Always bet on Bond.
The Film
2012 was the 50th anniversary for 007 and it didn't pass without a great deal of fanfare. The celebration could not have come at a better time for the storied franchise (it's almost a miracle the film was made at all due to MGM's financial woes) which stumbled due to the woeful Quantum of Solace after Daniel Craig pumped crystal meth into the series in Casino Royale. The much anticipated box set delivered and the world gasped when 007 and Queen Elizabeth II jumped from a helicopter during London's Opening Ceremonies for the Olympic Games in July. Britain needs Bond with its influence diminishing around the globe and Skyfall may have been the best film so far to bring that back.
Skyfall's box office success has guaranteed that Bond and Craig will be back for another installment but let's hope that director Sam Mendes is driving the project because he clearly understands that a modern version of Sean Connery is what the audience longs for; not Brosnan or Moore. Craig's Bond shows a vulnerability that makes women love him even more but doesn't turn men off. The modern Bond relies less on gadgetry and more on his courage and willingness to kill without blinking an eye; ironic at a time when our military enjoys taking out threats with remote drones.
MI6 has changed and Bond is almost out of place in the modern world. When 007 is shot and presumably killed (SPOILER ALERT) during a mission, it marks the end of an era, for both him and 'M'. Judi Dench (in her last roll as the Director of MI6). They become the targets in this modern tale of cyberterrorism, Wikileaks, and betrayal. And the story-telling has never been better.
Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) is more than Bond's equal as a former MI6 agent who returns from the grave himself with a fanatical hatred for his former employer. When a bomb rips through its headquarters in Vauxhall killing some of its employees, Bond makes it very personal.
Skyfall is remarkably complex and nuanced for a Bond film and a terrific ride from the opening scene in Turkey to the highlands in Scotland.
Check out Joe Lozito's review of Skyfall and see why we agree it's the best Bond film in ages.
The Picture
Thankfully, MGM has done a beautiful job with the Blu-ray transfer. The image is crisp and noise-free. The digital image has a very fine layer of grain and just utterly pops of the screen. Colors are rich and perfectly saturated. Detail is abundant and you can barely believe your eyes when Bond enters the casino in a gorgeous tuxedo fashioned by Tom Ford. Bond has never looked better, both in his threads and on the screen. A reference disc for many years to come.
The Sound
Skyfall has a very aggressive soundtrack and the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix will not disappoint; it may blow a few tweeters if you're not careful. The opening sequence is one of the best in any Bond film and if you have a system that can handle the dynamics, it'll rattle the china and scare your neighbors thanks to some rather robust bass content and extensive use of the surround channels. Skyfall is worth cranking but that may be a mistake because it soars for so many other reasons. The midrange is quite punchy on this release giving the dialogue some added warmth so it doesn't get lost in all of the explosions or chase scenes.
More impressive, however, are the quieter moments; The chilling silence when Bond falls from the train or the rain falling outside MI6. It's not something that Hollywood understands in 2013 but not everything has to be a gunshot or crash to be exciting.
Adele's Oscar-nominated theme song is a splendid track but gets a tad tiring after 300 listens on the radio. Unlike the past 5-6 Bond themes (anyone remember what they were or who sang them?), it has staying power and only adds to the film's gravitas.
The Extras
Skyfall is a more complex story as Bond films are concerned and it's clear from the bonus material that director Sam Mendes controlled this project with an iron fist. His scene commentary is very thorough and you almost have to marvel at the complexity of it all. He's matured a lot as a filmmaker since American Beauty and Road to Perdition and it would be a major error to take Bond away from him if he can produce quality like this. He understands what made the Connery films so good and how far the franchise drifted with Brosnan.
The intensity of the Mendes' commentary drops a few pegs with producer Barbara Broccoli, designer Dennis Gassner, and producer Michael G. Wilson. Their commentary is more of a love fest for what they have created and while there are a number of good stories that evolve during the commentary, it lacks the technical punch of the Mendes bonus material.
Shooting Bond offers sixty minutes of featurettes on the making of the film and it is almost as entertaining as the commentary. Skyfall was an incredibly expensive film to shoot; the budget of almost $200 million makes it the most expensive Bond film yet but earning more than $1 billion worldwide surely made them smile at MGM. The fourteen featurettes cover all aspects of the film but it's odd that editor Stuart Baird is missing [editor's note - perhaps he edited himself out?].
The remaining material covers the music and the film's premier in London and it is a worthy collection of bonus content to say the least. Some will expect more but I think your time is better spent watching the movie over and over.
Final Thoughts
Bond at 50 has taken an interesting turn and fans have much to rejoice about; the franchise has never been on more solid footing with Craig as 007 and box office numbers to make the 23rd installment a major priority for MGM. Bardem proves to be a worthy foe for Craig in this intense thriller that exposes Bond for all to see. MGM invested a lot in the film and with so much on the line, their most important home video release in years had to be a must-own. Always bet on Bond. Highly recommended.
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