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{"id":1128,"date":"2012-11-09T16:29:31","date_gmt":"2012-11-09T23:29:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/billintheblank\/?p=1128"},"modified":"2012-11-09T16:29:31","modified_gmt":"2012-11-09T23:29:31","slug":"skyfall-see-why-james-bond-just-got-even-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/faithwalkers\/2012\/11\/skyfall-see-why-james-bond-just-got-even-better\/","title":{"rendered":"Skyfall: See Why James Bond Just Got Even Better"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

WhenI first stepped into the theater to see Skyfall<\/em><\/a>, the latest James Bond extravaganza that released in the US on Friday, November 9, 2012, I got worried.<\/p>\n

A quick glance revealed I was surrounded by senior citizens. If my math was right, many of them likely watched Dr. No<\/em> when it first hit the big screen in 1962. Maybe that\u2019s because I went to the matinee. I\u2019m guessing so because some critics\u00a0have called Skyfall<\/em> one of the top five Bond movies ever. As a Bond afficianado, I must agree.<\/p>\n

$\"\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s definitely one of the best movies in the franchise as Daniel Craig <\/a>continues to stake his claim to being one of the best Bonds ever. But the stellar Skyfall<\/em> will appeal to die-hard and fresh fans alike.<\/p>\n

From the\u00a0usual high-action opening sequence (all I\u2019ll tell you is that I\u2019m pretty sure\u00a0it includes\u00a0the\u00a0largest use of\u00a0construction equipment while on a moving vehicle in Bond history) you get the sense that the safeties are off in this Bond episode, number twenty-three in the official series. And you\u2019re right. Anything can and will happen. I found it made for a\u00a0slightly\u00a0unerving, yet refreshingly unpredictable movie-going experience.<\/p>\n

The traditional soaring theme song, already made famous by Adele (and getting Oscar chatter<\/a>) along with the accompanying iconic imagery\u00a0reminded me of Golden Eye<\/em> in\u00a0its homage to Bond opening traditions. Its emphasis on deeper images of life, death, and resurrection had me thinking the film just might cross generations and break out of the action genre a bit into more substantive issues. And it did just that \u2014 without taking itself too seriously.<\/p>\n

Skyfall<\/em> pays tribute to all the usual Bond\u00a0traditions \u2014 exotic locales, beautiful women, elaborate villainous hideouts and schemes, and even a cool car that blows stuff up. But it forges new ground in character development for the series as it explores the roots of Bond\u2019s affection for \u201cM\u201d as a surrogate parent-figure and of her own attachment to him, as well.<\/p>\n

After all, what mother would enjoy giving the order to kill a pseudo-son? One of the funnier scenes has M tersely asking Bond where he\u2019s been while she\u2019s been under attack. His laconic reply? \u201cEnjoying death.\u201d All you guys will be pleased to know that\u2019s as close as Bond\u00a0ever gets to an \u201cI love you\u201d in this one.<\/p>\n

Dame Judi Dench<\/a> shines in her central role as Bond\u2019s indomitable boss\u00a0\u201cM.\u201d This time around, she is the object of mysterious attacks that threaten to bring down the British intelligence system and force her into early retirement. As an extra twist, the incomparable Ralph Fiennes <\/a>(The English Patient<\/em>) makes his entry into the series as Mallory, a politician with his own secretive intelligence background who has just been given\u00a0oversight over MI6. Not to ignore the younger tech-savvy millenials,\u00a0a fresh Moneypenny (Naomie Harris<\/a>) and a trendy-but-geeky \u201cQ\u201d (Ben Whishaw<\/a>) arrive with an eye on the future of the Bond franchise. Both are welcome additions.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all about getting back to the basics in this one as Q\u2019s exchange with Bond shows after supplying\u00a0007 with the most basic of gear: \u201cWere you expecting an exploding pen? We don\u2019t really go in for that anymore.\u201d \u201cA brave new world, \u201d Bond replies. Indeed.\u00a0 Dame Dench even gave me shivers when she read Tennyson \u2014 and not just because I was an English major. It made for gripping drama about our need to stand in the face of terror \u201cand not to yield.\u201d<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get me wrong, Skyfall<\/em>\u00a0has its harrowing escapes, blazing fireballs, and the usual death-defying physical feats, but as one blast from Bond\u2019s past puts it, \u201cSometimes the old ways are the best.\u201d The story even takes a surprise turn to revisit Bond\u2019s family roots in the Wild West of Scotland that might remind some of Craig\u2019s turn in Cowboys and Aliens<\/em>.\u00a0The trip back home for Bond ultimately reveals more about the current nature of the loner agent\u2019s true family.<\/p>\n

And the best part is that Skyfall<\/em> succeeds with any gratuitous \u2014 well, without gratuitous anything. Nothing seems overdone in this one. As a father and a conservative man of faith, I was expecting to find more scantily-clad women,\u00a0profanity, and violence than I would have liked. Not to say there isn\u2019t any, but it\u2019s kept to a few kissing scenes, implied off-camera activity, a handful of words tossed here and there, and no blod-and-guts-stomach-turning kind of violence. One new sexual wrinkle has the male villian (Javier Bardem<\/a>)\u00a0flirting with Bond.<\/p>\n

A bonus is that Skyfall<\/em> won\u2019t leave you feeling like you need to take a shower or go to confessional afterwards. And it\u2019s surprisingly tender when it needs to be \u2014 was that a tear in Bond\u2019s eye?<\/p>\n

One caution: the final sequence may be a little too emotionally intense for younger teens as it involves the suggestion of suicide. Parents should see it first before watching with children 13 and under and\u00a0then decide.<\/p>\n

Skyfall<\/em> has more than its share of surprises but an alert viewer should pick up on the hints.\u00a0Remember I warned you \u2014 the safeties are off. Let\u2019s just say I think we\u2019ll be seeing a lot more of Ralph Fiennes in coming Bond films.\u00a0I for one am fine with that.<\/p>\n

Go ahead. Let the sky fall. You\u2019ll be glad you did.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"