Peppermint Friday Review: Spectre #36

Here we are at the end of our Bond journey, and I've really enjoyed it and I'm gonna miss it but we will come back to Bond again at one point. Although I have missed watching non Bond films, so I'm looking forward to getting back into doing reviews on non films. Started on Dr No the first Bond film to the current Bond film its a full circle. 

This is a weird one again because there were bits I enjoyed but bits I found lukewarm. At the beginning its all Mardi Gras and I love it, its set in Mexico City and Bond is sent there after the previous M gives him a mission to go over there to stop a terrorist bomb plot. He returns to London under the power struggle of C real name Max Denbigh. The new M played by Ralph Fiennes orders Bond to attend the funeral of Marco Sciarra assassin who belonged to Spectre, but Bond refuses and gets with his widow Lucia. Bond investigates Oberhauser, who worked with Mr White who works for SPECTRE. 

The story is good I can see what they were trying to do, they were doing a different take on the genre with it being less fighting and still remaining true to the essence of the story, but it was very quiet and muted. Bond in this seemed abit heartbroken, that could be well is Daniel Craig's portrayal of him which is great because he's abit more vulnerable I mean he's more relatable in a way, because it takes alot of courage and depth to be this suave hero constantly, so I think its okay for Agent 007 to have abit of a cry now and again. The bond girls of the film were Dr Madeleine Swann a psychologist and daughter of Mr White, and Lucia Sciarra both played by Lea Seydoux and Monica Bellucci even though he has more sexual passion I guess you can call it with Lucia, but he has a much more friendship/relationship/partnership whatever you call it with Madeleine and with Lucia she's honestly just there for sex, I think she's great but if there was a competition between Lucia and Madeleine there really isn't a competition. 

Also Monica Bellucci is the oldest Bond girl to date being 51, which is great because in Hollywood if you're a woman and as soon as you turn 40 you're apparently not allowed to do sex scenes, so its great and I'd like it to be a new turn in storytelling that doesn't mean I wanna see 50 year olds having sex, its just if 20 year old actors can do sex scenes why can slightly older generation? Anyway I love Lea Seydoux she was just brilliant and a stand out for me definitely, loved what she did for the role and the part. Miss Moneypenny who I haven't mentioned yet, but she is brilliant secretary to M and played by the wonderful Naomi Harris who I just love to pieces. I love how in the more modern Bond films, Miss Moneypenny isn't just a secretary, she does so much more than that and really substantial. 

Q who is played by Ben Whishaw, the head of Q Division basically provides Bond with the info and equipment for everything he does so much more though, but that's the basics as to what the does. I love Ben Whishaw, such a brilliant actor he's one of those actors who's in a film or tv show and he isn't the main lead but you always remember him and be like 'I know that guy he was in this this'. The thing that made it slightly lukewarm for me is that it didn't wow me at all, I was blown away by it, I thought it was good but I don't think its the best Bond film. The acting stands out, but the script annoyed me just a little it didn't make me feel on the edge of my seat like I usually do with some Bond films. In Bond I've learnt its either action/thriller on the edge of your seat sort of thing or muted quiet understated and that is not a bad thing at all its like choosing between chocolate and vanilla ice cream both are lovely depends on your sweet tooth.  

                                                              

I like this film, but I'm crazy on it the acting is the best thing but if you wanna see Ben Whishaw, or Ralph Fiennes, Daniel Craig, Lea Seydonx etc etc then they are all in amazing films and tv shows, but if you wanna see them all together then watch this film. I think if you like Sofia Coppola's films which are amazing films, very quiet, understated and beautiful scenic views then you'll love this kinda Bond because there are plenty out there. Also this film didn't really have many fight scenes, it was more like an argument constantly not a bad thing though but that's one of the big reasons why I love Bond films. Anyway watch this film, don't watch it whatever Bond is a fantastic genre, one that everyone should give a go I've really enjoyed these past 2 weeks and I hope you have too have a wonderful weekend and I shall see you all very soon!

Review: Casino Royale

We're almost at the end of our Bond journey and I've gotta say I've enjoyed it so far. We are now onto the 2000s with the current James Bond, Daniel Craig and I loved this film just a bit of a spoiler. 

 Its funny because I remember when this film came out and the reason I didn't watch it was because I was 9 and I didn't really care about James Bond but it was the first Bond film I remember having an impact on people and what I mean by that is everyone and I mean everyone was talking about it. It starts in Uganda where Mr White introduces Steven Obanno to Le Chiffre played by Jesper Christense, Isaach de Bankole and Mads Mikkelsen. These three men are business partners essentially and they are planning to bet money on there company. Honestly with Bond storylines its basically bad guy or group of bad guys like there are in this film, and Agent 007 has to stop them theres a fight scene, he meets a beautiful girl has sex with her falls in love, another fight scene, Bond gets injured girl dies and Bond finally defeats the bad guy, the end. In short it is basically that, but that doesn't mean its bad because there are bits in between that make it unique and wonderful.

