The Sweenester's Review (Revised)

[The Sweeney]

You guys here ain't gonna like this review, and sorry bj to disappoint, but.........in a word....brilliant!!!

I kept finding myself getting more and more angry as the film unfolded, not at the film itself, but all those bloody critics who were slagging this film off. Kermode and Rye in particular sprung to mind, when certain scenes cropped up I was thinking `b...b...but this was supposed to be crap! This wasn't supposed to make me feel an adrenalin rush, gripped on the edge of my seat. What went wrong?

It is a definite departure from the Bond series as we know, yet still strangely familiar at the same time. One of my mates thought it was better than CR, but didn't feel like a Bond film, another of my mates said this was more like a Bond film than CR....you can see why this is dividing the critics. I've never know a film to be able to divide audiences so much. For that, QOS is unique, not just for a Bond film, but for a film in general.

There was so much to take in, I need to see it again....ASAP! I thought the humour level was just right...the same amount that was used in CR (Dench had all the best lines for this). Although the action content was more than CR, there was still plenty of story and depth to the other scenes. In fact, the middle third has hardly any action at all, making me baffled as to why critics have stated otherwise.

Loved Dominic Greene, superbly slimy, and a much better villain than Le Chiffre. Likewise I thought the Bond girls were better in this than CR. And as for Craig himself?

He is now my favourite Bond. He has beaten Connery this time with this performance. Cold, ruthless, efficient, yet deep, brutal killing machine. He is much better in this than CR (if that is at all possible).

There was so much to love about this film...the opening Aston chase (Bullitt on steroids is a very fitting description), loved the 70's retro title sequence, hell even White's song sounded good, loved the boat chase, loved the plane scene, loved the fight in the apartment, loved the opera house scene, loved the way it was shot, loved the battle with Greene at the end, loved the scene with Mathis and Bond on the plane, with Bond downing his drinks (it reminded me very much of Fleming) and thought the very last scene to conclude the film was just superb!!

This is the film that has rebooted Bond, not CR, which now almost appears like a fairly normal, standard, run-of-the-mill Bond film in comparison to the shock departure that is QOS. The film unfolds like a Fleming novel. Action happens suddenly, without warning, just like the books.

I'm so blown away by what I've seen tonight, I have to see it again just to make sure.....

Probably better than CR (but I'll confirm this on 2nd viewing)....9/10

[bjmdds]

I am glad you found this generic film entertaining. EA thinks differently. I do not know how you ever enjoyed the previous 40 years of films if this is your style of Bond actor and film. Go see it several more times, and keep spreading your word that Connery has been usurped by you as the best Bond. Truthfully though Sweenster, that statement is quite shocking to me as a Bond fan. Connery IS,WAS,and ALWAYS will be THE EPITOME of Bond. You and I will now NEVER see eye to eye on any Craig Bond films;however, I am glad you enjoyed it and I hope you continue to enjoy it in the future. For me, the inmates(EON) are running the asylum.

[Mazer Rackham]

More or less the review I expected from Sween.

He says when he first saw Bourne that he considered it was the way Bond should be. That's why I thought quark might not be so bad for him.

[The Sweeney]

Although I've given it the big thumbs, I'll also say in the same breath that I can see why others will not like this (especially you lot)!

I am not suprised by the negative reviews one bit. CR seemed to tick most of the boxes to be a superior Bond film, even if you lot hated it. The departure was a bold step for EON, but it still managed to retain enough traditional Bondian elements to keep most people on board with the changes, (even without Q and Moneypenny).

With QOS, the departure takes it that one step further. The action is often portrayed in a very similar fashion to Bourne (which, as Mazer says, I've been shouting after for years). This in itself is enough to p!ss fans off. I can see that. Some of this film felt very, very different to the previous Bond films, again another reason why I think many will not like it.

So it is no suprise to me that EA didn't like it. QOS is a very unpredictable movie, if nothing else. I went to see it with 4 other mates, who all loved it, yet I get a text messgae later on from someone else who said it was `a shocker'. This sums up the experience of watching QOS - shocked by its brilliance, or shocked by how bad it is.....you decide. It's the one film where I can honestly say I don't know who will like it and who won't.

I'm expecting many on here to give a similar Rye/Kermode 1/10 review, yet it wouldn't suprise me if some of you actually come back here and give it a glowing review - such is the total unpredictability with this one, baffling I know.

[English Agent]

Although I've given it the big thumbs, I'll also say in the same breath that I can see why others will not like this (especially you lot)!

I am not suprised by the negative reviews one bit. CR seemed to tick most of the boxes to be a superior Bond film, even if you lot hated it. The departure was a bold step for EON, but it still managed to retain enough traditional Bondian elements to keep most people on board with the changes, (even without Q and Moneypenny).

