Skyfall is a visually stunning piece of film
whose scenes kept my heart racing up to my throat.
What I found most fascinating about the movie, aside from the scene at Shanghai, was the theme of old versus new, innovation versus tradition, death and destruction versus rebirth and renovation. M's removed maternal affections toward 007 were also addressed, as was the notion of obedient loyalty.
About 30 minutes in (give or take) it's made clear that the villain is/was one of MI6's own. They're fighting an enemy who knows everything about them. When you're working with national intelligence this kind of threat forces the external players to question the strength of the hired security's operation.
For a period of time Bond is believed to be dead, but returns to London when it's clear that MI6 has been compromised. It's understood and only briefly discussed that he's returned out of loyalty, and because he believes he can save them.
Is Bond's loyalty to National Britain, or to British Intelligence, or to MI6, or M? Or is his the kind of blind, misguided loyalty that's taught to trained killers who invariably become loyal (or addicted) to killing "in the name of..." whatsoever the name shall be?
Before 007 can begin tracking down the security threat he must be cleared for duty through a battery of exams - physical, and psychological.
During the word association exercise he's watched through the two-way mirror by M, and Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), and I couldn't help but wonder at the nature and composition of Nationalism - from government branches, to military, to intelligence - and the cold objectivity with which these institutions conduct themselves on behalf of "The People" whom they serve.
There is Bond, loyal and willing to serve (either his country, or his demons) and here is the system, unconcerned for the actual man before them, focused solely on his capacity to perform toward their desired results. The conflict of personal versus impersonal, subjective versus objective is also explored later through out the movie.
I've seen every Daniel Craig Bond movie, and I always feel a strange discomfort at the implied power and rightness England is given. When taken at face value, these are just action films about the smoothest secret-agent-spy in the world, who just so happens to be English. But beneath the surface entertainment there's a layer of reality that must be employed to lend credibility to the franchise in changing times.
These last series of Bond films are smartly executed - from plot, to scenery, to acting. They succeed strongly in both displaying the strength and wealth of one of the oldest "civilized" nations on Earth, and reinforcing the idea that it is right for the powers that are to exist, no matter what.
Aside from all that, Daniel Craig's body is a thing of wonder - and I don't mean that even the slightest bit sexually. He's tight, and agile, and forceful. It's sexy by its innate ability to propel itself to motion. Javier Bardem is a master at his insanity, and his humor matches the natural sass Tony Sparks. Judy Dench has the best unimpressed face in all of British film and television, and I always know what her character means regardless of the fact that she seems to ever barely change expression.
At face value Skyfall is exhilarating and stimulating - a good old fashioned action adventure without an unnecessary abundance of explosions, robots, or aliens. There's no question that it's sexy and frightening, and emotional, and well acted. And I wouldn't be opposed to seeing it again.
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