DC1977

(2013-05-21 18:46:44)

The best Bond film?? (MAJOR spoilers)

First of all I want to make it clear, this is a good film but I wasdisappointed having expected much more after the rave reviews from manyof the critics. In my review, I'm going to focus on these weaknessesand let others concentrate on the strengths the film undoubtedly has.This definitely is not the best Bond film, I don't think its DanielCraig's best Bond film either, I preferred Casino Royale. The problemis Skyfall tries too hard to be clever and includes too many elementsin an attempt to please all the Bond fans.It tries to include the classic one-liners, references to earlier filmsin the franchise, details of Bond's background whilst re-introducingthe key characters that have been missing from the two previousinstallments and, on top of all this, setting the stage for the futureof the series. The film suffers from trying to do all of these thingsperhaps as a 50th anniversary tribute to itself when it would have beenbetter to have spread these elements over at least two films.I've always felt the best Bond films had a comparativelystraightforward and realistic storyline (this is why For Your Eyes Onlyis my favourite Roger Moore 007 film) and Skyfall avoids this by havinga villain who is too far-fetched and cartoonish. Silva (Javier Bardem)is another version of The Joker from The Dark Knight. Ledger'scharacter was a great success and the strongest part of what I felt wasa mediocre film. It worked for me because I've never considered theBatman films to be taken seriously; it is part of a comic stripfictional parallel universe that allows these characters to existwithout appearing out of place.Silva just doesn't belong in the tough, realistic environment that theBond films are now striving for. He is so reminiscent of The Joker bothin his mannerisms and his actions (allowing himself to be caught andthen escape as part of an elaborate plan) that he becomes adistraction. It is also completely implausible that a genius who canout-smart Q and the rest of MI6 would willingly follow M and Bond to aremote Scottish country home. Why would a villain who has clearlyplanned everything to finest detail then act so impulsively? Theresulting climax, a Straw Dogs-like siege, is a disappointment.I initially welcomed Judi Dench's departure from the series and thenrolled my eyes in disappointment when her successor was revealed. I'venever enjoyed her as M. She is undoubtedly an excellent actress andthere is where the problem lies. Dench, rightly or wrongly, is anational treasure and it is inevitable that any act-OR chosen to play Mwill be making a more substantial contribution to the films. I'vealways felt that the character of M works best purely as a device forexplaining the plot to an audience as Bond is sent off on his mission.Any further involvement whether it be additional screen time or themore personal angst and friction with Bond is both contrived andredundant. The best M was Bernard Lee, a gifted character actor whocould be limited to a smaller, more effective role.Now that Ralph Fiennes, another act-OR, is M, the opportunity toaddress this error has probably been missed. Audiences will beexpecting him to be flexing his acting muscles as much as Dench did.On a positive note, I had my doubts about the inclusion of a younger Qwhen it was announced but I was pleasantly surprised by Ben Whishaw'sperformance and I can see this continuing to work well in future films.As for the new Moneypenny, I've always regarded her to be a secretary,an administrator, she is NOT a former field agent deployed to kill theenemy.In the previous films Bond was always out of reach for Moneypenny, sheknew it and so did the entire audience. How can the playfulflirtatiousness work in future now that we know she's slept with him?

(2013-05-21 07:47:26)

Daniel Craig is Bruce Willis

Zero Charm - Massive holes in plot - Predictable action. Aside from thegreat intro this Bond never gets off the ground, let alone fall fromthe sky. Where's Bruce Willis, as this film should be renamed as a 'DieHard' flick. Truly awful!!! Completely misses the boat as a bond Film!The charm of the Bond films has always been the tongue in cheek natureof them. Along with the innately debonair persona of Bond himself.Daniel Craig is a good actor, but lacks the charisma to pull of therole of JB and is getting worse with each installment. This type ofinane smashem up - crashem up flick is everywhere. Javier Bardem makesa brilliant villain (see 'No Country for Old men') but his talent whileup to par, is totally wasted here. Again, the disinction of the Bondfilms are diminishing into the trite, formulaic low standard of dumbaction flicks. The franchise now has one less fan.

johnstauffer

(2013-05-21 08:59:37)

Skyfall is a different type Bond movie... Really!