With QOS, the departure takes it that one step further. The action is often portrayed in a very similar fashion to Bourne (which, as Mazer says, I've been shouting after for years). This in itself is enough to p!ss fans off. I can see that. Some of this film felt very, very different to the previous Bond films, again another reason why I think many will not like it.

So it is no suprise to me that EA didn't like it. QOS is a very unpredictable movie, if nothing else. I went to see it with 4 other mates, who all loved it, yet I get a text messgae later on from someone else who said it was `a shocker'. This sums up the experience of watching QOS - shocked by its brilliance, or shocked by how bad it is.....you decide. It's the one film where I can honestly say I don't know who will like it and who won't.

I'm expecting many on here to give a similar Rye/Kermode 1/10 review, yet it wouldn't suprise me if some of you actually come back here and give it a glowing review - such is the total unpredictability with this one, baffling I know.

'Sweeney' like yourself i will have to see the film again to capture the things i missed first time around.

I too like the realistic approach, but what dissapointed me was how the action scenes were edited, as i found them to be a miriad of flashing images.
If the director had lingered on a bit longer on each shot then we would know what was going on, and this would of made the film vastly more enjoyable.

What did u think to this?

AB

[The Sweeney]

Although I've given it the big thumbs, I'll also say in the same breath that I can see why others will not like this (especially you lot)!

I am not suprised by the negative reviews one bit. CR seemed to tick most of the boxes to be a superior Bond film, even if you lot hated it. The departure was a bold step for EON, but it still managed to retain enough traditional Bondian elements to keep most people on board with the changes, (even without Q and Moneypenny).

With QOS, the departure takes it that one step further. The action is often portrayed in a very similar fashion to Bourne (which, as Mazer says, I've been shouting after for years). This in itself is enough to p!ss fans off. I can see that. Some of this film felt very, very different to the previous Bond films, again another reason why I think many will not like it.

So it is no suprise to me that EA didn't like it. QOS is a very unpredictable movie, if nothing else. I went to see it with 4 other mates, who all loved it, yet I get a text messgae later on from someone else who said it was `a shocker'. This sums up the experience of watching QOS - shocked by its brilliance, or shocked by how bad it is.....you decide. It's the one film where I can honestly say I don't know who will like it and who won't.

I'm expecting many on here to give a similar Rye/Kermode 1/10 review, yet it wouldn't suprise me if some of you actually come back here and give it a glowing review - such is the total unpredictability with this one, baffling I know.

'Sweeney' like yourself i will have to see the film again to capture the things i missed first time around.

I too like the realistic approach, but what dissapointed me was how the action scenes were edited, as i found them to be a miriad of flashing images.
If the director had lingered on a bit longer on each shot then we would know what was going on, and this would of made the film vastly more enjoyable.

What did u think to this?

AB

I thought the car chase bordered on this (probably because it takes you by suprise) and also the roof chase. But as the film evolved, I got used to it. It is definitely not as confusing to watch as the action in the Bourne films, but just enough to remind viewers of Bourne (if that makes sense).

[English Agent]

What was your favourite scene in the film?

[The Sweeney]

What was your favourite scene in the film?

mmmm...hard to say. I loved the fight scene in the apartment. I loved the end, finale scenes. Maybe the opera house scene, I don't know. Maybe the scene on the plane when he is drunk. I'll have to see it again.

What was yours?

[English Agent]

What was your favourite scene in the film?

mmmm...hard to say. I loved the fight scene in the apartment. I loved the end, finale scenes. Maybe the opera house scene, I don't know. I'll have to see it again.

What was yours?

Yes, i thought the finale was pretty good with some good scenes.

This film is certainly a light year away from Bonds of old such as 'Moonraker'.

Despite what i think of the fast editing of the film, i did think DC was the main attraction holding the picture
together.

AB

[The Sweeney]

I forgot to add one more thing to the experience last night. As I went to the toilet after the film, David Arnold and David Walliams walked out of the cinema, and my mate shook Arnold's hand and told him how brilliant he was. He works in TV, and has interviewed him before, and luckily Arnold remembered him (we both have him as friends on Facebook. I added him as friend only through my mate, but Arnold still accepted me).

I was gutted that I missed them, as I'd loved to have met Arnold in person, but apparently this morning my mate phoned me up to tell me Arnold responded to a message he sent him afterwards, and said he would sign our CD covers if we send them in the post to him (which I'm doing today). Arnold also said thanks for the glowing review my mate gave him in the message, telling him the film was brilliant, loved the score, the John Barry (circa 1971) moments, etc.

[katied]

I don't hate David Arnold as much as some,but I'm more impressed that your friend met David Walliams(I'm a big Little Britain fan )

[Kristatos]

I'd like to meet Arnold, though I'd have to keep biting my lip to make sure the phrase "you're no John Barry, but you'll do" never escaped my mouth

[Captain Nash]

Great review Sweenster.
Just what I was hoping for, from one of the more sane members here.
I jest, I jest.

