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The Marinated Meeple (1848 KP) rated Casino Royale (2006) in Movies
Apr 1, 2018
Daniel Craig makes an excellent James Bond, this re-sparked the franchise
This is a very solid addition to a franchise that went a bit too wild and cartoony. This one added depth and gravitas to the role. It made me hopeful for future bond movies... plus here's a cool alternate movie poster.
David McK (3185 KP) rated No Time to Die (2021) in Movies
Oct 21, 2021 (Updated Sep 10, 2023)
The names Bond.... James Bond
The latest (at the time of writing) James Bond movie, this is both the 25th in the series and the one that is was much delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
It's also Daniel Craig's last outing as James Bond - the only actor whose Bond, I believe, has an arc across all the movies in which he starred, from his earliest days (Casino Royale) through to missions when he was in his prime (Skyfall) and finally - here - coming out of retirement for 'one last mission'. Daniel Craig's Bond is not the only returning character: Felix Leiter, M, Moneypenny, Q, Madeline Swann, and even Blofield all make a return.
Billie Eilish's theme song is completely forgettable, while I was also a bit surprised by the ending. Didn't mind it so much, though, as those who walked out of the showing I went to!
It's also Daniel Craig's last outing as James Bond - the only actor whose Bond, I believe, has an arc across all the movies in which he starred, from his earliest days (Casino Royale) through to missions when he was in his prime (Skyfall) and finally - here - coming out of retirement for 'one last mission'. Daniel Craig's Bond is not the only returning character: Felix Leiter, M, Moneypenny, Q, Madeline Swann, and even Blofield all make a return.
Billie Eilish's theme song is completely forgettable, while I was also a bit surprised by the ending. Didn't mind it so much, though, as those who walked out of the showing I went to!
David McK (3185 KP) rated Spectre (2015) in Movies
Jan 14, 2020 (Updated Sep 3, 2023)
The penultimate James Bond film of the Daniel Craig era, and we're FINALLY starting to get back to what made the Bond films so enjoyable to begin with: Girls, guns and gadgets (although I'll freely admit that may be somewhat sexist. But then again, so is the character ...).
We're not entirely there yet, though, with this film going to great pains to try to form a coherent narrative out of all the previous Daniel Craig outings as Bond, with the reveal of SPECTRE and of a face from Bond's past (albeit that last handled very shoddily: just sort of thrown in there, if you will) and with a plot that takes in the dangers of global survellaince.
Like the rest of the Daniel Craig Bond film: just OK, nothing special.
We're not entirely there yet, though, with this film going to great pains to try to form a coherent narrative out of all the previous Daniel Craig outings as Bond, with the reveal of SPECTRE and of a face from Bond's past (albeit that last handled very shoddily: just sort of thrown in there, if you will) and with a plot that takes in the dangers of global survellaince.
Like the rest of the Daniel Craig Bond film: just OK, nothing special.
Kevin Phillipson (9943 KP) rated Knives Out (2019) in Movies
Nov 28, 2019
Ana de Aramas (1 more)
Daniel Craig
Plot millionaire book write comiits suicide police suspect family of murdering him including the victims nurse is also suspect. Just seen the movie I liked it the plot was kinda confusing at first but after awhile I got it. Ana de Aramas is without a doubt a star in the making next to be seen in the new James bond movie with Daniel Craig so they have alot of screen time together. Anyway the rest of the cast is good as u wonder did they have a reason to see there father die. Highly recommended to anyone to see
David McK (3185 KP) rated Quantum of Solace (2008) in Movies
Dec 31, 2019 (Updated Aug 20, 2023)
The second of Daniel Craig's outings as 007, in which James Bond tracks down the organisation that led to the death of his lover Vesper Lynd in the previous movie (Casino Royale): this is thus, I believe, one of the very few (if not the only) direct sequels in the James Bond franchise.
And, I have to say, I still can't warm to Craig's portrayal of Bond: to me, these are now no longer Bond movies so much as they are just very average by-the-number Spy films that owe a heavy debt to the Jason Bourne films.
Definitely could have done with more time in the oven, so to speak: a result of the writers strike of the time means that this is a somewhat muddled mess.
And, I have to say, I still can't warm to Craig's portrayal of Bond: to me, these are now no longer Bond movies so much as they are just very average by-the-number Spy films that owe a heavy debt to the Jason Bourne films.
Definitely could have done with more time in the oven, so to speak: a result of the writers strike of the time means that this is a somewhat muddled mess.
ClareR (5561 KP) rated The Drowned City in Books
Apr 15, 2021
The Drowned City is the first book in a new series by Karen Maitland, and it bodes really well for the next book!
Jacobean England, where a year to the day after the failed Gunpowder Plot, a huge wave destroys much of Bristol, killing hundreds of people and destroying homes and businesses. This is a superstitious time, where the blame is put on witches and demons. And Catholics.
Daniel Pursglove is freed from Newgate jail where he has been imprisoned, suspected of witchcraft, by one of King James’ closest advisors, Charles FitzAlan. He is given the task of tracking down Spero Pettingar - the man who got away during the arrests of the Gunpowder Plot. He is suspected of going to Bristol to recruit supporters - namely Jesuits.
The descriptions of Newgate Prison are horrific - as are those of a destroyed Bristol. This is a really atmospheric book with some great descriptions. Not that you’d really want to be, but you can imagine yourself there, amidst the mud, filth and decay.
I really liked how the chapters flashed between Daniel and London, where we would see the King or Robert Cecil (a man who fascinates me!).
