Skyfall...

[fajrdrako]

On Sunday, I went to see Skyfall with Pim, Sue, and maaseru.

Though I have always been a James Bond fan in principle, I haven't always liked the James Bond movies. The Roger Moore ones made me cringe, because I thought they were making fun of the genre. And because Moore managed to make Bond seem smarmy.

And now, and now...

Okay, first confession: I love Daniel Craig as Bond. So I am predisposed to like his movies regardless of content.

But then the opening sequence was catchy. And we get scenes in the Middle East... I'm watching and thinking, "Cool..." and then, whammo, "I know that street corner! That's just around the corner from the Bazaar! That's Istanbul!" And since I feel a close proprietary love of Istanbul these days, I was pretty much a goner from that moment.



I think I'd have loved Skyfall anyway. So much to love. And so many surprises. Over and over, I thought I knew what was going to happen, and I was wrong - they dodged the cliches and the easy plotting.

And though I'm not much of a lover of chase scenes, this had some of the best I've seen. The roofs of Istanbul. You really can't top that. And so I can gush over more details, I'd better put this under a cut for spoilers. If you haven't seen it yet, don't read on if you won't want to be spoiled. I loved the surprises in here.

I loved it that we hear the word "skyfall" near the beginning of the movie, without explanation - but with the implication that it is very significant for Bond. And then we learn what it is - his childhood home, his past. A past, it seems, that he has rejected.

I loved it that it was personal.

I loved M's role. Tough, smart, just angry enough. The right tinge of irritation and respect for Bond. We know he was her favourite. I like to think that though he knew she appreciated his loyalty, which was complete, he never realized how much she valued him. I love it that she gave him the ceramic dog that he hated.

I loved Ralph Fiennes role. For the first half of the movie I thought he was the secret master villain. I was so happy that he wasn't. That he's M. He's perfect. A contrast to Judi Dench, but just as perfect as she was.

Loved the scenes in Shanghai, the fight on the skyscraper with the mirrored lights and the observation of the scene in the opposite room.

Loved the scenes in Scotland, with the abandoned family manor and the mist and the dampness. And the knife. And the ingenuity of the besieged.

Totally loved Naomi Harris as Miss Moneypenny. Smart, sexy, cocky. Perfect.



Loved the train scenes, especially when Bond used the shovel to couple the cars.

Loved Javier Bardem as Raoul Silva, who managed to be scary and crazy and yet to have a certain rationale, so it was even possible to have a dollop of compassion for him. Loved the scene where he made Bond pretend try to shoot the drink off the girl's head - and then shot her. Loved the scene where he's coming on to Bond and suggests it would be his 'first time' and Bond says, "What makes you think it would be my first time?" Used to be that it was cool for a hero to be disgusted by any hint of homosexuality. Not it's cool for a hero to be experienced. I am totally happy with that.

I loved seeing Bond on the roof of MI6, looking over London. Shades of Batman, Captain Jack Harkness, and other iconic hero figures. Surveying his world.

As far as that goes... I loved the mixture of high-tech glitz and Victorian shabbiness that were intermixed, entwined, and juxtaposed throughout the whole movie. Especially Silva's plastic prison in the middle of dank stone passageways.

Loved the new Q, who made me think of a cross between Peter Parker and Hank McCoy. Especially loved his first meeting with Bond in the art gallery, and the little smirk they exchange.

I can't think of anything about that movie that I didn't like, but that might be because I am still in a euphoria of infatuation with it. When I see it again, I may find flaws. Maybe.

But I wouldn't bet on it.

Comments

[jedi_harkness]

I'm totally with you there. I just loved it, but I'm sure the next time I see it I'll start to see the flaws. It was definitely much better than Quantum of Solace.

I loved how they kind of re-rebooted the series by bringing in Moneypenny and the new M and Q. I was thrilled to see Ralph Fiennes, and I have to admit that midway through the movie I suspected he might become the new M (love that his first name is Gareth). I fell in love with Q at first sight, and he made me think of the Doctor (I hope that actor will be the next Doctor). Would you believe there's already Bond/Q slash fic? *giggles*

Silva wanting to be in the cage reminded me of The Avengers, and a couple things made me think of Torchwood. MI6 being blown up and their having to go underground reminded me of CoE, and the attack on Skyfall reminded me of the attack on the country house in MD. And the whole tone of it had a Dark Knight vibe to it. At least the writers are seeing inspiration in good properties. ;)

Mendes and co. have set a great table for the next Bond movies, and I hope they'll just get better and better.

[fajrdrako]

Moneypenny is fabulous. And Q - he's wonderful! There's a sense of clever mischievousness about him, and he breaks the cliché role.

Not surprised there's be Bond/Q fic... now I'll have to find it.

I wonder how long we will have to wait till the next movie.