zen Posted May 12, 2020 Author Share Posted May 12, 2020 (edited) LTK is a different type of Bond film and not for everyone. I know of people who like/love it and those who do not. Before watching it, one has to know what it stands for in Bond's lineup. People who do not like it criticize it for being unBond like, Dalton sporting a Dracula like hairstyle, Leiter appearing too casual after his wife's death, the sequence at the bar where Bond meet Pam, the background score, the writing (there was a writers' strike iirc during that time), funny gadgets, and so on. On the other hand, it has some great stunts, performances by Dalton and Davi (as Sanchez), Q in an extended role, and so on. Overall, it can be a mixed bag in general but has gained in popularity over the years. I would not term it as Dalton's best (though his performance is excellent). TLD is more universally loved. Edited May 12, 2020 by zen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranvir Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 1 hour ago, zen said: LTK is a different type of Bond film and not for everyone. I know of people who like/love it and those who do not. Before watching it, one has to know what it stands for in Bond's lineup. People who do not like it criticize it for being unBond like, Dalton sporting a Dracula like hairstyle, Leiter appearing too casual after his wife's death, the sequence at the bar where Bond meet Pam, the background score, the writing (there was a writers' strike iirc during that time), funny gadgets, and so on. On the other hand, it has some great stunts, performances by Dalton and Davi (as Sanchez), Q in an extended role, and so on. Overall, it can be a mixed bag in general but has gained in popularity over the years. I would not term it as Dalton's best (though his performance is excellent). TLD is more universally loved. The villains were simply too weak in TLD. Georgi was too camp, a general is meant to be tough. Sanchez on the other hand was great. The drug dealing aspect also made it more realistic than the typical take over/contaminate the world stories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted May 12, 2020 Author Share Posted May 12, 2020 20 minutes ago, Ranvir said: The villains were simply too weak in TLD. Georgi was too camp, a general is meant to be tough. Sanchez on the other hand was great. The drug dealing aspect also made it more realistic than the typical take over/contaminate the world stories. Bond films have all types of storylines and villains like in Octopussy (Kamal, Gobinda, and Orlov) and TLD (Gorgi, Necros, and Whitaker) you have a bunch of villains portraying different aspects, while in some films like in GF and TMWTGG the main focus is on GF and Scaramanga respectively. In the context of the films, both were good in their respective ways. I like that Gorgi is putting on a friendly act to hide his intentions but Bond can almost see through it (intuitively trusts Puskin over him). Gorgi is also working the Russian system (like seeking cooperation from the base commander in Afghanistan)without the necessary authority by using his charm and friendliness. On the other hand, Sanchez is the kingpin with everyone under his direct or indirect influence so is more authoritative. However in TLD, I would have preferred a stronger big villain in Whitaker but it is no big deal so overall am fine with the choices made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranvir Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 25 minutes ago, zen said: Bond films have all types of storylines and villains like in Octopussy (Kamal, Gobinda, and Orlov) and TLD (Gorgi, Necros, and Whitaker) you have a bunch of villains portraying different aspects, while in some films like in GF and TMWTGG the main focus is on GF and Scaramanga respectively. In the context of the films, both were good in their respective ways. I like that Gorgi is putting on a friendly act to hide his intentions but Bond can almost see through it (intuitively trusts Puskin over him). Gorgi is also working the Russian system (like seeking cooperation from the base commander in Afghanistan)without the necessary authority by using his charm and friendliness. On the other hand, Sanchez is the kingpin with everyone under his direct or indirect influence so is more authoritative. However in TLD, I would have preferred a stronger big villain in Whitaker but it is no big deal so overall am fine with the choices made. Personally I prefer the more sadistic villains like Sanchez, Zorin, Alec Trevelyn. Live and Let Die's villains were also fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted May 12, 2020 Author Share Posted May 12, 2020 (edited) Del Edited July 16, 2020 by zen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffee_rules Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Klaus Maria Brandauer as Maximillian Largo in Never say Never again (Non-Eon Bond movie) is the best Bond villain. Skyfall Javier Bardem is up there with Christopher Walken as Zorin Is next. Mr Big in LALD is also a very emotive villain as well as Sanchez in LTK. Jonathan Pryce in Tomorrow Never Dies is also good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted May 20, 2020 Author Share Posted May 20, 2020 Done 10 so far, so, I guess, can review 2 more for a dozen films! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted May 20, 2020 Author Share Posted May 20, 2020 YOLT How it holds up in 2020: You Only Live Twice shares the title, location, and key characters with the Fleming's book by the same name. Apart from that they are different but good in their own way. YOLT is a cultural tour de force of Japan, sports the most iconic villain's lair of the series, and has an amazing background score and title song. This is also the film that Austin Powers has a fascination with (Mini-Me) Favorite part: Title song, "Bond averts WW3" background score track, the villains lair, Bond in Japan, Blofeld reveals himself for the first time in a Connery film. The pre title sequence is busy with the space shuttle getting hijacked, US-Russia talks, and Bond getting shot. Some innovative ways from a cinematic perspective to kill someone including poison administered using a thread. Piranha pool. Blofeld catches Bond as he is trying to board the shuttle. Bond-Hans fight (Bon Appetit). Tiger as a good Bond ally. Least favorite part: Relative to other films, Connery sleepwalks through the film. The shuttle part in the beginning can appear slow and dated at times. Some ninja fights. Rating out of 10: Usually, this is my 8-9/10 Bond film. Will be at 9/10 on this time for the title song, background tracks like "Bond averts WW3", the villain's lair, and the cultural journey of Japan paired with the attempt to start WW3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share Posted May 21, 2020 (edited) OP How it holds up in 2020: The film has the title character "Octopussy" shown as related to Major Smythe whom Bond confronted in the Fleming's book of short stories. "The