A Good Thriller discussion

Samuel wrote: "Samuel wrote: "Interesting statement I found by the man who created the original government assassin. Seems he put a lot of thought into the characterization.

"You’ve got to have a lot of nerve ..."

No, he DIDN'T have the empathy sucked out of him. You can't suck away what doesn't exist! Red Grant was BORN that way... .

Paul wrote: "“Tessa distinguished absolutely between pain observed and pain shared. Pain observed is journalistic pain. It’s diplomatic pain. It’s television pain, over as soon as you switch off your beastly se..."

Well it does somewhat explain why almost every single romance in his works ends badly for all those involved.

Yes, poor Tessa, and it frequently ends badly for his protagonists :(

Paul wrote: "Just for (Le Carre) fun... Anyone name the moment?





Here's a clue. It's in Smiley's People..."

And it's in a London park...

Paul wrote: "Sharing Samuel's link to the new Fleming inspired film about the 'Special Executive for Counterintelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion'... (an otherwise really nice bunch of chaps). Great tr..."

The first formidable henchman in the Craig films.
Meet Hinx. He kills people!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8dzX...

Ouch! Move aside Red Grant and Odd Job!

Paul wrote: "Ouch! Move aside Red Grant and Odd Job!"

Well he's channeling both of them. Skills of Red Grant combined with OddJob's indestructibility and constant smile.
According to Hinx's actor, he finds the well dressed assassin whose eyes he's trying to remove "amusing".

Paul wrote: "Ouch! Move aside Red Grant and Odd Job!"

Impressive how From Russia With Love's trick of killing the music still works more than 50 years later.

Paul wrote: "Ouch! Move aside Red Grant and Odd Job!"

"You interfere in my world and I destroy yours."- Ernst Stravo Blofeld.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxuKB...

Can't wait to see new Blofeld in action. Christoph seems to be bringing back elements of the literary version.

Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to see SPECTRE for some time, so if anyone would care to post a review of it here, I'd love to read it!

Paul wrote: "Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to see SPECTRE for some time, so if anyone would care to post a review of it here, I'd love to read it!"

Context for when you do see it.

What Mendes has tried to do with SPECTRE is try make a modernized 1960's Bond film. After the smash hit of SKYFALL, they seem to have taken a calculated risk and deliberately utilized the Bond plot structure although modified somewhat.

The purpose of this film is also to see whether elements from the first 20 years can be reintroduced and made to fit in 2015. Like giving SPECTRE and Blofeld who were reduced to caricature, back their teeth, claws and menace.

I'm hearing reports that Mendes botched the pacing of the film and there are 3 plot points that have proven divisive. But in terms of performances, it's great all around. Many are considering this Daniel Craig's finest hour as James Bond, because he's finally introduced the missing link which infuriated Bond film purists. His incarnation is now loving his work.

You know how the previous Craig films deviate from the old Bond Formula, consider SPECTRE, the "reward" of sorts where Craig's Bond gets to have fun in the classic structure.

I don't know which side of the scale you lean on, namely the serious Casino Royale "06" end or the Crazy Awesome/absurd SKYFALL end but SPECTRE leans quite a bit more to the latter.

Jaguar Land Rover. Proud Sponsor of British super-villains everywhere. Main supplier of the SPECTRE motor-pool.
It's good to be bad!
http://www.driving.co.uk/news/james-b...

Holy cow. Guess who is the most property damaging version of (film) James Bond? Not our boy Craig.
http://www.cityam.com/227493/whos-the...

Accounting for inflation and values in today's money, the most destructive Bonds are:

Roger Moore / £4,630,196,134 (£661,456,590 average per film)

Pierce Brosnan / £1,905,765,384 (£476,441,346 average per film)

Sean Connery / £1,297,087,560 (£216,181,260 average per film)

Daniel Craig / £449,183,670 (£132,582,275 average per film)

Timothy Dalton / £80,058,778 (£70,082,275 average per film)

George Lazenby / £36,417,110 (£36,417,110 average per film)

Fast forward to current Bond, Daniel Craig, and after a relatively 'careful' trilogy of films, Craig's 007 has sent his destruction bill through the roof with new instalment Spectre. Indeed, over 148 minutes Craig's Bond manages to amass damages of approximately £449 million. What's more, in the Spectre trailer alone over £7.5m of destruction is witnessed - which is more than the total damages incurred in Thunderball, Octopussy and For Your Eyes Only combined.

