Right, we’re moving into spoiler territory here, so it’s your last chance to bail if you haven’t seen Skyfall yet…
The credits sequence has become a customary Bond, as much a part of the experience as the gun barrel standoff, the power tux, and the ‘Bond, James Bond’ introduction.
Quantum Of Solace was a quantifiable disappointment, lacking many items from the Bond checklist, without being coherent enough to work as a standalone action thriller. Its credit sequence was poorly served by an odd song selection (not a terrible song per se, but not really Bond) and a lack of decent imagery to draw on.
With Adele’s single returning the franchise’s music to form, we had high hopes for an opening salvo to match, and we weren’t disappointed.
The familiar musical keys throb in the background, while Adele’s sizeable vocals hark back to the classic Bond tracks of yore. A contemporary update on a classic franchise staple, the song neatly encapsulates Skyfall’s modus operandi - giving Bond a service and tune-up, rather than a complete overhaul.
With Bond’s watery crash serving as the ideal intro to the subaquatic sequence, the imagery that’s thrown up - stags at Skyfall lodge, Chinese dragons, art deco skulls, flames, halls of mirrors, shadowy villains - hints heavily at plot turns, without actually spoiling anything for first timers.
And that bleeding Bond-shaped shooting-range target, it’s a very prescient recurring image. And it looks damn cool.
It’s telling that the sequence wraps up on a close-up of Bond’s ice-blue eye. Cold, yet seductive, this one’s going to dig deep.
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Comments
marc96
Nov 1st 2012, 9:25
loved this film, & like the joker in ther Dark Knight i missed Silva whenever he wasnt onscreen Bardem did a great job.. one of my fave moments was what Bond got in M's will (the bulldog)
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FBGKennelly
Nov 1st 2012, 13:10
when silva asks M to ''finish him''
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FBGKennelly
Nov 1st 2012, 13:11
bond smiles after activating the palm reading gun
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apo1978
Nov 1st 2012, 13:53
I thought Bardem's Silva was a charasmatic villain but just seemed a bit out-of-place in this. He felt like a more "old-school" Bond baddy with a touch of pantomime theatrics. With the new Bond's going for gritty realism (to an extent), he just didn't quite fit with me.
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SiMan
Nov 1st 2012, 14:02
is it just me, or does anyone else think Craig looked a bit........uncool doing the 'GunBarrel' bit? He just didn't look as smooth as any of the other actors did when they did it
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thedanieljson
Nov 1st 2012, 19:16
Excellently written feature! Couldn't agree with you more on all of the points (except maybe the Dragon bit, thought that was a little TOO silly, but I forgot about it in a flash as the film continued). Loved that you mentioned the bit where Bond kicks the henchman in the face, that got a massive cheer from the audience. A truly spectacular film, highly deserving of all the great reviews.
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joestein96
Nov 1st 2012, 19:25
'Welcome to scotland!' Anyone?
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SteveMcc
Nov 2nd 2012, 1:14
I am probably a lonely figure here, but I was not at all convinced by Naomie Harris. I thought she was a bit wooden (even though usually fantastic) and prefered the somewhat limited on screen time of Berenice Marlohe who I thought was menacing and incredibly beautiful at the same time. For me, that and the somewhat poor CGI in my opinion were the only negatives (the island scene especially, even though the yacht shot looked spectacular). I got giddy like a school kid when I saw the Komodo Dragons, I have missed the Animal fights that Bond has had in recent years! But I loved the film, with the Sky 007 channel giving me time to rewatch alot of the films I thought that this was one of the best Bond films yet.
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fuzzydunlop1
Nov 2nd 2012, 3:13
'Home Alone'? 'Straw Dogs' surely! Great article about a great film.
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mortenjacobsen
Nov 2nd 2012, 8:33
When Bond asks Severine about Silva: "Does he always get what he wants?" Great nod to the lyrics to the Thunderball theme.
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AlfredsDream098
Nov 2nd 2012, 18:59
When the DB5 is unveiled and drives away with the classic theme in the background. That is actually one of my favourite scenes of all time.
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Toph80
Nov 3rd 2012, 5:24
I have to admit, and yes maybe a little geeky but don't care. I quite liked Q's come back to Bond about being able to do more damage in his PJ's over his first cup of Earl Grey in the morning.
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marc96
Nov 3rd 2012, 20:45
@Toph80 not geeky, that was a good scene ........... another part i loved was when bond & M were in the jaguar & he got the temptation to use the ejector seat
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Hadouken76
Nov 5th 2012, 17:32
Can Jason Issacs play Blofeld in the next one? Oh go on...
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henryjr
Nov 5th 2012, 21:49
Excellent film, a great article too. I'm truly excited for the next installment, and I'm just waiting for Sharlto Copley to be a Bond villain.
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Bixbyla
Nov 7th 2012, 11:23
I understand that Skyfall is perhaps one of the best films of this year but a 50 Best Moments article? There's only 50 moments in it! It should be titled "50 moments in order of less impressive to favourite."
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Toph80
Nov 8th 2012, 6:10
In addition to my comment above about Q's come back to Bond, I have to say I think it was very touching, if not maybe a little bit moving in the Chapel towards the end of the film when Bond kisses M head at her passing.
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trist808
Nov 8th 2012, 11:37
Jason Issacs as Blofeld? ... I'd second that :-)
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