Spectre is a shiny cinematographic product from the beginning to the end.

Rating: 8/10 (30 April 2016)

Spectre is a shiny cinematographic product from the beginning to the end. The cast is splendid, and Daniel Craig delivers a classic performance as Bond. However the plot is missing a dramatic twist that would make the movie exceptional.
In Spectre the director delivers a classic Bond film, although he is not taking full advantage of the talents of his amazing cast. With Craig still on the driving seat, Spectre is a movie that is enjoyable to watch, and probably a movie that is closer to the classic Bond standards of the past.
Spectre is visually and dramatically engaging, but it also makes use of cinematographic references - or clichés - from older Bond movies. I think that the director did not give Craig and the truly amazing cast the necessary cinematic time to deliver more distinct, memorable performances.
In Spectre Bond is not introspective. He has no self doubt. He is very sure about himself even when everyone else is in doubt. There is no major twist in the plot to prove him wrong.
The absence of a major dramatic twist is what makes Spectre a lighter movie from Casino. In Casino Bond almost dies from poisoning, he is saved by a woman, he falls in love, but then discovers that all his assumptions were wrong, and just few minutes before the end his paradise collapses. This major dramatic turn makes Casino an unforgettable movie.
In Casino the director dedicates more time to establish the characters of both heroes and villains. A significant amount of film time is dedicated to build up the love story between Bond and Vesper. So the character of Vesper becomes significant. In Spectre, although all actors are truly exceptional, the storytelling style is more light, fast, and straightforward. None of the characters becomes dramatically too significant. A major dramatic twist is missing. Each of the characters acts as one would expect, and there are no ultimate surprises.
Another element that makes Spectre a lighter movie is the absence of bitter violence: violence that is deadly, and man-to-man, but not fun to watch. Instead we have a lot of action-style expensive violent scenes that are wonderfully choreographed, with lots of humor, and in well selected locations. But as viewers we are so accustomed to violent scenes from other action movies that this recipe does not make strong impression. The violent scenes in Casino and in Quantum, on the other hand, were more direct and bitter, and for this reason one can still recall them. One can hardly recall any violent scene from Spectre.
In all, it seems to me that Spectre is a film that is closer to the classic standards of the old Bond movies. It has plenty of style, great locations, humor, and exceptional acting. But it is lacking the dramatic power of the previous three movies. Spectre is a shiny, well choreographed, cosmopolitan action-movie that my daughter and my wife love to watch! The cast is amazing. Every actor delivers a formidable performance, to the degree that one would wish to see more... Daniel Craig is once more impeccable as Bond and remains the main reason for many of us to look forward to another Bond movie.