The movie theatres are packed and people are lining up outside to buy tickets. No, it’s not the new “Twilight” movie, but a film packed with action, adventure, nostalgia and plenty of explosions. On Nov. 9, many fans were eager to see “Skyfall,” the latest movie in the James Bond series.
The movie opens with the obligatory chase scene that has opened almost every Bond movie. This sequence immediately grabs the audience’s attention as they watch MI6 agent James Bond 007 attempt to catch an enemy, who has stolen classified files, as they scramble over the roof of a train speeding along the countryside, over bridges and through tunnels.
Daniel Craig, the actor portraying Bond, does an excellent job playing the legendary agent. At the beginning of the movie, where Bond is not at his prime, he effectively manages to portray the haughty attitude one would expect an elite agent like him to carry when things aren’t going so well. He also manages to maintain the sarcastic attitude throughout the duration of the movie.
The script also went beyond the usual. Unlike those of many other films, the writers seemed to place a lot of emphasis on the plot and Bond’s backstory. For long-time Bond fans, this was a welcome surprise, and added the pleasing element of a storyline to the movie.
In addition to adding Bond’s backstory, the writers also gave M, Bond’s superior, played by Judi Dench, a larger role as she accompanies Bond back to the Skyfall, the estate where he grew up. This not only gives her the opportunity to gain a better understanding of her favorite agent, but gives the audience additional insight on his tragic childhood.
The villain, Raoul Silva, played by Javier Bardem, also falls under a different category than those presented in previous Bond films. Instead of just hiring goons to kill Bond and his allies, he takes on a personal vendetta against 007 and M. This creates a slightly more psychological element in the film, especially since he seems to have no value of human life, and is nearly impossible to predict.
Of course, no action movie would be complete without the essential pyrotechnics. The special effects team of “Skyfall” did exactly this. They not only blew up parts of London, but took their pyrotechnics to the extent of completely destroying an old stone house with a helicopter crash.
Overall, those in charge did a spectacular job in casting, writing, and filming the movie, not only through the backstory, but also through the various references to previous films. This film is definitely a must-see.