Bold, emotional and still a Bond film

Rating: 10/10 (9 November 2012)

Daniel Craig isn't a traditional actor to play Bond therefore his Bond films aren't traditional either (yes even that abomination Quantum of Solace).
Even though Casino Royale is the best of the Craig series, it lacked the certain Bond clichés we all love. Here we actually have some throwbacks in this reboot franchise. So there is something for the die hard Bond fans.
The dialogue in this film is fantastic. Very organic, sophisticated, the bickering between Bond and his superiors and his colleagues is there, and we actually hear "Bond. James Bond".
The characters in this film are solid and multi-dimensional. We get introduced to a young Q, who actually does more than just introduce gadgets. Tia Dalma (I forget the black chick's name) plays Eve Mo- ahem a fellow agent and you actually like her and the sexual tension between her and Bond. M here is a huge part of the story. She no longer is just the MI6 director who barks order and tells Bond off, she's one of the foci of the story. There is a really beautiful woman who's another Bond girl, but I found this one sort of forgettable. Like well into the film I forgot about her.
And the villain. Wow his mullet was the most menacing thing I've ever seen. Javier Bardem plays Silva and as you can tell from the trailer he's a former agent. He's not a villain with a Machiavellian scheme, he's just out for (an elaborate sick, twisted) revenge. He's a great villain and he doesn't require a Persian cat or a hollowed out volcano.
The story is much more dense here. Bond is given a lot more dimension like Dalton's. Unlike Timothy Dalton's Bond, he still has a deadpan sense of humour though. In the first two acts you get a general Bond film. In the third act however it becomes incredibly emotional.
The ending of the film will remind a lot of people of Hard Target and Home Alone, this wasn't intentional but it happened. Nonetheless it's a very different kind of climax, and its refreshing to see one that doesn't take place in a villain's lair or submarine etc.
One thing that will strike you are the visuals. Each shot has a rich blend of colours. The cinematographer and director were very meticulous here, job well done. I guess it's because the director's the guy who did American Beauty. So for those of you who knock digital film, well there you go.
50 years into this series, and I'm pretty sure Ian Fleming would be proud.