Like I Said, We Hongry - Embrace the Magic of the "Vin-less" Years

"What'd you expect? You didn't just play with fire, you soaked the matches in gasoline"

When you look at the birth of this franchise it's clear that having it end up where it has is a total miracle. After the huge success of the first movie a sequel seemed like a no brainer, but there was one problem, Vin wasn't going to come back. He opted out of 2 Fast 2 Furious in favor of launching his xXx franchise, thus launching Paul Walker to the front and center. Vin wouldn't return to the series for the next two movies, but don't let that get you down, they are arguably the two silliest and most enjoyable films to wear the Fast title.

I'll never forget when 2 Fast 2 Furious hit theaters back in 2003. It was the summer between seventh and eighth grade, so you can imagine how big of an event this was for all my friends and I, all of us die hard fans of the original. We went to the movie with a crew of at least ten kids and it was a God damn riot. We were cheering and hollering, and when they drove that car into a boat in the final sequence we were over the moon.

When we got back to my house after the movie we began racing whatever we could find. Bikes, skate boards, scooters, whatever two people could race each other on we did it in the street outside my house. For a bunch of twelve year olds this movie was the world, so I was saddened to learn so many hate this, or at least find it the low point of the series, to which I highly disagree.

Revisiting this for the millionth time this week I can clearly see now why some are turned off to this movies charm, but I'll never understand it. The absence of Vin is almost never felt in this movie due to the brilliant casting of Tyrese as our favorite Roman Pierce. He has more charm and charisma in his pinky than anyone else to touch this franchise and it explodes all over this movie.

One of my favorite aspects of the first two Fast movies are the cars. They serve as a wonderful time capsule for the early 2000's when these silly kit cars were all the rage, and 2 Fast is the peak of it all. Brian's green Evo and Roman's purple Eclipse are tricked out to the gills in a way only acceptable in 2003 and man, they are gorgeous. Bring it all together with the opening race and the massive spill of street racers in the final chase and this movie features some of the most memorable designs in the franchise.

This, along with the next movie, are often criticized for their unconventional approach to sequels and for their lack of the main "family" story. On the surface, this is fair, but when you really look back on these two movies both are crucial to the further development of the series. This goofy one-off story where Brian and Roman pad their pockets with some stolen cash is massively important in that it establishes Brian as a full force criminal now. Yeah, he'll comply when he has too, but this story makes it clear he now operates on the other side of the law. Also, this movie brings both Tyrese and Ludacris into the franchise, so you have to love it.

Despite the rocky start to the series, these movies have always made money. So even though there was no clear path for the story to take after 2 Fast it was obvious they had the audience for another. Enter Justin Lin and the beginning of the rest of this franchises life, and also it's bastard black sheep Tokyo Drift. The movie starring neither Vin or Paul Walker and the one that has received more "what the hell" comments than any other Fast film. It's wacky, bold, and just a really fucking cool movie.

For a while after its release this was seen as the movie that "almost" killed the franchise due to its massive departure from the first two movies storylines. However, what seemed like a quick turn around on a new fad (drifting) actually ended up being possibly the most important story of them all. Despite Lucas Black not becoming a series regular this film has influenced the rest to come in more ways than most are aware of.

Before we get into all of that though, I just need to gush about this wonderful piece of cinema. I told you my friends and I were gonzo for the last movie, so you know we were there opening weekend for The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, and from that opening needle drop in the credits I was completely hooked. Featuring some of what I believe to be the best car chases/races, and character moments of any of them, this has been and always will be one of my favorites in the series.

Lucas Black is cool in the lead role, though he sticks out even more these days as the most American American who ever America'd. It's in the supporting roles that this finds its voice. Bow Wow is fantastic as Twinkie, the other army brat in town who has a knack for hustling and Brian Tee is great as D.K. Where Tokyo Drift makes its mark though is with the casting and introduction of Sung Kang as Han, the coolest mother fucker to ever see the screen in a Fast movie.

What is there to say about Han other than he was so damn good, and so beloved in this movie that when the franchise continued on with Justin Lin they back tracked the timeline just so they could bring his character back (after foolishly killing him off). He doesn't give a shit about anything, he let's this young American punk wreck his car just so he can get a peak at his character. He's also the coolest snacker to ever see a bag of chips, seriously, we should all be aspiring to be more like Han.