Daniel doesn’t seem to me to be the most accomplished investigator. Most of what he discovers he does by accident, but he does get results. Just not the ones he was necessarily asked to get.
I’m really looking forward to reading the next in this series, it really has piqued my interest!
Jacobean England, where a year to the day after the failed Gunpowder Plot, a huge wave destroys much of Bristol, killing hundreds of people and destroying homes and businesses. This is a superstitious time, where the blame is put on witches and demons. And Catholics.
Daniel Pursglove is freed from Newgate jail where he has been imprisoned, suspected of witchcraft, by one of King James’ closest advisors, Charles FitzAlan. He is given the task of tracking down Spero Pettingar - the man who got away during the arrests of the Gunpowder Plot. He is suspected of going to Bristol to recruit supporters - namely Jesuits.
The descriptions of Newgate Prison are horrific - as are those of a destroyed Bristol. This is a really atmospheric book with some great descriptions. Not that you’d really want to be, but you can imagine yourself there, amidst the mud, filth and decay.
I really liked how the chapters flashed between Daniel and London, where we would see the King or Robert Cecil (a man who fascinates me!).
Daniel doesn’t seem to me to be the most accomplished investigator. Most of what he discovers he does by accident, but he does get results. Just not the ones he was necessarily asked to get.
I’m really looking forward to reading the next in this series, it really has piqued my interest!
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Stargate (1994) in Movies
Feb 16, 2021
Where No Man Has Gone Before
Stargate- is a good action sci-fi flick. I know alot of people werent the biggest fans of this film, but i thought it was good.
The plot: In modern-day Egypt, professor Daniel Jackson (James Spader) teams up with retired Army Col. Jack O'Neil (Kurt Russell) to unlock the code of an interstellar gateway to an ancient Egypt-like world. They arrive on a planet ruled by the despotic Ra (Jaye Davidson), who holds the key to the Earth travelers' safe return. Now, in order to escape from their intergalactic purgatory, Jackson and O'Neil must convince the planet's people that Ra must be overthrown.
Like i said its a good sci-fi flick.
The plot: In modern-day Egypt, professor Daniel Jackson (James Spader) teams up with retired Army Col. Jack O'Neil (Kurt Russell) to unlock the code of an interstellar gateway to an ancient Egypt-like world. They arrive on a planet ruled by the despotic Ra (Jaye Davidson), who holds the key to the Earth travelers' safe return. Now, in order to escape from their intergalactic purgatory, Jackson and O'Neil must convince the planet's people that Ra must be overthrown.
Like i said its a good sci-fi flick.
David McK (3185 KP) rated Die Another Day (2002) in Movies
Sep 4, 2022
Brosnan's last Bond
Pierce Brosnan's last outing as James Bond, commonly viewed as one of the worst in the oeuvre (especially with the introduction of the Aston Martin Vanish car)
it's not all that bad, however - I have to say, I still prefer this style of Bond film - guns, gadgets, insane plans, etc - over the overly-dour and oh-so-serious films that were to follow in Daniel Craig's tenure.
Anyway, this is the film that starts with Bond captured by the North Koreans before being released as part of a prisoner exchange, that has Rosamunde Pike in an early breakout role (and *that* Madonna cameo), and that also stars Halle Berry as Jinx.
Yes, the plot is ridiculous and feels like something out of a video game (of which this was turned into, in the PS2 era), but still and all ...
it's not all that bad, however - I have to say, I still prefer this style of Bond film - guns, gadgets, insane plans, etc - over the overly-dour and oh-so-serious films that were to follow in Daniel Craig's tenure.
Anyway, this is the film that starts with Bond captured by the North Koreans before being released as part of a prisoner exchange, that has Rosamunde Pike in an early breakout role (and *that* Madonna cameo), and that also stars Halle Berry as Jinx.
Yes, the plot is ridiculous and feels like something out of a video game (of which this was turned into, in the PS2 era), but still and all ...
Shaun Collins (3 KP) rated James Bond, Vol. 1: VARGR in Books
Jan 12, 2018
Confession time... I've never read an Ian Fleming James Bond novel.
Don't hate me. They're on the list.
But I have seen all the films, so when Dynamite announced they were doing a Bond comic, I figured I'd give it a go. All in all, not to bad. An enjoyable, if pedestrian Bond plot, with all the trappings to make it Bond. Brutal deaths, sly jokes, cool weapons, sexual innuendo, and everything blows up at the end. What more could you want?
I liked the art work, although it was a bit graphic for a Bond film, this is obviously a "dark and gritty" reboot style telling. And that's fine, just expect that when you go in. Bond looks more like Sterling Archer than Daniel Craig, and that's also fine, since Craig isn't at the top of my Bond list anyway. In fact, none of the characters are drawn to represent anyone specific, so separate continuity and all that.
I hoped for more, but wasn't disappointed.
Don't hate me. They're on the list.
But I have seen all the films, so when Dynamite announced they were doing a Bond comic, I figured I'd give it a go. All in all, not to bad. An enjoyable, if pedestrian Bond plot, with all the trappings to make it Bond. Brutal deaths, sly jokes, cool weapons, sexual innuendo, and everything blows up at the end. What more could you want?
I liked the art work, although it was a bit graphic for a Bond film, this is obviously a "dark and gritty" reboot style telling. And that's fine, just expect that when you go in. Bond looks more like Sterling Archer than Daniel Craig, and that's also fine, since Craig isn't at the top of my Bond list anyway. In fact, none of the characters are drawn to represent anyone specific, so separate continuity and all that.
I hoped for more, but wasn't disappointed.