Die Another Day

[GFC MAD!]

I went and saw the new James Bond flick last night.

I have always been a fan of Bond films. I have videos of 10 of the 20 Bond flicks made. I LOVE the early Sean Connery ones, when the story was more character developed and 007 was more of a super spy - those early ones are great to watch. I'm also a fan of the Roger Moore ones, which, even though they get a bit gimmiky, they are still very fun to watch and are good ones to have in the video collection.

I'm not that much of a fan of the new ones though [ie - Timothy Dalton onwards] - they are decent films in their own right, I guess, but they are a bit too hard to follow and too effects dependant for Bond films.

Die Another Day was action packed and exciting, but its not one of my favourite Bond films. Its a decent night out, but its just a little too far fetched - even for a Bond film. He drives an invisible car, goes surfing on a tidal wave, and many of the chases are spoilt with heavy use of too much CGI, which make it look too much like a playstation 2 game.

The pre-credits sequence it top-notch - I loved it. I liked it enough to think to myself that this was going to be my favourite Bond movie. But once the film got going, it was still fun and enjoyable, but lacked the feel of a 'classic' Bond.

Go and see 'Die Another Day' for a good night out over the summer - as a 'time filler' I give it 8/10. As a Bond film, I give it 5/10.

Anyone else seen it/want to see it, or has seen any other films over the Summer they want to review?

 

[Mooster7]

As a male, it's against the law for me to criticize a Bond flick. I've seen the Timothy Dalton ones, and I'll give a second viewing a miss in favor of baking cookies, or complaining about the water I've been retaining these past few days.

The new one? Halle Berry.

 

[Mead]

Saw it- loved it.

Having said that, GFC, i see where you're coming from about it not really 'feeling' like a Bond film. Oddly enough though, I didn't think that was entirely a bad thing
Granted the stunts bordered from insane to completely and utterly silly, but what I found most interesting was the new way Bond was portrayed. Sort of, i don't know, a lot darker? The idea of Bond being captured, imprisoned and tortured for an extended period of time just seems plain un-007like, but it was intriguing to see the way Brosnan played him after that- a far more edgy, nasty Bond, which actually worked really well. Add to that a rather tasty catfight between a tightly clad Halle Berry and equally delectable Rosamund Pike, the irresistibly campy image of Bond surfing, and a truly awesome fencing sequence which would have to rank as one of my favorite all time bond scenes, and you have a pretty okay movie. Not the most Bondish Bond film, if ya know what I mean but a very interesting one nonetheless, and probably my favorite of the Brosnan area. Certainly ****es all over The World is Not Enough.

My only huge gripe was the product placement. Geeez, could they be anymore blatant? I didn't know my mobile phone could detonate plastic explosive..

 

[bunsen burner]

I'm officially over Bond films. They are so OTT these days. I hate going to the movies and being treated like an 8 year old. Just plain silliness.

Talking about absolute silliness, has anyone seen Triple X or The Transporter? That's about how bad Bond films have gotten.

 

[sussudio]

Originally posted by bunsen burner
I'm officially over Bond films. They are so OTT these days. I hate going to the movies and being treated like an 8 year old. Just plain silliness.

same with the star wars flicks. they seem to cater more for a younger audience these days. the two prequels are no match for something like Empire Strikes Back.

haven't seem DAD, but I know what people mean by the latest Bond flicks being OTT. too many unbelievable special effects, and worse, product endorsements. I have been permanently put off by Omega Seamaster watches, and I'm saddened to hear that Bond drinks a Mojito in DAD, one of my favourite drinks, which every schmo will start drinking now, like a vodka martini.

but I'm glad to hear that Bond is darker and more nasty; that is what Bond was like in Fleming's novels. He is basically an assassin for the British Government, and has little time for stupid one liners and **** farting around with the bad guys. my second favourite Bond was actually Timothy Dalton, because he played a dark and brooding 007 that was very true to form to the character in the book. made real fans happy, however the general public hated it.

might still see DAD, but then again, I might wait for the DVD.

 

[Mooster7]

Hmmm....

Apparently it's just in the US where it's against the law for males to criticize Bond flicks.

