Saw Skyfall today.
Apart from some ridiculous behaviour from rude little kids, which I will rant about in another post, here's what I thought.
An amazing film. Probably the best Bond film ever, and I am an aficionado of both the novels and the films.
Very real and adult, it breaks all the Bond film rules and yet feels more Bond like than most of the other movies in the franchise. No real Bond girl in this film, indeed it can be said that M herself is the Bond Girl. The villain isn't interested in global domination or terrorism, merely revenge. Whilst there is some location work the heart of the film is set in London. Yet everything weaves together to make an epic Bond experience, esp if you love the novels or Craig's portrayal.
There is a real feeling of entropy and weariness in this film and yet instead of providing a swansong for the current franchise it ends up re-energised and is a great starting point, more so than the brilliant Casino Royale which was meant to re-invent the franchise. Quantum of Solace was a disaster, mostly due to the execrable direction that made it look like an MTV video rather than a grown up movie, and a limp villain.
This film rights the wrongs of QoS and together with Casino Royale make for an amazing story.
Daniel Craig is excellent. Everything that Fleming envisioned ( and I'm totally over the blond hair thing now) . He is cold yet loyal, tired yet resolute, charming yet broken.
Javier Bardem excels as the villain. He is frightening, unhinged, calculating and ruthless. From his superb opening monologue he catapults himself into the top tier of Bond villains. He plays the bisexual nature of the role with integrity, playing on Bond's inherent homophobia nicely. Plus he destroys the vintage DB5 so I hate him!
The history of the franchise is on display with the DB5, Moneypenny, Q, Wather PPK and Male M in the leather and oak lined office, yet this film feels fresh.
Brilliantly directed by Sam Mendes this manages to be an end and a beginning, an origin story and a clean sheet all in one pulse pounding, riveting and classy film.
Apart from some ridiculous behaviour from rude little kids, which I will rant about in another post, here's what I thought.
An amazing film. Probably the best Bond film ever, and I am an aficionado of both the novels and the films.
Very real and adult, it breaks all the Bond film rules and yet feels more Bond like than most of the other movies in the franchise. No real Bond girl in this film, indeed it can be said that M herself is the Bond Girl. The villain isn't interested in global domination or terrorism, merely revenge. Whilst there is some location work the heart of the film is set in London. Yet everything weaves together to make an epic Bond experience, esp if you love the novels or Craig's portrayal.
There is a real feeling of entropy and weariness in this film and yet instead of providing a swansong for the current franchise it ends up re-energised and is a great starting point, more so than the brilliant Casino Royale which was meant to re-invent the franchise. Quantum of Solace was a disaster, mostly due to the execrable direction that made it look like an MTV video rather than a grown up movie, and a limp villain.
This film rights the wrongs of QoS and together with Casino Royale make for an amazing story.
Daniel Craig is excellent. Everything that Fleming envisioned ( and I'm totally over the blond hair thing now) . He is cold yet loyal, tired yet resolute, charming yet broken.
Javier Bardem excels as the villain. He is frightening, unhinged, calculating and ruthless. From his superb opening monologue he catapults himself into the top tier of Bond villains. He plays the bisexual nature of the role with integrity, playing on Bond's inherent homophobia nicely. Plus he destroys the vintage DB5 so I hate him!
The history of the franchise is on display with the DB5, Moneypenny, Q, Wather PPK and Male M in the leather and oak lined office, yet this film feels fresh.
Brilliantly directed by Sam Mendes this manages to be an end and a beginning, an origin story and a clean sheet all in one pulse pounding, riveting and classy film.