Skyfall or Where the Hell Have You Been?

Skyfall
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, and Javier Bardem
New Release Review

Skyfall is the third installment in the Daniel Craig era of the Bond Franchise. There was a lot of buzz around the release of this film as not only was it said to revitalize a lackluster Bond stint by Craig, it was also set to be released during Bond's 50th anniversary (in film). 

I was a little skeptical about this film; mainly because Quantum of Solace was so bad. But once I saw the trailer, I decided I had to see no matter what. Simply because Judi Dench stated in one scene: "Where the hell have you been". For those of you who are non-Simpsons fans, check out this clip from a hilarious episode featuring U2 and you'll see why that simple line made me want to see the film.

Two other things solidified my decision to see this film: Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes (aka Voldemort). It's funny how certain actors can sway your decision with seeing their films. But if you have seen any of Bardem or Fiennes' previous work, you would be compelled to see anything they were in as well.

Skyfall pays homage to old Bond films in many ways throughout its two hour-plus length. With the opening credits, the return to the Bond character as the "pure luck" type of hero and the simplicity of the weapons used by Bond. (Especially in that final battle scene that reeked of Home Alone. I half expected Craig to whip out the blueprint plans of his house and show all the ways he would protect it). Taking the high-tech gadgets away from Bond returned him to the character that made him so likeable with fans in the first place. 

The film starts off with Bond and fellow agent Eve, chasing a mercenary, who has stolen a hard drive containing information of undercover agents who have been placed in terrorist organizations. The chase takes Bond and the mercenary onto a train, and while fighting on top of the train, Eve accidentally shoots Bond, causing him to fall into the river below, allowing the mercenary to escape. Bond is presumed dead.

M (Dench) is pressured by Gareth Mallory (Fiennes) to retire and receives a threatening message via computer taunting her past misdeeds. Shortly after, an explosion destroys MI6 headquarters, killing several employees. Bond, who used his presumed death as a means of retirement, learns of the explosion and returns to London. He fails several physical tests, but M approves his return to the field. He begins to "follow the breadcrumbs", as he does in every Bond film, until he comes face to face with the main antagonist, Raoul Silvia (Bardem).

The acting in this film is completely on-point. Craig has completely established himself as "Bond". It was hard to see him as the character, especially since the character is usually remembered as being portrayed by Sean Connery or Roger Moore. In this film, I really believed that Craig was "Bond". Dench is phenomenal (though it's hard to think of a role in which she was anything but phenomenal) and is able to convey so much emotion with just a simple look. That's true acting talent. Fiennes was a great addition as Mallory and balanced out Dench's seriousness with a little lightheartedness.

Bardem hands down stole the show in this film. He was everything you want in a villain - he was terrifying, creepy, and maniacal. He was absolutely capitvating - any time he was on screen, you couldn't help but be drawn to him. He was the perfect antagonist for this film.

Final Verdict: See it. Even if you're not a Bond fan, you will enjoy this movie. It's a perfect mix of an action, thriller and dramatic story. The acting definitely helps carry this heavy storyline and the return to the simplicity of the "Bond" character (stripped down of his many gadgets that we have seen in the past two films) creates a successful film overall.

Rotten Tomatoes