tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57888753738419556122024-03-27T01:37:37.891-05:00The MacGyver ProjectNicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.comBlogger560125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-22204571513191640652023-01-19T19:43:00.008-06:002023-01-19T19:53:03.544-06:00The 007 Project: No Time to Die<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8JAVusTI6xYkw_bk0tgi9wUxZWfMC79OMEaqlhsjNMbdqFv9upOe5gSpAwTvUmWaIHxKbpw1B1ttCRZcdeD5l-cY_yFYIglcrApdm0YDdBnXimx3rEuMH6EDP4FuJIcpBgzuAjZzr2vbA6nWs0eotox_iLmUFjbR0QUWEonYF4pzn0cFNp15ZWRBMA/s530/2.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="530" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8JAVusTI6xYkw_bk0tgi9wUxZWfMC79OMEaqlhsjNMbdqFv9upOe5gSpAwTvUmWaIHxKbpw1B1ttCRZcdeD5l-cY_yFYIglcrApdm0YDdBnXimx3rEuMH6EDP4FuJIcpBgzuAjZzr2vbA6nWs0eotox_iLmUFjbR0QUWEonYF4pzn0cFNp15ZWRBMA/s320/2.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div>Bond leaves Madeleine after thinking that she betrays him, and he lives a quiet life in Jamaica. He is called back into action when a scientist is kidnapped who was working on a secret poison that targets people with a certain DNA. He reconnects with Madeleine and discovers that they have a daughter, and he destroys the facility on the poison island at the cost of his life. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>You know, they come with fur these days. </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Kind of a minor part, but I really like his house in Jamaica and the scene where he pulls up to the dock in his fishing boat and walks in. Beautiful home. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">What else could it be other than Bond dying at the end of the movie, and in an overly emotional and dramatic way. I just don't agree with the choice -- why would I or anyone want to see Bond dying, it's a Bond movie for Christ sake and it's supposed to be fun, not depressing. While I do prefer serious over campy, the Craig era took itself a bit too seriously sometimes, never more so than the ending here. And if they were going to rewrite the franchise by doing something that had never been done before, why not remove his tragic figure persona and allow him to ride off into the sunset with his wife and daughter.</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Also, why couldn't he have just gotten off the island? The whole problem as I understood it was that he got poisoned in a way that would prevent him from ever seeing Madeleine or Mathilde. But he didn't have to die, he could have still gone back to Jamaica and they could talk on Zoom or something. Or maybe a cure would have been developed over time. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2382320/trivia/" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Jamaican actress Grace Jones, who starred as May Day in A View to a Kill (1985), was going to make a cameo appearance in this film during the Jamaica scenes, however she quit shortly after shooting began upon learning how small her part was. </i></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul><li>I wish Bond would give Madeleine a chance to explain herself instead of dumping her without a word. </li><li>Excellent performances by Ralph Fiennes and Rami Malek. I liked Ana de Armas's character, though it seemed underutilized. </li><li>How was Blofeld able to run the Cuban party from an English maximum security prison with a special eyeball?</li><li>On Daniel Craig, I like him overall and rate him second best Bond behind Brosnan. Craig is an excellent actor, and while sometimes a bit too serious, I prefer that over too campy, as I said earlier. And I love his swagger and arrogant mannerisms, like for example when he casually tosses the rich guy's car keys aside in the parking lot in <a href=" http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-007-project-casino-royale.html">Casino Royale</a>. </li></ul><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div>Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This movie was better than I remembered, but the ending is hard to overcome. <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking it</a> 14 out of 25. Also see the ranking page for my full rankings of villains, Bond girls, Bonds, and title songs. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">That wraps up the 007 project -- stay tuned for something new coming soon! </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-18942509951156375632023-01-08T00:55:00.001-06:002023-01-08T00:55:10.110-06:00The 007 Project: Spectre<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13iwg4Jb_I4fOJCr8se7zdQfe1Vlgtvo-nltXy2rTkPcGt4O2Zq52xQ4iTcaSssYltYpV8MMul78oZZTshKt7ci12-wKgbGgEtsmGDxpqb4I4WCwmTzPIAa6w3SJhDJUG1yzea5f2RSvreGAZ1QCsb63oD3ld-u7G-8hBZcjBGjmz3o5yvWMXYhsX6g/s731/1.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="731" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13iwg4Jb_I4fOJCr8se7zdQfe1Vlgtvo-nltXy2rTkPcGt4O2Zq52xQ4iTcaSssYltYpV8MMul78oZZTshKt7ci12-wKgbGgEtsmGDxpqb4I4WCwmTzPIAa6w3SJhDJUG1yzea5f2RSvreGAZ1QCsb63oD3ld-u7G-8hBZcjBGjmz3o5yvWMXYhsX6g/w389-h249/1.PNG" width="389" /></a></div><p></p><div><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div>Bond finally identifies Spectre, the criminal organization behind all the recent plots that he has foiled, and he learns that their leader is someone from his past. He vows to protect the daughter of former Spectre operative Mr. White and falls in love with her in the process. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>You're a kite dancing in a hurricane, Mr. Bond. </i>~Mr. White</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Lea Seydoux is my favorite Bond girl of the series. She's beautiful, smart, witty, kind -- I love everything about her. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The end where Bond is in the old MI6 building falls flat and feels a bit cartoonish with the photos on the wall of former Spectre villains and Bond having to save Madeleine before the timer goes off. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2379713/trivia/" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Following the success of this movie, Mexico City held its first The Day of the Dead parade, complete with floats, dancers, and giant marionettes, in 2016. Prior to this, no parade had ever been held, despite the movie scenes.</span></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul><li>Fun setting for the opening with the Day of the Dead parade, though too much CGI at times. And apparently Mexico City doesn't have any air defense, as the helicopter is allowed to fly out of control over the crowded plaza. </li><li>This is so cool -- it's the exact same hotel and elevator as License to Kill: </li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigvqQQxO6rhH0esY6VjLQjMTOq4noUGTCgWlkEo8ztSbiAafNUgnBrnhQkgU8saVVIcZU2gyPgVf_ZljoJfQwUjuQibFtK4rakSQ72otXWyeytAuxaZL0sWhLD_tmylc6gD_QQzH3IiN-i4sgEaD9cB7jAmM7NsErYxpbNDC1XvP7n5JjemeUSz78Kiw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="900" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigvqQQxO6rhH0esY6VjLQjMTOq4noUGTCgWlkEo8ztSbiAafNUgnBrnhQkgU8saVVIcZU2gyPgVf_ZljoJfQwUjuQibFtK4rakSQ72otXWyeytAuxaZL0sWhLD_tmylc6gD_QQzH3IiN-i4sgEaD9cB7jAmM7NsErYxpbNDC1XvP7n5JjemeUSz78Kiw=w415-h352" width="415" /></a></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The guy who plays Max Denbigh (aka C) is a great actor who I remember as Moriarty in the Sherlock series. </li><li>My favorite scene is where Bond crashes the Spectre meeting and Blofeld calls him out in front of everyone. </li><li>Looks fun to drive around Rome at night with no other cars on the roads. </li><li>I don't know why Bond has to ditch his priceless car in the Tiber, he could have gotten away in it. </li><li>The Austrian clinic is a great location, and in fact the filming location has been turned into a <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/story/new-james-bond-museum-007-elements-mountain-austria#:~:text=Appropriately%20named%20007%20Elements%2C%20the,Madeleine%20Swann." target="_blank">007 museum</a>. </li><li>When Madeleine tells Bond about the time that "A man came to my house to kill my father," that's a reference to the beginning of <i>No Time to Die</i>. </li><li>The train they take in North Africa is quite fancy considering they seem to be in the middle of nowhere. </li><li>The storyline of Bond and Olberhauzer as foster brothers falls flat, mostly because their interactions in the movie don't seem to reflect a shared history or familiarity. </li></ul></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div>Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Overall this is a decent movie, but it's not particularly inspiring to me. Lea Seydoux is outstanding, and Christophe Waltz deliver an excellent performance, but the story doesn't have a lot of depth or meat on the bone. <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking it</a> 15 out of 24. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-40366511838765802832022-07-30T01:17:00.001-05:002022-07-30T01:17:42.990-05:00The 007 Project: Skyfall<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNufzqyhIXQ60yBLp0ObtcClcdsv3MZyzWJx6tUBWxegxfyZdjjr__iGMuIg-0d45QpL5caE0pHyAMCLpAwhJxosgRW8YG5zrsGQMeqUpLOh8fA1srd3nLEwMmIcpRAW9E34qojgP5qE-YAJAUSq1qrG_pC0GSQdosa3Chlnj60VEtzXwvOAhJpLqSRw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="651" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNufzqyhIXQ60yBLp0ObtcClcdsv3MZyzWJx6tUBWxegxfyZdjjr__iGMuIg-0d45QpL5caE0pHyAMCLpAwhJxosgRW8YG5zrsGQMeqUpLOh8fA1srd3nLEwMmIcpRAW9E34qojgP5qE-YAJAUSq1qrG_pC0GSQdosa3Chlnj60VEtzXwvOAhJpLqSRw" width="320" /></a></div><div><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div>Bond is presumed dead after being shot on a mission by Miss Moneypenny (who was aiming for Bond's target). He returns to England after a bomb is detonated in MI6, and the culprit is revealed to be Silva, an ex-agent who has never forgiven M for leaving him to be tortured. Bond and M retreat to Skyfall, Bond's childhood home, where they await Silva for a final showdown. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>How much do you know about fear? </i>~Severine</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>All there is. </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">While I do love the scene where Bond meets Q in the museum, I'm going with Bond and M getting in the Aston Martin while the Bond theme plays. Also love Bond threatening to use the ejector seat on her. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">I'm not sure what the neon lights in the background are supposed to be during the fight on the top floor of the Shanghai skyscraper -- just seems very bizarre and out of place. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830515/trivia/?ref_=tt_ql_trv" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">The role of Kincade (</span>Albert Finney<span style="color: #333333;">) was originally written with Sir </span>Sean Connery<span style="color: #333333;"> in mind. Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson</span><span style="color: #333333;"> originally wanted Connery to come out of retirement and make a surprise cameo. Director </span>Sam Mendes<span style="color: #333333;"> told "The Huffington Post", "There was a definite discussion about (Connery playing Kincade), way, way early on. 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."</span></span></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul><li>Fantastic opening with great music, and the Adele song is the best opening song of the series for me. </li><li>I like the guy who plans Tanner (Rory Kinnear) -- he's a good actor who can say a lot with his expressions.</li><li>The dialogue throughout is well written and smart, such as between Bond/Moneypenny, Bond/Q, and Bond's word association with the therapist.</li><li>Q's "Were you expecting an exploding pen" line is a reference to <i>Goldeneye</i>. </li><li>The Bardem intro is memorable, as he performs a soliloquy while walking towards Bond, all in the same camera shot. </li><li>1:27:00 mark -- Cool scene where Q is analyzing Silva's code while it spins in a 3D model (even if developers probably don't look at their code this way). And I like how Bond figures out before anyone else what is going on and is the first to sprint down to where Silva was being held. </li><li>1:34:50 -- Tanner whispers to M that Silva has escaped and they need to get her to a secure location immediately but then they don't do anything. Get M to safety! </li><li>Poor Bond, Skyfall looked like a very depressing and bleak place to grow up. </li><li>2:00:02 -- I love the shift in music from the happy-sounding <i>Boom Boom</i> song to the dark and ominous themes.</li><li>Why did M even need to be in the house when Silva came, like he wouldn't know at that point if she was there or not. She could have holed up elsewhere. </li><li>Why does Kincade need a flashlight? He's lived there his whole life. </li></ul><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div>Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Incredible movie. Of all the Bond movies, it's has by far the most depth and is the one most like an Academy Award type-movie given its dramatic and serious nature, the exploration of Bond's past, and his relationship with M punctuated by her death. At the same time, it manages to still be very entertaining and rewatchable, with great acting and characters (including Silva, Mallory, Moneypenny, and Q), clever dialogue, and a top-notch soundtrack highlighted by Adele's opening number. <i><a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-007-project-tomorrow-never-dies.html">Tomorrow Never Dies</a></i> is still my sentimental favorite, but this one is close behind. <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking it</a> 2 out of 23. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-86458382053354335142022-07-03T22:01:00.002-05:002022-07-03T22:01:41.031-05:00The 007 Project: Quantum of Solace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgil7PEINU6RzEO1cttEKr-jQrrHNXgs45C1fVzkp0U03OMU5S2KUnj5HfyomROTwUcv-euy_R9f4rBfwmIK3K2rgskNZX5nC31c-6-Ymdia9z9rGQ265AfsCGfUO-bK9TPnhXnC53vYg_pDpP1PDoM0U8yHLNpKXbRjwFdlh3TUgCLGTWR67zQ873y_w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1372" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgil7PEINU6RzEO1cttEKr-jQrrHNXgs45C1fVzkp0U03OMU5S2KUnj5HfyomROTwUcv-euy_R9f4rBfwmIK3K2rgskNZX5nC31c-6-Ymdia9z9rGQ265AfsCGfUO-bK9TPnhXnC53vYg_pDpP1PDoM0U8yHLNpKXbRjwFdlh3TUgCLGTWR67zQ873y_w" width="312" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div>Bond and MI6 continue to investigate the organization behind the events of Casino Royale and Vesper's death. The trail leads Bond to Haiti, Austria, and Bolivia, where he discovers their plot to keep a dictator in power in exchange for control over the Bolivian water supply. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>Can I offer an opinion? I really think you people should find a better place to meet. </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The entire opera scene is great, especially the line referenced above where Bond speaks on the Quantum frequency. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The way Bond drops Mathis's body in the dumpster with such disdain is disrespectful and doesn't make sense given how he was tenderly consoling Mathis moments earlier in death. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830515/trivia/?ref_=tt_ql_trv" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">In a later interview, Daniel Craig re</span><span style="color: #333333;">vealed that the script originally wasn't intended to be as much of a sequel to Casino Royale (2006) as it ended up being. However, because of the writer's strike, they had only the "bare bones" of a script, and Craig and director Marc Forster ended up re-writing a lot of scenes between them, with many decisions being made on the fly, and at the last second. Much of the content that made it such a direct sequel to Casino Royale (2006) was a last-second addition. Also, the title was chosen more or less at random, with Craig saying that most Bond movie titles are "meaningless" anyway, and they hoped it would sound intriguing. </span></span></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul><li>Solid and intense opening car chase punctuated by Bond opening the trunk to reveal Mr. White while a cool version of the Bond theme plays. </li><li>I don't like the Another Day to Die song at all, just doesn't sound good to me. Ranking it as a solid last on the <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">song rankings</a>. </li><li>At the moment that Mitchell breaks his cover, it would have been smart of him to shoot Bond first instead of the other random security guy. </li><li>15:12 -- Nice quick musical cue as the scene shifts back to London</li><li>32:28 -- A solid boat action sequence ending with another cool musical cue. </li><li>54:00 -- Great scene where Bond takes one look at the run-down hotel and walks out. "So shoot me, I'd rather stay in a morgue."