Skyfall Review

BREAKING NEWS: Heineken’s promotional agreement with EON Productions did not ruin Skyfall. Sit back and exhale, the hallowed martini has been retained and honored in the studios latest entry to the Bond Phenomenon.

 

All kidding aside, Skyfall has officially hit the American markets and I would not be surprised if the film continues the box office success that it has seen internationally. Call it a reconciliation; the underlying theme throughout the film served not only the plot line, but as a prelude of things to come as Bond enters his next 50 years on the silver screen.

This post will include spoilers, but as my gift to you, if you wish to remain in the bubble as you await thinning crowd lines, stop here. If not, don’t say I didn’t warn you…

Part of the Action

Within seconds of the gun barrel fading way to our first location in Turkey, you can already tell you are in for a ride drastically different then the first two Craig films. The camera speed has slowed down providing a much more deliberate way to view our favorite international super spy. That’s not to say the intensity has been slowed, we are just given a much different interpretation, more realistic and in your face.

The film opens with Bond stalking through the halls of a dimly lit building toting his Walther. He’s inching along as if actually concerned with what is lurking behind the corners. Had this have been the opening scene of Casino Royale, 007 would have thrown caution to the wind and barreled through each hallway guns blazing. It’s really more of Bond’s maturity from hitman to true espionage.

He finds his way into a room with multiple dead bodies and a no-named fellow operative left to die in front of a smashed up lap top, hard drive missing. They don’t go into what’s on the hard drive, just that it’s very important to get it back. This leads way to the quintessential car chase, a range rover following what I believe was an Aston through third world streets isn’t quite conspicuous, and it is anything but graceful.

Flying around tightly packed corners, taking out street vendors, and smashing up the side of the Bond’s Rover again adds to the realism. It’s not just a high speed chase where cars are totaled; you witness the damage as it is happening. It’s one of the best things this film does, and in my humble opinion, the reason why director Sam Mendes slowed the camera down. This new perspective gave me the feeling as if I was part of the action, an unseen Robin to James’s Batman.

Now I will save the rest of the plotline for your viewing pleasure, but the opening scenes of this movie perfectly illustrates why Skyfall could go down as one of the franchises top viewer experiences. As just mentioned, you’re not simply watching a story; you’re along for the ride. When Silva, masterfully crafted by Javier Bardem, is either seducing 007 or just really really pushing his boundaries, you too feel somewhat out of your element as you are right on top of the action. It’s one aspect that Skyfall far surpassed both Casino and Quantum (or any of the other 20 films for that matter).

An Homage to the Past

Another aspect I truly loved about this film was how they paid tribute to the films that came before it. On multiple occasions, Skyfall tipped its hat to iconic parts of the films history. It’s as if they wanted to not only tell a story but salute the last 50 years as well.

You get a small nod to Brosnan driving through the streets of St. Petersburg in a Russian tank when we discover that Bond is completely capable of using a Catepillar Excavator in hot pursuit. A couple of Komodo Dragons pay tribute to Roger Moore being left to fend for himself on Crocodile Island in Live and Let Die. And, in case you were wondering, 007 did use one of the dragons as a launching pad. We even get to see Goldfinger’s fully loaded Aston Martin DB5 pulled out of retirement.

But the most important tip of the hat comes at the very end of the film. After an exhilarating 2 plus hour romp that takes you from Istanbul, to Hong Kong, to London, and Scotland, we are taken back in time to the classic wooden paneled office of M seen in every one of the Connery films. Although Craig wasn’t wearing a derby, the famed coat rack in which he so accurately tossed his hat on while wooing Moneypenny was there as well as her desk and intercom. This brings us to the most intriguing part of the film…

The Gangs Back Together

You couldn’t possibly expect to be whisked back to M’s office without Moneypenny being there, could you? That’s right, after a two film absence, and speculation of a Mr. Moneypenny after Casino Royale, everyone’s favorite administrative assistant has returned; along with Q and a new M. And rather than just reintroduce them out of nowhere in the 24^th installment, we are actually given a back drop on these characters.

It came as no surprise that Q was coming back, the trailers did elude to it after all, but we were actually able to see Bond build a rapport with his quartermaster. Played by Ben Whisaw, this is not the loveable gadget master we came to love in Desmond Llewelyn. More based in reality than fantasy, Q is the thechie equivalent to Bond’s secret agent. An outspoken kid who is able to help fine tune Bond into an even more dangerous man of mystery, once 007 learns that Q branch is an extension of his talents that is.

The transition to a new M and the reemergence of Moneypenny came a little more organically. As soon as they announced Ralph Fiennes was joining the cast, I began to question why. Bardem had already been announced as the villain, so why would such a heavy hitter join the cast in a bit role?  The writing is definitely on the wall throughout the entire film. M has lost a step, let’s talk about a transition plan to your voluntary retirement, Fiennes’ character Mallory has a field background, M starts being referred to as Emma and then eventually gets shot, Mallory starts with M. If you don’t pick it up by that point, well, we’ll just leave it at that.

