Skyfall
As the Bond series turns 50, Daniel Craig returns for his third turn as 007, facing a new adversary played by a sinister, blonde Javier Bardem. Directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty). After a failed mission in Istanbul sees Bond shot and presumed killed, a file containing the identities of all undercover MI6 agents falls into unsafe hands. When the stolen intel leads to casualties and MI6 itself comes under attack, Bond reappears in London not fully recuperated but ready to track down those responsible.
Bond’s mission takes him to Shanghai, Macau and a mysterious abandoned island - as well as boasting a heavy dose of London-based action. It also involves revisiting his past and that of M (Judi Dench), who harbours a personal connection to Javier Bardem’s villain. Q is played by Ben Wishaw, and Eve Moneypenny by Naomie Harris. This is the 23rd Bond movie.
- Director:
- Sam Mendes ('Away We Go', 'Revolutionary Road', 'Jarhead', 'Road to Perdition', 'American Beauty')
- Writer:
- John LoganNeal PurvisRobert WadePatrick Marber
- Cast:
- Daniel CraigJavier BardemJudi DenchRalph FiennesAlbert FinneyNaomie HarrisBérénice MarloheBen WhishawHelen McCrory
Reviews & comments
M agnificent
Shock horror, my first bond movie. And quite frankly, it is one of the best movies I have ever seen. The story line is a lot about M, and the ending is somewhat predictable, but the movie and storyline is very well thought out, and immediately I was welcomed into the world of bond, with the opening scene of fighting, Mendes doesn't waste any time. It is...
Rollicking yarn - bit lightweight though
Six of us saw "Skyfall" and unanimously agreed that Daniel Craig's best Bond movie to date remains "Casino Royale". We all felt the plot was lacking something as it wasn't really clear what the villain (extremely well played by Javier Bardem) wanted to achieve - embarrassment of MI6; exposure of their agents; getting rid of M and/or Bond? Some great...
Bond does GQ and Bardem does Batman.
Everyone loves this Bond! It is certainly thoroughly enjoyable. The spectacular action and locations provide jawdropping moments. Craig looks picture perfect even when he's supposed to be on the ropes. But is it just me or does Javier Bardem slide campily into a Batman villain a little too much? Liked the absence of gratuitous sex scenes but felt sad at the...
Variety
pressPutting the "intelligence" in MI6, 'Skyfall' reps a smart, savvy and incredibly satisfying addition to the 007 oeuvre, one that places Judi Dench's M at the centre of the action.
Total Film
pressThe Daniel Craig era comes of age with a ballsy Bond that takes brave chances and bold risks. Guess what? Turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks.
The New York Times
pressWhether Mr. Mendes is deploying an explosion or a delectable detail, he retains a crucially human scale and intimacy, largely by foregrounding the performers.
The Guardian
pressFrom the opening in Istanbul to the final siege shootout in the Scottish Highlands, this film is a supremely enjoyable and even sentimental spectacle, giving us an attractively human (though never humane) Bond.
Roger Ebert
pressTriumphantly reinvents 007 in one of the best Bonds ever. This is a full-blooded, joyous, intelligent celebration of a beloved cultural icon, with Daniel Craig taking full possession of a role he previously played unconvincingly.
New York Daily News
pressThough a notch below 'Royale', 'Skyfall' follows that reboot's lead, making a now 50-year-old icon as cool as when he began.
Los Angeles Times
pressA thrilling new chapter in a franchise that by all rights should have been gasping for air - which really makes [Mendes] the hero of this saga.
Hollywood Reporter
pressFeels more seriously connected to real-world concerns than any previous entry, despite the usual outlandish action scenes...
Empire Magazine
press'Skyfall' is pretty much all you could want from a 21st Century Bond: cool but not camp, respectful of tradition but up to the moment, serious in its thrills and relatively complex in its characters but with the sense of fun that hasn't always been evident lately.
Variety
pressPutting the "intelligence" in MI6, 'Skyfall' reps a smart, savvy and incredibly satisfying addition to the 007 oeuvre, one that places Judi Dench's M at the centre of the action.
Total Film
pressThe Daniel Craig era comes of age with a ballsy Bond that takes brave chances and bold risks. Guess what? Turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks.
The New York Times
pressWhether Mr. Mendes is deploying an explosion or a delectable detail, he retains a crucially human scale and intimacy, largely by foregrounding the performers.
The Guardian
pressFrom the opening in Istanbul to the final siege shootout in the Scottish Highlands, this film is a supremely enjoyable and even sentimental spectacle, giving us an attractively human (though never humane) Bond.
Roger Ebert
pressTriumphantly reinvents 007 in one of the best Bonds ever. This is a full-blooded, joyous, intelligent celebration of a beloved cultural icon, with Daniel Craig taking full possession of a role he previously played unconvincingly.
New York Daily News
pressThough a notch below 'Royale', 'Skyfall' follows that reboot's lead, making a now 50-year-old icon as cool as when he began.
Los Angeles Times
pressA thrilling new chapter in a franchise that by all rights should have been gasping for air - which really makes [Mendes] the hero of this saga.
Hollywood Reporter
pressFeels more seriously connected to real-world concerns than any previous entry, despite the usual outlandish action scenes...
Empire Magazine
press'Skyfall' is pretty much all you could want from a 21st Century Bond: cool but not camp, respectful of tradition but up to the moment, serious in its thrills and relatively complex in its characters but with the sense of fun that hasn't always been evident lately.
M agnificent
Shock horror, my first bond movie. And quite frankly, it is one of the best movies I have ever seen. The story line is a lot about M, and the ending is somewhat predictable, but the movie and storyline is very well thought out, and immediately I was welcomed into the world of bond, with the opening scene of fighting, Mendes doesn't waste any time. It...
Rollicking yarn - bit lightweight though
Six of us saw "Skyfall" and unanimously agreed that Daniel Craig's best Bond movie to date remains "Casino Royale". We all felt the plot was lacking something as it wasn't really clear what the villain (extremely well played by Javier Bardem) wanted to achieve - embarrassment of MI6; exposure of their agents; getting rid of M and/or Bond? Some great...
Bond does GQ and Bardem does Batman.
Everyone loves this Bond! It is certainly thoroughly enjoyable. The spectacular action and locations provide jawdropping moments. Craig looks picture perfect even when he's supposed to be on the ropes. But is it just me or does Javier Bardem slide campily into a Batman villain a little too much? Liked the absence of gratuitous sex scenes but felt sad at...
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