Review of 'Skyfall'
23rd film in the 'James Bond' series
After the let down of Quantum of Solace I was hoping that this movie would return James Bond to the glory of old. It certainly has!
Quantum seemed to put the focus on action and less on character. In Skyfall we, thankfully, get both.
Skyfall starts with a spectacular chase through Istanbul as Bond (Daniel Craig) attempts to retrieve a hard drive containing a list of secret agents. He is shot by friendly fire and is presumed dead after a spectacular fall from a moving train. An attack centered on M's (Judi Dench) office in the London MI6 headquarters brings Bond back from his recovery in a warmer climate…Eventually the trail leads to a former MI6 agent determined to reap revenge from the agency that spurned him. Things get personal, for both M and Bond culminating in a spectacular shoot out.
This is a very personal Bond though Craig still shows little emotion though what little emotion he shows is here in this installment. There are lots of lingering shots of Craig standing and pondering things which shows to the artistic nature of Sam Mendes. There is also a lot of humour throughout which was woefully missing in previous Craig installments. Several set pieces are amazing - particularly the tube train crash (though that being present in the trailers means it will not come as a bit surprise to most viewers). We are also swept from one corner of the world to the other…Shanghai, London, Scotland, Macao, Istanbul…Keeping the story fresh and moving quickly.
This is Bond back to the way it should be - Fun, spectacular and yet human. Go and see it, and see it in a proper cinema!
Without giving anything away, the ending takes the franchise into new, yet, old, directions (see the movie and you will know what I mean). Where the story goes from here will be interesting to find out. I will be there to see.
Rating: “I have absolutely no complaints”
Review Date: 2012-10-31
Directed by: Sam Mendes
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Year: 2012
Length: 143 minutes
Genre: Action/Adventure
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/
Other reviewed films in the 'James Bond' series:
- Dr. No (1962)
- Thunderball (1965)
- Die Another Day (2002)
- Casino Royale (2006)
- Quantum of Solace (2008)
- Spectre (2015)