Movies

[Stuart Galbraith]

You would think so. Alas, it would seem otherwise.

Not that im knocking the Brocolli's stewardship over the past 60 years, by and large they did a great job. But there is a case for changing up a notch, and they dont seem to want to do it. They arguably nearly lost the Bond franchise after the Bourne films came out. They were fortunate that the creators of that franchise runn out of imagination after 4 films.

[sunday]

Last Kevin Costner project, "Horizon", promises to be good. Like a 1950s western in four installments.

[Yama]

11 hours ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

Much as I love Diamonds are forever, there is no doubt that Connery looked tired and bored in that one. Which is a shame, because it was in many ways one of the most innovative ones they made.

I like Roger Moore. Im not sure he was the best Bond, but he is a favourite of mine. Specifically Live and Let Die, The Spy who loved me and For your Eyes only. The latter I think, whilst it has clunky dialogue, is actually one of his best.

Yes those movies are genuinely good Bond films, but some of his movies also made Bond a parody of himself, and I think Moore is somewhat underappreciated by large share of Bond fans due to that. I also see Connery a bit overrated, sure he had great physical charisma and presence, but he was a limited actor.

[Ivanhoe]

I am also in the Connery-Underwhelmed club, and I can understand why Moore had to take one for the team and be the anti-Connery. Waste of a good actor, though.

 

[TrustMe]

1 hour ago, sunday said:

Last Kevin Costner project, "Horizon", promises to be good. Like a 1950s western in four installments.

It's had really bad reviews.

[TrustMe]

I liked Roger Moore the best. The only thing I didn't like about him was that he played Bond in a very camp style. 

[Tim the Tank Nut]

it was a camp time... those movies were a reflection of the time in which they were made

[sunday]

28 minutes ago, TrustMe said:

It's had really bad reviews.

Some good, also. Most bad reviews are from people that were expecting a full movie, not the first part of four.

[Yama]

2 hours ago, TrustMe said:

I liked Roger Moore the best. The only thing I didn't like about him was that he played Bond in a very camp style. 

Moore could play ruthless Bond, and he did in early movies. But gradually that aspect was weeded out, and he became 'lovable uncle Bond' who was just this charming gadget agent. It didn't help that he was older than Connery, and by Moonraker it began to show.

Connery had this 'rough diamond' charisma which was perfect for Bond, and how Fleming envisioned the character. But too often he came across as if he didn't take his lines seriously. In this he compares very unfavourably to Dalton or Craig, or even Brosnan.

[Yama]

In other news, I went to watch 'Furiosa'. It was not the worst Mad Max movie, but it felt long and disjointed. Fury Road was centered around two or three truly kickass action sequences. Furiosa did not have that focus, it was somewhat all over the place. Hemsworth was fun as erratic warlord, and Anya Taylor-Joy is, um, joy to watch. But...that's about it. I feel that Fury Road is kinda like Matrix, effect of its visuals cannot be exceeded and any retread is going to feel like a downer.

[Ivanhoe]

RUMINT is that Sicario 3 is in development. I hope so, the first two were rare exceptions to my "Hollywood Sucks" default position.

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

10 hours ago, TrustMe said:

I liked Roger Moore the best. The only thing I didn't like about him was that he played Bond in a very camp style. 

Yeah, that was the 70's man. If you think that was camp, just wait till you seel a John Shaft film.

Its quite interesting to compare them stylistically to the Milk Tray adverts of the same period, which were smiliarly flamboyant and over the top.

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

8 hours ago, Yama said:

Moore could play ruthless Bond, and he did in early movies. But gradually that aspect was weeded out, and he became 'lovable uncle Bond' who was just this charming gadget agent. It didn't help that he was older than Connery, and by Moonraker it began to show.

Connery had this 'rough diamond' charisma which was perfect for Bond, and how Fleming envisioned the character. But too often he came across as if he didn't take his lines seriously. In this he compares very unfavourably to Dalton or Craig, or even Brosnan.

Well, to an extent perhaps. But as late as 1981's For your eyes only, he was still doing stuff like this.

