Skyfall

It isn’t often we are treated to a Bond film. Oh wait, yes it is. It happens all the time. With stunning regularity. Probably the longest running movie series (Anyone know what number Land Before Time is at?) Bond is a movie staple that refuses to die. The only character who is okay to replace actors with; Giving filmmakers the chance to revive a character that should have gone stale long ago. Director Sam Mendes has taken the old martini Bond formula and given it a good shaking, resulting in the best Bond in years.

                

A little caveat for this entire review: I HATED both Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Oh look, Bond is playing cards. He’s still playing cards. He just had a heart attack! Good thing the only gadget they gave him besides a smartphone was a defibrillator in his car. More cards. Testicle rope smacking. The end. That’s my synopsis of Casino Royale. I don’t even remember Quantum of Solace because I’m pretty sure I fell asleep. The bad guy was a wuss and the editing was a stunning homage to Transporter 3.

                

So I was a little wary heading into Skyfall. Even after seeing all the rave reviews. But it was all for naught because it’s a great film. It starts with a thrilling chase through Istanbul and a classic train fight. Unfortunately Bond gets shot by another agent and falls off the train seemingly to his death. But of course not. He kind of just ditches the whole spy thing and lives on a tropical island doing his thing. He comes back when an unknown terrorist blows up MI6 headquarters in order to stick it to M (Judi Dench).

                

Despite being an obviously broken man who isn’t as quick as he used to be, M sends out Bond to find out who blew up her office and who stole a data file containing all British secret agents embedded in terrorist organizations around the globe. The terrorist in question is former MI6 operative with questionable sexual tendencies and a bone to pick with M named Silva, played absolutely wonderfully by Javier Bardem.

                

In general this film feels more like a Bond film than the other two films helmed by Craig. We finally have a Q, all though his gadgetry is lacking. The Aston Martin makes an appearance, there’s thrilling set pieces, Moneypenny is finally brought in and finally we have a bad guy who can put up a fight.

               

But what sets Skyfall apart is the deeper themes running through it. We have Bond, reeling from a gunshot wound and semi-betrayal trying to perform at his peak. We have the constant tension of two agents (Bond and Silva) bound by their inability to ever give up, constantly trying to put the other off their guards. And finally we have a deep Oedipus Rex theme running through both Bond and Silvia’s relationship to M. Silva, being left for dead and disfigured because of M’s choices and Bond because, well, essentially the same thing. Just not as horrifying. Considering they both call her mom, this one could be explored pretty deeply. “Mommy’s been very bad.”

                

It’s also incredibly artistic, which I entirely credit to Sam Mendes. One of the most beautiful fight scenes is set in almost pitch black darkness with occasional gun fires. The whole time the audience is wondering which is Bond and which is his enemy. It was beautiful and done in one incredibly choreographed shot.

                

There are some things I take some issue with. Bond was clearly, and I mean CLEARLY, shot twice in the intro. But they only mention or show the one hole in his body. And he cuts out the bullet, weeks or even months later, BY HIMSELF with a combat knife. But realism isn’t really Bond’s thing. Q gives him two gadgets (if they can be called that) a gun that only shoots when Bond’s holding it, and a radio transmitter. Wow Q, going over the top. Bond lets that one girl die pretty easily, and the whole third act, while being a well shot awesome scene, is basically just Home Alone 4. Didn’t anyone think to call for backup at any time? No? All right, this just became Rambo.

                

The film rises above all that though. It is most certainly a ‘Bond’ film, with deeper plots and one of the greatest Bond villains of all time. The addition of Ralph Fiennes is also a wonderful change and I am hopeful for the next two in the series that Craig has signed on for, before he gets way too old and they need to find a new actor. I hope they change things up and give us a black Bond next time.

3 out of 4 stars

-Christopher O’Connell