even with this being so, the extraordinary Dame Densch couldn't make this film anything more than average.  I actually like Craig as Bond and wouldn't mind seeing him again, but they need to go back to the drawing board.  Since the writer's seem intent on reviving pieces of the legend (the car, gun, etc.), wouldn't it be grand to somehow get Sean Connery involved again!?  Maybe as his dad, James Bond Sr.?  Just a simple cameo would make the movie historic!  BTW, the fact that the movie appears to be $uccessful don't mean jack!;)

[jimdgoulding]

I have always thought Roger Moore as Jimmy was a mistake.  I think I could whip him.  Craig is popular with the public it would seem, but he seems too much like an automaton to me.  I have not seen Skyfall yet, however.  I guess Clive Owen didn't want to do the role, or maybe he wasn't asked.

[ajzepp]

lol, I can understand criticisms of the film itself...there are critically acclaimed films that I just felt were way overrated, too...but when I start hearing people say that the financial success of this film isn't a big deal, or that one BILLION worldwide isn't a lot of money, c'mon...that's just negativity for negativity's sake. A bond film making this sort of coin is a HUGE deal...especially when combined with the fact that the critical reception is as strong as it is. Not liking the movie is fine, but it's getting a bit thick in here....

[wushuliu]

lol, I can understand criticisms of the film itself...there are critically acclaimed films that I just felt were way overrated, too...but when I start hearing people say that the financial success of this film isn't a big deal, or that one BILLION worldwide isn't a lot of money, c'mon...that's just negativity for negativity's sake. A bond film making this sort of coin is a HUGE deal...especially when combined with the fact that the critical reception is as strong as it is. Not liking the movie is fine, but it's getting a bit thick in here....

Meh, But a billion is NOT a big deal anymore. How much do you think the film cost? They say $200million. And we all know what that means: it sure as hell cost more. I don't even want to know how much they spent on advertising. I bet money they are only just getting in the red, if that. And I didn't say it didn't deserve success.  I said I was disappointed due to too high expectations. My review is pretty thorough on the many good points. The main ones being the action set pieces and Deakins' cinematography and Bardem. It is certainly worth seeing.

One possible bonus of the film's success is that they will likely replicate the director forumula and get another high profile director. And we all know who not only wants to do Bond but would be perfect for the franchise, and that's Nolan. The chances of him being on board for the next are a lot higher now.

I do think that Shanghai scenes show that Inception is the best non-Bond Bond.

still hatin'
w

[ajzepp]

Meh, But a billion is NOT a big deal anymore. How much do you think the film cost? They say $200million. And we all know what that means: it sure as hell cost more. I don't even want to know how much they spent on advertising. I bet money they are only just getting in the red, if that. And I didn't say it didn't deserve success.  I said I was disappointed due to too high expectations. My review is pretty thorough on the many good points. The main ones being the action set pieces and Deakins' cinematography and Bardem. It is certainly worth seeing.

One possible bonus of the film's success is that they will likely replicate the director forumula and get another high profile director. And we all know who not only wants to do Bond but would be perfect for the franchise, and that's Nolan. The chances of him being on board for the next are a lot higher now.

I do think that Shanghai scenes show that Inception is the best non-Bond Bond.

still hatin'
w

Even with adjusted dollars, in the history of film only THIRTEEN have ever grossed a billion worldwide...I don't know what possible basis you could have for saying that's not a big deal! lol 

[wushuliu]

Even with adjusted dollars, in the history of film only THIRTEEN have ever grossed a billion worldwide...I don't know what possible basis you could have for saying that's not a big deal! lol

Really? Cause boxofficemojo lists the top 13 nonadjusted and they all came out in the last 15yrs...10 of them in the last five (!).

Anyhoos. No big deal, man. We're just talkin' here. Just shootin' the breeze.

In other news: John Logan is writing the next Bond solo, thank god.

[ajzepp]

Really? Cause boxofficemojo lists the top 13 nonadjusted and they all came out in the last 15yrs...10 of them in the last five (!).

Anyhoos. No big deal, man. We're just talkin' here. Just shootin' the breeze.

In other news: John Logan is writing the next Bond, so they're upping the pedigree at the script level, thank god.

Yes, that's what I was looking at, as well....thirteen. That's it.

I'll leave you guys to your hatin'...lol

[ajzepp]

$1,005,300,000

 

[rodge827]

We purchased this today from Vudu and thoroughly enjoyed it!   

Well worth the buy and I too feel that it is one of the best Bond flicks of the modern age. 

Loved them going retro, and the story was better than most of the previous Bonds, where special effects were the story! 

Goldfinger is still my fave though!

[Rob Babcock]

Well, I don't own a TV so "advertisements" don't bug me much.  I generally get to the theater in time to see the "ads" there, not because I like ads but because I want to be the first person in the theater to stake out a good seat.  In the typical multiplex, each room only has about six/eight seats I will sit in, gotta be in the sweet spot.   The commercials bug me a little if I'm seeing a two or three movies a week as I did week before last but otherwise I tune them out.  Personally I love the trailers!  That's the big draw of seeing the film in a theater instead of waiting for the Blu-Ray.

[Rob Babcock]

I enjoyed Craig's troubled Bond. Of course the plot had flaws but isn't picking them out after the film, half the fun. What expert gun thieves would have left Bond's father's classic gun in the cabinet eh?

This is minute point from two months ago, but the guns weren't cleaned out by thieves, they were sold to an American collector.  The groundskeeper held back the elder Bond's rifle out of sentimentality.  At least that's how I remember it.