As good as a Bond film can get, I suppose

Rating: 5/10 (6 July 2015)

As good as a Bond film can get, I suppose. It got very good reviews partly because it eschews cockamamie gadgetry and mines Bond's emotional back-story, but I found it a somewhat unsatisfying film despite its acting and production merits, like a gourmet dinner featuring raw ingredients you don't like. I found it manipulative, with chintzy spy-movie plot twists and unbelievable love affairs that are made only made engaging by artful performances from Daniel Craig and Eva Green. The $150 million production budget and it-seems-like-dozens-of expertly staged and executed set pieces help raise it above total meaninglessness. Tense, beautiful, with acting that trumps the vacuity of the writing, the movie is a worthwhile rent. I'm sure the book would make an engaging beach read.