Best Bond since 'The Spy Who Loved Me'

Rating: 9/10 (6 November 2012)

A much, much better Bond than the previous entry 'Quantum of Solace' which in my view was truly awful. The cinematography and editing of this film is ten times better, the humour is back and there's a splendid villain. The storyline is fairly original for Bond and very gripping — even though the running time makes this one of the lengthier entries in the series. All the locations are well used to advantage and there's not too many of them (a problem with some earlier Bond's – too many exotic locations can start to make the films look like travelogues). I particularly liked the Scottish location at the end of the film and the way darkness fell. The soundtrack is much better than the last few films and I was pleased they played the James Bond Theme properly when we see the DB5. There are some strange continuity issues between this film, the rebooted Casino Royale and the original series surrounding the DB5 - but these are entirely forgivable and enjoyable. My only criticism is that I wish the makers would put the gun barrel sequence back at the start of the film and not at the end (it should appear immediately after the MGM lion). One of the most exciting, heart-pounding cinema experiences was to settle down, see the curtains pull back, hear the Bond theme and see the gun-barrel move across the screen. You then KNEW you were about to be treated to a larger than life, escapist film experience. The main titles — over the theme song performed by Adele — are well done (matching the style of the classic Maurice Binder graphics) and hinting in a slightly surreal way what is to follow in the main film. In my view this film nearly equals From Russia With Love, Goldfinger and The Spy Who Loved Me as being the best Bond to date and that in some ways the gritty characterisation of Bond as played here by Daniel Craig - better matches Fleming's own portrayal of Bond. Sit back and enjoy - Bond is Back in Action Again!