Skyfall has outdone the bond series in action, pain, photography, andattention to detail, and possibly length. The effort to film knock-downaction in exotic places is monumental. It has presented a villain thatis downright frightening and effectively built up so that the viewerwill truly be afraid of what he will do next. HOWEVER, the film fallsflat when compared as the same genre as the definitive first half-dozenBond films: This one is thoroughly downbeat from start to finish, andexcept for a half-hearted 'where-have-you-been' from M near the end, itis completely devoid of humor. The early bond films have beencharacterized as spoofs and tongue-in-cheek. Skyfall can better bedescribed as "Is it Over Yet? Give Me a Drink!"

john-bray-513-382444

(2013-05-20 11:50:49)

He's BACK

After the disappointment and bafflement that was The Quantum of Solace,and the almost Chick Flick that was Casino Royale I was ready to writeDaniel Craig off as another George Lazenby. BUT.....what a difference,thank god for talented directors and writers who actually have a cluewhat Bond is all about. Connery, Moore....move over the new boy hascome of age the name is Craig, Daniel Craig. This bond is back to theformula we all loved before Dalton and Brosnan, ridiculous chasescenes, pithy one liners and above all putting the Great BACK intoGreat Britain. Gone is the 'Ra Ra America' back is 'Rule Britannia',MI6's oh so helpful colleagues across the pond who of late seem to havesaved James's bacon more than once do not even merit more than oneline. Q branch makes a welcome return with Q's relationship with Bondback to the normal sparing matches of double entente although sadly nosubmarine cars or exploding pens. The Bond Girls really don't featuremuch, so in that respect this isn't the Bond of old (no Mr Kiss, Kiss,Bang, Bang)But most of all the story line is simply stunning, we have glimpses ofall aspects of Bond, the inner turmoil, his past, his future, whatdrives him. The story line also appears to be a subtle 2 fingers to theBritish government, defence cuts, civilian oversight of somethingcivilians can never understand and the treatment of service personnel.I think it only fair to mention the much beloved DB5 makes a returnworthy of Bond, I actually heard intakes of breath and cheering whenshe finally appears on our screen (and no it wasn't just the blokes).There are welcome moments of light relief through what is a very grittyand brilliantly suspense filled film, Bond's 'present' from Q and fromMr Silver both generated a laugh or two. The final sequences arebeautifully poignant and play to the strengths of the surroundingscenery with amazing ability, plus an entrance any man of a certain agewill love.A fantastic film for Bond lovers and everyone else, be prepared for theride of your life, discover Bond like never before, take a tissue (andnot just to wipe the saliva from your mouth after the cars, girls,guns, chases, fights, helicopters, explosions. Or the tears of laughterfrom your eyes from the British wit, the one liners, and the down rightinsanity.), enjoy the best Bond film in 50 years.

Andrew Marshall

(2013-05-19 22:15:47)

Definitely one of the better Bond movies

This is Daniel Craig's third Bond movie. The first of these was verygood and the second a bit disappointing. The good news is that thethird is very good again.As ever the opening sequence is thrilling and sets up the movie.There's an interesting twist on the titles sequence which is prettygood. The plot of the movie revolves around the loss of a list ofidentities of all the British spies around the world. Bond mustdiscover who has this list and then recover it before it endangers thelives of all the spies. Obviously the why they have it is also veryimportant and this becomes the crux of the film. Daniel Craig was very good throughout and in particular in the earlypart of the film where he shows some of Bond's flaws. As ever JudyDench was good in support and there also several other good supportingroles. The best part of the movie is that it leaves you wanting moreand I'm certainly looking forward to the next episode.

Matthew Harkin

(2013-05-19 06:27:48)

Nobody Does It Better Than James Bond!