I'll admit, my love of the character clouds my judgment here because it's obvious Justin Lin's introduction in this movie is what truly turned this series around for the better. He came in and not only helped find a path for the story to take, he elevated the filmmaking. Tokyo Drift is where the races become something much more than just a quarter mile drag on a city street. Between the opening race in the housing development (my favorite) to the final drift in his classic Mustang, this movie is amping up the car action in every way it can.

The Fast & Furious movies, especially the early ones, have always boasted great soundtracks that are always representative of the time they were made. None, however, matches the majesty of the Tokyo Drift soundtrack. The inclusion of Japanese pop music is one of my favorite little treats of this film that I believe only adds to its greatness. Seriously, if nothing else go and listen to this music again, it's ridiculously fun.

In the more recent years, since the series has found its greater purpose, and since Han has returned, more and more people have come around to this movie. I often call it the "Halloween III" of these movies, due to its black sheep status and not having either of the two leads of the franchise appear in it. Well, not until the end at least, that Vin cameo had my theater roaring. I just hope it's growing popularity gets them to somehow bring Han back...again.

What at the time looked like two weird, unconventional sequels have been shown with time to have been more logical than most thought. Half through solid franchise planning and the other half through clever improvisations on the story they have now found their crucial place in the overall arc. Though Vin is always missed, and the absence of Brian will never be easy, these two movies have grown lives of their own that none of us expected them too after their initial release. If you've never given these a shot because of these things, or weren't sold on them the first time around give them one more shot. I think a lot of you will be surprised to see what they have going for them now that we have eight Fast & Furious movies.

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

Winning is Winning - Looking Back at The Fast and the Furious (2001)

"You can have any beer you want, as long as it's a Corona."

This weekend the eighth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise hits theaters so you know what that means, it's family time. Throughout this week I will be revisiting the entire series in chronological order, so I thought it would be a good idea to re-evaluate these movies that have been in my life for 16 years now. That's right, The Fast and the Furious first hit theaters back in 2001 and I can remember it like it was yesterday. I, unfortunately, did not get to see this one in theaters, but I saw it almost immediately on home video and from the first viewing was totally in love with the family. 

At this point in time, the franchise has grown immensely in popularity and some would argue in quality as well, so it's always interesting to hear peoples opinions on the first three installments. They are vastly different from what we are seeing nowadays and for some, that's a bad thing but for me, it's the charm that drew me into this silly crime world. The goofy cars, the overblown machismo, and the homoeroticism are things that made me only love this movie more and watching it last night, that's still the case.

It's no secret that the first film served as an unofficial remake of the 90's classic Point Break, so I tried to view it through that lens watching it this time around. I only saw that movie a few years back so I revisited it the night before and it was with this watch that every major connection became clear. Some may cry "rip-off" but honestly, this is exactly how you do a remake and they should be praised for it. They took the barebones of the story and reworked it into something new that better represents the times. 

The Fast and the Furious doesn't just live in Point Breaks shadow though, they were sure to make the right changes to allow this to exist on its own. They were clearly successful in doing that as the movie spawned now seven sequels while the former never had one. One of those changes is that we are straight up praising the criminals here, we aren't just meant to understand why Brian doesn't want to blow them in we are meant to fall head over heels in love with their dynamic, and we do. 

It's fascinating to look at the characters in this movie now knowing where they have gone and having seen this movie countless times. Michelle Rodriguez as Letty is barely even a real person, she is playing an archetype that existed in a small period of the early 2000's, it's kind of incredible. Vin and Paul Walker strike their chemistry from square one and although their characters haven't changed much down the line it's fun to see them in the earlier days. 

What changed most for the two leads is the quality of their dialogue, now I'm not saying the spoken words in the newer movies are anything oscar worthy, but this first installment was really hamming it up. There is a line in this movie, I shit you not, where an FBI agent says to Brian "If you want time, pick up a magazine!". It's fucking incredible and we should be so lucky to have goofy movies like this one. 

