Contrary to what Adele sings on the title track, this is not the end. We get Daniel Craig for at least two more Bond movies. That's probably for the best because I hope his last go as double 0 is a tighter production. **SPOILERS INCLUDED
As much as I was looking forward to Skyfall, it wasn't everything I was hoping it would be. Mostly because it was just TOO long. I feel movies like The Dark Knight Rises gives studios this false idea that if we're paying extra for IMAX or if a movie isn't a certain length we will be disappointed. "We paid good money to see this movie so give us more!" I only want more if it works for the story. Quality over quantity any day for me. (I was a fan of The Dark Knight Rises so I'm not against long movies. Just long movies that could have been better had they continued to purge excess script fluff.)
I totally fell for the overall story of Skyfall. The idea of MI6 being attacked with such intimate understanding of it's structure and by someone on the "inside", it's brilliant and provides a perfectly natural transition for a few key roles in Bond's life. Having the movie center on M's past and make her such an important part of the story only makes sense because it's her last. However, it is overindulgent in the last 30ish minutes to the point where I actually just wanted the movie to be over already. Once the final credits rolled, I got the warm fuzzies again because it was a fun Bond movie with plenty of nods to the Sean Connery & Roger Moore classics that I originally fell in love with, but not a movie you watch over and over.
Per usual, Ralph Fiennes is great. So is Ben Whishaw as the new Q. Thoroughly enjoy that casting call! Although I would have liked to see a few more toys from that department. Rory Kinnear puts in a solid performance as well in his return to the franchise as Tanner. Naomie Harris strikes the perfect balance between old-timey Bond girl kitch and a more updated interpretation of Miss Moneypenny. Personally, Javier Bardem is a little too enthusiastic in a few moments for me to fully get on board with his villain but he nails it for 95% of the movie. (The makeup team that created his facial prosthetics hit it out of the park!) Berenice Marlohe's ethnic ambiguity is a touch Eva Green in Casino Royale and very much enjoyable from start to finish. She's gorgeous and I loved her.
Overall I give it a solid B. Roger Deakins shoots the hell out of the movie so the whole thing looks great. The locations were amazing and totally delivered. Costumes seemed like an afterthought and a few of the cocktail dresses were not even flattering or necessarily beautiful. Put Daniel Craig in a suit and it doesn't even have to be an expensive suit-he'll still look good. I wonder if he still has that light blue bathing suit.....