After the Luke warm reception of 'Quantum of Solace', and various MGMfinancial troubles, there was doubt in some peoples minds whetherSKYFALL, or 'Bond 23′ as it was referred to then, would actually bemade. However, 4 years down the line, SKYFALL just proves that JamesBond can always make a triumphant return.After trying to retrieve a stolen hard drive, James Bond (DanielCraig), is accidentally shot down by field agent Eve Moneypenny (NaomieHarris), and plummets into to the depths of a ravine, presumed dead. Aterrorist attack on MI6 rocks the Secret Service and M is brought intoquestioning by Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), the Chairman of theIntelligence and Security Committee, who questions her ability to runthe Service, after the contents of the hard drive are still in enemyhands. Hearing about the terrorist attack on British soil, James Bondreturns to aid M, and track down the villainous Silva (Javier Bardem),who appears to have a blood lust for Bonds beloved boss.The plot is brilliantly straight forward, and more importantly, takesit's time. At 2 hours 20 minutes, SKYFALL is one of the longest filmsin the franchise, and it feels long. That isn't a complaint either. Theproblem most people had with Casino Royale was it's pacing issues inthe final act. However, despite minor pacing issues in the first 45minutes of the film, Skyfall does nothing of the sort. It feelssatisfying, which is probably the most important aspect, consideringthe reception of it's predecessor.If you all thought Casino Royale was the most human portrayal of JamesBond's character, think again. Not only does Skyfall go deeper, it alsoallows us to see Bond's traumatic childhood. Daniel Craig manages,fantastically, to bring an even more vulnerable side to the character,be it his inability to complete an exercise programme, desperatelytrying to hang on to the bottom of an elevator, or failing to miss intarget practice. This isn't the James Bond we know, this is James Bondrecovering from substance abuse and depression, which isn't just a wayof making him more human, it's a way of challenging whether James Bondis relevant for todays world.Sam Mendes (Director of American Beauty and Road To Perdition) is notan action director, which is why Skyfall is such a remarkableachievement. Not only does Mendes bring depth and character, but alsomanages to show breathtaking action sequences, which is easily some ofthe best stunt work to date. Mendes also manages to fantasticallyintercut action and drama, a prime example being Bond running throughthe streets of London, intercut with M's reading of a Tennyson poem We are not now that strength which in old daysMoved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;One equal temper of heroic hearts,Made weak by time and fate, but strong in willTo strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.Another master stroke for this film, was the casting of Oscar Winner,Javier Bardem, who turns in a completely, camp, hilarious, butgenuinely chilling performance as Raoul Silva. Who isn't even a matchfor Bond, in fact, the brilliance of the film totally resides to howfar ahead Silva always is. He is completely underestimated, andsurprisingly always has the upper hand. "What makes you think this ismy first time?" Bond quips, as Silva seductively unbuttons Bonds shirtand stokes his bare chest. Craig and Bardem play at each other withgreat effect, which makes it difficult to even consider who stealswhich scene.It's Silva's total calmness that makes him all the more chilling."You're hurt? What have they done to you?" he asks, spotting a bloodywound, on a terrified M. "Finish it for both of us.", as he pulls herin for a tight hug and forces a gun into her hand, in one of the mostmoving, and tense scenes in the franchises history. With shades of MaxZorin, and Francisco Scaramanga, Silva will go down in history as oneof the best Bond villains of all time.Skyfall also marks the long awaited return of Q, now played by Britishactor Ben Whisaw. Which shows us that we don't need gadgets anymore tomake Bond contemporary. The entire film is beautifully written,delivering snappy dialogue and totally oozing dry wit and good oldBritish humour, made more hilarious by Craig, as he delivers the humourdead pan.The whole thing roars along like a speeding bullet, with beautifulcinematography by Roger Deakins. And despite a few fishy moments of CGI(Which doesn't even detract from the overall enjoyment anyway) the filmis perfect. One of the most remarkable achievements in the film,consists of the beautiful relationship between Bond and M, in whichJudi Dench is finally given the chance to show her remarkable actingability. At the heart of the story lies a tragic and motherlyrelationship, which doesn't fail to bring a tear to the eye onceeverything is brought full circle.Skyfall is a film that isn't scared to stray away from the iconic Bondformula. From the opening strains of the Bond theme, as Craig stepsinto the light in a dimly lit corridor, we can tell that this is not atraditional Bond film. In fact, what Mendes manages to do well, isstill incorporate classic elements (The Aston Martin DB5, the JamesBond theme, and opening closing gunbarrel sequence), but at the sametime, willingly force upon you a fantastic, emotional, gripping, tenseand down right hilarious film, that proves that still, after 50 years,nobody does it better than James Bond.

Svein Olav Larsen

(2013-05-18 21:37:17)

James Bond tries a reboot, but it's a power off instead.

