'Skyfall' - Bond turns 50 in style with the best Bond yet!
Bond in back with a vengeance in the 50th anniversary 'Skyfall' and he has never looked better! Daniel Craig has finally bought us the best Bond yet (not quite eclipsing Sean Connery, but awfully close), a Bond that is starting to feel his age yet is too stubborn to give up the life. This time around, he comes back from the dead to protect 'M' (Judi Dench) from the rouge agent Silva (Javier Bardem, one of the best Bond villians in some time).
Director Sam Mendes approach is simple yet elegant, no quick cutting, hand held, vomit inducing shots here. Just simple, well framed and well executed sequences that are a marvel to behold. Do yourself a favor and enjoy this film in IMAX; Roger Deakins cinematography is lush and vibrant, filling the screen with intense colors as well as very cool shadows. The Bond franchise has never looked so good.
Gone here are the over the top gadgets that have bloated the franchise for the last few films; also gone is the overly complicated plots of world domination. Instead, it is back to basics and the old school revenge plot. Bardem's Silva is equally parts creepy and equal parts genius as the rouge agent once left for dead by 'M', now returned to enact his revenge. In what surely may be another Oscar nod for this fine performer, he along with Craig have been able to breathe new life into a tired franchise that was on it's last leg.
Tightly paced, entertaining and one heck of a ride, this latest installment of the Bond franchise gives me hope for a richer future. Playing Bond to his age, not quite over the hill, but feeling a little road worn, was a perfect move. Just as Sean Connery reenergized an aging Bond with 'Never Say Never Again' - Craig has done this and more with 'Skyfall'. Giving us some much needed back story on Bond while introducing the next generation of characters, including the return of Moneypenny!
Anyone who has questioned the necessity for the Bond franchise need not any longer. It is back with a triumph and as long as they continue the solid story telling with near perfect directors, the Bond franchise will continue to live happily on for several more iterations. Get out to your local IMAX theater soon to catch this 4 star triumph!