Bond at 50: Skyfall Review

 And so it came to pass, 50 years of Bond, and the 23rd official James Bond film of the franchise was released. I came in expecting a film that would compliment the franchise greatly, as well as being an improvement on the disappointing Quantum of Solace. This was exactly what I got.
 As with all Bond films, the prologue had to be action packed, and set the tone for the rest of the film. Skyfall certainly produced action as Bond (Daniel Craig) and his colleague (Naomi Harris) embarked on a chase through the streets of Istanbul. It was exhilarating and the jolt in the arm the film needed, in order to engage the audience immediately. The climax of the prologue, meandered into the opening title sequence beautifully. Whilst I didn't care much for Adele's theme song to the film, I was especially impressed by the opening title sequence of the film. It was poetic and somehow poignant and appropriate for the film we were about to watch. It certainly ranks up there with the best of the Bond title sequences.

 The film itself was dark, brooding and everything we've come to expect from Craig's "grittier" Bond, but there was still the heart and essence in the film that has made the franchise so popular. As this was an anniversary Bond, there was also of course some wonderful references to past Bond films particularly The Man With The Golden Gun. There was a particular scene that literally mirrored the scene from Scaramanga's fun house. Of course a lot of the references were wonderfully subtle, mixed with the blindingly obvious (such as the silver DB5, and Bond giving some confidential papers "For her Eyes Only").
 Technically the film was sound. Sam Mendes helmed the picture, and upon his announcement there were a few eyebrows raised. Mendes thankfully overcame any doubts over his ability to make an action film, by directing a very fundamentally Bond film, but as well as adding his own touches of emotional input that helped form the Bond universe, and indeed Bond himself (afterall the Craig films have thus far been set at the very beginning of the James Bond story). The acting talent on show is also the film's biggest strenght. With names such as Albert Finney, Ralph Fiennes, Rory Kinnear as well as the steadfast Judy Dench, the film was always going to be in safe hands. But added to that Berenice Marlohe and Naomi Harris, who were both well suited to their roles, especially Harris, who seemed in my opinion to be a perfect fit. Then there was Javier Bardem as main villain Silva, a former agent who felt betrayed by MI6 and is carrying out his vengeance. Whilst obviously not quite the powerhouse performance that earned him the Oscar in No Country For Old Men; Bardem gets the role right, with his usual show of bravura mixed in with his natural tempered charisma. It was also interesting to see that the character was bisexual (probably by Mendes hand), which made his scenes with Craig, even more riveting to watch.
                                                           

*SPOILERS WITHIN
 As for the story, it was a well written affair full of all the betrayal, violence and emotion that have made Bond so entertaining. With light touches of humour that have meant the films still have that element of fantasy, that makes them still enjoyable. The film was pretty much what I expected in terms of it's place in the franchise. I expected this film to be set immediately before Dr. No, and in terms of the cast I expected Ralph Fiennes to be the new M and Naomi Harris to become Moneypenny. It was also as the film panned out that I expected M (Dench) to die, but unfortunately, possibly due to classifying the film as a 12, the writers weren't brave enough to let Silva (Bardem) kill her, which I think would have been brave and a fitting end to the film. However it must be said, I would have been very disappointed if the film hadn't have panned out as I'd anticipated. It was wonderful the way the film ended in an evolution of the beginning of Dr. No. Though it was a bit too much watching the DB5 get massacred, but at least I know it'll be back in time for Goldfinger. I think the next Daniel Craig film will be set a lot further into the future, and Craig will hopefully portray a far more relaxed and wiser Bond.

 The film on whole was very enjoyable, and a noticeable improvement on Quantum of Solace, however it was still not as good as Casino Royale, which had the rawness and the audacity to reignite the franchise, in a way that was appropriate and didn't take liberties. I think Skyfall, will be a fondly remembered Bond, but it doesn't quite have that edge or indeed uniqueness that sets it apart from the others, and amongst the best.