Skyfall

Skyfall

Director:  Sam Mendes

Stars:  Daniel Craig, Dame Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes

Plot Outline:  At the outset of Skyfall, times are tough for the MI6 operation and James Bond himself.  Bond is hurt in a mission in Turkey, and the head of MI6, M, is being pressured to retire, as many feel she is too old for the job.  The MI6 office is bombed, and the attack is revealed to be the work of Raoul Silva, a former operative under M who seeks revenge for what he perceives as betrayal.

The Verdict:   Skyfall is a first-rate roller coaster from the title sequence on. It's an incredibly stylish film- the opening credits alone are stunning, and there is an action sequence near the top of a Turkish skyscraper that uses color and shadows very effectively.  Craig is superb as Bond, and there is great chemistry between Bond and M, which makes Bardem's presence as Silva even more ghoulish and unsettling.  Great action, performances, special effects and music make Skyfall very entertaining and a must-see in theaters.