To cap it all off, the cars used this first time around are truly one of a kind and further this movie as an early 2000's time capsule. They are flashy and silly boasting bright colors and ridiculous custom decals that you'd never see on the streets today. Brian's orange Supra remains one of my all-time favorite movie cars because of it. Also, I think it goes without saying that Dom's old school Dodge Charger used in the final drag race is a true work of art. 

The races themselves are their own kind of fun when we actually get to see them. Most notably the first race where Brian loses his car, the stuff at "Race wars', and the final drag between Dom and Brian. This is where we get to see the racing through "NOS vision" and its a silly, yet effective visual trick they use to emphasize how fast they are moving. Speaking of, I couldn't count a number of times "NOS" is said throughout this film, just adding to its time capsule status. 

Watching this movie again, sixteen years after its initial release there is a lot to take in. First, Ja Rule cannot act and is, in fact, the worst (but in the best way in this movie) and second is that this franchise has come a ridiculously long way since its inception. The Fast and the Furious is only the beginning of what is one of the most unique film franchises ever to exist. Stay tuned for my thoughts on 2 Fast 2 Furious and Tokyo Drift, I can tell you I love them more than most and get hyped for The Fate of the Furious this weekend!

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

Phantasm: The 4K Experience

Phantasm: The 4K Experience

Yesterday was the first ever "Art House Theater Day", a nation wide event commemorating all of the remaining theaters that cater to the art house crowd. To celebrate theaters all over the country coordinated a screening of the new 4K transfer of Don Coscarelli's brilliant horror film Phantasm (1979) along with a live streamed Q&A with the filmmaker and main cast of the film from fantastic fest in Austin, Texas. This was not only my first time seeing this wonderful film on a big screen, but also the first time any of us have gotten to experience it looking and sounding this incredible.

If you are reading this than you probably know the ins and outs of this movie fairly well, but for those who are unfamiliar Phantasm is a late 70's horror film with heavy fantasy and sci-fi influence. The story centers on Mike (Michael Baldwin), his brother Jody (Bill Thornbury), and Jody's best friend Reggie (Reggie Bannister) as they uncover the mysteries of their local mortuary. When their friend Tommy is killed, Mike discovers something weird is going on in that Funeral home and he wants to know what it is. Uncovering the secrets that lie within those walls is made near impossible by the mortician, known only as The Tall Man (Angus Scrimm)

It goes without saying that I, along with countless other horror fans, think this movie is a masterpiece in its own right. So getting the opportunity to see a new 4K transfer on the big screen, at the same time as so many other people who love this movie just as much as I do, was an incredible experience. Revival screenings can be a toss up too, you never know if you are going to get a crowd who loves the film, or a bunch of mean spirited kids looking to laugh at an old movie. Thankfully the crowd I saw it with was totally dialed in and loving the movie. One guy even brought his pre-teen son, who screamed in terror multiple times, to see it for his first time. 

You guys don't care about this though, you want to know about the new transfer, and who can blame you? When we all found out JJ Abrams Bad Robot company was heading up a new 4K transfer of the flick we all simultaneously exclaimed "FINALLY!". With all of these obscure and cult titles getting releases under companies like Arrow and Scream factory we were all wondering why Phantasm hadn't been done yet.

It was all worth the wait, you guys. The new transfer of the film is absolutely gorgeous, get ready to see this movie like you've never seen it before. If you are someone who gets nervous about HD transfers of older horror films, as they can sometime expose things that were never meant to be seen, you can rest easy because this does none of that. From the first shot outside the mortuary where you see Reggie and Jody you can instantly see how great of a job they did cleaning this up. The only shortcomings are a few exterior shots of Mike's home, they must not have had a quality master because those shots are particularly grainy.

One of the aspects of this film that made it so popular in the horror community is its iconic score done by Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave. With a new, cleaned up audio track this music is louder and creepier than ever. Hearing that wonderful theme song blare through the speakers was easily a highlight of the night. The cleaned up audio also adds just a little more boom to Angus Scrimm's already bombastic line deliveries, 

Aside from getting to see one of my favorite horror flicks on the big screen I was also fairly intrigued to check out the live streamed Q&A with Don Coscarelli and the original cast after the show. Coscarelli gave some cool insight into how this new transfer came to be, starting with JJ calling him out of the blue one day over a decade ago just to share with him his love for Phantasm. He later came to do the transfer when he wanted to screen the film for his people at Bad Robot and all Don had was a beat up 35mm print or a DVD. Aside from that the crew basically share small factoids that we are mostly already familiar with, like the fact that they shot this movie on weekends over a few years to get it finished.