Law or not, what the hell is the matter with you people? Would you rather your girlfriend drag you off to Titanic II - Attack of the Fish in Love, or some other gross & terrible chick flick?

Give me fake stunts, hot chicks, gun play, cool cars and explosions any day.

Peace,

 

[Santos L Helper]

Originally posted by Mooster7
Hmmm....

Apparently it's just in the US where it's against the law for males to criticize Bond flicks.

Law or not, what the hell is the matter with you people? Would you rather your girlfriend drag you off to Titanic II - Attack of the Fish in Love, or some other gross & terrible chick flick?

Give me fake stunts, hot chicks, gun play, cool cars and explosions any day.

Peace,

Correctumundo! A film aint good unless it has hot chicks, car chases, explosions, hot chicks, guns, exploding toilets, Rodney Dangerfield, more explosions and car chases.


ps. I stole some of this from the "Beavis and Butthead Ensucklopedia".

 

[Mooster7]

Originally posted by Santos L Helper

ps. I stole some of this from the "Beavis and Butthead Ensucklopedia".

Ahh.. I suspected you were a connoisseur of fine literature. As for me, I'm now supremely embarrassed that I forgot to include Rodney Dangerfield as a 'must have' in great film.

Thanks for picking up my slack Sant-man.

 

[M29]

Originally posted by bunsen burner
I'm officially over Bond films. They are so OTT these days. I hate going to the movies and being treated like an 8 year old. Just plain silliness.

Talking about absolute silliness, has anyone seen Triple X or The Transporter? That's about how bad Bond films have gotten.

Mate told me it was like one big advert this one.

But as long as cars are getting blown up and chicks are getting it off, I'll watch it.

 

[speedy]

Rosamund Pike. Yum.

I'm starting to get a real appetite for Brittish women. It must be the accent.

 

[eagleskickass]

i thought it was good, and definately liked the idea of bond being sacked but not giving in, definately what bond would do. Was worth watching.

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by Mooster7
Hmmm....

Apparently it's just in the US where it's against the law for males to criticize Bond flicks.

Law or not, what the hell is the matter with you people? Would you rather your girlfriend drag you off to Titanic II - Attack of the Fish in Love, or some other gross & terrible chick flick?

Give me fake stunts, hot chicks, gun play, cool cars and explosions any day.

Peace,

No offence Mooster but it is Americans who have spoiled Bond. DAD would be a good movie if it wasn't a Bond movie but because it was the movie was poor because I was going to see 007, not xXx.

Prosnan himself was good, although he looks to be getting a bit old for it. Berry stank, although her character was totally wrong for a Bond movie. Miranda Frost was good, and should have been the leading lady in the movie. I liked Zao, he was a good villain, although Gustav Graves was shocking, more like a villain in a kids movie like Spiderman, not a Bond Villain. Damien Falco, and the whole NSA crap, was the real breaking point for me. The line "I'm not leaving this in the hands of the British" was the final straw, Bond movies are about the British, not the yanks, and this line just reaked of your typical yankee "we are the champions" crap.

Personally I think this should have been Brosnan's last 007 role, although it being so bad he should probably do another one to go out on a good note.

Definitely get rid of Tamagotchi as the director, he has already done enough damage, put in someone like Guy Ritchie (That would be damn good to watch) and possibly change Bond from Brosnan to Clive Owens in the next one or the one after.

It is not the fact that it was a 'bad' Bond film that people are upset about, it is the fact that it wasn't a Bond film at all.

 

[Mooster7]

No offense taken, but I don't get it.

It was made by a Brit production company (Broccoli). It was filmed primarily in England & Scottland with other locations such as Hong Kong and Cuba. The studio work and post production was done in London. The screen writers are the same as from 'The World is Not Enough.' The director, Lee Tamahori is a New Zealander. If the movie sucks, it wasn't the yanks that ****ed it up.

All we do is stand in line, plunk six bucks for a ticket, thirty bucks at the candy bar - just like everyone else.

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by Mooster7

All we do is stand in line, plunk six bucks for a ticket, thirty bucks at the candy bar - just like everyone else.

Which is the problem, the film (DAD) is aimed at an audience that doesn't understand or appreciate the true Bond experience, so they change the series to suit this audience.

