Skyfall

When a serious menace threatens MI6, James Bond is on the case — putting aside his own life and personal issues to hunt and obliterate the perpetrators. Meanwhile, secrets arise from M’s past that strain Bond’s loyalty to his longtime boss.

Brian
Rating: 10 out of 10

If I sound vague sometimes in the review, it’s only to keep it spoiler free.

It’s a great time to be a fan of James Bond.  Not only has the character evolved over the last 50 years of films, but they have also grown stronger and attracted a higher and higher level of talent both in front of and behind the camera.

Skyfall is a mixture of everything that makes James Bond special and yet reinvents the formula to create a compelling mixture of action and humanity within the Bond universe.  So much of what makes Skyfall stand out is the technical prowess behind the camera from both Director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) and Cinematographer Roger Deakins (Shawshank Redemption, No Country For Old Men).  This is the prettiest Bond film to look at of all time. All of the locales each have their own distinct visual styles: Gold and natural light in Asia, deep blues and darkness in Britain, and deep washed out browns in Turkey.  But, you don’t want to hear about the visuals do you?  You want to know whether it has a good story?  Good characters?  Is Daniel Craig his usual ass kicking self?  Yes to all of the above.  Craig has brought so much more to the role than just being a martini sipping quip machine.  He has a past that is explored here including his loyalties to his M, where he comes from, who his parents were, and why he became an orphan.  It adds a humanity to his character that draws you in and Craig’s performance suits this modern Bond so well that I can’t see anyone else in the role.  Supporting work all around is also excellent.  Judi Dench is giving a lot more screen time in this one and she’s typically outstanding, newcomer to the series Naomie Harris is appealing and likable, Ralph Fiennes is great, and Javier Bardem is the best Bond villain ever.  You heard me right….ever.  Why?  The most interesting villains are the ones that aren’t completely single-minded.  He has a damn good reason for wanting revenge against the MI6 agency that Bond works for.  His methods are evil but his reasons are legitimate.  All of it is delivered in a captivating way by Oscar-winner Bardem, who’s ability to play fantastic villains may end up being what he’s best remembered for.

I could go on about all of the action scenes, the terrific dialogue, or the plot progression and pacing, but I’ll close the review with this:  Skyfall is the finest Bond film ever made. There goes our Top 5 Bond Films.

Top 5 Bond Films of All Time

Brian

Wth the release of the much-anticipated “Sky Fall” this weekend, we thought it would be the perfect time to break down our list of the Top 5 Bond movies of all time. It wasn’t easy, with so many styles, actors and quoteable lines that stretch generations… but here goes.

5.  License to Kill
Timothy Dalton only acted in two Bond films, but this was certainly his best effort.  This was the polar opposite of the quirky Roger Moore films like “Moonraker” and “A View To a Kill.” This rings truer to the spirit of the Ian Fleming novels.

4.  Goldeneye:

The first and strongest film featuring Pierce Brosnan in the title role.  The climatic ending with baddie Sean Bean 500 feet up in the air is fantastic and the one liners throughout are great.  One of the most fun entries in the series.

3.  For Your Eyes Only:

In my opinion, this is by far the best of the Roger Moore James Bond films.  All of the action throughout is excellent and the plot has some actual teeth to it as the cold war action permeates throughout leading to a cliffhanger at a mountaintop monastery.

2.  Goldfinger:

My favorite entry starring Sean Connery.  It contains the most iconic villain in the history of the 50 year series and was the first to tighten up the action scenes after the first two films, Dr. No and From Russia With Love, contained far more dialogue and superfluous scenes.  It turned Sean Connery into a household name and set the entire series up for its long and storied run.

1.  Casino Royale:

The quintessential Bond film in every way.  It has a terrific plot, fantastic supporting characters, non-stop action, and the best actor to ever play the iconic lead character.  It also has something that almost all of the Bonds film don’t…a heart.  the chemistry between Eva Green and Daniel Craig is palpable and there are emotional consequences for violent actions.  I never thought I’d see either in a Bond film and for it to work so well.

Teaser Trailer for next Bond Movie – “Skyfall”

Sound off, everyone, and let us know what you thought of the teaser!

Vic @ The Movie Bros.

Brian’s Review – “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2011/ R/ 158 minutes

When a young computer hacker is tasked with investigating a prying journalist, their separate missions become entangled amid a decades-old conspiracy. David Fincher directs this English adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s novel.

