Disappointing, Felt Like a Transporter Movie

Rating: 4/10 (14 December 2015)

First and foremost, Spectre isn't a bad film. There are many redeeming qualities and I think every actor does a great job in their role. This, however, is a terrible James Bond film. The tone was all over the place, the plot was nonsensical and there was far too much convenience. I thought the action was superb, but that takes a back seat when the uninteresting/unmotivated/nonsensical plot keeps taking you out of the movie.
Daniel Craig is a great Bond, and he brought one of his best performances. It wasn't as impressive as Casino Royale or Skyfall, but he had less material to work with in this. The screenwriters also decided to make Bond a super-genius that can predict everything with hardly any information (no help from MI6) and be right every single time. He also can apparently snipe people and small engines with a pistol. These movies aren't exactly packed with realism, but they were bending my suspension of disbelief just a bit too much.
Ralph Fiennes is spectacular, and I'm glad he was used more in this than in Skyfall. His portrayal as M is evolving, and it made me want to see where his character is in the next film. Even with a new Bond (Fiennes and Craig have great screen chemistry), there were a ton of awesome character building moments. He evolved from Skyfall, and it shows in the overall plot without giving anything away.
The most disappointing aspect of the movie was the role of Blofeld, played by Christoph Waltz. When Waltz was announced as the villain of the film, there were a ton of possibilities, but he ended up being a one-note nut that had less screen time than Batista. He was completely disappointing, while a tad bit creepy in the few times we see him on screen. This was the worst part of the film because the character was fantastic when used, but in a 2 hour and 15 minute long movie, he only has one major scene. Waltz does well, but he didn't have enough opportunities.
Overall, this felt like a jumbled mess and an attempt to tie the franchise together as a curtain call for Craig's portrayals of Bond. You have to watch all the other Bond films to understand this strange plot and "subtle" tones they are smacking you over the head with. A very above-average action movie (Batista found his niche as an actor here), but a very mediocre James Bond film. Watch Casino Royale or Skyfall for a better James Bond experience.