Skyfall reviewed by Mark Kermode

[@max.m3707]

When Bardem’s character took of his filling and spoke to M his voice gave me chills, amazing villain and great movie, it was good to see where Bond grew up

[@Burnhope93]

Question of Sport! Haha!

[@brendansmith3851]

Brilliant 🤣

[@TheGroucho66]

Literally just left a train from London Waterloo to Poole a few minutes ago in which I bumped into Kermode. Through my star struck babble, I managed to convey that I saw Skyfall earlier today. He stated it was great. *SPOILER ALERT* I asked if he thought it was odd how the desk bulldog was given to Bond from M despite the fact that they had known each other for years and the bulldog was only just introduced in this film. He laughed and agreed. I took a photo and he left. Top bloke.

[@shanenolan5625]

Well, it's a Churchill bulldog. . Also known as a kbo ( keep buggering on) bulldog. . Never quit. Essentially. It's a message to him . .

[@illznik2]

I don't think Bond's flippant comment is out of character; he acted the same way in Casino Royale after Vesper died. Even though it obviously affected him emotionally, he doesn't want to display those emotions for fear of showing weakness.

[@sniderguy]

Interesting that you saw the 3rd act as "James Bond meets Straw Dogs". I would have referred to it as "James Bond meets Home Alone".

[@OutOfAmmoOutOfTime]

sniderguy spot on

[@drbinderust]

Even better!

[@kennethmccrindle3790]

I really enjoyed Skyfall. It was masterfully directed, amazingly written and action packed 10/10

[@thejamesbondshowwithkrazyk4581]

Action packed!? One big action set piece at the start, two average fight scenes, then a home alone end scene and the most convenient set of plot contrivance ever out to film. Garden was brilliant though.

[@aryankaushik93]

@@thejamesbondshowwithkrazyk4581 all fight scenes were amazing bot average

[@thejamesbondshowwithkrazyk4581]

@@aryankaushik93 yeah, which fight scenes were brilliant? It's a boring film with very little action apart from the start, there's no big action scene between the start and the Home Alone ending. That's fact.

[@garybarlow7179]

@@thejamesbondshowwithkrazyk4581 there's quite a bit of action mate. The opening, the Shanghai fight, the casino fight, the chase in the underground, the court shootout and the climax.

[@madremorelos1573]

@@garybarlow7179 the casino fight is literally nothing. The only amazing sequence is the opening in Istanbul. Everything else is quite tedious, especially the underground bit. That bit feels like I’m just watching a Bourne film or something. They’ve proven that they can go above and beyond with action scenes in the parkour Casino Royale sequence, so hopefully the new younger bond will be able to do stunts like that

[@nukm4]

I think he misinterpreted the "Bond zinger" in the film, as he put it. I didn't see it as him laughing off someone's death as usual, I read it as Bond showing that he HAD been affected by her death, but that he, as Bond, can't show it, he has to appear completely detached and unshaken.

[@geoffpulham5032]

We always called it Quantum of Bollocks.

[@stenaldinho]

That's pure gold mate.

[@kennethmccrindle8886]

Cinematography: it's flawless, Deakins is a clear presence here, and Sam knows how to make action. Acting: Javier is a great bond villain and Daniel is once again brilliant. Judi and Ralph "don't call me Ralf" Fiennes are brilliant. Action: it's up there with Casino Royale, Goldeneye, Spy who loved me Living Daylights, Licence to Kill and On her Majesty's secret service. It's better than the quick cut action of Quantum of solace, which was truly atrocious. Overall: what a way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bond. 10/10

[@maritsabarlow6300]

I don't agree with the zinger - Bond had to make the "scotch" comment so that Mr Silver wouldn't see how emotional he is about what just happened.

[@dinodino6]

The irony is QoS's plot made perfect sense to me yet Skyfall's had plotholes+contrivances at every point of the film. It kind of makes sense that 99% of critics can't understand the v simple story of QoS and also can't see the plotholes, contrived plot devices, and stupid decisions in skyfall that occur every 10 mins. Fair enough if the typical audience member doesn't appreciate QoS, in that way QoS failed...but i hoped critics could tell me what QoS tried to do an how it fell short (if it did)

[@TheDecadentOne]

For all his dislike at QoS's plot not making sense, he seems to have completely ignored the fact that Skyfall's plot doesn't make sense. Characters consistently take actions that are contrary to their own stated goals, and M's death is directly as a result of Bond's own stupidity. The film expects us to just accept too many things - why is the list in an apartment in Turkey, for example? Seems like a really stupid place to keep such a thing.

