A pleasant surprise! Homage to Classic Bond!

Rating: 8/10 (6 November 2015)

I really love the new 007 film Spectre as it is a pleasant surprise. I give it an 8 out of 10. The opening tracking shot was just amazing and it really had that classic Bond film vibe from the Sean Connery era. Some 007 fans may have theories about Christoph Waltz's character Oberhauser and you are right. Even though he is in it for a short time his presence is still felt in the background as the main orchestrator of events in James Bond's life. Daniel Craig is excellent as always along with Naomi Harris as Moneypenny and Ralph Fiennes as M. Ben Whishaw as Q is a bit more mature and Bautista is menacing as Hinx showing similarities to Oddjob in Goldfinger. It is nice to see story lines tied up from previous films as well as homages to characters in the past three Craig films. Monica Belluci is great in a brief role and Léa Seydoux is excellent as Madeleine Swann. She has elements of Daniela Bianchi's Tatiana in From Russia With Love and Carole Bouquet's Melina Havelock in For Your Eyes Only. The film itself has elements of From Russia With Love, Live and Let Die, Thunderball, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, The World Is Not Enough, The Living Daylights, Skyfall, and Casino Royale. It did have its share of flaws in not having enough of Christoph Waltz's Oberhauser and going to a subplot back at MI6. Even though the third act is a tad rushed I feel the story comes together nicely and is worth it. Overall, I really loved this film and it was nice to finally see Spectre. I have wanted to see Daniel Craig go against Spectre ever since the end of Casino Royale back in 2006. It is a great follow up to Skyfall, Quantum of Solace, and Casino Royale. Go and see Spectre for yourself before you give judgment on it. Sam Mendes does a great job as well as the cast and crew. It's nice to see a great Bond follow up to a great Bond film with the same director. He joins the ranks of Martin Cambell, Guy Hamilton, and Terence Young in being one of the best directors of 007 James Bond. I was totally surprised how much I enjoyed this film after reading reviews and seeing online videos. You may have hopes and expectations but just because it doesn't quite meet the film in your head does not mean the film in front of you is by any means a bad or poorly made film. Despite story issues in the script, Spectre is yet another high quality Daniel Craig Bond. Spectre is nowhere near some of the worst of what the series has offered in the past 50 years. Do not miss this classic Bond and no matter what your opinion is on the film this is one to see on the big screen. 8 out of 10.