Skyfall Brilliantly Explores the Vulnerabilities of James Bond and asks the Ever Important Question, is he Still Relevant?

Skyfall (4 out 5 Stars)

Directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road)

Written by Neal Purvis (Casino Royale), Robert Wade (Casino Royale). John Logan (Hugo)

Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, and Javier Bardem

Six years ago Daniel Craig took up the post after Pierce Brosnan's version of Bond.  Brosnan was like Connery; he was cool, and sexy.  Craig fit all of the standards, but took being Bond to a whole new level; he kicked ass like no other Bond before.  The question that has been on most Bond fans minds is why is Bond more like Jason Bourne than the Queen's number one spy?

The Bourne Identity and Die Another Day (the last Pierce Brosnan Bond film) were released the same year 2002.  Comparing the two films, the action, and the evolution of a post 9/11 action hero producers seem to go back to the drawing board with the Bond franchise.  The new Bond Daniel Craig was more rugged, and muscular, battling opponents with that hand to hand combat used in the Bourne franchise.  Bond is by no means copying the Bourne franchise, but changing things up, and continuing the make the character relevant in today's world.  Although the the new film address the the old fashioned MI-6, and an ever changing society.

Skyfall starts the way most of the recent Bond films do, with an incredible action sequence, that leads into the title sequence and theme song for a film.  At the beginning James and Eve (a field agent) are chasing two men who have stolen the hard drive with the identities of all the MI-6 agents. The bad guy gets away while Bond is knocked down for the count.  Bond has the opportunity to walk away, but when an attack MI-6 happens he enters back into the arena to do battle the ultimate bad guy trying to take down both M (Judi Dench) and MI-6.

Casino Royale was a game changer, and showed Bond as a human with emotions, through the loss of the woman he loved.  Quantum of Solace showed his need for revenge, although the film dropped the ball.  Skyfall looks challenges Bond's relevance, and gives audiences a window into his past even further.  The villain Silva (Javier Bardem) starts to make M, and her agency look bad.  Silva's plan involves humiliating M, and making her pay for her past crimes.  Along with paying for her past sins, the entire agencies relevancy is questioned by the government, and beaurocrat Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes) helps M to try and maintain the agencies relevancy.

Screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are no strangers to this franchise, this is their fifth film of the 23 Bond films.  They are joined by John Logan, and together these three men take you through the journey of Bond new and old.  Using the different characters, England, and exotic locations they have blended the focus of Bond well, and told a story that is action packed, compelling, and that leaves you questioning the evolution of society.

One of the brilliant aspects of this film is the sense of a world changing, but that this change is causing more chaos than good.  The post 9/11 world where the terrorist runs rampant, and is beyond the simple bald man stroking a cat, the villain has to be smoked out the old fashioned way.  How is the James Bond character relevant, or is he?  This franchise poses the question that was established in Casino Royale.  Bond has to become a new man, even though he may not be ready or even up to the challenges of the the people he will have to face.  Craig tackles this role better than ever in this film, not only showing that he can kick ass, but continuing to show the evolution the character started in this "reboot."

The challenge of the old guard vs. the new guard in the battle of Silva vs. M is another fascinating aspect of this story.  Bardem's Silva is clearly an old school evil genius, but with the twist of modern technology.  The villain is brilliantly constructed, and Bardem proves even playing a villain again is not the same old hat.  Bardem ass layers to this role even challenging the concept that Bond is purely a ladies man as he slowly unbuttons his shirt.

While Silva represents the new school M represents the old guard; she is the old fashioned gal who read poetry at the hearing when she should be running from the room in fear of Silva.  M stoic, and while the franchise has always had her waiting in the wings, or as the kidnapped she finally steps up to take on one of the most aspects of her job as a leader.  Dench is brilliant in this film, and has some truly heartbreaking moments.