This is a reboot of the James Bond franchise and it could have been somuch much better.When we think about the old James Bond movies we remember borderlinecrazy stunts and humor combined with action. Skyfall tries to be funnyat times but only the hardcore James Bond fans will maybe chuckle alittle.For the rest of us it just becomes bad...The action in the movie is just old, old school action. If anyone havewatched the Jason Bourne movies you know what I mean.The plot is boring and you know what is going to happen almost theentire time, and the bad guy goes from a genius to a dumb goon. Thesoundtrack is boring and it's just a movie you rent for a Sunday flick.

sifc33

(2013-05-18 08:21:19)

Taking a page from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Finally, they got a great story-line and a decent plot with-out just ashoot 'em up action flick. To be honest, the action sequences are greatbut not overdone either. Sam Mendes, is one of the greatest directorsto date and he doesn't let us down with 007.The movie in my opinion has pretty much lived-up to the expectation andmakes Bond look like a total B/A, again.I think Craig is amazing as Agent 007, and he's a wonderful actor forthe role. He never "over acts" his part, and his serious face isn'tirritating. I thought they kept it complex enough to be intrigued,enough action sequences to keep you entertained and a powerfulstoryline to keep you coming back for more.All in all, it was awesome. If you are a regular dude, and enjoy theBond films, yeah it's epic.

junkielee

(2013-05-18 03:00:40)

Skyfall

After CASINO ROYALE (2006, 7/10); QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008, 7/10),Daniel Craig's resurrection as James Bond arrives in its 3rd round,with Winslet's ex-hubby Sam Mendes holding the director's reins, thefilm surpasses my presumption to a great extent, not the least with asterling cinematography achievement from Roger Deakins. The film kick-starts in Istanbul, a fresh deja-vu of Liam Neeson'sTAKEN 2 (2012, 5/10) is the knee-jerking response, however, thesubsequent train chase action is the bona fide climax. Adele's themesong comes next, a complete mind-blower (I listened the song for thefirst time) and visually it reminds me of Karen O's Immigrant Song, theeye-popping opening tune of Fincher's THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO(2011, 8/10, stars Daniel Craig as well). The sleek and phenomenal night view of a metropolitan Shanghai is bothreminiscent and dear to me (only if the crew could have tapped moreinto it), and for globetrotters, Bond's journey will never get bored,later on an exotic (but quite artificial) Macao and a godforsaken ghostisland will satisfy all the western passengers before things return toLondon and eventually a surprising showdown at Scotland (the titularSkyfall lodge) Bond's childhood home, the foggy and dreamlike settingsare in the perfect sense under Deakins' haunting shots, the atmosphereis deadly artistic yet gripping. Apart from the digital visual stunts, the film opts to a more detailedrevenge route for its (commonly) stereotyped villain and invests moretime in Judi Dench's swan song of M, whosesuperior-subordinate/mother-son affinities with Bond, this time it isnot about saving the world, it is a pure and simple vengeance game. Daniel Craig is still the indomitable Bond, steely but less refined,but the scene stealers here are definitely Dame Judi Dench and themaniac ex-MI6 agent Javier Bardem. The truth is Dench is the real "bondgirl" in this episode, who dominates a protracted screen-time (onlysecond to Bond), since we all aware that it is the last time to see herin this recurrent role, the film has kindly proffered her someAcademy-worthy moments (the poem-citing scene in the court forexample), to accent on poising herself with integrity and professionalpride for the country she serves while exuding a bit testimony as ahuman flesh with very subtle but emotional unsettlement. Although I amnot on board with M's denouement in the film (too banal compared withother revolutionary merits injected in the reboot of the franchise),Dench and her team behind definitely should champion hard for a seat inthe next Oscar race. So could be said to Bardem, but he is much like along-shot since formulaic villains in the franchise films areprincipally snubbed by the voting members, Bardem delivers an awe-inspiring performance, period. New bond girl BГѓВ©rГѓВ©nice Marlohe has scanttime but it may conform to the saying "less is better"as long as hermission has been convincingly accomplished. Fiennes' role is dooming tobe more meaty next time and Harris is just another girl can seriouskick someone's ass.I do hope SKYFALL will find more endorsement in the academic field,where in the history of 50 years, James Bond and his makers have neverbeen taken seriously, and the time finally comes when some curse mustbe broken.

wwwocls

(2013-05-17 14:33:09)

