Skyfall (2012) - Multimedia Archive and Review
Skyfall was directed by Sam Mendes and premiered on October 23rd, 2012. Starring Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe, Ben Whishaw & Albert Finney. Screenplay by Neil Purvis, Robert Wade & John Logan. Music by Thomas Newman. 143mins.
A bungled mission in Turkey almost gets Bond killed and MI6 headquarters in London is attacked by cyberterrorists. Both Bond and M are under pressure to retire from MI6. Enter bad guy Silva, who has an agenda against M and threatens to take down the entire British secret service.
Skyfall is the 23rd Bond film and one of the best. Daniel Craig's first Bond film, Casino Royale (2006), was critically acclaimed and a major box office hit. It was followed by the first Bond 'sequel' Quantum of Solace (2008) which disappointed many, plenty of action but it lacked the class of Casino Royale, the girls were lovely but the villains were dull and there was too much shaky camera work in an attempt to emulate the Jason Bourne movies.
But things are back to form with Skyfall. Daniel Craig is excellent as the indestructible secret agent, a terrific performance by Judi Dench as M who has a larger role in this her 7th Bond movie. The Bond girls are nice and Javier Bardem's Raoul Silva is one of the more memorable villains in the Bond series, Javier is one of the few actors who can be charismatic and frightening at the same time. During an interrogation scene instead of threatening 007 Silva is stroking his thighs and chest, and Bond doesn't seem to mind.
Not as explosive or spectacular as some previous Bond films but Skyfall has a good solid story, colourful locations, great actors and a surprise or two at the end. Highly recommended.
Daniel Craig (1968-) / James Bond
Born in Cheshire, England, Daniel Craig was nominated Best Actor at the British Academy Awards for Casino Royale (2006).
Craig has also appreared in - Elizabeth (1998), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Road to Perdition (2002), Casino Royale (2006), The Invasion (2007), The Golden Compass (2007), Quantum of Solace (2008), Defiance (2008), Cowboys & Aliens (2011), Adventures of Tintin (2011) and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011).
Judi Dench (1934-) / M
Born in York, England, Dame Judi Dench won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Shakespeare in Love (1998 as Elizabeth I). She has also been Oscar nominated for - Mrs. Brown (1997), Chocolat (2000), Iris (2001), Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005) and Notes on a Scandal (2006).
Javier Bardem (1969-) / Raoul Silva
Born in Las Palmas, Spain, Javier Bardem won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for No Country for Old Men (2007). His films include - Live Flesh (1997), Before Night Falls (2000), Collateral (2004), Vicky Cristina Bercelona (2008), Biutiful (2010) and Eat Pray Love (2010).
Ralph Fiennes (1962-) / Gareth Mallory
Born in Suffolk, England, Ralph Fiennes was Oscar nominated Best Supporting Actor for Schindler's List (1993) and Best Actor for The English Patient (1996). His films include - Wuthering Heights (1992 as Heathcliff), Quiz Show (1994), Strange Days (1995), The Avengers (1998 as John Steed), Red Dragon (2002), The Constant Gardener (2005), Harry Potter series (2005-2011) as Lord Voldemort, In Bruges (2008), The Hurt Locker (2008), Clash of the Titans (2010 as Hades), Wrath of the Titans (2012) and Great Expectations (2012 as Magwitch).
Naomie Harris (1976-) / Eve
Born in London, England, Naomie Harris's films include - 28 Days Later (2002), After the Sunset (2004), Miami Vice (2006), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007), Street Kings (2008) and Ninja Assassin (2009).
Berenice Marlohe (1979-) / Severine
Born in Paris, France, Berenice Marlohe has appeared mainly on French TV, Skyfall is her first big film.
Ben Whishaw (1980-) / Q
Born in Bedforshire, England, Ben Whishaw's films include - Layer Cake (2004), Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006), Brideshead Revisited (2008), The International (2009), The Tempest (2010) and Cloud Atlas (2012).
