**I will be talking about “Skyfall” in today’s post, there won’t be spoilers so don’t worry!**
Right now I am full of cupcake, frosting, popcorn and a new found love of James Bond…I’ve mentioned before that I have never really been interested in watching any of the 007 movies. It just didn’t seem my thing. Many have attempted to convert me, many have stared at me aghast that I didn’t share their love of the Martini drinking spy, some have even giggled hysterically at me as though I was offending all things British by ignoring Ian Fleming’s creation…honestly, they would have reacted with less horror had I taken a shit on the flag and wiped my ass with one of the Queen’s Corgi dogs!
What I’m saying is that many people have failed to convince me about the films. Many, many people….until now.
Alison across at “The Life and Writings of Sleepy Joe” has done something that so many others have been unable to achieve…she’s convinced me to watch a Bond movie. Well, not just one of them, but two.
Last Friday I finally “popped the Bond cherry” by watching “Casino Royale” (those who follow me on twitter or Facebook are probably already well aware of this extremely important occasion)…
Alison’s reason for me to watch it:
(The fabulous Daniel Craig aka James Bond aka 007)
My reason for watching it:
(The lovely Tobias Menzies as Villiers…..I’m sorry my brain just needs a moment *ahem*)
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting from “Casino Royale”….oh what am I saying of course I knew what I was expecting – boobs, explosions, rumpy-pumpy, flash cars, gambling, corny chat-up lines and a crisis of confidence when the Bond girls arrive in all their skinny glory (while I’m huddled up in massive fluffy pj’s, with my podge and a giant packet of crisps). In actuality it wasn’t half bad! Aside from the cheesy bit of romance the film was enjoyable…it completely threw me.
Initially I thought “well….it’s because Tobias was in it, even if he didn’t have a major part I at least got to ogle him a few times”.
Then the thought changed to “maybe it was mostly due to Tobias, and partly due to the clever way it was put together”.
Then my brain finally barfed up “we need to settle this…Bond isn’t usually your thing, but Tobias can’t be the only reason you enjoyed that film…despite how sexy he is…we must resolve this by doing the only thing we can, we need to watch a non-Tobias James Bond film….how about ‘Skyfall’?”.
So today, to determine one way or another whether I am now a convert to the ways of the Bond, Alison and I ended up at the cinema (Orange Wednesdays rock!)…we settled into our seats, popcorn and cupcakes at the ready, giggling at the various trailers and pointing at the movies that have grabbed our attention (“Seven Psychopaths” looks brilliant for those who are curious). Then “Skyfall” began.
Alison’s reason for me to watch it:
(He looks familiar……I wonder…)
My reason for watching it:
(My Tobias substitute….Ben Whishaw as Q…I have a thing for geeky guys)
I had a moment when M appeared with – what appeared to be – her new aide (Tanner played by Rory Kinnear) and I had to stuff my mouth full of popcorn so I didn’t suddenly burst out with “who the fuck are you? Where’s Villiers the handsome bastard?!”
Aside from that I was pretty well behaved…the film (and my reaction to it) surprised me – it was witty, exciting, cleverly executed and brilliantly filmed! The one-liners were excellent, London looked magnificient (as always to me), the bad guy (Silva played by Javier Bardem) was a delightful mix of genius and bat-shit crazy, the chemistry between Bond and Q was delicate (with the young Quartermaster taking no shit – I liked that)….all this peppered with explosions and a minute amount of implied romance made for one simply exquisite movie!
I could actually watch it again.
In fact I think I will watch it again.
I mean….Bond even has his Martini’s the same way I have my chocolate milk…”Shaken, not stirred” 
Oh and Alison – I’m still finding popcorn in unpleasant places; in my bra, down my underwear…in my sodding belly button! With the size of my fat gob I’m surprised there were any popcorn escapees!
Loki-Lou
PS - today’s song of the day:
Adele – Skyfall (Well….could there be any other song?)
Wetting myself laughing remembering this afternoon! What is it with popcorn? Why does it manage to get into more places than a cute guy with wandering hands?!? No cinema trip is complete with out popcorn getting into places it shouldn’t!!!
Thank you so much for not one but two pictures of ‘oh, Mr Bond’ the classic line said in such a strangely hilarious way in Skyfall. I too had to take a moment!
I had an amazing afternoon, yes Seven Psychopaths looks like a hilarious film. But the funniest bit has to be the ‘So Mr Bond’ QUACK (doh, alarm!) at least it was at the end of the film. You can’t take me anywhere.
I’ve determined that popcorn is a bit like sand in the respect that you think you’ve gotten rid of it all, and *boom* another piece is found in a very uncomfortable place that you’re pretty sure you checked before! It’s magic….evil magic!
I like how when your phone went QUACK the old couple in front of us started looking around for the source! As though sat in one of the seats enjoying a bit of “Skyfall” was a random duck….although….in Burnley that situation would not actually surprise me.