Great Bond film for real Bond fans, not gadget fans

Skyfall is a movie that continues the trend of tapping into Bond'sroots as a serious spy character and as a character that is interestingand fun to watch without a dependence on gadgets and one liners (whichthere are in the film.) It's a more dramatic Bond that still has lovelylocales and visuals, funny moments/lines and good looking women. It hasthese elements but is not dependent on them. Silva is a foppishlyentertaining and enjoyable villain that's not the standard. He's morelike the Joker than Goldfinger. The dialogue is solid, Mendes' visualsense is spectacular and the movie goes to new places to continue todevelop Bond mythology. That this movie isn't a cookie cutter "DieAnother Day" kind of Bond annoys a lot of "fans" that don't like aserious spy story about a dangerous and interesting character (youknow, James Bond.) Die Another Day was a hideously bad Bond film withcompletely ridiculous elements. Skyfall is a mindful Bond movie withheart and brains. The screenwriters kept the emphasis on character andshould be applauded for it. A great Bond film with another greatperformance by Sean Connery's equal, Daniel Craig.

N Duncan

(2013-05-16 19:56:45)

Worst Bond Ever?

I consider myself something of a Bond (and movie) connoisseur. Thereare so so many things I hated about this movie. I was a littleapprehensive when I saw all of the positive critical reviews. Docritics really "get" Bond? Let me begin.Directing. I hated the pacing, the control of tension (or lackthereof). There were some good moments captured between the actors ifyou know what to look for, but I just felt the camera wasn't properlycatching the energy of it.The script/story: It was horrible. I saw somebody compared it to DarkKnight Rises. Yes that is true if a 1st grader wrote it after thinkingDark Knight/Dark Knight Rises was awesome. They just used so manyclichГѓВ© plot devices, trying to be something they aren't. YOU AREN'TBATMAN, YOU AREN'T CHRISTOPHER NOLAN! You are writing for a James Bondfranchise that has been around 50 years!!!!!!!! Please do what you aregood at, instead of trying to copy the new kid on the block. I don'twant to get into spoiler territory... but I have seen all the Bonds inthe theater since GoldenEye and this as probably my least favorite. Icould see the ending coming from at least 1+ hour away.The acting: Good as always I must say. I liked the new Q. He was greatin Cloud Atlas. (whoever he is, don't' feel like looking it up) JavierBardem was great, but he was working with such a sub-par story. I didlike the way he approached Bond from a sexually confused angle, that atleast was new. But as a villain he just didn't have the je ne sais quoiof a typical Bond villain, and definitely not in the realm of someonelike the Joker. We are to believe he is some villain with almostmythical abilities, but then he doesn't really exhibit that.I could rip this movie for about an hour but I don't feel the need.Just at least after you watch it come back and give it the 1 starreview. (if you agree of course). It seems like lately every time a bigmovie comes out you see nothing but wonderful reviews. Thinkcritically! If you haven't seen it already, just wait and rent it. Youwon't be sorry. If you have any taste that is.

(2013-05-16 15:45:08)

Oh Sam, oh Sam...what have ye done...?

Vesper Lynd: It doesn't bother you? Killing all those people? JamesBond: Well I wouldn't be very good at my job if it did. Well James, those days are long gone... The sharp, sophisticated andtough as nails 007 that I expected to see in Skyfall died sometimesbetween Casino Royale and Q_o_S...The only time when I was reminded ofthe good old Bond in Sam's adaptation was when after a last momentescape from a hairy situation his main concern was to adjust his cufflinks...For me this is what James Bond it's all about...This agent is anything but provocateur...depressed, lonely, with a bitof a drinking problem, not afraid to get in touch with his feelings andshed a tear towards the end of the movie...The villain is weak,childish and whatever his reasons for seeking revenge I really can'tbring myself to care about him in anyway... the Bond girls make cameoappearances before one of them is shot just for the fun of it, thestory has more holes then a piece of Swiss cheese...Disappointing...!I really think that Sam Mendes has no idea of what makes JamesBond...well, James Bond. 007 used to fly planes and drive tanks throughMoscow, do you really see him riding the tube with you reading Metro ona Tuesday afternoon on his way back from MI6?