What really made the brief Q&A a great addition to the screening was hearing them all share some stories about the late Angus Scrimm. Having just passed away earlier this year they all had some really nice things to say about the wonderful actor, especially Coscarelli. Seeing them all pay respects to one of horror greatest icons was an experience I was happy to be able to have. 

If you missed the screening last night, be a little more patient, a Blu-Ray is coming though we still don't have an exact release date. The long awaited fifth movie in the franchise also hits theaters and VOD next week so keep an eye out for that. I know I am more than excited to have the Phantasm franchise be a large part of my Halloween season this year.

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

Whatever, Found-Footage Doesn't Like You Either

Whatever, Found-Footage Doesn't Like You Either:

A Defense of Films Most Unpopular Sub-Genre

This past weekend brought with it the release of the surprise sequel to 1999's The Blair Witch Project, the film that kick started this whole "found-footage" subgenre. The new movie, simply titled Blair Witch, was not only met with poor critical reception but also found itself with a slightly disappointing opening weekend, with a box office of just $9.6 million (the movie cost $5 million, so in retrospect it's not so bad). So we all know what that means right? That means it's time for all the haters to come out of the woodwork to tell everyone how much they hate found-footage and how big of a mistake this new movie was. Only it wasn't a mistake, the movie is phenomenally made and a literal thrill ride in a movie theater. So why all the hate? What is it about this subgenre that the bad overshadows all of the truly fantastic films to come out of this? 

I'm not sure I'll be able to answer 'why' these people are so vile towards this kind of filmmaking but I can at least explain why this kind of attitude is completely unwarranted. If you are someone who gets motion sickness watching shaky cam then this article is not speaking directly towards you, I cannot blame someone for physically not being able to sit through these movies. I am addressing the fans, mostly in the horror community, who enjoy this genre at its best but cry for its death whenever a new film releases. 

The world of film is filled with all different kinds of genres and subgenres, some more popular and profitable than others but there is no denying one thing; In any genre of film there are far more bad films than great. This is a general rule with film, there is so much more bad than good out there that we have to be able to cherish it all for what it is. My point? Movie nerds never cry for the death of rom-coms or westerns whenever we get a bad one. So why does it have to be the end of found-footage every time a lackluster film is released?

A large part of this attitude, I believe, comes from the fact that this sub genre hasn't been around nearly as long as others. The pool from which to pick these kinds of movies is only a fraction of the size of most others that have been around almost as long as film itself. This means it is much easier for a fan to claim the amount of good here is far outweighed by the bad, but I strongly disagree. Since just 1999 we have seen a number of truly great films come out of this 'trend' that most moviegoers, including those who bash the genre constantly, would admit to thoroughly enjoying.

Take, for example, 2008's surprise hit Cloverfield which took this style of filmmaking and brought it into the big budget world. I remember when this movie came out, it was a huge deal among most young moviegoers and the secrecy around it make it a small cultural phenomenon. Still to this day I find far more film geeks who love this film than who don't, and for good reason. It was a huge movie made on a tiny scale that allowed us to feel like we were all really there in the city with them. 

That is a massive component to what makes these films, when done properly, so damn entertaining. Found-footage movies are meant to be an experience, one that feels more real than any other kind of filmmaking. This is what made The Blair Witch Project the most successful film of all-time and I believe it's a large part of what a lot of moviegoers fail to grasp with these stories. In order to get the full enjoyment and experience you need to allow yourself to exist in the world you are seeing and believe what is happening to be true. I'm not saying you have to leave the theater thinking you just watched a documentary, but a small suspension of disbelief can go along way.

There is even more to it than that though, and I believe the other major issue plaguing these movies is one that is effecting the film world as a whole right now. Most moviegoers judge the entirety of the movie universe on what they see in theaters. Now, fifteen years ago this would have been totally justifiable but with the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, as well as video on demand (VOD) platforms some of the best movies being made these days are seen on your home television. 

