Spectre Review
Bond is back with Spectre, it’s 24th official outing on the big screen and the forth from Daniel Craig, but can it surpass its predecessor Skyfall? After the massive misstep of Quantum of Solace, Skyfall (a second re-boot of sorts) was a monster hit and brought 007 back on track by re-setting the tone and putting the essence of Bond back into the franchise with a modern twist. Now, with Sam Mendes returning as director, Skyfall scribe John Logan back at the typewriter, plus Sam Smith’s brilliant theme how could Bond possibly fail it’s mission to entertain and rock our socks off?
Spectre starts well with Jimmy Bond celebrating the Day of the dead in Mexico, tipping his hat to Live and Let Die and the first of many homages to previous 007 adventures. This opener culminates in an amazing aerial punch up in a helicopter that will have you feeling secure that you’re in for a good ride. We soon find out that Bond has gone rogue yet again, (that’s all you do Bond. Bad Bond!) thanks to a cryptic message from an old friend. His behaviour lands him with a suspension, but ever the rule breaker he continues his quest which seems to involve someone from his past…. but who?
Meanwhile MI6 may be restructured no thanks to Bond’s actions, enter C aka Max Denbigh, played by Andrew Scott, the new head of the Centre for National Security and the man heading up a proposed new surveillance technology which will be a threat to the 007 programme.
The supporting MI6 cast is back, Naomie Harris returns as Moneypenny, Ralph Fiennes’ is back as M and Ben Whishaw as super geek Q. They all work well with what they are given and M sees a bit of action, but we wish Moneypenny had been able to be out in the field more. However, we’re really here to see some badass villains. We loved WWE wrestler Dave Bautista as the physically dominating but muted Mr Hinx. Christoph Waltz as classic nemesis Blofeld was excellent but this talent is wasted due to the film just not giving us the suspense and tension required to build up to such a momentous meeting.
This film is the longest Bond with a running time of 148 minutes and it feels it too. A very thin story is spread too thin with some Bondisms perking you up along the way. Sadly a lot of the ‘homaging’ felt out of place and thrown in willy-nilly. It felt that all the good work of Skyfall was being undone and the franchise was taking a step back into the trivial. Craig looks the part but it felt like he was bored with the character. Spectre can’t decide which bond it wants, is it Moore or Dalton? Do you want old fashion and ridiculous or grounded in a little more reality? This is a shame as this might be Daniel Craig’s last outing as the world’s greatest spy.
And the ladies? Although there was an unnecessary fling with one unsuspecting widow Bond’s main girl was Madeleine Swann played by Léa Seydoux. Swann is a modern successful woman with a dark past who was able to give a good as she got. A good complement to James and some excellent frocks too.
Spectre is trying to put Daniel Craig into another Bond’s Tux, but the fit is just too loose and not the Savile Row tailoring we’re used to. Trains, planes, gadgets and automobiles, Spectre has all the Bond elements but doesn’t utilise them in a timely fashion.
Reviewed by Ian Wright and Ingrid Grenar.
