‘Skyfall’ 2012 Review

• Plot: Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
• Director: Sam Mendes
• Writers: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and 2 more credits »
• Stars: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem and Naomie Harris | See full cast and crew 

‘Skyfall’, the 23^rd installment in the James Bond series, is the 3^rd movie starring Daniel Craig, who I thought did a great job in ‘Casino Royale’ and ‘Quantum of Solace’. As in those past two movies, this one starts off with a chase scene, in which a fight occurs with a ‘bad guy’ who seems to be wielding a rather phallic machine gun, aside from that, it was both action packed and kept your attention, with some plot in between.

Of course, just with the other movies there are several references to the older movies, so see if you can spot some of those. There’s good humor, giant explosions, and I thought all of the characters did well acting.

Also an interesting tidbit, this was one of the only James Bond movies written originally, as many of the other movies have taken their plots from various James Bond books, originally written by Ian Fleming. Many of the movies were originally written as books, and if you already didn’t know that, look them up, you’d be surprised at how many began their life in text form. Anyway, this one was never in text form, making it written for the sole purpose of being a movie. I thought the plot was pretty well done; the bad guy was both likable and unlikable, and there were some good fights. I’m worried to say too much about the plot in the fear that I might spoil some of it, so I can’t really give examples backing up why it’s good. If I were to sum it up, I would just say ‘Because it’s a James Bond movie’, but to my knowledge that’s not what I’m supposed to be doing while writing this article.

It is really good however; it keeps you entertained with fighting, explosions, and good humor. Also, there’s something kind of big that happens in this movie, so if you’re an avid James Bond fan, go see it. Unlike the past movies, the bad guy also isn’t an idiot. He does a pretty good job of not being stupid, unlike another movie I recently saw, Taken 2(but I’m not reviewing that so I won’t go in depth.) Anyway, I give it a 93% because it has good fight scenes, good humor to keep up the interest when they’re not fighting, and a decent plot to follow as well. You should go see it.

Sean Connery Cameo In ‘Skywall’ Was Planned

So you liked ‘Skyfall’, ehh? Of course, you would’ve only seen it if you live in the UK or you traveled to UK just to see the movie, but who cares. We all know everyone will love it here in the US as much as people love it in the UK.

The Huffington Post caught up with director Sam Mendes and asked him about a possible Sean Connery cameo in Skyfall to which he responded,

“There was a definite discussion about that – way, way early on,” says Mendes. “But I think that’s problematic. Because, to me, it becomes too … it would take you out of the movie. Connery is Bond and he’s not going to come back as another character. It’s like, he’s been there. So, it was a very brief flirtation with that thought, but it was never going to happen, because I thought it would distract.”

It was a good choice not to include Sean Connery since for most of us, he IS James Bond. Seeing him in a James Bond movie where he isn’t James Bond would’ve really taken us out of the movie for sure for a little “WHOA! THAT’S THE REAL JAMES BOND!” moment. Sure, it would’ve been cool but it probably would’ve taken away from the effect of the film.

‘Skyfall hits theaters in the US November 9, 2012 and is already in theaters in the UK!

7 Minutes Of ‘SKYFALL’ Score By Thomas Newman

With the 50th Anniversary of James Bond last week and the release of Adele’s new song that will be the theme song for ‘Skyfall’, Sony and Eon are making another push for the music of the film. In the above video, you can listen to Thomas Newman’s  7-minute (6:51 to be exact) preview of the score for Skyfall  thanks to Cinema Musica. Thomas Newman is taking over for David Arnold to be alongside long time partner, Sam Mendes who have worked together on numerous projects.

After listening to the preview, it’s obviously all good and just as good as the other films, nothing really different and pretty much the same blue prints of the other Bond scores in previous films..

For the full soundtrack, you’ll have to wait till October 29 but until then, you can see the track listing at Film Music Reporter. Be alert though, some of the titles are a bit spoilery. Just letting you know.

See ‘Skyfall’ in theaters October 26 (UK) and Novermber 9 (US).

‘Goldfinger’ 1964 Review – Movie Friday – Bond 50th Anniversary

• Plot: Investigating a gold magnate’s smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.
• Director: Guy Hamilton
• Writers: Richard Maibaum (screenplay), Paul Dehn (screenplay), and 1 more credit »
• Stars: Sean Connery, Gert Fröbe and Honor Blackman | See full cast and crew

Story: Credited as one of the greatest James Bond films to date, I do have to agree. With the classic quotes of 007 himself with awesome action and gadgets along with the introduction of his Aston Martin, I really did like this one.

Agent 007, or James Bond, is dispatched to watch over Auric Goldfinger at a casino as he plays cards near the pool for large amounts of money. After breaking inot his home, he finds a girl helping him cheat his opponent. After pleasuring Goldfinger’s woman helper, Bond is knocked out by a strange man in a top hat. He wakes up to find the dame on the bed naked, dead, and covered in gold paint. Confused and somewhat angry, Bond continues to take on Auric Goldfinger.

Bond takes a trip to MI6’s weapons specialist, Q, who gibes him with two tracking devices, 1964 Aston Martin DB5 with a tracking screen for the bugs that were given to Bond along with a very technical weapons system such as machine guns, oil slick, smokescreen, passenger ejector seat, tire slashers, bulletproof glass and revolving license plates.

Not too long after, the famous scene of Bond on the table about to have his goods lasered off with a laser beam that can gut through pure metal or gold. After informing Goldfinger in a suspenseful scene that if he is killed, 008 will replace him and that both himself and 008 know about his ‘Operation Grand Slam’. Bond is freed but taken into custody of Goldfinger.

After, he meets a woman with the most tempting name in the world, Pussy Galore. At first, Pussy has no weakness to Bond’s charms, but after trading a few Judo moves, kicks, and flips, in a barn, she is finally seduced by Bond.

Bond then learns of Goldfinger’s plan to gas Fort Knox putting radiation all over the massive amounts of gold at the large bank, making his gold worth much more. Later on, GOldfinger goes through with the plan which seems to be successful at first until the the military men wake up and botht he good and bad get into a huge gunfight. Meanwhile, our hero squares off with Oddjob, the one who knocked him out as he was going to get champagne in the beginning of the movie.

Goldfinger makes his last attempt to take Bond but is sucked out of the airplane after the window is shot out in a struggle between Bond and Goldfinger for the pistol. Bond and Pussy get out of the plane safely as they eject. All is and ends well.

This one was real entertaining. CLassic quotes such as the ‘Shocking… positively shocking” and the famous “The name’s Bond… James Bond”. Action scenes intensified with no music for that bare knuckle brawls. Especially with the seamingly unbeatable Oddjob. In the end, James Bond comes out perfectly fine and will continue on as our hero.

Music: The opening titles theme song was great and very catchy. I went around my house singing “Goooldfingerrr” to annoy my wife for the rest of the day. As was the music when heard, it was all great. Not much music throughout the film, even during action scenes. no music did make it seem more realistic. Adding music to the action and fight scenes may have been a bit boring since the fight scenes were more realistic and not that crazy ninja stuff that nobody ever does that we see in all movies these days.

Cast & Characters: Sean Connery… you gotta love him. The greatest at playing James Bond. The best there is. He doesn’t disappoint in one of his greatest performances here.

Verdict: A classic for all time that will always live on as one of the best James Bond films and most entertaining action and spy films. James Bond and Sean Connery at their peak.