What’s it about?
James Bond’s (Daniel Craig) loyalty to M (Judi Dench) is tested when a blast from her past bites her on the ass. Then, when MI6 is attacked by a cyber terrorist, things get all meta and Bond’s old-school secret service hand-to-hand combat is pitted against a high-tech, gadget-savvy villain (Javier Bardem).
What did we think?
Ben says: Bond and his frost-faced boss, M, are facing their most formidable threat, and no, it’s not Bardem’s unambiguously camp supervillain. No, it’s the risk of obsolescence – onscreen as well as off. Yet, with the pall of death bookending the 23rd film in the franchise – from the haunting Adele-crooned title sequence and opening plot gambit, to the most un-Bondlike maudlin final reel – there’s life yet in the spy and his series, both proving craggily endurable. By Skyfall’s climax, Craig’s 007 seems more dutiful son than lethal gallivanter this time, but plentiful winks to trademark tropes (my word, is that an exploding pen in your pocket?) will reassure viewers the Bond mix is only being stirred, not shaken.
Liz says: This starts like a typical action-packed Bond flick before veering sharply into a kind of emotional territory and character development that we’re not used to seeing with 007. For the most part, this works and it’s a thoroughly enjoyable ride. I would have liked to have seen a little more glitz and glamour for which Bond is famous, but there is a grittier feel to Skyfall, which is definitely intriguing.
Let’s face it, after the eternal bore that was Quantum of Solace, and with MGM being a victim of the financial crisis, the world was waiting to see if this franchise had breathed its last breath. After Skyfall, I think it’s safe to say that Bond is well and truly alive and kicking. Skyfall is much better than the average Bond, but not as good as its best.
This felt like watching a Dark Knight Batman movie. I’m not complaining.