12/23/19 Skyfall

Ever since Judi Dench was brought on as M, the M screen time has increased exponentially. "SkyFall" brings Dench's M character to the front. The movie clocks in at two hours and twenty minutes and it doesn't wear it well. I recall the movie as "Angry Man with a gun". All gun fight and car chases with no real plot. It seemed like a third of the movie was the assault on the house in Scotland. After watching "Quantum of Solace," this movie seemed alot better. The cuts were longer than 20 seconds and there was more dialog than I remember. There was much more gratuitous cinematic poses than I remember. Shots were the actor would pose with their back to a colorfully light scene. It gave the movie more of a Channel No 5 feel.

The plot of Skyfall hoped to challenge the James Bond status quo. This is not the straight forward world of "Thunderball." There are no more emeny nations. Threats come from within. Q explains he can do more damage with a computer before breakfast than Bond can do it a whole mission. The British Government questions the use of agents. People are constantly tracked with established surveillance. To this point, the villain of the movie challenges Bond to evolve. He makes a valid point that he has the power to do anything. Bond, himself, can decide himself who is good or bad rather than relying on the questionable British government of bureaucratic to tell he what he should believe. This is not a good scene. It is obvious that the iconoclast Bond should not just shut up and take orders. But that would mean the series is done. I feel they should have not asked the question without the ability to give the proper answer.