The "Freeola Customer Forum" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
I had high expectations for Spy Game, mainly due to the fact that it was a Tony Scott film, director of Crimson Tide and Enemy of the State - both of which I enjoyed immensely – but whatever expectations I had before I saw Spy Game, were totally blown away by the time the end credits appeared.
The first thing I have to say is that it was nothing like what I expected. I really had no idea what the story line was before I walked into the cinema (apart from the fact that it pretty obviously had something to do with spies) but the way it was told surprised me. Similar to the Usual Suspects, the first scene happens in the present, as does the last, but the rest of the film is viewed in flashbacks. It was extremely effective, just as it was in The Usual Suspects.
Another thing which impressed me greatly was the music. Composed by Harry Gregson Williams, who incidentally also did the music for Enemy of the State (along with Trevor Rabin) and the upcoming already-smash-hit Metal Gear Solid 2 on PS2, it added a lot to a great many scenes. Toning down the sound effects and turning up the music as somebody turns and walks away from an exploding building, devastated, is always effective. Thinking about what the character must be feeling while some REALLY good music is playing makes the scene 10 times better.
This brings me to my next point. The acting. Brad Pitt was very good and because of this, it was much easier to feel what he was feeling (it was him walking away from the exploding building). Robert Redford though, was excellent. I’m not sure what it was that made him so good, but he was a joy to watch.
Then there were the numerous technical effects that were repeated throughout the film. The washed out colours in the Vietnam scenes for example, helped it seem sufficiently different from the scene in the present which preceeded it. It actually gave it an older feel, like it really did happen in the characters past. The use of black & white freeze-frames was very good too. The story was pretty much on a countdown and every now and then, the camera would freeze, turn to black & white (rather like a photograph) and the time would appear in the corner. Sounds basic but proves extremely effective.
All this, put together with a fabulous story and a great ending made this (for me anyway) one of the most enjoyable films of the year.
I seriously recommend this film to anyone. It’s definitely worth the price of a cinema ticket. Go on. You’ve just got time to squeeze it in before you see Lord of the Rings.
Another film I’ll be getting on DVD when it’s released. I’ll add it to the list.
Number 41: Spy Game :-D
The first thing I have to say is that it was nothing like what I expected. I really had no idea what the story line was before I walked into the cinema (apart from the fact that it pretty obviously had something to do with spies) but the way it was told surprised me. Similar to the Usual Suspects, the first scene happens in the present, as does the last, but the rest of the film is viewed in flashbacks. It was extremely effective, just as it was in The Usual Suspects.
Another thing which impressed me greatly was the music. Composed by Harry Gregson Williams, who incidentally also did the music for Enemy of the State (along with Trevor Rabin) and the upcoming already-smash-hit Metal Gear Solid 2 on PS2, it added a lot to a great many scenes. Toning down the sound effects and turning up the music as somebody turns and walks away from an exploding building, devastated, is always effective. Thinking about what the character must be feeling while some REALLY good music is playing makes the scene 10 times better.
This brings me to my next point. The acting. Brad Pitt was very good and because of this, it was much easier to feel what he was feeling (it was him walking away from the exploding building). Robert Redford though, was excellent. I’m not sure what it was that made him so good, but he was a joy to watch.
Then there were the numerous technical effects that were repeated throughout the film. The washed out colours in the Vietnam scenes for example, helped it seem sufficiently different from the scene in the present which preceeded it. It actually gave it an older feel, like it really did happen in the characters past. The use of black & white freeze-frames was very good too. The story was pretty much on a countdown and every now and then, the camera would freeze, turn to black & white (rather like a photograph) and the time would appear in the corner. Sounds basic but proves extremely effective.
All this, put together with a fabulous story and a great ending made this (for me anyway) one of the most enjoyable films of the year.
I seriously recommend this film to anyone. It’s definitely worth the price of a cinema ticket. Go on. You’ve just got time to squeeze it in before you see Lord of the Rings.
Another film I’ll be getting on DVD when it’s released. I’ll add it to the list.
Number 41: Spy Game :-D
Good good David. Go watch it.
But go see Lord of the Rings first.
I SHOULD (and I emphasise the SHOULD) be going to see it tomorrow but......
......it is unlikely i will even get a rear stalls seat. Getting tickets a few hours before the show for a film this anticipated is so unlikely I have trouble even saying it.
But I have hope. Hope. HOOOOOOPE!!!!
