Deus ex machina tutorial

Rating: 4/10 (13 January 2013)

A deus ex machina (Latin: "god from the machine") is a plot device whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly and abruptly solved with the contrived and unexpected intervention of some new event, character, ability, or object. Depending on usage, it can be used to move the story forward when the writer has "painted themselves into a corner" and sees no other way out, to surprise the audience, or to bring a happy ending into the tale.
In Skyfall's case it is also about the only plot device used. The team of nitwits that wrote this script should never be allowed near a computer again ever.
If the really stupid super-criminal had kidnapped and tortured M like he was tortured because of M, with JB on a revenge mission, the story might have worked. The way it has been done now was just polishing a turd.