Monday, November 12, 2012

My Skyfall Experience | People's Critic: Film Reviews - seattlepi.com

I?ve been excited for Skyfall since the film?s preproduction days. I was even more excited when I read director Sam Mendes along with actors Javier Bardem and Naomie Harris were attached.

My affinity for Bond comes from my father, who also passed down his love of bad sci-fi movies gene as well. How was I not going to see Skyfall? I feel like it?s in my blood. I?ve enjoyed Bond movies in the past not starring Timothy Dalton, and I?ve even enjoyed Daniel Craig as the newest Bond. Hell, I even enjoyed Quantum of Solace ? a movie people disliked.

Fast forward to the conversations about Skyfall after it?s premier in Europe and L.A screening. All I heard was praise for the film. That praise for the film was followed by more praise. Every time I heard anything about Skyfall I?d get a little giddy. Before you knew it, my expectations were higher than Snoop Dogg at Hempfest.

I decided to go Skyfalling with the other father figure in my life, Pops, who is just as responsible for my Bond addiction as my father. I did what I usually do for big movies ? check to see if it?s playing at the Boeing IMAX Theater at Pacific Science Center aka the best place to see a movie if you love movies. I happily went online and paid for overpriced IMAX tickets plus a ridiculous surcharge to enhance my Skyfall experience. Since I clicked that ?checkout? button, I?ve had Skyfall Saturday marked on my calendar.

To be honest, the IMAX experience can be a little frustrating. There?s a line outside that leads to another line inside that leads to a nice game of hurry up and wait. On top of that you have a ton of people ?chat cutting? which means what looks like 40 people ahead of you could easily be 65. Despite the absolute circus taking place outside the IMAX Theater, I noticed how diverse the Bond crowd was. There were all types of people from different age groups and ethnicities. There were mothers with sons and fathers with daughters; all lined up to see 007 do work for her majesty.

The 23rd installment in the Bond Franchise brings Daniel Craig back as 007. The film opens with Bond, Eve (Naomie Harris), and M (Judi Dench) looking for a list that includes the identities of all the MI:6 undercover operatives. Bond and Eve chase Bond Bad Guy #1 through Turkey that includes a wild motorcycle chase on the Grand Bazaar?s roof. The amazing opening scene ends with Bond engaged in a fight on top of a moving train. M gives Eve a directive to take the shot before they miss their opportunity and Eve accidently hits Bond sending him falling 100,000 ft into the river below.

That heart stopping scene is followed by Adele?s ?Skyfall? theme and another amazing Bond title sequence. This is the best title sequence I?ve seen since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), and Adele?s Bond theme is my favorite since Shirley Bassey belted out ?Goldfinger?. The opening scene, title sequence, and theme song added up to one of the best film openings I?ve seen in years.

Skyfall continues for the next 120 plus minutes with the Bond formula of girls, guns, and gadgets after Bond returns from his presumed death after MI:6 is bombed to chase down whoever is responsible.

I?m not sure if I enjoyed a character more this year than I enjoyed Silva (Javier Bardem) ? Wreck-It Ralph?s King Candy and Raid: The Redemption?s Mad Dog are a close second. Silva is the Bond villain with venomous rage, but what makes him most dangerous is his having a believable motive. The scenes with Bardem and Craig are marvelous and get better as the movie goes a long. I wish they could do every Bond movie together.

The biggest kudos goes to Sam Mendes for the great job he did directing this masterpiece. The big action pieces that include helicopters, trains, and cars fit perfectly with smaller scale hand-to-hand fighting and shootout scenes. Skyfall not only has some amazing scenes, it?s a well paced 2 ? hour movie that never feels long. The film also has a few nostalgic nods to Bond films of the past. I could hear Pops giggling like a school girl next to me every time old Bond stuff popped up.

It?s no surprise to me that, according to Boxofficemojo, currently Skyfall grossed $518.6 million worldwide. People love Bond and there are generations of Bond fans worldwide. People love the James Bond experience. Bond embodies a lot of things we hope to be from his unshakeable confidence to his unconditional love for his job and country. No matter what actor puts on a tux or sits behind the wheel of an Aston Martin, we all know what he?s fighting for.

After 50 years of Bond, it?s good to see the franchise has not lost its edge and can still make espionage and love of country exciting.

Grade: A+

Source: http://blog.seattlepi.com/peoplescritic/2012/11/11/my-skyfall-experience/

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