Spooks: The Greater Good is a continuation of the immensely popular UK TV show that ended back in 2011. Starring Peter Firth as the series lead Harry Pearce, the film focuses around the events following a leak occurring in MI-5 which led to a high-level target escaping from their custody before he could be handed over to the CIA. After this happened under his control, Pearce … [Read more...]
Review: Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)
Imagine a man who out-suaves Connery's Bond, who out-ass kicks Kick Ass and whose belief in manners are an excuse to brutalise an entire pub. This is Colin Firth's Harry Hart in Kingsman: The Secret Service. Director Matthew Vaughn fresh from his exploits with the X-Men returns to the comic book genre with an adaptation of The Secret Service by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, … [Read more...]
The Numbers Station (2013) review by That Art House Guy
What's this then? John Cusack as a world-weary hitman, who is starting to wonder if his chosen profession was really such a good option after all “ if there is any sense in the killings he undertakes, if he is losing an important part of himself through what he does as a profession? Before you get excited, be aware Cusack is not playing Martin Blank, and choice of profession … [Read more...]
Skyfall (2012) review by That Film Guy
With the legal wranglings finished and the shonky Quantum of Solace left firmly in the past, the film-makers at EON made their intent clear during pre-production. On the 50th anniversary of the franchise, they wanted a James Bond film of such quality that it would do what no predecessor has managed and bag nominations in the big categories at the Oscars. So the stakes are high … [Read more...]
Quantum of Solace (2008) review by That Film Guy
The 22nd James Bond film in the franchise, Quantum of Solace sees Daniel Craig return as MI6's most dangerous spy and is named and very loosely based on a short story by Ian Fleming that appeared in the For Your Eyes Only collection. Paul Haggis once again receives credit as one of the many script contributors and it was directed by Marc Foster. At the box office it took a few … [Read more...]
Casino Royale (2006) review by That Film Guy
In 2006 after the shambles that was Die Another Day the James Bond franchise got a much needed reboot. Casting Daniel Craig as the MI6 spy, Casino Royale took the character back to his origin story and in a pre-titles sequence showed him getting his first two kills while on duty. Originally linked to Quentin Tarantino, the director's chair was eventually given to Martin … [Read more...]
Live and Let Die (1973) review by That Film Guy
With Sean Connery officially departed and the catastrophe of George Lazenby put to bed, a search began for a new James Bond. Rather than trying to find someone to replace Connery, EON decided to take the character and the franchise in a different direction and cast Roger Moore, famous for playing suave characters in television shows like The Saint and The Persuaders he brought … [Read more...]
Diamonds are Forever (1971) review by That Film Guy
After the critical mauling that George Lazenby and the series had suffered after On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the James Bond franchise looked back to the original Bond Sean Connery to bring a steady performance and right a potentially sinking ship. Diamonds are Forever took Bond back to the formula that had served it so well in the 1960s and gave the producers time to … [Read more...]
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) review by That Film Guy
Following the departure of Sean Connery in the lead role, the producers of the James Bond films looked to replace him with an actor who was equally as good-looking and charismatic for the next film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Their choice was the face of Big Fry Chocolate, the male model George Lazenby. It would be a choice that at the time was wildly unpopular and caused … [Read more...]
You Only Live Twice (1967) review by That Film Guy
Originally slated to be the final appearance of Sean Connery in the lead role, You Only Live Twice was the fifth James Bond film in the franchise. Featuring one of the largest sets ever created for film, it was a commercial and critical success during its original release taking $111m at the box office from a budget of $10m. You Only Live Twice would be the first film in the … [Read more...]