Starts off strong and goes weaker through the end, but should be taken as an enjoyable blockbuster without deeper values and gets the job done (Second viewing: better)

Rating: 7/10 (6 November 2015)

Yesterday I wrote some of this (I had to cut a bit due to the word limit) just returned after watching "Spectre" for the very first time and loaded by high and complex expectations:
----YESTERDAY---- "What a shame. This could have been a so fantastic movie but ended up having no soul at all... Or the little it has being so wasted by banal explanations without passion. "Spectre" opens on a roaring high (...) Then, since the opening credits on... it's a series of hits and misses. The movie works well as an action driven spectacle during the first hour and a half remarking the Spectre reunion, handed with masterful tension and breathtaking silences. This looks really promising. Then, everything goes to shatters. An unexpectedly weak and unspectacular long car chase leads us to events that are presented with a good pace and fun action. But the movie has already shown its main weakness: the lack of soul. That lack of powerful meaning in the dialogs and the situations like Casino Royale and Skyfall. Each situation is like an obligatory and banal explanation of where to go next, lacking the logic and the urgency of all the previous Craig's Bond movies (...).
Then we really meet Christoph Waltz character (Franz Oberhausser, AKA Ernst Stavro Blofeld). And what should have been the ultimate nemesis to Bond is sadly the second worst of all. Waltz delivers the lines by the numbers. He never scares us. Ironically is the mastermind of every big plot of every past movie of Craig era... and is one of the most lackluster villains. Even his personal connection with Bond is delivered without passion and like another obligatory explanation. Even the torture scene falls short after all the fuzz it gave.
But when I thought that they were saving the best for the finale... The finale of this movie is one of the most annoying and lackluster endings that I have seen at any movie in a big while. Bond is kidnapped, M fights C while Q hacks Nine Eyes and we realized Blofeld survived the explosion that blew up his base in Tangiers and is pursed by Bond after he saved Madeleine before a massive explosion broke down old MI6 building completely. It sounds crazy and interesting, does it? Well, the movie has no tension at all at any of this moments. Not at all. Not dramatic, but not spectacular as well. A complete empty end on a whimper. Waltz is even more ridiculous (trying to escape after his helicopter is down by Bond and seemed in content anger when is arrested by M) as his character is left without a proper and more diabolically send off. Also there is no surprises. No explosive action. Even Quantum kept me guessing in its explosive ending because it had tension enough at least. And what about Bond retiring alongside Madeleine without apparently consequences? Kudos for him to finally be able to save one love (untasted in comparison with Vesper's storyline and even the deeper-mother like- one with the previous M) in his life but... is this really the way he wants to end his Bond run? Is that all? That easy? (...) I really can't believe they (Daniel, Sam Mendes, the writers, the producers themselves) had delivered an empty entertainment that was one of the most anticipated movies of the year and now it is becoming as one of the most lackluster. Is it fun?: Yes. Is it good?: Not enough. Is the best of Craig as Bond?: Not at all (Casino Royale and Skyfall still being in fight for that crown). Is his worst one?: Sadly, yes. From Spain, a big fan of his James Bond run facing the hard truth: Spectre definitely falls too short." ----YESTERDAY----
Today, after a second viewing (I came back to the theater) and knowing what I was about to see I enjoyed it much more. I don't change almost anything of what I wrote but this one is better than Quantum (I know I was a bit harsh). This is a colorful pop corn fun that makes up into the Bond canon although you should not expect a film among the best ones or an special, eventful and meaningful outing such as "Skyfall". The writing stills flat and the action scenes are disappointing after the amazing opening. But "Spectre" is an enjoyable blockbuster that gets the job done and should be judge in that way. I even rise my verdict over it and gets a solid 7 out 10.