Skyfall (2012) * *

Directed by:  Sam Mendes

Starring:  Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes


After viewing this 23rd installment of the 007 Bond series, I'm left to wonder if there is really anything more that can be done to make the series fresh.    The players change, technology is updated, and there are newer computer-savvy villains, but to me Bond films are becoming like any other spy thriller.   They're well made, the performances are well done, but the entire enterprise is about to outlive its necessity.   We have enough Bond films so I wouldn't mind if they never made another one.

Skyfall is a film with a slow, drawn-out first half vs. a better second half.    The opening of the film begins with a very long chase scene, involving cars, trains, and construction equipment.   I'm rather weary of chase scenes by now.    During it, Bond is accidentally shot by one of his fellow agents and presumed dead.    Of course he isn't, otherwise there would be no movie.   But upon reflection, I don't even know why this angle was even introduced.    It went nowhere and has little effect on what follows.

Soon enough, MI6, helmed by M (Dench) is under siege in more ways than one.   First, M is forced into early retirement by the department's new overseer Mallory (Fiennes) and then MI6 headquarters is blown up into a million pieces via the aforementioned computer-savvy villain (Bardem).   Bardem is a former MI6 agent with a grudge against M which is later fleshed out in a jail scene eerily similar to Silence Of The Lambs.

As villains go, Bardem is fine, but I have to admit I was puzzled by his actions in the film's climactic shootout on the Scottish moors.   There are lots of chases and shootouts here which don't really distinguish themselves in Bond lore.    M is given more dimensions here than in previous Bond films and Fiennes' Mallory is also allowed some character wiggle room to make him interesting.   

The Bond series is trying very hard to keep up with the times, but is it even effective anymore?    Bond has been up against every kind of terrorist, drug lord, empire, and super villain you can throw at him.   He always comes out clean on the other side with a fresh tux and sipping his martinis.    There is really only so much that can be done before Bond grows stale.    Oh, and there is even a new Q.  And perhaps a whole new generation of gadgets.