Skyfall

Well...there's no pleasing everyone.

The Purists, the Realists and the Fantasists have all got something to grumble about...that is, if you give them the time of day.

With an Oscar-winning director, a thrice Oscar-nominated writer and a stalwart writing duo, Skyfall is a new Bond...less the super-suave hero more the aging, vulnerable, mortal man.

The Purists want the sophisticate...that Bond is not here.

The Realists will moan about the factual science...when was Bond ever real?

The Fantasists will want the science fiction, the gadgetry, the world domination...all scaled back.

The Bond franchise is now 50 years old...out of respect, Skyfall is littered with reverential nods to the Past...the film is lapped with waves of nostalgia and a wry, mature humour. There is a strong sense that Bond has come home...a feeling, perhaps, that Mr Bond is readying himself for the inevitable.

The franchise is a bizarre animal - Spiderman, for example, mindlessly refuses to develop...after reaching a certain point, it simply reverts back to the beginning with a younger, flavour-of-the-month actor rehashing, retracing, regurgitating the same tired old story. Batman, the same. An eternal circle with diminishing returns!?!

In Skyfall, we learn more about James Bond than we ever did in all the films put together - Bond has become a three-dimensional character.

So...if it is the mindless repetitive franchise that you want, stick with bats and spiders.

At 50, Bond has grown-up...the loves are less, the loses are more...and, the villain has a sensitive heart. Bardem steals the show...eliciting a a bi-Bond confession!

Daniel Craig is scheduled to do 2 more films. Then, it could be: James Bond: My Memoirs...with a young flavour-of-the-month actor rehashing, retracing and, regurgitating.

But, until that happens, let us enjoy...James Bond: The Autumn Years.

Trailer...

That confession...!