Skyfall Movie Review 7 2402

Skyfall movie review

If not an outright apology for Quantum of Solace, Skyfall is certainly an acknowledgement of the previous outing’s failures. Realizing the error of its ways, the franchise strips away the convoluted plot of that film for a gracefully simple one, bringing Daniel Craig’s rough-and-readiness first discovered in Casino Royale back to the forefront in all the right ways while upping the classiness Bond has been known for in the past. Brimming with palpable tension throughout, Skyfall is a grown up blockbuster more pre-occupied with its characters than its action though certainly not forgetting the importance of the latter. This ain’t your daddy’s Bond but it’s one he can fully get on-board with.

When on a mission to retrieve a stolen hard drive containing a list of all the MI6 agents currently working in terrorist organizations all over the world, Bond is accidentally gunned down and presumed dead. However, when there’s an attack on MI6 in London, 007 returns to help stop a formidable foe with a familiar face.

Under the direction of Sam Mendes, an inspired choice of director for a franchise if ever there was one, Skyfall is exciting, taut and meaningful all in one, managing to deal with weighty themes – including home-grown terrorism and enemies no longer being nations on a map but individuals – without feeling preachy or heavy-handed. It takes its time but not so much as to be boring, knowing precisely when to ramp everything up to 11. From its spectacular opening motorbike chase sequence (that leaves this year’s The Bourne Legacy in the dust) to the perfectly melancholic theme by Adele to its elaborate yet somehow still plausible finale, this is a truly impressive effort on all fronts from a franchise now half a century old.

Outwith Craig, strong as ever in the iconic role, and the always reliable Dame Judi Dench as M, the cast is made up of a host of first-class actors ranging from Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Ben Wishaw to Naomie Harris, new Bond girl Berenice Marlohe and, of course, Javier Bardem as the ominous villain Silva. It’s a good 45 minutes (at least) before Bardem even shows up and yet his presence is felt even before that. Much is said about the fear he instills and when he finally does show up, making quite the entrance, he does not disappoint. Bardem’s creepy demeanour (comparisons with Heath Ledger’s Joker would not be unjust) complete with dyed blonde hair, matching suit, blackened eyes and peculiar voice makes him a distinctive, memorable villain that adds something a little bit different to the mix. Bardem is the stand-out in a cast without a weak link to be found.

If Quantum of Solace instilled worries that the franchise was on shaky ground then Skyfall is a reassuring case of course correction. Even if you’re not the biggest Bond fan in the world this is still hugely enjoyable, providing some of the best action sequences of the year and one of the most handsome-looking movies thanks to the ever-brilliant cinematographer Roger Deakins. Hardcore Bond fans will also find plenty to relish here with a film that’s wholly respectful of what’s come before while realizing we, and Bond, now live in a different world.

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What did you think of Skyfall? Leave your thoughts below!

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I'm a freelance film reviewer and blogger with over 10 years of experience writing for various different reputable online and print publications. In addition to my running, editing and writing for Thoughts On Film, I am also the film critic for The National, the newspaper that supports an independent Scotland, covering the weekly film releases, film festivals and film-related features. I have a passion for all types of cinema, and have a particular love for foreign language film, especially South Korean and Japanese cinema. Favourite films include The Big Lebowski, Pulp Fiction and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

7 Comments

  1. There are two rather obvious errors in the film that I noticed. At Skyfall house the old game keeper gives James Bond his fathers old hunting rifle which on close inspection is a shot gun. Rather like mixing up a Ferrari with a Landrover. The other error is that the train with the very large excavator on the back could never have fitted through the narrow railway tunnels the train went through. Fortunately someone uncoupled it before they reached the tunnel.

    1. Actually the first error isn’t an error. The gun he uses is an old fashioned double barrelled hunting rifle. It was specially made for the film by Anderson-Wheeler gunmakers and fires the very old (c.1890) .500 nitro cartridge. It definitely looks like a mistake in the film, which is why I looked it up, but the historicity is actually pretty spot on

  2. My wife and I thought it was a brilliant film and we may go again, BUT this is to spot an error we saw, we think. We are not sure, but we think, when James was on the train and shot by the guy he was chasing he was hit in the right shoulder! Later, when the girl shot him, we did not see where he was hit!….. Later in the movie, he removed the bullet fragments from his shoulder, this time he took it from the LEFT shoulder! We are sure this is a mistake…….. What do you think?? Great film tho’

    1. Hi Phil,

      I honestly didn’t notice but if that is true what a whopper of a mistake! Are you sure he didn’t remove the bullet looking in the mirror?

  3. Me and my wife fully noticed this but thought it was due to the mirror image, BUT the question is if BOND was shot by the Patrice (the bad guy) in the right shoulder on the train, Then WHERE did Eve (Miss Moneypenny) shoot him?? because he removed Patrice’s bullet shrapnel from his right shoulder!, BOND later said to Eve that she had broken a few of his ribs but nothing major was damaged referring to his MANHOOD we guest? But Eves 2nd shot was not explained, unless when he heard M say take the shot he just pretend to get shoot by Eve and fell from the train giving him a way to play dead

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Tolkien Biopic to Be Released in May 0 5287

10th May, 2019 is when Tolkien will be released to the world, an autobiographical film that will revolve around the early days of legendary author J.R.R. Tolkien before he became the literary giant that he is today.