 

For me, this is about as cold, ruthless and badass as Bond has ever gotten. Im pretty sure Ian Fleming would have loved it, not least because it was a German car.

[TrustMe]

4 hours ago, Ivanhoe said:

RUMINT is that Sicario 3 is in development. I hope so, the first two were rare exceptions to my "Hollywood Sucks" default position.

 

After watching Sicario I will never goto to holiday in Mexico  

[sunday]

1 minute ago, TrustMe said:

After watching Sicario I will never goto to holiday in Mexico  

I have enough reasons only with the news that come out of there.

[Yama]

14 hours ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

Well, to an extent perhaps. But as late as 1981's For your eyes only, he was still doing stuff like this.

For me, this is about as cold, ruthless and badass as Bond has ever gotten. Im pretty sure Ian Fleming would have loved it, not least because it was a German car.

I somewhat agree, that movie was an attempt for "back to basics" Bond, and it worked..almost. But IMO, Moore was too old to be Bond by that time.

Extra half star for the car not exploding during the fall. Which would have happened in a Brosnan Bond (of course, they would not have blown up German car)

[Ivanhoe]

12 hours ago, TrustMe said:

After watching Sicario I will never goto to holiday in Mexico  

There are places to go that are fairly safe. Best indicator is whether cruise ships stop there; Cozumel, for example is still pretty safe (by Mexican standards).

Ironically, a few miles away from Cozumel there is Cancun, which used to be wonderful and upscale but is now crime-ridden.

[Stargrunt6]

12 hours ago, TrustMe said:

After watching Sicario I will never goto to holiday in Mexico  

I love the soundtrack. That music can get so menacing, like the Jaws theme.

 

"Acabe tu cena...."

[rmgill]

18 hours ago, Ivanhoe said:

RUMINT is that Sicario 3 is in development. I hope so, the first two were rare exceptions to my "Hollywood Sucks" default position.

 

Excellent. Both of the Sicario films were quite good. They compare well with Heat. 

Looking at Michael Mann's filmography, I need to go and watch Thief. I already know I like the lead actor (James Caan) and the Music (Tangerine Dream). 


On that newest star wars film...
 

 

[rmgill]

Oh and if you want camp...

Our Man Flint.
 

 

[Ivanhoe]

1 hour ago, rmgill said:

Looking at Michael Mann's filmography, I need to go and watch Thief. I already know I like the lead actor (James Caan) and the Music (Tangerine Dream).
 

Thief is a good flick. Its more of a balanced flick, some action but mostly a character study (IMHO). Caan delivers, as he usually does.

Been several minutes since I watched it, it would behoove me to watch it again. Compared to "modern" caper flicks it will come across as a little mundane, but treat it as a classic and you'll really enjoy it. Having learned a little bit about cinematography, there are probably details and techniques I didn't pick up on, back in the day.

 

 

[Ssnake]

7 hours ago, rmgill said:

Looking at Michael Mann's filmography, I need to go and watch Thief. I already know I like the lead actor (James Caan) and the Music (Tangerine Dream). 

It's ... okay. Quite good actually, in places, but maybe a bit too conventional as far as the whole plot is concerned. I remember that I was mostly disappointed about the wasted potential, if you compare it to, say, Clint Eastwood's Absolute Power.

[bojan]

10 hours ago, rmgill said:

Looking at Michael Mann's filmography, I need to go and watch Thief. I already know I like the lead actor (James Caan) and the Music (Tangerine Dream)....

Did you watch The Keep?

It is weird as fuck but was still quite interesting.

[Stuart Galbraith]

Its terribly uneven, and apparently Michael Mann has somewhat disowned it as a result. But its beautiful to look at, Jurgen Prochnow and Scott Glenn were really good in it,  the WW2 German vehicles really added something, and it does, strangely, fit far better with some of the Nazi obession with the occult than, say,  'Black Sun' did.

For me, nothing quite beats Manhunter. Even though he cut the ending on it, its still a better film than the remake 'Red Dragon'.

 

Edited July 10, 2024 by Stuart Galbraith

[bojan]

1 hour ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

... fit far better with some of the Nazi obession with the occult than, say,  'Black Sun' did.

Black Sun is a movie or?