The James Bond franchise is one of the longest running ones in movie history. With its 24th movie, there still is a huge audience wanting to see 007. It’s a character that’s still appealling. This does mean that the world in which it is set needs adjusting once in a while to remain relevant. When Daniel Craig took over the baton from Pierce Brosnan in Casino Royale the series moved away from the weird gadgets en the secret agent lived in a realistic world which was a whole lot darker. Het became a man with feelings who was in real danger. Despite the fact that its sequel, Quantum of Solace, wasn’t as good it was Skyfall (with it’s winks to the past) and an impressive bad guy which won over the hearts of both the public and the reviewers. Does Spectre manage to do the same?
During its opening in Mexico City, during the day of the dead (with an impressive number of extras), the camera follows Bond in one seemingly continuous shot through the crowd, into an hotel and to a person he is tracking. It is an impressive and beautiful opening to the film. We learn though that Bond wasn’t allowed to do so and M tells him he isn’t allowed to work anymore. M himself has to fight bureaucracy as the existence of the 00 division is in danger. Still 007 decides to ignore his orders and follow instructions he has received in a mysterious message. Those bring him into the world of the shadow organisation Spectre and its mysterious and elusive leader.
Unfortunately Spectre doesn’t manage to reach the same high level of its predecessor and seem to harken back to the older Bond movies in order to offer something “new” to Daniel Craig’s Bond. He now has several gadgets again, including a car with various weapons and a special watch. Unrealistic moments are added just to add spectacle, which seem out of place. An example of this is a chase scene in the snow in which Bond decides he’ll use a plane to pursue several cars. It are these type of moments which make it feel like the more human, vulnerable Bond is slowly disappearing, making way for the way it always has been. Whereas the humour in the previous movies had the right tone, here it seems out of place and don’t fit the character.
With its 148-minute running time it also feels overly long. It offers too little convincing spectacle and doesn’t generate the emotional impact you’ve come to expect. The script simply isn’t strong enough and one of the twists you can see coming from a mile away. Léa Seydoux tries hard in her role as the Bondgirl, but there isn’t any chemistry, making it hard to believe she has a connection with Bond. Spectre is a film which looks great from the outside, but the inner beauty isn’t there enough to be able to measure up to Skyfall, making it a disappointment. As Daniel Craig also has allegedly been very negative about his role as Bond this might be the right moment to look for a new actor and a new feel for the next movie.
I’m intrigued by Spectre, so I’m disappointed to hear that you weren’t such a fan. I’ll still definitely check it out, though I do wonder if the push towards the “fun Bond” may not be the right move. We’ll see…
Yeah, I now have come to expect something from this Bond and it just didn’t offer that. I don’t want, like you say, more “fun Bond”
I’m really worried about the mediocre scores. It is so high on my anticipated list. I’m still anxious to see it but now I am a little more cautious.
Well, I now how you feel now about it.
One of the few lukewarm reviews I’ve read. I’m looking forward to catching up with Spectre.
Well, now that it is out in the US I feel it’s been getting more of those lukewarm reviews there
I sat there waiting for something to happen and alas, nothing did, at least nothing for me to get excited over. I thought I had missed a trick. But all I could think sitting in the theatre was “this is a bit of a mess.”
Yeah, it tried to give this sense of something big and important to happen towards the end….but the important moments never materialized.
Sad to say it, but I agree with pretty much everything above. Watched this the night of the UK opening and still haven’t been able to condense my ramblings. I thought the opening 5 mins were spectacular, but after that it coasted and leaned far too heavily on the old films (visually, story-wise, action, characters etc)
I don’t think the issue is with Craig, but that the entire production buckled and ‘went safe’ with the prospect of having to follow up Skyfall. From what I can gather, Joe Public loves this – but Bond Fans (myself included) are disappointed.
“Spectre is a film which looks great from the outside, but the inner beauty isn’t there” – nailed it. This feels like all surface and sheen, but too familiar and pedestrian.
Yeah, I guess it is safe and wanted to borrow too much from the classic Bond films.
We’re having a James Bond war of words on our site today – I think, based on this, you need to weigh in!
I’ll stay out of any wars 😉
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