Skyfall Review: "Were You Expecting An Exploding Pen?"

The new James Bond film Skyfall takes the franchise and the character back to his roots both literally and cinematically to celebrate his 50th anniversary on the big screen in fine fashion. It's an unforgettable ride that will make you cheer whether you are a Bond fan or not.

The film's pre-title sequence opens with agents James Bond (Daniel Craig) and Eve (Naomie Harris) on a mission in Turkey to recover a computer hard drive stolen from a murdered MI6 agent that contains details of almost all undercover NATO agents in terrorist organisations. Bond and Eve chase the killer, mercenary Patrice (Ola Rapace), and attempt to recover the data. During the chase, Bond is shot in the shoulder. While fighting Patrice, Bond is accidentally shot by Eve and is later considered "missing, presumed killed".

The great main tittle song sung by Adele is enhanced further by Daniel Kleinman's sweeping credit roll that would make original Bond title designer Maurice Binder very proud indeed

The action then picks up in London with the head of MI6, M (Judi Dench), under political pressure to retire during a meeting with the Intelligence and Security Committee Chairman, Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes). On route from the meeting, MI6 is hacked and an explosion rocks the offices, killing a number of MI6 employees; the service relocates to its emergency offices underground.

Bond---Meanwhile having used his "death" to retire, learns of the attack and returns to London. Shrapnel taken from his earlier shoulder wound helps identify Patrice, and Bond tracks the mercenary to Shanghai.

Soon, three NATO agents are killed after their identities are exposed, and further deaths are promised. The investigation eventually leads to Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) a former MI6 agent who worked  for M, Silva holds her responsible for his torture and imprisonment by the Chinese and is out for revenge

Director Sam Mendes and writers John Logan Neal Purvis & Robert Wade put Bond through his paces in this film as never before. Craig is up to the task--playing 007 at his most human. We see him get shot--out of breath--vulnerable. There's a few times in the film where you wonder if our hero will make it out alive...and that truly adds to the excitement of the film. The action is heightened yes but Mendes stages things in a very real way--which has been the hallmark of Craig's tenure in the role--but has not always been realized as effectively as it is in Skyfall.

I have always loved the way Dench has played M--but this film affords her a generous amount of screen time as events test her nearly at every turn. Bond's loyalty to her is tested and she too is presented with flaws since she is left to deal with consequences of past actions...M is Skyfall's true Bond "Girl"

In what could easily have been a scenery chewing exercise in over the top villainy, instead, Bardem plays Silva smart. Walking a fine line and knowing when to pull back--rather than tipping over. An example--The interrogation scene between Bond and Silva is both playful and menacing. Bardem and Craig have great chemistry together.

The strikingly beautiful Bérénice Marlohe as one of Silva's underlings allows for Bond's Misogynistic side to return--albeit tempered. Marlohe's Sévérine is able to play it cool while at the same time---just beneath the surface---she's tortured and conflicted. As agent Eve Harris has some fun with Craig a kind of flirty back and forth--some nice character moments.

Skyfall sees the return of many franchise staples that until now have been missing from the Craig era like the character of gadget guru Q (Ben Whishaw) He is of course much younger here than in previous films but like Bardem, has great chemistry with Craig as the seeds of their "adversarial" working relationship are planted. As the series moves forward I see the characters having some great on screen moments together--much the same way I enjoyed the late great Desmond Llewelyn in the role opposite the various Bonds until his death in '99.

The cinematography by Roger Deakins is absolutely stunning with great shots and landscapes peppered  the entire way but in particular the Shanghai sequences. The opening action set piece is also a joy to behold.

The film takes a few very minor missteps Just before the final confrontation we see a montage of Bond hold up getting ready--as I was reminded Home Alone-style. Hokey if you ask me. It's also here that editor Stuart Baird--and Mendes could have tightened it up a bit  And how, after only three films as Bond, are we already getting jokes about his age?

Skyfall is an awesome film that makes one forget the clunker that was Quantum of Solace. If you are a fan there's plenty of nice touches and nods throughout. A hell of a way to celebrate 50 years on screen.