!!Film

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/train_fight.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Bond ''really'' needed to catch that train.]]


* [[ActionPrologue The opening scene]] shows Craig's Bond at the peak of his abilities, before the unfortunate accident that leaves him a BrokenAce for the rest of the film:
** The opening frame of the movie, which has Bond walking into the shot just as the theme music kicks in, telling us right from the beginning that this is going to be an excellent film.
** Bond chasing Patrice on motorcycles across the roofs of Istanbul is an instant classic stunt for the franchise.
** Bond rides a motorcycle off a bridge. No, wait, he doesn't. Any pissant action hero can ride a motorcycle off a bridge. Bond rides a motorcycle into the bridge's balustrade, ''so that it flips and sends him flying through the air to land on a moving train.'' In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, you can see that the motorcycle flips a few times to finally ''land on its tires'' after the jump. Power parking to the absolute max.
** Patrice becomes the first character in 50 years of films to successfully shoot Bond. Of course, this is also an awesome moment for Bond, since his only reaction to the bullet in his shoulder is [[NoSell mild annoyance]].
** Bond's entrance on the train. He tears a hole in the roof of a passenger car with an excavator, LEAPS THROUGH THE HOLE WHILE THE TRAIN'S STILL IN MOTION... and casually stops to readjust his cufflinks. Win. Even better is the fact that wasn't CGI, nor was it a stuntman. That was really Creator/DanielCraig and that was a real train! And it wasn't even scripted! (the cufflink adjustment, that is).
** Bond and Patrice's vicious hand-to-hand duel on the roof of the train. It's a pity that it gets cut short by M's poor decision and Eve's mistake.
* Adele's performance of the theme song, shortly after recovering from a strained throat that left her unable to speak for months.
* Bond vs. Patrice in Shanghai. A master class in cinematography and lighting, the entire fight is nothing but two silhouettes against a giant flatscreen background, plus the occasional muzzle flash as someone tries to use a gun, and yet every instant is fully legible to the eye. Particularly impressive as it was done in [[TheOner one]] shot.
%%* Bond's quick takedown of Silva's minions after the latter kills Severine.
* Bond captures Silva: "[[WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys The latest thing from Q branch]] – it's called a radio!" Particularly beautiful as it comes after Bond has endured many jibes about his age, "old-fashioned" methods and supposed obsolescence. The victory with the radio shows that, as a character comments later in the movie, "sometimes the old ways are the best."
%%* Silva's escape.
* Silva's eventual victory, in spite of costing his life, echoes the 'old ways being the best' in that when years of planning with computer virus, youtube leaks and hacking failed, sending a shitload of guys with guns in actually worked. Indeed, TheBadGuyWins. Skyfall is a Bond film of ''many'' firsts.
* Bond is on the run with M in her company Jaguar. They pull up outside a nondescript garage in the middle of the night. M wonders what they're doing, "Changing vehicles" replies Bond pulling open the garage door. The lights go on, a pristine and very familiar Aston Martin gleams, a slow version of the Bond theme kicks in and all is right with the world. The ejector seat is teased but when Silva's goons walk past the Aston we cut to Bond hiding in the front seat, ready to unleash one of the old girl's [[WeaponizedCar other gadgets]].
* Bond takes the tube... jumping from the platform to catch the ''back'' of the departing train. When they get off the train, Bond chases Silva back towards the Embankment station. When Silva encounters the escalators, he slides down the metal separator between them. Bond does the same. Silva faceplants when he lands...but Bond ''lands on his feet, and keeps running without stumbling''.
* Silva drops a train on Bond. Okay, he missed, but still. He dropped a train on the guy. Even crazier: ''[[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bond-franchise-daniel-craigs-skyfall-387238?page=2 that stunt was done for real]]'' to the tune of £2 million (roughly $3 million).
* The whole climax at Skyfall manor, with Bond, M, and Kincade taking on Silva's goons. Bond creates a bomb that hits one of their helicopters as it crashes into the manor. It's a bit bittersweet, but that was one pretty sweet explosion.
