I just realized it’s been months since I wrote a movie review. It’s not that I haven’t been watching movies, I just didn’t bother with writing about them. My most recently watched movie is the latest James Bond film: Skyfall which has been out in cinemas for a few weeks now. I already said so in my post about my must watch movies of this winter: I love me some James Bond. Some years ago Dutch TV broadcast all of them and I remember watching them all the time at home. James Bond equals nostalgia and you are definitely in for a bit of that when watching the 50th anniversary rendition of Bond.
This James Bond movie follows the line started when Daniel Craig took over the role: it’s about James’ beginnings as 007 storyline wise. This time in particular Bond faces a former 00, who used to be M’s favorite, but turned villain. He uses computers and data networks to place targeted attacks on the highest bidder’s enemies. The story starts with Bond chasing down a man through the streets of Istanbul who has stolen a list with all MI6 agents on it. If their covers get blown they die. James of course has to try to obtain the list, but ultimately fails when he is shot by his partner and allegedly dies. A haggard looking Bond reports to duty after the MI6 headquarters is blown to pieces by formerly mentioned villain.
Nothing new under the sun when it comes to plot lines. It’s a classic Bond movie in that: it has the action scenes with the most hilarious and improbable stunts, the love scenes with insanely beautiful women and a dry British sense of humor. What is new to this movie are the hints to former Bond movies. I counted three in total, but I’m sure that if you watch it often enough you may actually find a ton more.
Also hot off the press is the cast. Apart from Daniel Craig as Bond and Judi Dench as M, there is nothing but new faces. Q is played by Ben Whishaw, of who Bond claims: you’re Q? You have spots. Ralph Fiennes (who was Voldemort in the Harry Potter series) portrays the official who controls MI6 who initially thinks Bond and MI6 as unreliable and inefficient, but a turn of events changes his opinion completely. The end of the film also holds a few twists and turns plotwise that are again a nice nod to the older movies.
Highlight of the movie though, is Javier Bardem, who plays the terrorist who Bond must face this time. Cunning, borderline insane and evil, Raoul Silva is probably one of the best Bond villains in 50 years. Not only does Bardem portray Silva magnificently, he is the type of villain that is so evil that it becomes hilarious. Sometimes it veers into the silly but always with this manic undertone: you never quite know what he’s up to.
If you are looking for a movie that you can sit down for and just let wash over you without too much thought, the latest Bond film won’t let you down. As have all the other movies in the past 50 years. Here’s to 50 more.