</li><li>1:05:20 -- "He'll make much more when he sells us out." So it's a crappy looking plane to begin with, and you know that the guy is gonna sell you out -- not Bond's finest plan. </li><li>At the very end where Bond exposes the Vesper's old boyfriend, the Canadian agent just leaves very meekly and doesn't show any surprise or emotion. "OK, this guy betrayed me, thanks, see you later." The actress is actually the lady from <i>Castle </i>(a show I saw maybe one episode of). </li><li>End credits score is good. </li></ul><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div>Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This movie doesn't do much for me -- it's ok, and I like the music (not including the title song), but it's kind of bland and devoid of any real highlights. Additionally, the lead villain and Bond girl aren't that memorable. <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking it</a> 13 out of 22. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-17076481653161271822022-05-29T22:29:00.001-05:002022-05-29T22:29:43.143-05:00The 007 Project: Casino Royale<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPL84jwik0IAK__2yhahOIc0vgL2pLjX-DfaxRrhKrnzcmRpdYXF-4hVpil9rHaSOR-DRwuh6ae5hyQm66gePrg5OsCaH-la81RESkHR_-YvUFYDtEw4J8n6gt6VZQYjjIdV_zl7ySSsL-rYYqil7sjDzsHTqe_BPb7JMs0bhg4ivRlUW9fmd_KgIBsg/s1398/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-28%20at%209.11.28%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1398" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPL84jwik0IAK__2yhahOIc0vgL2pLjX-DfaxRrhKrnzcmRpdYXF-4hVpil9rHaSOR-DRwuh6ae5hyQm66gePrg5OsCaH-la81RESkHR_-YvUFYDtEw4J8n6gt6VZQYjjIdV_zl7ySSsL-rYYqil7sjDzsHTqe_BPb7JMs0bhg4ivRlUW9fmd_KgIBsg/w400-h274/Screen%20Shot%202022-05-28%20at%209.11.28%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div>Bond is a newly promoted double-00 agent, and his investigation into a bombmaker eventually leads him to Le Chiffre, a terrorist financier. After Le Chiffre loses a hundred million dollars after Bond foils his plan, he holds a poker match at Casino Royale to win it back. Bond enters the game under the supervision of treasury representative Vesper Lynd, who he later falls in love with. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>Vodka martini. </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>Shaken or stirred? </i>~Bartender</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>Do I look like I give a damn? </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">A lot of great scenes to choose from. I'm always a sucker for the Caribbean locale, and I'm gonna go with the scenes in the Bahamas, first where he pretends to be the valet and wrecks the guy's car (and I love the arrogance with which he casually and disdainfully tosses the keys aside), and second where he wins the Aston Martin in the poker game. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The opening scene falls flat and isn't very compelling. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381061/trivia/" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>This is the first movie in the forty-four years of James Bond where it rains.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul><li>This movie is directed by Martin Campbell, who also directed <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-007-project-goldeneye.html">Goldeneye</a> and <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2016/06/randall-jahnson-outstanding.html">The Mask of Zorro</a>. </li><li>The chase scene in Madagascar is fantastic, as is the subsequent embassy scene. The actor who Bond is chasing is a real-life parkour master, meaning that he can basically run and jump and climb like a cat. These scenes are also a great introduction to Bond's intensity and determination. </li><li>28:58 mark -- What are the odds that when Dimitrios receives the phone call from the bombmaker, he'll be right in line with the camera Bond is reviewing? What if he was in his hotel room?</li><li>32:00 -- What a beautiful scene with the nighttime pool and surrounding trees and steel drums playing softly in the background. I just now looked up the filming location, and it actually is called The Ocean Club and is in the Bahamas. I would not mind going there someday. </li><li>How does Bond get through the standard airport security?</li><li>Excellent opening scene for Vesper on the train -- well acted and great dialogue and chemistry between her and Bond. </li><li>1:10:33 -- It's clear that Bond does not enter "Vesper" as the password. </li><li>Instead of Vesper leaving a "message" for Bond in the hotel room on her phone, why couldn't she have just talked to him about it. Always better to talk things through. </li><li>2:17:00 -- Regarding Vesper's Algerian boyfriend, M tells Bond that "We should have picked up on it." No shit, M, you just said the same thing in Die Another Day with Miranda and Moon on the fencing team together. Doesn't anyone in MI6 do background checks?</li><li>Two interesting casting notes: the actress at the poker table in the Bahamas appeared in <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/09/thunderball.html">Thunderball</a>, and the actress at the poker table at Casino Royale appeared in <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-007-project-you-only-live-twice.html">You Only Live Twice</a>.</li></ul><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div>Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Fantastic movie and script, <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">ranking it</a> 2 out of 21. It's a long movie, but I don't feel like any of the scenes are wasted. Even the poker scenes, which go on for quite a long time, are captivating throughout. Daniel Craig is excellent as Bond -- I can see why there were some doubts about him just based on his appearance, like he doesn't have quite the leading man look. But he plays the role very well with intensity, arrogance, and humanity. I also appreciate that this movie, while being grittier and darker than some of its predecessors, isn't quite as dour or depressing as some of the movies that follow. Martin Campbell delivers once again. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-86416852197547469342022-05-24T23:22:00.001-05:002022-05-24T23:28:39.618-05:00The 007 Project: Die Another Day<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGI7aom0MG21Wjlsuv29WhwiSu3141-fuzgRbanFL70hzp8SGECKK9zCwxUiAXsyLJ2rfXL3XhTJEGtOE86R5iFw5LVMZjXGwoTGpwzxk1kqyQhuKCnyxFPYiB6V43wVgw8_xcDLgAICqMX5hcLsE1fyA_DbuDcy8opnllP42W4puaSR7X6b3cYLrTAA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="750" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGI7aom0MG21Wjlsuv29WhwiSu3141-fuzgRbanFL70hzp8SGECKK9zCwxUiAXsyLJ2rfXL3XhTJEGtOE86R5iFw5LVMZjXGwoTGpwzxk1kqyQhuKCnyxFPYiB6V43wVgw8_xcDLgAICqMX5hcLsE1fyA_DbuDcy8opnllP42W4puaSR7X6b3cYLrTAA=w400-h229" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div>Bond is captured on a mission to assassinate a young North Korean colonel. The colonel, presumed dead, ends up transforming into a wealthy British businessman who hopes to reunify Korea using his powerful satellite. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>Plenty of time to sleep when you're dead. </i>~Graves</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Fantastic opening, right from the jump with the big-wave surfing. The North Korean sinister landscape is perfect for a Bond movie, and the whole lead-up where Bond meets Moon and Zao followed by the action sequence is outstanding, with great music to boot. We're now 4 for 4 in great openings to the Brosnan movies. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">As great as the opening surfing scene is, the scene where Bond windsurfs using a makeshift parachute has some of the worst CGI that I've ever seen in a movie. It doesn't really make sense that it could be that bad, like I don't understand what they were thinking in leaving that scene in the movie as it was. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246460/trivia" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">While filming their love scene in Cuba, Halle Berry</span><span style="color: #333333;"> choked on a fig, requiring Pierce Brosnan</span><span style="color: #333333;"> to perform the Heimlich maneuver.</span></i></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Not only are we 4 for 4 in great openings in the Brosnan era, but we're also 4 for in great title songs too. I'm actually putting this song as number one on the list for now, but it's very close to Tomorrow Never Dies (#2) and Goldeneye (#3). </li><li>Remember in my <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-007-project-tomorrow-never-dies.html">Tomorrow Never Dies</a> review that I said I loved how Bond was unstoppable in that movie? Well, Bond being captured and tortured for 14 months is on the other end of the spectrum to that, and I remember seeing this movie in the theater and being stunned and appalled at the time, like it really bothered me. Now, it doesn't bother me, though I still think that 14 months is too long, like they could have just said 3 months. </li><li>23:03 mark -- M says, "If I had my way, you'd still be in North Korea." Jesus, M, show Bond a little goddamn respect. </li><li>23:28 -- Bond says, "I never asked to be traded. I'd rather die in prison than let him [Zao] loose." Jesus, Bond, show yourself some goddamn respect -- you're like 100 times more valuable to the world than Zao is dangerous.</li><li>24:54 -- M says,"You're no use to anyone now." STFU, M. </li><li>25:30 -- Bond escapes by stopping his heart and inducing cardiac arrest, but is able to regain his pulse when he chooses to. I don't think that's possible. </li><li>27:33 -- I love when he enters the hotel confidently and like a boss despite being soaking wet, half dressed, and unshaven. And then a great line from Bond: </li><ul><li><i>Been busy have we, Mr. Bond?</i> ~Chang</li><li><i>Just surviving Mr. Chang, just surviving. </i> ~Bond</li></ul><li>33:57 -- Bond picks up the Field Guide to birds in the West Indies book which was written by an ornithologist named James Bond, and it's the book by which Ian Fleming got the idea for the character's name. </li><li>The entire Havana clinic scene is great -- I love the setup of the jerk guy and how Bond punches him and then shoves his wheelchair into a crowd as a distraction (and then sneaks a grape from a patients room).</li><li>Halle Berry is not a great actress in this movie, though compared to Denise Richards, she is Meryl Streep. </li><li>Rosamund Pike (Miranda Frost) is stunningly beautiful. </li><li>Tremendous fencing scene between Graves and Bond -- I was very close to making it my highlight over the opening. </li><li>58:52 -- Miranda breaks up the fight, saying "That is enough!" Wasn't it "enough" five minutes ago when they were destroying the club?</li><li>1:05:39 -- When Q gives Bond his watch, he said it's his 20th (since it's the 20th Bond movie). Just before that, we see Bond looking at a shoe with a blade like in From Russia With Love. It is too bad John Cleese wasn't in more movies, he's good. </li><li>I like Zao's look with the diamonds in the face -- distinctive.</li><li>It's hard to believe the North Korean dude from the beginning (Moon) would be able to pull off being a charming English gentleman, but it's a movie.</li><li>The ice palace set is impressive.</li><li>The morning after Bond and Miranda spend the night, Bond leaves the room to snoop around. Wouldn't Graves have someone watching the room and following Bond?</li><li>I'm not a fan of the fight scene between Bond and Mr. Kil with all the lasers spinning around them -- just seems too unrealistic that they could be fighting and perfectly avoiding the randomly spinning lasers. And yes, I realize I'm complaining about a Bond scene being unrealistic. </li><li>Kind of a brutal death scene with Graves getting sucked into the propeller -- too much for me, honestly, I don't care for that. </li><li>The Moneypenny virtual reality scene is quite clever. </li></ul><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div>Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">I hadn't seen this movie in a while, and while I've always liked it, it actually was a bit better than I remembered. The first half in particular is outstanding -- it's the second half where the wheels fall off a bit with really bad CGI and an over-the-top storyline. If it was just the first half, I'd <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">rank it</a> 2, but instead I'll rank it 5 out of 20. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">And so that's the end of the Pierce Brosnan era. I talked about him in the <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-007-project-goldeneye.html">Goldeneye</a> post, but in short, he's my favorite Bond, and overall his movies represent my favorite Bond era. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-20619774047706348172022-05-07T23:18:00.000-05:002022-05-07T23:18:47.698-05:00The 007 Project: The World is Not Enough <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhL8xfs16QVfFrtk2afytDHSVpO5_VnJkSYjSPAS96v6gm7M34BWXszhxJ7S-hjcXrQZvn0PXmAXeKq61ud8m8lUBPd1BLepT0gyeY7YeQWX-Fk_pw14eem5qNIE8gR1QYa2EVlQBV1Yq5cYrkGd0f8yAMzJHaO3Qfici4DLrskJpSRdZrFfBdg10ynnQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1224" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhL8xfs16QVfFrtk2afytDHSVpO5_VnJkSYjSPAS96v6gm7M34BWXszhxJ7S-hjcXrQZvn0PXmAXeKq61ud8m8lUBPd1BLepT0gyeY7YeQWX-Fk_pw14eem5qNIE8gR1QYa2EVlQBV1Yq5cYrkGd0f8yAMzJHaO3Qfici4DLrskJpSRdZrFfBdg10ynnQ=w415-h231" width="415" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div>Bond is sent to protect an oil heiress whose father was murdered, but he discovered that she is not as innocent as she seems. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>There's no point in living if you can't feel alive. </i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The boat chase on the Thames, beginning with the moment where Bond gets in the boat and zooms out of MI6 headquarters. For me it's the best scene of any Bond movie, in large part due to the majestic musical score which is just perfection. Throw in the London locale, the action, and the raw determination that Bond shows in never giving up and apprehending his target, and you have my favorite scene. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">I generally don't like to critique actors too much, but it would be disingenuous of me not to mention Denise Richards's performance, aka the worst acting performance in a major motion picture that I've ever seen. Every time she opens her mouth, it's awkward and painful to watch. It's hard to even describe without just seeing it for yourself. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0143145/trivia" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">The title is the translation of the Latin motto, "Orbis non sufficit", given to George Lazenby's </span><span style="color: #333333;">Bond, when he researches his own coat of arms, in On Her Majesty's Secret Service</span><span style="color: #333333;"> (1969). The motto also appears in the original Ian Fleming novels. It was the motto of the Spanish King Felipe II.</span></i></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>When Bond jumps out the window with the rope tied to the other guy, he's lucky that the guy grabbed the table leg and slowed his fall, or else I think Bond would have splattered on the concrete. </li><li>Even if the boat/balloon lady is worried that Bond can't protect her from Renaud, at least she'd stand a chance of survival compared to blowing herself up, which gives her a 0% chance. </li><li>Another excellent title song -- our third straight super opening and title song. </li><li>19:16 mark - I love how Bond flippantly tosses the x-ray aside. </li><li>22:50 - Q's descent beneath the floor is the last we see of him in the series, as Desmond Llewelyn died in a car accident three weeks after the premiere of this movie. He had a unique role in the franchise given that his appearances went all the way back to <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/from-russia-with-love.html">From Russia With Love</a>, and in this movie he gives Bond a sage piece of advice that always stuck with me: Never let them see you bleed. I love that. I've always thought about it in terms of keeping your cool and not showing frustration or getting upset if you're in a competitive situation (like a sporting event) or if you're being bullied, because your opponent wants to see you frustrated and upset. If you can stay calm, you don't give them the satisfaction of seeing you down and out. </li><li>Brosnan is starting to look a bit too old in this movie. It's kind of a shame that the Remington Steele contract prevented him from landing the role when he was younger. </li><li>39:46 - Kind of a powerful moment where Bond and Elektra are trapped in the snow and Bond tells her to look in his eyes to calm her down when she starts freaking out. What a man, like how could Elektra do him dirty after how great he is for her there. </li><li>1:03:51 - Once Renaud starts shooting in the underground area, if he were smart he'd go for Bond first instead of some random officers. </li><li>I like how Bond does the time/rate distance calculation in his head. "106 miles from the terminal going 70 miles an hour. We have 78 minutes." I actually calculated it myself and it should be 91 minutes -- still a fun moment, though. </li><li>Sweet blue and white outfit that Bond wears to the Russian safehouse. I'm not much of a fancy dresser, but I wouldn't mind having a suit combo like that. </li><li>Fantastic scene with Bond and Elektra where Bond is held in the torture chair. Sophie Marceau is excellent in this movie, and she shines in this scene in particular. </li><li>Famous last line about Christmas coming only once a year. </li><li>The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hspGv0ChzM&ab_channel=mrmaestrom" target="_blank">end credits score</a> is fabulous -- thankfully they use a traditional Bond medley rather than a random song like they did in the previous two movies. </li></ul><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div>Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This movie has a bit of a cold, dark feel, and Denise Richards really brings it down considerably. However there are also many positives, including Brosnan (as always), the musical score (incredible), and the opening boat scene (the best scene of any Bond movie). <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking it</a> 5 out of 19. