Released: November 2012
Director: Sam Mendes
Rated PG-13
Run Time: 143 Minutes
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Cast:
Daniel Craig: James Bond
Javier Bardem: Silva
Judi Dench: M
Ralph Fiennes: Gareth Mallory
Naomi Harris: Eve
Ben Whishaw: Q
“The name’s Bond. James Bond.” This phrase has been used in every film in the James Bond franchise. All 23, soon to be 24, movies. It’s one of the most quoted one-liners to date. It’s the way Bond introduces himself, usually to women. What can I say about James Bond? That he’s suave, tough, and wise-cracking? That strikes me as fairly obvious. There have been, thus far, 6 actors who played the titular hero: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and most recently, Daniel Craig. With the Spectre of a new movie being released this weekend(see what I did there?), I figured it’s time to revisit Daniel Craig’s films before I go and see the new film. I’m going backwards here, starting with the 2012 release of Skyfall.
The film opens as James Bond is tracking down a mercenary who has stolen a hard drive that contains a list of all of MI6’s operatives in the field. If that list gets into the wrong hands, England’s intelligence department could suffer catastrophic damage. Chasing down the thief, first on a motorcycle, and then finally, a train, Bond catches up to the man and the two get into fist fight. Bond’s partner, Eve, is on a mountainside using a sniper rifle to try and target the bad guy, but ends up hitting Bond instead. Three months later, 007’s boss, M, is being summoned to a new intelligence officer, Gareth Mallory. On the way, we see a portion of MI6 get blown up in a terrorist attack. Seeing the attack on the news, James Bond resurfaces to track down the mysterious and lethal Silva, who has a personal vendetta against M. With any good James Bond flick, you’re going to have twists and turns and a hell of a lot of action. Skyfall is no exception here. The opening scene is one of the most fun and intense action sequences I’ve seen in a movie, and it ends unexpectedly. You would think that James Bond would be successful, but as with the previous two films, it’s not so simple with Daniel Craig’s Bond. His character is a human being that’s getting older and making mistakes. Personally, I think that makes for a more believable James Bond.
Sam Mendes’ direction is superb and it is no accident that he’s directing the next Bond picture, Spectre. Unlike the previous film, Quantum of Solace, Sam’s direction is coherent and very easy to follow, with the editing being spot on and smooth. The film is wonderfully shot, with the film being shot on location in England, Scotland, and Japan. Bond’s adventures take him all over the globe. Some of these locations are stunning. It also helps that Skyfall has a phenomenal cast and crew. Dame Judi Dench was first cast as M in 1995’s Goldeneye with Pierce Brosnan. It was brilliant casting, because while she couldn’t keep up with Bond physically, she more than made up for it with her intelligence and wit. It is no surprise that her version of M lasted 17 years. Ralph Fiennes is a great actor in his own right, and his portrayal of Gareth Mallory in this movie is spot on. He gives the character a bit of a hard edge that makes him somewhat unlikable when we first see him, but then he really begins to open up as a character. Ben Whishaw plays Q. Now, Q hasn’t been in the previous two films because they wanted to try and take the franchise in a much different direction. Having Q in this film and the next is kind of a nod to the James Bond movies of yore. Previous played by the late Desmond Llewelyn, Q is the go to guy for the gadgets, weapons and vehicles that make Bond…well, Bond. Whishaw is a very different kind of actor than Llewelyn. He takes his job seriously, but isn’t afraid to take jab at Bond a little bit, either. Eve is played by the lovely Naomi Harris. Unfortunately, she gets the short end of the stick here. I think she’ll make a great Moneypenny, but she really wasn’t given a whole lot to do, other than shoot James Bond.
Every great 007 movie has to have a memorable villain. Dr. No, Scaramanga, Ernst Stavro Blofelt, Goldfinger, Alec Travelyan, and Le Chiffre are among the best villains in the Bond franchise. These guys are great villains, because they’re not necessarily evil, they’re just greedy, except for Blofelt, who headed the notorious terrorist organization S.P.E.C.T.R.E. He’s an absolute scumbag, through and through. Javier Bardem’s Silva is another fantastic entry to this Rogue’s Gallery. Bardem gives Silva a very unique…flair. He’s a little flamboyant to be sure, but he’s incredibly intelligent, and is basically almost always two steps ahead of James Bond. When the film reveals who Silva really is or was, you understand why he’s so good at what he does. He’s also incredibly ruthless. Some of the best Bond moments are when Bond is having a conversation with the main villain. These can be great character moments when handled correctly. Javier Bardem is a fantastic actor, and he deserves recognition for his contribution to the art.
There was a great deal of controversy involved when Daniel Craig was cast as James Bond in Casino Royale. Why? Because he’s the first blonde Bond. I didn’t realize that hair was so important to making a great character. It’s not. What is important is whether or not Daniel Craig could deliver. Oh, he delivers in spades. He brings the right attitude, toughness and vulnerability to the character. Some of this stuff we’ve never actually seen from the character before. He makes mistakes, he gets injured, and he doesn’t always win. It helps give James Bond a reality that’s been missing from the franchise for years. Some people claim that he’s the best Bond yet, while others seem to think that he’s the worst. What do I think? I think you have to look at what each actor has brought to the character. Each actor has brought something new to the role. Personally, I think Timothy Dalton’s version doesn’t get enough praise, because his Bond was darker than any of the others. However, Daniel Craig is absolutely phenomenal as Bond. I’m not going to pick one actor over the other. Each done did a good job in his own way. In Skyfall, we get to learn a little more about Bond and where he comes from. The character is still shrouded in mystery, but I think that’s part of the appeal.
The women of the James Bond movies are extremely beautiful. That’s another appeal of Bond. He gets the best girls. That’s kind of where Skyfall drops the ball a little bit. You got Naomi Harris and another girl but that’s it. Harris isn’t used very well and the other girl just shows up and gets killed. It’s a kind of a nitpick, but there you go. The action in Skyfall is topnotch. The opening sequence was just the tip of the iceberg. We get some really fantastic action on Silva’s island, a chase in London’s train system and the final battle at Skyfall, Bond’s old home. It’s amazingly shot and very well-paced, so you are never bored from beginning to end. The writing is phenomenal, and the story is very engrossing. While it isn’t perfect, Skyfall is a great action movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. That’s exactly what the best Bond movies should do.
Is Skyfall the best Bond movie? No….but it’s up there. I still consider Diamonds Are Forever to be the best. But that’s MY opinion. Regardless, what Skyfall delivers is a great entry into the franchise, and has some of the best character and story moments I’ve seen in a James Bond picture. I’m absolutely looking forward to seeing Spectre. I’m very curious as to how Sam Mendes introduces this infamous organization and how Bond deals with it. I have high hopes. The James Bond franchise is showing no signs of slowing down, and while Daniel Craig’s turn as James Bond may soon be coming to an end, there’s no doubt that he brought something special to these movies. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Skyfall gets a 9.5/10. Highly recommended.