[katied]

I'd like to meet Arnold, though I'd have to keep biting my lip to make sure the phrase "you're no John Barry, but you'll do" never escaped my mouth

Ain't that the truth! "That'll do, Arnold.That'll do."

[bjmdds]

Although I've given it the big thumbs, I'll also say in the same breath that I can see why others will not like this (especially you lot)!

I am not suprised by the negative reviews one bit. CR seemed to tick most of the boxes to be a superior Bond film, even if you lot hated it. The departure was a bold step for EON, but it still managed to retain enough traditional Bondian elements to keep most people on board with the changes, (even without Q and Moneypenny).

With QOS, the departure takes it that one step further. The action is often portrayed in a very similar fashion to Bourne (which, as Mazer says, I've been shouting after for years). This in itself is enough to p!ss fans off. I can see that. Some of this film felt very, very different to the previous Bond films, again another reason why I think many will not like it.

So it is no suprise to me that EA didn't like it. QOS is a very unpredictable movie, if nothing else. I went to see it with 4 other mates, who all loved it, yet I get a text messgae later on from someone else who said it was `a shocker'. This sums up the experience of watching QOS - shocked by its brilliance, or shocked by how bad it is.....you decide. It's the one film where I can honestly say I don't know who will like it and who won't.

I'm expecting many on here to give a similar Rye/Kermode 1/10 review, yet it wouldn't suprise me if some of you actually come back here and give it a glowing review - such is the total unpredictability with this one, baffling I know.

Name ONE traditional Bond 'element', not elements, you witnessed, outside of Dench playing an M who is now 'nurturing Bond's killing skills'?

[The Sweeney]

Although I've given it the big thumbs, I'll also say in the same breath that I can see why others will not like this (especially you lot)!

I am not suprised by the negative reviews one bit. CR seemed to tick most of the boxes to be a superior Bond film, even if you lot hated it. The departure was a bold step for EON, but it still managed to retain enough traditional Bondian elements to keep most people on board with the changes, (even without Q and Moneypenny).

With QOS, the departure takes it that one step further. The action is often portrayed in a very similar fashion to Bourne (which, as Mazer says, I've been shouting after for years). This in itself is enough to p!ss fans off. I can see that. Some of this film felt very, very different to the previous Bond films, again another reason why I think many will not like it.

So it is no suprise to me that EA didn't like it. QOS is a very unpredictable movie, if nothing else. I went to see it with 4 other mates, who all loved it, yet I get a text messgae later on from someone else who said it was `a shocker'. This sums up the experience of watching QOS - shocked by its brilliance, or shocked by how bad it is.....you decide. It's the one film where I can honestly say I don't know who will like it and who won't.

I'm expecting many on here to give a similar Rye/Kermode 1/10 review, yet it wouldn't suprise me if some of you actually come back here and give it a glowing review - such is the total unpredictability with this one, baffling I know.

Name ONE traditional Bond 'element', not elements, you witnessed, outside of Dench playing an M who is now 'nurturing Bond's killing skills'?

Aston Martin car chase, speedboat chase, risky stunts, fights in apartments, opening title sequence, gunbarrel, everything getting blown up at the end and Bond chasing/confronting/fighting the main villain...etc. etc.

[carl stromberg]

Do you think (I'm asking Mr Ken Sweeney) that Craig's Bond in QOS is the finished Bond, or a more experienced Bond, if "finished" is a vague term. Many have said Craig's Bond is a little too psychopathic and violent. But it could be that he is on a revenge mission in QOS, and he is still a youngster (!) as it follows straight on from Casino Royale.

[The Sweeney]

Do you think (I'm asking Mr Ken Sweeney) that Craig's Bond in QOS is the finished Bond, or a more experienced Bond, if "finished" is a vague term. Many have said Craig's Bond is a little too psychopathic and violent. But it could be that he is on a revenge mission in QOS, and he is still a youngster (!) as it follows straight on from Casino Royale.

Good question. I'd say a more experienced Bond than CR, but still not the finished article until the very last scene.

[carl stromberg]

Do you think (I'm asking Mr Ken Sweeney) that Craig's Bond in QOS is the finished Bond, or a more experienced Bond, if "finished" is a vague term. Many have said Craig's Bond is a little too psychopathic and violent. But it could be that he is on a revenge mission in QOS, and he is still a youngster (!) as it follows straight on from Casino Royale.

Good question. I'd say a more experienced Bond than CR, but still not the finished article until the very last scene.

I have not seen it yet, but I think they may have bungled the young Bond arc a bit, leaving many people confused.

[katied]

I have not seen it yet, but I think they may have bungled the young Bond arc a bit, leaving many people confused.

Among other things