SKYFALL (2012)
I am a huge fan of Bond.
Now, I know, that there are bond fans, and Bond haters, and then the many in between that have one film in the franchise -here and there- that they dug. I dig them all. From the old school kool of Dr. No, and Goldfinger (and yes From Russia With Love), to Roger Moore's stint in a super gadget, action packed, playboy friendly Bond of the late 70s, and early 80s. To my Fav bond Pierce Brosnan, and my still all time fav - Goldeneye. Of course, that is open for debate. That is the beauty of Bond, everyone has a favorite Bond, a favorite movie, and the true fans well have a full list of awesome points for why there bond is the best.
For example a step father trying to convince his child that Moonraker is the best. Oh, those parents...
When Daniel Craig stepped in as Bond for the newest incarnation of the character for Casino Royale, I was a little worried. He didn't really feel like bond to me. But, hey what do I know, it was a dam good flick... even with the one of the worst lines ever "If all that was left of you was your pinky, you'd still be more man than any man I know" Ya. That line happen. It's no "You're breaking my heart Anakin, you're breaking my heart" but its reeeeeeeally close. So here we are, a few years later, and his third Bond film, and I have to say, this is the closest they have come in a long time to capturing the old school feel.
A cool, calculating Bond. Merciless, and reactive. With - Finally - some killer Characters around him (getting time to properly develop).
So Bond is on a mission, he dies. Then, turns out he actually just decided to peace out to an island to drink shots of whiskey with scorpions on his hand. Which entertains the locals it seems. Then someone blows up MI-6 and it seems they have it out for 'M'. So Bond straps his secret agent boots on, and gets back in it. He meets a hot lady, who takes him to see the master mind, a super cool Javier Bardem as Silva. Then, a lot of fireworks, and some wicked fun chatty moments.
This film works on a lot of levels as a Bond film. First, the opening song by Adele, rocks. Title sequence is very, very, good. Made me feel all kinds of classic. Having a story that focuses a little more on M, and even a few personal tidbits of Bond, was a great idea. Oh, and finally, in this Bond era, we have a charismatic villain. Every inch the evil cool, that bond is good... or less evil... or evil on the side of good. However you wanna look at it. The action is on par with some of the best of the series, but, and I can't believe I'm saying this in a Bond film, the enormous amount of plot actually works very well. We see pieces, of what was intended to be a trilogy early on coming through here... a little roughly considering the middle film, but it still gets it done.
I mean, I do have my problems with this Bond... Daniel's... for one, he is way more James Bourne, than Bond. Dark, and violent, and occasionally abandoning the charm that made the original incarnation so magnetizing. The women, who were always involved as villains, or heroes, are now little more than candy to tempt Bond's would be human side (and have an annoying habit of dying horribly, what the heck is up with that?). And the gadgets have gone the way of the Dodo. That is just kaka.
But, I guess, purist aside, this is the Bond the world wants... as the box office seems to suggest... from coast to coast. The darker, slicker, Bond, is here to stay. Even after Danny C's impending departure. Well, they have set the ground rules here... I just hope they find room for a few subtle additions.
There are a few moments in here... That will seriously make your Bond love smile. Trust me. If you have been watching Bond for years... You will have moments... the kind you have missed. To the rest, its more explosive fun.
Great acting. Writing. Sets. Pretty. And that backlit fight rocks!
Movie scale 4 out of 5 stars
Bond scale 4 out of 5 stars
Boonsweet, Charles Boonsweet... 0068... ha! Thats right. I resisted the urge to go where you all thought I was... Shame on you. :)
- till next.
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