If you head over to Netflix right now and browse through the horror section you will find a handful of solid found-footage movies. Take for example 2015's Creep, from filmmaker Patrick Brice and starring the wonderful Mark Duplass. The flick is as simple as can be, made with one camera and two people they get more story and scares packed into 80 minutes than most straight forward horror films these days. Or, if you are like me and get unreasonably creeped out by the elderly then you shouldn't hesitate in popping on The Taking of Deborah Logan. This would-be documentary about alzheimer's quickly turns into truly unnerving piece of paranormal horror. 

Also, and I cannot say this enough, never be afraid to check out what's being made in other countries. Foreign cinema is where some of the most creative and fresh voices in filmmaking are and the found-footage genre is no different. Go seek out the incredible Spanish horror franchise [REC], the first two movies in the franchise deal out some of the best scares in modern horror, period. You could also pop on Netflix and see one of my favorite movies of all-time (no joke) Troll Hunter. This brilliant norwegian film will dish out a few nifty scares but more than anything else it's an absolute blast to watch. Boasting incredible special effects and a wonderfully charming story this could easily be the film to sway your judgment on the medium. 

I could go on listing the many other found-footage movies that I think are brilliant, but the haters will just retort with the ones that aren't, like The Gallows or Apollo 18. So I guess what I have to say to all of you is that you should take a step, look at the films you love and decide if you really think this kind of storytelling needs to go away. After seeing Blair Witch this past weekend, and with the satirical horror flick Found-Footage 3D coming out at some point in the near future, I am excited about seeing where else this genre can be taken.  

If nothing else, come away from this with the understanding that the found-footage genre is no different than any other form of filmmaking. The bad will always outweigh the good and if we can't truly appreciate the good because of that then why even bother in the first place? There were three bad superhero movies this year but there's no rallying cry for the death of superhero blockbusters that cost $200 million to make. Why then, should a style of filmmaking that is traditionally profitable and that cost so little to make be ostracized for its failures?

The chances of swaying even a fraction of you to my side is pretty much impossible, but at the very least I hope I have convinced even a handful of you to give these kinds of movies another shot. I especially hope to convince some of you to go and give Blair Witch a shot in theaters if you haven't already. It is a wonderfully crafted horror experience and too many are writing it off simply because of the style in which it was made. If this is the hill on which I choose to die than so be it, At least it's defending a bunch of films I really love.

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

How Neighbors Brought the College Comedy Into the 21st Century

Thank Neighbors for Saving the "Frat House" Comedy

The Frat house has been the setting of countless "college comedies" ever since National Lampoon's Animal House became a hit back in 1978. It's easy to see why as this is the perfect breeding ground for immaturity and irresponsibility, two of the key components of any slapstick comedy. Unfortunately for many of these movies, despite how well regarded they are and how well much of the comedy still lands, they are a product of their time. What I mean by this is that many of the films made before the turn of the century tend to be misogynistic in nature and feature some ideas that aren't up to our current societal standards.

Take Animal House for example, hailed by many as one of the greatest comedies of all-time, features a scene of a college freshman debating whether or not to have sex with a passed out party girl who we later find out is only thirteen (!) and The Mayor's daughter. Now, as we all know in the film he makes the respectable choice and sends her home (albeit in a shopping cart) but the movie makes the scenario feel like it's no big deal and the devil on his shoulder declares him a "Homo" when he makes that decision. 

Maybe that joke would be able to slide between the cracks today, as he doesn't actually make the wrong choice but let's examine another "classic college comedy" by the name of Revenge of the Nerds. Though the movie centers itself on the basic story of a group of college nerds trying to get back at the "jocks" and frat boys it basically ends up as a story about these guys trying to get laid. Spoiler alert: The main character ends up doing just that and in one of the most disgusting ways you could think of. Our would be "Hero" literally date rapes a girl at the end of the film by tricking her into thinking he is someone else while they are fooling around in the dark. Oh and this is our character's major triumph at the end of the film, he is to be applauded for this action.

I don't mention these in attempt discredit those films, they are very much a product of their time and should be viewed through that lens. Animal House still stands as one of the best comedies of all-time for me and rightly so, but if it were made today maybe that particular scene gets cut. The problem is when these old fashioned ways of thinking make it into our modern attempts at these movies. Films that are universally loved like Old School and Van Wilder find themselves at times falling prey to the misogyny and sexism of those that came before them.

