Ten years of Skyfall and to date is the best Bond film. Skyfall is 23rd James Bond movie and Daniel Craig’s third movie as agent 007 and is considered an all-time favorite Bond movie. It changed the way we look at the iconic character. Skyfall was filmed when Craig was in his forties. The 2021’s No Time To Die was Craig’s finale to his Bond series
Directed by Sam Mendes and written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and John Logan, Skyfall won two Academy Awards: An award for best cinematography and an Award for best music (original score).
Years have passed, and Skyfall still stands as the most memorable and the most promising Bond film. Everything great about Skyfall.
Craig’s contribution to the character
Skyfall is Daniel Craig’s third bond movie. Craig truly enhanced the character delivering his best-ever Bond performances. He made agent 007 his character, angrier and more haunted by indecision and possessed a great emotional depth under his stoic exterior. With Skyfall, Craig “has evolved into arguably the best Bond ever,” says Charlie McCollum at the San Jose Mercury News.
The fall of agent 007
No other Bond film has stirred the character more than this. Agent 007 is on a mission. And on this mission he confronts himself. The once sharp agent 007 has turned blunt. The more he goes into his mission, the more he realizes.
Agent 007 has grown old. He is no longer agile and sharp as he used to be. But his ego doesn’t allow him to realize this until late.
Judy Dench’s M
The MI6 boss M, played by Judy Dench in all Bond films since 1995’s Goldeneye, had something else to offer. She is another fallen hero of the film. Same as Bond, she too has to confront herself and her age. M has fallen. The troubled boss has a far more complex and sympathetic side of her.
A great villain
Outstanding protagonists deserve an equally outstanding antagonist. Skyfall had Javier Bardem as the next Bond villain. The Oscar-winning actor for No Country for Old Men made Silva the best Bond villain of all time.
Powerful opening
SKYFALL opens with a thrilling prologue. An action-packed chase scene, typical of any Bond film ends with an unexpected twist when Moneypenny seemingly kills James Bond. He drowns in the deep river with the opening credits and Adele’s song.
The subtle sluggishness in fight scenes hints towards the main theme of the film that digs more into the character of agent 007. The fall of the hero puts forth a powerful opening act, especially as an introduction to the hero.
Skyfall’s title song
Although Bond movies are all about fight scenes, Skyfall’s title song adds soul to the entire movie. Adele delivers a lovely title song that goes by the same name; Skyfall. The impact of sound on a film is huge. The powerful ominous tunes build up a peculiar ambiance as the Hero falls. The lyrics of the song forebode what the movie has to offer.
Skyfall goes back to the 90s mood, gradually embracing the modern era
The beginning act establishes that through a 2012 film, Skyfall smartly resets the bond clock towards the 90s. The homage to the bygone era of classic Bond films. The second half is followed by the old times and has the touch of modern times, cool gadgets cyber-crimes.
The move toward modern times is gradual and natural. The creative team has cleverly set up. The movie feels neither too dated nor too into the future. Just the right amount.
Incredible cinematography
Skyfall is a masterclass in cinematography. Roger Deakin made Skyfall look stunning. In the opening shot of the film one ray of light illuminates part of Bond’s face; unforgettable. The neon light fight scene in Shanghai to the seamless transition of a cold foggy day into night. For this spectacular cinematography, Roger Deakin even got an Oscar.
Source: Telegraph India, and The Week
Where to watch Skyfall (2012)