[@matthewritch4031]

Classic Bond film and one of the best of the franchise.

[@mrawesome669]

Favorite Bond film!

[@darmok072]

"Question of Sport" lol.

[@stevengreen8399]

I have to agree... Quantum of Solace isn't much worse than "Skyfall" for me, at least in terms of how interested I was in the characters. Casino Royale Trumps them both by a mile.

[@KajiCarson]

Thanks for that comment, mate, so insightful!

[@V.elociraptor]

God damn Skyfall is great.

[@RedlegsBluelegs]

He pretty clearly stated at the very beginning of the review that he enjoyed it.

[@KVASEY]

When Casino Royale was released many critics made the statement that Craig is not the best Bond but he is the best actor to ever play Bond. I would say the same thing about Javier Bardem. His performance is Oscar-caliber, but I think a lot of fans including myself would still put Goldfinger as a character ahead of Silva as a character.

[@CaminoAir]

I watched 'Skyfall' last night and I'm in two minds about it. Probably will have to see it again. It's overlong, the script is not really inspired, but not bad either (I could guess what the climax would involve). It didn't really draw me in, but it was well made. The music score needed to be better. I did like the Javier and Craig is as good as ever.

[@SpeedKingHighwayStar]

Or as many know it "Sky Awful"

[@damphotos]

I felt that the film lost me with the tube train through the ceiling, but I also felt that (but perhaps it was too obvious-a-twist?), that the twist should have been that Bardem's mother *is* M, and he's psychologically twisted by the fact that his mother is/was willing to sacrifice him for some kind of 'greater good'. Thoughts welcome!

[@HamerD]

It was still one of the top 3 Bond films, and Bardem's performance was probably the best ever given in a Bond. A performance for the ages in my opinion.

[@brendansmith3851]

Absolutely

[@cfcolly]

I really respect marks opinion, but I never belived all the home alone stuff at the end. Just left me thinking it was ridiculous. I'm going to go away and give the movie another chance just because of this review though

[@kennethmccrindle3790]

The best Bond film ever.

[@richardjohn658]

i dont think youve watched any or many of the ones b4

[@fluorosco]

@@richardjohn658 live and let die The spy who loved me

[@SpeedKingHighwayStar]

@@richardjohn658 Exactly

[@DonBarracuda117]

It seemed to me there was a lot we missed between QS and Skyfall. This film felt like it should have been a 2 films, Skyfall being the part 2. Would have been great if we are made aware of Bardem's character then left Bond's redemption plot for part 2.

[@Jakeclancyvideos]

Is he referring to "Last rat standing"? If so, I couldn't disagree with Mark more on this one. One of my favourite lines. I also would disagree that it's a "quip", it's much more than that and carries far more weight than "They'll print anything these days" or something of that ilk. The line in Skyfall is entirely relevant to the plot and theme of the film.

[@aryankaushik93]

At first I thought that too but i think he is referring to Severine"s character. Silva kills her and bond tells "What a waste of good scotch". Personally I had no problem with that and i found it quite funny

[@david552]

I agree with your criticisms of the Skyfall plot (esp the NATO agents all on one hard-disk, did they learn nothing from the child benefit data loss scandal??) but the problem with QoS plot wasn't that it didn't make *sense* as such (when do action film ever make sense?) the problem was the plot in QoS was told in a way that was too disjointed to maintain narrative tension

[@10000Hawks]

I thought of Batman more so how Javier Bardem invokes the Joker.

[@dw300]

I had to rewind back to work out the Question of Sport reference.. haha!

[@katashworth41]

Having watched both Casino Royale and Skyfall tonight, the advent of smartphones has really changed Bond.

[@seahawk124]

He was referring to the moment when Silva is testing Bond's marksmanship and the one liner about the drink. I too thought it was out of place and could of been done better, but I still enjoyed the film a lot.

[@handsometom101]

The literal 'scotch shot' scene

[@CRISNCHIPS12398]

Just saw the film and extremely enjoyed it. Normally I follow films in the lead up to it, but I'm am VERY THANKFUL I did notas I avoided many rumours.

