Skyfall (Movie): FTG-Nerd Review

STORY

The 23rd film in the 007 franchise brings a tale of betrayal, revenge, and questioning Bond’s ability to carry out his missions. Skyfall follows the world-famous MI6 agent James Bond, played by Daniel Craig (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Cowboys & Aliens, Quantum of Solace), looking to avenge the deaths of his colleagues after an attack on MI6 headquarters. He soon finds himself face to face with the culprit Raoul Silva, played by Javier Bardem (Eat Pray Love, Vicky Christina Barcelona, No Country for Old Men), who has a personal vendetta with M, played by Judi Dench (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, J. Edgar, Jane Eyre).

007′s latest target, Raoul Silva

We find out that M and Silva shared a bit of history, and now he’ll stop for nothing on his quest for revenge. 007 stands in his way, but is he up to the task, or is he fighting a loosing battle? Men are killed, women are seduced, and vehicles are destroyed in Bond’s latest mission to track down Raoul Silva and stop any more innocent blood from being spilled.

OVERVIEW

Skyfall does a great job of bringing James Bond into the 21st century and is an excellent example of modernising a classic series. All the performances where outstanding in this film, with Daniel Craig portraying Bond’s mental and physical progression brilliantly, and Judi Dench characterising M’s stern, methodical actions flawlessly again. New acting talent to the franchise also put in spectacular performances with Javier Bardem depicting the main villain Raoul Silva so intensely you can sympathise with his anger, but you’ll also hate him, which is what all great villains should portray. Ralph Fiennes (Great Expectations, Wrath of the Titans, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) and Naomie Harris (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, Ninja Assassin, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End) as Gareth Mallory and Eve, respectively, also captured the nature of their characters perfectly. There are so many brilliant performances in Skyfall that I think it’s worth mentioning the casting director Debbie McWilliams for picking them out.

Naomie Harris sizing up a shot as Eve.

People unfamiliar with the Bond franchise might be a bit sceptical about whether to watch Skyfall, but they shouldn’t be. All you need to know is that James Bond is a British super spy working for the British secret service, MI6, which is led by M, and the rest will fall into place and make sense. There’ll be a few references and quips that you might not get, but you’ll still love the story and action. As a Bond film, you’d expect there to be great action scenes and fist fights, and there are, but luckily, unlike Quantum of Solace, they’re tied together by a competent story. The story boils down to the classic hero vs. villain tale in many Bond movies, but it doesn’t feel repetitious. The modern setting and plot helps keep the formula fresh without straying too far from the franchise, although I was disappointed that Q didn’t give Bond a ton of gadgets to play with. Skyfall is very well paced, with the plot development linking the action scenes together in a way that makes sense, and even though the film didn’t have me on the edge of my seat, it was a great viewing experience.

The classic Aston Martin DB5 makes a welcome appearance in Skyfall.

Overall, Skyfall is a great addition to the 007 series, and even though it’s a very modern take, the story and action do have the classic feel of a Bond film. In my opinion, it’s not the best Bond movie ever, but it’s damn close and an enjoyable must-see experience for fans of 007 and action flicks alike.