Skyfall

 



I am definitely a fan of the 007 movies and I have really enjoyed the re-imagining of the whole Bond character that started with Casino Royale and Daniel Craig taking over the iconic role from Pierce Brosnan. Skyfall is the third installment with Craig as Bond and it is one that I am glad to see that it made it to theaters because with money issues from the film company it was a definite possibility that it would never be made. The character of Bond being flawed and with the whole movie having the gritty feel that has become the popular trend because of the realistic feel to real life is prevalent once again and only gives us a better understanding of the Bond character. For me being a Bond fan everything within the movie felt like it should be there and personally the story is simply yet complex at the same time.

Daniel Craig reprises the role of Bod for the third time and he continues the progression and depth of Bond that he started in Casino Royale. Craig plays the flawed Bond to perfection and I have really liked the way that through his emotions that he has humanized Bond and with his story being more of an origin story it helps to show why in other movies that Bond has been the way he has. Javier Bardem in the role of Silva our villain is one of the best not only Bond villains, but best villains in an action movie. Bardem steals the movie as he is a cold and calculating villain and each scene he is in he really takes everything above and beyond what I expected going in. The chemistry between Craig and Bardem is nearly perfect, as they worked so well off one another. the play between the two of them is something that I have never seen in a Bond film. The supporting cast particularly Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw gave strong performances. I think the new Q was a great addition to the case as he plays the genius character so well and he has a few good back and forth moments on screen with Bond. The only character that I felt was a little forced was that of Naomie Harris in the role of Eve. I felt that she was kind of just there from time to time, and that the reveal with her while nice was very forced.

The action for Skyfall was exactly what I would expect in a Bond movie. The action starts right off and I loved the chase sequence that takes place right from the get go through the streets and even rooftops of Istanbul on motorcycles that culminates on a great fight sequence on top of a train. And even with the chaoticness of the train Bond is still able to have a classic Bond moment. The action is really fast paced throughout as it never seem to ever completely stop, yet the balance between the story/plot moving forward and the action sequences is perfectly melded together as nothing seems to be overtly placed over anything else. The action sequence for the climax of the movie had a great buildup to it and while it ended ever so slightly abrupt with the fight sequence it was still exactly well thought out. To go along with the action sequences, one of my favorite aspects that took place throughout the movie was the way they paid homage throughout the movie to the Bond movies of the past. While one of the biggest aspects of this I will not reveal because in my humble opinion it was the coolest tribute to the Bond franchise. But it was really great to see the old school style introduction for the opening credits along with the use of "James Bond Will return" at the very end of the movie.

The story for Skyfall to me is the Bond film I have been waiting for after the reinvention with casino Royale. With Sam Mendes directing, Skyfall is propelled by a strong narrative purpose, Mendes values story and character over anything else, and in the end I felt like he gets the feel of Bond. I loved that Mendes respects the Bond franchise but also breaks new ground with the treatment of the story. The story tells a moving and intelligent story with really strong scenes to accompany what was written. Written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan they had a great hand at balancing some humorous moments with dramatic ones without moving away from the story that was the heart of the film. Yet, the best part was they further enhanced the brilliance of delving into the vulnerability that Bond has and the way the audience gets to see a flawed heroic character. They have been able to take the same idea, but make the stakes higher and even more personal for Bond as our villain is former MI-6 who takes the fight not only directly at MI-6 but right at M and Bond as well. The soundtrack that Thomas Newman put together for Skyfall had a great pacing with it and I really enjoyed the parts of him taking the classic Bond theme in new and interesting ways and Adele's theme for the movie fit perfectly. The theme by Adele had that same old school Bond feel to it, which is something that has been missing in the past Bond films.

Skyfall is my favorite bond film that I have ever seen and really captured what I expect in a Bond film and it has really continued to step up the level of what I expect from future Bond movies. Daniel Craig is the embodiment of 007 and Javier Bardem as Silva is the perfect villain because he is in many ways the anti-Bond. I loved the action sequences and the train sequence is a perfect part of what makes a Bond film so entertaining. Sam Mendes direction was perfect and really controlled the pacing, story and action perfectly. While the movie is long it did not feel it was as long as it was. I am giving Skyfall four and a quarter buckets of popcorn out of five. Skyfall is a movie that is well worth seeing in the theaters and is one that movie buffs should make sure they see in the theater.

-The Movie Man