FRACKIN' EPIC SUCCESS! Congrats to Sam Mendes, Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and John Logan for giving us one of the best Bond films of all time!
Yes, I'm still gushing over it. I was hoping that the two days of space would give me time to be able to plant my feet in reality and give a decent, fair handed review. But, I'm still crushing over it like a silly school girl.
Before I venture forth into the world of espionage and techno terrorism, I should warn all of you folks who have dilly dallied and not gone to see the film yet, that my review will have SPOLIERS, since it is damned impossible to not go over this movie and not let some cat out of some sort of bag. So....
SPOILERS AHEAD! READ ON AT YOUR OWN RISK!
S K Y F A L L
We we're all under the impression that we'd already seen the "reboot" of the James Bond series in Daniel Criag's first outing as Ian Fleming's super, British spy when Casino Royale hit movie theaters. After seeing Skyfall, I realized that the reboot was just starting with Casino and that Skyfall is the actual finale of the reboot which becomes very apparent by the end of the film.
This film is what Quantum of Solace should have been. Or at least Quantum should have been every bit as powerful of a story as Skyfall is. But, it wasn't and although Quantum is a darn fine Bond film, it is no match for Skyfall and proves its weaknesses a little more harshly if viewed along side Skyfall.
The storyine of Skyfall is simple enough. M and Bond lose a disk drive that contains the actual names and covers of all of the NATO agents that have infiltrated terrorist organizations. The disk gets into the hands of a former MI6 agent, Silva, that had worked for MI6, under M, and has a major bone to grind with her. He has become a techno terrorist of supreme power and not only starts to release the identities of the NATO agents on YouTube (of all places), but also seeks revenge on M and creates major destruction for MI6. Bond, who has fallen off the map for a while, must get his act together and confront and stop Silva. Seems basic enough, but there's a hell of a lot more to the story.
When I say Skyfall is epic, I'm not just using trendy jargon. It clocks in at over two hours and never feels like that time has taken place. You'll walk out of the theater looking at your watch saying to yourself, "Is it really that late?" Perhaps that has to do with the fact the you'll be riveted to the screen during the entire duration of the film. The storyline will pull you in and never quite let go. Never has a Bond movie ever been quite so personal and important to both Bond's history as well as his future. Major events play out in this film that alters the Bond story as we have recently known it, while also solidifying where Bond is going in the future. It does so in a way that is both jarring and comforting. And that is one of the reasons that this film succeeds so well!
There are plenty of the usual Bond trappings that are honored here. The action sequences are the kind of "seat of your pants" fare that Bond fans come to expect. But, these scenes carry a little more grit your teeth and hold on for dear life weight to them than I have seen in recent films. The opening motorcycle / train chase through Istanbul is a nail bitter, for sure. There is also a beautifully shot, brutal fight sequence in a Shanghai sky scraper that is presented in silhouette against the animated city lights that is incredible and also creates more nail biting. And the grand finale, battle royale that takes place at the movie's namesake is as explosive as any other Bond movies' grand finale ever was. You'll be left with fleshy, bloody stumps for nails once you're done with this film.
Bond travels to exotic and down right creepy locales around the world to catch up to Silva. The Bond women are beautiful and independent. Well, one of them is independent. The other is..... I'll leave that for you to find out.
Since it is the 50th anniversary of the Bond series, there are a lot of subtle nods, winks and shoulder pokes to past Bond films. One welcome set piece is the introduction of Bond's Astin Martin that got a round of applause in the theater when it first appeared on screen where I saw it.
The gadgets are back in more subtle and not too out of this world ways as in past movies. Q is back as well. He's no longer an elder gentleman, but a young lad with very proficient computer and techno skills. There's also one more welcome character that........ well. Another treat I'll leave for you guys. Tee Hee. (No! It's Not Tee Hee from Live and Let Die. Tee Hee as in wicked giggle.)
Lets try and barrel through my assessment of the actors and characters they play as I see that this post is already getting pretty winded. (MORE SPOILERS AHEAD!)
James Bond (Daniel Craig) - Bond is a broken individual in this chapter and he needs to regain his footing and rediscover his bond with M, his superior, to be able tocome out triumphant. Arguably possibly the best Bond of all time, Craig dishes out the most dramatic Bond yet. He even gets in a few good quips that have been somewhat lacking in the past two films. Excellent job and I'm very pleased he's signed on to do two more Bond films.
Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) - THE best Bond villain of all time, easily! People will be comparing Bardem's Silva to Heath Ledger's Joker (The Dark Night) for years to come. A complete and twisted mastermind that is hell bent on revenge and has no qualms with killing innocent people. There is one scene with Silva where he exposes the physical damage that he incurred while under M's leadership that is the single most disturbing and creepy moment in any of the James Bond movies EVER! You will have nightmares! You'll also see just how bat-shite-crazy Silva is in the last moments of the film. Complete, wonderful nutter!
M (Dame Judy Dench) - Having played Bond's superior at MI6 since 1995's GoldenEye, Dench has become the best M ever. Here she pulls off her most involved M roll since the series began. She is a delight to watch whether she is chastising Bond or fighting along side him (Yep, that happens) she is a treat.
Q (Ben Whishaw) - It has been a while since we've seen a Q (MI6's Quartermaster) in a 007 movie. And it is a welcome reunion. Whishaw portrays his Q with an overconfidence that is strong, yet not annoying. Him and Bond size each other up in a wonderful way and find a mutual respect for each other that I hope will carry on through future Bond films. I think Wishaw will be a fine fit for Q in future Bond adventures.
Eve (Naomie Harris) - Initially introduced as a fellow MI6 field agent who teams up with Bond in the opening Istanbul sequence, we immediately see that her kick-assery is a testament to the modern "Bond Girl". Maybe not the best shot, but one hell of a driver. By the end of the film you'll see there is more to her character in relation to the Bond legend. I've kept my eye on Naomie since I first saw her in one of my favorite zombie / plague movies, 28 Days Later and then as the mysteriously beautiful (yet in need of some serious dentistry) Tia Dalma in the Pirates of the Caribbean films. She is a very welcome addition to the Bond film(s). I think I have a new favorite Bond girl. Sorry Famke.
Severine (Berenice Marlohe) - Marlohe puts a bit of wickedness and tragedy into this character. I wish she had more screen time and played a lager role as she is one of the most visually stunning Bond Girls I've seen, yet is not just a pretty face.
Chairman Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes) - At first you'll find Mallory a bit of a prickly sort as he puts both M and Bond to task when they lose the important drive. But, in the end you'll feel he just might be a good standing character who could contribute quite a lot to MI6 and the James Bond legend. Heck, he even gets in on the gun play action. Old Voldermort has big shoes to fill.
Did I have any qualms with the film? Not much at all. Though, I liked the score, but didn't love it as I usually do with the Bond Films. There were choice moments when the traditional Bond theme was infused in the music, but there were other times where I felt the music didn't feel like a Bond film at all. At those times I was taken out of the Bond mythos and felt it could be any other movie. If that even counts as a qualm, I guess that would be the only one.
This was no problem for me since I found myself riveted to the film from start to finish, but those with less of a tolerance may feel the movie is a bit long. Any true James Bond fan will feel that the story that is being told needs an epic timeframe to let the tale settle nicely.
I know this is taking up a lot of time, but I'd be seriously remise if I didn't mention the wonderful work of cinematographer Roger Deakins. He has filmed one of the most beautiful Bond movies in history. The visuals and colors he's captured are beyond anything I've ever seen in Bond films. If you're a lover of film, you'll loose you mind over what Mr. Deakins has gifted us with. Bravo, sir!
Final thoughts? I know that this is probably one of the best Bond films of all time as it is one of my favorites and I'll have to mull over in what order they fall into. Top three? Most definitely!
SPOILER!
It is most certainly the most dramatic Bond film ever! There are things that happen in this film that are catastrophic to the Bond legend that will blow a Bond fan's mind clear into the sky. Ten minutes before the end of this film my mouth was agape at a single moment that had just transpired before my eyeholes that left me speechless. I had heard rumors, but didn't actually think it was going to happen. It did.
But, by the very end of the movie I was assured everything was going to be ok, like a small child being tucked into bed after having a nightmare. The last scene of this film will take hard core Bond fans to a wonderful warm little place that we call..... home. Trust me. All the stars are in alignment, we are in familiar territory and we are left basking in the warmth of our mother's bosom. We really, really are home!
The film leaves us wanting to dive immediately into the next James Bond adventure, hoping that it will not be another four year wait. I do worry about how the next Bond film will top or even equal the magic that Skyfall is. Now they all have their work cut out for them.
GO SEE THIS FILM NOW AND STAY VERTICAL!!!!
