Finally. A Daniel Craig/James Bond film I really loved! Skyfall is the best of at least the
first three Bond films Craig has been in (I haven’t watched Spectre yet). Skyfall is rated PG-13 for intense violent sequences throughout,
some sexuality, language and smoking. It was released in 2012, and won two
Academy Awards: Best Original Song written by Adele and Paul Epworth, and Best
Sound Editing. Skyfall is the opening
song sung by Adele.
I felt like I was back in a classic Bond film, with the
technology and cinematography updated a bit of course, but with a solid story
this time. I can’t find fault really with any of it. There is an opening chase
scene, but it is not obnoxious. Another agent, Eve (Naomie Harris), takes aim
at the man she and Bond are chasing, and the bullet strikes Bond instead. Bond
takes a plunge into the river and is presumed dead.
Meanwhile, a terrorist attack inexplicably targets MI6
Headquarters in London. M (Judi Dench) seems to be the main target for whoever
is trying to destroy her and her staff.
Bond resurfaces, just in time to hunt for the terrorist who knows far
too much about MI6, and is thus suspected to be a former operative. Arriving on
the scene is Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), Chairman of the Intelligence and
Security Committee, who questions how M is handling the hunt for the terrorist
group.
During the film, we are introduced to Q (Ben Wishaw) the
purveyor of fancy cars and hidden weapons to Bond. We also meet other
characters who are classic to the story of British intelligence. See for
yourself. We see iconic trademarks of the Bond story sprinkled in amongst the
action, details that were welcome and made me smile. If you are a James Bond
fan and have seen previous films through the years, you will pick up on and be
delighted by these tidbits. There’s a bit of humor throughout, a convincing back-story,
and excellent direction by Sam Mendes.
The cinematography is stellar, and the locations grand. Just
what a good spy story should provide. We go to Shanghai and Macau with Bond in
pursuit of Patrice (Ola Rapace) hoping to get information about the terrorist
he works for.
A villain needs to have an eccentric personality, yet not be
so demented that we can’t relate to him. Silva (Javier Bardem) is that villain,
a good foil for Bond, and a very worthy opponent. Bardem was relatively fresh
off his Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actor for the 2007 film No Country for Old Men when Skyfall was filmed. The role of Silva was
superbly cast, and I can’t imagine watching anyone but Bardem play the very
threatening and crazy villain. He and Bond play off each other very well, and
it makes the whole film work.
Have you seen Skyfall?
What did you think of it? Next time, my review of the final (to date) Daniel
Craig Bond film, Spectre.
