Nearly time for another reboot

Rating: 5/10 (26 December 2015)

After a long legal battle was finally settled in late 2013 the Bond films makers were now able to bring back the global criminal organisation SPECTRE and of course its head Ernst Stavro Blofeld (last seen officially in 1971's Diamonds Are Forever). In SPECTRE they certainly begin making up for lost time, this film has possibly the most "SPECTRE" content of all bond films, but the first thing I thought when I heard of the title to this Bond film was why bring this organisation back? There was simply no need to, you have your own global criminal organisation (Quantum, which is now revealed to be a subsidiary of SPECTRE in this film, wonder what the other subsidiaries do?), then there was the Austin Powers movies that completely lampooned SPECTRE and Blofeld, I assume people high up the chain in EON have seen the Austin Powers movies? I mean I wonder how many people who watched this film knew what SPECTRE stood for in the earlier movies, I'm guessing less than 5% tops. SPECTRE belonged in the 60's and should have been left there. Moving on would I watch SPECTRE if it wasn't a bond film? No. Did I watch Casino Royale after this to remind myself how good a Bond film can be? Yes. There are some good scenes in this film, the pre-credits sequence is very good (best bit of the film), the fight in the empty train, the SPECTRE conference where the new baddie henchman (think Jaws, Oddjob) introduces himself, however the "car chase" in the empty streets of Rome is terrible, the chemistry between Bond and the Bond girl (Léa Seydoux) just isn't there and we also see that for some reason Bond lives in an empty apartment. This film tries to tie in events in the past three bond films to SPECTRE, yes that's right all the bad guys all part of SPECTRE, its even now revealed that Raoul Silva was part of SPECTRE, didn't recall any mention of that in Skyfall, not a good idea, again not necessary (Auric Goldfinger wasn't part of SPECTRE). There's a big spoiler here but it turns out Blofeld was a surrogate brother to bond and because Blofeld's parents loved bond a bit more, that was one of the reasons Blofeld decided to form this global criminal organisation to get back at Bond. There is also the whole are spies relevant with CCTV, satellites etc. the answer is obviously yes, as it was in Skyfall. I think Daniel Craig is again a very good Bond but he can only work with what he given, I see parallels with the Pierce Brosan era i.e. starts off really well (Goldeneye) and then just gets gradually worse (Die Another Day). I know when a Bond film comes out its hard for Bond fans not to watch it, but after the next film which will no doubt feature SPECTRE it may be time for another reboot with a new Bond.