Skyfall
Dir: Sam Mendes
2012
****
Skyfall, the twenty-third Bond film of the franchise, was not at all what I expected but I was pleasantly surprised. I probably shouldn't have been considering Sam Mendes was at the helm, it really was the re-invention of re-inventions, and goodness knows Bond has been through a few in recent years. I think this time though they got it right and it was a long time coming. Casino Royale was a somewhat misfired, but not completely unsuccessful attempt at an idea that Quentin Tarantino touted ten years previous and quite frankly, they should have let him have a go at writing it. Instead they played it safe and it was not as exciting as it could have been. Same goes for Quantum of Solace which I'm afraid was as dull and forgettable as it gets, I struggle to even remember what happened, it was that forgettable. Skyfall has re-invented the mythology of Bond, it questions his role in today's world, and it makes him relevant again. It also touches on him as a character, I'm not sure he really needed a back story as I think he's best when mysterious but Flemming does touch on it in his books so it is nice that they returned to his roots. He's actually quite a dark character when you look at his history, they wisely avoid this in Skyfall (best save that for the next re-invention/re-incarnation, directed by QT). Bond has shown his venerability before but never so much so as he does here, frankly I didn't like it but they just about get away with the cliched 'washout returns to form' story-line. The real re-invention here though is actually (and quite unashamedly) a return to what Bond always was. I've heard people say that it was the only thing they could do to avoid spending a massive budget, indeed this did feel like credit-crunch Bond but again I'm not sure past Bond budgets have been justifiable. Basically, Bond isn't redundant in the modern technologically dependent world because computers etc can be manipulated, you need a man on the ground, you need the man in the shadows, the ruthless killer and ladies man of the Flemming novels. Q is back, toned down a bit but still it's nice that he's back, as is Miss Money Penny (who is brilliantly reintroduced). This re-invention sees the franchise re-introduce but also discard links to previous films. Judi Dentch's exit from the role of M left me with mixed feelings but I think Ralph Fiennes is the perfect replacement. Break out the cigars and Brandy, M is a man again, he's even got a leather door! Joking aside, the equal opportunities debate has overshadowed the franchise a little too much in resent years, I think performance ability should always come first, Black/White, Man/Woman, whatever is right for the character. Personally I think Colin Salmon should have been Bond but sadly that ship has sailed. Third times a charm, I feel they finally got the series back on track with Skyfall. Maybe now we can start to forget all about that invisible car...