Here's What Is Missing

Rating: 6/10 (9 November 2012)

... and 7 is on the high side.
James Bond is supposed - required - to display male mystique, idealism, escapism, vicarious experience, hoped-for cool, turn-of-phrase fun, and romping romance with the best the other gender has to offer of that release's generation - and a great watch.
A lot has gone missing with the Daniel Craig incarnation ... and he's not to be blamed. Craig in "Munich" is da bomb and presaged what he could do with the Bond role. In "Munich" he WAS the young Bond, yet-to-become suave, in-charge, & licensed as 007.
Now the franchise has gone "real," "feminine feelings" & "woundedness," set-backs, childhood deficits, and the crazy time-warp thing - is this prequel Bond or is it today's Bond while trying to be both at once? "Casino Royale" was OK; but it's been a meander downhill from there. It's kind of the Dalton Bond without the Wayne Newton type of fun and chicks sturdy enough to keep-up & survive all the action ... both kinds.
What should Bond be? A marriage of "Taken 1" (and that should have been QoS with Bond rescuing the Eva Green character and bringing her along for another romp, which would've been new, by the way) and Jason Statham's "Killer Elite" shaken & stirred with "Entrapment" - with some scenics & time-off for wide-screen romantasy & martinis.
In "Skyfall" even the watch is unworthy. It doesn't need an internal laser or cutting saw bezel ... just be cool, not middle manager dull with a Speidel Twist-o'-Flex. Bring on Breitling.
What we have now is neither fish-nor-fowl. Something needs to change - perhaps even bringing back Pierce Brosnan who had most of the Bond joy- of-cool going-on. Remember "Die Another Day" and his thing with kick-ass Michelle Yeoh blended with the svelte Teri Hatcher? The fight in the sound proof studio? Yum. BMW car debuts? How the '80's & '90's are missed.
The cool needs to be brought back to the mix. Chases & explosions can be found elsewhere & everywhere. The 007 franchise is wandering, adrift, trying to be "relevant" maybe when it needs to be mostly as it was - just better & better. Noe one almost expects to see Dr. Phil make a guest appearance.
Now let's all go for some Steve McQueen & Faye Dunaway to shake-off the Sky that fell short, even in IMAX.
Cinematographic Note: The Arri Alexa looked great. Forget the film- digital teapot tempest. The camera just needed to be pointed at more Bond-worthy sets, sirens, & scenery.