Bond is colder, unfortunately not cooler

Rating: 7/10 (15 November 2012)

In the history of 'reboots' of a franchise, 'Casino Royale' ranks high in the echelons, with director Martin Campbell guiding Bond through his origins in MI6. That film also launched a new, brute Bond. While Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan were like Martinis and Cocktails, Daniel Craig was more like a cold bottle of Guiness. The first two films with him set the tone for Bond as he got used to his job as MI6's top secret agent while sacrificing all that he loved. He became a cold bastard and we loved him for that. Now, Director Sam Mendes ('American Beauty', 'Road to Perdition', 'Revolutionary Road') makes him even colder but not cooler. That perhaps, is the single big issue with 'Skyfall'. You can only detach Bond from women, gadgets, car chases, guns and saving the world missions up to a certain point. That point is 'Skyfall'.
There is however, one aspect of Sam Mendes' direction which brings cheers to avid Bond fans. Through numerous scenes, he takes Bond back to the basics and to the good old times when certain rules of the game were established. This, of course, begins with the exhilarating opening sequence which doesn't even give you time to pass around the popcorn. Motorbikes jumping over the rooftops of Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, a car chase through crowded streets and a train-top fist fight with the villain's henchman that leads to Adele's exemplary title song. But soon we discover that agent 007 isn't in good shape. Not only is his physical state short of MI6's standards, he has a drug and alcohol addiction that wears him down as well. MI6 on the other hand, has its own issues with its former agent, Silva (Javier Bardem), wreaking havoc in the cyberspace by exposing MI6 agents who have infiltrated terrorist organizations. With his directorial degree in middle-age drama, Sam Mendes shifts focus to M as she struggles to convince the British Government that operatives are necessary in this age when the enemy is not a country, organization or a renowned individual. They live in shadows and therefore, only the agents who operate as shadows, can bring them to justice. Throughout this ordeal, Bond is looking up to M as a motherly figure and strives to protect her from the wily Silva, whose wicked smile only reveals a malignant apathy for his former colleagues. Among those back-to-old times scenes, we are delighted to watch the villain tease Bond when he's tied to a chair, Bond getting into his girl's shower unannounced, jumping into the back of the train after it is detached and immediately fixing up his suit, getting his martini well shaken and of course, the introduction of MoneyPenny, 'M' and the young Quartermaster. The one that is a definitive James Bond movie scene is when the camera focuses on him standing atop a boat that is on its way to a casino in Macau. It's just Daniel Craig in all his confident 007 aura, as sharp as ever.
But the film is devoid of action in most of its 2hr23min duration. Apart from the opening sequence, there is a London tube sequence with the train crashing in through the ceiling (Epic!) and the cool neon-plasma lit scene with the assassin in one of Shanghai's high rises that make up for the action in the film. Then of course, we have Bond and M, reduced as MI6's remnants, bracing for the last stand against Silva, confined in the 'Wayne Manor' that is 'Skyfall'. Seriously? We expected something more in the climax of a James Bond movie. Not a barrell gun shoot out where instead of Bond saving the world from the inevitable doom, he is struggling to save himself from a villain who is accompanied by 4 henchmen who are simply armed (by Bond movie standards) with machine guns. We could pass that off as a climax in a Jason Bourne series but not when you have the world's best secret agent, equipped with the top secret service's tools, facing an evil nemesis who is better than him. It seems as though the producers fell short in their budget and had to make do with a Scottish mansion to bring a damp end. Prior to its release, Adele's song built up a whole lot of curiosity when she sang, "At the Skyfall, when it crumbles, we will stand tall and face it all, together"..... who knew it would all be about a House?
Judi Dench has a role so significant in a Bond movie, that it could pose as an Oscar contendor. She has done very well but we can now look forward to the brilliant Ralph Fiennes as he takes the new role in the series. The Bond girl deserves no mention since she was hardly on screen. MoneyPenny is cheeky with her humor but we would be more satisfied if she were a better eye candy than Naomie Harris. Javier Bardem was better than Silva, his character. He is among the finest actors who can enact any well written character especially in the negative role ('No Counry for Old Men') but Mendes failed at making Silva the best Bond villain ever when he had all the opportunity to do so. Daniel Craig is on his way to claiming the title of the Best Bond ever. Not only is he exemplary in the action sequences but he calmly portrays the sharpness, wit and commitment that makes 007 the best agent.
We've seen him get all serious for his love, for his parents, his mansion and his boss. We really don't want to see how good a father he can be. All the rebooting is done. Let's get the funness back in James Bond. Let Jon Favreau direct Bond #24. Bond isn't a common man. He is actually the uncommon one, the exceptional, the prodigy and Favreau knows such people very well.

8.007 on a scale of 1-10.