The Bond films have always been a difficult target to hit; one moment the audience wants something campy with impossible gadgets, the other, they want blood. It's a difficult balance to strike, but in Skyfall they have found not a balance, but a rebirth.
Resurrection was pushed as the theme of the film; Bond left and rebuilt himself, an old ally rears up as a powerful enemy, there is painful loss and new beginnings, but none of it was heavy-handed. Throughout the plot threads you didn't even realise were there are picked up and spun into view, woven together neatly until the last stand, quite symbolically, at Bond's childhood home.
I have always been impressed with Daniel Craig's interpretation of Bond, harking back to the gritty darkness of Timothy Dalton; for me, there's no point having double-oh status if you're going to rely on fancy gadgets and flying cars - you've got to be prepared to give, and on occasion take, a beating. This is why Craig makes Bond so striking. He doesn't rely on good looks and cheesy lines, rather showing charisma and style though his behaviour. He is a Bond you can imagine chatting you up as easily as he could break someone's nose. The only scene in the whole film that struck a little off for me - and it probably is just me, but still - is when Bond meets up with the clearly frightened and trapped Sévérine on a boat, sauntering up behind her in the shower like it's no big deal. It bothered me because she was not a sultry seductress, there was no flirting between her and Bond that wasn't backed by fear, and to sleep with her in that situation didn't really fit for me.
The introduction of the new Q was refreshing - the quirky old man we had all become used to under Pierce Brosnan's campy reign replaced by a young yet quietly confident genius. Apparently it was Craig who insisted on Q's return, and I think it was a wise decision. Q is a cornerstone of the Bondverse, and it fitted, once again, with the theme of ressurection. He was not the only character to be rought back - Miss Moneypenny makes a welcome return, as does the ever pristine Aston Martin DB5 (with original licence plate).
Overall, this film was a triumph, from the cast to the plot there was something to entertain both newcomers and die-hard Bond fans.
Watch again: as part of a Bond marathon
Favourite cast member: Javier Bardem, whose performance was hugely unsettling
Favourite moment: Silva trying (and failing) to make Bond blush... or possibly Silva's speech to M
Least favourite moment: the Sévérine shower scene
Bechdel test: sadly not passed, despite some very strong female characters, but I guess the film is all about Bond
I have always been impressed with Daniel Craig's interpretation of Bond, harking back to the gritty darkness of Timothy Dalton; for me, there's no point having double-oh status if you're going to rely on fancy gadgets and flying cars - you've got to be prepared to give, and on occasion take, a beating. This is why Craig makes Bond so striking. He doesn't rely on good looks and cheesy lines, rather showing charisma and style though his behaviour. He is a Bond you can imagine chatting you up as easily as he could break someone's nose. The only scene in the whole film that struck a little off for me - and it probably is just me, but still - is when Bond meets up with the clearly frightened and trapped Sévérine on a boat, sauntering up behind her in the shower like it's no big deal. It bothered me because she was not a sultry seductress, there was no flirting between her and Bond that wasn't backed by fear, and to sleep with her in that situation didn't really fit for me.
The introduction of the new Q was refreshing - the quirky old man we had all become used to under Pierce Brosnan's campy reign replaced by a young yet quietly confident genius. Apparently it was Craig who insisted on Q's return, and I think it was a wise decision. Q is a cornerstone of the Bondverse, and it fitted, once again, with the theme of ressurection. He was not the only character to be rought back - Miss Moneypenny makes a welcome return, as does the ever pristine Aston Martin DB5 (with original licence plate).
Overall, this film was a triumph, from the cast to the plot there was something to entertain both newcomers and die-hard Bond fans.
Watch again: as part of a Bond marathon
Favourite cast member: Javier Bardem, whose performance was hugely unsettling
Favourite moment: Silva trying (and failing) to make Bond blush... or possibly Silva's speech to M
Least favourite moment: the Sévérine shower scene
Bechdel test: sadly not passed, despite some very strong female characters, but I guess the film is all about Bond
