This is why revenge films don't work.

Rating: 7/10 (9 November 2012)

Making a James Bond film is a challenge and being part of the club is something unique in of itself. It seems to me the more recent James Bond films are made by directors who really want to do something different, but the classic formula is still lingering in the wings. The directors are trying to buck the trend in any way they can, but the net result is still a Bond film... just without the charm and whit of the classics.
Skyfall falls into the same trap as the last few films, it tries so desperately to buck the trend with more realism, phenomenal cinematography, simple stunts which aren't too over the top and a fantastic cast that not only works, but is well directed. With these elements, you'd expect this film to be a winner, but unfortunately this time around, it isn't a Bond film anymore. What most filmmakers don't understand about James Bond films is quite simple; the cheesiness is what makes them great. The charm and whit of the classics, the bad guys who want to rule the world, the imprisonment of Bond with a countdown clock before some laser cuts him in half. These elements are what is lacking in the last three films. Daniel Craig's presentation of Bond is more modern and the filmmakers feel they need to "update" Bond, where the truth of the matter is, we go to Bond films to see the cheesiness, to see the gadgets, the one-liners, etc.
This new Bond film falls into the same trap as the last few have, its just another action film with characters from the Bond franchise, NOT a James Bond movie. There is nothing wrong with that, its still an entertaining and well made movie, but its lacking the soul which makes REAL Bond films. Skyfall has one other small issue, which is the simple fact its a revenge film with almost no character development. So the audience is left scratching their head, wanting more, but not understanding WHY they want more. Its quite the conundrum and I'm anxious to see the deleted scenes on video.
In summary, its a very entertaining action film. The production value is through the roof, the acting is top notch, the directing is good, but it just isn't quite a Bond film. The identity doesn't exist and unless the next film is super cheesy and over the top, I'm afraid the Bond franchise has lost its charm.
One side-note, I love Thomas Newman, but he is the wrong guy to score a Bond film. It was the most distracting and non-Bond score I've ever heard. It feels like the entire post production was rushed and detracts from the over-all "bondness" of the film.