w  rd 2 the woss

FILM REVIEW: Spectre

February 16th 2016 - Matthew MacDonald

*SPOILER ALERT*

 

As a gigantic James bond fan, I must say that Spectre did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed this film, from the amazing opening sequence in Mexico City to the climactic finale in London.

 

The story of Spectre revolves around  Bond. James Bond (played by Daniel Craig) . Bond is investigating a mysterious group called Spectre. He learns about the group after M’s passing. From there on Bond travels the world in search of a way to stop the elusive group whilst the new M (played by Ralph Fiennes) has to fight to keep the 00 program intact.

 

The film is beautifully shot with amazong direction (courtesy of Sam Mendes). Mendes does an amazing job drawing you into the locations of the film, making you feel as though you are walking alongside Bond and the other characters. The most impressive scenes in the movie are the ones in Italy (a high octane car chase featuring the new DB10 Aston Martin) and the amazing downhill chase on the snowy slopes of Solden Austria. These scenes are just magnificent to see and really show off the spectacle and scale of the film.

 

Bond is not alone in this film and the supporting cast does not disappoint. The supporting character that steals the show is hands down, Christoph Waltz as the main villain and leader of Spectre, Oberhauser. He is a very good at making Bond’s life a living hell and in the first scene where you encounter him, he leaves a terrifying impression. The rest of the cast does a great job acting as well. One character that really improved in my opinion is Q. He has really grown into an actual character that can hold his own ground in these films, since the last time we saw him.

 

The film also did an amazing job of connecting the three previous films together I loved the way that Spectre was behind all of the misfortune in Bond’s life, from the death of Vesper in Casino Royale to M’s death in Skyfall. The group was also a great throwback to the classic Spectre group from the old movies (the all encompassing eye that controls the world behind a curtain). The thing that made this film feel unique in my opinion is how Bond was more of a superhero in this film. This was something that I have never seen before in a James Bond film and I have to say that I loved it.  I love the way James has developed in theses films, from the first movie where he is new to MI6 to now in the fourth film being a total expert in every aspect of his job.  

 

The action scenes in the film are some of the best in bond history in my opinion. The opening sequence in Mexico City was fantastic it had me on the edge of my seat. The next notable scene was when bond went up to the Austrian Alps to rescue a woman who knows information on Spectre. Bond, is forced to chase the bad guys down with a plane in a scene that leaves you astonished. There is also a great fight scene on a train between Bond and Mr. Hinx, a massive brute that says very little but talks with his fists.

 

My only issue with the film was that it seemed to drag on. I understand that they need to develop these characters but in some scenes it went on and on and on and I was left waiting for the next high octane action scene. I also feel like this film could be cut down from its long 2:30 hour run time to something manageable like 2 hours or 2:10. Other than those minor issues I felt like this was a fantastic addition to the James Bond series and a welcome refresh.

 

I would rate this film an 8 out of 10.

 

If you enjoy this film, some other recommendations would be:

Casino Royale

Skyfall

Kingsman: The Secret Service