‘Skyfall’ 2012 Review

• Plot: Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
• Director: Sam Mendes
• Writers: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and 2 more credits »
• Stars: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem and Naomie Harris | See full cast and crew 

‘Skyfall’, the 23^rd installment in the James Bond series, is the 3^rd movie starring Daniel Craig, who I thought did a great job in ‘Casino Royale’ and ‘Quantum of Solace’. As in those past two movies, this one starts off with a chase scene, in which a fight occurs with a ‘bad guy’ who seems to be wielding a rather phallic machine gun, aside from that, it was both action packed and kept your attention, with some plot in between.

Of course, just with the other movies there are several references to the older movies, so see if you can spot some of those. There’s good humor, giant explosions, and I thought all of the characters did well acting.

Also an interesting tidbit, this was one of the only James Bond movies written originally, as many of the other movies have taken their plots from various James Bond books, originally written by Ian Fleming. Many of the movies were originally written as books, and if you already didn’t know that, look them up, you’d be surprised at how many began their life in text form. Anyway, this one was never in text form, making it written for the sole purpose of being a movie. I thought the plot was pretty well done; the bad guy was both likable and unlikable, and there were some good fights. I’m worried to say too much about the plot in the fear that I might spoil some of it, so I can’t really give examples backing up why it’s good. If I were to sum it up, I would just say ‘Because it’s a James Bond movie’, but to my knowledge that’s not what I’m supposed to be doing while writing this article.

It is really good however; it keeps you entertained with fighting, explosions, and good humor. Also, there’s something kind of big that happens in this movie, so if you’re an avid James Bond fan, go see it. Unlike the past movies, the bad guy also isn’t an idiot. He does a pretty good job of not being stupid, unlike another movie I recently saw, Taken 2(but I’m not reviewing that so I won’t go in depth.) Anyway, I give it a 93% because it has good fight scenes, good humor to keep up the interest when they’re not fighting, and a decent plot to follow as well. You should go see it.

Sean Connery Cameo In ‘Skywall’ Was Planned

So you liked ‘Skyfall’, ehh? Of course, you would’ve only seen it if you live in the UK or you traveled to UK just to see the movie, but who cares. We all know everyone will love it here in the US as much as people love it in the UK.

The Huffington Post caught up with director Sam Mendes and asked him about a possible Sean Connery cameo in Skyfall to which he responded,

“There was a definite discussion about that – way, way early on,” says Mendes. “But I think that’s problematic. Because, to me, it becomes too … it would take you out of the movie. Connery is Bond and he’s not going to come back as another character. It’s like, he’s been there. So, it was a very brief flirtation with that thought, but it was never going to happen, because I thought it would distract.”

It was a good choice not to include Sean Connery since for most of us, he IS James Bond. Seeing him in a James Bond movie where he isn’t James Bond would’ve really taken us out of the movie for sure for a little “WHOA! THAT’S THE REAL JAMES BOND!” moment. Sure, it would’ve been cool but it probably would’ve taken away from the effect of the film.

‘Skyfall hits theaters in the US November 9, 2012 and is already in theaters in the UK!

7 Minutes Of ‘SKYFALL’ Score By Thomas Newman

With the 50th Anniversary of James Bond last week and the release of Adele’s new song that will be the theme song for ‘Skyfall’, Sony and Eon are making another push for the music of the film. In the above video, you can listen to Thomas Newman’s  7-minute (6:51 to be exact) preview of the score for Skyfall  thanks to Cinema Musica. Thomas Newman is taking over for David Arnold to be alongside long time partner, Sam Mendes who have worked together on numerous projects.

After listening to the preview, it’s obviously all good and just as good as the other films, nothing really different and pretty much the same blue prints of the other Bond scores in previous films..

For the full soundtrack, you’ll have to wait till October 29 but until then, you can see the track listing at Film Music Reporter. Be alert though, some of the titles are a bit spoilery. Just letting you know.

See ‘Skyfall’ in theaters October 26 (UK) and Novermber 9 (US).

‘Goldfinger’ 1964 Review – Movie Friday – Bond 50th Anniversary

• Plot: Investigating a gold magnate’s smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.
• Director: Guy Hamilton
• Writers: Richard Maibaum (screenplay), Paul Dehn (screenplay), and 1 more credit »
• Stars: Sean Connery, Gert Fröbe and Honor Blackman | See full cast and crew

Story: Credited as one of the greatest James Bond films to date, I do have to agree. With the classic quotes of 007 himself with awesome action and gadgets along with the introduction of his Aston Martin, I really did like this one.

Agent 007, or James Bond, is dispatched to watch over Auric Goldfinger at a casino as he plays cards near the pool for large amounts of money. After breaking inot his home, he finds a girl helping him cheat his opponent. After pleasuring Goldfinger’s woman helper, Bond is knocked out by a strange man in a top hat. He wakes up to find the dame on the bed naked, dead, and covered in gold paint. Confused and somewhat angry, Bond continues to take on Auric Goldfinger.

