Javier Bardem : Tiago Rodriguez alias Raoul Silva

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A Bond for a new era

Author: FSfilmblog from United Kingdom
2 February 2013

A James Bond film made for the modern era, you'd be hard pressed to find any other film series able to stand the test of time and still feel relevant. When it looks like it's lagging behind the competition of the other spy action thrillers, the makers have taken note and re-invented the mould, making it more real and exciting.

To me, Bond had too much of a rigid formula, the cars, the chases, the girls, the gadgets, the megalomaniac villain's and the spectacular set pieces/stunts. After a while though, the older films seem to suffer from a sense of deja vu. It's a case of been there, done that. The structure of the films have become stale and repetitive. Same plot about a group of criminals/organisation hell bent on world domination/destruction, with a beautiful bond girl in tow, Bond and or Bond girl gets capture, ridiculous car chase or stunts with a million of cheesy one liners. Frankly, I had pretty much given up on the Bond films. They have become predictable and tedious with only the change of location to give the film any sort of distinction.

The plot of Skyfall is unlike previous Bond films, starts with the routine chase resulting in Bond being shot and wounded, believed to be dead by MI6. When an attack on MI6 headquarters manifest through a cyber attack and a bombing at the headquarters, Bond returns to uncover who is behind the assault. Struggling from his gun shot wound, Bond has to prove his fitness mentally and physically through some rigorous tests. Sent back into action without being fully fit, Bond embarks on the mission to expose the mastermind. What Bond discovers is a villain who happens to be ex-agent who has a vendetta against M and will stop at nothing to kill her.

First thing you'll notice is the lack of gadgets and the usually bond girl (there is one of sorts but you'll understand when you watch it). Also with a villain who is suave yet as equally menacing as Hannibal Lector, we have a loose cannon who isn't after the world but revenge. It's spy vs spy and the story is more of a evolution of the characters that inhabit the world of Bond. Nods to older Bond films crop up from dialogue, props and even the classic Austin Martin car makes an appearance. It's a homage as well as a resurrection of well known characters.

What we are given here is a Bond with more layers to him and more emotions. Daniel Craig has moulded a Bond who is more relateable. Signs of physical and emotional weakness shows us a Bond who is no longer a super spy with little or no vulnerability. Other characters are given more screen time and provide an emotion gravitas (We are also introduced to Q, a young model who is still wet behind the ears).In the hands of Sam Mendes and Director of photography Roger Deakins, there has never been a more beautiful shot Bond film. During Bond's fight with a criminal minion we see only their silhouettes, but the eye is drawn to the beauty of the neon Shanghai backdrop. The reserve can be said for the grime, dour and rainy streets of London which captures our the United Kingdom perfectly.

It's a satisfying and enjoyable film, with plenty of action and a surprising emotional core to the narrative. A great development in characters with seeds being sown to allow for a more relateable and mature story telling and for future characters to come to the fore. Skyfall has made me fall in love with Bond films again so here's hoping there's no more rigid formula and routine mundane narratives of past.

A great film of action and suspense.

Author: psagray from Spain
25 April 2013

The loyalty of James Bond (Daniel Craig), the best agent of the British services, to his superior M (Judi Dench) will be tested when her past comes back to haunt. At the same time, MI6 is attacked, and 007 will have to locate and destroy the grave danger posed by the villain "Silva" (Javier Bardem). To achieve this will have the help of the agent "Eve" (Naomie Harris).

In "Skyfall" Bond we find the most dark and dreary, the famous British spy becoming a serious character, tough and realistic.The script shows an interesting story, full of tension, which has several interesting twists, full of action and excitement, but also intrigue, small dose of humor and some great dialogue.Great is the direction of Mendes, to excel in the action sequences, shot perfectly, while credible spectacular. The actors are well into their characters, Craig Bond endorses the harder and sad, twilight tone, perhaps the least seductive of the series, it's not after anything that moves. Bardem perfectly meets an evil character very curious, between the character stereotype of comic book villain, and realism. Dench, with more weight in the plot, creates an unforgettable M, the best of the series.

Photography and staging are impeccable, the end, thanks to its "minimalism" is breathtakingly beautiful.The film is long but very agile, the viewer does not realize the long term, knows how to create tension at all times to keep looking at the display.Despite being a more serious and realistic Bond knows the most classic honor of the franchise, thanks to great little details. Against this, it seems too bombastic for trying more than mere entertainment. Not a Bond sympathetic, this is a film to suffer much, bitter, with doses of humor, but very dark, away from light and fun product that represents the bulk of the series.The result is one of the great Bond film and a great film of action and suspense.

Ralph Fiennes : Gareth "M" Mallory :Le prochain M

James Bond returns home.

Author: bluesman-20 from Canada
27 September 2013

Skyfall takes Bond in a new direction. His past. The plot is a 007 plot. A Enemy kills a agent who has a disc containing the names of MI6 agents under cover. James Bond and another Agent Eve. Are dispatched to save the agent and recover the disc. They fail and Bond is left for dead. However once the disc is in the Enemy's hands he releases the names and pictures of the agents. the Agents are found and killed and still the mystery man threatens to reveal more names and pictures. Then he bombs the MI6 headquarters And M figures it out the enemy was once one of them. Think back on your sins he tells her. M is now under fire from the prime minsters office and is given three months to retire.

Her Replacement Sir Gareth Mallory is more then willing to be helpful but he also Tells M her time is over. As things get desperate. James Bond returns from the dead ready to take on the newest enemy for His country. When the enemy is revealed to be Roual Silvia a Agent once favoured by M. Who gave him up when his actions got to be too dangerous. Silvia was tortured and left for dead as well but he came back twisted and hungry for revenge. It is a plan that'll force Both Bond and M to confront their pasts. While trying to build their futures. And it might cost them everything.

SKYFALL. While not the most original story in the Bondseries is compelling because we get a glimpse of Bond's past. Things the books hinted about are revealed here. This might be the most personal Bond film since on her majesty's secret service. And Daniel Craig nails the Role of James Bond perfectly. There are no more comparisons to Sean Connery. The Role is Craig's. He is now just as good as Connery was. And the real beauty of SKYFALL is that while it's a JAmes Bond Reboot. The Ending sets us up for the more traditional James Bond Universe that we all know and love. I enjoyed Skyfall greatly simply because I've seen every 007 movie ever made from Barry Nelson's Casino Royale to Skyfall itself. And all I've got to say is it's a film all Bond fans will like. Some say it's boring some say it's awful. I say watch it and make up your own mind.