James Bond stars in "Formulaic Money Making Exercise&qu

[Heid the Ba]

The Memsahib sometimes gets invited to things by law firms trying to butter her up (she can put a lot of work their way) so she and partner are invited to the "Regional Charity Premiere" of the new Bond film tonight. We're off to drink free vodka martinis, stare at people who think they are famous, want to be famous, or look a bit like the bloke off Taggart; and possibly get mistaken for someone a bit famous ourselves. If asked I plan to claim to be the barman from Rivercity.

I don't expect much from the film but it should be enjoyable. I have no idea if anyone actually involved with the film will be there but no doubt there will be someone vaguely familiar that I will fail to recognise.

[pmcolt]

Enjoy your hobnobbing.

[Enzo]

Cool. Ask Q how they make that ejector seat work... I need one.

[Heid the Ba]

Turned out to be one of 36 regional premieres. Local radio was as showbiz as it got.

Good film though. They restart the franchise with Bond just getting his 00 rating. There is no CGI that I noticed, stunts are done by stuntmen. Great free running sequence at the start, the big plot idea makes some sense, the sub-plots and plot twists make less sense every time you think about them. Daniel Craig doesn't do much for me but the ladies seem to like him. There is even a nice homage to the Ursula Andress shot with Craig walking out the sea.

Much better than recent Bond films.

[Enzo]

Well, I'll look forward to spending a couple hours watching it. I won't miss Pierce Brosnan, a little too smug for me. As long as it stays true to the Bond formula, I'll be happy. Like Indiana Jones, the over the top-ness is part of the attraction. For me if they try to turn it into just another credible spy thriller, it will be... well... just another spy thriller.

Don't sell those local radio guys short. Many of them are good for free movie passes to other shows and sometimes even free Coka Cola.

[Мастер]

Well, I'll look forward to spending a couple hours watching it. I won't miss Pierce Brosnan, a little too smug for me. As long as it stays true to the Bond formula, I'll be happy. Like Indiana Jones, the over the top-ness is part of the attraction. For me if they try to turn it into just another credible spy thriller, it will be... well... just another spy thriller.

I like the Michael Caine/Harry Palmer anti-Bond films. . .

[pmcolt]

No CGI, you say? That sounds promising. I'm sick of those crazy thrillers with the hero engaging in physically-impossible fighting maneuvers. I mean, I expect Bond, James Bond to be over-the-top, but I don't expect him to perform a hovering, 720-degree roundhouse kick to take out two advancing rows of henchmen trying to seize him, then perform an upward vertical leap through a ceiling skylight to make his escape or anything. I just expect him to drink a martini, foil the villain, and get the girl.

[Heid the Ba]

He invents the vodka martini, foils several villains and gets the girl.

It is over the top in the way you expect, and we'd be disappointed if it wasn't. The fights are over the top in the amount of pain/injury people can take but nothing like you describe. Gravity always applies, though there is one guy knocked sprawling by a single bullet.

There is one scene that had every man in the cinema wincing

[Enzo]

An IRS audit? Oh, they wouldn't... That would be hitting below the belt.

[Heid the Ba]

It certainly hits below the belt . . .