But go see Lord of the Rings first.
I SHOULD (and I emphasise the SHOULD) be going to see it tomorrow but......
......it is unlikely i will even get a rear stalls seat. Getting tickets a few hours before the show for a film this anticipated is so unlikely I have trouble even saying it.
But I have hope. Hope. HOOOOOOPE!!!!
Nice Post, I think I may have to watch this film........
I had high expectations for Spy Game, mainly due to the fact that it was a Tony Scott film, director of Crimson Tide and Enemy of the State - both of which I enjoyed immensely – but whatever expectations I had before I saw Spy Game, were totally blown away by the time the end credits appeared.
The first thing I have to say is that it was nothing like what I expected. I really had no idea what the story line was before I walked into the cinema (apart from the fact that it pretty obviously had something to do with spies) but the way it was told surprised me. Similar to the Usual Suspects, the first scene happens in the present, as does the last, but the rest of the film is viewed in flashbacks. It was extremely effective, just as it was in The Usual Suspects.
Another thing which impressed me greatly was the music. Composed by Harry Gregson Williams, who incidentally also did the music for Enemy of the State (along with Trevor Rabin) and the upcoming already-smash-hit Metal Gear Solid 2 on PS2, it added a lot to a great many scenes. Toning down the sound effects and turning up the music as somebody turns and walks away from an exploding building, devastated, is always effective. Thinking about what the character must be feeling while some REALLY good music is playing makes the scene 10 times better.
This brings me to my next point. The acting. Brad Pitt was very good and because of this, it was much easier to feel what he was feeling (it was him walking away from the exploding building). Robert Redford though, was excellent. I’m not sure what it was that made him so good, but he was a joy to watch.
Then there were the numerous technical effects that were repeated throughout the film. The washed out colours in the Vietnam scenes for example, helped it seem sufficiently different from the scene in the present which preceeded it. It actually gave it an older feel, like it really did happen in the characters past. The use of black & white freeze-frames was very good too. The story was pretty much on a countdown and every now and then, the camera would freeze, turn to black & white (rather like a photograph) and the time would appear in the corner. Sounds basic but proves extremely effective.
All this, put together with a fabulous story and a great ending made this (for me anyway) one of the most enjoyable films of the year.
I seriously recommend this film to anyone. It’s definitely worth the price of a cinema ticket. Go on. You’ve just got time to squeeze it in before you see Lord of the Rings.
Another film I’ll be getting on DVD when it’s released. I’ll add it to the list.
Number 41: Spy Game :-D
The first thing I have to say is that it was nothing like what I expected. I really had no idea what the story line was before I walked into the cinema (apart from the fact that it pretty obviously had something to do with spies) but the way it was told surprised me. Similar to the Usual Suspects, the first scene happens in the present, as does the last, but the rest of the film is viewed in flashbacks. It was extremely effective, just as it was in The Usual Suspects.
Another thing which impressed me greatly was the music. Composed by Harry Gregson Williams, who incidentally also did the music for Enemy of the State (along with Trevor Rabin) and the upcoming already-smash-hit Metal Gear Solid 2 on PS2, it added a lot to a great many scenes. Toning down the sound effects and turning up the music as somebody turns and walks away from an exploding building, devastated, is always effective. Thinking about what the character must be feeling while some REALLY good music is playing makes the scene 10 times better.
This brings me to my next point. The acting. Brad Pitt was very good and because of this, it was much easier to feel what he was feeling (it was him walking away from the exploding building). Robert Redford though, was excellent. I’m not sure what it was that made him so good, but he was a joy to watch.
Then there were the numerous technical effects that were repeated throughout the film. The washed out colours in the Vietnam scenes for example, helped it seem sufficiently different from the scene in the present which preceeded it. It actually gave it an older feel, like it really did happen in the characters past. The use of black & white freeze-frames was very good too. The story was pretty much on a countdown and every now and then, the camera would freeze, turn to black & white (rather like a photograph) and the time would appear in the corner. Sounds basic but proves extremely effective.
All this, put together with a fabulous story and a great ending made this (for me anyway) one of the most enjoyable films of the year.
I seriously recommend this film to anyone. It’s definitely worth the price of a cinema ticket. Go on. You’ve just got time to squeeze it in before you see Lord of the Rings.
Another film I’ll be getting on DVD when it’s released. I’ll add it to the list.
Number 41: Spy Game :-D