"Skyfall" :Bond's Origins or The Sharp Knight

In the pantheon of emblematic fictional heroes, James Bond has a  premier position. If you stack him up only against his compatriots then his ranking is much higher, perhaps his only competitor could be Sherlock Holmes. Although, Holmes has been resurrected in recent years played by Robert Downey Jr., his scope is merely visible in comparison with the gadget-savvy-timeless spy. Indeed 007 has been around the world's screens since 1962, fifty years of classy espionage that one way or another have endured the forces of time. A franchise that has reinvented itself endless times, sometimes unsuccessfully, and which along the bomb-paved road has acquired it's very own peculiar conventions. The quintessential Bond devices that have evolved with the films, and the must-have "Bond Girl" who at times can be an ally, or a lover, or the actual enemy.In regards to the agents nemesis, it is important to note that such villains are many times the heart of the film, which makes Bond nothing short of a mortal superhero. Every hero needs his maniacal foes. The role of the agent himself is of course crucial, and in half a century it has gone from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, passing through Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, among others. Living up to it's noir/ literary conception, the character is complex. Bond is enigmatic, a lover with no intention to settle down, with obscure motivations, and a mechanical devotion to stop the always-inventive evil of the world. To shine some light on such prodigy, the franchise has recruited Sam Mendes; to make us forget the already forgettable Quantum of Solace, and to properly celebrate the impressive anniversary with a bang, or many.

In "Skyfall" MI6, Bond (Daniel Craig) included, must adapt to the new threats of the technology-dependent world. The film starts with one of the greatest Bond sequences in memory, set in Istanbul, this opening showcase of action-packed madness sets the mood for what comes after. From the rooftops of the bazaar, to a tractor on top of a moving, and car crashes galore, this really makes you hold on to the edge of your seat. Bond must retrieve a list of classified names from an enemy spy, even if this means "faking" his own dead. What follows is one of the most exquisite title sequences I've ever seen, accompanied by Adele's performance of the homonymous song, it just impressive, fitting, and visually arresting. During 007's absence his boss M. (Judi Dench) is faced with the idea of retiring as her superiors perceived the way she does things is too old fashioned and dangerous. After the headquarters of MI6 are the victim of a terrorist bombing, M. must reconsider her place in the service, and must find the responsible party for such acts. Things escalate as the identities of her agents is revealed via Internet, putting everyone at risk and infuriating the British government. Timely enough, Bond, James Bond, comes back from the shadows to finish his job. Older now, and with much more physical and emotional baggage, the agent is given a leap of faith from M. despite his limitations. From this point on Bond must travel the world to seek the man behind these crimes, who is none other than Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem), a former agent seeking revenge. London suffers the consequences of the battle between the two, trains destroyed, building on fire, and a courtroom massacre are part of the tally. Then the film takes into the genesis of the protagonist, and how M. fits in to the equation,not without giving the audience an epic resolution.

The film is just a great marriage of blockbuster production with smart writing. Judi Dench delivers a more than memorable performance, witty, restrained, but with a very strange layer of motherly love, very comedic at times, but always believable in her role as a leader with nerves of steel. Even though there is not a clear female sidekick for Bond in the film, M. appears to be the "Bond Girl" this time around being the bridge between the emotional and the heroic Bond. Daniel Craig repeating for the third time as the Tom Ford-suit-wearing agent has the part down, a girl-magnet that is also a cynic, and a lonely soul at heart. Craig's Bond has an edge, it loses the charm that Pierce Brosnan provided, but it works better for the tone of the films, a more somber, introverted hero with incomprehensible motives. However, if there is someone that steals the scenes and the audience's attention is the maniacal, sexually-ambiguous Silva, played beautifully by Bardem. A mixture of Hannibal Lecter and Heath Ledger's Joker, demented, psychopathic but with a peacefully dangerous demeanor, whose only purpose is to infringe pain and destroy. The film has a heavy dose of smart and precise humor within the seriousness of the situations.

"Skyfall" more than anything serves as a film to expose the origins of the character, which, although not too on the nose, can be closely related to those of Bruce Wayne. An orphan kid who has an epiphany and changes the course of his life to fight crime. Not taking those details as a flaw, but as a connection to what audiences find intriguing about such heroes with an obscure beginning, the story of James bond or perhaps "The Sharp Knight" of England, gains ground as a more human tale. James Bond is indeed a gentleman, as Wayne is, they are both mortal heroes, depending only on their physical endurance and the high-tech gadgets at their disposal. For all the have in common, Bond relies on his British heritage to be the sharp, well-dressed hero without a mask, a real human being whose only shield are his secrets.The film reunites 007 with his classic Aston Martin, and makes fun of itself mentioning the flamboyant gadgets from which the franchise is famous for e.g. exploding pens.

Sam Mendes deserves the praise for this compelling, deeply entertaining, crow-pleasing Bond film. A new spirit has been implanted into he franchise, one that cohesively incorporate the classic charm and elegance of Bond's hometown, with the roaring place of technology in the modern world. Mendes stays loyal to the set conventions of Bond, but adds an edge that feels fresh, which gets people exited for a Bond film again. For all the comparisons, and the small details that people might nitpick, the film is one that must be watched in the big screen for its full effect to be received. Bond is back, hopefully for another 50 years of classy, mesmerizing, fun, and intelligent action film. In theaters tomorrow. Grade A.