Flawed, but improves on the second viewing

Rating: 6/10 (11 January 2016)

Skyfall finished on a cliffhanger. The final scene, hinting at a return to the formula, where Ralph Fienne's M is introduced, and Bond's statement that he was returning to work 'with pleasure', had us salivating, hanging for the next instalment. And it came with Spectre, but this time I left the cinema feeling a bit underwhelmed.
One thing I can't stand are the 'Bond traditionalists', stuck dreaming of a return to the old Connery/Moore films of their youth, watching for a re-run of their favourite clichés, the 'Bond, James Bond', and 'Shaken Not Stirred', reeled out like an ageing rock band bashing out their greatest hits. And Craig's Bond era has been incredibly refreshing, one that has sought to up the ante, and to distinguish itself as more daring, original and thrilling than it's competitors. And at least for the first part, Spectre matched the standards set by the previous films. Just the car chase in Rome wasn't quite as 'edge of the seat' as it should be, the snow chase saw Bond totally at ease with chasing three cars in a wingless plane, the train fight saw the human-terminator defeated after falling out of a carriage (I was fully expecting him to return at the end), the villain's lair destroyed by a few gunshots, and the finale saw Bond rescue the girl and get the baddie with as much ease as it would take to nip to the shops for some milk. It seems like Spectre was a return to the formula, unfortunately the one intended to win the 'Bond traditionalists' back.
What I dislike about many modern action films is that the bad guys are simply dispatched without any tension during the fight, with no creative send off, and Spectre at times does nothing to elevate itself above this 'action by numbers' fodder. But looking at the positives, the opening helicopter battle scene above Mexico City celebrating 'Day of the Dead' is fantastically shot (and worth the entry on it's own), Bond's cheek and insubordination gives a good few laughs, and the cinematography looks fantastic. I even found Sam Smith's much maligned theme tune a bit of a grower. And on second viewing, knowing that it wasn't going to be as good as Skyfall, but at least a little better than it's competitors, I rather enjoyed it. However, the final scene in London was very poorly done. The newly facially scarred Blofeld's takeover of the old M15 building, the predictable 'rescue the girl before the building blows', and the ensuing CGI explosions aped the worst elements of the Brosnan era. It was obvious that Blofeld was going to get to live to trouble Bond in the next film, but Bond declaring that he had 'better things to do' before turning to Swann (cue the uplifting music) was jaw- dropping in what a cop-out it was. It seemed as though the script could simply not be bothered to find a sticky situation for Blofeld to get himself out of, or for any more original way for the slimy C to meet his maker, other than to fall off a ledge.
Fortunately, the strength of the Bond team lies in its' ability to have kept it's finger on the pulse for the last 54 years, to be savvy enough to pick up on the critics' and fans' opinion, without simply caving in and giving them what they want. Whilst Craig is showing his age, and we're lucky to get one more film, let's hope that the team learn from the reception that Spectre has received, and let his final film be one to be proud of.