(Apologies for the delay guys! I wrote this weeks ago but somehow managed to forget to post it...)
The latest in the James Bond franchise has given everyone something to talk and buzz about. In a world where the fifth star is a stingily rewarded acclaim, we have a film which is making newspapers, magazines and film sites be littered with them. And in a world where action heroes and spies are cropping up at the cinema all the time, we have the slickest and coolest of the bunch. (I'm not just being biased because I still remember that Casino Royale scene.) No topless sea-strolling moments this time round, but there's an awful lot to make up for it! Filled to the brim with jaw-dropping stunts, wholesome acting, a backbone of emotion and a Bond perspective that feels fresh and new, and then some... Enter: Skyfall.
I finally got round to seeing Skyfall last night, and despite the film having been out for two weeks, the cinema was still absolutely packed. Even the very front seats, which demonstrates very clearly how a film can be described as a "must-see". As in, you must see it - even if it means you're in the front row craning your neck upwards for it all. I went in with high expectations, thanks to all the rave reviews out and about everywhere, and I'm happy to say that it did not disappoint in the slightest.
One of the ways I define what makes a "good" film is one which has a substantial running length, but where I don't actually notice time passing. And this criteria works too: The Dark Knight (and Rises), Inception, Lord of the Rings and now 2 hour 23 minute Skyfall. In fact, in the closing scene, I still thought there might possibly be more to come. I'll tell you why: you're transported to a setting which feels noticably more realistic than a lot of action blockbusters these days - so much so that you become fully a part of it; the transitions from scene to scene are flawless and unnoticeable; it's fast-paced but you can keep up. All of this takes you into a Bond experience, not simply a Bond movie.
Without ruining too much, Skyfall sees the MI6 under attack and Daniel Craig being the key to saving it. Kind of like the typical "spy saves the world" plot but we knew that already. But there's more.
Let's talk acting and characters. First off, Daniel Craig is effortlessly suave in a way only Bond men should be. We see a new, vulnerable side to a man more than "guns and girls", a glimpse into his childhood, actual Bond weaknesses, and a relationship with a woman who has not been placed on-screen purely to fulfil the role of Eye Candy. I'm talking about Dame Judi Dench's M. You will undoubtedly have heard that her role is central to the plot, more-so than any of her previous Bond films and I've even heard Oscar talk about it all. Basically it's a very good combination - then you throw in gadgetmaster Q (who weirdly reminds me of Gareth Malone) in the mix and the Bad Guy.
Let's talk the Bad Guy of this Bond film - played by Javier Bardem, the blonde suited man with the sinister smile who is seemingly invincible, he is simply good at being bad. There's a backstory to it too, and he didn't just wake up one day and decide to become evil. He's out for revenge, and for me it just reminded me of a "good villain", almost reminiscent to Heath Ledger's Joker of The Dark Knight. (Some have also commented on the, ahem, tension between himself and Bond so that's for you to decide.)
Everything else..action sequences, script, special effects and music (kudos to Adele) met the high standards of all the top-grossing films of the year. It exceeds expectations and leaves you excited for the next instalment; after all, it took MGM and co. long enough since Quantum of Solace to deliver this one. I think though, after you watch it, you will agree that it was worth the wait.
Bev x
I finally got round to seeing Skyfall last night, and despite the film having been out for two weeks, the cinema was still absolutely packed. Even the very front seats, which demonstrates very clearly how a film can be described as a "must-see". As in, you must see it - even if it means you're in the front row craning your neck upwards for it all. I went in with high expectations, thanks to all the rave reviews out and about everywhere, and I'm happy to say that it did not disappoint in the slightest.
One of the ways I define what makes a "good" film is one which has a substantial running length, but where I don't actually notice time passing. And this criteria works too: The Dark Knight (and Rises), Inception, Lord of the Rings and now 2 hour 23 minute Skyfall. In fact, in the closing scene, I still thought there might possibly be more to come. I'll tell you why: you're transported to a setting which feels noticably more realistic than a lot of action blockbusters these days - so much so that you become fully a part of it; the transitions from scene to scene are flawless and unnoticeable; it's fast-paced but you can keep up. All of this takes you into a Bond experience, not simply a Bond movie.
Without ruining too much, Skyfall sees the MI6 under attack and Daniel Craig being the key to saving it. Kind of like the typical "spy saves the world" plot but we knew that already. But there's more.
Let's talk acting and characters. First off, Daniel Craig is effortlessly suave in a way only Bond men should be. We see a new, vulnerable side to a man more than "guns and girls", a glimpse into his childhood, actual Bond weaknesses, and a relationship with a woman who has not been placed on-screen purely to fulfil the role of Eye Candy. I'm talking about Dame Judi Dench's M. You will undoubtedly have heard that her role is central to the plot, more-so than any of her previous Bond films and I've even heard Oscar talk about it all. Basically it's a very good combination - then you throw in gadgetmaster Q (who weirdly reminds me of Gareth Malone) in the mix and the Bad Guy.
Let's talk the Bad Guy of this Bond film - played by Javier Bardem, the blonde suited man with the sinister smile who is seemingly invincible, he is simply good at being bad. There's a backstory to it too, and he didn't just wake up one day and decide to become evil. He's out for revenge, and for me it just reminded me of a "good villain", almost reminiscent to Heath Ledger's Joker of The Dark Knight. (Some have also commented on the, ahem, tension between himself and Bond so that's for you to decide.)
Everything else..action sequences, script, special effects and music (kudos to Adele) met the high standards of all the top-grossing films of the year. It exceeds expectations and leaves you excited for the next instalment; after all, it took MGM and co. long enough since Quantum of Solace to deliver this one. I think though, after you watch it, you will agree that it was worth the wait.
- Friday, November 23, 2012
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