100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 3: Skyfall

Director: Sam Mendes

Genre: Action/ Crime/ Thriller

Runtime: 142 minutes

Year: 2012

Starring: Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Bérénice Marlohe, Helen McCroy, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris, Judi Dench, Ben Wishaw, Albert Finney, Ola Rapace

Description: Bond's (Daniel Craig) loyalty to M (Judi Dench) is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. Whilst MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Review: Fifty years before “Skyfall”, the first James Bond movie came out: “Dr. No”. That this franchise would become the longest running movie series ever, no one expected that in the sixties. With “Skyfall” we have 23 movies and six different men who played James Bond. And the end is very far away.

“Skyfall” is a treat. The previous two movies, “Casino Royale” and “Quantum of Solace” had connections, but “Skyfall” is a completely new story. The movie opens with a spectacular chase, that ends in James Bond getting shot. The MI6 organization thinks he is dead. When he returns after six months, MI6 is under attack of cyberterrorists and M’s position is in danger as well.

After the opening scene, you know “Skyfall” will not disappoint. The action is spectacular and it’s all filmed beautifully. However, “Skyfall” isn’t just an action movie. The focus is on the relationship between Bond and M. Especially the middle part, in Shanghai and Macau, does the spy thriller justice. But how gorgeous those scenes look, they make you wait for action a tad to long.

  Where Daniel Craig proofs again that he’s a great James Bond, it’s Javier Bardem that steals the show as villain Silva. The eccentric character is a pleasant addition to the film, in combination with the somewhat cold Bond. And also Judi Dench does a great job, as usual.

If “Skyfall” is the best Bond movie, I don’t know. But it is definitely recommended for both Bond fans and the ordinary movie fan. And even if the runtime of the film is a bit too long, it’s an entertaining movie. “Skyfall” makes you forget about the mediocre “Quantum of Solace” and shows you James Bond is not going to retire any time soon.

Rating: 4/ 5