Zbigniew_Krycsiwiki

(2013-05-16 08:05:20)

Let the Skyfall

Subtle opening shot of Bond searching a long, dark hallway of abuilding quickly transitions into a slam bang action scene on top of atrain in Istanbul, reminiscent of From Russia With Love. FIlm thenswitches into a sequence similar to the book You Only Live Twice, withthe assignment going south, Bond being missing for a lengthy period oftime and declared dead by MI6. Meanwhile, Bond is mostly enjoying hissemi "retirement", getting drunk and banging a local chick. But whennews of a bombing in London is broadcast on local news, Bond returns toLondon, and receives a rather cold reception from M. Screenplay thenfollows the book The Man With The Golden Gun, as Bond is put throughphysical and psychological evaluations to determine if he is again fitfor active field duty. He fails, miserably, only scoring a 40. M. liesto him and tells him he barely passed, and sends him to find theindividual responsible for the bombing, and for hacking into MI6'scomputer network. Climax is smaller in scale (the crumbling Skyfall estate Bond grew upon, in the foggy, bleak Scottish highlands, rather than a collapsingbuilding from Casino Royale, or an exploding hotel in Quantum OfSolace) but the pyrotechnics are incredible, and it builds to anabrupt, but satisfying, and rather funny, ending to Silva. Screen story subtly references elements from several Bond novels (FromRussia With Love, The Man With The Golden Gun, You Only Live Twice)without merely copying their respective films, and adding enoughoriginal story and quality to the mix to keep it from being just merelya "greatest hits" Bond film.Quantum Of Solace's terrible cinematography has been addressed anddealt with here: a lengthy fight sequence between Bond and gunman inShanghai is shown through one long, stationary, unedited take (a firstfor a Bond film?) set against the backdrop of buildings' neon lighting. Javier Bardem is a great villain with a great voice, with a believableplot and motive for revenge, also memorable in that he has no gimmickyhenchmen in his employ. No central Bond girl is unique and memorable tothe film also. Q's character is hilarious and surprisingly wellwritten, his role actually advances the plot and moves it forward,rather than just being a cameo supplying needless comic relief, as hewas in several other Bond films. This film, to me, has Daniel Criag's best turn as Bond, veryFleming-like. Bond, here, is very much the antihero from Fleming'soriginal novels. While Bond does kill the villain, Silva, Silva's planultimately does succeed, as he is in fact responsible for M.'s death. Speaking of M., I've never liked Judy Dench in that role, I feel shewas a grotesque casting choice. But even her death scene was well done,very moving. The producers and screenwriters managed to elicit sympathyfrom me for the death of an actor that I did not like in that role. Herdeath scene is exceptionally well written. The title sequence is good on first watch, and it even improves withrepeated viewings, as we realise that we are watching animation playingout several later events in the film: mainly, we see Skyfall for thefirst time (without knowing what it is) and its subsequent, climacticdestruction. Hauntingly beautiful theme song from the occasionallywhiny Adele perfectly compliments the film as well.

andrewmpotten

(2013-05-15 23:21:41)

Don't believe the hype!!

So Skyfall has gone back to basics, done away with most of the cheesethat usually accompanies a JB film. Also gone are the girls andgadgets. So what's left? Not a lot in my opinion.Yes it's better than the truly dire QoS and has more of a solid feelthan the most of it's predecessors but this film instantly forgettablein every way and I have absolutely no inclination to watch it everagain, whereas at least I'd happily watch anything up to and includingGoldeneye again. It might be a 'better' film but it doesn't make itmore watchable. I very much doubt it will stand the test of time. Putit this way, Xmas day 2013, if Live & Let Die was on one channel andSkyfall was on another, I'd be enjoying my turkey with Roger Moore.OK, so let's forget it's 007 and not compare it to JB of old. As astand alone film, it doesn't offer anything other than an slightlybetter than average action flick. I'm not even a 'Bourne' fan but eventhis doesn't hold a candle to the Bourne films. Oh, and Sam Mendeswasn't kidding when he said he was heavily influenced by The DarkKnight. The influences are clear to see but not in anything nearly asstylish or clever of TDK. I really wanted to like this. I was a huge fan of the franchise when Iwas growing up and upon reading the positive reviews, I had high hopeseven despite not being a big fan of Daniel Craig as 007. However, DCwas one of the only things I appreciated in this film. The other wasthe cinematography. However, so many films have great cinematographythese days that's it's starting to be the norm. Massively disappointed and instantly forgettable are the best ways tosum up this very average Bond outing.

rickytravis68

(2013-05-15 09:05:53)

Dreadfall !

