TODAY'S NUGGET: Spectre (2015) - When in Need of High Flying Action, Walk on a Wall

[Quick Summary: A message from the past sends Bond after an organization called SPECTRE, which has ties to his past.]

I've been reading Bond scripts because I want to figure out why some turn into good films and some do not.* 

For me, Spectre was very confusing, and somewhat boring.  

I think was because the story itself lacked ingenuity, despite a beautiful looking script. Going into Bond's past makes sense, but it wasn't enough.

(That must have been a terrible frustration to the creative team.  After all, what is still unexplored after 23 films of over-the-top adventures?)

I will cite my favorite scene below.  It combines the characteristic of the character (cleverly resourceful at getting to the rooftop) and high flying action that fans love.

INT. HOTEL ROOM - LATE DAY

...With her back to Bond, Estrella takes a sip of her drink, crawls onto the bed, and turns to see him opening the window:

ESTRELLA: But...where are you going?

BOND: To check out the view.

And we follow him OUT OF THE WINDOW.

EXT. HOTEL/ROOFTOP - LATE DAY

Dangerously high up, he jumps...

Lands on a rooftop.

He keeps low, walking coolly along the very edge of the roof, the street clearly visible below...In the distance we can see the crowded square. The drums more distant now...

He reaches his destination, and stops. Looks across the way at some apartments. Day of the Dead FLOATS and STILT-WALKERS passing between...Now he ducks behind a low wall on the rooftop.

Takes out his Walther PPK, and an additional piece of equipment. Clips the piece onto the hand grip of the gun with a satisfying clunk. Inserts the earpiece.

Bond now tests his gear - raises the gun, points it down into the crowd.

We wee a faint laser beam emanating from beneath the barrel.

A laser microphone.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I really liked how clever Bond was getting to the rooftop because it actively required him to utilize his skills, and was not merely coincidence.

Spectre (2015)(shooting script, 10/17/14)
by John Logan, Neal Purvis & Robert Wade

*So far, this is my running list of things I've learned about Bond scripts:

1) Though they may borrow something from the novels or short stories, there is no formula.  The writers essentially start from scratch, which is tough to replicate.

2) These films are intrinsically weird, outlandish, fanciful, and/or outrageous, but they have an internal logic that fans seem to like in varying degrees.

3) The films often follow (but not always) the scripts.  Even when they follow the script, it does not guarantee a good film.

4) Some scripts are horrible to read, but turn out good films. Other scripts are beautiful on the page, but turn out bad films.