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-40215612886391319702022-04-17T23:50:00.002-05:002022-04-18T23:16:42.724-05:00The 007 Project: Tomorrow Never Dies<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3qNfODkJ4oQmoimRo27GPJJCqOWQemoA6upSZxmTYArNp9PRP_FamBjsYNVscmkl8E6uUXcV7XplQe0wD4i09zArYpxNVxMHALdU5mPPmUzRx17Yrks60ZqmWRHFWw9rAkeBXxkK2yg_0Bd9y-3pQumXyoKVof9bwbTEzZvyN7KCeLDa6nOpv-TP6uQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1892" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3qNfODkJ4oQmoimRo27GPJJCqOWQemoA6upSZxmTYArNp9PRP_FamBjsYNVscmkl8E6uUXcV7XplQe0wD4i09zArYpxNVxMHALdU5mPPmUzRx17Yrks60ZqmWRHFWw9rAkeBXxkK2yg_0Bd9y-3pQumXyoKVof9bwbTEzZvyN7KCeLDa6nOpv-TP6uQ=w400-h214" width="400" /></a></p><div><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div>Bond is sent to investigate Elliot Carver, a worldwide media baron who manipulates the British and Chinese into a possible war to increase his ratings. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>It's time...for...a...station break. </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Everything in Hamburg is "delicious," as Carver would say. Particularly the party scene culminating with Bond turning out the lights on Carver. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The HMS Devonshire scene in the beginning drags on a bit and should probably have been cut in half. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120347/trivia/?ref_=tt_ql_trv" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">Sir Anthony Hopkins </span><span style="color: #333333;">was cast as Elliot Carver, and joined the production, but walked after three days because it was so chaotic, and there was no completed shooting script; due to the pressure on EON Productions to finish the movie on time, new pages of the screenplay were being delivered every morning. He opted to appear in The Mask of Zorro </span><span style="color: #333333;">(1998) instead.</span></i></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">Update: Per script writer Bruce Feirstein, this piece of trivia is not true. </span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The opening pre-credits sequence, omg, it's so good. Like, amazing. The way they refer to Bond as the White Knight but we don't see see him until partway through -- the setup and the execution is flawless. </li><li>The Sheryl Crow song is outstanding -- it's really hard to decide between it and Goldeneye for my number one song so far. I think i'm gonna go with Sheryl for now in the number one spot. </li><li>Some great dialogue in the Danish professor scene, including: </li><ul><li>Studying a new tongue</li><li>Brushing up on a little danish</li><li>Cunning linguist</li></ul><li>Much as in the Bourne Ultimatum, there's something about Germany as a locale for a spy movie that just works. Like when Bond gets to the airport and they're speaking German over the intercom -- just feels right. </li><li>Great scene with Q where Bond grabs the remote control and starts driving like a pro: "Let's see how she responds to my touch."</li><li>The actor who played Gupta was actually a world-class magician named Ricky Jay. </li><li>39:07 -- Love Bond casually picking up the ashtray and examining it before cracking the guy's head with it.</li><li>My friend <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2017/01/jw-rinzler-outstanding-author.html">Joe Passman</a> liked to say about Carver, "I'll destroy the world, and then broadcast it on the evening news!"</li><li>Fantastic scene in the top-floor secret lab, even though no words are spoken, as Bond searches the room and then finds the encoder in a safe behind a picture. It's also funny how he just casually knocks over and destroys the 300 million dollar satellite -- if it is worth that much, they should have secured it a little better so that it won't just break if it topples over. </li><li>Back in 2014 (have I really been blogging for that long?) I wrote in the review of MacGyver episode <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2014/12/77-soft-touch.html">Soft Touch</a> about the connection between that episode and this movie. Both feature actor Vincent Schiavelli (in this movie as Dr. Kaufman) as a bad guy opposite Teri Hatcher. </li><li>Given that Bond is parachuting from extremely high altitude, how is he able to land exactly where the ship is?</li><li>1:13:47 -- I like how fast Carver can type with one hand, and I wonder if there are people out there who can really do that. </li><li>I forgot how good the motorcycle chase is, and it's a fun wrinkle how Wai Lin and Bond are handcuffed and have to straddle each other. Michelle Yeoh is great, and I actually saw her once when she came to my university for a presentation of some kind (I don't remember the details). </li><li>1:40:00 - The tone, volume, and assurance in which Bond says "Hello Elliot" is absolutely perfect. In general, the climactic scenes on the stealth boat are very well done -- big and explosive but also dark and gritty, and not too over-the-top. </li></ul><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div>Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This isn't just my favorite Bond movie, this is one of my favorite movies of all time. I freakin' love this movie. What really appealed to me about it as a kid was how Bond was in total control the entire movie. Unlike other movies where Bond gets hurt or shows vulnerability, in this one he always is a step ahead and shows confidence throughout. As I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate vulnerability more, but as a 20 year-old who sometimes lacked confidence, seeing Bond as a Superman-type figure was legitimately motivating and inspirational to me. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">While the Daniel Craig movies have their merits, they too often have Bond on a depressing, soul-searching journey for truth instead of following the formula here, which is just to have a fun, entertaining movie where Bond kicks ass. I haven't even mentioned the amazing soundtrack by first-time Bond composer David Arnold, who has no qualms about using the Bond theme early and often. And the dialogue in this movie is very well-written -- it's clever and witty without being goofy. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">So yes, this is going to the number one spot on <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">the rankings</a> where it will stay. What a film. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-30449205101684219382022-04-11T23:36:00.000-05:002022-04-11T23:36:50.609-05:00The 007 Project: GoldenEye<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHJ2mJyBTcjOWyIGyuo75OxY5k-jlKOsK5i1S8SawhdNcAYs9u7986ULPKgee9kQReyRGXh0032sQfrvjDSVwntkB_x9Xno0gXCu0utl3Aa6UFZtcFbxYV7WTLssgDnUXLm7ED2G0H1UhNjuj5G7sKlTLjBikbLfMkIALtCfQnG4S7jesB5xMBwCOXaA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="926" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHJ2mJyBTcjOWyIGyuo75OxY5k-jlKOsK5i1S8SawhdNcAYs9u7986ULPKgee9kQReyRGXh0032sQfrvjDSVwntkB_x9Xno0gXCu0utl3Aa6UFZtcFbxYV7WTLssgDnUXLm7ED2G0H1UhNjuj5G7sKlTLjBikbLfMkIALtCfQnG4S7jesB5xMBwCOXaA" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div>Bond investigates the disappearance of a top-secret Russian satellite weapon and in the process discovers that his old friend is alive and is now his enemy. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>Half of everything is luck, James. </i>~Trevelyan</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>And the other half? </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>Fate. </i>~Trevelyan</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The entire opening is electric and sets the tone perfectly for the movie. In particular, I love the moment where Bond is slowly walking behind the cannisters with about 50 Russian guns drawn on him. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">I do have one quibble about the opening, and that is the part where Bond launches himself off the cliff on a motorcycle, works his way into the nosediving plane, and pulls the plane up before it crashes. I'm all for suspending disbelief, but this act is not only the most unbelievable event in any Bond movie but possibly any movie. Someone could hypothetically try to do that one billion times and it would probably never work even once. It would have been better if he just stayed in the plane and took off from the mountainside. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113189/trivia/?ref_=tt_ql_trv" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"Goldeneye" is the nickname of James Bond creator Ian Fleming's beachfront house in Jamaica where, between 1952 and 1964, he wrote the Bond novels and short stories. It was named for the contingency plan that the S.I.S., whose members included Fleming, devised in the event of a Nazi invasion of Spain.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>OK, we've now officially entered into my wheelhouse -- I've seen each of the Brosnan movies at least 10 times each. </li><li>This movie is directed by Martin Campbell, who also directed <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2016/06/randall-jahnson-outstanding.html">The Mask of Zorro</a> and would go on to direct Casino Royale. </li><li>The dam bungee jump is a breathtaking stunt, and it was completed in one take.</li><li>Love the Tina Turner song, and it's going to number one on my song rankings thus far. I did just learn that the song was written by Bono and The Edge. </li><li>So far I've been waiting for the actor's final movie to talk about him, but I want to get into Brosnan right now. Brosnan is clearly the best Bond and way better than any of the previous ones, and it's not even close. Daniel Craig (who we'll get to later) is also very good, but Brosnan is just at another level. He quite simply was born to play the character -- his look, his voice, his charm, his ability to be ruthless, his likability, his acting skills, his physicality, his ability to deliver one-liners. He's perfect. </li><li>Great scene with M and Bond in the office where she calls him a "sexist, misogynist dinosaur." Judy Dench is a great M. </li><li>That light blue BMW is beautiful -- too bad it doesn't get more screen time. </li><li>Not sure why they felt like they needed to bring Joe Don Baker back -- he's not as bad here (as CIA man Jack Wade) as he was as Whitaker in <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-007-project-living-daylights.html">The Living Daylights</a>, but still a bit too silly for my tastes. </li><li>Zukovsky on the other hand I kind of like even though he's a goof. And great line by Bond about giving him the limp. </li><li>Fantastic villain performances by Famke Janssen (Onatopp) and Sean Bean (Trevelyan). </li><li>I forgot how good the tank scene is: the music, the energy, and I love the way Natalya looks at him longingly from the car. </li><li>I don't know why Trevelyan is so upset with Bond for setting the timer for 3 minutes, like he told Bond at the time to "Finish the job James, blow them all to hell," so what's his problem?</li><li>I love how Bond guesses Boris's password in like a quarter of a second. </li><li>Wade says "Give me a call if you need backup and I'll send in the marines," well why not just do that right away? I know, because it would ruin the movie. </li><li>After Bond drops Trevelyan to his death, he makes it look easy when he jumps from the satellite tower to the helicopter and grabs the rudder while the helicopter flies away. That is not an easy thing to do, especially considering the pilot is a bad guy (being held at gunpoint by Natalya) and could easily tilt the plane so that Bond falls. </li><li>The end credits -- ewwww. That song they picked was so out of place. </li><li>Let's talk for a minute about the Goldeneye video game for Nintendo 64. I played this game a bit in college, as did many of my peers, and I still have the game. Quite simply, it's one of the best video games ever made, and I'm not alone in that opinion. The 4-person multiplayer was incredibly fun, and the music was unbelievable. Here's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCgLK2KxI9I&ab_channel=Saru786">a sample</a>. </li></ul><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div>Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This movie is so good and easily slides into the number one spot on <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">the rankings</a>. I love it -- not much more to say! </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-79908552393583973412022-04-08T22:22:00.000-05:002022-04-08T22:22:17.757-05:00The 007 Project: Licence to Kill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeu--9h99V8ZHOThM5_gt3K9VTcy1MNbcVxKPaD6N81xsfQV8ZHnHkSHkrPdpkn6me9euYRy6nF-3mjo-OMKoIFWrg_wGST2H4QSRG9tVPWkdr0g9JQQTn8jD_xHoJuN7HMsVGlt-8baQV9pAhOfU_0HxTGPlHyZY7PXAXiHqszXTOXrnTBpgfl780JQ/s1074/1.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="1074" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeu--9h99V8ZHOThM5_gt3K9VTcy1MNbcVxKPaD6N81xsfQV8ZHnHkSHkrPdpkn6me9euYRy6nF-3mjo-OMKoIFWrg_wGST2H4QSRG9tVPWkdr0g9JQQTn8jD_xHoJuN7HMsVGlt-8baQV9pAhOfU_0HxTGPlHyZY7PXAXiHqszXTOXrnTBpgfl780JQ/w400-h200/1.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: blue;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div>Felix Leiter's wedding is interrupted by the capture and escape of a drug kingpin, who then murders Leiter's wife and feeds Leiter to sharks. Bond vows revenge without the approval of M or MI6, who disavow him and revoke his license to kill, forcing Bond to go it alone with only the help of a CIA informant and Q. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>Are you all right? </i>~Pam</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>Switch the bloody machine off! </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The one-two punch of Robert Davi (Sanchez) and Benicio Del Toro (Dario) as villains. Davi's Sanchez effortlessly switches from cool and charming to ruthless and angry, and Del Toro (who was only 22 at the time) portrays Dario with an abundance of menace and swagger. I remember the first time I saw this movie, Del Toro stood out to me as being very memorable and talented, and it's not surprising that he became a more famous actor. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">I don't like how M and his men shoot at Bond when he escapes, like WTF are you doing shooting at Bond? That is so wrong. And then M stops one of his men from shooting with a reason of "No, too many people!" How about, "No, that is our best agent who has risked life and limb on countless occasions and is now trying to righteously avenge his friend by going after a dangerous drug kingpin!"</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097742/trivia" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">The scene where Bond resigns from the MI6 was shot at Ernest Hemingway's</span><span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"> house in Key West. That's why when M (</span>Robert Brown<span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">) informs 007 that his licence to kill is revoked, he replies, "I guess this is a farewell to arms," a nod to one of Hemingway's most famous novels.</span></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I never noticed until this viewing that the official movie title includes the British spelling of Licence rather than License. </li><li>Interesting opening where we see Bond in a different context than what we're accustomed to, as a best man at a wedding. </li><li>12:36 mark -- Della tells Bond it's "custom" for the best man to kiss the bride and then kisses him twice on the lips. </li><li>Amazing that Felix survives the shark attack. The shark attack and the line "He disagreed with something that ate him" come from the <i>Live and Let Die</i> novel. </li><li>When Bond finishes off the corrupt DEA agent (played by the same actor who was the bad guy in <i>Under Siege 2</i>), did he really have to throw the 2 million dollars into the shark-infested water with the guy? Reminds me of the MacGyver episode <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2015/02/30-jack-in-box.html">Jack in the Box</a> where MacGvyer somewhat unnecessarily lets the 5 million dollars blow up with the dynamite. </li><li>Talisa Soto is excellent in the role of Lupe -- like Del Toro, she was only 22 at the time. </li><li>48:03 -- No one is strong enough to hold on to a plane like that with one hand while it's moving and twisting at high speeds. </li><li>50:12 -- Did they really have computer CD drives back then?