Bond has always been seen as an interesting genre film throughout the years with a simple formula, but this chapter of the franchise has changed things for the better.  In this film director Sam Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins create imagery so gorgeous, you will get lost.  This is one of the best shot films of the year, from the simplest moments when James is trying to track down a spy in a Shanghai hotel, where the colors and music help build some of the greatest tension.  There are of course the action packed shots like the opening sequence where James battles it out on a moving train traveling through England.  These men have worked together twice (Revolutionary Road and Jarhead), but have achieved visual mastery in this Bond film.

Throughout this film Bond does not bag as many babes, he even flirts back with a guy.  Bond loses his ability  to be that put together gentleman we know him to be, but what a treat to get to watch this character unhinged, and try and find his place in today's society while being the best secret agent.  The story and direction tell audiences who Bond was and where he needs to go to matter in the global society, brilliant!

50 Years of Bond! The Theme Songs

I have to start this out with the following statement, one of the few film franchises that I have never been fully invested with, involves Bond, James Bond.  I like my martini's, but the films have never been my favorite, maybe for the lack of consistency in quality, and the way they portray the British spy.  While the concept is brilliant, and some of the actor have been great (Connery, Brosnan, and Craig are my favorites), I was never   fully engrossed in the franchise.

Throughout the the years James Bond has been a different character, when played by different actors.  This is a good and bad thing.  The fact that the actual character has had new representations keeps the franchise fresh.  If you have the wrong actor in the role it can help set the franchise back (i.e. Timothy Dalton, and George Lazenby).  The beauty is within the evolution of the film decades.

Throughout the 50 years Bond has changed with the times, from Connery's suave ladies man to Craig's bad ass Jason Bourne like Bond.  The same can be said with Bond theme song associated with every film.  Throughout the decades the music has been seen as a sign of the times.  You have the classic 60s theme songs to the electronica 00s.  While not an expert here are the them songs I think capture Bond the best, and worst.

The Best

1-"Nobody Does it Better" from The Spy Who Loved Me  (performed by Carly Simon, composed by Marvin Hamlisch)-1977

The title says it all, and Carly Simon hits it our the park with her wilting voice, perfect vocalist, and captures the simplistic message of the smooth James Bond.  (third appearance of Roger Moore as Bond)

2-Goldfinger from Goldfinger (performed by Shirley Bassey)-1964

A tight race between this and the number one, Shirley Bassey's brassy voice, is almost hypnotic voice, and everything about her represents the beautiful seduction and danger associated with Bond. (third Bond film, and third appearance by Connery)

3-"Live and Let Die" from Live and and Let Die (performed and written by Paul McCartney and Wings)-1973

This was the first appearance for Roger Moore, and this theme song not only took the Bond franchise into the seventies, but ushered in the first evolution of the Bond character brilliantly.

4-Goldeneye from Goldeneye (performed by Tina Turner, written by The Edge and Bono)-1995

This was Pierce Brosnan's first appearance as Bond, and the first Bond in 6 years.  Bond came back in a classic. nostalgic way with this song.  Turner's voice is reminiscent of Shirley Bassey's Goldfinger, and almost feels as an homage, without being campy.  One of the few recent songs to succeed.  

5-"Thunderball" from Thunderball (performed by Tom Jones written by Leslie Bricusse)-1965

The combination of Connery and Tom Jones (in the 60s) is a true representation of who Bond is and what he represents.  While at first this song took time to grow on me this is one of the songs that represents classic Bond, and captures this well.

The Worst

1-Die Another Day (performed by Madonna produced by Mirwais Ahmadzai)-2002

They tried to stay with trend in music, and make Bond's theme an electronic edgy dance music song with the Queen Madonna, who also had a cameo in the film.  Poor Brosnan; he got saddled with a crappy last  film.  This is by far the song that least represents the character, and was simply picked to try and become a hit. 

2-"All Time High" from Octopussy (performed by Rita Coolidge written by Tim Rice)-1983

While I like Coolidge's vocals the song misses the mark, and feels more adult contemporary in a bad way.  The theme songs try to convey a little edge and danger present within the characters adventure, but this song loses all of edge.  I feel as though this is more Carpenters than Bond.