I love how they used the Casino aspect of the film, and the way they used colour. Everyone was very neutral, black and cream colours and the only bold colours and that stood out were red and anything that made an impact to the story, like in the picture above the bold colours are red, and blue the poker game everyone else is in neutral colours, and blacks and whites just very basic colours, and that's something I love about this film. There's another similar scene where they're playing poker and Solange Dimitrios (playe by Caterina Murino) the wife of a another bond villain who's part of the plan Mr White, Le Chiffre and Steven Obanno. But everyone was in neutral colours and she came in this very silky lilac evening dress and completely braking the scene and the mold and I loved that. 

The beginning titles of the film were just brilliant and amazing, the song You Know my Name by Chris Cornell its just so brilliant and so in keeping with the film like all Bond songs. I love the costumes of this film and how 2000s it is, with the Nokia phones and the clothes it just feels so nostalgic to me. I remember this time so well and the fashion its just wonderful to watch and remember that, and yes I was 9 or 10 but I do have strong recollections of that time. I had a few older friends and uncles and various family members talking about it at the time also of it just being either amazing or 'eh okay' but they're probably hardcore Bond fans, so I wouldn't listen to them too much. The Bond girl of the film is Vesper Lynd (played by Eva Green) and at first I just dismissed her as being another sexy french girl, but as her true colours showed and when she disagreed with what Bond said at one point of the film. I just thought she's good okay, and also the chemistry between them both was just gorgeous, and electric I think Bond really did fall for her. 

I loved the gorgeous scenery, and panoramic shots it does make the film and the place so expensive and breathtaking to watch. The fight scenes were just epic, from the one at the beginning on the scaffolding which just made it so risky and completely brilliant and its a scene I've seen before I'm not gonna lie, and just being spell-bounded by it all. The scene where Bond is being beaten in the car and its one of those moments where your heart is in your mouth, its really on the edge of your seat kinda thing. Its also a very quiet film, and again that's not a bad thing, but I really liked it and it was kinda used in there favour in a way. 

                                                             

I've heard good things and bad things about this film, but it is good and definitely worth a watch whether you're a Bond fan or not its brilliant. With its fantastic costumes and amazing fight scenes and stunts, if you like quiet films you'll love this if you hate quiet films you'll still like this because theirs enough action to make it heard. I'll see you all later and have a wonderful day/week and I shall see you this Friday!

Review: Tomorrow Never Dies

We're on the second week and last week of Bond, and we're gonna talk about the 90s, Pierce Brosnan and Dame Judi Dench and little spoiler I really liked this film. 

It's a weird start to a film if I'm honest with you all, you don't see Bond for about 20 minutes and that's not a bad thing just abit weird and I did find it funny that the first time we see him is in bed with a woman, typical Bond. It starts with M played by Dame Judi Dench, who sends Agent 007 to deal with a terrorist attack, which is planned by Elliot Carver played by Jonathon Pryce. The film is set in China and the UK and Bond has two girls in this film, Mai Lin played by Michelle Yeoh, and Paris Caver played by Terri Hatcher. 

I love Pierce Brosnan, as James Bond not so crazy on him as an actor I like him but I feel like he's abit of a one trick pony but this could be to my ignorance of not knowing his work. But that will all change because I like films if you didn't know that and plus I like to be proved wrong. The beginning titles of the film were not my favourites, it just looked abit cheap and tacky, that doesn't mean I hate the film. The film itself was just wonderful my favourite out of Mai Lin and Paris was definitely Mai Lin she was just so badass and was just fantastic. Whereas with Paris she was just abit wet and crap, Mai Lin knew karate and was a character in her own right, and why oh why wasn't I made into Mai Lin. Paris was just a wet lettice, very beautiful but a wet lettice. 

The choreography of the fight sequences were just fantastic, that's what James Bond films do the best. They did it more so than a dance and I've said this before fight scenes are so much better when they're treated like a dance rather than a big ball up. Also the film adds a certain character to the scenes aswell, which is something I just loved. This film is kinda like a sequel to Goldeneye, it does reference it a couple of times, but not too much where I don't have a clue. Also its first time we see M as a female and I can't imagine anyone but Judi playing her, and she really showed this role can be anyone and anything. 

A memorable scene I remember was Bond and Mai Lin on the bike riding through China town and I loved it so much, and the colours were just bouncing off the screen plus it was during a really intense fight sequence and the adrenaline was just amazing you could really feel it off the screen. The Villain of the film Elliot Carver, was just brilliant he for some reason and I don't know why but he reminds me of Steve Jobs. I know it sounds crazy, and I've never met Steve Jobs but from pictures and various interviews, speeches and also from Jobs the film. The way he talks and presents himself its not like a crazy villain its kinda like an annoying History teacher you hate. 