Moneypenny, however, was a bit more out of the shadows. She begins her portion of the film by nearly killing 007 and then precedes to build a bit of a sexual chemistry with Craig a la Samantha Bond and Pierce Brosnan. In hind sight, Bond’s quips about the field not being for everyone and her admonishment of Mallory should have queued me in to it; I just wasn’t anticipating her return. It all boils down to one final tantalizing scene where we are given a look ahead at the next evolution of the Bond franchise, a return to its roots.

It’s safe to say this film transitions the Bond we have come to know over the last decade into the more refined provocateur Bond identifies himself with during his word association in the film. Although part of me will miss the quick triggered assassin, I’m more than intrigued to watch Craig tread the line as a suave sophisticate with a license to kill.

Skyfall is no doubt one of my favorite films to date. It brought new life to a franchise that has seen just about every up and down one would expect from a series half a century old. I can’t stress enough how amazing Sam Mendes was for this film. Given enough views, at least 3 more times in theaters for me personally, Skyfall could easily become my all-time favorite.

And as Adele said in her theme song, “hold your breath and count to 10,” James Bond will be back again. The only question is, will it come soon enough?

What Beer is Your Bond?

Happy James Bond release week.

 

It's been a while since we last posted, but this weeks US release of Skyfall provides me with a unique opportunity to talk two of my favorite things in one post. One of the more intriguing story lines surrounding the newest chapter is the healthy donation made by Heineken to become 007's drink of choice.

 

As a beer lover, I think it's a fun addition. As someone who has actually taken 400 level classes on James Bond at an accredited university, I'm a little shocked at the producer's willingness to sell part of the super agents identity. Regardless of how much or, to be perfectly honest, how little impact this will actually have on the film, this scenario provides us a chance to identify what type of beer best describes each of the Bond's.

Sean Connery – Pale Ale

Who doesn’t love good pale ale? Whether you’re with the mates at the pub, or at home watching your favorite Connery film, good pale ale is just what the doctor ordered when you’re looking for a beer big on taste. 

This beer is strong and assertive to let you know you’re not messing around with a domesticated lager. At the same time, it’s not over-bearing and will charm your palate into a late night rendezvous, at least until the next call from MI-6 comes.

George Lazenby – Saison

Lazenby may have only appeared in one film, but his larger than life portrayal left no doubt which Bond was the ultimate lady’s man. Pent up in a Swedish hill top brothel disguised as an allergy research center, Lazenby made a whole generation of boys going through puberty dream of being Genealogists.

So what does that have to do with beer? Well, with such a zesty spice for life, these farm house ales made of a litany of spices perfectly embody Bond’s ulterior motives while visiting Blofeld’s Winter Wonderland Freak Palace.

Roger Moore – American Style Light Lager

This will be the most difficult one for me to stay objective on as I am not as big of a fan of Roger Moore. I am however a huge fan of his TV show The Saint as it prevented Moore from being the original Bond, a move that would have drastically altered the history of the franchise in my opinion.

What I can say for Moore, is that he is unquestionably the light-hearted fun 007 most memorable for his jokes, puns, creative gadgets, and taking Holly Goodhead around the world one more time. So what better beer would you use to describe this character than the good ole college favorite? When you were looking to get drunk, have fun, and have your own Goodknight, we all turned to the Millers, Buds, and Coors of the world.

Timothy Dalton – Stout

Similar to the actual transition from Roger Moore to Timothy Dalton, Stout is just about as drastic a change from Light Lager as you can get. When interviewed, Dalton stated that Moore’s portrayal had become nothing more than a living joke and a return to a much darker troubled hero was needed.

Aside from the literal change in color (light to dark), Stouts are just a much more potent beer to begin with. While it was Moore’s mission to stop the bad guy hell bent on taking over the world, Dalton’s story lines were much heavier and carried a more menacing tone, if you can look past Wayne Newton as an actual bad guy.

Pierce Brosnan – Lambic

Brosnan, like most lambics, is aimed at appeasing the broadest possible audience. While Connery can best be identified for his raw animal magnetism, Moore for his humorous portrayal, and Dalton for bringing a level of intensity only surpassed by Craig, Brosnan’s rendition stakes a claim to every identity 007 has put up on the silver screen.

An even balance of the charm, wit, and danger that came before him, Pierce took a piece from every one of his predecessors without laying claim to any one specific characteristic. He will never be a fan boy favorite, but you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who had a problem with him either.

Placing that train of thought on craft beer instead of Bond, a Lambic may not be your first choice when looking for a beer, but it’s still beer.    

Daniel Craig – India Pale Ale

With Skyfall’s promotional ties to Heineken, it’d be easy to say….

Most similar to the original namesake, Daniel Craig embodies the cold-hearted and suave sophisticate that Connery first brought to life in 1962. In the same token, he ratchets up 007’s intensity to levels which have never been seen before. Not afraid to get physical, Craig brings the grittiest portrayal of the international super spy the silver screen has seen in its 50 years.

Like the Pale Ale, the IPA brings a lot of the same qualities but punches you in the face with its extra hoppiness.