In the 24 official Bond films, 210 vehicles have been damaged or destroyed, causing costs in the region of £33.9 million. However, it's not just cars that have been damaged at the hands of MI6's most prolific agent, with £1.1 billion worth of damage also inflicted on homes, landmarks and buildings by Bond.

This includes the complete destruction of a £3m Scottish mansion in Skyfall, £8 million of havoc on the streets of St Petersburg in Goldeneye (1995), not to mention Blofeld's £300m volcano lair in You Only Live Twice (1967). Taking everything into account, the average cost of destruction per James Bond film currently stands at a staggering £349,165,782.

Seems on the property damage front, the man's worse than a hurricane! Does the UK really need a nuclear deterrent with 007 in its arsenal :) Great stuff Samuel, my appetite is well and truly whetted...

Paul wrote: "Seems on the property damage front, the man's worse than a hurricane! Does the UK really need a nuclear deterrent with 007 in its arsenal :) Great stuff Samuel, my appetite is well and truly whette..."

Well come to think of it Bond does have some advantages compared to a nuke. Environmentally friendly and is much more cost effective, as maintenance is also simpler (alcohol, paid travel expenses, a nice company car etc. ) lol, ;)

On a side note, we've had three films where Craig has been BECOMING Bond. In a way since SPECTRE is going back to classic one could think of this as the culmination where he IS Bond.

The real George Smiley revealed...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/bo...

Paul wrote: "Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to see SPECTRE for some time, so if anyone would care to post a review of it here, I'd love to read it!"

Just seen Bond 24 or SPECTRE as it's called. My verdict? A beautifully made piece of escapist entertainment that would have hit a home run had it not been for a less than stellar third act. During the Craig era, we've had three films where James Bond "becomes" Bond, Casino Royale, Quantum Of Solace and SKYFALL (the first and the third been fantastic, the second not so much.) Those films subverted, twisted and occasionally mocked certain overused tropes and conventions that had made the original film formula saturated and stale. But having made a billion dollars with Bond 23, the producers have decided the period of penance, repentance and self-flagellation is over and have decided to take a calculated risk. To see whether they can make a Bond film which can reintroduce classic elements and integrate them into 2015.

Have they succeeded? Mostly. There are three kinds of Bond film. The serious tone, the more ridiculous entries and the ones which try to blend both together. SPECTRE is in the area slap bang in the middle of these three categories. It's got a dark tone, but it also channels that surreal vibe Fleming became renowned for in his later years, something which contributes to that old fashioned sense of escapism that has gone to the wayside in the post 9/11 era.

We start the film in Mexico City, in a pre-opening titles scene which tops SKYFALL's already impressive opening. It's The Day Of The Dead, skulls and flowers, death and beauty abound, the sort of scene that Fleming would have been proud of. All this is accentuated by the cinematographer creating a subtle haze of sorts with the lighting, emphasizing the escapist surreality SPECTRE attempts to channel.

Bond however is there on a business trip. He intends to kill a Italian named Marco Sciarria. Entering one of Mexico's best hotels, he gets onto the roof with a tricked out Glock 17. Finding his target who intends to leave a large bomb near a soccer stadium, Bond begins shooting, accidentally sets off the exploding briefcase and survives a building falling on him. Pursing Sciarria, he manages to tag along in the man's getaway helicopter. What results is some awe inspiring movie magic. A bit of nearly seamless digital trickery combined with the phenomenal piloting skills of Chuck Aaron, the only helicopter stunt pilot on the planet insured to pull off barrel rolls in helicopters, kept me on the edge of my seat as I watched Bond and the man he's trying to kill frantically beat each other senseless over the Mexican Presidential Palace while clinging to the side of a barrel rolling helicopter.

After a credits sequence which manages to rehabilitate the much loathed theme song by Sam Smith, we then cut to London, where reality ensures. He may be a government assassin but James Bond most certainly is not Her Majesty's SECRET Servant. Having his Mexican holiday become a Guardian headline, Bond is suspended. Not that it's ever stopped him. We learn later that night, Sciarria's death was ordered by Judi Dench's M as her final request and having been asked by her video message to attend Sciarria's funeral, Bond goes on a road trip with a stash of Tom Ford suits, his Walther PPK, a tricked out Omega Seamaster 300 and one Aston Martin DB10. There, he begins his hunt, in a journey that takes him from the Austrian Alps to the Sahara Desert and a confrontation with his past in the bowels of Vauxhall Cross itself.

