Rating of
3.5/4
Skyfall review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 11/27/12
To fully review a film such as this one has to appreciate the franchise, it's intricacies and the leads who played Bond. Typical for a Bond flick would be the gorgeous locations, spiffy gadgets, gorgeous ladies, typical one-lines, humor, well choreographed action and story about catching spies, leadership of M, innovative Q and the charming Moneypenny. In this picture, James Bond, agent 007 (Daniel Craig) is shot based on the order of M (Judi Dench), the head of MI6. Raoul Silva (born Tiago Rodriguez played by Javier Bardem) hunts down the person responsible for imprisoning him in exchange for 6 agents.
The good aspects of the film would be the appropriate character developments, surprisingly revealing more about this version's Bond and M's guilt from her work. Having Javier Berdem is a definite plus and unintentionally out-stages the protagonist in terms of acting. Finally we get a suitable rival and for for 007 and we finally get to learn more about the remarkable agent's history. You get a more humane Bond despite his flaws, he makes-up for with grit and heart, unlike pure charm and skill like the previous Bonds. Soundtrack was old school keeping it similar to earlier Bond films. The action and stunts were just fresh and relentless from the get-go, including more explosions fit for the action genre. Screenplay was definitely better while the humor apt and not coy compared to previous installments. Best lines: M - " Though much is taken, much abides, and though we are not now that strength which in old days, moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." James Bond - "Youth is not a guarantee of innovation." and Silva - " Do you see what comes of all this running around, Mr. Bond? All this jumping and fighting, it's exhausting! Relax. You need to relax." Now for the not so bad points of the picture, we start with the awkward and rushed relationship with Sévérine (Bérénice Lim Marlohe), which evidently doesn't belong in the category of one of the best Bond girls. Plot swayed and tried to connect the dots which prolonged the film instead of making them as a whole. You have less gadgets, which Q seems to emphasize when they he first encountered 007.
Overall, despite its minor flaws (length, flighty subplots and a lackluster romantic angle) Skyfall manages to entertain in terms of film, the lead character and franchise. The brilliant director even manages to keep the options open in the conclusion, though it was sad to see Dench ending her ride here, it was definitely worth it. I'm sure she and other Bond fanatics would agree, this was a fitting end for her character. This critic can see a better future for Daniel Craig (unless he quits or just lightens up with the acting, he may have a chance to be one of the best Bonds), Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), Q (Ben Whishaw), and Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) since the talented director has brought back "the basic essentials" of what a Bond movie should be. Clearly one of the best Bond film created, though the test of time would prove if it could be in the league of Goldfinger and From Russia with Love, even safe to say the dark/serious action packed Casino Royale.
