Who's in it? Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe, Albert Finney
The plot: Bond’s turned 50, he’s back and he’s better than ever. The first in the 23-film series to be directed by an Oscar-winner – Sam Mendes of American Beauty fame – Skyfall has a weight and real-world connection that the past Bonds lacked. It sees James Bond returning from the dead, reporting back for duty after a terrorist attack on the London headquarters of the MI6 gives up the identity of all British embedded agents. The film has a brilliant baddie in the Freudian-level messed up Silva (Bardem), beautifully shot action scenes in Britain, Shanghai and Istanbul, actual character development and a riveting and believable performance from Daniel Craig. Sure, he might be slightly less buff than in Casino Royale (and, it seems, less interested in Bond girls), but Craig is slowly competing with Connery to become our favourite 007.
Rating 5 stars
