SKYFALL Post-Release - Page 17

Casino Royale was New Bond Begins. I would call this Old Bond Begins. They got the Bourne out of their system and they're after something of their own.

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Originally Posted by MrSaxon 

 

I feel like Artax drowning in the swamp of sadness reading this. Out of everyone on these boards, I figured you and Mr. Stockslivevan would be with me on fighting for it to return to the beginning (as you both seem to be the biggest Bond fans), Doc. Don't let me down! 

I thought a lot about this late last night after reading your post. Here is what I decided:

After the "book end" Gun Barrels in Casino Royale and Quantum, there existed a window to move the gun barrel back up front for the film Mendes and Craig called a "Bond movie with a capital B". They chose not to. For better or worse, the convention is now that the films will end with the gun barrel rather than begin with it. While I might have a fondness for the old style approach, I think now it's too late to change. If you have the gun barrel up front for Bond 24, it's only going to seem disharmonious in the context of Craig's other films. Why one way on one film, and a different way on the next? It draws attention to itself and only makes it seem as if the producers decided putting it at the end was a "wrong" approach and now are taking measures to correct that. If that happens, every time we watch Quantum or Skyfall, we'll think that the gun barrel at the end is a mistake, a flaw in the film. Better to just accept that we have a new convention for the time being. When Craig leaves, moving the gun barrel up front could be a good way to signal that change and differentiate the next actor's tenure. For now though, I think we need to stick with the status quo... which isn't all bad.

What are the advantages? It's a damn punchy way to end a Bond movie, and it's proven to be versatile in application thus far. Whether or not it follows a somber shot of a necklace in the snow, or a rousing line delivery ("With pleasure, M. With pleasure"), it's a great way to give a jolt of energy to the end of a Bond movie, and send audiences out on a high note, a way to remind people that James Bond Will Return.

Now keep in mind I think Mendes was spot on in his praise for the gun barrel being used at the top of the film. He says the moment the gun barrel happens after the studio logos is "like christmas" because in that moment, "anything is possible". This sums up my own feelings on the gun barrel perfectly. Whatever happens next, you know James Bond will be there, and that's exciting.

However the lack of gun barrel up top has opened interesting possibilities that never before existed at the start of a Bond movie.

The gun barrel, when it fades out to the circle wipe, seems to always go to a static or panning establishing shot of a location. The few times this has not been the case (TWINE, when the wipe revealed Bond crossing the street), people have actively complained.

Without the need to make a graceful transition / wipe from the white circle, you open up the possibilities for opening the film. Quantum has an elegant helicopter shot zooming across a lake, and Skyfall has a cool hallway shot of Bond slowly walking into focus. Neither of these openers would have been possible without the elimination of the gun barrel up front. Instead the reveal of Bond (whether with elemental glimpses of his car, or Craig's flinty eyes in Quantum, or Bond materializing before our eyes in Skyfall) now has taken on increased significance without our first image of Bond in the movie being him walking in a tux against a white background.

So I think while we loose a cool tradition, we gain storytelling possibilities (cold opens, Miami Vice theatrical cut style are now an option when they never would have been before). So all in all I think the Craig gun barrel status quo is fine for now.

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Originally Posted by mcnooj82 

All of Craig's movies seem to change the general decor of MI6 (though I don't think we see it in Casino Royale).  In Quantum, the place looked like an Apple Store or something.

The touch screen table / scanner was one of the coolest parts of Quantum though. That is what I want to see as far as Bond gadgets in the 21st century. Tech we know exists, just maybe five more years down the line from what's available at the consumer level. That table was boss.

I tried to think of a good counter-argument to what you've written, Doc, but have to admit that your points are well thought out, and that your reasoning for those points is quite sound. I do very much want the gun barrel sequence to return to the beginning, but perhaps it would be best if that waited until the next actor stepped up to play Bond. Unless someone else can counter your points with an equally capable argument, I (unexpectedly) find myself agreeing with you.

