Falling for Bond

I’ve never been a huge Bond fan and, to be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to watching this movie. I still, however, continue watching 007 films waiting to see what the fuss is about … now, I finally get it!

What better way to celebrate 50 years of Bond than to give fans the best film of the series since the iconic days of Sean Connery. Cool clothes, cool cars, cool guy, what’s not to love?

Although its four years late, due to MGM’s bankruptcy, nothing can go wrong when Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes, known for American Beauty, is onboard.

As the movie started, a sweltering pre-title sequence shows Craig destroying Turkey in search of an important hard drive from the enemy. However, when he is accidently shot by one of his own, he is presumed killed in action … and cue credits, a sequence made to assure a nervous audience that the thrills are back.

 Of course, Bond is still alive and is now enjoying retirement, but not for long. I questioned whether the idea of having his glory days behind him would work, but it did. Skyfall is nothing if not daring and it’s not long before the character we love is back.

Not only does Mendes recreate the iconic Bond image and give the audience insight into 007’s past, but he finally allows Craig to own the role, possibly rewarding him the same reverence from film reviewers that Connery once received.

As the plot slowly unfolds in the beginning the viewers get to see a more vulnerable side to Bond. His injury from the shooting has made him weaker but he can still pack a punch when necessary.

However, when former Agent Raoul Silva (Bardem) shows up and hacks the trusty security system, blows up the MI6 building and, like all villains in the series, uses his seemingly endless supply of money and henchmen to destroy the secret service, Bond finds there’s a reason behind the destruction … and it’s ‘mum’ AKA M (Dench), head of MI6.

Without giving away too much about the plot, viewers are taken on a journey with Bond from Turkey to London, Shanghai, Macau, back to London and lastly, Scotland, where Bond grew up, all in order to save M from Raoul.

The film takes a completely different direction to the others, with more acting than action, which may sound …well, boring, but in my opinion, it works.

Mendes creates exciting scenes with incredible twists and puts 007 where he belongs – at the top. The writers provide a witty script that has enough humour to make you chuckle throughout and the cast delivers superbly, with Bardem conveying a flamboyant evil terrorist with a vengeful M fixation. He is brilliant as an insane old-school Bond villain, channelling all types of crazy while sporting a new blond hair-do.

Craig is superb as the vulnerable Bond, although he doesn’t have to do much since his icy blue eyes do most of the acting for him. Furthermore, he is perfect as a disobediently strong Bond with the energy of someone half his age. Nevertheless, the relationship between him and Dench provided the emotional core of the film.

 In addition, the bravery to discover Bond’s unseen emotional levels, a young Q (Ben Whishaw), two new Bond Girls (Naomie Harris and Bérénice Marlohe) and the amazingly choreographed fight scenes with faultless cinematography made the film that much more exciting.

For those of you who are still cautious, fear not as a list of boxes have been ticked to satisfy everyone’s needs in my opinion: action, love, guns, blood, gadgets, huge lizards and a shirtless Bond … what more could a movie-lover ask for?

*Showing in Cineco, Seef I, Saar Cineplex, Al Jazeera Cineplex