Looking Back on 007: The Craig Years - Skyfall (2012)

After Quantum of Solace was met with lackluster critic and audience response it would be another four years before Craig and company would have a chance to redeem themselves. This proved to be the right choice when Skyfall came out and was met with huge success. The film went back to basics and told a Bond story the way it was always meant to be. The shortcomings of Quantum were not ignored and they made all the right moves to make sure it didn't happen again. The biggest of those was bringing in masterful director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) who used his talents to bring Bond into the modern age without sacrificing the things we all love about the series.  Four years was apparently the perfect amount of time for audiences to forget the stink that the previous film had left behind as Skyfall grossed over $300 million in the U.S. alone.

Skyfall (2012)

Directed By: Sam Mendes

As mentioned before, this film goes back to the basics opening up on Bond in the middle of his last mission. In a daring chase that takes them from the roof of the Grand Bazaar to a fist fight on top of a train we watch our hero "die" in the first ten minutes of the movie. From there we immediately cut to the opening credits and Adele's amazing opening theme and from this moment forward, you know this is a true 007 film. In just fifteen minutes Sam Mendes managed to make his film feel more "Bond" than anything included in Quantum of Solace. What's even more crazy is that there is another two hours of film to follow this amazing opening sequence. 

After Bond is declared KIA a list including the identities of all the active MI6 agents falls into the hands of a cyber terrorist (Javier Bardem). The threats become real when he stages an attack on the MI6 headquarters, alerting our "deceased" hero and thus bringing him out of retirement. Now he must track down and stop the unknown threat before he releases the names of their agents. Things become even more complicated when it becomes clear that whoever it is that is attacking them has a past with the MI6 and more specifically, a history with M (Judi Dench). 

Bringing in Sam Mendes was the saving grace of this franchise, adding a talent as massive as him behind the camera is something we haven't seen done enough in this ongoing series. His knowledge and skill as an Academy award winning director elevates this film higher than most any other 007 film to come before it. He managed to make Bond a serious action star without sacrificing and losing all the great espionage elements that made him so popular to begin with. He took away the stigma that Bond is a campy, golden era spy who in no way translates into reality. With Skyfall he makes the argument that Bond is not only a badass superhero, but that he is a true necessity in our reality. 

The 23rd installment in the franchise brings back Daniel Craig as Bond and he is as good as he has ever been in the series. This was the first movie where I finally felt like he was truly James Bond, he has the charisma, he has the style, and above all else he has the ego. Judi Dench also returns as M for the seventh time in her career in probably her biggest role yet with the central story revolving around her past. It's the newcomers to the franchise however that really lift this film up, adding great talent with people like Ralph Fiennes and Naomie Harris. As is the case with most of the best Bond films however, the villain is what makes the film and Skyfall features one of the best of all-time. Javier Bardem plays our maniacal villain who has a plan to get revenge on the organization who betrayed him over a decade ago. Much like in No Country for Old Men he turns in a truly terrifying performance and totally owns his role. 

This movie continues what the other two films had started, bringing Bond into the modern age. It has been no secret that the franchise needed some retooling to be taken as a serious action franchise nowadays. Cheesy gadgets, a cool car, and sexy women aren't enough to hold your film together anymore. What this film does better than the two to come before it is that it manages to keep the silly side of the franchise by making it work within this new world. Mendes finally brought back Q (Ben Whishaw) and in an amazing way. He is going to be feeding Bond cool gadgets again but this time around it will all be plausible. Q has no problem poking fun at the "exploding pen" tricks that this franchise was built on while still dealing out the new age of espionage technology.

When this movie was released back in 2012 it was met with mostly great critic response. Roger Ebert was a fan saying "This is a full-blooded, joyous, intelligent celebration of a beloved cultural icon, with Daniel Craig taking full possession of a role he previously played unconvincingly." Richard Roeper wrote "This is perhaps the most visually stunning Bond movie ever made." One of my personal favorite critics Scott Weinberg was also a fan calling the film "An espionage thriller mixed with a revenge story wrapped in a character study about the world's favorite secret agent." The film is also currently sporting a 93% on the Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.8/10 IMDB score and grossed over $300 million dollars domestically, making this film a massive hit. 