Rating: 4 out of 10

I have always had a hard time rating films harshly when they’re as well acted and technically executed as this movie is. Clearly, anyone who knows David Fincher’s work (Seven, Fight Club, Social Network etc.) knows that he is a very talented director with a keen visual style. But, this movie is such a god damn plot mess filled with way too many disposable scenes that I cannot hold back my disdain. It also doesn’t help that it runs at over 2 ½ hours and you would think that would be enough to give the viewer a clear idea of exactly what’s going on and exactly why but it doesn’t. The whole buildup is just a stupid and meandering mess. Daniel Craig’s character is a complete waste of his talents. I have always thought he is a very believable actor who delivers solid performances but the script here turns him into generic wallpaper with very little motivation. I kept wondering several times, “Why in the fuck is still investigating this?” Cause he’s paid double his normal rate? Who cares? Cause he’ll get information on someone who fucked him over and he gets revenge? That would work if we were ever given a background as to exactly what happened so the viewer would give more than half a shit. Now, why within the huge canvas of a 2 ½ hour movie that contains some of the slowest dialogue scenes isn’t there more background on the main characters? I’ll give credit to Rooney Mara. She’s by far the best thing in the film and brings and energy to her character that the rest of the film lacks.

The side plot about what she has to go through to pay her bills is far more interesting than the main story. But, it doesn’t exactly go to explain who any of these people are. I have no doubt that this movie is faithful to its literary source or all of the fans of Stieg Larsson’s novel would have been in an uproar. But, this was a film that demanded a re-write to make it more of a film and less of a book translation. Why couldn’t the film have started with Daniel Craig’s investigation that led to his subsequent downfall? Why couldn’t Rooney Mara’s character have had some flashbacks to explain where she came from? I was very much looking forward to seeing this film and am obviously disappointed with the end result. This is easily the weakest film in David Fincher’s excellent filmography.

Vic’s Review – “The Adventures of TinTin”

Blockbuster filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson team up for this 3-D motion capture adaptation of Georges Remi’s classic comic strip, centered around the adventures of fearless young journalist Tintin (Jamie Bell) and his trusty dog, Snowy. Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Nick Frost, Toby Jones, Mackenzie Crook and Cary Elwes also lend their talents to this action-packed family adventure.

Victor – 8 out of 10

Well, I suppose it was inevitable that one day the two Titans of Movies were bound to collaborate on something. Mr. Peter Jackson (LOTR, King Kong and Dead Alive) and Mr Steven Spielberg (Jaws, War of the Worlds and Duel). What would they come up with? A Jurassic Park sequel? An original Horror flick with Jackson’s intense flair? A space opera that takes place on another world ripe with CGI creatures and settings? Well, gang, none of the above.

What they decide to do is adapt Georges Remi’s classic and iconic comic strip called “The Adventures of Tin Tin” It was an honest decision and a way to make something so highly regarded into a huge success. So on they went and put their two massive resources together and started production on an animated motion capture film that is an extraordinary and adventurous romp that made me feel like a kid again. Something “Super 8” was supposed to do but didn’t.

I am keeping the review spoiler free and just concentrating on what I really liked about Tin Tin. I unfortunately never read the strip but was familiar somewhat from having friends who did. They would explain how TinTin is a very efficient and stalwart individual who as a journalist gets to the bottom of every story no matter the danger. He also does it with the help of his dog, Snowy. Jamie Bell (King Kong) voices the intrepid TinTin and he does a fantastic job in this great looking film. TinTin takes what Zemekis did with “The Polar Express” and raises the bar with dynamic and involving rendering. The film flows and comes to life like a living liquid full of wonder and surprise. The picture is incredible to behold as we are immersed in this photorealistic world full of airplanes, trains and automobiles.

Jackson and Spielberg supplies us with one stunt filled action sequence after another. Displays that can only be seen in this other-world dimension of animation. Displays that no live action cameras can capture on location. It never comes across as cartoony or naive. When we see creases, wrinkles and shadows done so well we are grateful for the way Jackson and old Stevie handle the realism. The set pieces are spectacularly fun and are done on the very superb level of Raiders of the Lost Ark and even The Last Crusade. Pure un-adulterated 1940’s action fare done with style and sophistication. Supporting Jamie Bell’s great VO work is Simon Pegg, Daniel Craig, Cary Elwes and Andy Serkis. Each of them give very believable and inventive voice performances.

