SKYFALL (A)

Bottom Line: What was once old is new again in this 23^rd installment of the vastly popular spy series – and with a balanced sense of intrigue, action and suspense, our favorite Double ‘0’ agent burns up the screen with a riveting tale of redemption and revenge.  Playing spies is a young man’s game these days and Daniel Craig digs deep to the core of his long-in-the-tooth protagonist’s dogged determination and love of country – while at the same time humanizing the soul behind all those scars.  In keeping with the times, the filmmakers may have tucked in a jot of Jason Bourne, a dash of The Dark Knight, perhaps a tinge of The Terminator – but it's still a dyed-in-the-wool Bond adventure and that tux fits like a glove.  You’ll get everything you’ve always loved about these flicks – It’s cool, calm, collected, vicious, suave, epic, classy, humorous, stylistic and raw – plus Javier Bardem as the jaded (aren’t they all) villain ups the ante to dizzying demented heights.  Enough jabber, let’s cut to the chase – SKYFALL is, unequivocally, one of the best Bond movies I’ve ever seen (still working on my official lineup; this would easily land somewhere in my top five) – and Daniel Craig's Bond…oh, he’ll be back!

Starring: Daniel Craig, Helen McCrory, Albert Finney, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes and Javier Bardem
Directed by: Sam Mendes (ROAD TO PERDITION, AMERICAN BEAUTY and REVOLUTIONARY ROAD)
Rated: PG-13
Running time: 143 minutes
Story: In Skyfall, 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. (Columbia Pictures, MGM)

Trailer: www.skyfall-movie.com