SKYFALL

RYAN: Skyfall is the latest in the 007 film franchise and the blond Bond, Daniel Craig, is back and he still wears the role very well.

ERIN: He is my favorite James Bond, hands down.  He is the sexiest, the coolest, the calmest.  I just love him. 

RYAN: I still see Bond as brunette in my mind’s eye but after this movie, Daniel’s my favorite Bond too. He owns the role. 

ERIN: He does.  He’s magnetic. 

RYAN: Charismatic. 

ERIN: Yes.  He epitomizes what James Bond should be.

RYAN: And this movie is classic Bond.  The first note of the film strikes that Bond theme and you can’t help but have a physical reaction to it.  The tuxedos, the guns, the cars, the Bond girls… every element you want is there hitting all the right notes.

ERIN: There are not as many gadgets in this one though.

RYAN: Right, but they address it in a clever way.  It’s a modern Bond movie.

ERIN: I still would have liked more gadgets.

RYAN: There was a moment when I wanted to hear the Mission Impossible theme music but then remembered, “wrong country.”

ERIN: There’s some action and sexiness but it didn’t have the same sexy undercurrent as other Bond movies.

RYAN: This one focuses more on story and gives a glimpse into some of his psychology.  And the theme pays homage to previous Bonds but also continues to pave the way for more sequels.  Without giving anything away, this is almost a transitional film that reveals a new MI6.

ERIN: Well I’m hoping they make more and he continues to be Bond. 

RYAN: Voldemort was really great in this and by Voldemort, I mean Ralph Fiennes.

ERIN: He was good.  It’s still exciting and you wonder where it’s gonna go.  There was more history.

RYAN: Definitely more story than action in this one but still plenty of action.

ERIN: You think of Bond as a superhero but he’s more human in this one.

RYAN: Judi Dench is great as M; this is her seventh time in the role.

ERIN: She’s amazing.

RYAN: And then Javier Bardem as the villain is so brilliant.  He plays bad so well but I hate him as a blond.  So gross.

ERIN: He looks horrible as a blond!  All of his imperfections are that much more noticeable.

RYAN: He looked hideodeous.

 

ERIN: [laughs’ Good word.

RYAN: It’s from Wicked.  He was worrisome.

ERIN: He was brilliant.

RYAN: He won the Oscar for playing evil in No Country for Old Men.  He was terrifying in that and he’s not as scary here but he’s as creepy.  I also liked Ben Wishaw as Q.  He can also currently be seen in Cloud Atlas.

ERIN: He has great hair.

RYAN: There is a theme of young versus old in this and Ben represents the young.  Some of the action was very new and original.  Oh, and Albert Finney was good.  I still think of him as Daddy Warbucks in Annie though.

ERIN: [laughs’ Totally.  I loved this movie.  I would see it again.

RYAN: The scenic design, especially in Shanghai was awesome.

ERIN: You’re right.  That was very old school.

RYAN: And we have to talk about the opening title sequence.  I love them in every Bond film.  They’re stand alone music videos and this is one of the best.  The Adele song is great and it’s super-well done.  It’s new but reminiscent of previous openings.

ERIN: Yeah the animation was cool.

RYAN: And I love the title.  Every time they announce a new Bond film, it never makes sense and I don’t associate it with James Bond; but then you see it and it makes perfect sense.  Skyfall.

— BOTTOM LINE —

ERIN: It was great.  It’s beautiful and exciting.  See it.

RYAN: This is another great Bond.  The action and the story moves forward.  The performances are excellent and it’s a lot of fun.

— RATING —