Spectre (2015)

Directed by Sam Mendes
Produced by Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli
Screenplay by John Logan, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Jez Butterworth
Story by John Logan, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade
Based on "James Bond" by Ian Fleming
Starring: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Dave Bautista, Monica Bellucci, Ralph Fiennes
Music by Thomas Newman
Cinematography: Hoyte van Hoytema
Edited by Lee Smith
Production company: Eon Productions
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Columbia Pictures
Release date: 26 October 2015 (United Kingdom)
Running time: 148 minutes
Country: United Kingdom, United States, Mexico, Italy, Austria
Budget: $245—300 million
Box office: $877.6 million

"Spectre" is an action adventure thriller film directed by Sam Mendes and written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Paul Haggis, based on "James Bond" by Ian Fleming. It's the twenty-fourth installment of the "James Bond" film series which follows Secret Agent James Bond While who peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE, while M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive.

Cast

• Daniel Craig as James Bond
• Christoph Waltz as Franz Oberhauser / Ernst Stavro Blofeld
• Léa Seydoux as Dr. Madeleine Swann
• Ben Whishaw as Q
• Naomie Harris as Eve Moneypenny
• Dave Bautista as Mr. Hinx
• Andrew Scott as Max Denbigh
• Monica Bellucci as Lucia Sciarra
• Ralph Fiennes as M, Gareth Mallory
• Rory Kinnear as Bill Tanner
• Jesper Christensen as Mr. White
• Alessandro Cremona as Marco Sciarra
• Judi Dench as the posthumous M in a video message

"Spectre"... I suppose it to be the last picture in the "James Bond" film series as I see it as the other shoe to drop but who knows what scenarios might think up? 

Personally I had been looking forward to the twenty-fourth installment since December 2014 only because of two reasons: astonishing Andrew Scott and splendid Christoph Waltz. And what did I get? All scenes with Scott lasted at best ten minutes and it wasn't enough for me to enjoy his Moriarty 2.0; Christoph Waltz, my love, just can't act bad, just can't do it - I may recall no picture with his unfortunate portrayal, to be honest. And as for his Franz Oberhauser, who was in fact Ernst Stavro Blofeld, he seemed so charismatic, so captivating and so charming that made me forget for a while he served as the main antagonist of the whole franchise. However where was the heart of the matter? Christoph Waltz appeared too little in the film and that disappointed me; but what disillusioned me more, that was the ending: James Bond got Blofeld extremely easily - the criminal mind was caught just due to one bullet. Seriously?

As for other cast members, I mustn't neglect Daniel Craig's work: his agent 007 looked perfect, that's true, however I'm still not able to say he's completely my Bond because nevertheless on the first place of Double O Agent for me remains Sean Connery's portrayal and only then goes Craig's one.

Léa Seydoux as Dr. Madeleine Swann turned out a next Bond girl, the famous character noted for two features: a lady-love has always been attractive and, unfortunately, useless. And in my opinion, that role was too small for the actress of a great talent.

And after reading all my regrets, you may ask: "Why your rating is so high if everything is so no good?" Well, let's find out.

First of all, it's important to admit: the "James Bond" film series was created to show beautiful pictures, not to stretch the mind. And "Spectre" is full of sumptuousness, even so overfull that brings viewer's eyes endless joy. Secondly, how can great special effects occur without no less great music? I even dare to say, Sam smith will be nominated for Academy Awards because of "Writing's On The Wall". Thirdly, who has ordered gorgeous men and magnificent women? I have, I acknowledge this fact, thanks. And fourthly, this might be the close of the longest film series, so let's end it well. But to do justice, I have to mention numerous plot holes, incomprehensible relationships between Madeleine and James which then turn out a real love (what?) and Blofeld's ability to even kill himself almost without Bond's help.

Advantages

• Music
• Daniel Craig as James Bond
• Christoph Waltz as Franz Oberhauser / Ernst Stavro Blofeld
• Léa Seydoux as Dr. Madeleine Swann
• Ben Whishaw as Q
• Naomie Harris as Eve Moneypenny
• Andrew Scott as Max Denbigh
• Ralph Fiennes as M, Gareth Mallory
• Special effects
• The style
• Opening credits
• Easter eggs from previous parts of "James Bond" film series

Disadvantages

• Too pretentious
• The ending

"Strangenesses"

• Seems like James Bond is absolutely immortal
• One right bullet may make a helicopter crash
• When Blofeld tests his innovations, they don't affect Bond anyhow