[@SeriousClassics]

I just watched it and very impressed. Confused by this zingler though, could someone message me as I'm lost to what he was referring too...

[@benbacharach3977]

It is when Bond says, "it's a waste of good scotch"

[@shaneebrogan]

looking forward to this now

[@luvpump1]

Loved the film, I could see Dark Knight 1 & 2 in it also

[@adsasfd]

I liked this movie, but didn't bond fail his mission plus the mi6 hardrive is still missing.

[@UncomfortableSilence]

Cinematography: Is great, Deakins is a clear presence here and Mendes knows how to shoot a film. Acting: Javier is fantastic, Daniel feels more experienced. Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes are good. Script: That's the downfall for me, at least Casino Royale was written well. There are so many quips and forced dialogue in this film. At points characters seem psychic. There are even several problems with the way the plot flows, which could have been rectified with a revised script.

[@unaperrson]

Does Mark Kermode ever pause for breath? Opera singers the world over could learn a thing or two from him. Great intelligent review.

[@SpeedKingHighwayStar]

Sadly he doesn't which makes him difficult to listen to.

[@Ivanlois383]

It comes out on the ninth here in the states..urgh can't wait.

[@madahad9]

Open question: How did the villian get out of the Hannibal Lechter display box? They cut away from the character and then cut back to dead agents and he's gone. How did he get out?

[@proof.17films]

This is not a plot hole. Silva had already engineered an escape plan before being arrested, which implies that he escaped through the floor.

[@SWIFTpr0]

Its so amazing the things Mark said: central idea/run so strongly through it. And the very common criticism is that the plot was all over the place. I'm quite torn between both sides but I still LOVED this film.

[@oddnejmus]

Bardem improvising? Ah! That is actually quite interesting!

[@1pauled]

i dont think we were watching the same film.

[@hvitekristesdod]

When he’s talking about the moment where he says “oh the character wouldn’t do that” I wonder if he means the part where M is wounded and Silva is genuinely concerned and horrified? I think that’s a really brilliant bit which shows a very human and torn side of Silva who both loves and hates this woman... it also goes to show that any script is only as good as how well the actors use it and interpret it and make it their own... Bardem’s performance in this film is a masterclass and shows the importance of letting the actors be creators too

[@hvitekristesdod]

A news quote I read: “But all that potential scenery-chewing wasn't enough for Bardem; he needed to connect with character on some sort of level. He quotes fellow Spanish thespian Victoria Abril: "We, the actors, are the lawyers of the characters we represent; we have to defend them no matter what."”

[@hvitekristesdod]

“It’s a waste of good scotch” is one of the best lines in the film lol

[@drdarkeny]

hvitekristesdod - what Mark missed in that scene was that immediately after making the flippant comment, Bond goes suicidally bezerker, taking a gun away from one bad guy, shooting him with it, then shooting all the other bad guys. It’s like the only way he can show grief and loss is through violence - and it’s very effective, and kind of sad.

[@hvitekristesdod]

drdarkeny Yep and he’s covering his own guilt that he feels for failing her, using flippant humor and violence as walls

[@nathanaelmarklew6415]

by far my favourite bond film

[@uberlord12]

Skyfall (v). 1. To hire ones producers to write a script, typically due to a massive lack of funding. 2. Awkwardly disregard continuity, especially in regards to character development. 3. Mysteriously appear alive after being shot twice and falling off of a train bridge into a shallow river. This reappearance should occur without explanation or even acknowledgement by other characters. Ideally via a love scene with an unidentified, line-less, character.

[@fredpaul9466]

Sky Fall was 7 years ago?

[@TheMightyFiction]

I think it's in keeping with Bond as someone who doesn't give anything away. It can be justified as someone who keeps his grief private and doesn't want to give the bastard the satisfaction of acknowledging the brutality he's trying to shock him with, so uses a glib remark tas a shield. It could've been softened with a later expression of grief, though, like an acknowledgement that he'd let someone down he'd made a promise to protect.

[@mitreswell]

The only good thing about Skyfall is that it makes you realize how fantasticly good the Bourne movies are.

[@aryankaushik93]

Lol skyfall is way better

[@yppiz]

@uwtheo I also missed the zinger in the movie. Was it the one after the last bad guy was killed? Or was it earlier after the marksmanship with the old pistols?