Bond takes a trip to MI6’s weapons specialist, Q, who gibes him with two tracking devices, 1964 Aston Martin DB5 with a tracking screen for the bugs that were given to Bond along with a very technical weapons system such as machine guns, oil slick, smokescreen, passenger ejector seat, tire slashers, bulletproof glass and revolving license plates.

Not too long after, the famous scene of Bond on the table about to have his goods lasered off with a laser beam that can gut through pure metal or gold. After informing Goldfinger in a suspenseful scene that if he is killed, 008 will replace him and that both himself and 008 know about his ‘Operation Grand Slam’. Bond is freed but taken into custody of Goldfinger.

After, he meets a woman with the most tempting name in the world, Pussy Galore. At first, Pussy has no weakness to Bond’s charms, but after trading a few Judo moves, kicks, and flips, in a barn, she is finally seduced by Bond.

Bond then learns of Goldfinger’s plan to gas Fort Knox putting radiation all over the massive amounts of gold at the large bank, making his gold worth much more. Later on, GOldfinger goes through with the plan which seems to be successful at first until the the military men wake up and botht he good and bad get into a huge gunfight. Meanwhile, our hero squares off with Oddjob, the one who knocked him out as he was going to get champagne in the beginning of the movie.

Goldfinger makes his last attempt to take Bond but is sucked out of the airplane after the window is shot out in a struggle between Bond and Goldfinger for the pistol. Bond and Pussy get out of the plane safely as they eject. All is and ends well.

This one was real entertaining. CLassic quotes such as the ‘Shocking… positively shocking” and the famous “The name’s Bond… James Bond”. Action scenes intensified with no music for that bare knuckle brawls. Especially with the seamingly unbeatable Oddjob. In the end, James Bond comes out perfectly fine and will continue on as our hero.

Music: The opening titles theme song was great and very catchy. I went around my house singing “Goooldfingerrr” to annoy my wife for the rest of the day. As was the music when heard, it was all great. Not much music throughout the film, even during action scenes. no music did make it seem more realistic. Adding music to the action and fight scenes may have been a bit boring since the fight scenes were more realistic and not that crazy ninja stuff that nobody ever does that we see in all movies these days.

Cast & Characters: Sean Connery… you gotta love him. The greatest at playing James Bond. The best there is. He doesn’t disappoint in one of his greatest performances here.

Verdict: A classic for all time that will always live on as one of the best James Bond films and most entertaining action and spy films. James Bond and Sean Connery at their peak.

 

First ‘Skyfall’ Clip Released

So if you’ve seen the first trailer of ‘Skyfall’, everyone has so I don’t know why I bother saying that, you’d have seen the awesome James Bond cufflink fix that was fitted in after he jumps on the back of a train caboose as the back of the train is ripped off. Well, here and today we get 26 full seconds of that awesome scene. 007 looking cool while jumping in then acting casual and cool, like always. Never disappoints.

See ‘Skyfall’ in theaters November 9 in the U.S. and October 26 in the U.K.

See our review for Adele’s new song, ‘Skyfall’, here: https://retrospectrealm.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/skyfall-by-adele-review/

Who Plays The Best James Bond? Ranking The Actors Who Played 007

We Switched Sites!

http://RetrospectRealm.com/

So far, in the twenty-two James Bond films in the past 50 years, six men have taken on the role of ‘James Bond’. Over the years, there has been much discussion on which of the men plays the best James Bond? Lets rank all six of the actors shall we? Starting from worst to best at number six…

• After Sean Connery left the James Bond films after 1967’s ‘You Only Live Twice’ (He later returned in 1971’s ‘Diamonds Are Forever’), George Lazenby had some pretty big shoes to fill with Connery’s success and likableness and all. Lazenby starred in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ which received mixed reviews, even from himself. Eventually, he quit the role before the premiere and never chose to star in another Bond film again.

• Playing a James Bond much like Sir Ian Flemming’s novels, Timothy Dalton was actually considered to take over for Sean Connery in 1968 but walked away from his screen testing at the age of 22 after feeling he was too young to play the role. Nevertheless, 12 years later he would be James Bond in ‘The Living Daylights’.

• At 45 years old, he took on the mantle after Sean Connery, starring in seven James Bond films for a span of twelve years becoming the actor to be James Bond the longest. Although some of his Bond films are considered the most disappointing, his portrayal of 007 is different from the others since he didn’t want to imitate Connery, in which he succeeded in straying off from Connery’s interpretation.

