Skyfall finds MI6 with cracks in it's foundation. Old espionage training and tricks are fast becoming obsolete in a modern world. Even Bond finds himself victim of these policies, and discovers age is beginning to creep up on him. Although none of that is apparent in the intense nonstop opening sequence. Daniel Craig continues to raise the bar in the action department and has done so with a stylistic grittiness. I was so immediately caught up in this film that I quickly forgot what a disappointment Quantum of Solace was. You finally get a chance to catch your breath during an opening credit sequence that is reminiscent of the Connery era, enhanced by one of the better Bond songs I’ve heard in a while with Adele singing the title track that shares the same name as this film.
MI6 is the target in this film, often attacked publicly by one of the great problems we are facing in the modern world. As Great Britain has learned this year with the Royal Family, media and the Internet is a powerful tool in casting a negative or embarrassing light, and creates suspicion in the public and political mind. The source of the attacks is Silva, played by Javier Bardem. Bardem shines in this film, his performance is memorable, and easily ranks up there with the more iconic villains of this franchise. Many of the villains over the years have been undeveloped characters, and often cast just to put a face to “the bad guy”. That isn’t the case with Silva, and Bardem easily gives the most memorable (villain) performance I've seen since Sean Bean portrayal of 006 in Goldeneye.
Dame Judi Dench returns as Bond's boss M, a character who for the most part has been a behind the scenes role player. M's character is much more prominent In Skyfall, and even Dench has given a harder no nonsense performance in the 23rd installment of this franchise. It's serious business being the one who takes responsibility for all that goes on at MI6, especially in the middle of a controversy.
My only concern going into Skyfall was the addition of the fan beloved character Q, played for decades by the late Desmond Llewelyn. He’d been in the franchise so long he inherited a sort of friendly grandfather appeal in my opinion, which is always more difficult to replace as a result. In Skyfall, gone are the gadgets, but the humorous bantering between the Q and 007 has kept it grudge. Played by Ben Whishaw, Q's character is a little more important on an intelligence level in the fight behind the lines of battle. It's very different from the classic old inventor lecturing a younger in comparison Bond, but a needed departure to bring this character to modern times.
What's great for the longtime fans of this franchise are the tributes Skyfall makes to the Bond films of the past. Even better is it playfully pokes fun at some of the cheesier moments in 007 history, creating some nice comedic moments. These tributes are all done in a subtle approach that doesn't distract from the film. One thing I really enjoyed was that we learn a little more about Bond's background story. This has been available for years in Ian Fleming’s novels, but rarely touched on the screen. I wouldn't call it an origin story, but you learn a little more about the man behind the Walther PPK. Between this film, and the opening sequence of Casino Royal, we learn more about Bond's background than the first 20 films combined.
The controversy of the best Bond always falls in Connery's favor, but to me, Daniel Craig is the best representation of the spy in Fleming's novels. Before Craig took the roll, this franchise was beating a dead horse with the same tired formula. Nothing against Pierce Brosnen, he was the victim of some poor scripts, and some less memorable cheesy scenes which were a result of MGM trying to stay too true to past successes. This lead to a watered down of version of 007. In Skyfall, Craig continues to up his game with Bond. Since Quantum of Solace was a continuation/ sequel of Casino Royal, Skyfall has been Craig's first opportunity to pursue a new storyline as 007 and grow into the part since the reboot.
Skyfall marks the 50th anniversary of the James Bond franchise. 50 years! That is an achievement that has no rival in modern cinema. It's hard to think any will match the longevity of these films. With a grittier and more youthful approach, and the successful core strengths in tacked, Skyfall has really helped this series come full circle in achievement. It has a celebratory feel, and i think the 50th anniversary played a big role in the approach to this film. With this latest installment the platform has been set for another successful run with all the classic pieces in place. From this fan’s perspective, I hope they are for many years to come.
