Only a 'so-so' James Bond movie, but Javier Bardem makes it worthwhile.

Rating: Null/10 (18 May 2013)

First I want to get the title out of the way, when I think of the term skyfall I think of things falling out of the sky. Or maybe of the old "sky is falling" overreaction to an incident. But it isn't any of that, "Skyfall" happens to be the Scottish estate where James Bond grew up, and it is where the big finale of this movie happens.
Daniel Craig is OK as James Bond , but I grew up seeing all the old James Bond movies and Craig looks more like a beaten-up prizefighter than he does an M6 special agent. He is an acceptable actor, but this film succeeds, if it does, on the story. And for me (and my wife) the story just didn't resonate much. It wasn't very exciting, for a Bond movie. A secret list of agents and their cover names, on a jump drive, encrypted, and a rogue agent with a grudge threatening to expose them all.
Judi Dench is back, and effective, as M (or is it 'Em', short for Emily?). But to me the real star here is Javier Bardem as Silva, the rogue agent. We know Bardem is good, from his prior roles. But here he is the only actor that is superb, chillingly so. He is such a good actor he makes all the others seem very ordinary in comparison.
The movie has its requisite chases and fight scenes, and a few gadgets, but nothing that approaches what we have come to expect from Bond movies. The franchise needs to be energized, they need a new star, new writer, and new director.