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Originally Posted by MrSaxon 

I tried to think of a good counter-argument to what you've written, Doc, but have to admit that your points are well thought out, and that your reasoning for those points is quite sound. I do very much want the gun barrel sequence to return to the beginning, but perhaps it would be best if that waited until the next actor stepped up to play Bond. Unless someone else can counter your points with an equally capable argument, I (unexpectedly) find myself agreeing with you.

I'm honored to hear you think I made a good case for my position. If Michael Fassbender's first Bond film* had the gun barrel back up front, I'd be just as happy as you would be.

*he's my choice for who should follow in Craig's footsteps.

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Originally Posted by Schwartz 

 

And again, it seems strange to go back to that version of Bond, when Skyfall puts so much emphasis on Bond as over-the-hill. 

 

That's why I don't think they will regress. I think this movie walks such a fine balance, between a reset and critical look at the franchise while also celebrating it, I don't think they're all of a sudden be going back to have him making Moore-era quips and using Connery era-gadgets. The ending, like the rest of the movie, nods at the past while setting the stakes for the future. it proves you can be flexible with the fabric of the material while also keeping stock of the history of the character and what fans of the series expect. 

I do think it will be difficult to keep this balance going forward. But if they can do it once...

Damm, she's hot.

I've said it once and I'll say it again--nobody does it better than Timothy Dalton.

Dalton swings that leg like a goddamn ballerina.  Craig's looks almost lazy.

Dalton's is my favorite. Lazenby's "take a knee" approach never jumped out at me until now. Kinda weird. 

I could see Skyfall as the third part of a Bond Begins trilogy. At the end of Casino Royale, he's out for revenge. Quantum of Solace shows him coming to terms with Vesper's death and resolving to basically be the coldest motherfucker in the game. Skyfall examines the ramifications of "the mission is everything" and has Bond open up some, ending up at a sort of peace; when Vesper died, he was pretty much quivering with rage and denial, but when M goes, he's able to let go of her, mourn, and then get back to work. We could argue how effective Skyfall (or QoS, for that matter) is at expressing this, but it's a sound character arc.

Brosnan and Dalton's gunshots look the best. Lazenby's is just dumb, like Lazenby. I think the world needs to come back around to hating Lazenby, like it was in olden times.

In other news, that gif gives me a headache. 

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Originally Posted by Sebastian OB 

Brosnan and Dalton's gunshots look the best. Lazenby's is just dumb, like Lazenby. I think the world needs to come back around to hating Lazenby, like it was in olden times.

 

In other news, that gif gives me a headache. 

The first time I saw Lazenby's, I thought it was strange.  Pretty much because they freeze-frame it (well, in any cut of the movie I've seen, it's freeze-framed).  But I really like it now, especially because the blood in Lazenby's actually clouds the view...like real blood would.  Blood isn't transparent.  

Also!  In Lazenby's, there is a subtle special effect to make it look like light is bouncing/twirling around inside the gunbarrel.  It was modest but pretty successful.  They didn't try it again until Goldeneye--and they absolutely nailed it there.  

One other thing I think I might mention is that, in most cases, the Gunbarrels are filmed once and then used throughout the rest of the actor's tenure.  Roger did two...note the 1977 flares being used up through 1985.  If he had shot a new gunbarrel each time, they would have given him a new set of pants by 1983, at least.  Craig's done at least two (I'm not sure if the gunbarrels at the end of Quantum and Skyfall are identical or not).  Connery did one, and it was used in his last three movies, and if you all are being honest with yourselves, it's terrible.  He loses his balance...it's unbelievable they used that particular take.  Brosnan did one, and Dalton did one...and theirs really work.  Stuntman Bob Simmons was in the gunbarrel used for Dr. No, FRWL, and Goldfinger.  

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Originally Posted by Mr. Stockslivevan 

Nope, Brosnan only did one and shot it for GE, you can tell by his big hair.

Yes, I'm almost certain Brosnan did one gunbarrel, and they re-used it.  I mean, he got it right the first time, and the computer effects were good, so I guess there was no need to mess with it.

