That’s what I’ve read at least. He put real effort into it.
Well you know. Tom Jones. Very powerful voice, tough for even him to contain.
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I thought I recognized Vargas. He later plays Bigon in Four to Doomsday.
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And You Only Live Twice tonight.
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I’d love to live twice every night but then I’d have to bi-generate. 
Daniel Craig is my modern Bond. Casino Royale is still my favorite. I did think the movies got a little weaker as time went on, like No Time To Die, but Léa Seydoux & Ana de Armas in the same movie? 
I got 99 probs, but a plot ain’t one.
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I think Skyfall is amazing! A great 50th celebration and a return to a more traditional Bond formula but still with modern touches. Adele’s theme song is amazing, Silva is a great villain, the Aston Martin DB5 returns, and the third act hits hard; it’s enjoyable from beginning to end.
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I liked the Adele song in Skyfall, that’s what got me into her music, but Javier Bardem didn’t work as well for me here. Yes, he was very creepy, but his background as a former spy/hacker was very handwavy, he didn’t seem like a successful hacker/engineer/thinker. But I do always love Judi Dench.
I did like Skyfall better than Spectre for sure. Controversial opinion - Christoph Waltz is a great actor that is typecast as the soft spoken, evil, smirking, creepy guy. It’s great, I like him in Inglorious Bastards and Django, but I feel I see the same creepy character in many of his films.
I do think all of the Bond films were 100% entertaining. I’m picky but that doesn’t really affect the fun I have.
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Spectre is to Skyfall what Moonraker is to Spy Who Loved Me, same director, similar beats, just not as good.
I like Moonraker though cause it’s unapologetically brash and outlandish. Spectre is a little too ponderous though. A little slower, a little tired. It’s got it’s moments, but everything feels a bit half hearted, like the main players didn’t really want to be there. Mendes had already proved his point with Skyfall, Craig was in a lot of pain with a leg injury and, as you say, Waltz is phoning in his usual performance. Even Newman’s score reuses a lot of beats from the previous film.
The fight on the train is excellent though.
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Wow I really didn’t expect anyone to share my views exactly. And I completely agree with you! Moonraker was still fun for me but it was messy, over the top, it just wasn’t as good, you’re right. But it had a lot to enjoy - Michael Lonsdale is a terrific actor even when the character is mediocre. Jaws was a goof. It worked because of those things because that’s what kind of film it was.
The train scene was awesome in Spectre! Hey, Bond has a lot of Draxes.[1] /lh
Well, Hugo and David Bautista!
↩︎
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Well, great minds and all that…
Ah, Mr Hinx, was there ever such a wasted henchman.
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Just finished reading Casino Royale. It started a little slow, and got very slow after Le Chiffre is dealt with. Too much time spent on Bond and Lynd’s deteriorating relationship, her increasing paranoia, and eventual suicide. But that part in between was pretty good and entertaining. Compared to the film a lot of the beats are close to the same, but the details differ a lot. France vs Montenegro, baccarat vs Texas hold 'em, Mathis wasn’t “Le Chiffre’s friend Mathis,” the reasons for Vesper being a double is different, etc. But overall I think I prefer the Daniel Craig film, and I’d probably go Casino Royale (2006) > Casino Royale (1953) >> Casino Royale (1967)
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I think it’s paced pretty well for a book written in the 50s. I’ve read it three times, and I was engrossed in it every time. It feels realistic but still has that feel of suspense and danger. That being said, the 2006 adaptation does an awesome job of modernising thr story and expanding it into a superb spy action film.
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And on to Live and Let Die. Oh, this book was totally written in the 1950s and it shows. Now my memory of the film is rather hazy compared to Casino, so this will be a bit of a different experience, probably not comparing the two versions as much in my head.
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The film adaptation is quite different from the book. Also, the Felix Leiter incident and the climax appear in different movies.
But yes, the depiction of black people is very outdated in this one…
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Anyone else think the next title theme for a Bond film should be upbeat? Haven’t had one in like a decade and a half.
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I’d love another rock song! But at least something other than a ballad sung by a lady.
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While ‘Skyfall’ expertly fulfils the traditional power ballad remit, for me ‘You Know My Name’ remains the last great Bond theme.
Quantum was well intentioned, while Writing’s on the Wall and No Time are both just there…being Bond themes.
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I love You Know My Name, it’s my favourite as well. And Skyfall is great as well, a very traditional Bond theme.
I struggle with Another Way to Die; it doesn’t feel like a Bond theme. Writings on the Wall is okay, and No Time to Die is very modern. But the best ones are from the olden days: Live and Let Die, The Living Daylights, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, and The World is Not Enough.
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Should have went with Radiohead’s “Spectre”
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