Here on Thoughts on Film we are big fans of his work and the recent films made by Peter Jackson. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (LOTR), are responsible for originating a universe that has gone on to inspire movies, animation, fiction, and modern media interpretations.



This is why Tolkien is regarded by many as the greatest fantasy author of all time. His creative stamp can be seen nearly everywhere in modern media. There’s the direct reinterpretation of his work in the recently released action roleplaying game Middle Earth: Shadow of War, where players are thrust into a major role in Tolkien’s literary canon. George R.R. Martin, who originated the now globally-popular Game of Thrones series on HBO, openly reveres LOTR as the inspiration for his work, citing the early death of Gandalf in Fellowship of the Ring as having a profound effect on his “own willingness to kill characters at the drop of a hat.” On the web, more Tolkien-inspired work can be found on leading slot portal Slingo and its many online titles dedicated to the fantasy genre, including Amazon Queen, Fae Legend Warrior, and Magic Castle, all of which feature elements that can be traced back to the author’s massive body of work. Technically speaking, the same can be said of nearly every major fantasy brand out there today, from Dungeons & Dragons to Magic: the Gathering. In short, almost every type of entertainment that features western fantasy can be traced back to the works of Tolkien.

In the upcoming Tolkien movie, the man will be played by Nicholas Hoult, whom is best known for Mad Max: Fury Road and Hank McCoy in the most recent X-Men movies. And now, the actor’s versatility will be tested as he steps into the shoes of the most iconic fantasy writer of all time. Starring alongside Hoult will be the actress Lily Collins as Edith Bratt – the woman whom Tolkien loved above all and is reportedly the inspiration for all “elven princess characters” in the LOTR series.

Helming the film is director Dome Karukoski whose CV includes 2017’s Tom of Finland, a critically acclaimed chronicle of the life and works of the controversial artist of the same name. And while media outlets haven’t yet heard from either the cast, director, or crew of the film, an official synopsis of the movie has been released via Collider. “Tolkien explores the formative years of the orphaned author as he finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration among a group of fellow outcasts at school. This takes him into the outbreak of World War I, which threatens to tear the “Fellowship” apart. All of these experiences would inspire Tolkien to write his famous Middle-earth novels.” It sounds like a real treat for film, literature, and Middle Earth fans.

Feature: 2019 Oscar Predictions 0 4031

I think it’s fair to say that the run up to this year’s Oscars has been a little messier than usual, from unexpected and bizarre wins at other awards shows (Vice winning Best Editing at the BAFTAs, anyone?) to ridiculous decisions by the Academy to change the show around.

The latter has proved a particular point of contention with both those in the industry to onlookers on social media, with choices such as not letting all the songs be performed to introducing a Best Popular Film category (whatever that means) to not airing four categories live; Editing and Cinematography proved a particular issue, sending the folks of Film Twitter into a Hulk-like rage.

Thankfully all of these decisions except for the one to not have a main host have taken the walk-back of shame; I look forward to Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair again. Of course there’s still the issue of plenty of thoroughly deserving films, filmmakers and performances not being up for any Oscars at all (*cough* Toni Collette! *cough*) but of course that’s not an issue unique to this year.

The show must go on, as they say, and I thought a week out from this year’s ceremony I’d throw my hat into the ring as far as predictions goes. Below I’ve listed what I think will win in each category, as well as what I personally would like to see pick up that little gold man come next Sunday evening.

Best Picture

Want to win: A Star is Born
Will win: Green Book

Lead Actor

Want to win: Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born)
Will win: Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)

Lead Actress

Want to win: Olivia Colman (The Favourite)
Will win: Olivia Colman (The Favourite)

Supporting Actor

Want to win: Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?)
Will win: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)

Supporting Actress

Want to win: Emma Stone (The Favourite)
Will win: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)

Director

Want to win: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)
Will win: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)

Animated Feature

Want to win: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Will win: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Adapted Screenplay

Want to win: BlacKkKlansman
Will win: BlacKkKlansman

Original Screenplay

Want to win: First Reformed
Will win: The Favourite

Cinematography

Want to win: Roma
Will win: Roma

Documentary Feature

Want to win: Free Solo
Will win: Minding the Gap

Foreign Language Film

Want to win: Roma
Will win: Roma

Film Editing

Want to win: BlacKkKlansman
Will win: Bohemian Rhapsody

Sound Editing

Want to win: A Quiet Place
Will win: Bohemian Rhapsody

Sound Mixing

Want to win: A Star is Born
Will win: Bohemian Rhapsody

Production Design

Want to win: Roma
Will win: The Favourite

Original Score

Want to win: If Beale Street Could Talk
Will win: Black Panther

Original Song

Want to win: Shallow (A Star is Born)
Will win: Shallow (A Star is Born)

Makeup and Hair

Want to win: Mary Queen of Scots
Will win: Vice

Costume Design

Want to win: Black Panther
Will win: The Favourite

Visual Effects

Want to win: Avengers: Infinity War
Will win: Ready Player One

Animated Short

Want to win: Bao
Will win: Bao

Live Action Short

Want to win: Marguerite
Will win: Marguerite

Documentary Short Subject

Want to win: Black Sheep
Will win: Lifeboat

Do you agree? Disagree? Feel free to leave your predictions/wishes for the winners below or tweet @TOF_UK or @rosstmiller.

Roll on Sunday!