</li><li>Memorable role for Q here, who gets to do some actual field work. </li><li>1:18:30 -- They don't show how Bond got down from the building. I guess we're supposed to think he climbed up the rope back to the roof. </li><li>1:23:00 -- Whoa, it's a Christopher Neame sighting! He was in three episodes of MacGyver as three different villains. </li><li>Interesting appearance by Wayne Newton as the shady con-man salesman. </li><li>1:42:14 -- Lupe really turning the screws on Pam: "Last night he stayed with me" and "I love James so much."</li><li>2:00:17 -- When Bond sees the bad guy down the road about to fire a missile at him, instead of jumping out of the truck, he does a side wheelie with the truck so that the missile flies right under it. It's the second unlikeliest thing to happen in a Bond movie (we'll get to the most unlikeliest in the next post). </li></ul><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div>Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">While I've seen this movie a few times, I didn't remember it well upon viewing it now. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end -- great locales, great villains, end-to-end action, a story that made sense, and a slightly edgier, more human Bond. <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking it</a> 1 out of 16.</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">And a quick word on Timothy Dalton. Overall I liked him better than Connery or Moore. I didn't love him -- his Bond is somewhat dour and dull, but he did bring a human quality to the role, and I didn't find him to be annoyingly smug as I sometimes did with Connery or as silly as I sometimes did with Moore. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-72186946974847865282022-04-02T21:03:00.001-05:002022-04-07T17:58:35.050-05:00The 007 Project: The Living Daylights<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrJrDObfHYqrHZwO7bwMkqeRv6DOePHEaXkCiSVba2Kg6AASh33oRIowC4IJvv1Y_ys8NfNeLprdeKKV7-pQr5So_9XFOrizwlFOYwwJ79FPskS2JGgu9LrlgTLydu1ZQ3FCerTNgkYBtPZgafgdy_demmNNaIcc359YjDn34ishK6s7BzODcVqM2yZQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="626" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrJrDObfHYqrHZwO7bwMkqeRv6DOePHEaXkCiSVba2Kg6AASh33oRIowC4IJvv1Y_ys8NfNeLprdeKKV7-pQr5So_9XFOrizwlFOYwwJ79FPskS2JGgu9LrlgTLydu1ZQ3FCerTNgkYBtPZgafgdy_demmNNaIcc359YjDn34ishK6s7BzODcVqM2yZQ" width="320" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div></div></div><div>Bond is tasked with helping Soviet officer Georgi Koskov defect in Czechoslovakia, and while on the mission, he spares the life of Kara, Koskov's girlfriend, who is a cellist posing as a sniper. Koskov is later revealed to be corrupt and working with an American arms dealer to deliver weapons to the Soviets while buying opium from the Afghan mujahideen. Bond helps Kara see Koskov's true colors, and they work to stop his scheme. </div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>Relax, Georgi. Our engineers have spent months perfecting this. </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>How many times have you done this before? </i>~Koskov</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>You're the first! </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The opening sequence in Gibraltar is lit. A year ago I wouldn't have known what it means to be lit, but ever since I've been spending more time on Discord with gamers younger than I am, I've learned the lingo and have become cool af, no cap. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The Afghan action sequence is much too long, and it's unclear to me how the mujahideen play into everything. Like they're selling opium to Whitaker and Koskov, but then they're attacking them and Bond is treating them as allies, I don't really get it. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093428/trivia" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><i><span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Christopher Reeve turned down a million-dollar offer by Albert R. Broccoli </span><span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">to play Bond in this film. Had he accepted, he would have been the only American (as of 2021) to play the role.</span></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">(I don't know if this is actually true, I don't see it anywhere else online.)</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I actually remember seeing this movie in the theater -- I was 6 years old. Why my parents took a 6 year-old to see a Bond movie I do not understand, but hopefully I still turned out ok. </li><li>Some notable actors in this movie to mention:</li><ul><li>Jeroen Krabbe as Koskov, also appeared in <i>The Fugitive</i> as Dr. Nichols. </li><li>Andreas Wisniewski as Necros, also appeared in <i><a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-movie-project-die-hard.html">Die Hard</a>, <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2017/02/mission-impossible-1-movie.html">Mission Impossible 1</a></i>, and <i><a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2017/09/mission-impossible-4-ghost-protocol.html">Mission Impossible 4</a></i>. Here's a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQVEG8hRO3s&t=86s">one-minute video</a> of his MI appearances. He's really good in this movie, by the way. </li><li>Joe Don Baker as Whitaker, appears later in <i>Goldeneye</i> and <i>Tomorrow Never Dies</i> as Bond ally Jack Wade. He's not really that good in this movie, by the way. </li><li>John Rhys Davies as Pushkin, also appeared in <i><a href="https://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/03/raiders-of-lost-ark.html">Raiders of the Lost Ark</a></i> and the <i><a href="https://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/04/indiana-jones-and-last-crusade.html">Last Crusade</a></i>.</li><li>Caroline Bliss as Miss Moneypenny, not really notable other than she's cute and I would have liked her to have more screen time. </li><li>John Terry as Felix Leiter, not really notable other than he was not very good and I would have liked him to have less screen time. </li></ul><li>35:00 mark -- Q gives Bond a key that opens 90% of the world's locks, how cool is that. </li><li>1:28:45 -- Funny how Bond is about to leave the prison without freeing the Afghan prisoner from the cell and stops only when he asks. Also is the prisoner supposed to be the mujahideen leader? It seems like that's what they're suggesting, but if so, he acts like two different people (in the cell he seems like a buffoon). </li><li>1:50:16 -- Why is Kara trying to get on the plane now, like couldn't they have talked about the plan beforehand and she could have come along with him earlier? Also once she is in the cockpit, he says "Hold it steady," but how could a cellist know how to fly a massive Soviet plane like that? And why in the world does she open the hatch?</li></ul><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div>Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This movie doesn't do much for me. I like Dalton (will talk about him more next post), but there aren't many highlights or rewatchable moments, and the villains (except for Necros) are underdeveloped and cartoonish. <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking it</a> 12 out of 15. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-90578533246524760032021-11-25T21:06:00.003-06:002021-11-25T21:06:45.967-06:00The 007 Project: A View to a Kill<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWOOKMP28mv8SP9XQqZfeTzPOIekNPDIf3ihrxUJsuyOvC3eUdxmjB2pSBRNlI0IkyvTx8oD23dCbKuN-ppZuR0KYo2amhqNeav5qf8uCjo3uaejwQhYYniSaC88VEIQrI3uTvZjjh6yc/s512/1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="512" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWOOKMP28mv8SP9XQqZfeTzPOIekNPDIf3ihrxUJsuyOvC3eUdxmjB2pSBRNlI0IkyvTx8oD23dCbKuN-ppZuR0KYo2amhqNeav5qf8uCjo3uaejwQhYYniSaC88VEIQrI3uTvZjjh6yc/s320/1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b><div>Bond is sent to France to investigate Max Zorin, a CEO specializing in microchips. Zorin plans to destroy Silicon Valley so that the value of his product increases. </div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>Wow, what a view. </i>~May Day</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>To a kill. </i>~Zorin</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The Eiffel Tower scene and subsequent car chase is brief but memorable. For one thing, how sweet would it be to eat in a restaurant like that in the middle of the Eiffel Tower. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The fire truck chase scene bothered me, like why couldn't Bond just explain things down at the station? Instead he leads these poor officers on a chase throughout San Francisco while doing untold amounts of property damage and risking the lives of the officers and bystanders. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090264/trivia" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">The first of this movie's Eiffel Tower jumps was so successful that the second jump was cancelled, thereby eliminating any further risk, cost, and time. However, as mentioned in Inside A View to a Kill </span><span style="color: #333333;">(2000), two of the crew, including Don "Tweet" Caltvedt, allegedly went and made an unauthorized jump, as they were apparently so disappointed that they didn't get to jump off the Eiffel Tower. The non-permitted stunt jump cost them their jobs, as it jeopardized the remaining filming of the shoot in the French capital.</span></span></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The opening is very good, though it was an inexplicable and startling choice to interrupt the exciting background theme by interjecting <i>California Girls</i>. </li><li>Alison Doody, of Elsa Schneider/<a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/04/indiana-jones-and-last-crusade.html"><i>Last Crusade</i></a> fame, appears as Jenny Flex. She was 19 when this movie came out. Moore, by comparison, was 57. </li><li>There are a few other Indiana Jones connections:</li><ul><li>David Yip, who plays ally Chuck Lee, was Indy's ally Wu Han in the opening to <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/04/indiana-jones-and-temple-of-doom.html"><i>Temple of Doom</i></a>. </li><li>The San Francisco City Hall location is used at the end of <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/03/raiders-of-lost-ark.html"><i>Raiders</i></a> when Indy is leaving his debrief meeting. </li></ul><li>The renaissance-style party at the big palace is cool, but I wonder how Sir Godfrey was able to "arrange an invitation" for Bond under a fake name -- as if Zorin's people would just go along with some dude staying at their mansion who they've never heard of. </li><li>They say that Zorin was from East Germany and then moved to France, but he doesn't speak with any sort of German or French accent. </li><li>1:14:34 - That shrieking cat scared the shit out of me. </li><li>Tanya Roberts as Stacey Sutton -- really bad actress, but perhaps the best looking Bond girl so far. </li><li>I haven't seen many Christopher Walken movies -- in fact, I can't think of a single other one that I've seen, but he's a cool dude. </li><li>May Day is a memorable character, and I like how she turns sides at the end. </li><li>As the drama above the Golden Gate bridge unfolds, the cars on the bridge appear to be driving as normal and aren't distracted by the giant zeppelin directly overhead. </li><li>Well, we've come to the end of the Roger Moore era. Moore is a likable guy but a little too casual for me, so I don't love him, but I rate him slightly better than Connery. </li></ul><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div>Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">I had only seen this movie once before, and my memory of it was that it was really bad and possibly the worst of the franchise. Upon viewing it now, I was pleasantly surprised to realize that it was not that bad, and in fact I kind of liked it. The first half was pretty good -- the second half not as much but not terrible. <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking it</a> 9 out of 14. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-67984601580638479592021-10-26T00:12:00.000-05:002021-10-26T00:12:06.556-05:00The 007 Project: Octopussy<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWUf8VWpd1ikLTyZMbZ-7QOVd85V2LaFLjqdXFbmenSmbhSQvmKFGIyuPCVXwSsuUbacy9hnAJkLBGnn-yX8vCse3bVMFQFZI0LJfuhZ6TH1LUfv_fkQdEaR0vW8mbLFaTx9cDbTeLAFx/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="601" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWUf8VWpd1ikLTyZMbZ-7QOVd85V2LaFLjqdXFbmenSmbhSQvmKFGIyuPCVXwSsuUbacy9hnAJkLBGnn-yX8vCse3bVMFQFZI0LJfuhZ6TH1LUfv_fkQdEaR0vW8mbLFaTx9cDbTeLAFx/w356-h226/Capture.JPG" width="356" /></a></div><br /><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b><div>An ambitious Soviet general and a wealthy Afghan prince lead a plot to detonate a nuclear bomb on a US Air Force base in Germany. Bond picks up the trail in India, where he crosses paths with Octopussy, a jewelry smuggler and the leader of a traveling circus. </div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>I need refilling. </i>~Magda</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>Of course you do. </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">India is the star of the show -- just a great locale for a Bond movie, and the producers do it up right with some great sets and locations. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">While I'm not looking for realism in Bond movies, the plane scene at the end is a bridge too far. He jumps on the back of the plane as it's taking off and hangs on through its ascent -- for one thing I believe that he would be asphyxiated due to the change in air pressure. Then when the plane starts doing barrel rolls, he still manages to hang on. I would have rather just cut the plane scene and have them capture Kamal a different way. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086034/trivia/?ref_=tt_trv_trv" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">In his book, "As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride," Cary Elwes </span><span style="color: #333333;">states that before he was an actor, he worked as a production assistant on this movie. One of his jobs was to drive Sir Roger Moore</span><span style="color: #333333;"> to work on the set of the movie. He further goes on to say that he was "a nervous wreck" being constantly afraid of getting in a car accident and accidentally killing Sir Roger Moore. On one occasion, Mr. Moore looked up from the newspaper he was reading while being driven to work by Elwes and stated calmly, "You can speed up a little if you want to."</span></span></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Kristina Wayborn (Magda) appears in MacGyver episode <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2014/01/123-escape.html">The Escape</a> as Sara Ashford. </li><li>We also get the return of Maud Adams (Octopussy), who we saw in <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-007-project-man-with-golden-gun.html">The Man with the Golden Gun</a>. </li><li>Here's Adams appearing in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksjXilVYIxw&ab_channel=funtywillis" target="_blank">screen test</a> with James Brolin, who was offered this movie as Bond before Roger Moore changed his mind and came back. Not sure what they were thinking by planning on a Bond with an American accent. </li><li>Octopussy says she got her nickname from her father, but that's not a nickname a father should give a daughter. </li><li>The yo-yo blade is a creative and bad-ass weapon. </li><li>The actor playing Gobinda does a great job -- very menacing. </li><li>1:31:34 -- No way Bond would fit into the costume of the little knife-throwing twin. </li><li>1:59:50 -- A bit of a <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2015/05/1a-gauntlet-opening-gambit.html">Gauntlet</a>-style hot air balloon -- no risk of it getting shot down, apparently. </li><li>What a great photo of Christopher Reeve visiting Roger Moore on set while Reeve was in the studio filming Superman III. I've actually been rewatching the Superman movies lately (just finished III) -- Chris Reeve was the man. </li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvNcvdZ59U9s_0NqAK_zpci6T5CZJBr5ozLdX0oSG1LlyObNU8vxslRvQFc_vZbl5C_BSpVwjlivw5TYvdnJw4C97wMtQwQEoo9A1XWzvXdziffEzhxEuVGvcP248OJqe0VR-SnuTcB3W/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1369" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvNcvdZ59U9s_0NqAK_zpci6T5CZJBr5ozLdX0oSG1LlyObNU8vxslRvQFc_vZbl5C_BSpVwjlivw5TYvdnJw4C97wMtQwQEoo9A1XWzvXdziffEzhxEuVGvcP248OJqe0VR-SnuTcB3W/" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div>Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Great movie -- lots of fun. I didn't have too many comments, but I didn't know what else to say other than "I liked the opening, I liked the auction scene, I liked the casino scene, I liked the jungle scene," etc. <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking it</a> 2 out of 13. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-73898912846023081912021-10-09T23:14:00.000-05:002021-10-09T23:14:16.514-05:00The 007 Project: For Your Eyes Only<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3JMa7RsGRBoS6gjZmuFwG016TAE_BcoEm3ThMmQl2UU5i6T82McZJhTDdNG6rpvqmpXoKd3iGc6C154Bhn9WRy39Mxq3DT-kuPUd9luR6oLvJ9FDg0LqRVCCjsROEp9Hke8SZ5peOMrI/s602/1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="602" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3JMa7RsGRBoS6gjZmuFwG016TAE_BcoEm3ThMmQl2UU5i6T82McZJhTDdNG6rpvqmpXoKd3iGc6C154Bhn9WRy39Mxq3DT-kuPUd9luR6oLvJ9FDg0LqRVCCjsROEp9Hke8SZ5peOMrI/s320/1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b><br />A British ship carrying a device that controls nuclear subs is sunk, and the device is stolen. Bond is sent to recover the device and teams with Melina Havelock, the daughter of a murdered marine archaeologist. They travel to the Italian Alps and then to Greece, where they battle the perpetrators for the device in a monastery atop a high cliff.</p><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>Forgive me father for I have sinned </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>That's putting it mildy, 007 </i>~Q</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Melina Havelock is one of my favorite Bond ladies -- beautiful and a bad-ass, but also seems relatable and kind. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">In contrast to the <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-007-project-moonraker.html">Moonraker</a> opening which was amazing, this opening leaves a lot to be desired. It starts out with a good hook of Bond visiting his former wife Tracy's grave, but it goes downhill from there. The villain controlling the plane is meant to be Blofeld, but they couldn't call him that because of the copyright dispute with Kevin McClory over the rights to Blofeld. Regardless, while the idea of revenge on Blofeld is promising, the Blofeld here is not the menace of old and instead is a bumbling fool with ridiculous lines of dialogue. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082398/trivia/" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;">Sir Roger Moore</span><span style="color: #333333;"> was not happy about the scene where he cold-bloodedly kills Locque by pushing his teetering car off of a cliff. Although Moore acknowledged that this was a Bond thing to do, he didn't feel that it was a Sir </span></i></span><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;">Roger Moore</span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"> Bond thing to do. Michael G. Wilson</span><span style="color: #333333;"> also added that he and Richard Maibaum,</span><span style="color: #333333;"> along with John Glen</span><span style="color: #333333;">, toyed with other ideas surrounding that scene, but ultimately everyone, even Moore, agreed to do the scene as originally written.</span></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Some of the stars in this movie include:</li><ul><li>Cassandra Harris as the Countess. She was married to Pierce Brosnan at the time of filming, and Brosnan visited the set and caught the eye of the producers.</li><li>Julian Glover as Kristatos. You might remember him as Walter Donovan from <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/04/indiana-jones-and-last-crusade.html">the best movie of all time</a>. He gives a good performance here, although his accent sounds more Irish than Greek to me. </li><li>Lynn-Holly Johnson as figure skater Bibi Dahl. You might remember her as Soviet agent Ingrid Bannister in the MacGyver episode <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2014/12/76-enemy-within.html">The Enemy Within</a>. Just as in that episode, I find her likable but not a great actress. Before she got into acting, she was an accomplished figure skater.</li><li>Bill Conti as composer. You might remember him as the composer of <i>Rocky</i>. The score here is decent, but there's not enough of the traditional Bond music for my liking, especially during the ski sequence.</li></ul><li>Speaking of the ski sequence, it's great, and I like how they creatively incorporate the Winter Olympics venues, in particular the ski jump scene. It is funny how the bad guy who follows him down the ski jump screws it up for the other bad guys, who had Bond pinned perfectly from all directions. </li><li>We're past the point in the series where Roger Moore just looks too old to be a secret agent, and he still has two more movies left. The ages of the actors during filming were:</li><ul><li>Roger Moore: 53</li><li>Carole Bouquet: 23</li><li>Lynn-Holly Johnson: 22</li><li>Thats a big age gap and even too much for Bond when it comes to resisting the advances of Bibi Dahl. </li></ul><li>53:20 -- the same dude again as in the last two movies, looking at Bond with surprise and then at his drink. Interesting also how all three scenes with him are in Italy. </li><li>There aren't too many guards on the mountain monastery, so why not just approach by helicopter? Also, shouldn't there have been a guard or two at the base of the mountain?</li></ul><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">I believe I had only seen this movie once before, and so watching it now was kind of like watching it for the first time. Overall I enjoyed it, and other than the opening it was solid throughout. <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking it</a> 4 out of 12. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-25719931745980449952021-09-26T23:34:00.000-05:002021-09-26T23:34:30.200-05:00The 007 Project: Moonraker<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_D3kBXnUj-ugOQt4lCUE_gH0DzfYf4QZ5JiZjNDhIXkYHcce2X9oBGaeTAXHz6SNYKMU304E2rpA1OhnYLPLDSsEiAeZAaAlbZAxYlMOTXYYb2EgexDSjlvrlqwLKatvgZtImFkEIxxUI/s1388/Screen+Shot+2021-09-24+at+11.30.26+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1388" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_D3kBXnUj-ugOQt4lCUE_gH0DzfYf4QZ5JiZjNDhIXkYHcce2X9oBGaeTAXHz6SNYKMU304E2rpA1OhnYLPLDSsEiAeZAaAlbZAxYlMOTXYYb2EgexDSjlvrlqwLKatvgZtImFkEIxxUI/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-09-24+at+11.30.26+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b><br />After the Moonraker space shuttle mysteriously disappears, 007 is sent to California to question the shuttle's builder, Hugo Drax. Bond tails Drax to Venice, Rio, and outer space in an attempt to stop him from destroying the world and creating a master race in space. </p><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>My God, what's Bond doing? </i>~Minister of Defense </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>I think he's attempting re-entry, sir. </i>~Q</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The pre-credit parachute sequence is incredible. I'm not a film historian, but I venture to say it has to be in the top 5 of most impressive stunts of all time. I even like the surprise of seeing Jaws, though I will note that the pilot inexplicably puts up little to no resistance as Bond takes his parachute from him in midair. But then the moment at 5:07 where you think it's over and then Jaws comes flying in and the Bond theme starts playing -- wow. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Obviously the ending of Bond going in space requires a suspension of disbelief of the highest order, but the laser battle between the floating spacemen is a bridge too far, to put it mildly. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079574/trivia" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">Except for a few brief close-ups, the entire sequence of Bond, Jaws, and the pilot falling from the plane, with Bond and the pilot fighting for a single parachute, was shot in free fall. T</span><span style="color: #333333;">he entire sequence required eighty-eight jumps, and five weeks to film, just to produce the two minutes of footage in the final movie.</span></span></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul><li>This is the first time that I noticed that Moneypenny doesn't have a British accent. The actress, Lois Maxwell, was Canadian. </li><li>Another highlight of the movie is the first scene between Bond and Drax. I'm putting Drax so far as the 2nd best villain behind OHMSS Blofeld, and Michael Lonsdale is terrific in portraying Drax as humorless and cold. </li><li>19:17 -- Holly shows Bond the centerfuge training machine and says, "Why not try it?" To which Bond should say, "What would be the point of me trying it?" rather than his actual response of "Why Not?" I do like how Bond disarms the machine with his wrist dart gun. </li><li>31:33 -- Fun scene where Bond and Drax go hunting, and Bond shoots the sniper in the tree. </li><li>40:48 -- The guy who can't believe his eyes and looks at his wine bottle when Bond drives the gondola through St. Mark's Square is the same guy who was in disbelief when Bond drove the car out of the water in <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-007-project-spy-who-loved-me.html">The Spy Who Loved Me</a>. </li><li>Shouldn't the Venetian museum with the priceless china have some security? There is an alarm on one of the pieces that doesn't do a darn thing. </li><li>The whole Jaws experience is kind of weird and too focused on laughs, but it doesn't bother me too much. The actor, Richard Kiel, does a good job of playing him with a sense of likability and was liked by the viewers, which is why he was brought back in this movie in the first place. </li><li>1:15:40 -- Apparently Bond's knowledge extends to identifying a rare orchid species from its chemical formula. </li><li>After Bond comes down from his hang glider, how does he find Drax's hideout so quickly? The Amazon is a big place. </li><li>The bad guys never learn to take Bond's watch after locking him up.</li><li>After Bond and Holly escape using the watch, they decide, "Let's just hop in the shuttle and take off!" And somehow they know exactly how to fly it and what all the buttons do. </li><li>Then, when the US military gets the call to action, they send a shuttle up instantaneously! Is this what the new US Space Force is going to be like?</li><li>Dr. Holly Goodhead is ice cold, and it's the worst acting performance so far by a Bond girl (though there's one later that is much, much worse). Nevertheless, I'm still a big Holly Goodhead fan. I just think she's a babe.</li><li>In previous posts I've mentioned my fondness for the N64 Goldeneye video game. That game had a Moonraker laser weapon which was super powerful, and there was an Aztec Temple level that was based on Moonraker and included Jaws. It was the last level and the hardest one in the game, and it had one of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCgLK2KxI9I&ab_channel=Saru786">best video game themes</a> I've ever heard. </li><li>Just as in <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-007-project-you-only-live-twice.html">You Only Live Twice</a>, the bad guys make the mistake of leaving Bond in the control room without any restraints or handcuffs. </li></ul><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">I'm surprised to say that I enjoyed this movie a great deal. Surprised because I didn't remember being a huge fan of it, but other than the space battle, I didn't really dislike any of it. Drax was a great villian, the California, Italy, and Brazil settings were all fun, and I liked the title song more than I remembered. <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking it</a> 2 out of 11. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-10553093572423380492021-09-11T23:56:00.000-05:002021-09-11T23:56:37.753-05:00The 007 Project: The Spy Who Loved Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonk6X21QPuhi5ubt2YX7A4xTJaB-Qckis9o_JjSfc4wAO5Zxt-_wx9ww2-Igaodlqw11-5RJPJgzyhP3XPFYRBUT8DVLGmdUKm7scpzx1ktJWPAjtkchhG3ii7gO_tI73fj-5-g8d7JHG/s555/1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="555" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonk6X21QPuhi5ubt2YX7A4xTJaB-Qckis9o_JjSfc4wAO5Zxt-_wx9ww2-Igaodlqw11-5RJPJgzyhP3XPFYRBUT8DVLGmdUKm7scpzx1ktJWPAjtkchhG3ii7gO_tI73fj-5-g8d7JHG/s320/1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b><br />When British and Soviet nuclear subs mysteriously disappear, Bond teams up with Russian agent Anya Amasova (aka Triple-X) to investigate. </p><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>The answer to the question is yes, I did kill him. </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>Then, when this mission is over, I will kill you. </i>~Anya</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The Lotus Esprit emerging from the water onto the beach, to the shock of the beachgoers. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">At the 26:00 mark, Bond is about to seduce the lovely assistant to Mr. Fekkesh, when she gets shot in the back. It's not clear to me whether Bond turned her into the path of the shot or if it was just bad luck on her part, but either way, it bothers me that Bond just left her to die without even checking on her to see if she was still alive. I mean, I know he's a misogynistic dinosaur and all, but it still would be nice to see at least a little bit of empathy. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076752/trivia/?ref_=tt_trv_trv" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Richard Kiel (Jaws) could only keep the metal teeth in his mouth for about half a minute at a time, due to the excessive pain and discomfort. He often had to show comic expressions, which was quite contradictory to the way he was feeling, wearing the extremely uncomfortable braces. </span></span></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I've read all the Ian Fleming books once upon a time, and I remember thinking that <i>The Spy Who Loved Me</i> was my favorite, although Fleming hated it. The book is completely different from the movie. I don't remember a lot about it, but I remember that it's different from all the other books in that it's told from a woman's point of view, and the first part of the story is about her life. Then she meets Bond at a motel in rural New England and he saves her from some two-bit mobster villains. I liked how Fleming told her story in great detail before bringing Bond into it, so that as the reader we are very curious to see where the story is going and how Bond is going to fit in. </li><li>This is the first out of six appearances by Walter Gotell as General Gogol, though he did appear in a different role in <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/from-russia-with-love.html">From Russia With Love</a>. Gotell appeared in two MacGyver episodes: <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2015/02/46-gx-1.html">GX-1</a> and <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2014/11/89-gold-rush.html">Gold Rush</a>. </li><li>Fantastic opening to the movie culminating with Bond skiing off a mountain and opening a Union Jack parachute (which was originally George Lazenby's idea). The dangerous stunt was performed in the Canadian arctic and had never been done before. </li><li>Also, the opening ski scene features some great music, which segues into Carly Simon's <i>Nobody Does It Better,</i> which I'm a big fan of and is going to the top of the <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">song rankings</a> (for now). The composer for this film was Marvin Hamlisch, who also scored <i><a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2017/11/movie-project-sting.html">The Sting</a></i>. </li><li>The design of the Stromberg Atlantis set is very cool, both inside and out. </li><li>We get a rare sight of Bond in his navy blue commander uniform -- the only other times are in <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-007-project-you-only-live-twice.html">You Only Live Twice</a> and Tomorrow Never Dies.</li><li>We also get to hear the real names of M (Miles) and Q (Major Boothroyd). </li><li>Bond and Anya take a train to Sardinia, which doesn't make sense because Sardinia is an island. Then, they meet Q who gets off a boat with their Lotus car. So instead of Q meeting them with the car, why not just take the car themselves and travel the way that Q did? I guess the writers really wanted to get the train scene in. At least it leads to some fun Bond/Q dialogue:</li><ul><li><i>Q, have I ever let you down? </i> ~Bond</li><li><i>Frequently. </i> ~Q</li></ul><li>1:31:47 -- great moment when Bond when looks over at the helicopter attacking them and Naomi responds with a wink and a smile. </li><li>Barbara Bach, an American actress, does a nice job portraying a Russian. In real life she's married to Ringo Starr. </li><li>They kind of gloss over the fact that two nuclear bombs go off in the ocean. Better that than going off in major cities, but there would still be some significant environmental ramifications. </li></ul><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This is a good movie with a strong cast, music, and sets. It also has enough serious moments to outweigh the humor that was common in the Roger Moore era. The movie does feel too long -- the submarine battle in particular drags on a bit -- but the rest of it moves nicely. <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking it</a> 5th out of 10. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-59653277901136070912021-09-03T23:20:00.004-05:002021-09-03T23:23:14.409-05:00The 007 Project: The Man with the Golden Gun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YNqVbsscLSvX0tph9ZozHYhcl3dEebKPuiWzg5F9GezyQDr4aP8bltpFaF9J1I-GeLlJzpVId0orCwW5KqFCvrBybnhCAYxSknxYZgBTCeEWkXeYhAozjX0D9_T8_tDWDIJ-LzA9Vii6/s498/1.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YNqVbsscLSvX0tph9ZozHYhcl3dEebKPuiWzg5F9GezyQDr4aP8bltpFaF9J1I-GeLlJzpVId0orCwW5KqFCvrBybnhCAYxSknxYZgBTCeEWkXeYhAozjX0D9_T8_tDWDIJ-LzA9Vii6/s320/1.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><p><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b><br />Bond learns that he is being hunted by Scaramanga, a legendary assassin who uses a golden gun. Bond in turn seeks out Scaramanga, who has stolen a device that harnesses the sun and can make solar beam weapons. They have a final face off in a fun house on Scaramanga's private island. </p><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>I'm afraid I'll have to owe you. </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Great scene where Bond and friends take on the 40 karate students in the temple, followed by the boat chase where he pushes the little merchant boy into the water. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">For the second straight movie, the lowlight is Sheriff J.W. Pepper. I have to admit the part at the 1:02:44 mark where he recognizes Bond in the boat is mildly amusing, but they should have just stopped there and quit while they were only a little behind. Instead, they bring him back for an additional 8 minutes of screen time, which is 8 minutes too many and blemishes an otherwise good car chase scene.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071807/trivia" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">The body count of only six, including James Bond's</span><span style="color: #333333;"> one single kill of Scaramanga, are the lowest in the official film franchise to date.</span></i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The opening is like <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2015/02/33-brainwashed.html">Brainwashed</a> meets <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2015/01/48-halloween-knights.html">Halloween Knights</a> with a training ground for killers that is reminiscent of a carnival fun house. Also in the opening we see Christopher Lee (noted English actor), Maud Adams (reappears in <i>Octopussy </i>as Octopussy), an<span style="font-family: inherit;">d <span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Hervé Villechaize (little person of <i>Fantasy Island</i> fame). </span></span></li><li>Instead of Bond going all the way to Beirut to track down Scaramanga's bullet from a previous hit and analyze it for clues to his whereabouts, why not just analyze the bullet that Scaramanga mailed to them?</li><li>Soon-Taik (Lieutenant Hip) appears as the lead villain in MacGyver episode <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2015/03/26-murderers-sky.html">Murderer's Sky</a>. </li><li>Maud Adams's appearance reminds me a bit of Melania T. (I don't want to say the T word). </li><li>The car spiral jump stunt was real and not a camera trick. There's a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgPJnnFsmMc&ab_channel=HODIUSDUDE" target="_blank">short video</a> of the stunt being done a few years before this movie. </li><li>One fun legacy of this movie: The Man with the Golden Gun mode in the Goldeneye N64 video game, where it takes only one shot to kill. </li></ul><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">I'm sorry this post is so short, but it's been like six months since I've watched this. This movie didn't do much for me, which might be why it took me six months to get the motivation to write. I'd still put it above <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/from-russia-with-love.html">From Russia With Love</a> and <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-007-project-diamonds-are-forever.html">Diamonds Are Forever</a> in the 7th spot out of 9 on <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">my list</a>.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-32823357551915057262021-02-20T11:59:00.005-06:002021-02-20T23:29:05.770-06:00Vicki Mayk: Outstanding Author<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOk7EqvDb7nbiffUXIrzKAU1HzOce2zbilD0OXTfix4MKBIEnZH1N-yNKTWWeTNROkxsBv5z3T47KVHnSCBYv1jPGxYYv0Ke-4coE8KUmMN_4Z2ZXwMzwfH1FihnOCjg9HnCfIWNTfPmLz/s450/9780807021927.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="289" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOk7EqvDb7nbiffUXIrzKAU1HzOce2zbilD0OXTfix4MKBIEnZH1N-yNKTWWeTNROkxsBv5z3T47KVHnSCBYv1jPGxYYv0Ke-4coE8KUmMN_4Z2ZXwMzwfH1FihnOCjg9HnCfIWNTfPmLz/s320/9780807021927.jpeg" /></a></div></div><br /></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-fa788656-7fff-f45e-ed40-87de2d3d44b3"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author:</span></p><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vicki Mayk is the author of </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5788875373841955612/3282335755191505726#" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Growing Up on the Gridiron</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, a book about Owen Thomas, a student and football player at the University of Pennsylvania who committed suicide. Owen was also my next-door neighbor. </span></span></span><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqg7pUpnF5MxWd3OQww-C0ZyUrBmfDNEoDHXPjdkQJOxxCQeGsLdWladsxPsEpRVmxWPggJHLJcIHRJgZ3CyRhpUfObmWN-eHMcRS8Kf6SQmU4iKTkHZU-Em_CUneseyQknVN4ZSbaMAll/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="550" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqg7pUpnF5MxWd3OQww-C0ZyUrBmfDNEoDHXPjdkQJOxxCQeGsLdWladsxPsEpRVmxWPggJHLJcIHRJgZ3CyRhpUfObmWN-eHMcRS8Kf6SQmU4iKTkHZU-Em_CUneseyQknVN4ZSbaMAll/" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Matt, Morgan, Owen, Kathy, and Tom Thomas</i></div></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Conversation:</span></div><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-797f83a4-7fff-7e09-3e14-de6505e25bf2"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Total run time: 38:24</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 3:59 - Why Vicki wrote this book</span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 8:35 - My relationship with Matt</span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">15:35 - My memories of Owen, including when he broke our window with a bb gun</span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">21:38 - Penn professor <a href="https://www.adamgrant.net/" target="_blank">Adam Grant</a> on how Owen was special</span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">25:28 - Football as a brotherhood, and if any changes to football should be made</span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">32:05 - Impressions of Parkland School District</span></div><div><br /></div></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
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The embedded player works best in Google Chrome. You can download the mp3 by <a href="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1JsDEgsuw0yBSubi8uXF8Vil5s9_dLw3s" target="_blank">clicking here</a>, and the podcast is <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/outstanding-authors/id1069736652" target="_blank">available in iTunes</a>.</span></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-31700715349255817202021-01-10T16:46:00.003-06:002021-01-10T16:46:48.976-06:00The 007 Project: Live and Let Die<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AlkhpJUG_hdU56GRjOOkpbP_V8e8WPKU1KHl-cvhOIQ2R31JodZjmEwBw5VUMv78UFO5Oa5ofcBQL85_FLIo4BBonODpizFxD9T_pAR6xvVpVdTAeibEKOQ7shWaJ1v3cFXvq1FDedQB/s605/1.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="605" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AlkhpJUG_hdU56GRjOOkpbP_V8e8WPKU1KHl-cvhOIQ2R31JodZjmEwBw5VUMv78UFO5Oa5ofcBQL85_FLIo4BBonODpizFxD9T_pAR6xvVpVdTAeibEKOQ7shWaJ1v3cFXvq1FDedQB/s320/1.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Bond goes to Harlem, New Orleans, and the Caribbean island of San Monique to investigate the killings of three MI6 agents who were investigating a heroin ring led by Kananga, the ruler of San Monique who is also doubling as Mr. Big, an American gangster. Kananga uses Baron Samedi, a voodoo priest, to scare the locals of San Monique, and he uses Solitaire, a virginal psychic, to predict the future. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>Darling, I've a small confession to make now. Try not to be too upset. The deck was slightly stacked in my favor. </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">I'm all in on the "voodoo in the Caribbean" angle. As I wrote in my review of MacGyver episode <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2015/02/43-walking-dead.html">Walking Dead</a>:</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>In the convenience store, the racketeer invokes the name of Baron Samedi, who I'm familiar with from Live and Let Die, my favorite Roger Moore Bond movie. I'm also a big fan of the book as well. In general I like island and voodoo themes which is probably why I dig this episode. </i></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">While the boat chase through the Louisiana bayou is mostly excellent, it's tarnished by the inclusion of J.W. Pepper, a redneck Louisiana sheriff whose only function is comic relief, except he's not funny. I'm not looking for comic relief in my Bond movies, and certainly not in the form of the cartoonish, annoying, and racist J.W. Pepper. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070328/trivia" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">Ross Kananga (credited as stunt coordinator) was the owner of the alligator and crocodile farm in which Bond escapes some hungry crocs. Kananga did this stunt by himself wearing Mr Roger Moore's</span><span style="color: #333333;"> clothes (and shoes made of crocodile skin). The crocodile shoes were a fun idea of Mr Moore. It took 5 attempts to complete the stunt. During the 4th, one of the crocodiles snapped at one of the shoes as it went by. The producers (while scouting locations) first took notice of Mr Kananga's farm from the sign out front: WARNING: TRESPASSERS WILL BE EATEN (the sign can be seen in the film). They liked Ross Kananga</span><span style="color: #333333;"> so much, they used his surname for the film's villain, Dr. Kananga.</span></i></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul><li>Interesting to note that Roger Moore is 3 years older than Sean Connery. </li><li>1:57 mark - no reaction from the guys at the UN after the dude sitting next to them suddenly collapses.</li><li>Kananga is played by Yaphet Kotto, who<span style="font-family: inherit;"> also played <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Alonzo Mosely in <i><a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-movie-project-midnight-run.html">Midnight Run</a></i>.</span></span></li><li>Fun opening Roger Moore scene in Bond's apartment with M, Moneypenny, and the "missing" female Italian agent. </li><li>Kananga's network of people working for him is massive. </li><li>Great performance by Geoffrey Holder as Baron Samedi -- very charismatic. </li><li>34:40 - Bond leaves the burned snake on the ground and resumes his self-care. I would have first wanted to confirm the snake was actually dead. </li><li>39:10 - Very brief scene where Bond walks into the tarot card shop -- good setup for later when he uses his deck to trick Solitaire. </li><li>Cool that they brought Quarrel Jr. in as the son of Quarrel from <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/dr-no.html">Dr. No</a>. </li><li>1:16:00 - Bond is very calm for having his pinky finger about to be cut off by Tee Hee's hook. And no way that Kananga would have spared Bond's finger after Solitaire answered incorrectly. </li><li>Here's an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb1c1aMcFAo&ab_channel=DarynHinton" target="_blank">amazing video</a> of the failed takes of Ross Kananga running on the crocodiles. </li><li>I'm not a fan of graphic death scenes, which become more prevalent later in the series. Kananga's death is not overly graphic but is kind of disturbing as his body inflates and explodes. </li></ul><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">I'm a big fan of this movie, even if the current viewing didn't quite measure up to my memory of it. I enjoy the cast, including Jane Seymour as Solitaire (my favorite Bond girl so far), and mostly I'm just a sucker for anything related to Caribbean/voodoo/island stuff. <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking this</a> number 2 on the list. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-25537484288840474512020-11-26T14:02:00.000-06:002020-11-26T14:02:00.440-06:00The 007 Project: Diamonds Are Forever<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwHq0RrqFbiBY0AETZHW4o4LThzNzsTnTCFZzFgYSuvWkUJN9T_uEGX9FHQgD_-xIQ52CJg8A1yGCw0JMy2XKoMBN-_ysdDHaWsapLXB5DyGoVPCWxdvE7i4oHPPER2kXEBnLPHoqJ95R/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="473" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwHq0RrqFbiBY0AETZHW4o4LThzNzsTnTCFZzFgYSuvWkUJN9T_uEGX9FHQgD_-xIQ52CJg8A1yGCw0JMy2XKoMBN-_ysdDHaWsapLXB5DyGoVPCWxdvE7i4oHPPER2kXEBnLPHoqJ95R/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">While investigating an illegal diamond operation, Bond runs into Blofeld once again. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>Hi, I'm Plenty. </i>~Plenty O'Toole</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>But of course you are.</i> ~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">I like the scene in the lab where Bond pretends to be the radiation inspector who he just met in the hallway, and then the real inspector enters the lab after Bond leaves. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Not a specific moment, but just the overall weak plot, lack of character development, and general campiness. A few examples: </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I don't fully understand who Tiffany Case is or what her motivations are. </li><li>The Willard Whyte subplot is weird and confusing, like how he was secretly locked up for years and then just emerged like nothing happened. </li><li>Blofeld is significantly less menacing and interesting than Telly Savalas's Blofeld in <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-007-project-on-her-majestys-secret.html">OHMSS</a>, and Felix Leiter is not well acted. </li><li>I have no idea what was going on related to Blofeld's plan in outer space, and it's unclear why it doesn't succeed considering that Tiffany is unable to switch the cassettes (although maybe the oil platform blowing up has something to do with it). </li></ul></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066995/trivia" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">Jill St. John and Lana Wood </span><span style="color: #333333;">have been involved in a decades-long feud that began during the filming of this movie, throughout the spring of 1971, when both women were dating Sean Connery </span><span style="color: #333333;">at the same time. In February 1982, less than three months after the mysterious drowning of Lana's sister Natalie Wood</span><span style="color: #333333;">, St. John started a relationship with Robert Wagner</span><span style="color: #333333;">, Lana's brother-in-law, and eventually married him. At a photo shoot of former Bond girls in September 1999 for Vanity Fair magazine, an altercation occurred between St. John and Wood when photographer Annie Leibovitz </span><span style="color: #333333;">asked for a picture of them together. Reportedly, St. John was so adamantly opposed to the idea that it reduced Wood to tears. A publicist for the shoot, however, said it was he who vetoed the photo because Mr. Wagner would prefer his present wife not be shot with his former sister-in-law.</span></span></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>15:57 mark - cool hovercraft. I've never seen one that big before, and it looks like a fun way to travel. </li><li>21:44 - clever move by Bond outside the apartment to blend in by giving himself a self-hug. </li><li>24:57 - apparently Bond is a member of the "Playboy Club and Casino". </li><li>33:35 - I don't understand the "coffin on the conveyor belt" scene where the conveyor belt and the surrounding flames disappear when the coffin is opened. </li><li>54:02 - when Bond sneaks into the back of the van at the gas station, the guy in the car behind the van somehow doesn't seem to notice. </li><li>I like the moon buggy as a vehicle in an action scene, even if I'm not sure what the bad guys were doing with a moon buggy. </li><li>Some notable actors include: </li><ul><li>Bruce Glover as Mr. Wint. His son Crispin was George McFly in <i>Back to the Future</i>. </li><li>Charles Gray as Blofeld. He played MI6 agent Henderson in <i><a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-007-project-you-only-live-twice.html">You Only Live Twice</a></i>. </li><li>Jimmy Dean as Willard Whyte. He started Jimmy Dean sausages. </li><li>Lana Wood as Plenty O'Toole. Many of her scenes were cut, which is why her character is so underdeveloped. Her acting was not good -- perhaps that's why the scenes were cut.