Plot: What’s it about?
While the forces at MI6 have handled countless threats over the years, the agency has never faced one of this magnitude. Trusted agent 007, James Bond (Daniel Craig) finds himself out of action, as M (Judi Dench) and the rest of MI6 deals with the fallout from the entire organization being exposed. Deep cover agents are revealed and top secret operations are uncovered, leaving MI6 to relocate and attempt to salvage what little remains intact. And with so much turmoil and tension, M turns to the one agent she knows she can trust, Bond. As MI6 copes with the breakdown and an internal power struggle, Bond hunts down the man who is behind it all, the mysterious Silva (Javier Bardem). Without the full support of MI6 and joined only by field agent Eve (Naomie Harris), Bond has to rely on his wits and little else to survive this mission. As he tracks down Silva and gets closer to the elusive man, can he uncover the truth and restore MI6, or is this too much even for 007?
Bond is back, but does Skyfall return the legend to greatness? While Skyfall is a solid Bond adventure, I wasn’t able to see the “best Bond ever” a lot of others found here. I’ve never been that impressed with Daniel Craig as Bond, so perhaps that colors my view on Skyfall, however. The technical aspects of Skyfall are fine, with some strong action scenes and a story that offers a more person take on Bond, but I just wasn’t that taken in. Craig lacks the charisma of the best Bonds and comes off as forced to me, whereas Connery was effortless on screen. But if you enjoy Craig’s version of Bond, then you’ll be much more likely to love Skyfall, as it is his best effort in the franchise. The bad guy in Skyfall was the highlight for me, as Javier Bardem steals the show and offers up a terrific Bond villain. I also liked a less gadget driven Bond episode and the inner tension at MI6 was an effective backdrop, so Skyfall works on many levels. I wouldn’t rank it as one of my personal favorite Bond installments, but Skyfall has a lot of positives and if you’re interested, it is well worth a look.
Video: How does it look?
Skyfall is presented in 2.40:1 widescreen. This transfer is excellent, the kind of crystal clear, razor sharp visuals you want to see in an HD presentation. The film’s lush color scope is well covered, so hues are vivid and rich, while contrast remains spot on and consistent, so that is impressive. As far as detail, you couldn’t really ask for a crisper image. Even the smallest details spring to life and ensure depth is always remarkable. In short, Skyfall looks incredible in this treatment.
Audio: How does it sound?
The DTS HD 5.1 soundtrack more than keeps pace with the visuals, blending explosive presence with subtle atmosphere and dialogue. The elements all perform at a high level and never crowd each other, so you’ll never have to adjust the volume to be able to hear it all. The action lights up the surrounds with pulses of presence, both large scale powerful sounds and more creative, subtle touches. This ensures those scenes work to the fullest and that really enhances the experience. The dialogue is well handled too, so not a single line is drowned out or lost in the action. This release also includes Spanish and French soundtracks, as well as English and Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
In addition to a DVD and digital copy of Skyfall, this release includes not one but two audio commentaries, footage from the Skyfall premiere, over a dozen behind the scenes featurettes, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
