Spectre
Published 2016-02-19
A plan no one escapes
Film info
- Director
- Year / Run time 2015 · 2hr 28m
- Series James Bond (24 of 25)
- Genres Action, Adventure, Thriller
- Cast
A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.
Live blog
| Time | Comment |
|---|---|
| 2:04 | It’s weird to recognise him by his ears, right? |
| 7:22 | Bond does have a habit of destroying buildings like that. Tut tut. |
| 15:10 | Oh no, no Judi! I forgot! |
| 17:54 | It didn’t work the last seven times they “grounded” him, why would it this time? |
| 21:16 | “She wasn’t going to let death get in the way of her job.” |
| 25:45 | I feel like you should have to sign something before they nanobot your blood! |
| 27:05 | I love Q laughing at his own joke, the cuteness! |
| 34:37 | It must be horrible to think so many people are after you. |
| 43:11 | That’s a heck of a challenge. Ew. |
| 45:46 | That car does seem to drive like a dream, well done Aston Martin. |
| 53:16 | Eeek, Q lied for him! Love him even more now. |
| 55:39 | Bunker! |
| 59:40 | “You’re a kite dancing in a hurricane, Mr Bond.” |
| 1:13:27 | I thought he was trying to protect her, he almost rammed her with an aeroplane. |
| 1:20:17 | “Ironic, no?” Er, no. |
| 1:25:17 | Vesper reference! |
| 1:27:28 | It’s genius to give M someone to butt heads with, so we can be on his side this time. |
| 1:41:37 | Wonder if it’s good for podcasting in the middle of the desert. |
| 1:49:37 | White cat!!! |
| 1:54:05 | “Of course the faces of your women are interchangeable, aren’t they James?” |
| 2:08:17 | How can he not be phased by all the explosives? |
| 2:19:13 | They’ve made a real mess of that bridge. |
Thoughts
There were some brilliant moments in this film - great opening sequence, wonderful car chase around Rome, nice recall to previous films, amazing views of the train crossing the desert, fun with Q, Judi cameo, M sticking up for himself and his crew, etc, etc. Overall it was a great film, one of the better ones of Craig's tenure.
However, it wasn't perfect. Of course it had to come after the incredible Skyfall so was tasked with an almost impossible challenge but there were things on top of that I felt were disappointing. It was far too long, the story didn't need to be elongated like that and it felt very self-indulgent.
I'm more and more unsettled by what is relevant in this new rebooted canon, and what isn't, and I'm sure the writers are just confusing things even more. With Blofeld going on about their big reunion after such a long time, what else am I meant to do than remember the last time they met and he was dropped down a chimney. But it's not about that, it's some other thing to do with almost being brothers.
It felt like they overused helicopters, three stunts in one film is a bit overkill, and I wasn't convinced by C just falling off a balcony like that. Little things like that keep niggling at me and ruining what was otherwise a really good film.
It was nice that all the elements of the previous Craig outings were brought together, and it felt as though this could be Daniel's last one, if he opts not to return then it was a solid send-off.
But now I do just want to watch Skyfall again.
Rating: 4 / 5
