I saw James Bond Skyfall with my entire family, including my Grandmothers, and it's interesting how we each had a different take on it. My Mom and I both gave it a solid 4.5, Robbie gave it a 2 (but that's because he's fresh from his mission, which doesn't say a whole lot for my Mom and I), Steven gave it about a 4 (he liked MI: IV Ghost Patrol more), and my Dad gave it a 3 (he thought the middle lagged a little).
I loved it, and like it the best of all the Daniel Craig Bond movies. I take that back, I like it the best of all the Bond Movies. It's gritty and psychological. Bond is feeling his age a little, and with plot points I will not mention, he's not as sharp as he used to be. I like that. It added interesting tension and suspense.
This is one of those movies I just don't want to give anything away; by watching the trailers I had an idea of some of the plot points, but the less you know, the greater the ride. And it is a ride. The action scenes are as intense as we've come to expect from the past films, and this film does not disappoint. The opening sequence on the train . . . Just wow.
The new characters are enthralling. Naomie Harris was a fun Bond girl with intelligence and skill, and I enjoyed the actress in the role. What's even more surprising is that she played Tia Dalma/Calypso in the 2nd and 3rd Pirates of the Caribbean movies, a completely different role. Javier Bardem is the films villain Silva, a mastermind laced with insanity; if pitted against The Joker, I think Silva would win. And the classic Bond character Q is played by Ben Whishaw, a young genius who actually gets outsmarted.
The Rotten Tomato for this latest Bond installment is a solid 93%: 174 fresh to 14 rotten. What were those 14 thinking!?
Daniel Craig is my favorite Bond. He is so real, and his character expands further, adding a richness to this 007 British agent. You feel his anguish and eagerness. You feel the weight on his shoulders, the pain. Bond is no superhero, thank goodness; he's a man of fierce determination.
Adele wrote the title song for Skyfall, simply named Skyfall, and it's perfect. I heard it on the radio, coming in half-way through the song, and my Mom and I looked at each other with the same thought: That sounded like Adele, and that sounded like a Bond song. It was, and it fits the movie well.
A perfect Bond film for James Bond's 50th Anniversary year of the series.
If you can, see the movie on IMAX. It's amazing.
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense violent sequences throughout, some sexuality, language and smoking).
As a note, there's a sexuality scene towards the beginning that is brief, but quite graphic . . . and the shower. Yeah, it's a James Bond film alright. The movie, with violence, etc, strongly earns it's PG-13 rating