</li></ul><li>1:28:25 - seems like Bond gets the upper hand on Bambi and Thumper too easily in the pool given their demonstrated physical prowess. </li><li>Just as in <i>You Only Live Twice</i>, Blofeld inexplicably allows Bond to roam unrestrained in the control room. </li></ul><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Not a good movie. In fact, it's really bad. It's crazy that they followed up OHMSS (which had just the right serious tone) with this silliness. Perhaps they were trying to zag from OHMSS's relative lack of box office success, and they clearly missed the involvement of OHMSS director Peter Hunt. <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking this</a> at the bottom of my list. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-84676910274794534892020-11-11T00:45:00.003-06:002020-11-11T00:45:52.982-06:00The 007 Project: On Her Majesty's Secret Service<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdwqIzKODL71nF371MnA4RQq8lJ7X8kxEOgQgZqVgpADxMwL7uRDdr4Pyr7Z8On4_wy8ZS3H6ejStoZ7taYAtd_L3ipnxFf3GgYpfuZxkJp3Uz-1DThFrt0jRuICdFujDh4ni6JP7OiMW/s482/1.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdwqIzKODL71nF371MnA4RQq8lJ7X8kxEOgQgZqVgpADxMwL7uRDdr4Pyr7Z8On4_wy8ZS3H6ejStoZ7taYAtd_L3ipnxFf3GgYpfuZxkJp3Uz-1DThFrt0jRuICdFujDh4ni6JP7OiMW/s320/1.PNG" width="320" /></a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><b style="color: blue; text-align: left;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The head of the Corsican mob asks Bond to woo the mob head's daughter, Tracy, and Bond and Tracy fall in love. Meanwhile, Bond tracks down a lead on Blofeld in Switzerland, and he gets into Blofeld's compound by pretending to be a genealogist. After Blofeld discovers his true identity, Bond escapes and meets up with Tracy, and the pair are hunted by Blofeld's men. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>This never happened to the other fellow. </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The thrilling nighttime ski scene where Bond is racing down the mountain toward the town with Blofeld's men in hot pursuit, all to the tune of the great OHMSS theme song.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The relationship and chemistry between Bond and Tracy is lacking. For starters, there's no context for the opening where he rescues her in the ocean -- why is she trying to drown herself, why is he there, how does he know who she is, and why is he trying to save her? With their casino/hotel encounter, I'm still trying to determine how they know each other and what their motives are, and their rapport at the bullfight turns from frosty to lovey-dovey at the drop of a hat. The lack of chemistry might be partly due to the tension between the actors or by Lazenby's lack of acting experience, but nevertheless the script could have been better in that regard. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064757/trivia" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Having secured a suit ordered but uncollected by Sir Sean Connery</span><span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #70579d;"> </span><span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">and getting a Rolex and haircut like him, George Lazenby</span><span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"> talked his way into meeting producer Albert R. Broccoli,</span><span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"> producer Harry Saltzman</span><span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">, and director Peter R. Hunt</span><span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">. After bluffing his way through the meeting and falsely claiming he had wide acting credits, he secured a screentest. Lazenby then confessed to Hunt that he had made it all up and that he wasn't an actor. Hunt laughed and told him, "You just strolled in here and managed to fool two of the most ruthless bastards in the business. You're an actor."</span></span></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul><li>The whole George Lazenby story is really interesting, and if you want to learn more about him, I recommend the movie <i>Becoming Bond</i>, which is like a documentary with reenactments. The cliff notes version is that Lazenby was a model and had no acting experience whatsoever (other than commercials) before landing the coveted role of 007. He caught the eye of the producers with his looks, physicality, and arrogance. After making the movie, he turned down a deal for multiple Bond movies and a huge payday because it wasn't what he wanted. His performance in this movie is ok but not great -- he doesn't have the "it" factor, and his acting often seems clunky (not surprising since this was his first movie). I found <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSngVzh_KGc" target="_blank">this clip</a> of him in <i>Gettsyburg </i>where his acting seems quite good, so it's possible that he might have grown into the role. And does his story mean that despite my total lack of acting experience, my dream of playing Bond is still alive?!</li><li>The fight scene in the beginning seems ahead of its time with the rapid camera cuts. </li><li>21:15 mark - the janitor is whistling the Goldfinger theme. </li><li>28:55 - fun scene at Bond's desk where he takes out artifacts from previous movies like Honey Ryder's knife and Grant's watch. </li><li>46:07 - a mention of Bond's family motto, "The World is Not Enough."</li><li>Lazenby's voice was dubbed when doing the impersonation of Hilary Bray, which makes me wonder what the point of Bond disguising his voice is if he's not disguising his appearance. </li><li>49:57 - Bond's compatriot is a bit obvious following behind on the deserted road in his beetle bug. </li><li>It doesn't follow that Blofeld wouldn't recognize Bond considering they met in <i>You Only Live Twice, </i>and so it would have made sense for Bond to have a disguise. Also, it's surprising that an international criminal mastermind cares about getting a title certified by a genealogist. </li><li>Telly Savalas (aka Kojak) is a great actor and villain -- much better than the Blofeld in <i>You Only Live Twice</i>.</li><li>1:18:30 - this part startled the hell out of me where Irma Bunt surprised Bond in Ruby's bed. </li><li>1:23:14 - weird for Blofeld to lock up Bond in the big room with all the gears. </li><li>Switzerland is one of the stars of the movie -- it looks like such a happy, Christmas-card kind of place, the tons of SPECTRE goons notwithstanding.</li><li>1:33:58 - love Blofeld throwing the cat down on the desk after getting the call that Bond has escaped. </li><li>A little too convenient that Tracy is ice skating and finds Bond so easily when he's trying to hide in the crowd. </li><li>1:53:56 - what a great moment where Bond and Tracy are skiing to the sound of happy music and then it suddenly turns to the ominous main theme. </li><li>2:05:49 - risky move by Draco's men shooting through the windows considering that Tracy could have been shot (she hits the deck along with Blofeld). </li><li>Great acting from Lois Maxwell in the wedding scene -- she captures the bittersweetness of the moment perfectly. </li><li>The ending is one of the most poignant scenes in any Bond movie. </li></ul><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">I didn't remember this movie one bit, and I have to say it's really good. There's a sense of realism and grittiness, in part due to the lack of gadgets, and the Bond/Tracy relationship gives the movie some depth that most Bond movies don't have. The Swiss locale is fantastic, the theme song is memorable, and there are great performances by Telly Savalas, Diana Rigg, and Ilse Steppat (Irma Bunt). And the film is able to survive a mediocre performance from Lazenby, who is at least likable; in fact, his likability is notable given that the producers were impressed by his arrogance in the audition process, and yet he doesn't come across as overly arrogant. <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking this</a> as my #1 movie thus far. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-7361540089953949872020-10-13T21:31:00.002-05:002020-10-13T21:31:30.737-05:00The 007 Project: You Only Live Twice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkfKf5KsukgaHFz9io4sr_HIHS4iJMqUs7ScS9_6PS9Yp-GUkj_mM9RhX5TL6XmLiv0-h9ypxqr0QXekMElZNJ69_VFCOv4tW-ZXKWBj789vAqEMxEj-MUyADSgKDY8oxbDKIcMj195VE/s426/1.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkfKf5KsukgaHFz9io4sr_HIHS4iJMqUs7ScS9_6PS9Yp-GUkj_mM9RhX5TL6XmLiv0-h9ypxqr0QXekMElZNJ69_VFCOv4tW-ZXKWBj789vAqEMxEj-MUyADSgKDY8oxbDKIcMj195VE/s320/1.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><b style="color: blue; text-align: left;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Bond fakes his death to give himself room to operate more freely. He goes to Japan to investigate the source of a space launch where a capsule is pretending to be the USSR and kidnapping American astronauts, and vice versa. He discovers that SPECTRE is behind the plot, and he assumes the look of a Japanese ninja while invading their base. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>You like Japanese sake, Mr. Bond, or would you prefer vodka martini? </i>~Tanaka</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>Oh no, I like saki. Especially when it's served at the correct temperature: 98.4 degrees Fahrenheit, like this is. </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">I like the scene where Bond has the astronaut outfit on and is getting ready to climb into the space capsule. Cool music, and pretty ballsy of Bond for being ready and willing to go up in space as part of his seat-of-the-pants plan. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">While I like the concept of the fake death, it would have meant more if it actually affected the plot. The only time it came up was when Osato and Brandt were surprised to learn that Bond was alive, but that knowledge wouldn't have changed any of their actions up to that point. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062512/trivia" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">While scouting locations in Japan, the chief production team narrowly escaped death. On March 5, 1966, producers Albert R. Broccoli</span><span style="color: #333333;"> and Harry Saltzman</span><span style="color: #333333;">, director Lewis Gilbert</span><span style="color: #333333;">, cinematographer Freddie Young</span><span style="color: #333333;">, and production designer Ken Adam</span><span style="color: #333333;"> were booked to leave Japan on BOAC flight 911 departing Tokyo for Hong Kong and London. Two hours before their Boeing 707 flight departed, the team was invited to an unexpected ninja demonstration, and so missed their plane. Their flight took off as scheduled, and twenty-five minutes after take-off, the plane disintegrated over Mt. Fuji, killing all aboard.</span></span></i></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>This screenplay was written by children's author Roald Dahl. I was a big <i>Fantastic Mr. Fox </i>fan back in the day. </li><li>The first Bond movie where the plot from Fleming's book wasn't closely followed. In the book, Bond gets amnesia after killing Blofeld, and then he lives with Kissy Suzuki for a while and gets her pregnant. </li><li>It's unclear how Bond doesn't die after getting shot in the murphy bed. </li><li>Great opening song! It's sung by Nancy Sinatra, who was offered the song after her father Frank turned it down. </li><li>I like the recreation of Moneypenny and M's offices on the sub. </li><li>Bond puts on a Covid-style mask when he gets in the back of the car and pretends to be the hoodlum he just took out, and somehow the driver never realizes the deception, even as he gets Bond out of the car and carries him on his back. The driver is played by wrestler Peter Maivia, Dwayne Johnson's grandfather. </li><li>"In Japan, men always come first. Women come second." ~Osato right before he and Bond get undressed and bathed by four scantily clad Japanese ladies. Women's empowerment was never one the Bond series' greatest strengths. </li><li>42:20 mark -- The car chase moves very quickly from busy Tokyo to the countryside. </li><li>The scene where Helga Brandt leaves Bond in the plane to die was silly -- why would she go through all that trouble instead of just trying to kill him on land? Also it's impressive how Bond is able to safely land the plane without the wheels. </li><li>During the helicopter chase, a cameraman on a harness got his foot <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/story-of-the-scene-you-only-live-twice-1967-1758895.html" target="_blank">partially cut off</a> by a blade and later had the foot amputated. Remind me of that the next time I complain about CGI. </li><li>Connery wore a hairpiece in all the Bond movies, and it looks like they gave him a different one when he gets a Japanese makeover. </li><li>Shouldn't the US and the Soviets have known that a third party was involved since neither of them were involved in the other's disappearing spacecraft? </li><li>The construction of the impressive crater set cost more than making <i>Dr. No</i>. </li><li>Blofeld's cat gets spooked <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0FcOPb-9rE&ab_channel=bobtiki" target="_blank">at one point</a>, but Blofeld keeps a solid hold on him. Also, the cat ran away and was missing for a few days during production. </li><li>The biggest stretch of the movie is actually not the Pac Mac space capsule that eats the other spaceships -- it's how Bond is allowed to be unrestrained (i.e. not tied up or handcuffed) in the control room while the rocket is taking off. On top of that, they even let him have one of his own cigarettes -- did they miss the part in his file where he uses an occassional gadget? </li><li>It wasn't clear at first why Kissy was involved in the volcano assault, but I read online that she was part of the ninja force, despite not being properly dressed for battle. Her character isn't necessary for the story, other than that it fulfills a requirement from the producers to Roald Dahl to have three women for Bond. Mie Hama, who played Kissy, struggled with learning English after getting the part, and the producers told her they were taking the part away from her. She then threatened to <a href="https://entertainment.time.com/2012/10/04/james-bond-declassified-50-things-you-didnt-know-about-007/slide/bond-girl-or-else/" target="_blank">jump off a building</a> (!!), and they gave her the part back. </li></ul><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">While this movie was fun to watch because I didn't remember it at all, and while I liked the mystery element (i.e. Bond having to do some investigation) and the Japanese locale, there weren't a lot of highlights for me, and it's not a movie that I'd be overly excited to rewatch any time soon. <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">Ranking this</a> 4th out of 5. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">And a quick word on Connery before we move to Lazenby (even though Connery will be back). My overall impression of him is that he's very cool with great stage presence and definitely the most charming of all the Bonds, but he also comes off a bit swarmy at times and more invested in the women than the mission. So overall I like him, but he's not my favorite. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-21318167523849673632020-09-16T23:53:00.003-05:002020-09-24T15:35:21.466-05:00The 007 Project: Thunderball<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1_PTl2SoRuAEL8RpZaNyE3djNhFvqa6R0qDEz-32y1RMocICDyRnyvx6KtGRHMW9BhpzhgNdj1M1NEABvn8rJXmwfn-LCwUTkx6FAr1ZHdr8n5tXFSywWuSHoqbixs-970oP7vBHmBO1/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="408" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1_PTl2SoRuAEL8RpZaNyE3djNhFvqa6R0qDEz-32y1RMocICDyRnyvx6KtGRHMW9BhpzhgNdj1M1NEABvn8rJXmwfn-LCwUTkx6FAr1ZHdr8n5tXFSywWuSHoqbixs-970oP7vBHmBO1/" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's all double-00s on deck when SPECTRE steals two atomic bombs and threatens to blow up a city unless they're paid 100 million pounds in diamonds. Bond goes to the Bahamas to investigate a lead, and he discovers the plot led by Largo, SPECTRE's number two, and Fiona Volpe, a red-headed assassin. He also meets Domino, Largo's mistress and the sister of the bomb transport pilot who was killed by SPECTRE. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>My dear girl, don't flatter yourself. What I did this evening was for king and country. You don't think it gave me any pleasure, do you? </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b><br />The entire middle third once Bond gets to the Bahamas is outstanding, especially the part when he's sneaking around Largo's home base at night. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The underwater scenes, while well filmed, are simply too long. <br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058150/trivia" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><i>The jetpack that Bond uses to escape his enemies was no special effect, but a real jetpack provided by the U.S. Air Force. Initially, Sir Sean Connery was to fly the jetpack without a helmet (and some publicity photos of him with the jetpack were made with him without a helmet). This was because he would have looked more debonair. It was later decided that he wear a helmet in the scene. This was for risk and safety reasons, as the pilot refused not to wear a helmet, and the scenes had to match.