What a 50th birthday gift for 007. Sean Connery was finally given his successor in maybe the best Bond movie ever!

Rating: 10/10 (3 November 2012)

After the Pierce Brosnan era, it had become painfully clear 007 was in desperate need of a thorough renewal. "Die Another Day" in my opinion was the absolute low point. Main reason was that the movie went completely over the top. Another reason was that after 40 years the character was still stuck in the 60's and never evolved in any way. He had become superficial and predictable which in the end made him pretty dull, a caricature actually. But then in 2006 there was Daniel Craig in "Casino Royale" and what an entrance he made. The storyline went back to basic and James Bond became a man of flesh and blood. All of a sudden he became a character of great interest again. He absolutely still is 007 but now he has his flaws and weaknesses but above all the predictability in his character is gone. The necessary update from the 60's to the present has finally been made. The movie itself was fantastic and perfectly showed the enhanced 007 to the world. Sadly enough "Quantum Of Solace" was not able to match "CR" but still it was way better then most Bond movies in let's say the past 30-35 years. And now there is "Skyfall" and I have to say Sam Mendes has not let me down. The movie exceeded every expectation I had, it is even better than "CR". To me in every aspect, from start to end, "Skyfall" really hit the spot. In his 3 movies Craig has been able to dust of James Bond and he finally successfully guided 007 into the 21st century. Until "Skyfall" Sean Connery has always been THE James Bond. His successors (Lazenby, Moore, Dalton & Brosnan) have shown to be no more than acceptable and ultimately almost forced James Bond down on his knees. Craig with his interpretation luckily brought him back to life and in such a successful way that Connery may have to share the no. 1 position with Craig. He made the realization of the new James Bond a fact but at the same time he also brought him back to the very first beginning. And that, at least to me, is the best 50th anniversary present I as a Bond fan could get ... I was given back James Bond!