Spectre Blu-ray Review

Reviewed by Lynn Barker on Feb 09, 2016

Rating:

Kidzworld checked out the Blu-ray for the last James Bond movie Spectre. Is Daniel Craig still a hot Bond? Are the stunts and story cool? Read our review.

By: Lynn Barker

In Spectre, Bond faces his most personal bad guy yet. Poor James Bond (Daniel Craig); always fighting a genius, evil villain, always falling for a girl who usually falls victim to those villains yet still serving his country. This time, he’s up against the mastermind behind all the others.

After destruction in Mexico CityCourtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Message from Beyond

While the new “M” (Ralph Finnes) tries to save the “000” division of M16, others would like to abolish it in favor of very high tech, machine-driven secret operations. Bond has gotten a secret message from the past that sends him to Mexico and beyond again, without orders, to kill a famous Italian assassin.

Bond with boss the new MCourtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

To Rome with a Mission

Enlisting the aid of Miss Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and tech whiz Q. (Ben Wishaw) Bond travels to Rome where he meets the hot widow (Monica Bellucci) of the man he just killed and, using a special ring from the dead man’s hand, infiltrates a secret meeting of the members of an international crime syndicate bigger than all the rest headed by a mystery man (Christoph Waltz). His top henchman chases Bond all over Rome before Bond escapes.

Bond's trusty girl MoneypennyCourtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Bond Girl with a Secret

After tracking down Mr. White (Jesper Christensen), his old nemesis, Bond sees the man commit suicide and learns about his daughter Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux) who might hold the secrets to the huge crime organization. He meets her in the Alps and she knows that the organization is named SPECTRE and her father was part of it.

Falling in love on the trainCourtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Tangiers and Beyond

The trail takes Bond and Madeleine on a romantic train trip to Morocco where they finally confront the mystery SPECTRE head who turns out to be part of Bond’s childhood and also part of controlling every villain Bond has faced (in all the Daniel Craig Bond movies at least). He was also responsible for the deaths of every woman bond got close to. He is now ready to cause the most damage he’s ever done to Bond and the rest of the world.

Will Bond thwart his arch nemesis? Will he and Madeleine stay together? Will the 000 division of M16 survive a high tech takeover? Will Bond leave the service for good after this?

Chasing an assassin during Day of the DeadCourtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Special Features

Bond’s Biggest Opening Sequence centers on the colorful Day of the Dead opening parade actually shot in Mexico City with a ton of extras. The army of make-up artists, costumers and hairdressers it took to prepare over 1,500 extras is just amazing and we see some cool costumes and make-ups in progress. Very fun to watch.
Daniel Craig talks about how ambitious the opening was and Director Sam Mendes and other filmmakers discuss the crazy real life helicopter fight and stunt work and Daniel running around on a high building ledge in the city. A choreographer speaks of creating the dances during the parade and the tech crew talks of collapsing a huge building. At the end we see some of the Mexico City premiere. All-in-all, a cool extra.
What are called Video Blogs are not really. These aren’t the actors or director carrying around a camera and shooting behind-the-scenes stuff on set at all. They are just very short, publicity clips focusing on Mendes talking story, tech and effects supervisors on shooting the cool car chase with a new Astin Martin and a Jag, an introduction of Monica Bellucci and Lea Seydoux’s characters, stunts, the music and creating a record-breaking explosion. All nice to watch but over quickly.

Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Wrapping Up

It is cool that Spectre introduces a well-known villain from the Ian Flemming novels and old Bond films and gets personal with Bond by creating connections from his childhood on through every villain we’ve seen cute blue eyes Daniel Craig face.

Bond with tech whiz QCourtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

We are back to a lot of crazy, larger-than-life action in a lot of countries and some very cool helicopter, plane and car stunts and chases. The story is kind of convoluted and hard to follow at times but it presents an emotional connection that really makes you want to “get” Christoph Waltz’s evil character for all he’s done to Bond in the past.

SPECTRE holds a meetingCourtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

The film runs really long and seems to need some tightening and, this Blu-ray, although it looks and sounds great, could have used a commentary by the director…don’t think Craig has ever done one.. Too bad. A funny Blooper/Gag reel would have helped as well. We will go 3 stars. If you collect Bond films at home or are a Daniel Craig fan, you will have to have it no matter what the rating.