50 years of James Bond

Rating: 8/10 (29 December 2012)

2012: Bond is back ... or not? Seeing this movie the first time I had high hopes for Skyfall. Me, being a huge bond-fan, hoped that this movie would be all about the action. However I should have known that director Mendes didn't want another Bond-movie, instead he wanted an Oscar-movie with a character named Bond. Does this mean that Skyfall failed: not at all. The strength of the movie is hidden in a little thing called nostalgia.
Director Mendes is able to combine the action of the older (brosnan en Dalton) Bond-movies with the brains of modern action-dramas. Skyfall is a more realistic Bond-movie than Moonraker, Die another day or even From Russia with love could ever be. Nevertheless Skyfall has a greater Bond-sphere (i.e. Sean Connery sphere) than both Quantum of solace and Casino Royale.
Bond-actor Daniel Craig is playing Bond for the third time and he is finally becoming one with his character. Despite the fact that his workout has undoubtedly had its results, it must be said that his aging hasn't gone very well. Nevertheless he once again given a splendid performance.
Than comes Javier Bardem, the appearance of his character made me think of Max Zorin (played by Christopher Walken in A view to a kill (1985) and just like Walken I expected him to be the better actor in this movie. Without wanting to spoil anything I can only say that the performance of Bardem immediately made me think of Heath Ledger (playing the Joker), with that little difference that Bardem failed in every way. Not only has he no credibility, also his manner of speaking is extremely annoying.
As for Action and special effects: despite the fact that most action (other than the opening sequence which is pretty amazing) is rather limited, is must be said that that limited action has been brought both beautiful and realistic.
In short Skyfall is a more realistic Bond movie, in which not the action of gadgets, but the story and its characters of most importance are. Despite the disappointing soundtrack you'll find Skyfall to be a very entertaining and bond-worthy movie.