Clue Moments

• The carnival
• The octopus ring
• The merged MI5 and MI6
• Closing down the '00' section
• Sciarra's funeral
• Mickey Mouse
• Meeting of Spectre
• The car chase
• The truth about Franz Oberhauser
• Death of White
• L'Americain
• The train
• Oberhauser's tortures
• The truth about C
• Nine Eyes
• Three minutes
• The end of Blofeld 

SPECTRE (Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion) is a fictional global criminal syndicate and terrorist organization featured in the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming, the films based on those novels. Led by evil genius and supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the international organization first formally appeared in the novel "Thunderball" (1961) and in the film "Dr. No" (1962). SPECTRE is not aligned to any nation or political ideology, enabling the later Bond books and Bond films to be regarded as somewhat apolitical though the former Gestapo members are a clear sign of Fleming's warning of the Nazi fascists surviving after WWII first detailed in the novel "Moonraker" (1954). SPECTRE began in the novels as a small group of criminals but became a vast international organization with its own SPECTRE Island training base in the films, to replace the Soviet SMERSH.

Soundtracks

1. Thomas Newman feat. Tambuco - Los Muertos Vivos Estan
2. Thomas Newman - Vauxhall Bridge
3. Thomas Newman - The Eternal City
4. Thomas Newman - Donna Lucia
5. Thomas Newman - A Place Without Mercy
6. Thomas Newman - Backfire
7. Thomas Newman - Crows Klinik
8. Thomas Newman - The Pale King
9. Thomas Newman - Madeleine
10. Thomas Newman - Kite In A Hurricane
11. Thomas Newman - Snow Plane
12. Thomas Newman - L' Americain
13. Thomas Newman - Secret Room
14. Thomas Newman - Hinx
15. Thomas Newman - Writing's On The Wall (Instrumental)
16. Thomas Newman - Silver Wraith
17. Thomas Newman - A Reunion
18. Thomas Newman feat. Tambuco - Day Of The Dead 
19. Thomas Newman - Tempus Fugit
20. Thomas Newman - Safe House
21. Thomas Newman - Blindfold
22. Thomas Newman - Careless
23. Thomas Newman - Detonation
24. Thomas Newman - Westminster Bridge
25. Thomas Newman - Out Of Bullets
26. Thomas Newman - Spectre (End Title)

Quotations

* * *

Mr. White: You are a kite dancing in a hurricane, Mr Bond.

* * *

Oberhauser: Why did you come?
James Bond: I came here to kill you.
Oberhauser: And I thought you came here to die.
James Bond: Well, it's all a matter of perspective.

* * *

Oberhauser: It was me, James. The author of all your pain.

* * *

James Bond: I was in a meeting recently, and your name came up.
Mr. White: I'm flattered London is still talking about me.
James Bond: It wasn't MI6...
[reveals a Spectre ring]

* * *

[from trailer]
Lucia Sciarra: If you don't leave now, we'll die together.
James Bond: I can think of worse ways to go.
Lucia Sciarra: Then you're obviously crazy, Mr...
James Bond: Bond. James Bond.

* * *

Oberhauser: Welcome, James. It's been a long time... and, finally, here we are.

* * *

Eve Moneypenny: You've got a secret. Something you can't tell anyone, because you don't trust anyone.

* * *

Oberhauser: Welcome, James. You've come across me so many times, yet you never saw me. What took you so long?

* * *

Mr. White: [to Bond] I always knew death would wear a familiar face... but not yours.

* * *

Madeleine Swann: Is this really what you want? Living in the shadows? Hunting, being hunted? Always alone?
James Bond: I don't stop to think about it.

* * *

Eve Moneypenny: So what's going on, James? They say you're finished.
James Bond: And what do you think?
Eve Moneypenny: I think you're just getting started.

* * *

Madeleine Swann: Why, given every other possible option, does a man choose the life of a paid assassin?
James Bond: Well, it was that or the priesthood.

* * *

C: And now we find out what 'M' stands for - 'moronic'.
M: And now we know what 'C' stands for
[pause]
M: 'careless'

* * *

Lucia Sciarra: If you go there, you will cross over into a place where there is no mercy...

* * *

James Bond: Could you do one more thing for me?
Q: And that would be?
James Bond: Make me disappear.

* * *

Madeleine Swann: You shouldn't stare.
James Bond: Well, you shouldn't look like that.

* * *

James Bond: Where is he?
Mr. White: He is everywhere.

* * *

You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 7/10

Entertainment: 8/10

Acting: 9/10

Originality: 7/10

Music and Sound: 10/10

8/10

previous Skyfall (2012)