Reviews

Ang Lee is an extremely talented director. His fast editing, jump cuts and multi-panelled screens make for exciting viewing - so much so that you don't notice the 2 hour 20 minute length of the film. However the plot is seriously nonsensical (and this deteriorates further as you get to the end of the movie). That flaw makes it quite a forgettable movie but nonetheless fairly entertaining whilst you are in the cinema. It's safe to take your other half and kids to go see it, they won't feel the time was unduly wasted. It's about time that this great director gets to sink his teeth into an equally great script.

There is nothing seriously wrong with this Bond movie. PB is a charismatic Bond on par with Sean Connery, the requisite Bond girl (Halle Berry) is a suitably appropriate piece of eye candy, and the settings, gadgets and bad guys are all novel additions to the franchise. However Bond films these days are so imminently forgettable. I can't recall a recent Bond flick with half the character, charm or story of Dr No/ Thunderball/ Man with the Golden Gun or Live & Let Die. Ultimately this particular set of story lines are tired and worn. Even the potentially exciting development of Bond's capture and torture and then discharge by MI6 at the start of the movie is wasted because so little of the film concentrates on developing his change in character in response to these events. We could have had an edgier, scarier and more ruthless bond; who blurs the lines between 'doing your bit for the country' and hurting everyone who's turned their backs on you. But of course that would have required some intelligence and character development on the part of the plot writers. And I suppose that would also have required some modicum of intelligence in the part of the average cinema patron (which is always a dangerous thing!). I think that if you are taking your pre-teen children to the movie, they won't have any grounds to complain about entertainment in this flick. However if you are expecting any amount of originality in this latest Bond offering, you are going to be sorely disappointed. There is one word that accurately captures the essence of the current Bond movies, and that word is YAWN.

The wonderful thing about watching a non-hollywood flick is that the storylines are often completely unexpected and original. This movie (aka Darkwater) is a welcome breath of fresh air. Its well acted, creepy and you wont be able to guess what happens in the end. The music, lighting and camera angles are top notch. Its both creepy and utterly compelling. Watch it NOW!!!!

The original story of TCOMC is one of tremendous depth...the hero's character undergoes tremendous change due to the repeatedly changing circumstances that he finds himself in, but this depth is sadly lacking in the film. The actors' lines are terribly glib which robs the film of any emotional depth and actually makes it quite funny. As for entertainment its not too bad a way to spend an hour and a half but I can not imagine anyone wanting to see it again or buying it for keeps on DVD. The action scenes are nothing special. The acting itself is not awful but sadly the terrible script stops the actors from making this anything more than a forgettable throwaway date flick.