len, I stopped at so many points, but the pendulum scene I had my eyes covered. That was not the movie that I signed up for, and wasn't even a good barometer for the rest of the movie (which was pretty tame after that). But, I think I got through that (behind my fingers, and that shit went on for way too long) but bailed on the lovey-dovey scene shortly afterwards.
The dialogue was atrocious, every scene was too long, for the first time ever, I cared not a wit for Brendan Gleeson (so wrong!) and what I thought would be some decent eye candy (Luke Evans) was also woefully overwrought in his acting. And I am officially done, it seems, with John Cusack.
Surprisingly, I dug the damsel in distress. When the director wasn't making her do silly stuff like scream unrelentingly, she was quiet and competent for the most part.
But, I only finished it because I might as well know how it ends for my three bucks.
I thought it did a great job linking Craig-era Bond back into the Connery-Bond mythos.
I didn't want it linked. Craig-bond alone was significantly more interesting to me than Craig-bond linked.
I mean, Skyfall was a much better movie than QoS. I was disappointed because the scuttlebutt was that it was as good as Casino Royale, and though I suppose it was in some ways I mostly thought it was silly to the point of banality. Like the old Bond movies. Which, as mentioned, I didn't like.
I thought The Raven was entertaining shlock, but I watched it with sub-zero expectations.
I think it got better as it went on because I'd started drinking. But it took itself too seriously and had too much scenery chewing to be the fun kind of bad for me. I'll take Sleepy Hollow and Snow White and the Huntsman over this.
ION, watched Due Date because of the need for brain deadness, and watching RDJ
sucker punch a kid and spit on a dog
was worth the price of admission. I almost choked on the latter scene. But the former might still be my favourite, even if I feel morally wrong about that.
OK, so you weren't watching the Vincent Price-Boris Karloff "The Raven" and hating it. I am much relieved.
My knowledge of movies trends to run old.
Yeah I was think of the Price-Karloff one too - which was highly entertaining Schlock, but really fun schlock. And had absolutely nothing to do with the poem (other than stealing a few lines and one character name from the poem, completely out of context ). If you ever rent it and find it does not appeal, then before turning it off, fast forward to the magical duel and watch that.
I'd give either On Her Majesty's Secret Service or From Russia With Love a shot, depending on which you think is more likely to hit the sweet spot. But I think Bond is its own genre and if you didn't grow up with it... It's difficult to say "oh yes, it's often appallingly racist and sexist, and very serious about completely ridiculous things, and goofily glib about serious things, and you just need to roll with that!"
I mean, it is an odd franchise.
Y'know, actually I might go with Matt's rec of Moonraker or (even better/worse) A View to a Kill. If this is someone who can appreciate a terrible movie, at least. I'm quite serious -- instead of "This is one if the good ones" you might be better off with "Everyone agrees, this is just crap. But it does follow the formula, so if you see it done terribly and giggle , you're entertained, and later you may enjoy it more when it's done well. I can at least guarantee you won't be bored!"
It's difficult to say "oh yes, it's often appallingly racist and sexist, and very serious about completely ridiculous things, and goofily glib about serious things, and you just need to roll with that!"
At heart, James Bond is the hero of a 14YO boy's fantasy world. More so in the Connery-Lazenby-Moore era, but still to some extent now.
