Skyfall

I’m sure I speak for all dedicated Bond fans when I state that the build up to Skyfall, although exciting, was also clouded with apprehension. With the transformation, revealed in Casino Royale, of 007 into a muscular, rugged, and (shock horror) blonde icon of masculinity, the producers’ gamble paid off. Daniel Craig’s debut created the highest-grossing Bond film of all time. However, Skyfall’s poor predecessor, Quantum of Solace, left audiences feeling disenchanted as Bond lacked the suave nature essential to his character. Fans needed some form of compensation; luckily Sam Mendes took on the challenge giving us everything we wanted and more.

After an almighty pre-titles action scene, with a tussle on the roof of a train, Adele’s chart topping theme tune gives us a flavour of the plot to come: modern with a nostalgic touch of the old school Bond. The beginning of the film is perhaps a little bit predictable: an intense Istanbul action scene, some harmless banter between Bond and M, and a fist fight in Shanghai involving some komodo dragons. The twist in plot, however, is unexpected and at first a little unsettling, evolving Skyfall into the most personal film in the franchise to date. Unlike Bond’s previous enemies, Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) doesn’t desire to take over the world overnight. Instead he holds a personal vendetta against M (Judie Dench), subsequently bombing London’s MI6. Perhaps the scariest Bond villain to date, his sadistic, unforgiving and slightly camp persona make him terrifyingly unreadable. This also gives Mendes a welcome opportunity to create an overprotective mother-son type relationship between Bond and M, and we are given an unanticipated look into Bond’s background with the final showdown set in his crumbling Scottish family home.

The narrative-heavy sections of the plot, and lack of a true Bond girl, could be pinpointed as weaknesses of the film, but the incredible cinematography, star studded cast, exotic locations, and heated action scenes make for a truly captivating action-adventure. Where Skyfall really triumphs as a Bond film is not only as being strikingly British, but succeeding in fusing the old and new. Humour makes a much-needed comeback, mostly supplied by the return of Q played by a young Ben Whishaw. Although, as Q points out, Bond has evolved. There is no longer any room for exploding pens and invisible cars for one. While the franchise may be celebrating its 50th anniversary, Skyfall demonstrates that Bond is versatile and therefore timeless. The best Bond film ever? It’s certainly up there.