Confession: I've never seen a James Bond film. Does that make me a bad film geek?
I'm not sure, but having seen Skyfall I suppose my days of being a 007 virgin are done with, and I don't think I could have selected a better film to take it away from me. Skyfall is a great action film that will keep audiences, Bond fan or not, on the edge of their seat. This is a pure adrenaline ride filled with all the action, beautiful women and witty one liners (I've heard) a 007 film deserves.
Comparisons to The Dark Knight are certainly warranted when talking about Skyfall as this film certainly seems intent on living out the typical character arc that 'dark and edgy heroes' must undergo these days. In fact, certain scenes felt like they were lifted out of Nolan's genre defining Batman film. That's not a criticism so much as it is an observation. While I was constantly aware of how similar the two films were, it never bothered me, simply because the film has some very distinct differences. Daniel Craig, and James Bond himself, are very different people than Christian Bale and Batman, making this feel like a familiar ride in a very different vehicle. The plot may be moody and dark, but the tone director Sam Mendes and Craig strike is a lot more lighthearted than you may think. There are a ton of one liners, charming banter, and outright fun displayed on screen where it doesn't feel like a complete rip off. Add in a screenplay that may be riddled with plot holes but can at least acknowledge the fact that Bond is aging (it's his 50th birthday, to be precise), and you have yourself a film that's not copying Nolan's trilogy but, instead, feels inspired by it.
Then there's the action. I've been very picky (read: angry) about the action films this year and their inability to entertain me in the slightest, with the exception of The Avengers. Skyfall is, by far, the best action film since Joss Whedon's superhero epic, and features some of the most exhilarating scenes of the year. Special mention must be made of the film's opening sequence, which literally throws audiences into the action. Making the action even better is the stunning cinematography from Roger Deakins. This film is absolutely phenomenal to look at and is worth picking up on Bluray solely to see the film in HD.
I also don't think you can even begin to review Skyfall without making mention of Javier Bardem's thrilling villain, Silva. Bardem is terrifying, entertaining and oddly charismatic as this psychopath of a character, and watching him interact with Bond (or, any character really) is a thrill. Bardem is so good it feels like almost all of his actions are improvised on the spot, as he is completely in character. The rest of the cast is strong (what do you expect with legends like Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes?) but nobody comes close to Bardem's level in this film.
Skyfall has nothing profound to say, other than that the Bond franchise will truly never die, but it'd be nice to have a fun diversion to the sometimes weighty Oscar fare will be exposed to as the year goes on. This is a truly entertaining film which, I think will leave many satisfied. So, if you find yourself looking for a good time at the movies later this year, check out Skyfall, Bond fan or not.
OVERALL GRADE: A-
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