Skyfall (2012)

This is a great montage scene of James Bond’s (Daniel Craig) life away from MI6 in Skyfall (2012). It seems fun at first, if not eventful, but we quickly get the feeling that Bond’s escapades ring hollow. I particularly like how there is zero dialogue in the montage, no matter the situation. A tryst with a girl, a lively drinking game (with a weird-looking obviously CGI-ed scorpion on his hand, no less…it couldn’t have been something else? also shout out to Michael G. Wilson’s son Gregg making a cameo) or “the next day” – Bond is alone with his thoughts, and he obviously hates it.

The first minute of Skyfall (2012) is just awesome. Like other Craig Bond movies, it dabbles in change from the traditional Bond formula and in this case, the gunbarrel sequence with a blaring James Bond theme is nowhere to be found. The originalist in me was first skeptical against this change, but tacking it on to the end (as in this movie and in Quantum Of Solace (2008)) adds a certain awesome celebratory bookend to a James Bond movie. I remember feeling refreshed at the end of Quantum because of this.

But back to the start of Skyfall – I remember the high anticipation as the vanity logos appeared for MGM and their Leo the Lion roar, and the silent, classic Columbia logo. And instead of the traditional gunbarrel, the camera isn’t even in focus for the last 20 seconds of the first minute of the movie but it didn’t matter. When Bond’s figure appears and the horns make that signature James Bond intro sound – wow! The hair stood up on the back of my neck and I was locked in. A perfect way to start a James Bond movie!

Daniel Craig looking like a spy in Skyfall (2012)

Skyfall (2012) is easily the most beautiful James Bond movie. Of course, we have cinematographer Roger Deakins to thank for that. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Cinematography after all, and as most of us know, Oscar talk for James Bond movies is rare. There are several scenes in the movie that are some of the most visually appealing in all of the James Bond movies ever, but the Shangai scene takes the cake.

At over 9 minutes long with barely any dialogue, the focus is truly on the visuals for the entire sequence. From the blue-hued rooftop Bond swimming session to the seemingly “dance” of a fight set against a fluid neon advertisement in the skyscraper, it’s so easy to just sit back and enjoy this part of what many consider Daniel Craig’s best James Bond movie.

A visually stunning fight sequence from Skyfall (2012)