Skyfall

I really didn't think it could get any better than Casino Royale, but here we are. I knew this movie was going to be exceptional when the opening credits started playing. What a song, and what an editing masterpiece it was. Skyfall is what I consider a perfect James Bond movie. The film starts off with a typical chase scene. This time you can clearly see that the budget has increased, and we get a lot of beautiful, spacious shots. The train sequence is mind-blowing: the action, choreography, visuals, and cinematography are insane. Unlike Casino Royale, Skyfall transitions between acts much more smoothly, which creates a more continuous feel rather than different acts tied together. The writers also handled Bond's retirement and addiction well. The visual aspect is amazing. The cinematography, lighting, and camerawork are taken to a whole other level. The film also packs more action than the previous two installments combined. There's constant gunfire, showdowns, car chases, etc. Skyfall also embraces the classic Bond-style one-liners, something the previous two films lacked. Every scene is awesome: the escape moments, chase scenes, courtroom showdown, and final battle are all perfect. "Sometimes the old ways are the best" I especially loved the last "Home Alone" sequence. Bond setting up traps, using what little resources he had to save M, was a pleasant watch. I think that scene captured 007's versatility greatly. He is amazing with guns and weapons, but in a dire situation he can work with anything he can find. I was on the edge of my chair during the whole act. A big aspect of the Bond movies is "Bond Girls," attractive women who are in romantic situationships with Bond. This time the "Bond Girl" is Judi Dench's M, but the dynamic isn't romantic, it's more like a "mother-son" dynamic, giving Skyfall a different emotional feel compared to previous movies. The villain did not disappoint either. Mads Mikkelsen's character was calm and collected, whereas Javier Bardem portrays a more chaotic and equally menacing antagonist. He also has a rich background and good development, with a great plot twist in the middle as well. The scene where he takes out his upper jaw made shivers run down my spine. I think his "master plan" was a bit unrealistic, and it would take an immense amount of coincidences to work, but it was still fun to watch unfold. I still think Mads takes the win as the greatest Bond villain, but Bardem comes very close. Craig is, as usual, perfect. In this film, he plays a more rusty Bond, and he nails it. He still has that charisma and charm, but you can clearly sense that he has become weaker. Props to him. Even though many Bond fans prefer Sean or others, for me, it's hard to imagine anyone topping Daniel's performance. Another actor I would like to point out is Ralph Fiennes. I am convinced he can authentically play any role, no matter what. Overall, despite the long runtime, this movie never falls off at any point. The film starts off very strong, followed by a great middle act and an amazing final conclusion. There are so many small details to talk about when discussing how great Skyfall is, but I don't think I can write a review that long. To sum it up, this is the greatest James Bond movie ever (disclaimer: I have only seen three of them).