For the Daniel Craig run of the James Bond franchise, I am actually of two minds: There’s a part of me that feels there is something really cool about seeing a more realistic Bond, a move in continuance with the trend started in the superhero genre, thanks in part to people like Christopher Nolan for his interpretation of Batman. But there’s also a part of me that feels that the last two Bond movies felt a little hollow. With director Sam Mendes taking to the franchise after a four-year hiatus, the Bond film takes on a darker tone with Skyfall, the latest installment.
After being presumed dead, James Bond resurfaces when a cyber-terrorist decides to blow up MI-6 headquarters, discovering the terrorist to be someone who knows all of their secrets. To save them, Bond must confront his own secrets and demons first before he can stop those who wish to destroy M and the rest of MI-6.
The movie is visually stunning, containing the best opening sequence for a Bond movie I’ve seen (as well as one of the best Bond songs, “Skyfall” by Adele). This is the first Bond film for me that actually pulled off fear as a theme, constantly “upping the ante” for our favorite hero in a fashion that didn’t seem too far-fetched (as many have claimed prior Bond films to be campy). The film even has one or two moments in which it actually scares you.
The best part of the movie is perhaps the most obvious: the film’s antagonist Raoul Silva. Played by Javier Bardem, Silva really stands out in this film, adding touches of humor, intimacy and creepiness not really seen in other Bond villains.
In addition to the above, what is also enjoyed is a question in the film that functions as a theme: “Where does James Bond and the British Secret Service lie in a world of technological dependence?” James Bond is, after all, a character who is 50 years old, and very much a product of the spy novel’s heyday. The film asks “Can this iconic character withstand the tests of time?”, ultimately giving you an answer that will leave you . . . wait for it . . .
Shaken. Not stirred.