[@IronInDaFace]

So pumped for this film!!!!!

[@uwtheo]

Couldn't agree more with the 'zinger' that missed the mark. I thought it was a step too far even by Bond standards - and I'm talking 'Dr. No' mysogyny standards - and just totally didn't correlate with the new Bond or indeed where we're made to believe he stands in terms of the character in question.

[@coolcat20million]

I concur. I also disliked the "perfect timing" element that makes other movies, such as "Ocean's 11" and "Mission Impossible" unrealistic. For example: Just as the bad guy walks through a door in the subway system, his henchman are right there to hand him a package. (Really? And how did they know just at the right moment to be there?) There were a few instances of that in "Skyfall." It's just lazy film making.

[@ZedLXI]

I thought that one "flippant" comment was on the money. It didn't come easy to Bond's lips and showed how he had to be hard to it rather than just, as it seems Kermode thinks, being uncaring.

[@jameshayward1305]

Yer i completely agree, casino royale was undone by question of sport

[@MysticalGreenBeanie]

why do people keep comparing this to dkr? i understand the similarities but the idea of a hero going away and coming back came out years ago

[@wolfman8325]

The Dark Knight parallels are clearly evident, entire scenes seem to be take straight from Batman begins & TDK, themes and even settings! Even the little things! SPOILERS: Bond travels to a neon asian city to capture a criminal, he shouts 'who do you work for' while he dangles him over a building's edge, the villian intentionally gets captured and escapes with a meticulous plan, even Ms remark about the car not being inconspicuous was similar! The music & the editting was even similar.

[@KittyHatProductions]

SPOILER The zinger is when a woman gets shot in the face and Bond says "What a waste of a good martini." (She was being forced to balance a martini on her head by the main villain) Despite the fact the movie was showing us Bond cares. I admit aside this heartless line, the rest of the movie was rock-solid.

[@Minic15]

He says the words "huge sense of relief" in the first ten seconds. It can't be that confusing.

[@grungeface87]

"Question of Sport" haha!

[@burtha3]

What is the quip he refers to after someone dies?

[@04Wenban]

the exact words i said after watching "ahhh were back"

[@MmmmPiePants]

did he call quantum of solace question of sport?

[@Tymbus]

lol yes

[@MattCipolla]

Easily the best Bond yet. Aside from the well-developed characters and incredible acting, all production values are amazing. The score is immaculate, the cinematography is unparalleled, the set design is fantastic and the attention to detail is great. I believe that Javier Bardem's Silva was the best villain of the series and his humor, like other characters, was so well-constructed without distracting from his menacing nature. It's two and a half hours and I was never, ever bored. 9.8/10.

[@tashavstasha]

What "... are back" did the good doctor say at 00:44 - 00:45?

[@garethsmith6611]

did he say scrip was al over the place in casino or quanum ?

[@phantomfire8228]

7:57

[@Titanium0X]

Royale, QoS, Skyfall...The 'Bond Begins' Trilogy. Let's not kid ourselves.

[@MrEllifant]

I personally thought the "zinger" was believable. For me Casino Royale established why Bond is supressing or hiding his emotions (almost to a point of misogyny) and learned his lesson so to speak. I couldn't care for Bérénice after watching Eva Green drowning... the one Bond truly cared for (naming a cocktail after her, using her name as a password, quitting the service to live with her).

[@britishtelevisionfan2033]

watch his review of quantum of solace, then youll see he does like it. Hed have to..it being the best bond film in my opinion since the 70s .

[@britz9418]

Casino Royale was way better than Skyfall

[@aryankaushik93]

For you

[@YouNeverMind00]

I'll drink to that,He's the sole reason why I went to see the film.

[@RevanGabriel]

Agreed!

[@tortfeasors]

The line is something like "that was a waste of good scotch". I don't want to give away what happens or who dies for anyone else, but that should sort you out.

[@phantomfire8228]

6:30

[@rmilrta]

I wonder if I'm just very good at being charitable about movies, but I didn't think it had to imply that Bond didn't care. Taking the flippant approach at that point helped wrong foot the enemy. After all what more could he do at that point?