• Daniel Craig is a really good actor and really good James Bond. His faults? He portrayed a more serious and cold-blooded Bond with no facial expressions. With that typical ‘depressed CIA-like hit-man who’s been through everything evil’ that we see in TV and movies these days, many felt he wasn’t really James Bond. Although he may not act like Sean Connery’s Bond or the Bond from Sir Ian Flemming’s novels, he gives his own special and unique interpretation of Bond in ‘Casino Royale’, ‘Quantum Of Solace’, and the upcoming ‘Skyfall’. He also seems to have been through so much botox throughout the years that it seems impossible for him to make any kind of facial expression besides a serious and cold-blooded killer look.

• Pierce Brosnan brought on that cold and brooding James Bond like Craig’s interpretation, but he was still humorous, witty, and likable unlike Craig’s portrayal. That’s what puts him above Daniel Craig mainly because he isn’t just a serious and boring dude, he’s funny and witty like how we all know and love James Bonds. If you take that part away, it just doesn’t seem much like James Bond.

• Did you really expect anyone else to be ranked as the number one James Bond in a list of ‘Who Played The Best James Bond’? I mean come on. There’s no on else I could’ve put here. Sean Connery has the most legendary lines with “The name’s Bond… James Bond” and “Shocking… Positively shocking”. He also is the one every new James Bond actor is trying to be like or be compared to. You just can’t beat the original. From the looks to the mannerisms, Sean Connery is and always will be the original and very greatest actor to play James Bond.

‘SKYFALL’ By Adele Review

Released only yesterday, the theme song to the highly anticipated upcoming film, ‘Skyfall’, Adele’s song by the same name has already been under much discussion. The song was released on her Youtube channel in a lyrics video.

After much rumors and speculation that Adele would be singing the theme song to the twenty-second James Bond film, she finally tweeted a photo of the title page reading that it was called Skyfall and she helped compose and write it.

This is being hailed as the greatest James Bond song so far. No, get that idea out of your head. It’s a pretty awesome song, but it doesn’t beat any of the legendary 007 theme songs like ‘Goldfinger’. You just can’t beat those. I mean, lets be real here. It is a great song. The lyrics are great and I can’t wait to see the opening titles with this song. The lyrics seem to have the same mood as the trailers and TV spots try and give off. The emotional and saddening mood with our hero being shot off a train and coming back to MI6.This is a really great song for what it’s worth and how much rumors and talk went aboutthis. It surely did live up to anticipation.

Verdict: With the amazing voice, composing, and writing skills of Adele, the theme song for the highly anticipated 007 sequel, ‘SKYFALL’, is sure to sound great while going along opening titles on the big screen.

Celebrate The 50th Anniversary Of James Bond With Retrospect Realm

Today is a great day indeed. It is 50 years to the day James Bond made his silver screen appearance in 1962’s ‘Dr. No’. Sorry we’re a little late, but we’re going to end today with some James Bond posts!

• ‘SKYFALL’ By Adele Song Review
• ‘Goldfinger 1964 Review
• Who Was The Best James Bond? Ranking The Actors Who Played 007
• New ‘Skyfall’ Clips

Happy Anniversary 007!

New ‘Skyfall’ Posters Online & Runtime

Not too long ago, more Skyfall posters were released in which you can see them below. In other news, Showbiz411 is suspected to be singing the James Bond Skyfall song. This will be her first single since her album ’21’. So will she be humming it or something? I have no idea. As for the MI6.com, they are reporting that Skyfall clocks in at 145 minute runtime.

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The first one looks pretty cool. James Bond in action pointing that gun looking all hot. And we all love Ralph Fiennes. Freaking Voldemort, the coolest guy ever. And that French girl witht he same exact picture she’s had on like 5 other posters. But either way, they’re cool.

See ‘Skyfall’ in theater November 9, 2012.

If James Cameron Made Jurassic Park

All the time, people always wonder. ”What if (insert director’s name) made (insert cool movie idea)?’ Or ‘What if (insert actor’s name) played (insert character’s name) in (insert movie title)?’ Well, what if James Cameron made Jurassic Park?

“I tried to buy the book rights and he beat me to it by a few hours,” said Cameron. “But when I saw the film, I realized that I was not the right person to make the film, he was. Because he made a dinosaur movie for kids, and mine would have been Aliens with dinosaurs, and that wouldn’t have been fair.”

Of course, everyone loves Jurassic Park. It’s a great movie for everyone to see with amazing visual effects for it’s time and an amazing conept. Aliens with dinosaurs might not have been as popular, since it would not have been apealling to younger people and just to adults. Like James Cameron says, “that wouldn’t have been fair”.

“Dinosaurs are for 8-year-olds. We can all enjoy it, too, but kids get dinosaurs and they should not have been excluded for that. His sensibility was right for that film, I’d have gone further, nastier, much nastier.”

Of course, Jurassic Park had its nasty parts too with dinosaurs eating people and Samuel L. Jackson’s arm. It was also intense with the dinosaurs coming after the people and kids and eating guys while they’re on the toilet. Personally, I do think if James Cameron did make Jurassic Park, it would not be anywhere as good mainly because he’s looking into a horror or really intense suspense for adults.