So, the film. They've said they wanted to make it better than SKYFALL and certain reviews have been claimed that it doesn't top SKYFALL, but I am not going to have Bond 23 influence my verdict on SPECTRE. I am looking at it as a standalone Bond film on its own merits.

First, the plot. A solid affair apart from the aforementioned third act. While not quite reaching the execution of Casino Royale, it's miles more fun and enjoyable than Quantum Of Solace, due to having a much bigger scope and touching on that grand conflict between HUMINT and SIGINT which continues to face modern intelligence gathering.

The story for SPECTRE does have its plot holes (severe issues with filming were reported extensively during production), but then again all Bond films have them as well. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride as Europe's most destructive government assassin takes us on on a circuit around the Mediterranean.

Next, performances.
First, Daniel Craig. Despite some sarcastic remarks which flew over the head of half the world's media, rest assured, he's having the time of his life in SPECTRE and will honor his contract for Bond 25. After three films in which he becomes Bond, SPECTRE is Craig at the height of his powers in total control of the role. The arrogance, the swagger, the absolute defiance in the face of the next over the top danger that seeks to swat him like a bug off the face of the earth, Craig channels all the qualities which have made 007 become beloved for half a century and seems to be having a blast as he does so.

Next, Lea Seydoux who plays Madeline Swann, the main love interest for the film. The daughter of the man whose actions led to the demise of Vesper Lynd, Bond runs into her in Austria, forcing her to come along after foiling an attempt by the bad guys to rendition her.

She's the standard love interest, not that there's anything wrong with it, especially since 1) she's a civilian, not a professional killer like Bond and 2) she knows how to take the initiative and occasionally seize opportunities that come her way. A primary one which is her character's stand out moment in the film is when things aren't going well, she catches on to what Bond's Omega actually is (a time bomb) and acts accordingly.

Finally, we have SPECTRE. As Daniel Craig once noted, Mike Myers managed to destroy the classic elements of James Bond with his Austin Powers comedy films. Blofeld, the cat and super villain lairs were out, even more so in the aftermath of the September 11 incident and the rise in popularity of Jack Bauer and Mitch Rapp.

But having managed to win back credibility in the Craig era, the producers have taken a calculated risk of sorts and tried to see whether they can reintroduce the discarded classic elements and make them suitable for 2015. And for the most part, they haven't done too shabbily except for a few things which I will come to.

So, SPECTRE. The original non-state actor in spy fiction. Part intelligence service for hire, part terrorist organization for profit. Shaping geopolitics from the shadows. I'm happy to say they're back on top form. No inefficient schemes with WMDS, in this film, they're going for a lean and mean approach with their operation in Bond 24, the kind which Harold Adrian Philby would probably give two thumbs up to.

Their leader is a man named Oberhauser, but you and I both know who he is. The jacket, the introduction with his face obscured during the SPECTRE board meeting, that's one of the main problems I had. It was not necessary to hide the identity of one of spy fiction's greatest villains. A lot of time has passed but this guy is to Bond what Joker is to the Batman, it's not like people don't know who Blofeld is. They also botch his back story. I was hoping they would bring back elements of the literary version, that of a sane criminal whose character arc is that of someone who goes insane, but it was not to be tragically. However, with the material he's given, Christoph Waltz hit a home run. As a lifelong Bond fan, Waltz has read the books and channels all the qualities which made a Fleming antagonist unique and special.

This Blofeld even has a great but sadly misused henchman in the form of Dave Bautista who knows what film he's in and is having the time of his life. From racing after Bond in the fastest Jaguar ever made to knocking the living daylights out of 007, sadly, his potential goes to waste so soon into the film when he could have been used so much more.

Now to action and settings.
Being the 9th most expensive film produced, you would think they haven't skimped on the thrills and spills. And you would be right. From the awe inspiring opening in a helicopter over 2000 extras in the Plaza de la Constitución to Bond using a creative method of vehicle interdiction with a plane turned impromptu bobsled to disable the world's fastest Range Rover in the snow swept forest of Austria, despite the running time, I found there was always something interesting going on to keep me hooked.

