Skyfall Review

First of all, in the middle of all of the "James Bond turns 50" and "who is the best Bond ever" hoopla, I have to tell you that the only Bond I've ever known is Daniel Craig.

And that's fine by me!  I half-heartedly started watching Casino Royale on tv one night  and the next thing I knew I was sobbing over Vesper Lynd and announcing "there are dinner jackets and then there are dinner jackets!" every time my boyfriend put on a suit.

I found Quantum of Solace to be sort of like Sex and the City 2.  Lacking the romance and style of the first film, we had some fun until the plot dragged on and everyone was ready to get out of the desert.

Anyways, I was really excited about Skyfall and even went to see it on opening night!  I haven't done that since . . . come to think of it . . .Sex and the City 2.

Anyways, it seems the new trend with our action heroes is to bring them down to a more human level.  Remember when I wrote about waiting for Batman to finally rise in "The Dark Rises?"  We spend a good part of Skyfall watching a fallen Bond.  Broken, both physically and mentally, poor James wonders if he's still capable of fulfilling his 007 duties.  Delving into Bond's psyche, including a tragic childhood, is interesting enough, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't relieved to see him start to take down the bad guys.

Those bad guys include Javier Bardem as the delightfully flamboyant and creepy villain, Silva.

  

We also have some beautiful but boring Bond girls, Ralph Fines as the chairman of the British Intelligence and Security Commission, and of course Dame Judi Dench as M.

Although so much of the action in Quantum of Solace was fueled by revenge over Vesper's death, I was hoping Skyfall would introduce  a new lady into Bond's life.  And I know the Bond franchise doesn't really deal with feelings, but this is CFC- what do you expect?  So while Vesper left big shoes (and gorgeous gowns) to fill, I think we realize that the love his life is really M.  And that's the story at the heart of Skyfall- Bond being Bond, but with the criticism, support, and respect of his most favorite boss.

And as Daniel Craig is still signed on for more turns as the sexy secret agent, I do hope he finds the one.  But until he does, perhaps Bond can reflect on his friendship with M and on the words of Charlotte York- "Maybe we can be each other's soulmates."

Skyfall, rated "PG-13," action, starring Daniel Crag, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes and Judi Dench "B"