James Bond's Spectre : No Great Spectacle Here

Rating: 6/10 (20 November 2015)

Anxiety and hush - that's how you wait for a Bond movie to start. You hold your seat's edge and expect a roller coaster ride to begin. Begin it did. Perfectly toned and immaculately turned out Daniel Craig is moving through a busy street in Mexico City celebrating the street festival - Day of the Dead. What follows is some great scenes shot to bewilder you, beautiful crowd and aerial shots a small run and chase and then a helicopter sequence for which you need to give credit – a whole lot of it to Hoyte van Hoytema (cinematographer of Interstellar). That's it. that is exactly how much of a awed spectator that you can expect to be in this 245 million dollar Spectre (costliest Bond). It was supposed to be the farewell gift from Daniel Craig (who is the co-producer too) and another marvel from Sam Mendes. But this combination seems to have lost steam. They need to come to India, go to the Himalayas, get rejuvenated. watch some good spy-vs-spy recent Bollywood movies, get inspired and get bloody out of their rich renegade businessman cum terrorist mode. It's one too far a cry to be heard, or is it. And for whatever purpose they got Monica Bellucci and wasted her – what a dame, what a dame what wastage! Ahhh! My heart cries! For once, Spectre reminded me repeatedly of the bygone Roger Moore era of hopeless gadgets and Martini-shaken not stirred. Comon, now! The whole franchise was resurrected after Daniel Craig stepped in. He had the body, the body language and more so the presence to entice the women without ever giving the lip service or moving to bed. We saw some great action, gigs and gadgets in his movies and so much so for 'M'. Judi Dench was so much for perfection, I think with her end, the era ended at Skyfall – Sam, Daniel . What a way to sound the death knell for Bond. Christopher Waltz is hopeless as the main villain, Lea Seydoux is hopelessly portrayed as just another bimbo, just think of Ralph Fiennes getting wasted at this age at this juncture of his career, Naomie Harris as Ms. Moneypenny has gone back to getting wasted – remember how they erected a strong character of Moneypenny (more than just being a desk clerk at MI6) in Skyfall and where are the smart gadgets by Q. oh my, oh my!!! And the fear came true. Despite churning trash in all its episodes, Mission Impossible –V really posed a challenge (as I had a feeling) and now Tom Cruise stands out to be the clear master. why not consider him for the next Bond. He was just perfect in his last MI great action sequences and greatly enacted. Spectre again lost the plot to MI Rogue Nation – 'shut the 007 and let James be on his own' has been already used as 'shut the IMF & let Ethan Hunt be on his own'. The whole concept of new world order has been used. Last but not the least, despite making us wait for a week, Pahlaj Nihalani (the useless CBFC chief) robbed us of the so called excessively long kisses on screen – what bull! Go, go, go. Watch Bollywood's 'Phantom' or 'Ek Tha Tiger' or 'Bang Bang' or 'Agent Vinod' instead, there is no peace for your ever flirty Bond heart in this movie. And alas, Daniel Craig would be missed as that real Bond who made your heart pound and Sam Mendes is condemned to go back to directing some Shakespeare on stage - again !!