They aim it at this audience because it is the biggest, the money makers. Bond wasn't meant to be an Americanised "We are the best" sort of film, it is meant to have some class that lifts it above the common action films. DAD was much more like Austin Powers than a true Bond film.

 

[Mooster7]

I can see where you're coming from. At the same time this is the 20th Bond film. There's no need to kiss any American ass. In the other 19 films, Americans are always portrayed as red-neck buffoons. That's never stopped them from being successful. We love Bond. I still say that any problems with this one lie squarely at the feet of those who made it.

Bit of trivia. In the early 60's, the books were relatively obscure and not selling for shat. President Kennedy started reading them and enjoyed them. In a magazine interview he mentined that he was reading these Flemming books, and their popularity took off. Then Kennedy was shot. He wasn't needed any more after fullfilling his karma. Helping launch this marvelous series was his purpose in life, I think.

Which leads me to believe Oswald was working for S.P.E.C.T.R.E.

 

[Dan26]

Thought it was pretty good, actually. Just your typicla no-brainer action film. Good fun.

Highlight for me, though, was the T3:Rise Of The Machines teaser trailer!

 

[CURVE]

Absolutely disgusted with Die another Day. It is without a doubt the worst Bond film since Moonraker, and A View to Kill and the Living Daylights come in between.

I've been a major Bond fan since I was 5, and have not missed a opening day screening since The Spy who Loved Me in 1977., but I wish I missed this one.

Two positives I'll mention, the Aston Martin Vanquish which is the most beautiful car every designed (so why would you want to make invisible??) and Rosamund Pike who is extremely hot. A very icy Grace Kelly clone.

I went and saw Brotherhood of the Wolf on the weekend as well, and I thoroughly recommend it. It's one of the best films I've seen this year. Monica Bellucci looks unbelievely hot it in, in fact she makes Rosamund Pike look decidely third rate.

 

[sussudio]

Originally posted by Zombie
put in someone like Guy Ritchie

don't do that!!! Madonna might get more of a starring role!!

 

[TheRealBuzz]

Originally posted by sussudio
don't do that!!! Madonna might get more of a starring role!!

Her cameo as the fencing instructor was bad enough. And her song at the start was absolute torture. Made my ears bleed.

The movie was ok, as long as you're prepared to sit back for two and a half hours with your brain turned off. The action sequences were pretty well done, especially at the start.

Everyone's already mentioned the ridiculous invisible car. I'm not sure what they were thinking. Perhaps inspired by Harry Potter? The two doses of Bond surfing were also hard to take.

 

[knuckles]

John Woo would be a good Director. Though he overdoes the slo-mo stuff.....MI1 and 2

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by sussudio
don't do that!!! Madonna might get more of a starring role!!

I think his last attempt with her in that movie about her and some other guy getting marooned on a desert island should have convinced him never to use Madonna ina movie again.

 

[sussudio]

Originally posted by DEVO
It is without a doubt the worst Bond film since Moonraker, and A View to Kill and the Living Daylights come in between.

don't mind Living Daylights. liked Dalton's dark and brooding 007, nothing like Moore's pansy assed portrayal. also, Maryam D'abo is very tasty indeed

 

[Diego]

Originally posted by sussudio
same with the star wars flicks. they seem to cater more for a younger audience these days. the two prequels are no match for something like Empire Strikes Back.

Like derr how old were you when Empire came out? Think about it


The good thing about this film is the advancement of CG. The surfing scenes are amazing as the water and iceburgs were done on CG. Everything is was done on blue screen.

 

[GoEagles]

Will see Die Another Day sometime this week, should be a beauty.

I didn't mind A View to a Kill, with Max Zorin and May Day. GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies weren't too good IMO.

Its about time Bond comes to Australia - maybe bungee jumping off the Sydney Opera Bridge? I remember there was one Bond book based in outback WA, but they didnt have any plans on turning that into a movie.

 

[bunsen burner]

I just saw it. I don't understand why they need to be so OTT?

* An invisible car? Oh please.

* The scene where he uses the bonet of a drag car and a parachute to surf a tsunami? Not only was it highly ridiculous, it looked soooo fake. Play Station looks more real life than that did.

Could have been much better had it not been for a few sequences that were just too ridiculous.