The Best Bond Movie Ever?

Rating: 10/10 (2 November 2012)

Usually my review titles refer to how I feel about the movie. With the case of a Bond movie I would normally use phrases such as "Bond is Back!" or "The Best Bond Movie in Years!" etc. However this time I have decided against it and chosen to indulge in a perspective of a highly debatable nature. Is, on the 50th anniversary of James Bond, Skyfall the best Bond movie ever conceived? A lot of fans of 007 would say yes, that it far surpasses all the previous ones including the true classics, Goldfinger being one example, whilst others would surmise it is one of the best. Me personally I would argue the former for several reasons. For a start the plot is refreshingly different from all the others, which would normally consist of some plot for world domination, but this time it is much more personal with revenge against MI6, more specifically M, with instead of Bond pursuing the villain, it's the other way round. Taking the foundation of the Bond formula for a narrative and twisting it on its head offers the audience the notion that the Bond franchise can still deliver surprises and make the process feel refreshed and offers a whole new consistent level of interesting. The last two Bond movies with Daniel Craig Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace tried that, but on the individualistic level of the core of Bond's character by making him more humanistic and vulnerable, with more prone to serious injury both physically (when he is poisoned by Le Chiffre) and mentally when he loses Vesper who he was in love with. They also moved away from Bond's reliance on gadgets as well. The whole new spin on the tone of the franchise with Bond's quippy one liners and glitzy gadgets was both a triumph and failure. But Skyfall successfully blends the two beautifully with the return of Q and Moneypenny (played by new actors of course) and a certain old car.
Secondly Skyfall manages to skilfully combine the old suaveness, British patriotism that drives Bond to do his duty with his quippy one liners, whilst maintaining his more humanistic characteristics as we learn more than any other Bond movie combined about his childhood. This makes his character more compelling and attractive than ever with the Bond mystique about his world irresistible to immerse oneself in. In particular the relationship he has with M is keenly felt in this film as though she is the mother Bond never had. This is elevated by the brilliant performances Dame Judi Dench and Daniel Craig deliver with an assemblage of a top-supporting cast that turn in all exquisitely proportioned performances no matter their length of screen time. Craig's acting as Bond in Skyfall solidifies him as the potential to be one of the best Bonds in the 50 years franchise, whilst Dench delivers what can only be described as another first class performance in her prosperous acting career. Both do not deserve to be overlooked come this Oscar season. Javier Bardem as villain Silva is sensational as he is funny, weird and horrific all at the same time. Though his screen time is limited, every nuance, word and sentence carried weight and he shows himself to be a true adversary worthy for Bond. There are also great supporting performances from Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney, Ben Winshaw (terrific as the new Q) and Naomie Harris as Eve.
What also helps with the excellent performances is the exquisitely written screenplay by Purvis, Wade and London, which is high on topicality (cyber-terrorism, which gives Bond a much needed update), wit and intelligence. This includes some great character development for Bond and a couple of ingenious twists, which I didn't see coming. Cinematographer Roger Deakins does a wonderful job with capturing the feel with the locations of London, Shanghai and Scotland. Credit must also go to music composer Thomas Newman who's score throughout is perfectly atmospheric as he cleverly plays on the old Bond music themes, whilst adding some nice new ones of his own. Director Sam Mendes directs with an ease and confidence as though he has done an action movie before (he hasn't, but he should after this and direct the next Bond movie!). He gives us some heart-stopping stunts and brilliantly staged action sequences that are some of the very best I've seen in any action movie. There are far more acting scenes than usual in a Bond movie, but it doesn't makes the two hour, twenty minute run time seem dragged out. If anything it makes other action adventures feel amateurish by comparison.
In the end Mendes and cast and crew have collated together to bring us the best Bond movie since it's inception 50 years ago. Obviously not everyone will think this. By all means do go and see it and make up your own mind. But mostly every Bond/action fan will enjoy something from this movie. There is no doubt in my mind this should receive Oscars. It would be criminal if it didn't. And thanks to a marvellous undertaking by everyone involved in this film, the Bond franchise is assured to continue for years to come. The best Bond and one of the best action adventures I've ever seen. I loved every minute of it. Happy 50th anniversary Bond!