                                                                  
This film is wonderful, definitely one of the my favourite Bond films, with its amazing fight scenes, and fantastic cast the only thing I hate well not hate just don't like is Paris. Other than that its a fantastic film and if you can get past that then you'll love this film, its worth just watching for Mai Lin really. You should give this film a go as it really is worth a watch with amazing acting, dialogue, fight sequences and just everything its a fantastic film. 

Peppermint Friday Review #35: Licence To Kill

I get the feeling you guys can get the pattern we've got going, so we started from the 60s, then the 70s and now 80s, so who knows what decade we'll have next hmmmm its the 40s, obviously joking. This bond film is slightly different because the story has much more of a background and its not my favourite but I still love it. 

It stars Timothy Dalton as James Bond and I love his portrayal of Bond being this quite stern man, and not as jokey not to say all of the others loved having a laugh, its just they had abit of sense of humour that was much more louder, whereas his was I guess more British and drier, so I loved that. Its funny because the books are so British and yet this film was written by two Americans and I'm surprised that they got not only the bond feel of the film right, but also the dry, sarcastic humour because not being racist but sometimes when I watch Americans try to do British humour, where we're quite dry and sarcastic its just like 'oh don't do that'. It reminds me of a mum trying to be cool and down with the kids and you're the teenager like 'god mom you're so embarrassing'. It also stars Carey Lowell as Pam Bouvier who is a CIA informant and I don't know why but I just didn't warm to her as much as I did Barbara Bach. 

Loved Sanchez played by Robert Davi and he is fantastic my favourite Bond villain so far, if he and Jaws can team up because that would be the best combination ever. The whole film is set in Florida, and Mexico and it looks beautiful, and I love how 80s the film is. I know that sounds weird but the beginning of the Bond films are always amazing to watch because they represent the film, story and just the whole Bond genre really well. Plus it represents the time really well, the whole 80s feel to it, its just wonderful to watch. 

The costumes to this film are really good, because as well all know I love the 80s, and costumes. I think the reason that may be is because I feel a costume really represents a character, and show their emotions and makes them much more 3D and people who might be real. The one thing that let me down a little bit which is the most important thing was the story wasn't that good. I just didn't feel the story had much charisma to it, I mean it did the job it went from A to B and that's what stories are supposed to but I just didn't like it. For some reason it felt like it was written as a Soap Opera rather than a Bond film. 

It's funny I know because I mentioned I love the humour, and was pleasantly surprised by how good it was and how British it was made out. But getting from A to B on the other hand just felt abit stiff and annoying going from scene to scene. That was the one down side to the film well that and Pam but the story is the most important thing in a film its the bread and butter in a way. Other than that its pretty good, but like I've said before I wouldn't watch a film purely based of the costume or the actors and go away saying its great and I loved it. I feel the actors and costume are just an element to the film, and can make the film from good to amazing. If a story isn't very good then it isn't very good, theres no going back its just that. 

                                                                 
Over all I like this film, but I don't love it and I'm gonna be honest with you guys I hate it when films make me feel like this. With films I wanna either love it and its my new favourite film or I hate it and I can't stand it, and when theres an in between its like 'eh'. Especially when I have to write about it on here, because I hate writing reviews that are just lukewarm. Anyway I liked it but I didn't love it, and there are better Bond films out there I feel anyway. You never know you could be totally lukewarm about a film, and watch it a few years later and finally have an opinion that's not lukewarm.

I will speak to you all later and have a lovely weekend and I shall see you all next week!

Review: The Spy Who Loved Me

I think I may have found my new favourite Bond film well so far, its defiantly got one of my favourite songs in it. It's just so good I can't explain it, I just felt that this film had more character to it than Dr No, not to say that was crap just preferred this just that bit more.

It is the basic James Bond plot where he is sent over to Egypt to sort some crap out and meets a girl and well you know how it goes. But its abit different than that, Roger Moore stars as James Bond and I'm not crazy on him, I like him he's a good actor but he wasn't as exciting as Sean Connery was. The Bond girl in the film is such a favourite of mine, Barbara Bach she is just fantastic in this. She plays Anya Amasova or Agent Triple X, so she is on the same level as James Bond and I think that's why I love her so much. The chemistry and combination of James Bond and Anya is just electric, they're the best couple I'd love it if they got they're own franchise. 

The villain in this is Karl Stromberg and he is fantastic, I do prefer his henchman Jaws I love his silent approach to it all, and his teeth freak me out a little bit. I loved the music used in the film and how it was geared more towards it being a Sc-Fi genre than it being just a Drama or something wishy washy. Because James Bond is a genre in itself entirely, the music used especially for the fight scenes was just brilliant. It was more choreographed like a dance rather than it being just two men having a fight, it was much more sophisticated and I prefer fight scenes like that in films in general. 

