MovieChat Forums > Spectre (2015) Discussion > One thing that doesn't add up...

One thing that doesn't add up...

posted 8 years ago by !!!deleted!!! (16136429)
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European reviews for this film were not just mostly positive, they primarily consisted of 4/5 star ratings. So why is it American reviews essentially shat all over the film? Yes it has pacing issues, an underdeveloped romance and villain...but it excells in spectacle and has a few truly breathtaking moments. The opening is brilliant, all the scenes in Morocco or emotionally rich and exquisitely shot and the train fight and snow chase are brilliant. Not just that, the humour is on point, the performances are excellent and the tone is relatively dark. I don't love Spectre, it has its faults but I'd say it's still a very good film. It should be around 7/10 in my opinion. What do you think?

[–] smoke13 8 years ago

Probably because a good majority of American millenials don't care about bond movies and all the liberal turds out there hate what bond is: sexist, misogynist, violent, government spy, etc.

With that said, this movie changed too much bond lore for die hard (older) bond fans to accept. If this movie would have a younger fan base, I'm sure they would've been absolutely enthralled with the short, quick, grab your attention fight scenes, flashy colors, sparkley objects, and lack of good writing.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (16136429) 8 years ago

I'm a longtime Bond fan and like it despite its faults. The writing is sloppy in a lot of areas, but their are some well crafted scenes...but cobbled together unfortunately. It's still better than most movies and at least tries to be good. I still really like it but I'm not stupid either, it was a disappointment overall, but not bad.

[–] CaptainMitosis 8 years ago

Actually I think that older Bond fans actually enjoyed spectre more because it did seem to appeal to older Bond fans.

[–] HugeDaiCottermee 8 years ago

It was far too long and did not need to be, a fault of many movies nowadays.

[–] punkeelee 8 years ago

I guess I would fall into the "older" Bond fan category and I think Spectre was a travesty and Daniel Craig IS NOT Bond. They acted like we don't already know who/what Spectre is. Bond's clothes don't fit him and he was almost as I'll kept as when he was a prisoner in N Korea for 18 months. Just not the caliber of film I expect for Bond ?

[–] pking-2 8 years ago

So why is it American reviews essentially shat all over the film?

The didn't, on the whole. The majority of reviews across both continents were positive, though I would concede there was noticable lukewarmness. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spectre_2015

So that answers that. And I think I liked SP and would give it an 8.

If you want to discuss why SP might have been somewhat more warmly received in Europe than North America, let me know.

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[–] !!!deleted!!! (16136429) 8 years ago

I'm interested to see what you have to say pking-2, my guess would be that the Americans disliked it more than Europeans due to it being more reminiscent of the older Bond films (in style) as opposed to the hardened grit the other Craig films have brought.

However having said that, Spectre is by no means a light film in tone and it was very dark in a lot of areas, but then again that is another one of it's faults. It's tone is inconsistent and meanders...quite a bit. But again, I still really like the film so I can live with it.

It's the extreme!

[–] pking-2 8 years ago

I think Europeans are more taken with Bond than Americans, in general, because of his symbolism of English/Euro relevancy and superiority and purpose clarity which is generally at the expense of "American" values and priorities. Not outright, but you know, subtextually and thematically. Bond basically saves the world from Americans who would gladly pay for Nine Eyes, obliviously, and so on.

That, and I honestly think the international cinema goer is a bit less trendy than American...so embraces and celebrates the heavy anachronism and homaging of the Bond franchise.

So I think, as has been the general trend since I've been alive...Bond will stay a bit bigger to and more celebrated by the rest of the world than he is to the USA audience. (Though, big to both...just since the sixties Bond has been bigger internationally than USA in pop culture.)

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[–] !!!deleted!!! (16136429) 8 years ago

I can see where you are coming from but in terms of anachronism, America is at the forefront of re-living it's past glory's and consistently patting itself on the back, in a media and culture sense anyway, I know not all Americans are like that.

In terms of the U.S being more trendy than the international movie goer? Honestly I think arguments can be made to both agree and disagree on that front. It's a tricky one that's for sure, I definitely agree with you on the whole Europe embrace Bond based on his symbolism ect.

It's the extreme!

[–] pking-2 8 years ago

Yeah maybe not "trendy." Maybe "fickle?" Americans seem to be the ones who post on IMDB Bond isn't "gritty" enough compared to Bourne or "mythic" enough compared to superheroes etc etc etc more often than international folks. Maybe not proof, just anecdotal :-)

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