I’m not going to sugar-coat this:
Daniel Craig may be more than capable as James Bond, but 2008’s Quantum of Solace sucked; the Bond film series is one of the most
successful and revered properties in Hollywood, but as the 23rd
entry in the franchise, Skyfall had
something to prove. Plot details
concerning the newest Bond film were
shrouded in mystery throughout the film’s lengthy production cycle, but once
promotions started hitting, Columbia Pictures and MGM went into overdrive
building buzz for this highly-anticipated release. Whether it involved promotional partnerships
with Heineken, Sony, VisitBritain, and Omega watches, you couldn’t turn a
corner in the weeks leading up to release without being reminded that the 50th
Anniversary of Bond would be celebrated with a kick-ass return to glory. Early reviews declared that Skyfall not only represented one of the
best James Bond movies ever, but also
stood as a ridiculously-strong action film in its own right that could generate
Oscar Buzz. Skyfall was slaughtering the international box office, and as a fan
of all things MI6-related, I couldn’t wait to see Daniel Craig solidify his
place as the legendary superspy.
Returning James Bond to his former
glory and paying tribute to longtime fans of the franchise, Skyfall represents a stylish and entertaining
spy adventure that is anchored by deep acting, gorgeous cinematography, and
adrenaline-filled action sequences.
Daniel Craig brings an undeniably sense of humanity to the James Bond
character, while Judi Dench is always charming as M, but the real standout
performance comes from Javier Bardem. As
the eccentric and thoroughly unnerving Bond villain, Bardem owns every second
of his screen time, bringing to life the kind of antagonist you may find
frightening, but one that you cannot help but love hating. My one criticism stems from the fact that it
did take the narrative some time to build momentum, but if you stick-it-out
through the lull, you will be rewarded.
Bring to the equation some trademarked Bond humor, visits to exotic
locations, an introduction to an entirely new take on fan-favorite Q, and an
awesome Adele theme song, and Skyfall
easily represents a crowning achievement for MGM that lifelong fans will
adore.
Overall Recommendation: Very High
