Washes out the disappointing taste of "Quantum of Solace" quite nicely.

Rating: 8/10 (10 April 2015)

Seen simply as a spy movie, "Skyfall" is plenty exciting, bursting at the seams with the juiced-up action of the Daniel Craig era. That cold-open is gobsmacking, dramatic not just in its stunts, but in setting off down a suitably dark road; one that leaves Bond's exterior shaken, injured and off his game. There's good story material to be mined here, fleshing out the nasty side of double-O work. Not to mention questioning MI6's old ways in a new world. Bardem certainly leaves his mark as the tortured villain, and the rapport between Craig and Dench's grand ball-buster is wicked.
But it's the little touches here and there that I really love about this movie. There's certainly globe-hopping, but it all leads back to London, which is nice for this series. And between the final scene and the Aston Martin, I love that they bring the 2006 reboot full-circle with classic Bond legend. Q and Moneypenny are in place, we're back, and I can't wait for "Spectre".
8/10