Spectre Review
PG13: Sequences of Action Violence, Language, and Some Sensuality
2 hrs and 28 Minutes
Cast: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Andrew Scott, Monica Bellucci, with Naomie Harris, and Dave Bautista
Editor’s Note: This review was originally published during my adolescence. Outdated language might be seen in these old posts. Since then, my thoughts and values have grown. This review is being presented as they were originally written, grammatical errors and typos and all. Because to do otherwise would be that same as claiming these flaws has never existed.
BACKSTORY: N/A
STORYLINE: A cryptic message from the past sends James Bond on a rogue mission to Mexico City and eventually Rome, where he meets Lucia, the beautiful and forbidden widow of an infamous criminal. Bond infiltrates a secret meeting and uncovers the existence of the sinister organisation known as SPECTRE. Meanwhile back in London, Max Denbigh, the new head of the Centre of National Security, questions Bond's actions and challenges the relevance of MI6 led by M. Bond covertly enlists Moneypenny and Q to help him seek out Madeleine Swann, the daughter of his old nemesis Mr White, who may hold the clue to untangling the web of SPECTRE. As the daughter of the assassin, she understands Bond in a way most others cannot. As Bond ventures towards the heart of SPECTRE, he learns a chilling connection between himself and the enemy he seeks.
REVIEW: James Bond is known for being the best spy in all of cinema. In previous Bond film, Skyfall we got in detail with Bond's backstory and saw how much the series built itself up. Its nice to know here in Spectre they just said fuck it with both the story and editing. It's sad to say that through all the James Bond parody films that were released [Fox's Kingsman and Spy] are exemplary compared to this failure of a Bond film. As an action film Spectre is fun, but as a failure it's a major disappointment. Its not as bad as Quantum of Solace, but it's extremely mediocre. The reason I say this is because compared to the other Bond films in Craig's time as Bond it lacks originality. The film tries too hard to be different films than what it really is. At first it's an 80s cop film, then its a more dramatic Mission Impossible, and then it becomes Captain America: Winter Soldier. With all the different story pieces taken from other films, this forgets how to display why we love Bond, because he constantly does dumb shit. The film starts off with a great one shot, and then at some point in the first action sequence once Bond said fuck it by endangering a crowd of people, the editing consistently says fuck it too. The cast here is great, but I still believe Craig is still a great Bond, but the script given to him this time around makes him hard to care for. The film for a hour and a half teases Christoph Waltz as being THE BOND VILLAIN, but goes the Star Trek Into Darkness route by when we know who he is, its not surprising. Even the new bond girl Seydoux is completely underwritten that by the 20 minutes she's onscreen she immediately spreads her legs for Bond and falls for him for no reason. Most of the action sequences are fun, but compared to the other action films more especially Mission Impossible 5, they're not so exciting. It's only until the last sequence where the film really comes into fruition, but by the time its done the film just ends. And do I even have to mention the unnecessary running time.
LAST STATEMENT: Spectre is a lesser Bond film that suffers from a really bad screenplay and really poor editing. It may not be as bad as Quantum of Solace, but it's pretty damn close to be.
Rating: 2/5 | 47%
Super Scene: The Maze to Blofield