My but this thread took a turn for the 'spergy.

RUNNING NECK SNAP OHHHH YEEEEAH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr_PGZtP0UM&feature=endscreen&NR=1

All the gunbarrel sequences, through 2008.  

Haha, that's awesome!  I like the slower tempo of You Only Live Twice. 

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Originally Posted by felix 

Damm, she's hot.

 

Raise your hand if you want them to bring her back  (Maud Adams style!)  in the next film.

So wasted.

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Originally Posted by machiav 

Raise your hand if you want them to bring her back  (Maud Adams style!)  in the next film.

 

So wasted.

I'll settle for The Story Of Severine, about her life before she met Bond or Silva, filmed in the style of 70s European softcore art-porn.

This thread is already four pages longer than the entire year's worth of Quantum Of Solace Post-Release Thread posts.

Is it me, or does the title sequence show close-ups of Bond's eyes both as a boy and as a man?

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Originally Posted by Mr. Stockslivevan 


Yup, likely a reference to the priest hole with Bond entering it as a boy and coming out as a man.

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Originally Posted by Doc Phibes 

This thread is already four pages longer than the entire year's worth of Quantum Of Solace Post-Release Thread posts.

 

Is it me, or does the title sequence show close-ups of Bond's eyes both as a boy and as a man?

Ha. Hadn't noticed this. This title sequence continues to get better and better.

Finally saw this today.  It's okay, but far from great.  Better than QoS but, that's not hard and I'd put it in the bottom half of Bond films.

Definitely shades of the Joker with the escape sequence, even mirroring Joker's joyride with Bardem in the SUV.  I hated most of that sequence, I felt insulted when the laptop was brought in to MI6 and knew what was to come - I actually felt an urge to walk out when the new Q hooked it up to the network.

Also, where was the bullet wound from Moneypenny's shot?  The big scar seemed to be from the bad guy, since that's the one he dug the fragments out of.  Or were the two wounds almost on top of each other?

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Originally Posted by jhp1608 


Makes most sense of all of them though. Lower and smaller target profile. Particularly if you assume your bad guy is going for a headshot.
I gave that far more thought than it deserved...

Heh. When the conversation turns to the Bond title sequence posts at a time, it's nerdy, but fun cool.

When people start discussing things like "which gun barrel version makes the most sense" and criticizing the angles certain Bond's are using, analyzing their stances, etc, well...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Phibes 

Is it me, or does the title sequence show close-ups of Bond's eyes both as a boy and as a man?

I was confused about that too until I saw the title sequence that was made available online again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirjonsnow 

 

Also, where was the bullet wound from Moneypenny's shot?  The big scar seemed to be from the bad guy, since that's the one he dug the fragments out of.  Or were the two wounds almost on top of each other?

It's lower. I didn't notice it the first time because the wound he dug the fragments out of us so dramatic, but it's there. He tells Moneypenny that she "broke a few ribs" or something. He actually has several scars on him that could be bullet wounds. 

I like to imagine these are all from previous Moneypenny team-ups.

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Originally Posted by Sebastian OB 

 

It's lower. I didn't notice it the first time because the wound he dug the fragments out of us so dramatic, but it's there. He tells Moneypenny that she "broke a few ribs" or something. He actually has several scars on him that could be bullet wounds. 

I can't find the Moneypenny wound, Sebastian.  I'm seeing Skyfall again this weekend...where should I look?  What scene is it visible in?  I've only seen the shrapnel wounds.

Finally saw this great Bond movie, in IMAX. I was not at all prepared for how much I truly wanted to cheer out loud when the Aston sped down London's streets with the old school Bond theme playing.  Wow.

When I saw Skyfall, the crowd "ohhhed" when the Aston Martin was revealed. As they should of.

Happily, the only problem I have with this movie is such a minor one; occasionally the score would wander into Baraka territory, causing my enjoyment of a spy movie to be sprinkled with Koyaanisqatsi-esque expectations.