Daniel Craig returns with a bang in the best Bond yet

Rating: 9/10 (29 October 2012)

"You know the rules of the game, you've been playing it all these years", says Judi Dench to Craig's James Bond in an early scene. This line mirrors the importance of this year in the 007 canon; it has been half a decade since Sean Connery first donned the tux in Dr. No and over that time we've come to know Mr. Bond and experience the good, the bad and the ugly. For Skyfall, this birthday had to be kept in mind, as following the disappointing mess-and-a-half that was Quantum of (any?) Solace, the film had to be good, first and foremost, but it also couldn't be your regular Bond adventure - something had to change. Fortunately, director Sam Mendes (who worked with Craig on Road to Perdition) has breathed new life into this long- running franchise, taking bold moves that pay-off brilliantly.
During an attempt to recover sensitive information from an enemy operative, Bond is mistakenly shot by a fellow agent (Naoime Harris). But when a cyber-terrorist (Javier Bardem) targets MI6, Bond returns, however he finds his loyalty to M tested as her past comes to haunt her.
"All the physical stuff, so dull", remarks Bardem's Silva in his first encounter with Bond. However, the same cannot be said for the film's action sequences - they are magnificent and exhilarating. From the Istanbul-set pre-credits scene to a heart-pounding chase which occurs on the London Underground, Skyfall delivers some of the best action since Bane came to Gotham or Iko Uwais had a few floors to climb. All these sequences are aided not only by Sam Mendes, but also by Roger Deakins' extraordinary cinematography, bringing a majesty to these scenes to rival Wally Pfister's recent work with Christopher Nolan. Highlights include a scrap inside a Shanghai skyscraper lit entirely by neon advertising and the one shot/ single take introduction to the antagonist.
In Casino Royale, Daniel Craig took us all by storm, but with Quantum of (I don't see any) Solace, he experienced an unfortunate stumble; thankfully, within the opening seconds of Skyfall you can breathe a sigh of relief as Mr. Craig basically tells the audience that he's back and this time he means business. He has also never been better in the role, making it entirely his own and delivering sharp one-liners with dry and sardonic wit, whilst retaining nuance emotion and grit. Yet, this 23rd Eon outing belongs to Judi Dench just as much as it does to Craig; it has taken seven films, but M has finally been given the film she deserves, proving every bit as engaging ad 007 - she is the definitive Bond girl. Bardem is a wonderful standout in this impeccable cast; mildly camp, but properly menacing, he brings depth to the normally one-dimensional role of the 'Bond villain'.
Yet much of the film's greatness belongs to Sam Mendes, he takes many audacious risks that most directors would pass over in favour of Bond conventions, and while the film's first hour does feature many of them, its second half delves into Bond and M's pasts, before descending to a Straw Dogs (Peckinpah)-esque Scotland-set third act, which oddly works. He brings a sophistication to the series, allowing a reading of Tennyson to sit seamlessly alongside a cameo from a particular car. This isn't just a brilliant Bond film, this is a brilliant film fullstop. Undoubtedly one of the films of the year, it's exciting, funny, tense and emotional - the 50th anniversary has brought with it the best Bond yet. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to see it again.