REVIEW: SPECTRE

Spectre is the fourth James Bond film with Daniel Craig taking us on the action-packed adventure as the title character.

Spectre is an entertaining film to watch. When I go to see an action film, I want to see lots of action. I wouldn’t expect to go into a drama and see 10-minute car chases. So when I see an action film I expect to be entertained! This film did not let me down. The action sequences in this film were so exciting.

But besides the action, the performances from the characters were good. What I like about the James Bond character is that he is a no nonsense kind of guy, and the way Craig portrays the secret agent in not only sophisticated and suave, but also, quite funny. The sarcasm that is ingrained into Bond’s persona is entertaining, without taking away from the serious mood that the film is trying to convey. But along with Craig, actress Lea Seydoux (Madeleine Swann) came in with guns blazing. What I liked about the character of Madeleine Swann was the fact that she didn’t just let Bond do the hard work. She often helped, and or, defended herself. It was a nice change of pace. Both Seydoux and Craig’s characters have great chemistry. However, the film moves so fast, that by the end of the film, the relationship seems too rushed for us to really have any personal interest in.

One of the elements that I looked forward to was Christoph Waltz’s character, Oberhauser. I knew going into the film that he was going to be the villain. And knowing Waltz’s reputation for playing villains so well, I was eager to see what Waltz could add to the whole Bond world. The entrance of Oberhauser was so sinister. It seemed to mirror that of the entrance of Javier Bardem’s character, Silva, in Skyfall. When you are first introduced to these villains there is only an outline, as you question the identity of these men. But other than that, the character of Oberhauser is often unclear and forced upon you. I expected to really have Oberhauser shine on screen, but sadly, it was no more than a few minutes here and there. Another character I looked forward to was Ralph Fiennes playing the role of M. Since the original role of M was a man, in the Ian Fleming novels, I thought it would be nice to see how the new bond would get along with a male superior. However, as I watched the film, I couldn’t help but miss Judi Dench more and more. Fiennes portrayal of M seemed lackluster and a pushover at times. I expected more from such a terrific actor.

I enjoyed this film, for the most part. I would say it’s better than Skyfall or Casino Royale, but I would say it is 10 times better than Quantum of Solace. But to be realistic, anything would be better than Quantum of Solace. What people have voiced their dislike for was the fact that Spectre didn’t hold true to the other, Craig, Bond films. What director Sam Mendes did, was put elements of the older Bond films into Spectre. I tended to like those nuances of going back to the classic Bond films. But if you believe that this set of Bond films should stand on their own, you probably wont like the overall tone of the film.

Spectre

Starring: Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux, Christoph Waltz, and Ralph Fiennes

Directed By: Sam Mendes

Rating: B+