Take 2 Movie Review "Skyfall"

BY ARTHUR RYAN

CORRESPONDENT

James Bond is getting old. In fact, he first appeared on the big screen, back in 1962 in “Dr. No,” the first of the Albert “Cubby” Broccoli produced Bond films 50 years ago.

And that fact is not wasted in the newest 007 film to hit movie theaters this past weekend. “Skyfall” has an aging James Bond coming to grips with his own usefulness as well as that of the intelligence agency he works for.

“Skyfall” opens, as do all Bond films with a heart-stopping chase scene, this time through the busy streets of Turkey. The chase ends up on-top of a speeding train where Bond’s on the hunt for a stolen computer hard-drive that contains the names of several undercover British agents, who are at risk of being revealed and in turn endangering their lives.

The search takes 007 all the way to Shanghai, China, where a clue in the form of a casino chip, left behind by an assassin has Bond traveling again to Macao in hopes of finding who is behind the missing hard-drive. At the same time the names of five of the British secret agents start to show up on YouTube and in turn the British spy agency comes under fire, and agency director, M (played for the seventh time by Judi Dench) is called before a committee in parliament to explain herself.

Bond’s search leads him to a deserted island where a computer genius and former disgruntled agent reveals himself as the master behind the plot to discredit M and the agency he once worked for.

Directed by Oscar-winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty), “Skyfall” is different then most Bond films in that it’s probably the first with the most at stake for its main characters. It turns out that the disgruntled agent, Raoul Silva, played with great charm by Javier Bardem, has it in for M and will not rest until he has his revenge.

Bond, played for the third time by Daniel Craig, finds himself in an ever-changing world. A world where enemies are no longer known by their country, and their threats are more high-tech and less mechanical than in the past. And to combat these modern threats, means a younger, more tech-savvy generation must step up to the challenge. So, when Bond is sent to meet the new Quartermaster or “Q” as he is known in most Bond films, he is shocked to find a young 20-something filling in where traditionally a gray-haired old man once stood.

Ben Whishaw plays Q with a nerdy brilliance and wit that does justice to former Q’s, played by John Cleese and Desmond Llewelyn. His gadgets take a back seat in this Bond, to his computer skills and tech savvy which are much more needed in these computer-based times we live in.

Albert Finney shows up in a small but pivotal role, and is charming and colorful as usual. I must admit it was a bit sad to see him looking so old, but with so many great films in his past, one can’t help but think a role like this comes very easy to him. At least he makes it look that way!

“Skyfall” is a solid Bond thriller with an intelligent script which makes a tricky plot easy to follow and more timely then most 007 films in the past. Cinematographer Roger Deakins uses a colorful pallet in painting a gorgeous looking 007 film, capturing the electronic brilliance of Shanghai, the lamp-lit waterways of Macao and the foggy moonlit moors of Scotland with breathtaking results. Whether you’re a Bond fan or not, this secret agent outing is aimed to please most moviegoers on many levels, not the least being a splendid visual feast for the eyes

By DAVID BJORKGREN

Managing Editor

I have never seen a James Bond film, unless you want to count “Moonraker,” which most people don’t.

So as a 007 neophyte I wasn’t sure what to expect when I caught the latest incarnation of the secret agent franchise.

I’m happy to say that “Skyfall” works, even if you’ve never lived in the James Bond universe. For those who love all things Bond, the film is a stylish homage to its predecessors, particularly to the more straightforward and less contrived earlier films. James Bond is a cultural icon that seems to transcend his 50-year film history so even without the detailed history of the series, I still got most of the references and occasional inside jokes.

Those who have been following the more recent versions of James Bond and the characters that surround him will see those relationships challenged as “Skyfall” dismantles his world from the inside.

Weaving in and out of the action scenes there is some human drama unfolding. In between the gun fire, the explosions and the elaborately-staged fight sequences, there is still time to explore issues of trust, loyalty, betrayal, getting old and becoming obsolete.

