Movie Impressions: SPECTRE 007

The ending of Skyfall arguably was a promise to return to a more classic bond. Yet it also dawned a rather grim realisation that Bond just may have become obsolete both as a concept in films and the real world where computers and information reign. Though can the return of SPECTRE prove otherwise.

The movie starts with the very familiar gun-barrel entry, the first time in the Craig-era Bond films. Following the ominous words 'the dead are alive' it perfectly segues into the opening sequence in Mexico City's Day of the Dead festival. In 90% of the interviews/reviews I have seen; everyone quotes this opening, and it is for a good reason. Starting with a beautiful continuous tracking shot of Bond through the busy streets of the city (to a brilliant score) that gradually builds up to a crescendo of a brutal fight in a helicopter in the air above hundreds of civilians in a town square. This opening in my opinion is a great summary to what a Bond film is and effortlessly captures the character's essence. I was a bit on the fence with the new title track by Sam Smith, but with the visuals in, it fits a lot better.

When asked about SPECTRE, former-bond Pierce Brosnan replied that got confused whether he was watching a bond movie or a bourne movie. Once I saw the story, I do get his point. To be honest it tries its best to marry classic bond sensibilities with the personal, gritty tone of recent escapades. But it just doesn't work. The plot (to be honest) feels a bit longer than the story actually is and it tries to wrap up stories from previous films with varying levels of success. Hence largely the cornerstones of interest would be the action and characters.

The action in here well done with practical effects with good editing;so it doesn't leave you nauseous. However none of them could really top the intro. The DB10. I thought would be the return of automotive gadgetry in Bond, but it wasn't so since half of them didn't even work... . The chase scene that we do get is again, well done and also has an absolutely befitting score behind it. But the chase at times felt a bit boring since it was an empty street and it somehow felt too short to be really tense. Some of the locales such as Austria and Rome looked superb though I was longing for a diverse colour palette like we saw in Skyfall.

This being my first Bond review, I have to say that I was one of those people who wasn't completely behind Daniel Craig's casting and still he doesn't physically fit my description of the character. However, you cannot deny what he brings to the role is really something fresh, and he continues that in this movie with one of the best grunt faces I have ever seen. Léa Seydoux plays Madeline Swann who is the female lead of the movie. She also carried herself really well, strong and elegant but I would say do not expect Vesper levels of foil. I did like Dave Bautista's Mr.Hinx; imagine Oddball mixed with Jaws, 'nuff said.
Team MI6 represented by M (Ralph Fiennes), Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and Q (Ben Wishaw) were enjoyable to a degree given their involvement in the story, though a little more character development wouldn't have hurt. Surprisingly, Monica Bellucci's role was small given that she was a main cast member. Andrew Scott is a good actor, but his role in here was too much of a prick than a genuine threat.

Coming to Christoph Waltz as Franz Oberhauser, I will have to go into spoiler territory.So feel free to skip, though it shouldn't make a real difference. Let me cut to the chase, He's Blofeld and it needn't be that way. After this 'shocking' reveal I still don't get why the villain couldn't be just Oberhauser because the story adds a pretty close, brotherly relationship between him and bond, and his primary motivation comes from a mere childhood grudge seems too low of a level for Blofeld. And his big plan though realistic is almost a rehash of Tomorrow Never Dies. Their relationships and the stakes (dare I say) are a bit too personal. Again if it were just Oberhauser it would have worked, but once you add Blofeld's name there will be the question of legacy regardless of it being a reboot or not. Bond has always been the thorn on the side of Blofeld's plans rather than the main centre of it. And if Bond wasn't, it doesn't explain why he started SPECTRE in the first place. Which is why I would have preferred him just being Oberhauser and it could have been that he inherited the organisation from Blofeld. Also Christoph Waltz tried his very best to present himself in the most interesting manner, but with only 3 scenes, he couldn't make a real lasting impression despite a chilling reveal, which is a bummer.

The awful truth is that the information age has taken its toll on the beloved spy. In fact arguably the real hero of the story would be Q considering the plot. In an age where computers do most of the work where does the 'suave spy' fit in ? This has been an age old problem for Bond: how do you keep him relevant? Overtime films like Casino Royale refreshed the franchise with a gritty tone or coming back back to the classic 'suave' tone as I call it. But honestly it doesn't matter as long as it has that 'oomph' factor to it. Even though Casino was gritty and much more darker there was still the ohh wow! moment to it which came out of its tension and emotional impact which matched to that of a really good bond villain or awesome gadgets, there was always something a bit out-worldly-feel to these films. That is what I felt SPECTRE was lacking, that sense of character, it just did not have that 'oomph' to it. That is except the opening sequence and the brilliant soundtrack by Thomas Newman. Bond will always be just that much larger-than-life because that is how Ian Fleming made him. And the moment you ground him too much the effect is gone.

Sam Mendes has done a terrific job here hand-on-heart, its just that the more personal story somehow did not let Bond unleash himself as much he should have been in my opinion. Nonetheless, I feel that we are in a strange transition period with Bond as he rediscovers his place in this changing world. Some teething problems will arise, but I think in the end we may have something truly special that would push the Bond's legacy forward.