007 is back, and back with a bang. After the disappointment that surrounded and engulfed Daniel Craig's second outing as Bond in Quantum of Solace, the people at Pinewood Studies had to make a film that was full of action and filled with all of the charm and quirkiness that Bond is so famous for.
So, a high target for Skyfall to hit, even more so because of the blockbuster-filled year that has bombarded 2012 with films like Avengers Assemble and Batman: The Dark Knight Rises. But, armed with the deadly Walther PPK, Skyfall hits the target straight through the centre of the bulls-eye. The film is not so amazing just because of James Bond, though. Skyfall is packed with new characters that help make the film the achievement that it is. Javier Bardem plays as Silva, a villain who is threatening to release the names of all of the under-cover MI6 Agents over the internet. Boring, you say? Boring, it is definitely not. Bardem's villain is a beautifully gruesome mixture of evil plans, eerie monologues, and a hidden deformity. The perfect mix for a Bond villain, and Javier Bardem plays the character so incredibly well that, in some scenes, he even steals the limelight from Bond himself. Judi Dench is back as M and, as usual, plays the part to a tee. Dench is superb as Bond's best girl, with a feisty attitude and quirky lines of sarcasm playing off of Craig's short and just-as-sarcastic remarks. An actress not to forget, is Eve (Naomie Harris), an MI6 agent working with Bond during the first film sequence in Turkey. Although she does not particularly stand out against the main character's, Harris holds her own and does not get lost, with smart lines and a sexy scene with the main man himself. Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw also do well with the scenes that they were in, with subtle and sleek lines that comfortably edge them away from being forgotten. A character who you forget and don't particularly care much for is Severine, (played by Berenice Marlohe) a sexy, mysterious woman without much storyline or purpose.
Skyfall is delightfully balanced between gun shots, large explosions and bare-knuckle fights, with the quiet, plot-unveiling scenes that were lost in Quantum of Solace. Sam Mendes has directed the film to a five star standard, with elegantly-shot fights and steadily shot tense, nail-biting scenes. The music throughout the film is brilliantly put together, also featuring the same-old Bond tune that we all know and love. The title song by Adele is also effective as it flows through you during the surreal opening credits sequence.
Overall, Skyfall is a credit to the Bond franchise, as it is an exciting thrill-ride of action, gadgets, guns and girls. A well-written script, featuring the sharp short lines of the old Bond films, but without them being camp and over-shot. Congratulations Mr, Bond, the 50 years of the franchise have been well celebrated with this film.
