Widen the shot so we can make sense of what is going on!!!!!!

Rating: 5/10 (16 November 2008)

James Bond films are KNOWN for their ability to capture great stunts on film, and from the opening gambit, there's a lot of great stunts, but the camera work is filmed from so close up, that the viewer spends more time trying to figure out what they're watching more than trying to enjoy the film, itself. Normally, I spend the money for the DVD because I enjoyed watching it in the theater, but I'll need to spend the money just so I can "get" the plot. In the scene where Bond is fighting one of the bad guys on the ropes, I have to try and keep track of where Bond is and even had to retrace his steps once to make sure it was him who ended up where he is. I'm sorry, but the "reality feel" to this movie is what killed it for me.
As for the plot, itself, I guess he's trying to keep someone from taking over some country's water supply. Before seeing this movie, I heard he was on some vendetta against someone who killed his girlfriend in the last movie. Oh, wait! This is supposed to take place BEFORE the first James Bond movie ever came out (where Sean Connery was nothing but a high class detective for the British government), but I never saw any cell phones in use between 1965 and 1980 (or any of the computers they used, either, for that matter).
I really hate to rip on a movie, especially one where I'm a big fan of the saga, itself. In preparing for this movie, I watched some of the "In-Demand" material on Comcast cable (shameless plug...sorry) and they talked a little about the history of the character, James Bond. One of the points they mentioned was that writers and critics thought the movie line would die once the cold war was over (Judi Dench's character even mentioned in the LAST Bond movie that she "missed the Cold War"), but I think they should have dug that time capsule back up and laid this film to rest next to that idea instead of releasing it in theaters. The critics estimate about $60 million in sales for this movie, but I think that's hoping for a little much...maybe $50 million (10 million for each star I give it...).
5 stars out of 10