Mendes’ Spectre falls short of Skyfall, however still pleases with stunning action sequences.
The series has evolved with the times, featuring audacious females and a surveillance themed plot.
The opening perfectly captured Bond’s style, ruthlessness and allure, with decent music by Sam Smith.
The stunts were phenomenal, traversing Helicopter, Plane, and Aston Martin, while the international locations were a visual feast.
Performances, however, were underwhelming; Craig’s Bond seems worn-out, Waltz lacked Bardem’s perverse menace, Fiennes is no Dench, and Seydoux, although vivacious, faded out over time.
Ultimately, Spectre is a riveting, fast-paced action movie, lacking strong performances or emotional complexity.
Jo Bradley.
Scribbles of Stage and Screen 
Have to agree, it just didn’t live up to the hype for me
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Yeah the action was ok but everything else was just so cliche. Most of the film had a been there, done that feel to it.
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Well definitely when it comes to the chase sequences there is only so many new ideas they can have. I thought the start was ok although i am sure the helicopter has been done before ( i haven’t seen them all).
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Yeah that scene was pretty insane, but it went on a bit too long..
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Exactly, I actually watched mission impossible a few days ago and found it much more entertaining :p
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I dont know- I expected alot from Mission Impossible but i watched the first one the other day and was very unimpressed ( apart from the train sequence). Even spectre was better than that.
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I was actually referring to the most recent one, Mission Impossible Rouge Nation. I just didn’t expect much from the movie but was surprised it wasn’t bad, the fourth one was still way better though. I loved Skyfall and that’s why I had such high expectations for Spectre but it just didn’t live up to the hype. Although I prefer Daniel Craig over Tom Cruise in terms of the acting.
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Definiteley! I liked Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men but found he was irritatingly over acting in the first Mission Impossible. I don’t think i’ll bother watching the rest of the series.
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Me too! He over acts in all of them but I actually enjoy the side characters and the storyline overall not with him doing “impossible” things :p
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The new one right? Rogue Nation?
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Yip, but still I think the one before was better :p
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That’s too bad! I didn’t like the last one too much, I enjoyed the first three the most tbh
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Agreed, I was just comparing it to the the one before. The same way Spectre was being compared with Skyfall. Although altogether I much prefer the Bourne Series!
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Oh hell ya the original Bourne trilogy was pretty fun! I wasn’t a fan of legacy, but then again I’ve never liked Renner that much.
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My thoughts exactly! I thought no way can you replace Matt Damon. Good news is there is talks for a fourth one! Apparently they’ll just pretend the fourth one didn’t happen lol
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Wait a Forth one with Matt Damon?
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Well technically it would be the fifth Bourne movie but Matt Damon fourth. I’m not sure if it’s confirmed, apparently Matt Damon said he’d only agree to do it if it was a good story so well see, I hoping it happens though!
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Haha sounds good to me
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Yes I like the Bourne series too but found it weird that they swapped Actors with no explanation. It’s not James Bond haha.
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I think you and the rest if the world lol. I don’t think anyone understood it and it wasn’t even that great. Like I said though, the good news is that there is talks for a fifth one with Matt Damon and they’ll just pretend like the fourth one didn’t happen :p
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The opening acts are definitely the best part of the movie. I think Daniel Craig still has another great Bond film in him but the screenwriters need to stretch themselves.
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Yes! It definitely lost momentum. I disagree though, I think they need to find a new Bond- Craig himself has admitted to being worn out and un-enthused about the potential for another film. I personally am interested in Idris Elba- despite Sony calling him “too street”. Who would you pick as a new Bond?
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I think Idris would be great. Don’t know what Sony are talking about calling him street. Michael Fassbender would also be a good pick. Jason Statham would also be grreat, think he’s a charming and witty guy not just an average action star.
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Yeah a new Bond needs to step into the limelight, I have no interest in Craig anymore. Like your review said, he looks tired. It’s time for him and everyone else to move on. That aside, Elba would be a solid choice, I enjoyed him in the first couple seasons of Luther.
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I would like Elba, have you scene him in the new netflix film Beasts of No Nation? It looks very good.
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No I haven’t yet, but it’s in my list. I think it looks fantastic as well! Elba would be a very interesting Bond, and he has expressed some interest.
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This has given me a new perspective towards the movie…
PS: I love your style of writing!
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Thankyou for your kind words!
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I agree Skyfall is a superior film, but I still liked this one. Excellent action sequences and I do like Daniel Craig a lot.
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Yes, as I said this film was good, as can be expected, it just wasn’t great. I was having this discussion with someone else though, i think Craig is too worn out to be Bond again, even though he is great.
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I’d probably agree with this, though I thought Daniel Craig was very good. I would give it a higher score, but I see where you’re coming from.
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Have to agree 100% I don’t think I’d rate it quite as highly as you did but as a disengage brain, munch popcorn flick it works. But I was definitely expecting better from Spectre. It actually upset me to read the Craig would “rather slit [his own] wrists than do another Bond”, but he has later said that that was purely regarding the PR tour.
Craigs portrayal of Bond for me is perfect, the worn out, assassin trying to fit into a modern world. That was the one saving grace for the film IMO
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From that perspective, his potrayal his very relavent in terms of the aging occupation, but I would still like to see Idris Elba taking over for the next. Craig’s prime is behind him.
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Great review! Love your writing! This definitely wasn’t Skyfall, but still enjoyable. I wish there was more of Christoph Waltz, and that he was more menacing. We’ve already seen with Inglorious Basterds that he can play a convincing villain.
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Thank you very much!
I do agree that part of Waltz’s failure is his lack of good lines (compared to Bardem’s haunting opening monologue of Skyfall).
Inglorious Bastards I haven’t seen yet, but it definitely on my hitlist!
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So I am revisiting the blog after seeing Spectre and I completely agree with review. Though I want to reduce one more star due to my high expectations not served. Though actions are fabulous and Craig is my favorite bond, somehow I was disappointed by movie as whole. Skyfall was far better in my opinion (Casino Royale, the best). Nice post though.
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Thanks for your comment! Although I haven’t seen all the Bond films, Casino Royale and Skyfall are my top 2 favorites. But although Casino Royale has an excellent opening stunt sequence, Skyfall triumphs for the best villain and a nice balance of emotional scenes and action.
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