“Skyfall” also takes aim at the emergence of cyber-terrorism and the impact of technology on the espionage field. That includes poking fun at the overindulgence of gadgets in previous Bond films. This time out the secret agent is armed only with a radio transmitter and a gun coded to fire by his hand alone. When Bond questions Q (Ben Whishawhe), a young computer genius, about his limited tech aids, Q replies that they really don’t do the exploding pen thing anymore.

The film opens in Istanbul, where Bond (Daniel Craig) finds a critically wounded agent and a hard-drive missing. Said hard-drive contained the names of NATO agents working undercover in terrorist organizations. Bond dukes it out with a hit man on the top of a moving train, while his partner, Eve (Naomie Harris) takes aim. Eve is concerned she might shoot Bond by mistake but Bond’s boss, M (Judi Dench), orders her to take the shot anyway. She fires and Bond appears to fall to his death. Roll the opening credits.

Back in London, M is in hot water because of the missing hard drive and she is urged to retire as head of Britian’s secret MI6 operations, but she refuses. Next thing you know, someone’s hacked into M’s computer. The hacker triggers an explosion which destroys M’s office, taking out several MI6 agents. The death toll continues to mount when the hacker starts to release the names of the NATO agents from the stolen hard drive. These are dark times for MI6 and M must prove her and her agency’s relevancy in these modern times of computer terrorism.

Bond, who of course survived his fall, returns to London and offers his help. This is not the energized Bond we have come to know. He seems tired of the espionage game, resentful to M for her decision to fire on him and physically not quite up to the task. Nevertheless, M reinstates him, sending him to Shanghai to find the hit man from Istanbul. In Shanghai, we are treated to some beautifully filmed city landscape scenes reminiscent of “Lost in Translation.”

He finds the hit man but he inconveniently falls to his death before he can reveal anything about his boss or the missing hard drive. Bond’s journey takes him to a luxurious casino where he survives komodo dragons and other attempts on his life before hooking up with Severine, (Bérénice Marlohe), a beautiful woman and sex slave who welcomes him on board a yacht. They end up on an abandoned island where they meet Severine’s employer, a former MI6 agent, Raoul Silva, played with creepy, light-hearted abandon by Javier Bardem. Silva, a hacker genius, feels M abandoned him to the enemy and he is hell bent on revenge.

In true Bond style, the agent captures Silva and returns him to Great Britain, but Silva escapes into the London underground with Bond in pursuit. One train wreck later Silva has given him the slip.

Silva shows up at a hearing where M is being questioned about the problems at MI6, but Bond whisks her away taking her to his boyhood home, Skyfall, in Scotland, where no computer can reach them. The film offers a tip of the hat to its predecessors when they make the trip in his Aston Martin DB5, ejector seat and front machine gun mounts still intact.

They hook up with the caretaker for Skyfall, Kincade (Albert Finney) and they booby trap the home in anticipation of Silva’s arrival. Arrive he does and the film lets loose with a wide range of pyrotechnics.

But wait, we’re not done yet. M, wounded in the assault, has been spirited away by Kincade to a nearby chapel. Sadly, Silva spots them and, in a final showdown with M, plots their mutual death.

But where’s Bond? Destroyed in the fire? I don’t think so. He slips out through some underground tunnels and confronts Silva seemingly in the nick of time. It’s a happy ending, except for one thing that I can’t tell you.

“Skyfall” is a roller coaster ride that pauses occasionally to give us a peek at what the characters are feeling. Director Sam Mandes ruled with a firm hand, giving us a storyline easy to follow, despite its many twists and turns.

Craig offers a wonderful performance as an aging and somewhat weary Bond, who nevertheless charms his way through life, as he outmaneuvers and out fights his enemies. Dench, in a continuing role that now spans six Bond films, is terrific as the nonplussed, iron-willed M, who is forced to face her own frailties and the consequences of her decisions.

For the uninitiated, “Skyfall” is a great way to enter the world of Bond, but there’s a lot here that the devoted fans will love as well.

I give “Skyfall” (double 00) seven well-dressed cool men under fire out of 10