Skyfall Contains a Few Fizzles Here and There (Spoiler Alert)
Skyfall has a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and all
other websites have universally acclaimed the movie. So I’m treading on rather
treacherous waters here by pointing out some let downs of the movie.
Yes, I accept the movie had some extremely solid merits. I must accede that the first half of the movie was exceptional laying the perfect foundation for the rest of the movie. Starting from Bond’s unexpected “Skyfall” off a train (if you didn't see the trailer) and temporary disappearance, the pace was set at an exhilarating level. Even the plot concerning cyber-terrorism was done smartly and introduced a dark undertone to the movie, especially with the routine assassination of undercover agents by the villain. Once, Bond returns, seeing him at his most vulnerable physically and emotionally was interesting, given that it has never been portrayed before. And the villain. Javier Bardem’s Silva shook up the usual basis for a bond villain. This queer antagonist was a thrill to watch, specifically his interactions with Bond that brought out some well-crafted humor and his shocking decision to kill Berenice Marlohe’s Severine, one of the 2 Bond girls in the movie. She deserved more on-screen time… I meant shower time.
Yes, I accept the movie had some extremely solid merits. I must accede that the first half of the movie was exceptional laying the perfect foundation for the rest of the movie. Starting from Bond’s unexpected “Skyfall” off a train (if you didn't see the trailer) and temporary disappearance, the pace was set at an exhilarating level. Even the plot concerning cyber-terrorism was done smartly and introduced a dark undertone to the movie, especially with the routine assassination of undercover agents by the villain. Once, Bond returns, seeing him at his most vulnerable physically and emotionally was interesting, given that it has never been portrayed before. And the villain. Javier Bardem’s Silva shook up the usual basis for a bond villain. This queer antagonist was a thrill to watch, specifically his interactions with Bond that brought out some well-crafted humor and his shocking decision to kill Berenice Marlohe’s Severine, one of the 2 Bond girls in the movie. She deserved more on-screen time… I meant shower time.
That was it for me. After that the movie failed to connect
with me emotionally as I saw it head towards conventionality. Seeing Bond return
to his childhood home should have been quite a sentimental moment. Yet, despite
all my efforts I couldn't get it to be that way. Those who had seen all 23
films and even read the books would have found this extremely emotional and
expressive, yet I was unlucky enough not to have seen all the material. This was also the case with M’s death. Had I seen her in the movies
from 1995, I would have shed more tears, instead of a couple.
The initial action sequences were mesmerizing. Bond’s fight on
the train and eventual fall and both the fights in Shanghai stand as testament
to this, especially the one in the building where Bond and Rapace’s Patrice fight
over a shotgun, with the occasional blast illuminating the fight, much like a
well-choreographed dance. Yet, the finale lacked the energy of the start,
particularly since it didn't display a sense of peril or danger. There was this
underlying feeling that everything was going to be fine… despite M’s bullet in
the belly.
Setting that entire aspect aside, what truly was
disappointing was that even this movie had the villain getting caught and then
escaping as part of the plan. Silva gets caught and then escapes, apparently
planning this by hacking the MI6 HQ by means of a computer. Lately, most
blockbuster movies have sported this structure of events and it has been the topic of discussion in most magazines. It started with Loki
in The Avengers, then Bane getting held on a plane in the Dark Knight Rises and
this looks like it made its way into the new Star Trek Movie, seen in a picture
where Benedict Cumberbatch is in handcuffs. Houdini-like abilities are a must on
most villains' CVs these days, much to my annoyance. I never knew writer’s
block had become a pandemic disease.
Despite my lamentations, Skyfall boasts several strengths
throughout the movie with twists and turns at the right moments and is a must
watch for both die-hard fans and the casual movie goer, but then any Bond movie
is.
Getting caught is part of the plan.
If you choose to watch Skyfall, check out the DVD or Blu-Ray. It includes commentary from the cast and directors, including a feature on its making, documentary-style, on the production of the movie.
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