[@j.aghorbani5197]

Roger Deakins and Sam Mendes= Greatest team up since Superman and Batman

[@harrycarlitos91]

I agree. I felt for that 'character'. I felt 'that character' really trusted Bond...

[@MakeLevelTheRoad]

Fantastic movie, absolutely loved it!

[@simongarrettmusic]

Mark let me save you a couple of thousand words - "Skyfall, it's pretty good, mostly about Bond's relationship with M" QoS's first half is excellent, the opening-scene car-chase and rooftop chase on foot are 2nd to none and nothing in Skyfall matches them (some bad CGI in the new film too)

[@1pauled]

its awesome..kermode clearly states how good he thinks it is.

[@Meursault1942]

I think it has to do with the shot glass.

[@Omnicient.]

And why is Bond wearing Norman Wisdom's old suit?

[@-.Oz.-]

We can all always argue about who the best Bond is, but theres no doubt that Javier Bardem's Raoul was the best Bond villain

[@bobzani]

Oddjob!

[@avastyer]

Casino Royale was great. QoS was pants for all the reasons Kermode outlined in his review in 2008 (also on YT). Skyfall was also, sadly, rather bad. I say sadly because I think they tried really hard to make it a good one. It was better than QoS but, again, where was the threat really? No world imperilled but only a rather callous granny who never gave a crap about anyone. No romance either, which is key to Bond films. And what is the point of taking everything back to Universal Exports?

[@Derek_Smallshorts]

I thought the so-called 'zinger' was an Bond putting on a mask and concealing his grief. But that was less my interpretation, more me trying to reconcile the fact that the line was so, so out of place with the rest of the film's tone. I kind of got the impression they were trying in some way to subvert the usual Bond One Liner, but whatever they were trying to do didn't come across. It's SO out of place that I'd be surprised if it were supposed to be taken at face value.

[@dinodino6]

Agent list stolen?v original Then they forgot about it 1hour in Everything explained by hacking magic? Bardem is so calculating (got captured on purpose)but his masterplan was to enter into a firefight with a backup plan of also a firefight? Bond follows an assassin and lets him kill innocent people? Bond doesn't care the girl he just bedded died in cold blood? All the nostalgia moments&mirroring of silva&bond mean nothing without narrative coherence&consistency Critics slate QoS &like this?

[@kraigund5865]

Saw this opening night and I think this might be the most coherent bond yet (). .() \/ )___(

[@InfnityXAquos]

It did, in a way, have all three

[@littletree1343]

best bond movie ever. most unlike bond movie ever too. loved the baddie Judy is great in it too.

[@SpeedKingHighwayStar]

You've got to be joking. The Connery films were the only true Bond films, the rest woefully poor imitations. And as many have dubbed it "Sky Awful" is exactly that.

[@Videoho3000]

WTF! Where is the clip?

[@SuperDanielclark]

Its a good bond film, better than q of solice but not as good as casino roy

[@brendanlittle2498]

This movie is incredible.

[@georgebegler9836]

does he like it or not?

[@elgar104]

The best bond. Unequivocally. And the scene talking to the woman in the casino... one of the best scenes in any film.... And Kermode.... could you please start noticing the importance of the score? That would be great...

[@spa2damax]

he mentioned the lack of good theme in quantum of solace as bad at the start of the review so implicitly he does say that its important

[@elgar104]

@@spa2damax I've listened to scores of his reviews.... he rarely pays it any attention. And since this review is of Skyfall and not QoS..... my point stands.

[@SpeedKingHighwayStar]

Definitely not. Connery was the only Bond, the rest poor imitators. Daniel Craig tries hard but ultimately not a patch on Connery.

[@maxrav1831]

I thought the film was ok as a film and there was some really good bits. I like Daniel Craig as Bond and I loved Casino Royale which is one of my favourite Bond films and that is high praise. However things nark at me from this film. I am not and never have been a great fan of Judy Dench as M. I think that whole mother thing was boring and it degrades bond for me so it isn't surprising one of the highlights of the film for me was when she died which was not the films intention I am sure.

[@orangeboy222]

It´s apparent to me how nobbled the media have been with regards to this film. It´s not a bad film, but contrary to what Kermode says, it is HEAVILY influenced by the Dark Knight. The villain is completely based on The Joker; the score is similar; and so is the plot. A shame Kermode has given into the politics.