Skyfall

• PG-13, 2 hr. 25 min.
• Release Date: Nov 9, 2012

In Skyfall, 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. -- (C) Official Site

The hot opening weekend is over, and now you're asking yourself: "Should I go see Skyfall?" I say YES!

If the point of James Bond is to tap into your "14 year old boy" fantasies of fast cars, spy gadgets, Bond women, and overall super-secret spy awesomeness, then Skyfall has it all. At the same time, it works as a solid old-fashioned cinema piece exploring character drama and tension. Skyfall is classic James Bond.

This is the 50 year anniversary of James Bond movies. The first one was Dr. No, starring Sean Connery way back in anicent times in 1962. Since then, the franchise has evolved, thrived, and entertained audiences all over the world. The new series of Bond movies starring Daniel Craig is, in my opinion, one of the strongest eras of Bond since Sean Connery. That's because the filmmakers have gone back to Bond source material in the Ian Flemming novels for inspiration. This has resulted in a darker, more intense, introspective Bond than we've ever seen on the big screen.

So, with that in mind, let me tell you why Skyfall works so well. Casino Royale, the first installment of the Daniel Craig series in 2006, is stellar. Audiences were surprised by the darker interpretation of Bond, and it worked great. It set the new series off right. Quantum of Solace, the follow-up Bond in 2008, is lackluster and missing all Bond charm, in my opinion. (maybe it's because director Marc Foster just isn't cut out for action/adventure, since he is known for more dramatic films like Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland, Stranger Than Fiction, and the Kite Runner, all of which are fantastic dramas) Anyhoo, now in 2012 we have Skyfall, directed by Sam Mendes, British movie director that made American Beauty, Road to Perdition, and Revolutionary Road. It is his solid directing and obvious enthusiasm for the material that make it a success.

Since it is the 50 year anniversary of James Bond, there are many allusions to the iconic and classic Bond movie moments. I won't give too much away, but there are some characters and gadgets from old Bond films that are lovingly restored for modern times. In fact, that is the main theme in Skyfall. The UK is asking themselves: have times evolved too far for us to even need secret spies anymore? Do we need men in suits walking around lavish cocktail parties with martinis in their hands and guns tucked in their coat pockets? Can't we do so much more with the few clicks of a mouse on some PC in a remote part of the world? The pressure is on James Bond and agent M (Judi Dench) to prove their worth in modern society, as both their jobs are threatened. This theme is so wonderful because we live in an age of changing tides. Culture, technology, politics, and gender roles in society are all changing. Now, I don't want to get too deep on that subject, but it is a main theme of Skyfall.

Another compelling element of this movie is that we get to see a little further in to the history of James Bond's life. It has always been covered in shadows and mystery deliberately (because he's a SECRET agent, duh! And, it's part of what makes him so cool.) But in light of events that happen in Skyfall, Bond gets a bit more introspective of his past. Even his boss, Agent M, doesn't know a darn thing about him. This is also an element that is explored because of the 50 year anniversary of Bond.

Javier Bardem is perfect as the sleazy, creepy villain. He plays a more talktative version of his villain from No Country For Old Men, and it's a great choice. There are just enough twists in the story without being desperate or overwrought. It's like the Goldilocks poridge that was "just right."

I would dare say that even if you're not that familiar with James Bond and you just enjoy a good action flick, check out Skyfall. If you're a Bond fan, you've probably already seen it this weekend. Either way, it's a must-see.