SPECTREÂ (12)
D: Sam Mendes
MGM/Columbia (Michael G. Wilson & Barbara Broccoli)
UK/US 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 2015
148 mins
Action/Thriller
W: John Logan, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade & Jez Butterworth [based on characters created by Ian Fleming]
DP: Hoyte van Hoytema
Ed: Lee Smith
Mus: Thomas Newman
Daniel Craig (James Bond), Christoph Waltz (Ernst Stavro Blofeld), Lea Seydoux (Dr. Madeleine Swann), Ben Whishaw (Q), Naomie Harris (Eve Moneypenny), Dave Bautista (Mr. Hinx), Ralph Fiennes (M), Monica Bellucci (Lucia Sciarra)
Daniel Craig's fourth outing as James Bond, following on from the events in 2012's Skyfall. 007 receives a posthumous message from Judi Dench's M to carry out a mission in Mexico to prevent a terrorist attack, but Bond's methods land him in hot water with his authorities and he faces suspension from duty. He disobeys his orders and uncovers the terrorist organisation Spectre, headed by Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz).Â
Though the Daniel Craig Bond movies attempt to take the franchise in a different direction, this movie seems to have many references to the older, classic films, especially Diamonds Are Forever with its Mexico City opening. The opening sequence is quite excellent, seemingly filmed in one shot (succeeding with clever edits), whic the rest of the set pieces don't quite trump. As always, the stunts and special effects are great (achieved by a budget which make this the most expensive Bond film to produce), but it really isn't up there with the best of Bond. Despite winning an Oscar for Best Original Song, Sam Smith's "Writing's On The Wall" doesn't really fit the mood of the film at all.Â
6/10