A Weekend with James Bond: License to Kill Time

When you have nothing better to do on a weekend, you get bored, and when you have nothing better to do on a LONG weekend, you get bored to death. That is why when my sister invited me to go to the movies last Friday, I dropped everything (that means, my laptop, a book I'm reading, a DVD, and everything else that helps me kill time) for this golden opportunity (my sister always treats me to the movies, among other things--love you sis!) How can I refuse such a tempting invitation? Oh, I'm only human.

Photo credit: www.skyfalltrailer.com

Of course, the choice of movie to watch is crucial. (I'm a movie reviewer, remember?) But given the roster of films currently showing this week, which is below par as far as my taste is concerned, I opted to go, or fall, for "Skyfall"- the latest James Bond movie starring Daniel Craig.

I had no expectations of being entertained, thrilled, or even stimulated by James Bond. Frankly, I don't give a hoot for action movies. But since I found myself sitting right on the first row of the cinema (who ever invented reserved seating system? ) I might as well stay wide awake at least for the next one and a half hours.

And stay awake I did throughout the entire film that lasted 2 and a half hours! Unprecedented. The reason? The film at least succeeds in stimulating my senses with well-choreographed action scenes set in elegant backdrop of its exotic locations very common in a James Bond film. My favorite is the elevator scene in a Shanghai hotel where Bond is dragged all the way up to the rooftop. Another is the casino scene, this time in mystical Macau, where Bond meets Bond girl, and the next scene, of course, is the bed scene. The girl's presence on screen is so hot it fires up all testosterone inside the cinema!

But it's not the Bond girl that actually steals the whole show, but Javier Bardem who plays the psychotic ex- secret agent who is out to destroy MI6 and its matriarch, M, played by Judi Dench. His dramatic entrance, stepping out of the elevator and walking towards Bond while telling the story of two rats, is simply enthralling. But nothing beats the homoerotic repartee between Bond and Bardem. Could it be that Bond has subconscious homosexual desires? Something filmmakers should look into for future Bond films.

For his part, Daniel Craig as Bond is perfectly cut-out for the role. He is intense, stylish, and masculine. No wonder I saw many women in the beeline at the box office! And when he sheds some tears in the final scene, it made Bond a more vulnerable and sympathetic character. Who says boys, even big boys, don't cry?

Perhaps the biggest plus factor of the movie is the brilliant acting ensemble: Craig, Bardem, Dench, and Albert Finney. Each has his/ her shining moment in the film, delivering those witty lines that are very British in humor and candor.

Finally, the credit goes to its Oscar-winning director, Sam Mendes (American Beauty) for transforming Bond into a more human character, and reviving the old-fashioned art of war that involves less technology and more strategy.

All of these make "Skyfall" a classy movie you should not miss, all for the old-fashioned fun of it!