Old Bond

Skyfall (2012) –  movie review
What happens when James Bond gets old and starts to wear down?   Daniel Craig stars as Bond in the 23rd installment of James Bond, Agent 007, a spy in MI6 – the British Intelligence Secret Service.  The movie is typically formulaic with all the usual: dramatic opening chase, various love (sex) interests, a warped villain who seeks to take control of the world and get revenge on MI6, large set piece shoot-outs, but strangely enough, no cavalry support rushing to the rescue at the end.
If you like your Bond’s grittier, darker, more serious and physical and less jovial, then Craig is for you and you’ll enjoy this episode.  I did.  Don’t get me wrong, there are the typical 007 one-liners, but they are not delivered with the same tongue-in-cheek of Sean Connery or fourth wall comedic disdain of Roger Moore.
As the movie is several years old and routinely broadcast on “free” TV, I can discuss the plot a little more than I normally would…  Bond is seriously injured and believed dead in the opening scene.  He is settling into retirement when MI6 Headquarters is attacked.  Although still angry with “M” for sacrificing him (and nearly getting him killed), Bond agrees to report for duty.  Blah, blah, blah, bad guy proves he’s evil and it’s obvious he is trying to destroy “M” because she also “sacrificed” him.  Blah, blah, blah (homage to Aston-Martin from Goldfinger), let’s all go hide in my Scottish Highlands ancestral home (“Skyfall”), so we’ll have a reason for naming this movie.  Big battle, “M” is fatally injured, Bond kills bad guy  and “M” dies in his arms.  Happy ending with new “M” and the intro of Moneypenny.
Although typically over-the-top Bond-ishly unrealistic, this movie works like most Bond movies because the audience know what we’re paying for and the director and actors deliver.  This is never going to be “Best Picture” cinema.  This is action, adventure, explosions and the hint of sexuality.  The movie goes out of its way to give you some personal background about Bond and to point out he is reaching the end of his shelf-life.  None of this matters except to prepare us for a re-boot.  The film works and I give it a strong recommendation.
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On This Day In:
2014	Preferences
2013	Prudence
2012	Reason Against Reasons
2011	The 1% Rule Of Large Groups
2010	Going, Going, On…
	Expect Mike
	Wasted Again?
	You Did?
	Reflecting Plenty
	Old Math
	Mental Images
	Here’s Lookin’ At You, Kid
	Learn
	Nothing Feared Today
	I Had Other Plans
	Ratings…
	Really?
	Encourage Greatness

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Bourne Bond

Manners maketh man.
—  William of Wykeham
Motto of Winchester College and New College, Oxford
Kingsman: The Secret Service – movie review
Last week I had the great pleasure to watch a wonderfully entertaining coming of age / spy movie that harkened back to “The Karate Kid”  and the early days of 007 – James Bond (humor and sophistication) with a healthy dash of Jason Bourne (cars and fights) thrown in for good measure.  Without giving away too much of the movie, an older, experienced espionage agent recruits an off-the-street knock-about with (wait for it) a good heart.  Of course, the kid is also a bored genius and former junior national-class gymnast.  Blah, blah, blah.  Lots of life lessons, fights, car chases, and more fights later, you’re left thinking: “Wow!  That was a great movie!“
Now, of course I don’t mean it’s going to get nominated for any Oscar’s or anything like that…  It’s just a very entertaining action movie.  Colin Firth is surprisingly good as Mr. Miyagi – I mean as Galahad / Harry Hart.  I don’t recall ever seeing him in this kind of action role before.  Kudos for stretching the envelope.  Taron Egerton plays Gary “Eggsy” Unwin – the kid.  Samuel L. Jackson plays the evil genius bent on taking over the world – Valentine.   And, Sofia Boutella delivers a cutting-edge performance as the evil henchman (okay, henchperson) Gazelle.   Seriously, Jackson plays the role of a lifetime as one of the James Bond way-over-the-top villains from the early (Sean Connery) and middle period (Roger Moore days).  The film even nods to the classic Bond send up – Casino Royale (with David Niven playing 007) – with poofing heads instead of hickups.
Lastly, the film has a great song.  EVERY great Bond film has a great song.  (You can hear it below performed by Take That.)  So, final recommendation: Very High Recommendation!  Action, humor, special effects.  This one has it all.  One note: this movie has a sexual “joke” at the end of the movie.  It will be offensive to some (many?) and is not appropriate for youth – hence the “R” rating.  In the words of Merlin: “Oh. Oh my word!“
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On This Day In:
2014	Brains First
2013	Not Listening Anymore
2012	At Your Marks!
2011	We Are Not Alone
	Underlying Rationality
2010	Is the Obama Administration Failing?
	In Other Words…
	Quite Please!
	In A Hostage Situation…
	Are We Done Yet?
	In Order…
	Flip-flopping…
	Proof of Choice…
	On “Leading” A Democracy To War…
	Actually, It’s All About Me…

 

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