One scene that didn't have any music was the bit during the end, where Bond is fighting Jaws and theres no music and I just found it funny, and just a must watch. It was so unlike Bond to fight like that it just reminded me of two best mates and they got really drunk and decided to have a fight, but because its Bond and Jaws it was done in a really classy way, so that's what made me laugh. I also liked the fact that Anya had much more substance and has more of a backstory to her, and she's a badass and not afraid of anyone just fearless. Her and Bond had more of a 

The cast of the film seemed much bigger to me, in the space ship thingy there was like atleast 100 people on there and it didn't seem crowded to me it just came together so well. Also the James Bond team is massive aswell, not that that's a bad thing, because again its, its own genre entirely and James Bond is a superhero but with no superpowers. He's so classy. and sophisticated with the villains and people he has a fight with. The film is set in the 70s and you can really tell and I love the 70s particularly when its really embraced, because with Dr No its embraced by the 60s and I just love it so much. 

                                                                  
You should definitely see this film, theres a reason why this film is usually on the top 10 James Bond films lists and stuff. Its a film with so much character and with loads of charisma, I just love it so much. Its a great film if you've watched a few Bond films or not watched any, then this film is brilliant for you as it has everything a bond film needs. Hope you all have a lovely day or evening wherever you are, and I shall see you on Friday. 

Review: Dr No

I've decided the next 2 weeks will be James Bond themed and I know what you're thinking 'But Zara you can just do a post talking about your favourite James Bond films!' Yeah you're right I probably could but I'm not going to, as well I haven't seen that many James Bond films, which is ridiculous because I'm British you'd think we'd all be bought up on James Bond, I wasn't but also I wanna talk about James Bond properly, I mean if you're gonna get into James Bond you my as well go right in there. 

So we're gonna start at the beginning because that's a good place to start, with the first James Bond film and official actor Sean Connery. It starts with Agent 007 on a mission in Jamaica during an investigation going into stealing documents known as 'Crabkey' and 'Dr No', and when he's in Jamaica he's faced with people trying to kill him, and take him down obviously, along with the women he sleeps with. I've only seen 2 James Bond films before this and they were Skyfall and Spectre. The difference I saw was that 60s version experimented with colour but I guess that's a given for 60s films. But the films now its all very grey, white and neutral, and black colours, which isn't a surprise because the Bond films I've seen were both mainly set in England. 

Bond films are weird in a sense, its a feel to them like there isn't really a sub-genre added to it, like I know its an action film with a gorgeous man with an English accent holding a gun, added with him sleeping with a beautiful girl. But I mean there isn't a comedy element to it, and its all abit predictable in a way I am on the first day of my James Bond Journey so things could change, but from the first Bond film to the current Bond film its basically James Bond is on a mission to kill a bad guy and along the way people try to kill him and he ends up sleeping with an impossibly beautiful woman who he's either in love with or not and he ends either defeats the bad guy or we don't know.  Again its the beginning of my journey of the Bond so I'll admit I'm wrong definitely, I love Jamaica and that's another reason it looks so colourful its a beautiful tropical island.

I love Sean Connery he is just fantastic, I was charmed by him which surprises me as I always imagined David Niven being James Bond because he's charming and wonderful plus Ian Fleming actually thought and wanted David Niven to be James Bond. But Sean Connery is still good, one moment of the film I wanted to cringe and scream at him though was the bit where he is in bed and a giant tarantula comes down and sits on his arm crawling up to him and the whole time he knows this spider on his arm and isn't going crazy and about to kill it and he just sits there looking at this spider for atleast 5 seconds and I know that doesn't sound bad but it felt like 5 minutes I wanted to scream at him like 'THERE'S A FUCKING SPIDER ON YOU! GET RID OF IT!'. He just let it chill on him and I'm like you're in your bedroom you can be a wuss and scream like a girl, you don't have to Agent 007 all the time. 

I like Ursula Andress, but I'm annoyed that they didn't give her much character development, but that's the writers fault but her as an actress I wasn't that crazy about her, but films have improved in terms of castings and writings particular on female characters since. This film has been named as one of the best James Bond films ever and completely understand why its so iconic and with the music its got the theme song that we all know, love and have heard a thousand times but back then it was new and exciting, so that makes me happy. 

                                                              
Overall its a fantastic film you should watch it if you're a fan or not of James Bond because it really is good would of preferred it to have some other genre to it, like it being an action and abit of a comedy but I understand that its James Bond and has its own genre entirely and I guess that's why I never really watched them. But what I want from this week is going through James Bond decades review by review, so today is 60s and Wednesday will be 70s and Friday 80s and so on till now. Who knows in the future I'll do a post talking all about my favourite Bond films. I'll speak to you all soon and have a wonderful day/evening!