Film Review: SKYFALL ★★★★½☆

007 may be celebrating his 50th Anniversary on the big screen this year, but there is clearly no sign of age with the release of Skyfall, the fantastic latest entry in the James Bond series and Daniel Craig's third round as Ian Fleming's iconic MI6 secret agent.

After suffering several years of crippling false starts, legal woes and studio shuffling, thankfully the 23rd Bond film found its way and lined up Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road) to take the helm and follow up 2008's dark, violent and disappointing Quantum of Solace. Not only does the Oscar-winning director boldly make his own mark on the series, Mendes steps it up by completely delivering one of the best Bond entries on the big screen (regardless of which 007 was your first).

Skyfall opens with a relentless thrill-a-minute opening chase sequence through Istanbul via motorbikes and trains that thrusts the film forward at full throttle. But at a critical moment, 007 is wounded by friendly fire from his field partner Eve (Naomie Harris), presumed killed in action and subsequently takes too kindly to a booze-heavy self-imposed retirement on a tropical island.

Unfortunately for Bond's happily ever after is the whereabouts of the stolen hard drive containing the identities of NATO undercover agents he was assigned to secure during all the pre-opening credits action. The top secret intel has fallen into dangerous enemy hands, and M (Judi Dench) as head of MI6, is held accountable for its loss by the British brass. It's up to Bond to find the drive and reclaim it back from the threat who is not only executing the uncover agents, but also has a personal vendetta against M.

The Bond that returns to action has lost his edge, and is painfully reminded that he is of a dying breed fighting terrorism. This fact is hammered in harder by no one more than Q (Ben Whishaw), 007's new quartermaster. The new Q is not the whimsical elderly gadget wizard of the past, but rather a 21st-century bushy haired young IT snob. Q takes joy in boasting that he can inflict more damage in his pajamas with his laptop before his first morning tea than an aging trigger puller like Bond can do in a year on the field. While the blatant humor that previously accompanied the Q/Bond exchanges is a thing of the past, the clever reinvention here allows for some of the subtle (and rare) chuckles in Skyfall as it acknowledges the history in the previous installments.

It takes nearly an hour for Javier Bardem to appear as the unforgettable new villain, Silva, a former MI6 agent with a serious axe to grind with M who consistently stays one brilliant step ahead of his adversaries. Bardem brings both a grounded evil charisma, and bad ass flamboyance to the latest archenemy which will rank him up their with the best baddies of the series. It's a fine line to walk between the evil mustache-twisting bombastic Roger Moore-era villains and the slick real world modern foes seen in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Bardem leaps way up off the tight rope and lands safely back down when it comes to his vengeful performance here.

To say 'this time its personal' is an understatement  It's never been more personal a mission for Bond and M (who finally has a welcome substantial role here). To defeat Silva they both are confronted by demons from their past to extents we have never seen before. We even get a glimpse into the unexplored childhood of Bond that shaped him into the hardened government assassin he has become. The rock solid screenplay allows the film to delve deeper into these back stories and explore untouched aspects of these iconic characters.

It would be wrong to not applaud the gorgeous visuals courtesy of nine-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins. Sequences set in the streets of Istanbul, to the glass-encased neon-drenched skyscrapers of Shanghai, to metropolitan settings in London, to the highlands of Scotland for its back-to-basics gritty finale, the series has never had richer eyes behind the camera or been in better hands.

A staple of every Bond film is of course the fetching new ladies, played here by Bérénice Marlohe (Sévérine) and Naomie Harris (Eve). But as the new Bond girls, they as a team get a bit shortchanged in the overall story. There are also some well placed, if not brilliant (subtle and otherwise) homages to the past, and all that hype and controversy surrounding Bond drinking a nice cold Heineken have been vastly overblown (yes he does, but get over it folks).

Overall it does pull back a bit regarding a barrage of huge action set pieces to instead make time for thrilling suspense, heavy dialogue, and deep character development. But that makes for a better movie and does not mean it holds out entirely on the brawn. Craig brings another gritty A-game performance to the role and delivers with the extra dimensions the script allows him to take.