** Bond casually kicking a dead henchman's weapon up into his hand during the siege with an air of complete annoyance on his face - you can just tell he's thinking "Why won't these morons just give up and ''die'' already?"
** Three words. [[BraveScot "Welcome to Scotland!"]] What makes it awesome? Said Scotsman is just a groundskeeper and game hunter for Bond's family. Yet he manages to take on {{Mooks}} armed with the latest weapons and tactics with nothing more than his old hunting shotgun ''and survive''!
** A lot of Kincade's role takes on a whole new level of awesome when you learn that the part was written with the original Bond Creator/SeanConnery in mind. While this didn't end up happening, it's still amazing to imagine.
* M's response to the government minister who's been going on and on about how [=MI6=] is irrelevant is a thing of beauty. Also quite notable here is Mallory's [[DeadpanSnarker "Excuse me, Minister, I don't mean to interrupt, but, just for the sake of variety, might we hear from the witness?"]] For an added bonus, most of the panel is trying their level best to maintain a straight face at that moment.
%%* [[IronicEcho "Last rat standing."]]
* When Silva crashes the committee meeting, with every intention of killing M.
** Gareth Mallory shows us exactly what he's worth. The moment Silva marches in and raises his pistol, Mallory, with no hesitation, jumps over the committee table, and gets to M just in time to take a bullet for her. After another guard in the side doorway is shot dead by Silva, Mallory breaks cover, under fire from one of Silva's henchmen, grabs the guard's Glock 17, and manages to single-handedly gun down his opponent. RetiredBadass indeed.
** Bond gets a moment when he shoots the two fire extinguishers to give him, Mallory and Eve a smokescreen. That little wink Bond throws Mallory right before shooting the extinguishers, too.
** Silva also deserves a mention: taking on three guns singlehandedly with just a Glock 17, and, in the end, making a tactical retreat without a scratch on himself, though the two henchmen are not so lucky.
** M's speech, intercut with scenes of Silva violently making his way across London, is extremely effective.
* Silva's very first scene in the chemical plant as he gives a long monologue about a childhood incident with rats and comparing it to the situation with him, Bond, and M while walking from the far side of the corridor. All done, again, in [[TheOner one]] shot.
* For Bond fans, the introduction of Q and Moneypenny, in addition to Judi Dench passing the torch of M to Ralph Fiennes after a splendid 17-year run, re-introducing tradition into the current Craig-era films.
* The opening scenes and credits let the viewer know that shit is getting serious in the best way possible.
* M reading part of Tennyson's "Ulysses" after being HauledBeforeASenateSubCommittee. It's just a perfect rebuttal to accusations that [=MI6=] and people like Bond are old-fashioned and obsolete:
-->'''M:''' Just one more thing to say. My late husband was a great lover of poetry. And um...I suppose some of it sunk in, despite my best intentions. And here today I remember this. I think, from Tennyson:\\
We are not now that strength which in [[GloryDays old days]]\\
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;\\
One equal temper of heroic hearts,\\
[[DentedIron Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will]]\\
[[{{Determinator}} To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.]]\\
''[As she says the last word, Silva and his men walk in, disguised as police officers. They raise their pistols and shoot the guards, and a shootout ensues]''
* The last lines, especially Bond calling Mallory "M." You think TheBadGuyWins? I think 007 may disagree.
* Another one for M. During Silva's interrogation back at [=MI6=] he demands that M say his real name. M's response?
-->'''M:''' Your name is on the memorial wall of the very building you attacked. I will have it struck off. Soon, your past will be as non-existent as your future.
* M's parting words to Mallory upon leaving their first meeting.
-->'''M:''' To hell with dignity. I'll leave when the job is done.
* The very end, with Bond being given his next assignment by the new M, reassures the audience that the adventures will continue. It's followed by the classic Bond Gunbarrel Sequence, followed by a large gunbarrel icon with "[[LongRunner 50 Years]]" in the middle. Underneath it, the iconic words seen after every Bond film: ''James Bond Will Return.''
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