This must seriously be the worst Bond film ever made ! So many wordsthat I could use to describe it, clichГѓВ©d, dull, monotonous, weak,drivel etc etc. I am only really reviewing this in light of theupcoming Bafta awards and hoping, no, praying that it doesn't winanything ! From the awful theme tune (Adele doing a very poorimpression of Shirley Bassey), to the so called action scenes,dialogue, totally unbelievable baddie. Myself and my girlfriend verynearly fell asleep watching it. I can't see any merit in the filmwhatsoever it is just an embarrassing mess from start to (thanks Godit's over) finish. If you saw the trailer with Bond fixing his cuffs inthe train carriage then that is the best scene. Utter rubbish !

stella castella

(2013-05-14 14:18:36)

Not very great or original, mosaic of many different films

Didn't think Skyfall was great or original as the critics make it outto be. It didn't seem like a Bond movie rather a mish mash of MissionImpossible, Bourne, Dark Knight, Speed and Harry Potter, peppered witha bit of Bond.*****SpoilersA ridiculous shootout scene, away from technology(?) I mean, whywouldn't the British Secret Service guard the top figure at MI6?????Does it make sense to have one person i.e. Bond cover for the Head ofMI6? If she's captured wouldn't she would still have an awful lot togive away, I mean she knows everything about the British IntelligenceSystem, doesn't she? It looks like the MI6 and Bond wanted M to die.DISSECTING THE MOVIE1. Opening sequence & train fight reminds me of an opening sequence toMISSION IMPOSSIBLE. Race through the streets looks like BOURNE &getting shot, it's not clear where Bond gets shot and how he manages tosurvive and live in Turkey (the sequence reminds me of Bourne)2. Bond comes back into action, it's not very clear what motivates himso much & why are these agents always losing their MAN lists?? remindsme of MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. If it's so easy to get into M's house whydon't the bad guys just target her there? 3. Q - he's supposed to come up with gadgets, one finger-printactivated gun? The new Q is so useless. I'm sure the real MI6 actuallymake gadgets like firing pens.4. Scene in Shanghai. I liked the lift ride Bond took up, but there'snot much explanation as to what the bad guy was doing, or why he wastaking out an art dealer in the next building. 5. Macao, fight at Casino Bar. Why doesn't Bond pick up his tailor madegun at the end of the fight? It's the only gadget he's got in thisfilm. And do Komodo dragons eat people for dinner????? 6. The girl knows shes going to get killed but still takes Bond to theisland with her. What, to enjoy last time sex before her death??? BadBond. 7. The bad guy getting disfigured from a cyanide capsule - cyanide in acapsule, it can't be that powerful to melt the whole jaw, how can hekeep it in his molar???? Think cyanide reacts with stomach acid. Goodguy goes bad: after becoming disfigured ex-team member guy comes backfor revenge - DARK KNIGHT AND SPEED 8. The underground chase scene, bad guy DRESSED AS POLICE, with thetrain reminds me of SPEED 9. Why an earth did Bond take M to such a secluded spot where she iscompletely open to an enemy attack and why an earth is just Bonddefending her??? Isn't she the head of MI6?10. James Bond and M fighting the enemy alone with him, it almost lookslike Bond thinks that M DESERVES TO DIE & so does the MI6 who don'tstep in to help. Is this Bond's revenge as well towards M???? DON'TBLAME MUM.11. The whole Highland scene, Making nail bombs in his old house milesaway from anywhere (RUBBISH) & secret passage, under the ice fightingscene, reminds me a bit of HARRY POTTER & HAGRID 12. The bad guy dies so easily 13. Eve, really irritating, she was better in the action scenes, butbad after that, just bad. M just got killed and she looks so happy.Again confirms my suspicion that the MI6 ppl all wanted M to die andtake responsibility for this unoriginal movie????Doesn't seem like a Bond movie, except Bond going on to bed girls whosubsequently die. NOT MY BEST BOND, Not much of a spy movie, what is this??????The characters, and acting between Bond and SilVa, the chemistry isgood. But that's about it. Story and plot wise, SKYFAIL

Anup Viswanathan Thampi

(2013-05-13 21:41:37)

