Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91% (Critics) / 91% (Audience)
Directed By: Sam Mendes
Written By: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan
Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Judi Dench
Studio: MGM

Synopsis: Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. (Source)

The Good:
Daniel Craig continues to impress as James Bond. Sure he looks like he should be the guy that Bond is fighting against to save the world with his rough demeanor and rugged features but while he is not what I would have ever considered if I were picking a Bond, he delivers the goods. It also doesn’t hurt that he was allowed to be less of an Emo tightass and actually show a little more of the Bondian charm and humor in this film.
Matching him in every scene was Dame Judi Dench as M. I have wanted to see Dench be given more to do ever since I first heard she had been cast so it was very satisfying to see her front and center in this film. She provides the (sometimes coldly aloof) heart of this film and the chemistry between her and Craig’s Bond was better than any of the romantic chemistry that Craig has had with any of his leading ladies going back to Casino Royale.
Javier Bardem was also outstanding as the villain of the piece. Whether seductively coming on to Bond or going toe to toe with M, Bardem’s Silva was a captivating bad guy.
Finally kudos need to be given to Sam Mendes for directing what was primarily a big chase movie but doing so in a way that gave audiences the big bombastic action blockbuster scenes we wanted while also delivering a movie with a shocking amount of heart and emotion.
And that title sequence was a thing of beauty.

The Bad:
As a kid who was first introduced to Bond in the form of Roger Moore, I will always crave goofy spy gadgetry in my Bond movies so the lack of it in Skyfall was personally disappointing.

The Ugly
The shoddy treatment of the historic Aston Martin was totally uncalled for.

Final Verdict: A great rebound for the modern Bond after the stumble of the disastrous (in name and quality) Quantum of Solace, Skyfall a big time action ride with an equal amount of depth of character that one is not used to seeing in a Bond film. While not the best of Bond, Skyfall is right at the top of the list.

Grade: A