‘Skyfall’ a real audience pleaser
For 50 years, James Bond has delivered the platinum standard for super spy intrigue. 007 has successfully adapted from Cold War and early detente eras to an age where software and faceless terrorism controls. Proving that the British agent still has his dapper, no-holds-barred, shaken-and-stirred-with-a-twist attitude, “Skyfall” meticulously melds scenes of intricate action, lengthy fisticuffs, geeky gadgets and an equality conscious Bond Girl, Eve (Naomie Harris).
The opening, a perilous moving train duck and dodge, ends with an agent down. And M (Judi Dench) is responsible for ordering Eve to take the shot. 007 has apparently drowned. His possessions have been placed in storage. The Bond family home in Skyfall has been the scene of an estate sale. M’s executive position and the future of MI6 are on the line due to the cyber theft of a list of agents, which results in the bombing of M’s office and systematic execution of their agents.
Offsetting the blatant womanizing attitudes of his predecessors, Daniel Craig as a Bond for the 21st-Century and Eve engage in an endless verbal retort barrage which consistently favors viewers with hard laughs and stylized sexual attraction. It’s like each curt, slippery smart-laced answer contributes to a male versus female “who’s better,” and, Bond already knows his answer.
“Skyfall” evokes a blending of British spy tradition and 21st-Century updating. Resisting urges to turn the cerebral super spy into an extreme action enforcer, this film mesmerizes with an intriguing “Mission: Impossible” premise without the time consuming setups and execution that visually document the precise timing. Instead, this secret agent rolls the serendipity dice, maximizing roll with the punches jams, which is naturally compatible with his hidden high tech weaponry.
As London trembles from terribly plausible terrorist explosives, MI6 moves to World War II bunkers. A never failing casino enters the scene followed by dueling assassins, a lovely femme fatale, a nearly abandoned island, and a requisite ride in his armor laden Aston Martin. Summarily, “Skyfall” pleases all, whether you crave explosions, cunning intrigue, verbal jabs or subtle sexuality.
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