Skyfall
Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris
Directed By: Sam Mendes
Reviewed by Danielle Muir

[rating: 4/5]

It’s common knowledge Quantum of Solace was a bit of a fail, therefore the next installment carried a heavy burden of redemption.  So we won’t dwell on it any longer – Quantum’s successor Skyfall is thankfully far more coherent, fluid and arguably the most captivating of the new Daniel Craig phase of Bond, James Bond.

During a mission in Turkey, 007 (Craig) falls completely off the radar.  Swiftly after, headquarters in MI6 is viciously attacked, and the organisation soon realises that one of their key staff is being targeted by perpetrators with a serious bloodlust.

It would be wrong to elaborate, as half the enjoyment is watching the events unfold, meeting intriguing personalities who act as new pieces of the puzzle that eventually fall into place and create the familiar Bond environment that all fans know.

Craig is back at his steely-eyed best as James Bond – his dry humour and physical prescence easily carrying the film as he has the others.  However what’s intruiging is that audiences are able to see Bond as something other than the perfect specimen and killing machine that he’s reknown for.  There’s struggle and frustration, subtly played by Craig that makes you doubt whether he’s got what it takes anymore to survive as a 00 agent.  But it’s Javier Bardem who steals his scenes as Silva, his glorious accent floating over the dialogue like a breeze – deceptively calm and collected whilst inside he burns with a passion for revenge.  Other solid casting decisions include newcomers to the franchise Ralph Fiennes as Mallory and Ben Wishaw as Q.

The Bond films obviously have a reputation for breathtaking action sequences – but the opener of Skyfall takes the cake for most impressive.  It is absolutely incredible what the production has pulled off obviously using real stunts, with the wow factor being pushed to its limit.  And this high standard of action continues throughout the films entirety.  The cinematography is on par with this standard, with some truly haunting and beautiful imagery amidst the chaos and explosions that come with the territory.

What’s distinctive about Skyfall is that the plot is rather focussed, and played out in a grand setting, rather than having a moustache twirling villain searching to conquer the world.  In addition, the story delves quite heavily into James’ childhood and elements of his past.  It doesn’t try to spell out exactly how Bond become the hardened, world weary agent that we know as Craig’s portrayal, rather it alludes to certain events and allows audiences to imagine how his upbringing could have affected his personality.

Skyfall is a highly entertaining Bond film with real substance.  It will give you that familiar adrenaline rush Quantum seemed to lose in the confusion, provides extremely intruiging characters who constantly perplex and surprise, and delves into who James Bond is as a man, not 007.