Retro 007

Rating: 6/10 (30 October 2015)

It must be difficult for the Director, writers, producers, stars and composers to mine unexplored areas for the franchise. Fifty three years since its inception and twenty four films down the line, Spectre proves that James Bond is still the most reliable spy franchise in cinematic history.
Whilst taking a "holiday" Bond hunts down a terrorist that former M (Judi Dench) wants him to dispatch, she left a message in her will. Soon it becomes clear that there is a bigger force involved. SPECTRE is causing global destruction once again and 007 will come face to face with his nemesis; Ernst Stavro Blofeld.
Spectre starts with a stunning pre-credits sequence in Mexico during the day of the dead festival. It is this set piece that gets the ball rolling. The first shot of the film is unbroken reaching four minutes; we hold our breath and watch as Sam Mendes shatters our expectations for the second time in a row.
If there has always been one element that the series has struggled with, let's face it, it is the women. Some are far too weak, dim witted or just plain irritating to bring anything worthwhile to the table. That's not the case here. One does serve as eye candy at the start of the film, but she is seen so briefly that it does not matter. Monica Bellucci's appearance though is stirring, even if she is given less screen time than she deserves. The real standout here though is Léa Seydoux (the star of the French film Blue Is the Warmest Colour) simultaneously fragile, strong minded and ferocious. She has just the right temperament which makes for an excellent Bond girl.
Daniel Craig has finally settled into the role with a cock sure and suave performance, the highlight of his current tenure as Bond. Q gives 007 a few worthy gadgets. An exploding watch and a new Aston Martin DB10 that was commissioned specifically for its use in Spectre, complete with fire powered engine exhausts and the famed ejector seat.
Christoph Waltz receives about as much screen time as Dr No in the first film; which is another way of saying that he barely appears. Yet his menacing presence is felt and accelerates the film whenever things begin to wind down. Mr Hinx (a brutal Dave Bautista) is a man of very few words. He draws similarities to Oddjob and is in all honesty a beast of a man. He dispatches his enemies with Game of Thrones – esque executions.
The music by Thomas Newman serves the film better this time and is a delight to listen to, even without the accompaniment of the film. There are fresh call-backs to the series that earn praise and do not abuse Bond's substance and style; a fight on a helicopter (For Your Eyes Only), a blistering battle in a speeding train (From Russia with Love) and a chase in the Austrian Alps (On Her Majesty's Secret Service). There is even a neat tie in with the previous Craig entries that makes sense in the long run.
Spectre is the greatest Bond film since Casino Royale; high praise, indeed. Mendes delivers on all fronts and as Bond fanatics and film buffs we are granted the Bond film that we deserve. Spectre also serves as a glorious call back to the golden days of 007; when the plot barely mattered, the action was thrilling and a film could be fun. As Bond's nemesis says "Welcome James, it's been a long time".