James Bond, one of Britain’s most highly regarded film franchises returns for his 24th outing in SPECTRE, touring the world, with his out of control budget. Daniel Craig returns for the fourth time as 007 with his stone-sullen demeanor, this time with a rugged charm, wit and dry sense of humour, but that’s British comedy for you.
Also returning to the helm is Bond’s heavyweight director, Sam Mendes, to finish off what he started and to wrap Daniel Craig’s Bond saga, in a neat bow-tie for the next time he needs it for his tux. This includes tying up all the loose ends and even making a tad bit of sense out of Quantum Of Solace, remember that film.
SPECTRE, opens up in Mexico City, the day of the dead, on a truly spectacular sequence, one of the best Bond openings, that could have been saved for a finale, but it prepares you and excites you for the ride ahead. It has all the niches of a Bond sequence, except a cheesy one liner. But one of the best contributes to this opening sequence, is Hoyte Van Hoytema’s cinematography and his one shot opening shot that opens up Spectre, truly steals the scene. I bet you, thought I was going tell you about the vertigo-inducing helicopter fight sequence, but that’s just another highlight of Spectre’s opening
But I will tell you this, once Sam Smith’s Bond ballad plays with it’s dark glitz and glamour, this maybe your cue for the toilet, to prepare yourself for the 148 minutes ahead. As the iconic opening titles alongside ‘Writing On The Wall’ just seem lackluster after it’s opening sequence.
Spectre continues the themes glittered throughout Craig’s saga as Ian Fleming’s James Bond, unearthing his origins and concluding the spectacular Skyfall. In which all the events that Bond has encountered from Royale to Skyfall, have led to the sinister and shadowy organisation known as SPECTRE, which any Bond fan will recognise the name, as well as uncovering the identity of the organisation mysterious leader, Franz Oberhauser.
Franz Oberhauser, played by Christopher Waltz, who given limited his screen time, his cunning and brilliant. He fits the image and persona of your typical bond villain to perfection. But also let’s be reminded that this is Christopher Waltz, after all, anything with him in the cast, is made better by his performance.
Dr Madeline Swann, played by the stunning and underrated, Lea Seydoux performs the best to her acting capabilities, given to that, which her character is written. While Dr Swann, has her moments, but for myself she just felt like a rehash of Vesper Lynn’s character from Casino Royale.
Hinx, played by the menacing Batista, an individual clearly a better actor than he is a wrestler, but for a fun fact, he actually re-enacted the torture scene from Casino Royale for his audition. But unfortunately, for Hinx, despite how much of a physical challenge he poses to Bond, he never gets that shining moment, aside from his vicious intro. As well as his encounter with Bond between train carriages, which brings memoir to From Russia With Love. Although underused, one thing I did love about Hinx, is he doesn’t say nothing, as well that he looks like Oddjob on steroids.
The cunning C played by Andrew Scott is another character introduced in Spectre. A villain that not only threatens Bond but also M, Q and even Moneypenny back in London, with wanting to revolutionise security measures for not only Queen and country, but for the rest of the world… Starting with dismantling the 00 programme. This brings a new story element to Bond, especially how security is handled now and also recently such events as Snowden. Which the dynamics between M and C are entertaining.
M still delivers a tour de force performance, continuing where Judi Dench left off, as the head of M16, in which I’d gladly watch his character in his own spin-off. But personally I wanted more of M, same as for Moneypenny
My biggest pet peeve with this film was the physical under use of Naomi Harris’s Moneypenny. I wanted to see more of Harris’s Moneypenny kicking ass as she did in Skyfall. Which I loved Moneypenny being more physical, while in Spectre, she feels like she taking Moneypenny back to the old version of being an assistant and putting her character behind a desk.
But on a plus note Ben Whishaw has finally found his inner Desmond Llewelyn as Q, which is played with wittingly in contrast to the old Bond films. In which he steals every scene that he is involved in and cracks the joke with 007 about his behaviour.
Spectre spares no cost on its action sequences and it has some of the best in the franchise, especially when it plays with your nostalgic towards the franchise, which are made so much better by Hoyte’s cinematography, especially with car chase through Rome, and Bond bringing a plane to a car chase. While Mendes has set the expectations for the future of the Bond franchise and future Bond films, Spectre just doesn’t cut it above Skyfall even with its dual twist, that lacks the emotional punch to the gut as Skyfall did. The two-way twist is as predictable as a cheesy Bond one-liner from one of its villains.
Spectre feels like Mendez attempted to pull off Nolan by returning to the franchise he has molded and recreated the mythos behind Britain’s most beloved and misogynistic secret agent, but this all feels like The Dark Knight Rises of Bond films, while it’s predecessor felt like Batman Begins… Anyone would concur that Craig and Mendes have done for Bond, what Nolan and Bale did for Batman. Although regarding the future of Bond, I wouldn’t mind seeing Christopher Nolan helm a Bond picture, especially when he has already expressed interest. But wherever the future of Bond lies, after Daniel Craig’s Bond saga, any Bond installment and follow-up will be met with high expectations after Skyfall.