Spectre (4K UHD/Blu-ray)

Reinvention. Most 50-year olds have a difficult time when it comes to adapting. Changing trends and tastes often leave those 50 and up on the other side of relevancy. Recognizing this fact and the formulaic approach the franchise had taken while being charged with protecting its legacy, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson rolled the dice and rebooted the beloved James Bond franchise nine years ago. Rather than amp up the spectacle, Daniel Craig’s adventures became character-driven with SPECTRE becoming the most personal Bond film yet in the franchise’s 24th film. Kudos should be lavished on director Sam Mendes, who almost did not direct this feature after being paralyzed by the rousing financial success of SKYFALL. How does on top the highest-grossing feature in the film’s franchise? Not by turning things on its head, but continuing the quest that Martin Campbell first began in CASINO ROYALE in 2006. Mendes even made the weakest of the Craig entry’s, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, relevant with a few well-placed plot points and lines of dialogue. All of which neatly wraps up Craig’s opening arc or final turn as Ian Fleming’s spy with a license to kill (depending on which media outlet one believes on the actor’s decision to continue in the role). Each actor’s run as Bond can usually be defined in one theme. Sean Connery’s was the first and set the tone for the five actors to follow. Roger Moore’s of course are recalled fondly and are a product of the time and the actor as the thespian took a more humorous approach. Craig’s run can be explained in two words, personal and grit, which takes its cues from the two of fans most beloved entries, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE and ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE. Starting in Casino Royale, which showed Bond falling in love again on screen, Craig showed a vulnerability that resulted in a hardened shell. Bond became all about business, however it still remained personal as Quantum of Solace immediately continued the Royale’s story. Skyfall seemed to veer off that path a bit, while still a personal and perhaps love story for Bond, but Mendes showed his skill by bringing it all back together for Spectre. Craig’s Bond is forced to finish the journey he began, with some truly personal ties that might either annoy or intrigue audience members. Whichever, no one will see this entry coming, and isn’t that what’s most important. Spectre is also a terrific opportunity for Mendes, Craig and the executive producers to show audiences why 007 is still relevant in this time of surveillance and drones. Mendes provides a terrific commentary on today’s governments and their requests for its citizens to surrender more personal freedoms in the guise of protection. Granted, while there is not some evil empire lurking in the background like Spectre pulling the strings and causing explosions and anarchy around the globe under the mask of terrorist attacks (or is there?), it is still an important idea to consider. Introducing three new actors in beloved roles in Skyfall was another reason that compelled Mendes to return, and he does not waste the trios skills, as Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris all shine in roles established in Bond lore as M, Q and Moneypenny, respectively. Fiennes especially, whose M is tasked with reining in a Bond who has appeared to have gone rogue in this film is spectacular and it was nice to see an actor of his quality not sidelined in a typical bureaucratic role. It is hard not to love what Fiennes has done with a former one-dimensional character in his two appearances. By the way, Spectre not only pays tribute to Craig’s run as 007, but gives a terrific nods to all the films before with David Bautista’s menacing turn, Christoph Waltz’s performance, plus a new DB Aston Martin, parachute stunt, a train ride and more. All of which honors the franchise while continuing to update and make it fresh. Double-O seven has been gambling ever since audience’s first saw him appear on the big screen, whether it has been rolling the dice, going all in, or leaping off buildings, cranes, helicopters and more. Broccoli and Wilson’s goal of new-found relevance in this age of CG extravaganza has been realized, in spades. Plus, audiences get a happy ending.

IMHO, the best modern-day Bond film ever made. Bond films are really their own genre, as no other films can compete with them in the areas of secret agents, beautiful women (Monica Bellucci, Lea Seydoux and Naomie Harris in this film), super-villains, super-henchmen, exotic locations and the most over-the-top but plausible story-lines, action, super-cars and gadgetry. This film is the culmination of Bond's attempt to understand and bring down the burgeoning evil organization that has been attempting to infiltrate and dominate the impending "new world order". Thoroughly well-acted and enthralling, this is the Bond movie at its best. Craig does a superb job as the unflappable, older but completely capable, Bond who at the beginning of the movie trusts no-one and essentially sneers at the current administration and condition of British Intelligence. The classic Italian beauty, Monica Bellucci is perfect as the assassin's widow and eventual conquest of Bond. Lea Seydoux does a fine job as Bond's love interest and eventual comrade in arms, and I thought Naomie Harris was extremely good as Moneypenny. I especially like Ralph Fiennes' M and the rest of the cast was great as well. The opening of the movie issues sweeping views and action sequences, then in true Bond-film fashion the beginning credits, art sequence and music begin and brilliantly set the tone for the rest of the movie. Bond doggedly pursues (and is pursued by) his ultra-evil antagonist without official government sanction, but ultimately with the help of his remaining trustworthy associates at MI6, Moneypenny and Q. There are several nods to previous Bond films in various scenes which I appreciated as part of the fun. I have read that this film was three years in conceptualizing, writing and production, and it shows.... Simply a fantastic effort in movie-making. Note: I know people like what they like, but I don't understand some of the negative comments to the effect that, there is little action, or Craig looks tired or old, or the plot was weak, blah, blah, blah.... Did they even watch the movie? This is the fourth in the procession of this series. The well thought out plot is the culmination of the common thread of all three previous movies, which is what it has to be. What do they want, henchmen throwing hats and stealing gold from Ft. Knox, and spaceships scooping up space stations and satellites? I suggest we leave that for the Star Trek series, or some of the comic book swill that Hollywood is turning out, ad-nauseum. I mean, this movie has everything else!

Good 007 movie

The DVD arrived promptly and was in good condition

D'une manière générale, j'apprécie les "James Bond". Celui-ci ne fait pas exception à la règle et c'est pourquoi j'ai souhaité avoir ce DVD dans ma collection. Toutefois, ma déception a été de ne pouvoir le regarder avec un de mes lecteur DVD car (provenant des USA) il n'est pas compatible avec les régions du groupe 2 mais seulement avec celles du groupe 1. Je n'ai pu le regarder, une fois, sur mon ordinateur qu'en modifiant ponctuellement ce groupe; ce qui ne peut-être fait que 5 fois. Donc, je ne ferai plus ce type d'achat sur votre site pour éviter ce genre de déception. J'ai peut-être mal lu le descriptif de ce produit sur votre site et dès lors c'est de ma faute, et le conclusion en est la même que précedemment.

Only works USA region

No nos ha gustado nada. Pesada, aburrida y sin el glomour que esperarias ver en una peli de 007. Dudo que vuelva a ver este blue-ray.

vi la pelicula y esta fabulosa