Sumptuous and beautifully crafted action/thriller

Rating: 9/10 (6 December 2015)

Here is another entry to the Bond franchise, again by Sam Mendes who brings stunning cinematography and editing to Daniel Craig's fourth outing as 007. This film carries on from Skyfall with a message from the grave by the former M to engage in some unofficial work in Mexico City which lands Bond in trouble with his superiors and does not help the new M's cause in fending off absorption of his department into another, more surveillance-minded department.
Bond's adventures uncover the sinister organisation behind his previous three adversaries - Spectre - revived again with the superb Christophe Waltz as the underused Blofeld, who turns out to have a surprising former relationship with Bond.
The film closes with Blofeld under arrest, (so one anticipates the next movie will begin with his break-out from jail), and the double-oh programme restored to its rightful role at the heart of Britain's covert operations - I love happy endings.
On the way there is some superb photography, particularly the swooping opening shot in Mexico City with almost seamless editing; Mrs Sciarra's apartment in Rome; Rome itself, and Austria. There is the usual array of gadgets and gizmos, beautiful girls, loud explosions, gunfire and lots of irresponsible mayhem. Dave Bautista is impressive as a thoroughly unpleasant bad guy, short on words but long on cool menace and physicality. The train fight was particularly enjoyable, echoes of From Russia With Love here. Ben Whishaw was hilarious as Q, he is just perfect. Spectre also has a sense of humour with regular chuckles from the cinema audience.
It would be a bit picky to be overly critical but I did think that we could have seen a bit more of Blofeld, even though I understand that limiting his appearances heightens his menace. I though Ralph Fiennes still seems a little lacking in passion as M - Judi Dench was barely in this but still contained more emotion than all of Fiennes' screen time. Monica Bellucci was also underused, I was looking forwards to much more from her - maybe she will return in the next film.
These are minor criticisms - Spectre is two hours of rewarding and enjoyable madness which sits very well in the Bond franchise. Long may it continue.