Skyfall is the reason we are all as excited as we are for Spectre this weekend. Sam Mendes has returned to direct and they added even more talent with the likes of Christoph Waltz and Dave Bautista. Mended brought the franchise back to what we love following the classic Bond film structure to create a movie that is both a love letter to the past and a preview of what the future holds for cinema's longest running action franchise. If you have plans to see the new film this weekend I can't recommend going back to revisit this one more, it is an incredible Bond movie and one of my favorite action films of the past five years. 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

Looking back on 007: The Craig Years - Quantum of Solace (2008)

The end of Casino Royale did something different than most Bond films, it left us with his story unfinished. Typically these movies tell one story contained to the limits of its runtime and end with our heroes journey being resolved. At the end of Casino Royale however we see his story left unresolved in a way that it had to be mentioned in the next film. Quantum of Solace not only mentions the happenings of the first movie, it uses them as the basis for what happens throughout the entirety of this one. Rather than see Bond go after a new villain with new girls and leave the past unmentioned we see him go out on a mission with intentions of avenging his fallen lover. Everything that drives Bond to succeed in this film can be directly drawn from the one that came before, and i'm not sure that is such a good thing. 

Quantum of Solace (2008)

Directed By: Marc Forster

If I'm being honest, I had never seen this film before last night. As I mentioned last post I wasn't a big fan of Casino Royale when it was released so my excitement for a sequel was not present. Not to mention when the film was received with not so amazing critic response my desire to see this became dismal. The film picks up basically where the last one left off, Bond is back to work after experiencing personal tragedy and he is doing what he can to find out who set up his former lover. His anger sets him on the trail of a mysterious organization that is plotting to take control of Bolivia's natural resources. His duty as a spy and his personal rage blend together to make one truly discombobulated movie that is hard to follow and at times completely incohesive. 

After revisiting Craig's first outing as Bond and enjoying it more than I had a decade ago I had a small glimmer of hope that it may transfer over to this movie as well. I've come to enjoy Craig's Bond as much as any other, but this movie is hard to get into. Every time I thought I had the tone or plot of this movie figured out it would take a complete 180 and go the other way. There are random jokes spliced randomly throughout that just feel like they belong in another movie and at times they can take you out of it entirely. 

This seemed to be a small part of a bigger problem that was the editing, the cuts in this movie are all over the place. In this sense the whole movie feels like an incomplete picture that was sloppily thrown together to make the release date. There is a story in this movie somewhere but I think it was left on the cutting room floor. Certain scenes are clearly cut short or chopped up into barely cohesive moments that should have been played out in their entirety making it difficult to ever truly get engaged by the film. 

The decision to have this be a direct sequel to Casino Royale I think was a mistake. The film was tied down from the restraints of what happened in the film before it and was never really able to stand on its own. It feels like more of a clean up of its predecessor than it's own Bond story. 007 movies should be able to be watched out of order in any way you want without having to understand a through line, Quantum of Solace breaks that mold and is hurt because of it. You can't really watch this without seeing the film that came first and even if you've done that, it still isn't a satisfying payoff to the story that began in 2006.  

Don't take my word for it though, Quantum currently rocks a 65% on Rotten Tomatoes, not horrible but easily the lowest of any Craig Bond film. A. O. Scott of the N.Y. Times said of the film "Quantum of Solace prompts the question: is revenge the only possible motive for large-scale movie heroism these days?" Rene Rodriguez of the Miami Herald said "Quantum of Solace never really engages you in the mechanical but transporting way the best Bond movies do." 

The 22nd chapter in the ongoing Bond franchise was unfortunately a dud, trying to carry a story through multiple films just isn't what this series was built for. Craig gives his all as Bond as usual but it isn't nearly enough to make this film enjoyable. From the moment you hit the opening credits with a subpar song, you know this isn't going to be 007 at his best. If you are looking to revisit the Craig years before Spectre this weekend I'd say you can feel safe skipping this one if you don't have the time. 

Check back tomorrow for my look back at Skyfall and as always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!