"SKYFALL" Review

"Skyfall", the latest offering from the James Bond series, has been touted in initial reviews as probably the biggest and best Bond movie ever. So I was definitely excited going in for the show. On watching the movie, however, I am conflicted in my opinion. It is definitely a worthy addition to the franchise, but it is not without its flaws.

Directed by Academy Award winning director Sam Mendes, and starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, "Skyfall" continues with the gritty tone that has been adopted by the series since "Casino Royale". Injured after being shot off the top of a moving train in the thrilling opening sequence in Istanbul, a struggling Bond must race against time to save MI6 and tough-as-nails "M" (Judi Dench) from the diabolically brilliant Raoul Silva (played with relish by Javier Bardem), who bombs the MI6 headquarters and plans to publicise the names of undercover MI6 agents to exact vengeance on M for her past 'misdeeds'.

"Skyfall" impresses on multiple levels - the direction is top notch, and Mendes is able to pull off the balancing act of capturing the essence of the Bond franchise, without compromising on the storytelling. A major reason for this is that the acting is top notch - Judi Dench plays M with her usual flair, and Ralph Fiennes is a suitable addition to the series. The Bond girls, Naomie Harris (playing Agent Eve) and Berenice Marlohe (Severine) are good but don't have much to do.  Ben Whishaw as the new "Q" isn't bad. Daniel Craig slips in comfortably as 007, and gives probably his best performance as Bond to date. But the star of the show is Javier Bardem, who steals every scene he is in. I cannot help but highlight his introduction scene, which was absolutely chilling despite being very simple. I'm not sure many actors would have been able to pull it off, and he is definitely one of the most memorable Bond villains.

The movie is more in line with the 'traditional' Bond movies as compared to both "Casino Royale" and "Quantum of Solace"; and there are clear indications that the franchise will be going in a different direction. Which looks like a good thing for sure. It's nice to see Bond smile for a change, and Daniel Craig works his charms effectively. The humour is also welcome. The movie also pays tribute to vintage Bond (the franchise is celebrating 50 years), which is done well. A special mention to the oh-so-sexy classic Aston Martin. I also enjoyed the light hearted jokes on the earlier Bond movies. For instance, the scene where Q says to Bond "Were you expecting an exploding pen? We don't do that anymore" - a direct reference to the exploding pen in "Goldeneye". All of this definitely adds to the movie - which could have easily run the risk of taking itself too seriously.

The action sequences are great - the makers have been able to make them grand yet realistic, and also been able to preserve the tension and gritty feel that is so much better than superficial stuff that is so often seen nowadays. The climax was also well done, though I couldn't help getting a feeling of watching "Home Alone" in some scenes - I get that they were showing Bond's resourcefulness, but I for one found it a little "meh". Of course, like Bond, I too was disappointed that there were no fancy gadgets this time around for Bond to play with. That said, it means Bond needs to flex his muscles a bit more, and I don't think anyone can complain about that.

On the downside, "Skyfall" does feel slow at times, and is quite lengthy. Some tighter editing would have helped. I was personally disappointed that so much time was spent setting up the movie that Javier Bardem does not come in until almost half the movie is done. Also, I would have liked it if the makers had shown why Silva was such a terrifying villain and had built up his introduction. It is a testament of Bardem's ability that he can instil a sense of terror from the word go. I also felt that some interesting plot points and moral dilemmas could have been explored further (I won't list them out since that would include spoilers - but would definitely like to talk about it later). Most of all, it was disappointing to see a talented actor like Albert Finney being cast in a thankless two bit role.

To sum it up, "Skyfall" is a good movie, but it could have been much more. For all its positives and negatives, the highlight of the movie is Javier Bardem's performance. My verdict - catch "Skyfall" in the theatre - despite its imperfections, you will not be disappointed.