'Some men are coming to kill us. We're going to kill them first.'

Rating: 8/10 (22 January 2013)

James Bond devotees will get their fix in this excitingly sculpted story that takes 007 to a new level. Following the shenanigans of James Bond movies has as part of its reward the opportunity to see some of Britain's finest actors with a smattering of other countries polished veterans as well. The usual Bond formula - absurdly impossible chases and fights, scenic splendor form around the globe, beautiful women in daring roles, and the blur between justice and revenge - are all present.
When James Bond (Daniel Craig, buff and strong as usual) mismanages his latest assignment in Turkey etc - the unsuccessful chase of Patrice (Ola Rapace) despite the very fine support of agent Eve (Naomie Harris) and the sidetrack of Sévérine (Bérénice Marlohe), Britain's agents around the world are exposed and MI6 is attacked forcing M (Judi Dench) to relocate the agency. These events cause her authority and position to be challenged by Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), the new Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee. With MI6 now compromised from both inside and out, M is left with one ally she can trust: Bond. With the aid of MI6 computer geek Q (Ben Wishaw) 007 takes to the shadows aided only by Eve and follows a bizarre set of clues to the secret island where the slimy Silva (a blond wigged Javier Bardem) is plotting his lethal and hidden motives that have yet to reveal themselves in the very place where Bond began - Skyfall, his Scottish home still managed by his old friend Kincade (Albert Finney). In perhaps the most spectacular (and loud) pyrotechnical exhibition of the Bond 23 films to date (more to come, we discover), the film simmers to an end.
Sam Mendes directs this very long but tensely exciting global travelogue of violence and Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and John Logan pepper the script with enough humor and clever lines to keep the audience entertained on a more cerebral level. The cast is uniform strong, with Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, and Judi Dench in full control of their lead responsibilities and supported by the fine acting of Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Ben Wishaw in the smaller roles. If you love James Bond You'll love this. Most critics are saying it is the finest of the Bond series...so where does it go from here? Grady Harp, January 13