Major spoilers ahead!



Saw it yesterday. Saw it alone which was a bit weird since I pretty much always go with friends. I think the previous film I saw by myself in the movies was LETHAL WEAPON 3 back in ´92. So it'd been a while.

I thought it was a very good film. It wasn't as action heavy as the shitty QUANTUM and even though there were some great action sequences they weren't too grand in scale and the balance of those sequences was good. In the end it was more like CASINO ROYALE and I'm glad of this. The opening credits sequence that the series is well-known for was great and I really dig the title song by Adele. All in all a very suitable entry to celebrate the 50 years of Bond.

I liked how the scheme of the villain wasn't once again to try and take over the world one way or another but that this time it was about personal vengeance. Even though it wasn't quite clear why he was that mad at M. Sure he used the capsule in his teeth and felt M was responsible for not trying to save her but still felt a little too thin a reason to go through that much trouble killing her. I thought Bardem was a good villain (reminded me of Ledger's Joker) but I wanted him to do more. Also his death came too sudden and wasn't that meaningful even though it was done with Bond's father's (I think) old knife. I had no idea M was going to die in the movie nor that the pretty black lady turned out to be Moneypenny. I think it was a good decicion and I liked how the razor scene was left ambigous so we don't know if they bumped the uglies or not. I'm thinking they didn't.

There was some really cool scenes in the movie. Like the CQC fight scene in the tower with the gun going off between punches. The one scene I didn't like was the CGI-lizard scene. That wasn't necessary and looked a bit stupid. Sure it did show that the gun only works in Bond's hands but we knew that already and it couldn't been shown in a different scene.

There was a lot of fanservice in the movie like the Aston Martin, Walter PPK, Moneypenny obviously and Fiennes becoming the new M (that I see as a nod to Bernard Lee.) I knew that Q was going to be this young geeky guy and thought he'd be lame but I quite liked the character. I was annoyed at first that they revealed Bond's parents' names (they haven't been told before, have they?) but since I see the movie as the real reboot (more so than CASINO) I thought it was fine. And not too much info were given about them like how they died which I thought was a good thing. What I wasn't too fond of about the movie was that Marlohe didn't do much as the bond girl. She kind of was there and boom, she's dead.

Last edited by Dramagod (October 27, 2012 1:45 pm)

Just seen Skyfall. I agree with a majority of what DramaGod hass written in his previous post.

I think the reasoning for the 'baddy' (Bardem) wanting vengeance on M becomes only completely clear in his very final scene with her. It is suggested that, like Bond himself, he has issues around his early years, perhaps abandonment by mother? As a character he was believable and I liked that fact that he wasn't just played as a complete nutter. He died by the knife the gamekeeper put down on the table.

I also thought the scene with the lizard was unnecessary, a bit silly and also predictable. I mean as soon as you see them do you not think 'someone is going to fall in there and get munched by them'?

The fight sequence in the tower was fantastic, with the silhouettes, such as those we usually see just in the opening credits of Bond movies. The scenery and lighting for the Scottish scenes was amazing. Particularly the contrast of the blue-greens whilst they are waiting and preparing with the orange and reds of the spectacular attack scene. I loved the way the steam of their breath was lit up by the fiery background. I thought the motorbike chase was also fantastic. Overall the cinematography was first rate.

I too was surprised by M's death but I think Fiennes is going to make a damn fine replacement. Farewell to Dame Judi Dench in the role I thought she was, once again, excellent in this film.

I also warmed to the new, young Q. Nicely played and an interesting character.

I thought the overriding theme of old versus new in the spy world was spot on and with the symbols of the classic James Bond car, Bond's father's old hunting rifle,  the old gamekeeper's knife (he actually says about it being part of the old ways) - plus more that'll I'll probably get on a second viewing.

Having read all the original James Bond stories by Fleming I would agree that is is much more akin to the James Bond portrayed in these. He is actually a damaged person (autocorrect just changed this to PSoS!) who has a code of conduct but who is also highly dangerous and ruthless.

Final verdict...this is an excellent film which is definitely worth watching. I shall also be watching it again. Films like this make it worthwhile going to the pictures.

I really think about watching this Bond. I'm not that interested in James Bond in general. I think the only film I saw was Goldfinger. But when I read that Sam Mendes is the director and Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes are also in it, I got interested.

And Adeles "Skyfall" is brilliant.

Oh, I thought of Reichenbach all the time. Of course I'm not objective. But when a film starts with the hero plunging to his alleged death, comes back from the dead and ends on a roof with the London skyline behind him, wearing coat and scarf … well. 

Yes, of course, I forgot that one. So many parallels. And so many scenes set in London instead of those usual exotic places. And the new Q was a bit of a Hawking/Sherlock crossover with very nice hair.

Last edited by SusiGo (November 1, 2012 11:38 am)

Adele is nominated for a Golden Globe for the song, I'm sure she also gets the Oscar nomination. How cool would that be if she gets one.