We've been expecting more Mr Bond

Rating: Null/10 (12 January 2014)

With every new release of a Bond film there are two predictable events. Firstly, that some journalist will proclaim it the best Bond ever. Secondly, that the marketing campaign for the film will be the equivalent of a continual sledge hammer hit over our heads for a full month with no hiding place. The result of these two events is that in the minds of the Bond fan and any other interested film goer that the film they are about to see had better be damned good.
And so we have Skyfall. As you have seen through your perusal of the other hundred odd reviews, opinions vary from an absolute triumph to a colossal turkey. In my opinion it is neither as Skyfall is a mixed bag of a film. The plot is weak and changes tack half way through and the villain a poorly thought out one. However, in places the film shines from a script clearly written by intelligent writers as there are some really well delivered dialogue scenes. The action scenes are not particularly exciting and we are "treated" to maybe the worst one in the series – the crashing of an empty tube at London rush hour. It also suffers from an M who is clearly past pensionable age and a supporting cast of forgettable characters (Q is a wise cracking "yoof", Tanner a grey bureaucrat more suited to managing the staff car park etc.) The shining light is the introduction of Ralph Fiennes character who will be a big asset for many Bond films to come.
So the best Bond film? Definitely not. Did it merit the relentless PR machine? Count the numbers and see. But it is possible to see a next film delivering more but only with the following provisos:
1. The next film must be developed around a credible villain. The "crazed individual" approach has had its day. There are plenty of villainous governments out there for Bond to fight against. Bringing back a SPECTRE style approach would also work as countries form alliances with each other. 2. Daniel Craig needs to learn how to do suave. Mr Craig brings everything to the Bond role except this and it makes for a poorer Bond. This aspect is important as it has always formed part of the reason why men want to be Bond and not the Terminator or Rambo. 3. Make the most of Ralph Fiennes – he is the only credible supporting character and is capable of making any scene involving for the viewer.
There will always be a Bond and there will always be the machine that delivers it. The trick for those operating the machine is to deliver that special quality that makes us still want Bond fighting our battles. As Sheryl Crow once said, you are not the only spy out there.