All the OLD Bond elements falling back from the sky

I thought James Bond will remain as Bourne by fighting and movingaround the items present in his reach,but I was completely wrong BONDhas fallen out of the sky with all the old elements gadgets,M,Q andlast but not least Moneypenny. The movie was superb and I hated lastmovie Quantum of Solace which made me think he was Superman in Suit.The music handled by Adele also brought in an old style music witheffective and captivating rhythm. I am so sad that Dench's characterwill no longer be a part of JB franchise(but she will always remain inthe top spot in JB series forever). Vintage car Aston Martin shown andthe music together provided a nostalgia. The movie shows how Q,M andgadgets enters JB's life,even though no one claims past three movies asprequels we sure can understand it. I loved the scene where he fallsfrom the train and the sequence where he jumps onto train becominghuman catapult by driving bike into the rails. Ralph fiennes entry intothe JB series is welcoming provided he is given more space to show histalents. Waiting anxiously for next Bond movie and gadgets.

zachhasbro

(2013-05-13 06:58:25)

Count To Ten

This film is ambitious. The more I think about it the more I appreciatethe real, raw emotion that was captured on screen and thrust at theaudience. I don't believe any other Bond film has ever had the abilityto do this; the campy, guns blazing, invincible Bond is not what areal-life Bond would be. My opinion the best opening/credit sequence of the series. One of thebest Bond villains. The acting and directing couldn't be better.In terms of the tone of the James Bond series, there was only meant tobe one Skyfall. And it's done brilliantly. Now that Craig is signed fortwo more Bonds he needs to save the world, and dare I say venture intospace?

(2013-05-12 22:28:47)

Best Bond movie yet

This is by far the best Bond movie yet. I don't even like Daniel Craig to start with, but he delivers so well.The script is very well written, delving into Bond's past, hisinsecurities & fears. There's not a moment where I felt bored in themovie.Characters were great: Judi Dench's M is impeccable, as always. BenWhishaw & Finnes were also top-notch. Javier Bardem is going to be oneof the best villains in movie history. He's creepy and annoying andcruel and unpredictable. I also have to applaud Berenice Marlohe, oneof the Bond girls in the film. Her subtle but emotional performance isway beyond any other Bond girls before her. I would love to see herfilms more! This is the only Bond movie where I actually felt that allthe characters had depth and purpose, and made me feel attached to eachof them.Action-wise is definitely nice too. Unlike previous Bond movies (I'mreferring to pre-Daniel Craig films) I always thought MissionImpossible's Ethan Hawke was the better spy, but now James Bond is justbadass.What I love the most is the cinematography. It is beautifully crafted,with many scenes involving silhouettes. You'd have to see it tounderstand just how beautiful the colors are when projected on screen.Adele's theme music is also great, combined with again the best openingtitles as of yet. Just the opening titles itself was worth the ticket(probably also because i'm an animator)! It's a fascinating combinationof 3D and 2D, story symbols, and classic Bond colors/themes.

jjgooner

(2013-05-12 17:42:34)

Astonishing, Amazing, the best Bond ever

I am a massive Bond fan and have seen each one about ten times each.However after the release Quantum of Solace my expectations for Skyfallwere low. Though how wrong I was............Skyfall is the best Bond film ever. This due to so many things.Adele's song is amazing and makes a lot of sense after you have seenthe film. The script is brilliant and contains some super humour andbrilliant one-liners. The rest of the crew are also great and SamMendes directs this masterpiece beautifully.Now the cast: Daniel Craig is back to his Casino Royale form and is thebest Bond (yes even better than Sean), Javier Bardem is a superbvillain and probably deserves an Oscar nomination. He is as chilling asHeath Ledger as the Joker but also as calm and controlled as AlanRickman in Die Hard.Although she rarely appears, BГѓВ©rГѓВ©nice Marlohe is stunning as the Bondgirl and I'm looking forward to seeing how Naomie Harris progresses asMiss Eve Moneypenny. Albert Finney was very funny and Rory Kinear wasalso excellent in a much bigger role than his character has had in pastfilms. Ben Whishaw brought a completely new Q to franchise but hedefinitely grew on me as the film went on. Ralph Fiennes was good inhis small role and now I can't wait to see what his M will be like.Now we move on to the greatest British actress of all time. Judi Denchis absolutely superb and her final scene brought tears to my eyes. Shetruly is an amazing actress and if she doesn't win the Oscar (or atleast get nominated) I might have to kill someone! I really hope thisfilm picks up the globes and Oscars and also finds its way onto IMDb'sTop 250My Rating: 5/5