‘James Bond’ aims to please
January 10, 2013
Qiana Hill
Staff Writer
From Sean Connery to the most recent established star Daniel Craig, the Bond franchise celebrates 50 years. With 23 movies to date, the Bond character has had his fair share of adventures based on Ian Fleming’s character of the same name. The most recent movie, “Skyfall,” released this past November, features Daniel Craig in his third reprisal of the fictional British Secret Service agent also known as 007.
The Bond franchise has become famous for many characteristics, one being the introductory theme. For “Skyfall,” a special score was done by Adele. The song can be purchased on the iTunes store.
In “Skyfall,” Bond has to stop a former British Secret Service agent after an attack on MI6 (Military Intelligence, Section 6). As usual, he has a love interest, even if only for a few steamy moments, played by Bérénice Marlohe. As Bond’s love interest Sévérine, Marlohe did a good job playing to Bond’s strengths. For her short time on screen, she gave the audience something to look at. Her boldness complimented Bond’s subtlety and I was a little surprised when Bond did nothing to stop her death. But she was just an interest and wasn’t really someone Bond could trust. After all, she still worked for the guy who was trying to kill Bond in the first place.
“Skyfall” also marks the end of Judi Dench’s run as M, Bond’s boss and head of MI6. She had played M in the last six movies. The role of M was turned over to Gareth Mallory, played by Ralph Fiennes, the Intelligence and Security Committee Chairman.
Another one of the distinguishing features of the Bond series is the gadgets that the Q branch supplies. In this movie, Bond is given a handgun designed specifically for his fingerprints so that only he can fire the weapon and a simple radio transmitter that acts as a GPS system.
Despite all the fancy gadgets seen in previous movies, simplicity was the key for “Skyfall.” Not many high-tech gadgets were used in this movie, save for the specialized hand gun, the radio transmitter, and Bond’s car which shot bullets and missiles. During the big showdown, the makeshift weapons also show a simplistic take on the gadgetry. As part of his reinstatement, Bond, due to his self-enacted retirement (after being shot and presumed dead), has to pass a series of psychological and physical tests. M, seeming to believe that Bond still has what it takes after proving to be slightly off, sends him into the field anyway. Of course being smooth and charming comes second nature to Bond, but his inattentiveness cause some moments for him to be near misses. Upon being debriefed, while being given a test of associations, he associates murder with employment but when he is asked to associate the word Skyfall, he falls silent at first. Then he says “done” and walks out.
“Skyfall” starts off a little slow at first but quickly picks up with a fighting scene on top of a train and an interesting turn of events. The movie moves along fairly well and just when you think it’s going to be over, the story line snaps you back with a whole new set of questions. Even though things look like they might be coming to an end, audiences know better. No one can resist making another movie even if it just to hear the famous theme music one more time, or just to give Bond one more girl; maybe she will be the one he finally settles down with.
“Skyfall” is a wonderful movie and a great addition to the franchise. Daniel Craig’s acting is charming and seductive. I would give this movie 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Staff Writer
From Sean Connery to the most recent established star Daniel Craig, the Bond franchise celebrates 50 years. With 23 movies to date, the Bond character has had his fair share of adventures based on Ian Fleming’s character of the same name. The most recent movie, “Skyfall,” released this past November, features Daniel Craig in his third reprisal of the fictional British Secret Service agent also known as 007.
The Bond franchise has become famous for many characteristics, one being the introductory theme. For “Skyfall,” a special score was done by Adele. The song can be purchased on the iTunes store.
In “Skyfall,” Bond has to stop a former British Secret Service agent after an attack on MI6 (Military Intelligence, Section 6). As usual, he has a love interest, even if only for a few steamy moments, played by Bérénice Marlohe. As Bond’s love interest Sévérine, Marlohe did a good job playing to Bond’s strengths. For her short time on screen, she gave the audience something to look at. Her boldness complimented Bond’s subtlety and I was a little surprised when Bond did nothing to stop her death. But she was just an interest and wasn’t really someone Bond could trust. After all, she still worked for the guy who was trying to kill Bond in the first place.
“Skyfall” also marks the end of Judi Dench’s run as M, Bond’s boss and head of MI6. She had played M in the last six movies. The role of M was turned over to Gareth Mallory, played by Ralph Fiennes, the Intelligence and Security Committee Chairman.
Another one of the distinguishing features of the Bond series is the gadgets that the Q branch supplies. In this movie, Bond is given a handgun designed specifically for his fingerprints so that only he can fire the weapon and a simple radio transmitter that acts as a GPS system.
Despite all the fancy gadgets seen in previous movies, simplicity was the key for “Skyfall.” Not many high-tech gadgets were used in this movie, save for the specialized hand gun, the radio transmitter, and Bond’s car which shot bullets and missiles. During the big showdown, the makeshift weapons also show a simplistic take on the gadgetry. As part of his reinstatement, Bond, due to his self-enacted retirement (after being shot and presumed dead), has to pass a series of psychological and physical tests. M, seeming to believe that Bond still has what it takes after proving to be slightly off, sends him into the field anyway. Of course being smooth and charming comes second nature to Bond, but his inattentiveness cause some moments for him to be near misses. Upon being debriefed, while being given a test of associations, he associates murder with employment but when he is asked to associate the word Skyfall, he falls silent at first. Then he says “done” and walks out.
“Skyfall” starts off a little slow at first but quickly picks up with a fighting scene on top of a train and an interesting turn of events. The movie moves along fairly well and just when you think it’s going to be over, the story line snaps you back with a whole new set of questions. Even though things look like they might be coming to an end, audiences know better. No one can resist making another movie even if it just to hear the famous theme music one more time, or just to give Bond one more girl; maybe she will be the one he finally settles down with.
“Skyfall” is a wonderful movie and a great addition to the franchise. Daniel Craig’s acting is charming and seductive. I would give this movie 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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