I’ve read that the film comes very close to the comics in the way some characters look and even what they wear. But some purists claim that there are some misses in the adaptation itself. They claim that 2 different comic story-lines are melded together and that some of it may be distracting. I, myself, loved every frame and minute of it. Pure fun and an energetic adventurous intensity drive “The Adventures of TinTin” and that is what is important. Highly recommended. Enjoy!

Brian’s Review – “Cowboys and Aliens”

Scott Mitchell Rosenberg’s graphic novel series leaps to the screen as amnesiac gunslinger Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig) stumbles into the Wild West town of Absolution, where he’s confronted by potent enemy Col. Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford) and a terrifying problem: invading aliens. Aided by the lovely Ella (Olivia Wilde), Jake rallies a posse of the townspeople, Dolarhyde’s minions and local Apache warriors to fight off the extraterrestrial threat.

Brian – 2 out of 10
What an expensive mess of a film. How could they have possibly green-lit this script and lure Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, and Jon Favreu to work on it? If you’re wondering if the movie is just as disjointed as the title, you’d be right and then some. It literally feels like two different films. Neither have any bit of a fucking story but they’re there. We open with Daniel Craig waking up after an alien abduction and has an alien “friendship bracelet” attached to him. After that, we learn he’s a wanted man, a damn good gun fighter, and a man who’s soft side has been taken away because he lost the woman he loves. Ok, were they serious with this shit? I just described almost every western that ever existed. Now, just to make sure it runs through every cliché possible, Harrison Ford shows up pissed off because his son has been arrested despite shooting a deputy. He’s the bad ass of the town and he’ll be damned if any kin of his has to answer to the law! OMG, that’s shitty writing. So, what does this crack team of top Hollywood writers do when confounded by a script that contains 0% originality? Oh, we’ll just crowbar aliens into this fucking mess! That will solve all of our problems. Uhhh, no it won’t. All that does is make this pile of shit smellier and taller. The thing that makes it even worse is that the first 45 minutes to an hour is a conventional western. So, when the aliens do finally show up, you just stare in disbelief at what a bad idea this whole disaster is. The other main problem is when you have a genre mashing popcorn movie with likeable stars, shouldn’t it be fun? This film is no fun whatsoever and has little to no humor.

I find that quite shocking considering Favreu directed both Iron Man films. But, as you watch this hunk of mule shit, you quickly realize that decision after decision by the director is to play this dead pan serious. To top that off, this films cost a whopping $160 million to make and the special effects aren’t even very good. So, where the hell did that money go? The actors got paid, say 30 mil, maybe 5 for Favreu, the script was about 5 bucks, and the CGI was lame and fake looking. I’m assuming it went towards marketing and advertising because I kept hearing about this movie for months. Well, in your face ads or not, count me as one who thought this was one of the worst Hollywood blockbusters to come out in a long time.

Cowboys and Aliens trailer

Matt

Here’s the first peak at “Cowboys and Aliens,” Scott Mitchell Rosenberg’s graphic novel series that is making its way to the big screen next summer through the lens of director Jon Favreau. The story features amnesiac gunslinger Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig), who stumbles into the Wild West town of Absolution where he’s confronted by potent enemy Col. Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford) and a terrifying problem: invading aliens. Aided by the lovely Ella (Olivia Wilde), Jake rallies a posse of the townspeople, Dolarhyde’s minions and local Apache warriors to fight off the extraterrestrial threat. It’s a story of enemies coming together to fight a common enemy.

Favreau has more than proven himself as a director of action-based comic book movies with “Iron Man” and “Iron Man 2.”   Heck, I even like “Elf.” As he did with the Iron Man series, Favreau has another stellar cast with Craig, Ford, Wild, and Keith Carradine, who was great in TV’s “Dexter” and the film “Peacock.” Carradine plays the town sheriff in this picture.  

We’ve had a string of crummy, forgettable summer action movies — from “The Expendables” to “ The Prince of Persia: Sands of Time” “Clash of the Titans” the Transformers films, and the list goes on. Favreau hasn’t steered us wrong yet with an action movie, so I have faith this is going to be one of the best popcorn movies to see next summer.