Movie Review: Skyfall

Just a short post today.

Agnes and I don't go to the movies very often. Agnes usually doesn't like to go because the sound is always too loud, and she usually leaves with a headache after getting her head dolbyized for two hours. I don't go very often because the theater is usually full of ass clowns who can't quit using their phones or chatting with each other, and look at you like you're the idiot if you ask them to cut it out. The last movie I saw in a theater was Prometheus, and neither of us could remember what the last one we saw in a theater together was.

But we decided yesterday to grit our teeth and go to the local multiplex to see Skyfall, the new James Bond movie.

And we're glad we did.

We've seen and more-or-less enjoyed all of the James Bond movies, although they grew more and more far-fetched and overly cheeky with time. When Daniel Craig took the role in Casino Royale in 2006, I was happy that the series seemed to be getting a bit more back to its roots - he was a man I could see as a ruthless, cold-blooded killer with a veneer of polish and sophistication ... the first Bond since Sean Connery in Dr No that came across to me that way. The second movie with Craig as Bond, Quantum of Solace, was disappointing - Craig was excellent and the movie was visually exciting, but the film itself was a disconnected mess with no discernable plot.

Which brings us to the local cineplex yesterday, and our decision to see Skyfall.

Here are the key points (with spoilers avoided, so feel free to read on):

1. Solid, understandable plot based on revenge.

2. Good, believable action scenes (well except, perhaps, for that motorcycle chase at the beginning).

3. Javier Bardem as a great, make-your-skin-crawl psychopathic villain.

4. More emphasis on character development and backstory than any other Bond movie.

5. Wonderful cinematography.

6. Generally great, tight dialog without an overload of tiresome tongue-in-cheek Bond one-liners (although they're there). The best line in the movie went to Albert Finney as Kinkade, the groundskeeper at the Skyfall estate - "Welcome to Scotland" (you'll need to see the movie to understand).

7. Two words: "Eve Moneypenny."

8. Ben Whishaw as the new "Q" - "I can do more damage on my laptop in my pyjamas than you can do in a year in the field."

That's enough for now. If you're looking for an entertaining, well-acted, well-directed, and well-filmed action flick, look no further. Bilbo gives it two thumbs up ... but only because I only have two thumbs.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

P.S. - We got the senior discount on the tickets. I can feel decrepit to save $3.00.

B.