Albert Finney (1936-) / Kincade
Born in Manchester, England, Albert Finney was Oscar Nominated for Tom Jones (1963), Murder on the Orient Express (1974), The Dresser (1983), Under the Volcano (1984) and Erin Brockovich (2000).
Skyfall was released on the 50th Anniversary of the first Bond movie Dr. No (1962).
It was Daniel Craig who suggested Sam Mendes as director of Skyfall to the Bond producers. Craig had previously worked with Mendes on Road to Perdition (2002).
Sam Mendes (1965-) was born in Berkshire, England and won a Best Director Oscar for American Beauty (1999).
The original script title was Silver Bullet before being changed to Skyfall.
Skyfall is the second longest of the 23 official Bond films with a running time of 143mins. Casino Royale (2006) is the longest at 144mins. Quantum of Solace (2008) is the shortest with a running time of 108mins.
Ben Whishaw is the fourth and youngest actor to play Q in the official series, following Peter Burton, Desmond Llewellyn and John Cleese.
The Aston Martin DB5, makes a special appearance in Skyfall.
The word 'Skyfall' is not mentioned in any of the Ian Fleming books.
The only Ian Fleming Bond titles not used for the films are - The Property of a Lady, Risico and The Hildebrand Rarity - all are James Bond short stories.
British singer Adele was chosen to sing the Skyfall theme, the song went to no.1 on the UK iTunes chart within 10 hours of release. And reached no.2 in the UK singles chart within a week.
A third of the films $150m production budget was paid for by product placements and promotional tie-ins.
Skyfall was nominated for 5 Oscars winning 2 - Best Song and Best Sound Editing.
Nominated for 9 BAFTA Awards winning 3 - Outstanding British Film, Best Music (Thomas Newman) and Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film.
Golden Globe Winner for Best Song.
Skyfall had the biggest opening weekend of any Bond movie at the US box office with $88.3m in 3 days, It has so far grossed an incredible $1,108,164,760 worldwide, only The Avengers has been more successful in 2012.
Pre-production on Bond 24 has already began.
Q: 007. I'm your new Quartermaster.
James Bond: You must be joking.
Q: Why, Because I'm not wearing a lab coat?
James Bond: Because you still have spots.
Q: My complexion is hardly relevant.
James Bond: Your competence is.
Q: Age is no guarantee of efficiency.
James Bond: And youth is no guarantee of innovation.
Q: Well, I'll hazard I can do more damage on my laptop sitting in my pajamas before my first cup of Earl Grey than you can do in a year in the field.
James Bond: Oh, so why do you need me?
Q: Every now and then a trigger has to be pulled.
James Bond: Or not pulled. It's hard to know which in your pajamas...
The Critics Wrote -
"Skyfall is pretty much all you could want from a 21st Century Bond: cool but not camp, respectful of tradition but up to the moment, serious in its thrills and relatively complex in its characters but with the sense of fun that hasn’t always been evident lately." Kim Newman, Empire
"Putting the "intelligence" in MI6, "Skyfall" reps a smart, savvy and incredibly satisfying addition to the 007 oeuvre, one that places Judi Dench's M at the center of the action. It's taken 23 films and 50 years to get Bond's backstory, but the wait was worth it. In Sam Mendes' hands, the franchise comes full circle, revealing the three-film Daniel Craig cycle to be both prelude and coda to the entire series via a foxy chess move that puts these pics on par with Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" trilogy as best-case examples of what cinematic brands can achieve -- resulting in a recipe for nothing short of world domination." Peter Debruge, Variety
"From the opening in Istanbul to the final siege shootout in the Scottish Highlands, this film is a supremely enjoyable and even sentimental spectacle, giving us an attractively human (though never humane) Bond. Despite the title, he is a hero who just keeps on defying gravity." Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian.
"Dramatically gripping while still brandishing a droll undercurrent of humor, this beautifully made film certainly will be embraced as one of the best Bonds by loyal fans worldwide and leaves you wanting the next one to turn up sooner than four years from now." Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter.