3-"A View to a Kill" from A View to a Kill (performed by Duran Duran)-1985

The 80s Bond themes were just that typical 80s music, in which you got more of a feel for the band singing the song than the character they were singing about.  This song was more Duran Duran as a band, rather than being about our spy, Mr. Bond.

4-"Another Way to Die" from Quantum of Solace (performed by Alicia Keys and Jack White)-2008 

While I do not mind that name of the film is not in the title, and the title singers are incredible musicians this song misses the mark on all accounts.  The mash-up between the vocals, and production just does not say Bond to me.

5-"The World is Not Enough" from The World is Not Enough (Performed by Garbage written by-1999

While I love Shirley Manson's vocals and Garbage as a band this song felt as though they were trying too hard to capture lightening in a bottle.  Like the film, which also tried too hard, Bond songs started to take a downward spiral with this song.

As Skyfall opens today they are using a more nostalgic theme song with Adele, and even using the title of the film once again.  Two smart moves, and this song feels more like the 1960s Bond we knew and loved.  Smart move, and I look forward to a fun viewing of Skyfall tonight.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an Edgy Tale with Rooney Mara stealing the film

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (3 1/2 out 5 Stars)

Directed by David Fincher (The Social Network, Fight Club, Se7en)

Written by Steve Zallian (Moneyball, Gangs of New York, Schindler's List)

Starring Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, and Christopher Plummer

I can hear the groans already, another book being made into a movie. Wait, what?  Stieg Larson's book The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was already made into a movie?  There was a Sweedish version?  I can hear even more groans from people stating "Hollywood is going to take another foreign film and remake it for American audiences."  This is a double whammy that could have proved disastrous.  I think the opposite happened.  While I did not love the book, and the Swedish film was solid, but this may be the best version of this story.

The film starts with Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) walking out of court after he loses a libelist case against a major business tycoon.  Blomkvist works for an independent magazine called Millennium; he tells his business partner and love Erika Berge (Robin Wright) he is going to be stepping away from the magazine.  While this is happening Blomkvist is being investigated by a third party named Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) because Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) wants him to help him solve a murder mystery.  Blomkvest takes the the case and finds himself surrounded by despicable people on a dark and twisted path to find a killer of women.

Fincher was the right man to tackle this film.  I can think of no other director who could handle the subject matter better; he knows how to construct films centered around dark subject matters.  Fincher has found found musical soul mates in Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.  Reznor and Ross composed one of the best original scores for The Social Network and their score creates an eerie wonderful composition for this film.  The score sets the mood perfectly for this film and is one of the best elements of this film.  Fincher knows how to construct stories, and enjoyed the work he did here.

The interesting part of this film was knowing the book and the differences from the book to film.  The subject matter of this book is deft, there are 465 pages worth of material.  Most adaptations need to trim the fat, and change things for the screen.  This film version did both.  There are moments in the film where I was glad they cut things, or changed things up a bit.  The biggest change is the ending.  Many fans complain when the ending of a book is changed, it works here, but I also think it works because it makes things less complicated.  Zallian's screenplay while not amazing makes the material sharper and concise for the silver screen.  In the book Lisbeth is a major character, but the main focus seems to be Mikael.  This film uses one of the darkest heroines well, and integrates her story into the film seamlessly.

Lisbeth's portrayer Rooney Mara is fantastic in this role; she plays a girl with no emotions perfectly.  As Lisbeth is still a ward of the state at 24 she has been seen as a menace, but she refuses to be a victim to societal norms.  Mara plays this role with great ease and conviction as though it comes natural to her; she has not had many starring roles, but I would imagine her strong performance in this film will catapult her into stardom.

This dark tale is not fun holiday material it is a solid piece of work. This film proves that even with a second coming there can be a worthwhile vantage point for new audiences.  While there are moments when this film feels a bit impersonal, where the secondary characters seem out of the loop the the Vanger family whom this film is somewhat about.  People will also question the connection that builds between Lisbeth and Mikhael, how does it form, where does it come from?  There are some holes that screenplay does not cover up.  These flaws in screenplay come because adapting this sometimes off putting book into something better is a chore.  I give the team behind this film props for making me like a film about a book I did not care for.