Property of a Lady" story from the book is used in one of the sequences. OP has an adventure feel to it, a bit like an Indiana Jones film. The locations in India and the background score create a mysterious environment. Favorite part: The Pre Title Sequence is among the best ones in the franchise, the auction segment, the locations in India appear magical, the train chase sequence, and the finale with the plane segment. There is no super villain but the group of villains - Kamal, Orlov, and Gobinda work well as a team. There are some cool segments as well like Kamal heading to OP's Island, which has a nice background score, and the introduction of OP where only her hands are shown. Least favorite part: There are a few dumb moments in it such as the Tarzan yell, Bond focusing the camera on one of his lady colleagues, etc. Rating out of 10: Usually, this is my 8-9/10 Bond film. Will keep it at 9/10 on this occasion. If the dumb moments are overlooked, this is a solid Bond film designed to entertain. Edited May 21, 2020 by zen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted May 29, 2020 Author Share Posted May 29, 2020 (edited) del Edited August 21, 2021 by zen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted June 9, 2020 Author Share Posted June 9, 2020 Not checked a Brosnan film recently but they can be good time pass fun esp. when in the right mood! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted July 12, 2020 Author Share Posted July 12, 2020 (edited) Del Edited July 17, 2020 by zen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted October 9, 2020 Author Share Posted October 9, 2020 @coffee_rules @maniac (Brosnan fan) @Ranvir and other Bond fans .... Since NTTD got postponed again and Brosnan films are still pending, may go over GE, TND, TWINE and DAD .... Let's try to do Brosnan 007 festival some time soon maniac 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranvir Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 45 minutes ago, zen said: @coffee_rules @maniac (Brosnan fan) @Ranvir and other Bond fans .... Since NTTD got postponed again and Brosnan films are still pending, may go over GE, TND, TWINE and DAD .... Let's try to do Brosnan 007 festival some time soon NTTD being delayed again has had a massive impact here in the UK. One of the biggest cinema groups Cineworld has completely shut down its cinemas permanently due to this announcement. It's made people question the future of cinemas in this covid world. As for Brosnan, I think he was a very good Bond. A great halfway house between Moore and Dalton and was just what the world wanted from Bond from the late 80s to the late 90s. Tall, dark, handsome. The only thing missing was a more imposing physique. He was offered the role in the 80s but had to decline due to his TV commitments for Remmington Steele. Like Connery and Moore he started off with good films that became more absurd as he went on. I guess even Craig isn't immune to this. Goldeneye is a great film and I have a soft spot for Tomorrow Never Dies. The World Is Not Enough had some great action set pieces and even Die Another Day had its moments but was overall overblown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted December 21, 2020 Author Share Posted December 21, 2020 (edited) Getting back to Brosnan films .... GE How it holds up in 2020: GE rebooted Bond films after a gap of 6 years and still remains entertaining. The iTunes 4K transfer (no HDR) makes this film appear relatively modern (I think the GE iTunes 4k transfer has one of the best picture quality among 007 films and an improvement over the HD version) Favorite part: Most actors in general are fun to watch. The tank chase sequence is superb. Trevelyan's train (Like Tiger Tanaka’s in YOLT). Bond and Trevelyan's exchanges. The title song by Tina Turner Least favorite part: After the Monaco segment and before Trevelyan's re-entry, the film can be slow at times. The background score can sound dated in some of the sequences such as the Aston-Ferrari race in Monaco. Onatopp character (inspired by the portrayal of Fatima by Barbara Carrera in Never Say Never Again) can be entertaining in certain sequences but also appear over the top in others (a mixed bag). The glamorous Izabella Scorupco is made to appear drab while traversing in Russia (the role could have asked for that but since this is a 007 film, more imagination was probably needed). The final act could have been better Rating out of 10: Usually, this is my 7-8/10 Bond film. Will give it a 8/10 on this occasion as the iTunes 4K transfer is solid and the film entertains with memorable sequences such as the tank chase, a nice ensemble of actors, and certain exchanges among key characters Edited December 21, 2020 by zen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maniac Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 Bourne killed James Bond for me and then the MI series from 4th part onwards buried It. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maniac Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 Doesn’t help that some of Craig’s movies apart from Casino Royale have been borefests. Craig is an excellent actor and has charisma too but just doesn’t translate to bond. If they make a series out of his character from Knives out, I will 100% watch that but not a fan is his Bond movies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted December 22, 2020 Author Share Posted December 22, 2020 TND How it holds up in 2020: The film introduces David Arnold to the franchise. Arnold would go on to create music for 4 more Bond films till QoS. Arnold understands Bond films (and John Barry's work) so his soundtracks add great value to the films Favorite part: The Hamburg segment including plant break in, clash w/ Dr. Kaufmann and the back seat driving, along w/ Arnold's score in this segment. The bike chase in Vietnam is interesting Least favorite part: As GE has some slow segments, this one tries to rectify that but makes it too fast paced with Bond jumping from one segment to another. The final act is average much like many action films Rating out of 10: Usually, this is my 7-8/10 Bond film. Will give it a 7/10 on this occasion. This one is a time pass fun, a switch off your brain and enjoy film. iTunes 4K transfer is good too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted December 22, 2020 Author Share Posted December 22, 2020 (edited) Btw, Bond films are on sale on iTunes if you have an ATV 4K .... I double dipped so now I have the entire collection on both blu-ray (HD) and iTunes 4K (where many of the transfers show an improvement. The Craig Collection is in 4K HDR/DV (similar to the discs released), while others are in 4K only atm) Edited December 22, 2020 by zen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zen Posted December 24, 2020 Author Share Posted December 24, 2020 You can watch GE along w/ Jannssen and Campbell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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