My personal favorite however would have to be Craig and Bautista doing a splendid homage (without stunt doubles) to Shaw and Connery's duet in "From Russia With Love" on a train out of Tangier. For the first time, Craig goes up against a proper henchman and is forced to desperately work for his life as Hinx shrugs off swipes from a wine bottle corkscrew and getting his dinner jacket set ablaze in his attempt at knocking off Bond.

Settings? London, Rome, Austria and Morocco. SKYFALL was filmed by the legendary Roger Deakins who helped create perhaps the most beautiful Bond film in the franchise's 50 year history. Alas, due to the man working on SICARIO, SPECTRE couldn't call on his services. Instead they've used a Swede named Hoyte.

The man does not disappoint. His work take a different approach, a yellowish tint and sometimes haze which as I mentioned before creates this other-worldly, dream-like feeling that I personally find captures the escapist, surreal side of Ian Fleming's work very well indeed. With him in charge, locations like the streets of Mexico city have a classic, retro menace and apart from Deakins, Mr Hoyte is perhaps the only man who can make the Sahara Desert, of all things look gorgeous.

I'm running out of letters so I'll stop here. SPECTRE. It lacks the emotional hook of Casino Royale and SKYFALL and has a few writing issues which rear their ugly head in the third act. Despite that, I enjoyed it immensely. It's fun, exciting, beautifully shot, manages to capture a side of the Bond franchise and Fleming's work which hasn't been seen in a long time and functions very well as the beginning of a creation myth for classic elements that have been given new life. It's also a hundred times better than Quantum Of Solace.
That is all.

Samuel wrote: "Paul wrote: "Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to see SPECTRE for some time, so if anyone would care to post a review of it here, I'd love to read it!"

Just seen Bond 24 or SPECTRE as it's c..."

I trust my review is coherent enough?

Sorry for the slow response Samuel... not had much chance to get here for a few days. Well now, my appetite is well and truly stimulated. A nicely rounded overview that I'll hold until I see it. Thanks!

In fact, let me add another word or two. It's fantastic!

Paul wrote: "In fact, let me add another word or two. It's fantastic!"

Thanks ;) Regarding Ernst, his back story is problematic but I found Christoph worked wonders with the material he was given. He's a different beast from Javier Bardeem but seems to be channeling the sort of vibe one would get from a literary Fleming villain, which isn't surprising since Herr Waltz was a Bond fan in his youth, having owned the Corgi Aston Martin DB5 and read the books. That's what I took away from his performance at any rate.

Very curious to see how those classic elements are reworked...

Paul wrote: "Very curious to see how those classic elements are reworked..."

Quite well. Evil lairs are back in fashion for starters. Despite going for a lean and mean approach with his evil scheme, even Ernst couldn't resist sticking his new offices and residence in the middle of a geological crater like one of his predecessors.

Samuel wrote: "Paul wrote: "Very curious to see how those classic elements are reworked..."

Quite well. Evil lairs are back in fashion for starters. Despite going for a lean and mean approach with his evil schem..."

Yes! Does he have a kitty too?

Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Samuel wrote: "Paul wrote: "Very curious to see how those classic elements are reworked..."

Quite well. Evil lairs are back in fashion for starters. Despite going for a lean and mean approach with..."

Yep! The new Blofeld still is a cat lover.
Gives it a brief cuddle in the film.

Regarding the evil scheme, thematically, it's foundations are built on the "counter-intelligence" and "terrorism" parts of SPECTRE's acronym.

Bond 25 will probably see the "revenge" and "extortion" parts come into play.

What a nicely put little review of 'The Constant Gardener' by one of my GR friends in Greece... Dimitra. Link included...

'When I first tried to read this book, a few years ago, I gave up after 20 pages... Some years later I watched the film and it was interesting enough to make me keep the book. Now I gave it a second chance and I'm so glad I did!!!'

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Back to our pal Frederick. I've reviewed his memoir in a rather rambling fashion. This is his last book and he is now a retired thriller writer and perhaps semi-retired columnist who is enjoying the company of his wife and grandchildren.

Now all we need is someone on this thread to review David Cornwell's authorized biography and we'll have the matching set!

Paul wrote: "Yes, poor Tessa, and it frequently ends badly for his protagonists :("

I've just realized something. the russia house averts the train wreck relationship trope. The main characters screw over the SIS and CIA and manage to flee despite the hero of the story getting arrested for a time by the Soviets.