Glad you finally indulged in some Daniel Craig. I think he’s delicious, even if he wasn’t your primary reason for going. I’m not usually one for action films, but I do like the new Bond movies. I agree – they’re really well done!
Well…I went with the intention of understanding the Daniel Craig fan-girly thing as well as seeing if I actually do like Bond movies, I had a few moments where I thought “huh, he has nice eyes” and then Ben Whishaw showed up and that all went to hell.
Darn him as Q! And Darn Tobias Menzies as Villiers! Too blooming distracting
So glad you enjoyed Skyfall, I thought it was a great Bond film. Full of action and adventure. Sounds like you had a great time, and enjoyed lots of popcorn as well :O)
We were trying to be quite stealthy with the popcorn as there is something really irritating about when the movie is getting intense, there is an important question asked, and “crunch, munch, crunch” you miss what’s said because someone picked that moment to eat. It was a great movie though I have to admit…*sigh* I am now a convert…ah well. I guess I’d better get to watching “Game of Thrones” now to see how I feel about that!
I’ve never been a Bond fan either. I think you may have convinced me to check it out. Love your blog by the way. I’ve seen your name in the comments of several blogs I have read recently so I decided to click over. I’m glad I did!
Hello Tamara!
I’ve never wanted to watch a James Bond film before, I’ll be honest it just wasn’t something I could be bothered with. I didn’t think I would like it but ultimately I didn’t even give it a chance either…which is terrible of me. That said, it’s the main reason I’ve managed to avoid tripe like “The Sex and the City” movies but hey ho, I got it wrong and actually really liked “Skyfall” and “Casino Royale”.
Oh and I’m really glad you like the blog! Bob over anytime!
I saw “Skyfall” on Saturday and was completely blown away. And I say this as someone who’s seen almost all of the movies and read several of the Fleming novels. “Skyfall” struck me as a weird cross between “The Dark Knight” and “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” (I say weird because I think that’s a GOOD thing.)
If this makes you interested in going back and checking out earlier Bond movies, you should know that most of the Connery ones are good –and as I just said, I really like “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” — but there’s a lot of… not so good ones. (I’m looking at you, Roger Moore.)
BTW, I can’t get that song out of my head, and you’re not helping
Now then, I’ve decided that if I watch one of the older ones then I’m going with “A View to a Kill” just because I will happily watch Christopher Walken in ANYTHING (which has been a bit of a curse *cough* “Hairspray” *cough*)…that’s a Roger Moore one isn’t it? Is that one of the ones you consider questionable? Also from what I hear Grace Jones as May Day is a sight to behold.
I know way too much about Bond movies for someone who has seen so few.
I really enjoyed “Skyfall”, it’s not my top movie for 2012 (that title is still firmly held by “The Avengers”) but it’s definitely a top 5!
Wellllll… “A View to a Kill” is an odd duck. Yeah, it’s not really that good, but I remember it being a fun watch. The only two Bond movies I haven’t seen are Moore’s: “Moonraker” and “The Spy Who Loved Me.” (In the case of “Moonraker”, I’m told I haven’t missed anything.)
Incidentally, if you’re interested in Christopher Walken, you might try “Pennies From Heaven.” It’s a really odd kind of musical starring Steve Martin, but Walken’s in there too, and I remember at least one scene in which he showed he’s not a bad dancer.
An “odd duck”…does that translate to “peculiar”? If so, I’m so nabbing that! I’ll make a note to avoid “Moonraker” and maybe watch “A View to a Kill” when I’ve had a couple of drinks…might improve the movie if it’s a bit shoddy!
I adore Christopher Walken, and by all accounts he is quite a dancer! I’ve never seen “Pennies from Heaven” – I will add it to my “movies to watch list”…yes, I have one of those. I first watched him in “Dead Zone” during one of my horror movie allnighters…can’t remember where I’d borrowed it from now. Anyway, that is a brilliant movie! Very haunting.
I am seriously shocked that the popcorn lasted so long! I usually eat most of it during the trailers!!!
It’s because there were cupcakes! We were saving room for cupcakes!
I had the same reaction to James Bond! I never saw one until “Die Another Day” 10 years ago (first date with the Man). and I was pleasantly surprised! There is just the right amount of cheese that you need for a Bond film, and oh my Daniel Craig. Wasn’t there a scene in Casino Royale where Bond said “stirred, not shaken.” am I making that up?!
Also, London always looks so pretty and wonderful. I want to go.
You know, I’m not entirely sure….this is a reason for me to watch “Casino Royale” again isn’t it? I did try to watch that and “Skyfall” to understand the fangirly crushing over Daniel Craig that so many people seem to have….alas, Tobias Menzies and Ben Whishaw were too distracting to me. It’s a terrible thing
All in all though, they were pretty decent movies! I’m very surprised that I enjoyed them as much as I did! So you recommend “Die Another Day”?