I will agree that old Bond movies need something of a shake-up, they were beginning to feel like cheap knock-offs of Bond movies. But Casino Royale failed me. There are two factors things that cannot change about a Bond film, first it must feel like nothing else out there and secondly guys have to want to be like Bond. And I'm not sure many people wanted to be the guy strapped to a chair having their privates whipped with a knotted rope.
Skyfall fixes all of that. Now Bond leaps through the jagged whole of a train and straightens his cuffs. His breakdowns involve having sex with beautiful women and doing shots with a scorpion on his wrist. He puts €4 million on red and doesn't look at explosions.
More importantly it felt unique to itself. People kept comparing Casino Royale with the Bourne films but there is nothing Skyfall compares to except Bond. Outrageous, clever, stylish, smooth this is Bond for a new age because it no longer feels like Bond tropes but something so right for the tone of the film. When the theme music started it felt like the film had earned it's right to play it. I imagine this is what it must have felt like for the people who saw the first Bond film when it was released and totally appropriate for the culture. Skyfall is a bond film reimagined as a Bond film.
The modern sensibilities add a slightly serious undertone and gives it some intellectual and character weight. It feels like things are happening to these people and that they're people who change. The plot is the perfect level of complicated and none of this gets in the way of the fun. The cast were excellent and this film was absolutely beautiful to watch and hear.
It also captured exactly where the British identity is at at the moment, a blending of an awe-filled heritage with a modern vibe. Computers amongst stone arches
So those of you who liked Casino Royale were presumably okay with the new direction with Daniel Craig already, this review is basically to say that for the people who weren't okay with it, Skyfall is very likely to bring you back.
Finally, three nitpicks.
1. There was a death towards the end that felt underplayed
2. They said England when they meant Britain. Bond is Scottish, there's no way he'd put up with 'English Secret Service' nonsense =D
3. The villain deformity felt like checklist. Wasn't relevant
I hate Casino Royale less, now it pathed the way for Skyfall
I will agree that old Bond movies need something of a shake-up, they were beginning to feel like cheap knock-offs of Bond movies. But Casino Royale failed me. There are two factors things that cannot change about a Bond film, first it must feel like nothing else out there and secondly guys have to want to be like Bond. And I'm not sure many people wanted to be the guy strapped to a chair having their privates whipped with a knotted rope.
Skyfall fixes all of that. Now Bond leaps through the jagged whole of a train and straightens his cuffs. His breakdowns involve having sex with beautiful women and doing shots with a scorpion on his wrist. He puts €4 million on red and doesn't look at explosions.
More importantly it felt unique to itself. People kept comparing Casino Royale with the Bourne films but there is nothing Skyfall compares to except Bond. Outrageous, clever, stylish, smooth this is Bond for a new age because it no longer feels like Bond tropes but something so right for the tone of the film. When the theme music started it felt like the film had earned it's right to play it. I imagine this is what it must have felt like for the people who saw the first Bond film when it was released and totally appropriate for the culture. Skyfall is a bond film reimagined as a Bond film.
The modern sensibilities add a slightly serious undertone and gives it some intellectual and character weight. It feels like things are happening to these people and that they're people who change. The plot is the perfect level of complicated and none of this gets in the way of the fun. The cast were excellent and this film was absolutely beautiful to watch and hear.
It also captured exactly where the British identity is at at the moment, a blending of an awe-filled heritage with a modern vibe. Computers amongst stone arches
So those of you who liked Casino Royale were presumably okay with the new direction with Daniel Craig already, this review is basically to say that for the people who weren't okay with it, Skyfall is very likely to bring you back.
Finally, three nitpicks. 1. There was a death towards the end that felt underplayed 2. They said England when they meant Britain. Bond is Scottish, there's no way he'd put up with 'English Secret Service' nonsense =D 3. The villain deformity felt like checklist. Wasn't relevant