Samuel wrote: "Paul wrote: "Yes, poor Tessa, and it frequently ends badly for his protagonists :("

I've just realized something. the russia house averts the train wreck relationship trope. The main characters sc..."

Yes, though I haven’t read the book, certainly in the film, very atmospheric and with great jazz in, Barley Blair gets away with it!

Samuel wrote: "

Back to our pal Frederick. I've reviewed his memoir in a rather rambling fashion. This is his last book and he is now a retired thriller wri..."

Yes, come on all you Le Carre fans!

Paul wrote: "Samuel wrote: "

Back to our pal Frederick. I've reviewed his memoir in a rather rambling fashion. This is his last book and he is now a retir..."

The amazon link for convenient purchase.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/John-Carré-Bi...

I've posted this comment on another thread but it may also be relevant here...

Seems that one year on from the attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices, a further ‘lone wolf’ terror attempt took place on a police station in the 18th district right next to Montmartre today - stayed there myself last year. That’s within sight of the much-loved tourist spot of the Church of the Sacré-Cœur. Bad news for Paris and Europe :(

Finally got to see SPECTRE. Yes, really enjoyed the reintroduction of some of those classic Bond elements: the expansive ‘Day of The Dead’ scene in Mexico, the fight on the train out of Tangiers, and the destruction of Blowfeld’s crater command centre in Morocco… A very good looking film.

Paul wrote: "Finally got to see SPECTRE. Yes, really enjoyed the reintroduction of some of those classic Bond elements: the expansive ‘Day of The Dead’ scene in Mexico, the fight on the train out of Tangiers, a..."

Good to hear that.

Paul wrote: "Finally got to see SPECTRE. Yes, really enjoyed the reintroduction of some of those classic Bond elements: the expansive ‘Day of The Dead’ scene in Mexico, the fight on the train out of Tangiers, a..."

Funny story. Herr Waltz, is trying to do a film version of the "Blofeld Trilogy". Says he will only return if Daniel Craig extends his contract to a 26th film. Craig's contract expires with Bond 25. I hope Mr Waltz is successful in convincing him to sign on.

Samuel wrote: "Paul wrote: "Finally got to see SPECTRE. Yes, really enjoyed the reintroduction of some of those classic Bond elements: the expansive ‘Day of The Dead’ scene in Mexico, the fight on the train out o..."

That would be a collaboration to anticipate...

Caught the first episode of the BBC's new mini series of Le Carre's The Night Manager on BBC 1 (6 parts) and it was very engaging. Really looking forward to the rest of it... Been a few years since I read the book, but it brought it all back. Recommended.

I heard Le Carre's The Night Manager with 'House' Hugh Laurie in it is now airing on US TV. Has anyone seen it?

Paul wrote: "I heard Le Carre's The Night Manager with 'House' Hugh Laurie in it is now airing on US TV. Has anyone seen it?"

I've watched the first 2 episodes and I'm really enjoying it, The acting is great!

Paul wrote: "I heard Le Carre's The Night Manager with 'House' Hugh Laurie in it is now airing on US TV. Has anyone seen it?"

Yes I've seen all of it here in the UK and it was compelling viewing. The casting was excellent too. David Harewood recently confirmed on BBC TV's The One Show that they are working on another series - roll on.

Sally, Melanie... Glad you are catching/caught it. It seemed like real quality... another series based on The Night Manager, or one of Le Carre's other books?

Paul wrote: "Sally, Melanie... Glad you are catching/caught it. It seemed like real quality... another series based on The Night Manager, or one of Le Carre's other books?"

He said another series of Night Manager would be filmed but I don't know when that will be aired. I'm sure they will advertise it well in advance. It's caused quite a stir in the UK.

What was the stir over Melanie?

Paul wrote: "What was the stir over Melanie?"

Apart from the excellent quality of the acting and gripping storyline, it was Tom Hiddleston's bottom that added spice in the tabloids' attention-grabbing headlines! Of course he is also rather James Bond-like and hopefully will be cast for that role too at some point.

Melanie wrote: "Paul wrote: "What was the stir over Melanie?"

Apart from the excellent quality of the acting and gripping storyline, it was Tom Hiddleston's bottom that added spice in the tabloids' attention-grab..."

I just can't imagine Loki as the next 007.,

In the Daily Mail Tom Hiddleston's saying no one's talked to him about it :) But it sounds like he has it all...