Skyfall at times takes it to a bare bones level with some selective, but impressive, explosive points to amp it up. But with a top notch villain in Bardem, the welcome additions of Ralph Finnes, Ben Wishaw and Naomie Harris to the cast, and a stripped down accessible James Bond like we've never seen before, the 23rd entry in the series delivers everything you want on many entertaining levels and ranks among the best of the recent class of sophisticated intelligent blockbusters.

In this third act of 007's Daniel Craig-era, Skyfall pays due homage to the films of the past, and finds a solid place to soar forward in a new direction now complete with all the familiar trappings and legendary elements that have made Bond a cinematic icon for the past 50 years.

Happy Golden Anniversary indeed, Mister Bond.

Skyfall opens in IMAX on November 8th at midnight screenings, and goes wide on November 9th.

REVIEW RATING:  ★★★★½☆
Directed By: Sam Mendes

Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw

Studio: Sony Pictures

Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 143 minutes

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'Skyfall' Exclusive Artwork For IMAX 12:01 Club

Following the highly collectible Frankenweenie print given to eager fans at midnight screenings on the film's release day, IMAX has another treat for their 12:01 club to mark Skyfall's highly anticipated unveiling as the first Bond film presented in the super size format. Check out the exclusive 007 artwork that will be available at the earliest IMAX screenings on November 8th.

From IMAX:

Exclusively for IMAX fans as part of the 12:01 program, those attending the Skyfall opening midnight shows will receive this exclusive, limited edition print featuring Daniel Craig as the iconic James Bond. Skyfall marks the 50th Anniversary of James Bond on film, the 23rd installment of the longest-running film franchise in history.

Skyfall has been specially formatted for IMAX and will be the first time that Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007 is presented in IMAX.

Skyfall, directed by Sam Mendes, stars Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, and Naomie Harris.

SOURCE: IMAX

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Happy 50th Anniversary 007!

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TRAILER: 'Skyfall' #2

Hot on the heels of the unforgettable Olympics short film co-starring Daniel Craig and the newest Bond girl Queen Elizabeth II, the second trailer for Skyfall hit today. In addition to new juicy plot point hints, we get our first glimpse of Javier Bardem decked out in a blonde bouffant as 007's latest villain, Silva, as well as a little more from the new Q played by Ben Whishaw.

Skyfall, the 23rd James Bond adventure, and directed by Sam Mendes, is set to hit theaters and IMAX screens on November 9th.

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PREVIEW: New 'Skyfall' Olympic Teaser

A new 30 second spot for the 23rd James Bond film, Skyfall, debuted during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympic Games. The next film in the series sees Daniel Craig return for his third turn as 007, and was directed by Sam Mendes.

The new look at the film followed the memorable short film directed by Danny Boyle that aired during the live broadcast that teamed up the iconic British MI6 super spy and Queen Elizabeth II. The tongue in cheek pre-recorded adventure concluded with a live parachute jump into Olympic Stadium.

Skyfall hits cinemas and IMAX screens on November 9, 2012

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TEASER TRAILER: 'Skyfall'

The poster was revealed last week by Sony Pictures, and now the much anticipated first look teaser trailer for the 23rd James Bond film, Skyfall, has been released.

Daniel Craig returns to the role of MI6 secret agent 007 for the third time following 2008's Quantum Of Solace. In the latest Bond adventure directed by Sam Mendes, we can look forward to a new villain Silva played by Javier Bardem, and the introduction to the new gadget master Q (Ben Wishaw). New Bond girls include Berenice Marlohe who plays Severine, and Naomi Harris joins the cast as Eve. In addition to Ralph Fiennes as Gareth Mallory, Dame Judi Dench returns as M.

According to Sony: "Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost."

Skyfall is set to hit theaters and IMAX screens on November 9th.

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'Skyfall' Teaser Poster Revealed

Columbia Pictures has released the first teaser poster from the 23rd James Bond film, Skyfall. Daniel Craig is seen in an iconic image that should be familiar to 007 fans all around the world.
 

According to the official synopsis, "Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost."

Skyfall, directed by Sam Mendes, is set to hit theaters on November 9th with Daniel Craig returning as James Bond, Dame Judi Dench (M), Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem, Naomi Harris, and Ben Wishaw (Q).

 SOURCE: 007.com