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Spectre

20 November 2015English2h 28mPart 25 of the James Bond series
out of 10
Mixedlukewarm or divided
Monk Score · 18 scored reviews · 7 not rated

Craig and slick action carry a Bond that drags through its own middle.

Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: Sleek action and Craig's presence
  • Criticised: Overlong, meandering middle act

Audience

User score 5.4 out of 10 from 8 ratings, Unfavorable
Read 3 audience reviews ↓

Not streaming in India

Critic consensus

What 22 critics are saying

Critical reception for Spectre skews mixed-to-moderate, with most reviewers acknowledging it as a competent, watchable Bond entry while stopping short of genuine enthusiasm. Several critics praised the film's technical craft, sleek action sequences, and Daniel Craig's presence as the franchise's connective tissue across his run. The most consistent criticism centers on a sagging, overlong middle act and a sense of franchise fatigue — reviewers repeatedly noted the film covers familiar ground without the urgency of Casino Royale or Skyfall. A weak villain despite Christoph Waltz's casting, and a sluggish title track, drew additional pointed criticism.

How the 18 scores spread

7 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 22 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (25)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    IBNLive

    Film review ·

    Like a satisfying masala Bollywood film, Spectre is strictly escapist fun. Nothing wrong with that. It's just that you know what they could've pulled off had they tried harder.
  2. Top critic

    Rediff

    Film review ·

    At 148 minutes, I'm not certain Spectre is the longest Bond film of all time, but -- and here's the rub -- it certainly feels like it, and it doesn't help that Mendes exhausts his bag of tricks very early on. The pre-credits scene, the banter with M, the Aston sequence, the villain's reveal, the Monica Bellucci cameo... all those marvellous switches are flicked on in rapid succession, leaving barely anything for the tedious last hour of the film.
  3. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review ·

    This dreary, and thanks to the Censor chief, sex-less film has Daniel Craig's solemn Bond shooting up the world during a confusingly circuitous route towards the 'SPECTRE'. That, Bond fans know, stands for Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion, a global terrorist organisation encompassing almost all Bond villains.
  4. Top critic

    Firstpost

    Film review ·

    Since Mendes already dealt with humanizing Bond in Skyfall, this time the filmmaker gives us the Bond from the Roger Moore era. Which means everything that was ludicrous and over the top in Bond movies makes a grand return in Spectre.
  5. Deccan Chronicle

    Film review ·

    While not perfect, SPECTRE on the whole is better than the sum of its parts and is a marvellous addition to the franchise. If, as rumoured, this indeed proves to be Daniel Craig's swansong, he could not have asked for a better farewell.
  6. Hindustan Times

    Film review ·

    There is speculation that Craig may holster his Walther pistol following this quintessential-if-unduly-lengthy outing. No matter, for aficionados will still wait with bated breath for Bond No 25. Bring it on. Soon.
  7. Bollywood Hungama

    Film review ·

    SPECTRE that maintains the essence of Bond film with enough doses of gadgets, car chases, stunts, wine and women, could have featured a better title track, since Sam Smith's 'Writing's On The Wall' appears to be rather sluggish when compared to other Bond films. However SPECTRE that in essence features the return of Bond is definitely worth a watch.
  8. Mumbai Mirror

    Film review ·

    If you're a Bond fanboy, you wouldn't care for a verdict. But even if you're not, this one is a must-watch.
  9. SKJBollywoodNews

    Film review ·

    Spectre manages to keep our attention on red-alert most of the way, in spite of a subtle subdued storytelling , a background score(Thomas Newman) that refuses to over-punctuate the drama and action, cinematography (Hoyte Van Hoytema) that peers at the most exotic countries with intriguing serenity, and an arch-villain (Christoph Waltz) who has a shared family history of resentment towards Bond but is unable to draw into the drama.
  10. Fully Hyderabad

    Film review ·

    ... you can enjoy Spectre for the same reasons you generally enjoy Bond films - the sleek action, the amazing lead, the cheeky humour, the music, the gadgetry and the Bond girls. Oh wait, the kisses got censored (with awful jump cuts, mind you). Now that's one thing that'll ruin our toddy tapper's visceral experience.
  11. DNA India

    Film review ·

    It's a Bond entertainer starring Daniel Craig. Most of you are going to like it. For me, it was a rather safe, been there, done that outing. Suffice it to say, it started well, but kinda lost steam in the middle. Overall, I was neither stirred, nor shaken.
  12. Hindustan Times

    Film review ·

    For those who are going to compare it to Skyfall, this simply isn't as good. There is neither the emotional connect nor the sweet melancholy that inhabited the last film, but it is a joyous ride nonetheless. And for what he made out of Bond, we owe this to Daniel Craig as he dons the tux for the very last time. You also owe it to the teenager inside you who loves the whirl of excitement the way only Bond can give - shaken not stirred.
  13. India Today

