: Skyfall
I’m not the biggest fan of the current generation of James Bond films — they are too serious and realistic and lack the fun and fantasy that I loved of other Bonds. This is right in line with the others: dark and grim and somber, it shows a hint of fun with the insane bad guy, but unfortunately he really isn’t much of a challenge for Bond. (I found their showdowns to be anticlimactic.)
The plot… well, it’s basically a rambling tale about how Bond and M are too old to do their jobs, followed by a crazy former agent who’s out to seek revenge on M and 007 has to stop him. There’s a lot of interesting stuff happening and some of the scenes are fantastic, but I’m not sure it’s that great of an actual story.
There’s also a fair amount of focus on characters like M and we even learn a bit about Bond’s past, but it’s all just hints and we really don’t know anything. For instance, we get the impression that M’s had to make tough decisions and is a wise old bird, but we really don’t know one thing about her personal life or history. That’s a bit odd considering the film is trying to get us to like her but won’t confide in us.
In the end, I get the feeling we’re in a transitional state with Bond: this film has a new younger Q and Moneypenny, and it sets up for more personnel changes in the sequel. Daniel Craig does seem to be feeling his age but I suspect he’ll be back for one more, but who knows where they are going with this. It’s a good movie: very watchable, with some good action, over-the-top scenery and villains, a little of the classic Bond repartee, but it just has a different feel from the Bond I know and love.
Topic: [/movie] |