</i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I wouldn't have guessed that the jetpack was a real thing, or that Connery actually flew it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I didn't remember the opening at all. It's quirky, but I like it. Not sure how he got the jet pack in place before meeting the SPECTRE agent or how he knew he'd need a jet pack to get away, but any time a jetpack is involved there's no point in asking too many questions. </li><li><i>Thunderball</i> by Tom Jones is a great Bond song. The story goes that Jones passed out in the studio due to holding the final note for so long. That's not unusual (see what I just did there?)</li><li>There was a legal brouhaha regarding the original <i>Thunderball</i> novel. In short, Ian Fleming mapped out the story with Kevin McClory and Jack Whittingham for a potential movie, and then a few years later he wrote the book using the same story without crediting the others. They sued Fleming and won shared rights to the story, and McClory was made a producer on the <i>Thunderball</i> movie. Later, McClory spearheaded the <i>Never Say Never Again</i> remake with Sean Connery that is based on <i>Thunderball</i> but is not produced by EON and therefore not considered by most people to be an "official" Bond movie. </li><li>17:00 mark - an uncomfortable moment where Bond basically commits sexual assault by telling the masseuse to have sex with him in exchange for not tattling on her. </li><li>29:55 - pretty impressive to have underwater landing lights in the middle of the ocean. </li><li>39:12 - great scene in the immaculate conference room as Bond walks in late and is disdainfully scolded by M before taking his seat in the 7th position of the 9 double-00s.</li><li>49:23 - A woman turns her head to look at Bond when he walks by, and then 10 seconds later another woman smiles at him after he almost bumps into her. Then at 54:33, the hotel front desk clerk stares longingly at him as he walks away. That's why they say that Bond is the guy that women want to be with and men want to be. </li><li>The Bahamas was a long way to go for Q -- why couldn't he just equip Bond back in London? We also have our third Felix Leiter actor -- this particular one wasn't a great actor. </li><li>Martine Beswick, who plays Paula, appeared as one of the gypsy women fighters in <i>From Russia With Love</i>. </li><li>51:55 - The classy, low-key party looks so much more fun than the parties of today -- I guess I was born out of my time. </li><li>1:20:58 - director Terence Young said that Connery was not acting when he looked shocked as the shark swam by. There was a small gap in the partition separating Connery from the sharks, and one shark found his way through.</li><li>1:27:13 - during the parade chase (which reminds me a bit of <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2015/01/64-lost-love.html">Lost Love</a>), there's a random shot of a dog lifting his leg to urinate and people in the parade wearing 007 hats (circled below). </li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuZQMfjzox_-T7Go1Nj6ulRIh0_25Vc1icsDaTRgeHrlgXuCbSmPmqdd8GZTSGEKS9M2J1Ku7fLBfZSE8smHmjtsC5fttFpRxALCQkbSXLDD48P9tjUgkpfsngYivaz93weVOisHqXvWE/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="438" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuZQMfjzox_-T7Go1Nj6ulRIh0_25Vc1icsDaTRgeHrlgXuCbSmPmqdd8GZTSGEKS9M2J1Ku7fLBfZSE8smHmjtsC5fttFpRxALCQkbSXLDD48P9tjUgkpfsngYivaz93weVOisHqXvWE/" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>1:34:20 - Bond is way too calm when he jumps into the shark infested waters to have a look around.</li><li>1:37:25 - it seems like they're implying that Bond and Domino have sex underwater in scuba gear. </li><li>Fun fact about Domino: She wears almost all black and white (like a domino). </li><li>All of the Bond movies so far have ended abruptly, and this one does as well. I was surprised that Bond actually allowed himself and Domino to be rescued given his usual pattern of forgoing the rescue attempt. And Domino doesn't look to be attached to the hoist device and is just hanging on to Bond. And what happened to the scientist that couldn't swim? I guess they just left him to drown. </li></ul><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">I didn't remember much about this movie other than that it was my favorite of the Connery movies. Upon rewatching, it might not be quite as great as I remembered, but I still like it a lot and am putting it #1 <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">on my list</a>. I always love when Bond goes to the Caribbean, and Largo is a strong villain. I'm also a big Domino fan, and Fiona Volpe steals the show as the charismatic femme fatale. And a great theme song to boot -- thanks to Tom Jones for sacrificing his body for the final note. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-46709654405315878162020-09-07T16:40:00.006-05:002020-09-24T15:34:57.485-05:00The 007 Project: Goldfinger<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5I2HBo3EoCOGuc9J-hYFe00x8P6-7NEEUYiFGuyBdrJQpfeXYwOjuhHQZ7ZUGDv0K_EV9cAA-SxqR25ABEp9SDvq200kGnZ0lgYMTyeH4ZMq9zPcNNKQl-6hCTFeMtBIM5VutpTqpQvC/s435/9-7-2020+4-50-38+PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5I2HBo3EoCOGuc9J-hYFe00x8P6-7NEEUYiFGuyBdrJQpfeXYwOjuhHQZ7ZUGDv0K_EV9cAA-SxqR25ABEp9SDvq200kGnZ0lgYMTyeH4ZMq9zPcNNKQl-6hCTFeMtBIM5VutpTqpQvC/s320/9-7-2020+4-50-38+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">007 goes after Auric Goldfinger, a gold smuggler who plans to break into Fort Knox and make the gold radioactive to increase the value of his own gold. Along the way, 007 crosses paths with Pussy Galore, the Masterson sisters, and Oddjob, a short and bulky henchman who uses a bowler hat as a weapon. </div><span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>Do you expect me to talk? </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><i>No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die. </i>~Goldfinger</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b><br />It's delightful every time Sean Connery says "Pussy!" with such charm and bravado -- my favorite is when she catches him listening underneath the Fort Knox map. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The scene where Goldfinger is explaining his plan to a room full of American hoods. The acting is not good, and the scene doesn't add much value. <br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058150/trivia" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><i>The name of gangster Mr. Solo is believed to be the inspiration for the naming of Star Wars character Han Solo.</i></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The actress in the opening scene appeared in <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/from-russia-with-love.html">From Russia With Love</a> as Kerim Bey's mistress. For some reason the one thing I remembered about this opening was how the same measure of the Bond theme plays over and over (from 1:40 to 2:24). </li><li>The Goldfinger song is a good one, and I like how bits and pieces of it appear throughout the movie. </li><li>I dig the portrayal of early 1960's Miami, and the luxury hotel is quite something with a high dive and ice rink. I didn't realize that skimpy bikinis were so prevalent in the early 60s. The gal underwater in the swimming pool (8:41 mark) is about to lose hers. </li><li>On the scene where Bond is at the fridge and gets hit on the head by Oddjob, Connery has said that his falling over wasn't acting because Harold Sakata (Oddjob) was that strong. </li><li>I'm the furthest thing from a car aficionado, but even I think that those 1960 Aston Martins are awesome, and I'd love to have one. I'm guessing they're a little pricey, let me check......looks like you can get a DB5 for about 600K. That's a little more than I can afford at the moment. </li><li>Director Guy Hamilton had the foresight to introduce the Q vs. 007 banter that became commonplace throughout the series. </li><li>Another candidate for memorable quote:</li><ul><li><i>Ejector seat? You're joking.</i> ~Bond</li><li><i>I never joke about my work, 007.</i> ~Q</li></ul><li>Goldfinger doesn't complain about Bond switching his golf ball? For the record, I don't think Goldfinger is that great of a villain. Oddjob, on the other hand, is a bad dude. </li><li>So Bond must be able to take his Aston Martin on the plane with him to Switzerland, which is surprising. And after he's caught in the woods and Tilly is killed, there's no way Oddjob and his crew would let Bond drive his own car. And with all the bullet holes that the old lady with the machine gun puts in the windshield (48:56 mark), there's no way that Bond wouldn't get hit. </li><li>Speaking of Tilly, the actress is Helen Mirren's first cousin, and this movie was one of her only acting jobs. </li><li>And yet another memorable quote candidate:</li><ul><li><i>Who are you?</i> ~Bond </li><li><i>My name is Pussy Galore.</i> ~Pussy</li><li><i>I must be dreaming.</i> ~Bond</li></ul><li>Speaking of Pussy, she says, "You can turn off the charm. I'm immune." They don't play it up too much in the movie, but in the book they make it clear that she's a lesbian who Bond "cures", as <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/james-bond-author-ian-fleming-believed-pussy-galore-only-needed-the-right-man-to-come-along-to-cure-a6721161.html" target="_blank">Ian Fleming puts it</a>. </li><li>This movie begins a long tradition of the villain not just keeping Bond alive but also telling him the plan and keeping him nearby.</li><li>After Oddjob kills Solo, it seems unnecessary to destroy the car -- why not just dump the body?</li><li>So if Felix and the soldiers who got hit by the gas didn't actually get hit by any gas and were just pretending, that means that they knew the attack was coming (from being warned by Pussy). So why was it necessary to let the attackers get into Fort Knox before fighting back? </li><li>The bomb stops at 007, but Bond says there were only three ticks left. The IMDB trivia says that the script called for three seconds, but the producers later changed the time display to 007 and didn't change the dialogue.</li></ul><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Connery hitting his stride, the memorable Oddjob and Pussy characters, the death by gold paint scene, fun locales, and a catchy theme song all add up to a good movie and one that I like better than the first two.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-19141287129100983342020-08-29T16:38:00.001-05:002020-09-24T15:34:46.803-05:00The 007 Project: From Russia With Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PMPM9GF4Ms0HcUbv2eJTfmV2WzS80dLI4JgtNPHYbaoMZwZTlFLTehJLBN9-hDN9ywinuhgcyz1VQlmXNNzocZLS8VdKVkQ-YRyBEITgs8xtSiukJp_Pg55PNL8YRtCbl0N-XpbUhpTl/s392/1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="392" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PMPM9GF4Ms0HcUbv2eJTfmV2WzS80dLI4JgtNPHYbaoMZwZTlFLTehJLBN9-hDN9ywinuhgcyz1VQlmXNNzocZLS8VdKVkQ-YRyBEITgs8xtSiukJp_Pg55PNL8YRtCbl0N-XpbUhpTl/w314-h254/1.PNG" width="314" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="color: blue;">Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">SPECTRE lays a trap for Bond by using a low-level Russian clerk to tempt him with a Lektor decoding device. Bond plays along and meets the woman in Istanbul, and they steal the Lektor, with SPECTRE agents in hot pursuit. </div><span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Memorable Quote:</span></b><br /><i>You won't be needing this, old man. </i>~Bond</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Highlight:</span></b><br />The dialogue between Bond and Grant on the Orient Express. Robert Shaw is great as Grant, and it's not the first time on this blog that I've extolled a <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2017/11/movie-project-sting.html">"Robert Shaw on a train" scene</a>. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Lowlight:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The middle third of the movie is slow and confusing. <br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Most interesting piece of <span><u><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055928/trivia" target="_blank">IMDB trivia</a></u></span>:</span></b><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Though he isn't shown actually taking it, it is implied that Bond keeps Grant's garrote watch, as the watch appears in On Her Majesty's Secret Service when Bond cleans out his desk, as well as in a deleted scene in A View to a Kill when the Paris police return Bond's property.</i></span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Great song for this movie, both the instrumental version in the title sequence and the lyrical version sung by Matt Monro at the end. </li><li>7:10 mark - all those people watching the chess game and no one sees Kronsteen rip up the paper with the SPECTRE message?</li><li>The character of Morzeny (partially bald guy who we first see on SPECTRE Island) is played by Walter Gotell, who we'll see in later movies as General Gogol. He also appeared in MacGyver as the psychic Starkoss in <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2015/02/46-gx-1.html">GX-1</a> and as the Russian general in <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2014/11/89-gold-rush.html">Gold Rush</a>. </li><li>28:04 - not sure why Bond tells Kerim Bey that M thinks Bond's wasting his time on this mission, because M was totally on board earlier. </li><li>29:15 - kind of strange how the full Bond action theme is played while he's just inspecting his hotel room. </li><li>It's nice of Bond to stop the girl fight, but they never tell us which one he picked as the winner. </li><li>When Tatiana "Tanya" Romanova (not to be confused with <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2014/12/76-enemy-within.html">Victoria Tomanova</a>) first meets Bond, she seems much more confident than I was expecting based on her earlier scene with Rosa Klebb. Daniela Bianchi, the actress playing Tanya, was only 21 years old at the time -- she's quite charming. </li><li>1:16:03 - there's <a href="https://www.thebondbulletin.com/the-ian-fleming-cameo-in-from-russia-with-love-is-it-him-or-not/#:~:text=Fleming%20had%20large%20ears%20and,in%20the%20film%20looks%20smaller." target="_blank">some debate</a> as to whether the random guy in the grass outside the train might actually be Ian Fleming. </li><li>1:16:50 - not one of Bond's finer moments when he gives Tanya's face a hard slap. Turns out that <a href="https://www.sickchirpse.com/sean-connery-sexist/" target="_blank">Connery himself</a> was not always the most progressive on this topic. </li><li>1:27:10 - Bond is surprisingly quick to put his gun down and turn his back on Grant, even after discovering that Grant drugged Tanya's drink. </li><li>So SPECTRE's plan is to get Tatiana to steal the Lektor and give it to Bond, and then they're going to steal it from Bond and sell it back to the Russians. What's the point of all that, and why involve Bond at all? I get that they want revenge for his role in taking out Dr. No, but there would be simpler ways to get that. </li><li>Weird how Grant makes Bond open the first briefcase but then insists on opening the second one himself, which of course is the one that's rigged with the tear gas. </li><li>It's kind of embarrassing for Bond that he can't subdue Klebb on his own, even with her having a poison shoe-knife -- she's basically a little old lady. </li><li>1:51:55 - Tanya quickly moves the gun back and forth as if she's actually considering shooting Bond instead of Klebb. I guess Bond did slap her. </li><li>Two other pieces of trivia:</li><ul><li>There was a From Russia With Love video game released in 2005 for Playstation 2, and Connery did the vocal work for Bond. </li><li>Louis Armstrong performed with Lotte Lenya, the actress who plays Klebb, and he added her name to the lyrics of Mack the Knife. </li></ul></ul><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Final Analysis:</span></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This movie seems to be regarded by many people as one of the best Bond movies ever, but I didn't care for it, and I'm sure it's going to be in my bottom 5 by the time it's all said and done. Bianchi and Shaw are both great and the theme song is good, but otherwise there's not a lot of highlights or scenes that I really enjoyed. I also found the plot to be confusing, especially in the middle third of the movie, such as what did the Gypsies have to do with anything, and why were the Russians shooting at them? And then I didn't know who the guy was that Kerim Bey shoots with a sniper rifle -- probably a Russian, but the Russian characters were so underdeveloped that it was hard to tell. Slotting this below Dr. No <a href="http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-007-project-rankings-page.html">in my rankings</a>. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.com2