Director: Sam Mendes
Runtime: 148 minutes
Thanks to the success of Skyfall back in 2012, Bond number 24 has been one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year. Could director Sam Mendes repeat the magic of 007's previous outing?
The film continues, following Bond back to London and through Rome, Austria and Tangier, as he comes across his greatest foe yet.
Continuing the theme from Skyfall, questions are asked about whether the 00 project is necessary in a world of constant surveillance and unmanned drones. A conversation between M and new character C (Andrew Scott) mirrors that between Q and Bond from the previous film. The team of writers have given us a film that is as relevant as it is entertaining.
However, don't expect everything to be completely grounded in reality. Gadgets are synonymous with the classic Bond films and they finally make a comeback in the Daniel Craig era, although in a more subtle way than previous outings.
The gadgets, and indeed the majority of the humour, is delivered by Ben Whishaw's Q, who has a more developed role this time around. The relationship between Quartermaster and agent is fun and at times, almost brotherly.
As well as the gadgets, the other well know element of a Bond movie is the girls, and I have to say that they are as capable as they are beautiful. I just have one small complaint.
For me, this was the best news ever. I have adored Ms Bellucci for years and I was extremely excited to see her in this film.
My gripe is that there was not enough of the gorgeous Italian bombshell. Sure, she gets a love scene with Daniel Craig, but she is barely on screen for five minutes, which I feel is a wasted opportunity. For all the publicity given to her age over the fact that she is a wonderful and beautiful actress, she isn't given the time to shine.
However, that isn't to say that fellow Bond girl, Lea Seydoux, isn't good. In fact, quite the opposite. As Dr Madeleine Swann, she is innocent enough to require Bond's protection, but capable enough to hold her own, especially in the train scene mid-way through the film. In my opinion, the casting directors had found an actress that had many of the characteristics of Bond's great love, Vesper Lind. The aforementioned scene on the train provides many instances when she displays Eva Green-like qualities.
The villains can make or break a Bond film. Gone are the days of metal teeth and killer bowler hats but that doesn't mean a decent bad guy can't have a novelty trait or two.
Ex WWE wrestler, Dave Bautista, never seemed the most likely candidate for film star status, but he has certainly started his acting career off well with a starring role in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, and now a turn in Spectre.
With no dialogue to worry about, it is Bautista's menacing frame that dominates the role, but he does it so well. With several chase scenes, and one brutal close quarters fight, Mr Hinx is a formidable henchman. And that novelty trait, you'll just have to wait and see.
Every good henchman needs a dastardly boss and this comes in the shape of Christoph Waltz's Franz Oberhauser. Where Silva's entrance in Skyfall was grand, Oberhauser's is understated but more menacing. Rumours have circulated since the cast was announced surrounding Waltz's role, but nothing is as straightforward as it seems.
Waltz's screentime is also quite limited considering the long runtime, but he has such a presence that it is quite forgivable.
And as for the man himself? This is Mr Craig's forth outing as James Bond and it is almost impossible to imagine another actor in the role. The killer attitude and suave sophistication are present, as well as a decent dose of humour. The relationship between himself and the supporting characters, including Q, Moneypenny and M, has developed enough to make this film even more of a joy to watch.
As myself and the mister came home from the cinema, the inevitable conversation of which is the best Daniel Craig film so far, cropped up. In my opinion, Skyfall still ranks as number one, but this is not very far behind.
The runtime did not feel overly long; at no point did I feel bored.
I also went to see the film on an IMAX screen which meant that the explosions were literally ground shaking, an added bonus in my opinion.
If Daniel Craig never steps into Bond's shoes again, this would be a suitable goodbye. However, with one more film supposedly left on his contract, and that film being number 25 in the series, I imagine the producers will be desperately trying to get him back, and I for one will definitely not complain.
