Skyfall (2012)
Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Wishaw.
Director: Sam Mendes
Bond.................James Bond.
We've been hearing those words for 50 years now. Can you believe it? I grew up with James Bond because my father was a huge fan. I remember a very tattered copy of Ian Flemings "Diamonds are Forever" on my Dad's bedside table all the time. It was yellow with age, and very dog eared from many a read.
We've been hearing those words for 50 years now. Can you believe it? I grew up with James Bond because my father was a huge fan. I remember a very tattered copy of Ian Flemings "Diamonds are Forever" on my Dad's bedside table all the time. It was yellow with age, and very dog eared from many a read.
Our favourite Bond was always Sean Connery. He was tall, sexy, cheeky and to die for. Even I could see the appeal at a young age. While I still enjoyed the franchise after Connery had moved on, things started changing with the times. I could understand the need for some things to be modernised and for technology to finally play a larger role in the biggest action franchise Hollywood had ever seen, but in the later years, especially with Pierce Brosnan and more recently Daniel Craig, the movies seemed to be more about how much product placement they could fit into two hours.
With Skyfall, the 23rd in the series, Hollywood it seems, has seen sense.
While watching the opening credits, I questioned whether this was the first time they had used the actor in the title credits rather than just the silhouette of what we should assume was Bond. Daniel Craig grapples with scantily clad women, suggestive shadows and bullets flying all around. Adeles beautiful song just fits. There is no other way to describe it.
The story here is simple, but powerful. M, played once again by Dame Judi Dench, is shown to be ruthless and cold at the beginning of the film. But one is left wondering if it's because she has lost so many under her command, or whether it is part of her tough exterior as a woman in a mans role. We are also introduced to Gareth Mallory, (Ralph Fiennes), who has been brought in to investigate the loss of yet another agent and to force M to retire.
After a chase through the streets of Istanbul, Shanghai and Macau, Bond eventually comes face to face with an entirely new bad guy, one who knows MI6 intimately, and has the skills to topple them in the blink of an eye. Mr Silver, a maniacal performance from Javier Bardem (What is with the bad hair on this guy in every single movie he's in?!) has to be one of the creepiest Bond villains I have ever seen. The scene where he's feeling up Bond just made me cringe.
The scenery and visuals in this film are stunning. Amazing locations, including the breathtaking Glencoe in Scotland where we visited last year, and fantastic performances from all the cast make this a Bond not to miss. And while I'll always been a Connery girl at heart, Daniel Craigs piercing blue eyes are just something to be seen.
This is Bond gone back to basics. No Tag Hauer watches, no Nokia phones, just good old fashioned guns and sex.
In a word.................brilliant.
With Skyfall, the 23rd in the series, Hollywood it seems, has seen sense.
While watching the opening credits, I questioned whether this was the first time they had used the actor in the title credits rather than just the silhouette of what we should assume was Bond. Daniel Craig grapples with scantily clad women, suggestive shadows and bullets flying all around. Adeles beautiful song just fits. There is no other way to describe it.
The story here is simple, but powerful. M, played once again by Dame Judi Dench, is shown to be ruthless and cold at the beginning of the film. But one is left wondering if it's because she has lost so many under her command, or whether it is part of her tough exterior as a woman in a mans role. We are also introduced to Gareth Mallory, (Ralph Fiennes), who has been brought in to investigate the loss of yet another agent and to force M to retire.
After a chase through the streets of Istanbul, Shanghai and Macau, Bond eventually comes face to face with an entirely new bad guy, one who knows MI6 intimately, and has the skills to topple them in the blink of an eye. Mr Silver, a maniacal performance from Javier Bardem (What is with the bad hair on this guy in every single movie he's in?!) has to be one of the creepiest Bond villains I have ever seen. The scene where he's feeling up Bond just made me cringe.
The scenery and visuals in this film are stunning. Amazing locations, including the breathtaking Glencoe in Scotland where we visited last year, and fantastic performances from all the cast make this a Bond not to miss. And while I'll always been a Connery girl at heart, Daniel Craigs piercing blue eyes are just something to be seen.
This is Bond gone back to basics. No Tag Hauer watches, no Nokia phones, just good old fashioned guns and sex.
In a word.................brilliant.
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