Spectre Review

Daniel Craig's fourth and what seems to be final trip into the tuxedo worn by 007 gives a good performance as James Bond however the over the top action and beautiful cinematography doesn't hold up, due to the lack of a strong story.

I'll never forget seeing Casino Royale in theaters with Daniel Craig becoming bond for the first time.  A new take on the Bond character who wasn't tied nearly as much to the gadgets he had used in the past or nearly as much campy-ness to some of the action sequences.  Daniel Craig has been my favorite Bond even if the stories being told haven't always been the greatest.  Spectre doesn't change much to the formula that has worked over the last few movies however, this movie does try to at least hint at more of a deeper connection between the last four movies.  The only problem is that the connection turns out to be as wide as the ocean but as deep as a fish bowl.

Spectre opens with a beautifully shot scene during Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Mexico City.  The exciting helicopter fight afterwards leads into Bond being reprimanded by MI6 for his seemingly recklessness of his behavior.  At the same time MI6 is already being looked at as an old way of doing things and being merged with MI5 and remove the double 0 division.  A new wave of spy games are in the works with the latest technology in the form of surveillance drones, internet, and phone tapping is the future that C, played by Andrew Scott, is trying to bring forth, no matter how grey the morals behind the program may be.

Spectre turns out to be led by Ernst Blofeld (Christoph Walz) who has been behind the scenes as the master puppeteer to Bond's biggest threats the last few films.  Briefly, Blofeld appears as the strong, silent type of leader that has complete control the moment he enters the room.  It's apparent that Blofeld has eyes everywhere, and while he works primarily in the shadows, he poses a looming threat to Bond because of his sheer cunning and a past secret that unravels itself when the two finally meet.

While there is an attempt made to create a stronger connection between the last four films, we don't get a full reveal of all of the inner workings of exactly how all of the major plots of those films are linked and how all of the puzzle pieces all fit together.   Another issue is that Blofeld doesn't get enough time on screen to become the ultimate Bond villain that you love to hate.  In fact after his initial appearance we don't get to see him again until the final 3rd portion of the film.  Which is a real waste considering over the last few years I have grown to become a fan of Christoph Walz's ability to be one of those characters that leaves you hanging on his every word.  See his performances in Inglorious Bastards or Django Unchained to see what I mean.  It was part of the reason I was excited to see him as a potential Bond villain who had the same kind of effect.  However not being around for much of the film lessens the impact and left me wanting for more.

The movie gives the vibe of a throwback to many of the older Bond movies with the snowy landscapes, soundtrack, sports car and watch product placement you've come to expect.  Even with the predictability of the story and outcome of certain situations Bond finds himself in, the movie doesn't fail to deliver what you expect going into any Bond film, which is over the top action, sense of tension and a charismatic villain.  The film serves as a good send off for Daniel Craigs' Bond, but it does imply that it won't be too long before we join Bond in his next spy adventure.


Final Score 3 / 5