    Film review ·

    Spectre has at its core a James Bond. Despite all its flaws, the film is better than a lot of your average fare. The story is easy to figure out and the grey matter is sung a lullaby to, but Spectre is to be savoured. The 25th James Bond is a few years away. That should prod one to make a trip to the theatre.
  14. Mid-Day

    Film review ·

    The film, in effect, appears over plotted and a little too long-drawn with a flagging middle act and a neatly executed conclusion. This Bond is akin to an ageing Romeo striving to engage in young-man games...and falling flat just a little too often to be exciting!
  15. Zee News

    Film review ·

    ... is a dazzling film, but it lacks the lustre and adrenaline rush of a 007 film from the bygone Cold War Era. The chutzpah and the aura are missing.
  16. Deccan Chronicle

    Film review ·

    With so much going for it, we're pretty willing to overlook the weak moments in SPECTRE — of which there are quite a few.
  17. CatchNews

    Film review ·

    Spectre is a 007 film that charts no new ground. Pay to view it at your own risk. PS: The opening credits are hilarious, with implied tentacle porn. Enjoy.
  18. KoiMoi

    Film review ·

    Spectre promises nothing from start and hence doesn't deliver anything either. It is neither shaken nor stirred to get you tipsy! I suggest you catch up on an old Bond film rather than suffer through this.
  19. Deccan Herald

    Film review ·

    Spectre has style and Craig, but lacks lustre and adrenaline — the trademark of a Bond movie. If you can digest the meandering screenplay and some flaws, you can still have fun.

From our readers

Audience reviews (3)

8 ratings · user score 5.4

  1. 5/10

    It's been quite a while since I have reviewed a Hollywood movie & what better than one which belongs to the James Bond series, undoubtedly the most famous franchise of all time. The latest to arise from the Bond stable is "Spectre" helmed by Sam Mendes with Daniel Craig reprising the famed protagonist for the fourth time. So the question is whether the movie could live upto expectations after all performing better than its predecessor is never an easy task. The film unfolds in Mexico at the danse macabre where Bond (Daniel Craig) is in hot pursuit of a group on the posthumous orders of the previous M (Judi Dench). Bond eliminates the group & attains a ring from one of the assassins whose insignia reveals that they were members of the terror organisation "Spectre". At the same time in London, the present M (Ralph Fiennes) is having his hands full as C/Max Denigh (Andrew Scott), the head of the Joint Intelligence Service had almost drawn curtains on the "00" program in favour of the "Nine Eyes" a global surveillance & intelligence initiative of nine nations. Though suspended by M, Bond decides to dig up further info on Spectre & manages to infiltrate one of their meetings where he learns that it is being led by Franz Oberhauser (Christpher Waltz), who was believed to be dead. The mission gets all the more personal as Bond & Franz had their pasts intertwined which meant both of them had a measure of each other. So can Bond emerge triumphant yet again & if so, at what cost ??? About 3 years have passed since "Skyfall" had released which was brilliant to say the least & so it was always going to be a gargantuan task for Sam Mendes right from the onset to produce something similar to that. Well the fact is "Spectre" fails to live upto its predecessor inspite of a credible script on offer. The problem is its too long and dreary at times that it takes a toll on the audience that we struggle to suppress our yawns. However, the action sequences were awesome as always (though it was too less) which was brilliantly picturised by Hoytema. As for other technicalities, Thomas Newman's music didnt quite have the punch while the rest were top notch. Daniel Craig was brilliant as Bond as he excelled in the action sequences but the romantic scenes which are integral to any Bond movie seemed forced and lacked passion. The Bond girl tag belonged to Lea Seydoux this time around & she didnt seem an apt choice at all as she shared no chemistry with Craig. Ralph Fiennes, Naomi Harris as Moneypenny & Ben Whishaw as Q have all done utmost justice to their roles. However, Christopher Waltz barely evoked terror that the character required while Monica Belucci barely got a chance to shake her booty. Verdict: Well it's a Bond movie, so it's naturally going to garner mind boggling collections; but will it challenge "Skyfall's" collections...hmm, I dont expect it to. From my point of view, it's definitely one of the blandest Bond movies to have released in recent times. In short, you can give it a try if you are a 007 fan or else, wont hurt to give it a miss!!! Rating: 2.5/5 Regards...Ben

  2. Tejas NairAug 2018
    5/10

    Other than the usual Bond embellishments (thanks only to Q this time), there is nothing clever or fresh in Sam Mendes's Spectre unless you consider a poker-faced, lethargic Daniel Craig, a predictable and cheesy narrative made to look like convoluted, or a surprisingly unconvincing Cristoph Waltz who was born to a play a Bond villain anything even remotely good for human consumption. TN.

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